No.32 Backyard
Lauren pulls away from the kiss.

LAUREN: I don't think you understand; I don't want this at all.
NED: But we have a connection...
LAUREN: I think this is in your imagination.
NED: No no no, you felt this, I know you have!
LAUREN: You're making me feel really uncomfortable.

On that note, Lauren escapes Ned, who looks dejected.

Cue the opening titles

No.26
Returning home from the clinic, Sheila lectures Xanthe that there is nothing wrong with her body, and can't understand why she'd want surgery. Piper and Ben rush over as they are also concerned for Xanthe. She isn't happy to see them and calls them 'some friends' for dobbing her in, pointing out that she'd already made the decision not get surgery before Sheila had arrived, and she storms off to her room. Piper suggests that Xanthe has been influenced by all the Photoshopped images she sees on social media all the time. Sheila is quick to blame Aaron, but Piper jumps to his defence and says that this issue is with Xanthe.

Lassiter's Complex
Ned confronts Brad and Terese and accuses Brad of having another affair. Terese is quick to dismiss the idea, and Brad explains that they were at the motel to talk to Steph about Paul's disappearance. Ned reluctantly accepts his explanation, but points out that they still spend all of their time together, and that Brad belongs with Lauren. Terese has had enough of Ned's accusations and walks away. Brad tries to explain to Ned that him and Terese are processing something difficult.

NED: You have spent your whole life cheating, and you expect me to believe that?
BRAD: It's the truth!
NED: Yeah, and I bet you told that to Mum, and Terese, and every other woman while you went and slept around behind their backs.

Ned tells Brad that he owes Lauren a proper explanation, and announces that he's going to tell her exactly what he saw. Brad calls out to Ned, and promises to tell him the truth.

No.28
Nate tells Susan that he's out to help with the search to find Paul, and comments that he's missed this sort of work. He gets a phone call from Aaron but ignores it and heads out, passing Sheila, who bursts in pointing an accusatory finger at Angus. She berates him for encouraging Xanthe to get surgery, but Susan quickly jumps to Angus' defence and dismisses Sheila, saying that she's made her point.

SUSAN: You have made some mistakes with Xanthe. This is not one of them, alright?
ANGUS: Then when do I feel like it is?

The Waterhole
In a quiet corner and in hushed voices, Brad finishes telling Ned all about Terese's bribe for Cecilia's fake testimony. Ned says he understands both of their motivations, and Brad insists that he'd do the same for him or Lauren. Brad makes Ned promise that he won't tell anyone - not even Lauren - and Ned agrees. He apologises to Brad for his behaviour, and Brad says that they'll get justice for Josh by finding Paul.

Bush
In the middle of somewhere, Paul sits on a log and anxiously looks over his shoulder.

No.28
Angus tells Susan that he's not used to people being nice to him, but Susan reminds Angus that he's family.

ANGUS: When I accused Karl of being my father, a part of me wished it was true.
SUSAN: I'm sure that your real dad loves you, and I know that your mum does.
ANGUS: If my parents cared about me, I wouldn't be here.
SUSAN: It wasn't easy for her to leave you here, but she does love you, and she just wants what's best for you.
ANGUS: I don't know...
SUSAN: It's the truth.

Bush
Paul hears footsteps, and frantically hides behind a tree. Jacka appears, and Paul asks for passport in exchange for money. Jacka asks for $7k, and Paul requests to use his phone so it can't be traced.

Harold's
Nate enters holding a walky-talky, and says that there's no sign of Paul around the complex. Steph gets a call herself - it's Paul, who tells her to act discreetly, and asks if she'll meet him with $5k. Steph looks worried and says she'll let him know.

No.28
Sheila returns and apologises to Susan for her previous rant, whilst Ben listens in at the dining table. Sheila confesses her fears that she's to blame for Xanthe's desire for surgery, because she isn't parenting her properly. Susan insists that Xanthe's self-esteem issues would have been triggered long ago, and Sheila supposes that Xanthe's image-obsessed mother Brooke is probably to blame.

SUSAN: At least now she's got a good role-model. You!
SHEILA: Really, you think so?
SUSAN: Yes! You're independent, you're strong. You don't subscribe to stereotypes about how women should look or behave.
SHEILA: Is that because I'm way too old, and past all that?
SUSAN: Oh, no! It's because you've got it in perspective, Xanthe doesn't. She just needs to learn how to feel comfortable in her own body.

Sheila thanks Susan for her help, and Susan comes out with maybe the most clichéd Australian line ever...

SUSAN: No worries, Sheila!

Lassiter's Complex
Jacka is on the phone to someone Dodgy™ and tells them that if he gives Paul a fake passport, he'll get caught at immigration. Elsewhere Ned is apologising to Lauren and Brad for causing them both stress. Brad tells him everything is forgiven and forgotten, but Lauren looks very sheepish and ducks back to Harold's.

Bush
Paul is glad to see Steph arrive and asks if she has the money, but Steph insists that he has to come home. She reminds Paul that if he hands himself she won't lose the motel as it's his bail deposit, and he won't look so guilty either. Paul promises to sign over his share of the motel in exchange for the $5k, but Steph says she won't lie to Mark and won't risk getting caught or she'll lose 'my boy'.

STEPH: You're asking me to break the law.
PAUL: No, I'm asking you to protect an innocent man. You know I didn't blow up the hotel, but you're happy to see me locked up for it!

Paul reminds Steph that they've both been to prison, and know how bad it is - if he goes back, it will destroy him, and pleads for Steph's help.

No.26
Xanthe is writing in her journal, but is interrupted when Ben steps in. She tells him that she doesn't want a lecture, but Ben tells her that he wants to know what's going on.

BEN: Where does it come from?
XANTHE: I guess I've always felt ugly growing up. Especially living on the Gold Coast, everyone's really attractive up there.
BEN: What, and you're not?
XANTHE: No, not compared to them. I'm hideous.
BEN: That's ridiculous, how could you even think that?
XANTHE: Mum did. When I was ten, I went to a friend's birthday party and she wouldn't let me eat anything. She thought I was fat. She said, "if I don't tell you, no one else will. You need to start losing weight, or else you'll never find a man".
BEN: You were ten? Look, for the record, you're not fat. I doubt you've ever been close to being fat.

Xanthe tells Ben that she probably got trolled online because she's fat, but Ben insists that the bullies are the ones with the problem. Xanthe confesses that she trolled herself.

XANTHE: I just thought that if I was pretty and famous, that I would have proof to people that I wasn't fat and ugly. And I know that sounds silly, and plastic surgery is stupid and extreme, but I just had a total brain-freeze, as you'd expect.

Ben insists that although Xanthe can frustrate him, it's all part of her charm, and gives her a pep-talk to tell herself she's beautiful.

No. 32 Backyard
Piper and Tyler are chilling in the pool, and Piper says she can't believe that her parents haven't forced her to remove her tattoo. They start flirting around, but get interrupted by a notification on Piper's phone - Xanthe wants to talk. Tyler wishes her luck as Ned heads to the pool. He tells Tyler that he's made a mistake with the older woman that she liked. Tyler advises him to move on, but Ned insists that he can't.

No.26
Piper arrives and apologises for being a rubbish friend. Xanthe thanks her for coming to her rescue, and seems to have perked up after Ben's pep-talk. The two make up Xanthe says that they're still BFFs forever, just as Sheila totters in to deliver the girls a lesson about loving themselves.

SHEILA: We are all beautiful! Every single scar, wrinkle and sun spot! I know that it's hard to imagine, but this beautiful body before you is covered in stretch marks, but I gave birth to my wonderful children, and breastfed all of them!
PIPER: Oh wow, that's...
SHEILA: Yes, but I'm really proud of this! Do you know what I'm saying?
XANTHE: Yes, we need to love ourselves...
SHEILA: Yes, we are women, hear us roar!

Xanthe and Piper stare at each other in disbelief as Sheila roars and draws them into her bosom for a hug.

No.32 Backyard
Lauren tells Ned that she needs to tell Brad about the kiss. Ned pleads for her not to destroy his relationship with Brad, but Lauren says that she's not comfortable lying to him.

NED: Please, I only just got my father back. Don't take him from me again.

No.30
Steph is chilling with Charlie in the lounge and discreetly collects the statement from Paul in her bag, signing over his half of the motel. She opens an envelope filled with cash and looks uncertain about what she should do.

Preview
- Jimmy warns Paul that the police will find him soon
- Paul and Jimmy flee the police
- Jimmy is stung by something and has a bad reaction
- Toadie shows Sonya the accident report from her parent's crash
- Sonya asks Walter if he was in the car with her parents