Episode 4 of "Last Days of the Space Age" kicks off with a jarring scene, as Mia and Jono emerge, shaken, from their wrecked car, having collided with a tree. The following dawn brings the anxious parents of the duo rushing to the police station, their hearts heavy with worry.
Rocoa, solemn-faced, regales the gathered parents with a harrowing tale of how their children narrowly escaped a calamity that could've had dire consequences. Tony, attempting to engage Rocoa in conversation, finds himself met with a wall of unwavering resolve, the officer refusing to let the matter slide.
Judy, her voice tinged with regret, confides in Tony that their distraction was the catalyst behind Mia's reckless actions, a revelation that weighs heavily on his conscience. Back at their abode, a jarring sight awaits Mia – a surfboard, left outside their doorstep, branded with the taunting inscription "Bitch." She's visibly upset, prompting Tony to inquire after Tilly, wondering if she had witnessed the perpetrator's nefarious act.
Meanwhile, at the beach, Bob's keen eye catches sight of Jono's accident-scarred form, and soon, the full picture of Mia's endeavors comes into focus. Without hesitation, he hauls his caravan to the Bissett residence, declaring his intention to reside with them. Bob's rationale is unyielding – he cannot stand idly by as his daughter veers towards a path of poor parenting, and he'll do whatever it takes to ensure Mia's wellbeing.
Tony, on the defensive, finds himself unable to dissuade Bob from his course. Elsewhere, Eileen sits down with Bilya, gently yet firmly reminding him that his fiery attempt to burn Stirling's paper statue during the street party, though passionate, was not the most constructive way to effect societal change. She cautions her grandson that such provocative gestures, while fueled by noble intentions, risk landing him behind bars rather than combating racism.
Instead, Eileen tasks Bilya with a new mission: to recreate the paper statue over the weekend, an act she hopes will channel his energy towards more meaningful ends. Bilya, taking her words to heart, seeks out Poppy's help, and together, they embark on this creative endeavor.
Back at the Bissett household, Judy shares a somber revelation with Tony – a life has been lost in the hospital, a victim of the power outage that can be traced back to the strike he and his colleagues initiated. Guilt and responsibility weigh heavily on their shoulders.
Tony's defenses instantly went up, yet Judy calmly reminded him that the burden no longer rested solely on his shoulders, given his detachment from the power supply unit. Meanwhile, Bob's gentle persuasion fell on deaf ears as Mia stubbornly refused to vacate her room's confines. Conversely, Bilya and Poppy forged a connection as they worked harmoniously on their statue, their bond growing stronger with each stroke.
Tony, finding solace in a dimly lit bar, was approached by an old acquaintance, George, who sought to drag him into a treacherous endeavor. George pleaded with Tony to join forces in exposing the power supply factory's nefarious deeds—an illicit test that had exposed them all to the deadly embrace of nuclear fallout. Tony, however, shut the door on that proposal, urging George to desist and leave him out of it.
Elsewhere, the pageant's radiant hopefuls glided towards the beach, their bikinis glistening in anticipation of a photo shoot that promised to captivate the nation. Mick, ever the strategist, maneuvered Svetlana into the spotlight's center, her star power already eclipsing all others in the news cycle. Yvgeny, grateful for Mick's masterful hand, expressed his thanks, while Svetlana, in a bold move, invited Mick to accompany her as her date to the prestigious Governor's Ball. Mick, flattered, readily accepted the invitation to the black-tie affair.
Tony's fortunes took a turn as he encountered Mick and seized the opportunity for employment, a ray of hope amidst the turmoil. Returning home, he announced his newfound job to Bob, who remained unimpressed by the news. That night, Jono's concerned presence at the Bissett residence betrayed his worry for Mia, entreating Tilly to check on her sister. Tilly, however, stood firm in her refusal. As Jono departed, he implored Tilly to understand Mia's turmoil, urging empathy for her plight.
The following morning, Tilly stumbled upon Tony, his guilt evident as he attempted to mask a sleepless night with feigned illness. His feeble excuses melted away under Tilly's piercing gaze. Judy, sharing her heart with Eileen, lamented Mia's withdrawal, her refusal to partake in the simple joys of nourishment.
At the bustling food truck, Sandy, Jono's mother, pressed a box filled with her hard-earned savings into Bob's hands, beseeching him to use his resources to locate her missing son, Van. The weight of her plea hung heavy in the air.
And as Mick prepared for his grand entrance at the Governor's Ball, he imparted to his assistant the significance of the evening—not just for him personally but also for the future of his company, where one night could forever alter the course of their destiny.
As they gracefully strode into the ballroom, Mick and Svetlana captured the lens' attention, their entrance a spectacle. Mick skillfully maneuvered Svetlana into a conversation with Murray Doull, center stage on the merits of his enterprise, Bissett Star Broadcasting. His boastful claims of propelling Svetlana to stardom stirred a chord of discontent within her, prompting her to whisk him away for a dance. In the midst of their twirls, she inquired, her eyes piercing, if he still clung to the notion that he held the upper hand in their dynamic.
Svetlana then graced the floor with a server, the crowd erupting in applause, a vivid reminder to Mick of her poignant observation. That fateful evening, the youth whose automobile Mia had inadvertently appropriated attempted to extort funds from Jono and his parents, a confrontation that ended in Jono being brutally overpowered. Yet, his loving parents intervened, banishing the aggressors and escorting Jono home, their bond unshaken.
Outside the Bissett abode, Judy confided in Bob, lamenting the missed moments of motherhood amidst her hectic life. Bob, ever the comforter, lifted her spirits with words of encouragement. Meanwhile, Svetlana and Mick exchanged words beneath the starlit sky, their discussion interrupted by a curious sight—the city of Perth plunging into darkness as the power supply faltered.
Later, Mia's conscience weighed heavy as she dialed Jono's number, her voice laden with remorse for the car accident that could have had dire consequences. In the bathroom's solitude, Mia's tears found solace until Tilly stumbled upon her fragile state, prompting Tony's intervention. As Judy embraced Mia in a warm hug, Tony gently addressed Tilly's doubts, weaving a tale of love's origins—his own with Judy and Tilly's coming-into-being. Just as the narrative reached its crescendo, the lights flickered back to life, and Tilly's radio serendipitously chimed in with an update on the Skylab's promising future, signaling a glimmer of hope amidst the night's events.
