Number 32
Michael is working on his laptop but can't help looking over at the present left by Emilia. He picks up his keys and goes out to get a map. There's a spot marked on the map with the same letter E and two kisses. Realisation dawns and he opens the parcel. It's a tiara and a picture of Helena wearing it.

The Garage
Lucas is pleased that he's been left a boot by Emilia. Toadie drops in with coffee and Lucas wonders whether he is there to butter him up.

TOADIE: Soooo, have you given any more thought to what you're going to do?
LUCAS: There goes the friendly chat...

Toadie explains that his boss is breathing down his neck and the offer won't be on the table for ever. Lucas's phone rings so Toadie leaves him to it. The person on the other end of the phone concedes that Lucas wins. It's Emilia.

EMILIA: You kidnapped my boot so I'd call...
LUCAS: No, you left it here! And it's not my fault you're a bag lady who lives out of her car.

They agree to meet at Charlie's for a drink and a boot return.

Charlie's
Paul finds Susan working away at her laptop and concludes that she's either trying to win brownie points or things are still difficult at home. She tells him that she's only there for the wi- fi as their phone line is still down.

PAUL: Ah, that explains why Summer's spending time at our place. Speaking of...I heard her broadcast on PirateNet before. You've got to say one thing about the girl, she's got passion.

Susan is annoyed she missed it, but will catch up via podcast later. I'm sure we all will. She asks Paul how Kate is, she heard she ran out of the assessment because she was sick or something. Yes, with guilt.

Lucas calls "Cinders" over to collect her boot. Emilia says she owes him one and starts to leave. Lucas thought they were going to have a drink. Lucas does his best to convince her to stay while Lou listens in. She gives him her number and leaves.

LOU: You really have to work on your chat up lines.

Number 32
Tash arrives home and Michael is a little preoccupied. He decides to check the surf report for next week as the counsellor thought he should get out more and try and clear his head.

Harold's
Andrew and Chris discuss the plans for Tash's birthday...not that there appears to be one. Over on one of the tables, Mal is also interested in plans, not that Karl has any other than to continue savouring his coffee. Mal wonders whether it's another bill paying dodge. Karl assures him it isn't, but thanks Mal for the offer. Mal goes to pay and finds Jade buying soup for one and large bar of chocolate.

JADE: Well at least I can work it off at the gym. Have you ever heard of one of those? It's where people go to get fit!
MAL: I gave you a pretty good run for you money on the soccer field. I reckon I could do the same at the gym.
JADE: Oh wow, that's big talk coming from an old married man.
MAL: Name your time.
JADE: Well I was going to say 9am tomorrow morning, but you'll probably still be tucked up in bed so... I'll go easy on you and say 10.

Karl watches this flirtation with a certain degree of suspicion and unease.

Number 32
Tash heads off to bed and Michael quickly rummages through her school bag. He finds Emilia's business card, but at that moment Tash comes back into the room because she forgot her phone. She doesn't seem to notice the out of place and open bag, however and goes back to bed. Michael tries to call the number, but obviously the salon is closed. He settles himself down on the couch and falls asleep.

Next morning, Michael is still asleep on the sofa when Tash runs in shouting that she thought he was going to wake her. He asks what time it is, and Tash replies that it's time to go to school. Michael decides he's going to give school a miss, as he's not feeling too good. Tash goes to the spot she left her bag the previous night and sees that it has been moved and opened. Michael tenses but she acts as if everything is normal, packs her laptop and leaves. Michael grabs the phone and calls Emilia's number again. Emilia isn't available so Michael asks for a mobile number, which the receptionist can't give him. No joy there then.

Number 24
Michael calls around to see Lucas and tell him they'll have to go over some assessment papers tomorrow. It's a great scene. He leaves and Lou decides to grill Lucas about the "sprinter" from the other night. Lou isn't impressed that Lucas gave up so easily. Lucas tells him that she's been giving off very mixed signals, but Lou encourages him to call her. Lucas gets an answerphone message, but takes down the number of the salon.

LUCAS: I'm going to make myself an appointment.
LOU: Oh boy! Does she have her work cut out for her!

Number 28
Mal has a smooch conversation with his wife on the phone while Karl gets ready for work. Mal tells Karl he's going off to the gym as he doesn't want to be out of shape for Catherine when he gets home.

KARL: You do want to go home to her, don't you? Mal, I saw you yesterday.
MAL: Yes.
KARL: Just be careful, that's all.
MAL: Meaning?
KARL: Meaning, you're a married man and it's not a good look.

Mal doesn't really think it's a subject for his father to lecture on. Karl warns his son about the dangers of ego boosts from attractive girls like Jade, especially so far away from home. He's made mistakes in his life that he doesn't want to see his son make. Mal leaves for the gym.

Number 24
Lou answers the door to a rather surprised Emilia. She thinks she has the wrong house, but he tells her that if she's looking for Lucas she's either in luck or out of it, depending on your viewpoint. Lucas emerges from his room and tries to get rid of Lou.

LUCAS: Don't you have somewhere else to be?
LOU: Oh I wouldn't be anywhere else for quids!

Lucas wasn't sure if she'd come, but Emilia heard that he was most insistent. She brought everything because he didn't say what he wanted. She holds out the pricelist, but Lou snatches it from him. They make some more awkward conversation then Emilia asks what he had in mind.

LOU: Number 22 wasn't it mate?
LUCAS: (trying to grap the list) Er, yeah.

Emilia is amused and while she sets up, Lucas pulls Lou to one side to see what he's set him up for.

LOU: No pain, no gain.

After the break Lucas has his shirt off and is feeling rather vulnerable as Emilia spreads hot wax onto his chest. It hurts. A lot. Lou tells him to man up, and Lucas suggests he try it then. Lou isn't into metrosexuality and doesn't see what's wrong with hair...as he pulls a wax strip off Lucas.

LOU: I think I might have found myself a whole new career.

Charlie's
Toadie picks up a coffee and finds Susan frantically typing away. He asks how things are with Karl and she replies they'd be a lot better if he took some responsibility and sorted out the phone line. She asks him about the rumours about the council being corrupt. Toadie says there's no truth in them.

SUSAN: Sorry I had to ask! Just doing my job...
TOADIE: As a reporter?
SUSAN: As a friend.
TOADIE: Well then I wish I had more friends like you. Anyway, back to the grind.

Mal meets Jade, who had nearly given up on him. She asks if he's chickening out. He tells her he's just busy, that's all. DOING WHAT? What on earth does Mal do all day, because he's sure as hell not fixing his parents' marriage! Anyway, good on him for heeding his father's advice.

Harold's
Tash is unloading her worries about her dad to the boys. Andrew tells her she's being paranoid.

TASH: And then he faked being sick so he could stay home.
ANDREW: Tash, your dad is the principal, I don't think he's going to fake a sickie. You're reading way too much into this.

Tash wants to know why he's going through her stuff then.

CHRIS: Maybe he just need a pen.

She doesn't know what's going on in his head, but Chris reasons that he wouldn't lie about something random but tell the truth about counselling. Paul comes in and asks his son whether Summer intends to give any more on air tirades about the shopping centre.

PAUL: Tell her to fight the good fight, from me.

Number 24
Lucas is still in shock from what just happened to him. Emilia doesn't know why he didn't just go with a new hair- do, she could have done something with "this mess". She pulls at his hair. Lucas dutifully pays her and she asks if he wants a receipt.

LUCAS: I'm not sure chest waxing is a tax deduction.

Ramsay Street
Michael pulls onto his drive looking rather under the weather.

Number 24
Lucas seems surprised that Emilia is ready to leave already.

EMILIA: Why not? Unless there's no waxing to do.
LUCAS: Oh no, I'm done.
(Emilia looks at Lou)
LOU: There isn't enough wax in the world.

Lucas offers to buy her dinner and reminds her that he has a nice smooth chest. She accepts and Lucas offers to walk her to her car to make sure it starts.

EMILIA: Well if it doesn't that makes you a pretty dodgy mechanic.

She leaves with a promise to call him that evening.

Ramsay Street
Michael gets out of the sandman and has another vision of Helena, but this time he sees Emilia in the background getting into her car. He pulls a typical Michael O.M.G face. It's not at all dissimilar to the type Leo McGarry pulls in the West Wing, if you watch that.

Michael confronts Emilia and tells her not to play innocent as he found her little present. Emilia tells him that Tash has a right to know her mum but he counters that she has no right to interfere. She tells him that Tash found her.

MICHAEL: And what, you just couldn't help yourself, you had to come here and stir things up?
EMILIA: I'm not stirring. I'm here for work.
MICHAEL: Just...stay away from us, ok? Just stay away from here and from Tash.
EMILIA: No problem, but you might want to tell her that. She wants to know the truth about her mum and you can't keep hiding it forever.

Preview
FVO: The flirting between Jade and Mal has gone on for long enough.
MAL: Do you want a chip?
JADE: I can get my own chip.
(Their hands meet)
MVO: Since the wife's away, good old Mal comes out to play.
JADE: What are you doing here?
MAL: Dessert.
MVO: Dessert? Now there's a pick up line.
FVO: Something tells me this can only get juicier.