The Family Next Door

At Essie and Ben’s house, Isabelle pleads with the police to issue an alert for Mia. Officers interview Ben and Essie, who downplay Barbara’s actions, blaming them on confusion. Jules arrives to support Isabelle.

A police officer shows them a citizen-submitted video from a gas station. It shows Barbara roughly handling Mia. Ben identifies them both. The police report that Barbara’s car appears to be heading toward Sydney. Confronted with this evidence, Essie breaks down and turns to Isabelle for support as Ben looks on.

At the hospital, Fran waits with a sick Ava and her older daughter, Rosie. Consumed by guilt, she blames herself for not recognizing Ava’s illness sooner. A nurse distracts Rosie while the staff examines Ava.

An administrator urges Fran to call someone. Fran phones her husband, Nigel, in Brisbane. He responds with concern and promises to fly back immediately.

After Essie learns of the video, Ange arrives at the hospital with Polly. She finds Ben outside the room, distressed, and Essie inside, leaning on Isabelle. Ben brings Polly to Essie, and the baby’s presence calms her.

Ben holds Essie and Polly protectively. Watching them, Ange compares Ben’s focus to her own marriage with Lucas, whose infidelity destroyed their bond. The contrast clarifies her decision.

Hours later, Barbara drives aimlessly through St. Kilda. Disoriented and fearing she has Alzheimer’s disease, she parks and leaves Mia in the car to ask for directions. When she returns, the car is empty.

Barbara spots Mia wandering into the road before an oncoming car. She runs into the street, pushes Mia across to the tram tracks, and lifts her onto the platform. As she lifts Mia to safety, a tram strikes Barbara.

During Mia’s disappearance, Essie waits in her hospital room, overcome with guilt. She remembers leaving Mia alone in a park and the chaos that followed. Isabelle stays by her side.

A police officer enters to announce that they have found Mia, physically unharmed. Ben collapses with relief. When Essie asks about her mother, the officer says Barbara’s situation is complicated, implying serious news.

That evening, Ange confronts Lucas. She tells him she is leaving him over his affair with Erin and their daughter, Charlie. Lucas pleads for another chance but does not deny the affairs.

Ange states she will not continue the marriage and walks out.

In Essie’s hospital room, a police officer explains that Barbara pushed Mia from a car’s path but was hit by a tram. Barbara is in critical surgery. Police bring Mia to the room; she is physically fine but shaken.

Isabelle comforts Essie, recalling her mother’s hope of finding her lost daughter. A doctor prepares Essie’s discharge papers. Essie realizes her mother will not be coming home.

On the evening of Ava’s hospitalization, Nigel arrives from the airport. He checks on Ava, then turns to Fran. She explains the doctors diagnosed heatstroke and confesses her guilt over both the affair and missing signs of Ava’s illness. Nigel comforts her.

A nurse reports that Ava’s condition is improving. Fran asks Nigel for a final decision about their marriage. Before he can answer, a doctor enters.

A week later, DNA results confirm Essie is Sophie Heatherington. At Essie and Ben’s house, Essie meets Graham, her biological father, and Freddy, her biological brother. They arrive just after Essie learns Barbara has woken from her coma.

Graham and Freddy remark on Essie’s likeness to their late wife and mother. Graham embraces Essie and Isabelle. As her biological family wishes their mother could see this day, Essie thinks only of Barbara.

After regaining consciousness, Barbara absorbs her diagnoses: postpartum psychosis and PTSD, linked to her stillbirth. She has also been told the DNA results. Isabelle visits, and Barbara apologizes for the trauma she caused, offering Isabelle the mementos she kept from Essie’s childhood.

Isabelle asks what Barbara knew. Barbara insists she knew nothing and believed Essie was hers. Isabelle leaves with a noncommittal response.

After the hospital visit, Isabelle returns to the place she shares with Jules and feels light. On impulse, she suggests they move permanently to Melbourne to be near Essie. Jules raises practical concerns about his job in Sydney.

Isabelle backtracks, worried she pushed too hard, but Jules stops her. He says he is open to the idea and suggests they discuss it over dinner.

Days later, Barbara’s friend Lois leaves after a supportive visit. Alone, Barbara admits she may have ignored signs that Essie was not her biological child. Essie arrives and asks what happened.

Barbara breaks down and says she cannot explain more than that she believed Essie was her daughter. Seeing her distress, Essie strokes her back and addresses her as her mother. Barbara drifts to sleep.

Weeks later, Ange paints on her back porch, embracing a more spontaneous life after her split from Lucas. Her sons adjust to the new routine. Fran, Essie, and Isabelle arrive with their children for a get-together, and Ange ushers them in despite the mess.

They settle into an easy gathering, forming a new community. Isabelle shares that she is pregnant.

A few weeks after Ava’s illness, Fran reflects on rebuilding her relationship with Nigel. She finds him in Ava’s room. Nigel says he checked Ava’s hospital chart and saw her blood type is O negative, which could match them both.

He tells Fran that the odds are good enough for him, and he accepts Ava as his daughter. Fran feels reassured about their future.

Six months later, Essie’s family has a new rhythm. Ben now works part-time. While a movie plays, Mia excludes Barbara from a game. Essie reflects on Barbara’s trial, where she was found not guilty because of her mental condition at the time. Barbara lives nearby and has supervised visits.

Isabelle, now heavily pregnant and living in Melbourne, drops by. As the family jokes, Essie glances toward the kitchen and feels a pang for how Barbara once filled that space.

Nine months later, Barbara receives a text from Essie with a photo of Isabelle’s newborn, Sophie Elizabeth. Soon after, Essie arrives with Mia and Polly. Mia runs to her grandmother, comfortable again.

When the girls squabble, Barbara suggests they bake. Essie jokingly says she is taking applications for a grandmother. Mia calls from the kitchen, and Barbara winks at Essie and goes to help, embracing her renewed role.