Melanie’s uncertainty in her relationship begins to show next week on Neighbours in the UK, while a newcomer hides a dark secret.
These scenes will premiere in the United Kingdom on Monday, June 27th, and in Australia on Monday, July 11th.
Sonya’s presence is haunting Melanie
Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden) hasn’t always had good luck with guys.
Her movie career began in 1987 with a brief romance with Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan), followed by a brief engagement to businessman Roger Walsh (Stefan Dennis) (Gregory Ross).
After the untimely death of her beloved friend and Joe’s wife, Kerry Bishop, Melanie found herself falling for widower Joe Mangel (Mark Little) (Linda Hartley-Clark). Happiness eventually won out, and the couple married in 1991. Sadly, the marriage did not work out. Melanie referred to their divorce as a “stupid mistake” two years later.
When Melanie returned to Erinsborough after thirty years away, it was a major surprise for everyone involved, especially the “rude, swinging tyrant” Paul, as Melanie had affectionately called to him in Annalise Hartman’s (Kimberley Davies) 2005 documentary.
Melanie not only became Toadie Rebecchi’s (Ryan Moloney) personal assistant, but she also began to develop feelings for the lawyer, which was maybe the biggest surprise of all.
The strain was evident, and the couple eventually succumbed to temptation – and, after a few weeks of pleasure while keeping their tryst hidden from friends and family, they exposed their connection to the rest of the world.
Fast forward to the present day, and the couple has cemented their place as one of Ramsay Street’s most enduring couples, with Mel cherished by both Nell (Scarlett Anderson) and Hugo (Jamie Chung) (John Turner).
Toadie concluded that life was too short after the unexpected loss of Hendrix (Benny Turland) and asked Melanie the big question: would she marry him?
Melanie was taken aback and didn’t know what to say. After all, the couple didn’t even share a full-time residence. She recommended they move in together to test the waters, believing it was a knee-jerk reaction to the tragedy.
Thankfully, Toadie consented, and Melanie moved into No. 30 full-time.
Melanie and Toadie have been enjoying life as a couple for the past few weeks. Unfortunately, there’s one word in Melanie’s mind that casts doubt on their relationship’s long-term viability: Sonya.
It’s no secret that Toadie’s late wife Sonya (Eve Morey) had a positive impact on everyone who lived on Ramsay Street. Three years later, it appears that the mark is still visible.
Amy’s apparent affections for her best friend threatened to put their friendship in jeopardy last week. Melanie begins to feel overwhelmed by Sonya’s presence around town this week, in the aftermath of Toadie’s marriage proposal.
The continuous reminders of her link with not only Toadie but the rest of the town plague her, and she becomes flustered.
Even at work, she is reminded of Sonya when the Drinks Divas park next to the mural created in Sonya’s honour by Ned (Ben Hall).
Amy (Jacinta Stapleton) arrives home from a disappointing date the next day to discover an irate Melanie in No. 30 — the house that Toadie and Sonya shared for many years.
Mel is clearly overwhelmed by the notion of spending the rest of her life with Toadie, fearful that she would always be second best to his late wife.
Melanie reveals her feelings — she’s insecure as a result of all the Sonya reminders, and it’s causing her problems. When Amy leaves to clear her brain, however, she loses her cool and tells Toadie everything.
Amy believes that being honest with Toadie is the only way he and Melanie will be able to tackle the shadow in their relationship, despite the fact that she knows it will not be well received by Melanie.
While Mel is upset that Amy has abused her trust, she and Toadie eventually get down to talk about Sonya’s presence in their life…
Will they be able to come to an agreement?
