Where is airing: Seven
For what age: 12+
How many episodes in 2 season: 22 episodes
This episode sees the return of Packed to the Rafters for its second season on Australian television. Decisions still need to be made from where they left off at the end of Season One. And Ben and Mel may or may not have a relationship. So I suppose many questions will be answered over the next few episodes. In this episode we see Julie once again worried about the safety of her family. It seems she visits a psychic and some very troubling forecasts about the future of the Rafter family are made. Now normally this would not bother Julie, but as each of these predictions come true, Julie becomes increasingly concerned.
Dave and Julie's relationship comes under strain as Dave struggles with a series of betrayals.
Painful memories surface for Dave as he and Julie confront the potentially heartbreaking results of tests on their unborn child.
Ted's burgeoning relationship with Marjorie appears to be going romantic gangbusters until he meets her daughter Susannah and her pregnant partner Abby, who've left the Gold Coast to live with her.
Trish returns from Europe, seemingly in high spirits, and invites the entire Rafter family to lunch at an exclusive restaurant. When her daughter Sammy wonders who exactly is paying the bills, Trish waves off Sammy's concerns - she's meeting with estranged husband Tony tomorrow to sort out finances. To her shock, Sammy realises that Trish hopes she will get back with Tony.
The stray mutt which Ben and Melissa found a week ago still has no name, despite all their efforts. If Carbo has his way, the dog may not be around long enough to need a name. After barking all day and night and chewing his mum's shoes, Carbo delivers an ultimatum to his housemates - find the dog's owner or it's off to the pound.
Ben's troubles begin when he inadvertently stumbles on Rachel taking artistic pregnancy photos of a naked Julie. Given the mainly positive reactions to the photos, Julie decides to celebrate her changing body by putting an enormous copy of a nude photo smack bang in the middle of the lounge-room. Dave's growing attachment to Ben and Melissa's dog continues to puzzle those around him. Only Julie knows the truth: the dog has provoked the recollection of a traumatic incident in his past. So when the dog is badly injured in a car accident, Dave breaks down in front of Ben. However the dog proves not to be the only link to his past when Dave's original birth certificate finally arrives - is Dave ready for the answers he's been seeking? Rachel and Jake take their newfound relationship a step further when Jake shares a family dinner with the Rafters. Ted and Dave assume that Jake won't be able to cope with the naked photo of Julie - but Jake scores himself major brownie points by admiring the artwork. Encouraged by his maturity, Rachel tells Jakes some home truths about her past - including her sex tape. Will it scare him off? Meanwhile, Ben's relationship with Melissa is put to the test when a series of misunderstandings causes him to think she is cheating on him. Her anger and betrayal prompts Ben to take a good hard look at their relationship. The result? To propose marriage. But does Melissa want to marry Ben?.
Dave has finally opened his original birth certificate. Inside is the name of his birth mother, but his birth father is 'unknown'. Encouraged by Julie, Dave tells the rest of the family. Buoyed by their enthusiasm to find out more, Dave fills in an online profile for an organisation which brings adopted parents and children together. Initially thrilled when the organisation finds his mother, Dave is devastated when they reveal she doesn't want to see him. But is the door closed forever? Meanwhile, Rachel invites herself to Jake's place for lunch to meet his family, keen to take the next step in their relationship. But all her expectations are challenged by Jake's cheeky brother Alex, who has cerebral palsy, and their mother Grace, who takes an instant dislike to Rachel. Things go from bad to worse between Rachel and Grace when Jake is injured in a workplace accident. When Rachel dashes to his side, Grace finally lets loose, telling Rachel to leave her son alone. Nathan is slowly being pulled into the darker side of the music business. After kicking yet more goals for the company, Layla suggests they celebrate with cocaine. Nathan resists initially, then gives in - what harm can a few lines do.
After turning up at the Rafter house and disappearing without so much as a word, Rachel 'Chel' Warne uses an electrical ruse to lure Dave to the shop where she is working. Although the meeting is awkward, Dave invites her to lunch the next day. The whole family is nervous about the encounter, but Chel soon charms them all - apart from Dave. Will the pain of his past prevent him from embracing a future with his mother? Jake and Rachel's worlds collide when Jake invites himself to her launch of 'Rampant', a men's body spray. Jake feels like a fish out of water at the launch, but when the sound system blows, who else can save the day but an electrician? However, Rachel and Jake's romantic night together at a hotel is interrupted by a phone call from Jake's overprotective mum Grace, trying to emotionally blackmail him into coming home early. Rachel has had enough and confronts Grace... which Jake witnesses. Whose side will Jake be forced to take? Narrated by: Rachel Rafter.
Carbo's mother Rita arrives from Lesbos to stay for six weeks with Artemis, the 18 year old daughter of her best friend. Despite Ben and Melissa's insinuations that this may be a romantic set-up, Carbo sees Artie like a little sister. However she's hardly the innocent young girl Rita seems to think she is. At a trip to the beach, she hooks up with Dane, a guy she has met on Facebook. With Rita breathing down his neck, Carbo alienates the rebellious Artemis with his attempts to curb her wild behaviour. But despite acting like a big brother, a quick, innocent kiss between them leaves Carbo floored by a rush of romantic feelings. Was this Rita's plan all along? Meanwhile, Sammy has to interview two young professionals for her first feature writing assignment. To her surprise, Nathan, eager to play the supportive husband, suggests she contact her former flame Owen. Is Nathan hiding his guilt over a cocaine-fuelled kiss with Layla? And when Sammy interviews Layla too, will the truth slip out?.
A shame-faced Nathan wakes up from an erotic dream initially about Sammy who then turns into Layla. Sammy's father Tony is facing the first hearing of his trial tomorrow, and she has to go along as moral support for her mother Trish. She's given a boost when Nathan insists he'll take the day off work and accompany her- a seemingly generous act, although he's really doing it as much to avoid Layla after their cocaine-fuelled kiss as to help his wife. After the first hearing, Nathan is called back to work, where Layla notices his fixation on her - so she subtly strokes the flames. This leads to Nathan having another erotic dream - and when he guiltily 'takes care' of his urge in the bathroom, Sammy catches him out. Having previously refused sex with her, Sammy is understandably concerned. Nathan waves off her worries, determined to keep himself under control - until Layla makes a brazen suggestion. She knows he's interested, his work is being affected - so why not sleep together? Nathan is shocked. What will he do now his fantasy has the chance to become reality? Over at the Karandonis house, Artie is preparing for her first day of work at the boat club with Ben. Carbo, who's aware of his romantic feelings for her, is happy with her choice of job - after all, how much trouble can she get into under the watchful eye of Ben? But he hasn't met her co-worker Lexi, a cheeky young trouble maker, yet. The pair strike up a friendship and it isn't long before Lexi leads Artie astray much to Carbo's dismay. Chrissy finds herself having a surprising and unwelcome fantasy of her own... about Dave. And an unexpected romance blossoms between Warney and Trish.
The Rafters throw a surprise party for Chel, who's shocked and delighted as the family yells 'surprise'. She is swept up in the family history and moved by the love shown to her. But clouds are gathering. Rachel and Ted notice worrying marks on Chel's arm. Are they damage veins? Or trackmarks? Rachel takes the news to Dave and Julie, who debate the causes. Surely Chel can't be a junkie? But they admit they don't know herwell. Dave confronts Chel, who reacts badly to the interrogations. Eventually she reveals the shocking truth. Julie reacts the most strongly to the news. She doesn't want Chel in her house any more. This puts her at odds with everyone, especially Dave and Rachel. Nathan is stricken with guilt over his fling with Layla and manages to lose his wedding ring during the birthday barbecue. He searches for it desperately and lies to Sammy about it. Next door, Ben and Melissa are stricken with food poisoning. Their marathon bout of vomiting brings them even closer together. But will it end in Melissa finally accepting Ben's marriage proposal? Carbo works hard to fan the flames of his relationship with Artie. But he strikes out. Arties decides her mother has orchestrated the whole thing with Carbo, and, in an act of defiance, agrees to go out with Gavin a shy country singer from the Boat Club.
Dave is determined to give Ben and Melissa the engagement party that he and Julie never had. But his focus is sidetracked by the accidental discovery that Chel's increasingly regular hospital visits are in fact to the Renal Ward. Melissa surmises that Chel's kidneys might be failing after more than 20 years on HIV medication. Dave confides in Julie his willingness to be tested as a potential donor.
Now that Julie and Dave are expecting their fourth child, Ted makes plans to withdraw from his superfund and invest in a new unit. Nathan has been calling and texting Sammy hoping for the chance to explain his infidelity. However, she's not answering him. Ted takes a tough love approach, telling Nathan that if he isn't willing to put everything on the line to get Sammy back, then maybe Nathan doesn't love Sammy enough. Dave has been searching for Chel since she ran from the engagement party, with no luck. She has left town with no forwarding address. Ted gallops to the rescue, persuading Melissa to find out which hospital Chel is now going to for her dialysis.
On her last day at work Julie quizzes psychic tea lady Bonnie about the troubling prediction she'd made months earlier. Bonnie still senses a divorce but now she's sensing something more. It has to do with Julie's husband Dave.
When a bunch of flowers arrive for her at work with no card, Rachel assumes Jake must've sent them. However, she soon discovers that they are from her ex-boyfriend, meth addict Daniel. Now clean and sober, he has been rehired by CBM Advertising to produce a TV ad for men's cologne Rampant using Jake as the star.
Ben begins to bow under pressure as his wedding day fast approaches, thanks to a chance meeting with Kat and the arrival of Melissa's overbearing parents.
Ben and Melissa's honeymoon takes an unexpected turn. At the five-star resort they're staying at, they meet another couple, Adrian and Nicole, and hit it off. They become new besties. There might even be a new job in it for Ben. But there's more than meets the eye with this friendly duo. Dave is very aware that Chel is keeping her distance since the wedding. Chel insists they're fine but Dave feels like his mum is a stranger. Julie, who's under strict bed rest after her collapse on the wedding, suggests he try harder. He does by turning up in Ted's place to take Chel to her dialysis treatment. She initially refuses but backs down. At the hospital, she opens up abut his father Tom Jenkins. She admits she doesn't even know where he's buried. Dave decides to do some investigative work to find his father's grave, and with the help of Nathan, makes a shocking discovery.
Nathan has decided he has no possible job options left. But in a way he feels liberated - he's free to consider impossible options. The world opens up to him again - he'll become an event manager, or a personal trainer! Sammy is trying to be supportive but it's wearing her out.
Julie faces her greatest challenge yet - the birth of her fourth and final child without husband Dave at her side.
