Previously on Neighbours
- Rhiannon is back in Erinsborough, and wants to be Mason's shoulder to cry on
- Imogen enjoys spending time with Mason
- Matt finally stumbles upon The Sketch™, and Sheila points out the drawing of Brad on the back
Harold's Store
Amber is telling Imogen how gorgeous the new chef at Lassiter's is.
AMBER: Think Channing Tatum in an apron.
Imogen doesn't seem as enthralled by this prospect as the writers would have us believe she ought to be, so Amber is instantly suspicious and asks Imogen what's wrong. She moodily replies that she doesn't want to be match- made, and flat out refuses to go to Lassiter's with Amber to perve on him.
No 32
Brad has dropped round to borrow some garlic (!) from Lauren; and when Matt comes in with the picture, he's visibly annoyed to find Brad there.
LAUREN: How was your walk?
MATT: Interesting. Picked something up.
LAUREN: Oh... You found The Sketch™.
MATT: At the antiques store. Reg found it in a dumpster a few weeks ago.
Wait a second - let's just backtrack here. Reg, the unseen owner of the Bric- A- Brac Shop, found a random sketch while rifling through a bin, and decided to price it up and put it on sale? Why was he searching through a dumpster in the first place? Perhaps he was looking for Robbo's mobile phone - or doing Jack Lassiter's treasure hunt, maybe? Sadly, we shall probably never know. But I for one would love this story to be told through the power of flashback - complete with footage of Kate, who was, lest we forget, entrusted with the safekeeping of The Sketch™ the last time we saw it, tossing it into the bin in the first place.
But I digress. Anyhow, Matt is even more annoyed to find out that Brad knew all about Lauren's portrait of him. So Brad slinks off with his garlic, leaving Matt and Lauren to thrash it out between themselves. Matt says he wouldn't have been annoyed if Lauren had been honest about it from the start, but Lauren reminds him how peeved he was when he found out she and Brad once dated. Matt now realises why Brad and Lauren were themselves searching through a dumpster on the day of the Dads of Erinsborough exhibition (hasn't there been an awful lot of this recently?). Lauren apologises for not telling Matt the truth at the time, but Matt says she's the one who's made it a big deal, and stomps off.
Harold's Store
In the kitchen, Imogen is going about her work experience duties, while Phil the Plumber is fixing the sink. He realises he's left a vital tool in his van - so goes to retrieve it. At which point Amber cops an eyeful, and asks Imogen whether Phil's the reason she's not interested in checking out the Lassiter's chef. Imogen denies this, but says she just doesn't want a relationship right now.
AMBER: Why not? You're not busy, because I've seen your Facebook posts on Saturday night. They're depressing.
Imogen admits to Amber that there's a guy she's interested in, but adds that he's just come out of a serious relationship and that she's not sure whether he'd want another. Still suspecting Imogen might be talking about Phil the Plumber, Amber says that if Imogen likes him, she should go for it, in case another girl gets in there first.
Lassiter's
Rhiannon reports for work, and immediately tells Paul she'd like to start on reception, saying she's worked at hotels before and is good with people.
PAUL: You've got to remember, Lassiter's is not some $30- a- night fleapit in the middle of the outback; we have standards to maintain.
He tells her she'll have to undergo an orientation later this afternoon. Rhiannon thanks Paul for the job, but he replies that she only has it because she blackmailed him! Even so, she says she won't let him down.
Harold's Store
Susan is reading that scurrilous gutter- rag, the West Waratah Star, when Lauren comes over for a chat. She asks if Susan's ever kept anything insignificant from Karl, then had it blown out of all proportion later. Briefly recalling the Jim Dolan debacle, Susan invites Lauren to tell her what's up. Lauren explains how she hid the drawing of Brad from Matt, and Susan immediately gets to work judging her for it, demanding to know why she kept it from him.
LAUREN: I drew it at a difficult time in my life. But it was so long ago, and it's got absolutely nothing to do with Matt.
Susan says Lauren should try explaining it to Matt - otherwise the small thing will become a big one.
Outside, Mason sets Imogen's pulse racing by touching her hair - but it turns out she just has some icing in it. They're having a nice little exchange when Rhiannon turns up and leaps on Mason, kissing him on the cheek. Mason awkwardly introduces them to one another, and Imogen slinks off inside. Meanwhile, Rhiannon compliments Mason on how hot he looks in his uniform, and informs him she's starting work at Lassiter's later on - and has left her son Jackson in Charlie's, playing pool! She flirtatiously suggests she and Mason meet for lunch later, and he uncomfortably agrees, telling her to come to his at 1pm. Imogen comes back out with Mason's coffee, but he's already gone.
No 28
Rhiannon arrives at the Kennedys' with Jackson, revealing he's the new drummer for Karl's band that she was telling him about! Rhiannon casually announces that they'll be moving into the spare room for a couple of months, leaving Karl speechless!
Later, Susan finds Rhiannon's bags in the house, and demands an explanation from Karl. Overhearing them, Jackson surmises that the Kennedys don't want them here, but Rhiannon assures him they'll settle in fine and tells him to stop worrying.
Susan eventually agrees with Karl that Rhiannon can stay, for Jackson's sake. But the Kennedys tell them that two months might be a bit of a stretch, and that two weeks would be more convenient.
RHIANNON: Two weeks... Better than a kick up the bum!
Rhiannon makes tea, but Susan decides she needs something stronger.
Dingoes Gym
Meanwhile, Josh is finishing an interview with Zac, a journalist, in order to promote his swimming career. Amber has been taking some photos of Josh 'for fun', but Zac looks at them and says they're great; he asks if he can use some with the article, and promises she'd get a credit. The reason being, Zac claims, that he only has photos of Josh with Hudson Walsh, and that the paper doesn't want that association.
Has he never heard of cropping photos, you might ask? But alas - the sneaky journalist is only mentioning Hudson so he can get a more sensationalist story from Josh, who immediately says he's not ashamed that he's mates with Hudson. Zac, 'forgetting' to turn off the dictaphone, probes Josh for more information. Josh admits that Hudson's boyfriend, Chris, is missing him, and is really cut up about their split. Zac nods with interest.
No 32
Matt is putting on his running shoes in preparation for an Angry Jog™, when Lauren walks in. She begs him not to ignore her, and tries to explain about the sketch.
LAUREN: When Brad and I broke up, it wasn't good. He left me for my best friend.
She says that when she saw the sketch again, it brought back those bad memories, so wanted to bury them - and that before she knew it, a little white lie turned into a big one.
MATT: Do you still have feelings for him?
LAUREN: No!
MATT: ...
LAUREN: Please tell me you believe me?
But Matt just says he needs to clear his head, and leaves.
Lassiter's Complex
Cue the Angry Jog™ - but before long, Matt is approached by Brad, who asks if he's okay. Brad insists Lauren only kept the sketch because of the drawing of the Mount Isa house on the other side, but this just seems to make things worse - and Matt jogs right off again. Brad shouts after him, but to no avail.
No 32
Mason is giving Jackson a piggy- back into the kitchen, and comments on how big he's getting. He also gives Rhiannon her new work uniform. Rhiannon explains that she and Jackson are staying with the Kennedys. Mason promises to teach Jackson some bowling tips for playing cricket, but admits he doesn't have any food in the house - so Rhiannon suggests they go and raid Karl and Susan's fridge for lunch instead. Jackson seems keen on Mason accompanying them, so he does.
No 28
Karl and Susan are shocked when they come home, to find the house upside- down and loud music playing. Realising Rhiannon, Mason and Jackson have eaten tonight's dinner, the Kennedys resolve to have a word with their new house- guest. Rhiannon isn't very receptive to their requests to clean up, but she's happy to let Jackson do it for her. Jackson apologises to Susan for the mess, and she doesn't have the heart to say any more - so suggests they clean up together - while Rhiannon lies on the couch! She's getting cosy with Mason, but he reminds her they're just friends now. She says she knows the score, but looks disappointed.
Dingoes Gym
Imogen comes in for some advice from Josh. She asks whether boys only want one thing from girls they like, but refuses to elaborate on who she's talking about. Josh admits boys sometimes do only want one thing, but that if they really like a girl, they want lots of things - and that if they get some of those other things, then 'that other thing' (read: TITTNL) can wait. Josh adds that he knows this from current experience.
IMOGEN: You are getting dangerously close to an over- share there.
She thanks Josh for his advice, and is about to leave.
JOSH: I just reckon you can do better than Phil the Plumber.
IMOGEN: Yeah? Maybe I can.
No 28
Susan and Jackson are finishing up with the cleaning, and Rhiannon has changed into her uniform ready for work. She is about to leave with Mason, and announces that Jackson will be staying with the Kennedys while she's at work! Susan tacitly puts her foot down, saying she has to go out to buy a new mattress for Jackson's bed, but Karl volunteers to look after Jackson instead. Susan smiles as Karl goes to retrieve his old drum kit for Jackson to have a go on.
Ramsay Street
Lauren pulls up in her car, and Brad goes over to talk to her. He explains how Matt ignored him earlier when he tried to talk to him, and Lauren admits Matt asked if she still has feelings for Brad. As they're discussing it, Matt jogs up, and is annoyed to see the pair talking yet again.
MATT: This day just gets better and better.
Brad goes home, and Lauren apologises again for keeping Matt in the dark about the sketch. She asks if they can forget it ever happened, but Matt is still in a mood, and tells her he'll be sleeping in Lou's room tonight.
Later, Imogen is sitting in Hermione the car, practicing on thin air how she's going to ask Mason out on a date. But at that moment, Mason and Rhiannon emerge from the Kennedys' laughing. She overhears their conversation; Rhiannon is reminding Mason that both of them are single, and suggests they have some fun together like they used to. Imogen hides as the conversation continues: Mason tells Rhiannon that he doesn't want to complicate things, since they're working together. But she ignores him and goes to kiss him anyway. Mason backs off, but as Imogen watches in horror, Rhiannon dives in for a second attempt - and this time he reciprocates the kiss.
Tomorrow on Neighbours
- Imogen confides in Callum, of all people, about her broken heart
- Terese has a confrontation with Imogen - is her daughter binge- eating again?
- Karl and Susan agree to be tougher with Rhiannon, but seem to be failing miserably