Previously on Neighbours
- Sheila puts Naomi on a flight to Hawaii in a bid to help her get over Toadie
- The anonymous letters and DHS call are taking their toll on Sonya's state of mind
- Paul orchestrates a reunion between Terese and her ex- boss and almost- flame Ezra
- Ezra correctly guesses that Paul wants him to come between Terese and Brad
- Brad is upset when Terese and Ezra go for a drink together
- Nate's struggling to engage with his new counsellor, is having trouble sleeping...
- ... and has taken up the curious habit of digging holes in the middle of the night
No 28
Susan catches Karl looking at a website called 'Erinsborough Pets', and hopes aloud that he's looking for a Christmas present for someone else. But Karl reminds her she agreed to talk about getting a pet.
KARL: I'm just saying that if something warm and cuddly happened to turn up in my stocking...
SUSAN: Oh, I don't think I'd fit (!)
Nate has just got up and comes out of his room, but Susan immediately notices he's got dirt in his hair. He claims it's from moving topsoil for Sonya yesterday. He rushes off for a shower, and once he's gone, Susan remarks to Karl that Nate seems on edge.
The Waterhole
Terese is having breakfast when Ezra comes in. He explains he's postponed his flight back to Perth because of 'unfinished business' - he wants to spend more time working on Paul's ill-defined festival idea. Terese is reluctant, but Ezra persuades her it will be fun to organise the festival together - and they quickly get down to some scintillating talk about 'the Erinsborough brand'.
Harold's Store
Brad tells Paige that Doug's plane got away on time. He asks if Terese has been in this morning, and Paige quickly clocks that Brad is still worried about Ezra, after he and Terese went for a drink together. Paige reminds Brad of his own advice - to keep his anger under control - and also tells him to give Terese the space she's asked for, and concentrate on other things.
Chris comes in, and Susan, who's sitting at a table, spots an opportunity for stickybeakery that she simply can't pass up. She coaxes him in by thanking him for his and Nate's porcine pranks recently; she explains that Karl has locked Elvis the ceramic pig in the garage as a result, which Chris reacts way too excitedly about.
CHRIS: The King is dead. Yesssss!
SUSAN: Yes, you could say that. Although, of course, now he's on the lookout for a live pet. Maybe you and Nate could organise another kidnapping.
This has the desired effect, as Chris admits that Nate isn't in a great place at the moment; Chris thinks Nate's having nightmares again. Susan admits she's noticed Nate has been a little distracted, and tells Chris not to worry - he probably just needs a good night's rest. But as Chris walks off, she looks concerned.
The Waterhole
Toadie, Sonya and Nell are having breakfast, when Sonya gets a text message from 'Unknown'. It reads simply: 'I hope you're looking after Nell.' All three of them look concerned.
No 26
There are garments strewn everywhere in the front room, and a suitcase on the coffee table. Georgia comes in and gasps at the mess, immediately assuming Bossy is responsible. But Naomi comes in from the kitchen, revealing she's responsible for the mess - she's just got back from her holiday. Naomi offers champagne as a belated wedding celebration, and apologises for not being there - but says she had a job offer in Hawaii and couldn't pass it up.
Georgia asks about the job, but Naomi's quick to change the subject, saying she heard Gary's in town. Georgia says relations between Kyle and Gary are 'getting there' - they're out collecting timber at the moment, and Sheila is out having a massage. Georgia wonders why Naomi didn't call them and get them to pick her up from the airport; Naomi claims she wanted to surprise them.
GEORGIA: And, erm... How are you? Are you okay?
NAOMI: All that time on the beach, why wouldn't I be?
She quickly changes the topic again, but Georgia isn't biting - she explains that she knows Naomi left because she still had feelings for Toadie.
The Waterhole
Terese and Ezra are engaged in more corporate festival-talk. They've come up with a proposal and decide to pitch it to 'Paul and the team'. Ezra remarks that it'll be easy, since Terese 'can sell a bike to a fish', and she retorts that Ezra was a good teacher.
EZRA: It feels like the good old days, doesn't it?
TERESE: ... I should get going.
He puts his hand on her arm.
EZRA: Look, I hope you don't mind me saying this. I can't believe an intelligent, attractive woman like you is living out of a suitcase.
TERESE: You know, I'd rather we didn't discuss personal matters at work.
So Ezra tries to woo her with a dinner invitation tonight instead. Despite his best persuasive efforts, Terese says she can't, and makes an excuse to leave.
Ramsay Street
Brad walks down the No 22 driveway, and Terese stops to talk to him. He's on his way to the school; she suggests they have a coffee together first, but he rebuffs her, and says he can't see her later either, as he's doing some extra tutoring to help pay off Josh's legal fees. They end up arguing, as Terese thinks Brad's being deliberately difficult, and Brad thinks Terese is being unreasonable by expecting him to drop his commitments now she suddenly wants to talk. Terese retorts that she has a lot of her own commitments too, with the festival.
BRAD: And how's that going? The old festival gurus, yeah? Reunited.
Brad's clearly still bitter about the past, and doesn't buy Terese's assertion that her work with Ezra is strictly professional.
TERESE: Are you going to make the time or not? Because I have a perfectly good dinner invitation if our marriage is too much for you to fit into your busy schedule.
BRAD: You go to dinner, if that's what you want.
TERESE: Brad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.
BRAD: No, you forget it, Terese. I am not going to compete for my own wife. I give up.
TERESE: What are you saying?
BRAD: I'm saying I give up.
TERESE: So that's it?
BRAD: If that's what you want.
TERESE: Well obviously you do. I guess we're done then.
Terese walks off.
No 26
Georgia, Naomi and Bossy are looking at wedding photos on the laptop. Naomi thanks Georgia for not telling Toadie that she still had feelings for him.
GEORGIA: Don't be silly. You'd already left, and we didn't want to rock the boat for no reason.
Naomi apologises again for not making the wedding, but Georgia says she's glad Naomi took the time to get her head straight. Naomi claims she didn't think about Toadie much while she was away, and says her heart is now well and truly mended.
Harold's Store
Karl is rather crassly making the argument for a pet based on the positive impact on mental health, presumably guessing that Susan is still worrying about Nate.
KARL: So you wouldn't just be buying me a Christmas gift - you'd be buying a vital therapeutic measure for the entire household.
SUSAN: Do you reckon a pet would help Nate?
KARL: Oh, yeah, yeah. The more the merrier. Pet shop's got a deal on guinea-pigs at the moment.
SUSAN: Forget it, Karl, forget it. With you it starts with a guinea-pig, and ends with a zoo. But if Nate were to choose a pet for himself, maybe a dog or something...
KARL: In my medical opinion, a dog would be marvellous for Nate.
Susan tells Karl what Chris said about Nate having nightmares, and admits she's worried his counselling isn't working for him. Karl says to give it time, and if he doesn't improve they can see what they can do to help.
The Waterhole
Toadie offers to walk a distressed Sonya to work. Naomi arrives, sees the Rebecchis, and sits discreetly by the exit so they don't spot her.
SONYA: I feel like I'm being watched all the time.
TOADIE: Yeah, well hopefully Matt will sort out who's been sending these texts very soon.
Toadie tells Sonya to tell the police straight away if she gets another one. Naomi watches furtively from a distance as he comforts her.
No 26
Georgia is tidying up Naomi's clothes that are strewn about the place. She goes to put them back in the suitcase, but is shocked to find one of the red poison pen envelopes in the case, addressed to The Resident, 26 Ramsay Street. Sure enough, inside the envelope is one of the anonymous letters, which reads: 'Sonya stole money from her own son!' Georgia also finds a receipt for Adama Apartments in Melbourne, showing that Naomi has been staying there - and not in Hawaii - since 17 October.
No 30
Georgia has taken this new evidence straight to Toadie and Mark, both of whom seem remarkably slow to conclude that Naomi might be the letter-writer.
TOADIE: She's got no reason to attack Sonya - not anymore.
GEORGIA: Oh, maybe she does. I found out a while back that she left Ramsay Street because she was still in love with you.
Georgia also seems to want to believe that Naomi's innocent, arguing that Naomi did tell her she was over Toadie earlier today. Mark doesn't think they have enough evidence to go accusing Naomi, but Toadie says Naomi is the only person with any motive. He rushes off to confront Naomi, leaving Mark and Georgia to look after Nell, and asking them not to tell Sonya about this.
The Waterhole
Paul is lending a sympathetic ear to Terese again, as she describes her row with Brad. Paul blatantly tries to steer her away from her marriage and towards Ezra, and Terese admits he's invited her to dinner tonight.
PAUL: And the problem with that is...?
TERESE: Err, that I'm married!
PAUL: No, from what you just told me, you're separated.
TERESE: I'm still married to Brad! And having dinner with another man just doesn't feel right, separated or not.
PAUL: He gave you permission.
TERESE: Not really. Although he certainly didn't make much of an effort to talk me out of it.
PAUL: Does that really surprise you?
TERESE: What do you mean?
PAUL: Oh, come on. Look, Brad is a nice enough guy, and he's a good dad. But does he really put much effort into anything else? Here's you, a dynamic and driven woman who's got aspirations and goals. But he, on the other hand, is not like you - not even in the slightest. Now, you know that, I know that - and finally he knows it. Now it may be harsh; it may not be what you want to hear. But I'm telling you as a friend that your life with Brad is over.
Lassiter's Complex
Night. Susan is on the phone in the car park.
SUSAN: Yeah, Karl, I said we could consider a turtle. That doesn't mean you go and buy one now.
As she speaks to Karl, she sees Nate heading off into the bushes by the lake with a shovel in his hand, and quickly ends the conversation with Karl. Toadie approaches, asking if she's seen Naomi, but Susan says she didn't even know she was back in town. She then asks Toadie if Nate's been doing any work at night for Sonya in the nursery, as he claimed this morning.
TOADIE: No. Not that I know of, sorry.
Susan looks suspiciously at the trees Nate walked into.
Meanwhile, Terese and Ezra are crossing the courtyard. She needs to fetch some documents from her room so they can continue to work, but Ezra suggests they work in her room instead. Terese hesitantly agrees, and Paul, who has been earwigging from a nearby table, smiles as they walk into the hotel together and go up in the lift.
Beyond the trees
Susan spies on Nate, and is shocked to find him digging a hole with the shovel. Nate hears whoops from nearby revellers, and breaks off digging to go and investigate. This allows Susan an opportunity to inspect the hole he's been digging, accompanied all the while by an underscore that sounds like a hamster running across a drum machine. It's a fairly big, deep hole - more like a grave, really - and of course Susan trips and topples into it!
Lassiter's
In Terese's suite, she and Ezra are still talking about their festival pitch. But having poured them each a glass of wine, he suddenly shuts her laptop, and raises a toast.
EZRA: Pinot still your favourite?
TERESE: Mmm. You remembered.
EZRA: How could I forget? We shared quite a few back in the day. Remember that night at the cricket club?
TERESE: The impromptu flash mob!
EZRA: And you giving up and joining in!
TERESE: No thanks to the Pinot! Oh, that was really embarrassing.
EZRA: Why? It was one of the best things I've ever seen!
TERESE: Oh, really?
EZRA: Yeah. I still think about it. And you.
He goes in to kiss her, and she moves towards him too.
TERESE: Wait. I - I can't do this.
EZRA: Terese, come on.
TERESE: No, I still love my husband. This isn't right.
EZRA: I think it is.
But Terese insists it's a mistake and apologises, before opening the door and asking him to leave - she wants to be alone. Ezra picks up his jacket and walks towards the door, then stops. They stare at each other for some time - then he drops his jacket again, and closes the door, remaining inside the suite.
No 30
Sonya and Mark are preparing dinner, but Nell is crying from Sonya and Toadie's bedroom - so Mark goes off to read her 'The Hungry Caterpillar'. Sonya retrieves her phone.
Beyond the trees
The noise having dispersed, Nate returns to the hole he's dug and begins to shovel dirt back into it - which we see clattering onto Susan's blue jacket below.
No 30
Sonya calls Toadie to tell him dinner's almost ready.
The Waterhole
Toadie tells Sonya there's someone he needs to see first. As Naomi comes in, he tells Sonya he'll be home soon.
No 30
Sonya says okay, and hangs up.
The Waterhole
Toadie walks towards Naomi.
No 30
Sonya puts her phone down, and suddenly gets a text.
The Waterhole
Toadie confronts Naomi.
TOADIE: What the hell are you playing at? Where do you get off sending those poisonous letters and texts to my wife?
No 30
Sonya reads the message, this time from a discernible number. It reads: 'How's Nell? A bit restless tonight is she?'
The Waterhole
TOADIE: And lying about being in Hawaii for the past five weeks?
NAOMI: I didn't!
TOADIE: Oh, really? What, so I suppose that's not yours, is it?
He waves the evidence Georgia found in her face.
No 30
Noticing the number the message came from, Sonya decides to call it. To her horror, she hears a ringtone coming from her bedroom, where Nell and Mark are supposed to be. She rushes to the bedroom door, calling for Mark, but the door's obstructed somehow and keeps springing back, so she can't get in the room.
SONYA: Mark, are you in there?!
Beyond the trees
Nate continues to shovel dirt into the hole, on top of an unconscious Susan! Could this be a grave end for our favourite stickybeak?
No 30
The phone continues to ring, as Sonya struggles with the blocked door.
SONYA: Mark? Who's in there?! Who's in there?! Mark? Nell? Nellyfish?
Nell begins to cry from behind the door, as Sonya gets increasingly upset.
SONYA: Hey, Nelly, Nelly, it's okay, sweetheart. It's alright, I'm coming.
But Sonya can't open the door despite her best efforts, and starts screaming and banging at the door.
SONYA: Please let me in! Let me in!
Unmissable Drama
- Nate continues to bury an unconscious Susan
- A gown- clad Terese sobs in the hotel bathroom
- Brad arrives to find a sad- looking Terese sitting on the bed, and asks if 'this was a revenge thing'
- Sonya calls the police as she continues to throw herself at the jammed door