Previously
- Brad tells Sonya he's heard the lease for Off Air is up, and it would be ideal for Blaze Outreach. Yay(!)
- Toadie tells Sonya that afternoon delight will solve their problems.
- Someone greets Amy as Anika
- Aaron tells Paige he's not sure about her seducing a priest
- John reminds Paige that he made a vow, and he has to keep it until he's made a decision
- Paige goes swimming, topless
- Father Vincent tells Paige that Jack is a good man, and good men aren't interested in girls like her.
No 32 garden
Paige has put a top on over her dress. Jack turns up and apologises for being late. She's a bit offhand and says that Brad was looking for him. He asks if she's OK.
PAIGE: Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?
No 32
Lauren assures Paige that it was just a gentle warning.
PAIGE: He made me feel like the evil temptress.
LAUREN: Yeah, well, I'm not sure that dressing to seduce Jack was the best idea in the first place.
You and me both, Lauren.
Paige, though, says she's allowed... otherwise it's not fair.
PAIGE: God has Father Vincent on his side. What do I have?
LAUREN: Oh, beauty, brains and a young man who thinks you're pretty wonderful.
Paige doesn't think that's enough and says she'll just have to avoid him.
"Doug Out"
Jack and Brad are discussing ideas for Blaze at Off Air. Lauren and Paige come out and Brad gives them the good news that Jack is on board.
BRAD: So we're gonna be seeing a lot more of him.
Jack grins broadly and Paige smiles awkwardly.
Waterhole
Madison and Amy are having cocktails. Madison is concerned because the editor is bugging her for "sexy" stories. If she doesn't come up with something, she could lose her job. Paul arrives and says they wouldn't get rid of a promising journalist. Madison leaves, and Amy tells him flattery is not going to fix things. She tells him he needs to talk to someone, because his problem is not going to go away.
Nearby, Tom is telling Aaron the Quills are struggling and he doesn't know how Aaron manages on what he earns. Aaron suggests public transport.
AARON: Come on, you have heard of buses and trains, right?
Paul arrives.
PAUL: Well, if it isn't the King of Lassiter's himself and his queen. Sorry, no offence Aaron.
TOM: Not offensive at all Paul(!)
Paul comments that Terese is running the place and Tom is just a puppet. Tom points out that actually *he* was responsible for hiring a new cleaning contractor. Paul is surprised and slopes off.
No 30
A flustered Toadie answers the door to Brad, who wants to see Sonya. Toadie tells him to come back tomorrow.
BRAD: You know when you're excited about something, you just want to jump right in...?
TOADIE: Yeah, yeah I do, actually.
BRAD: Yeah, if you don't make the most of the opportunity, you kinda lose momentum.
TOADIE: Right.
BRAD: And if it would help Sonya get on board, I could even get Jack over, and maybe some of the kids...
SONYA: Jarrod, hurry up.
TOADIE: I'm coming.
SONYA: I've got the chocolate sauce for you...
Brad grins and apologises, and Toadie claims it's for churros. Brad says he likes churros... but Toadie pushes him out.
No 26
Paul arrives to see Madison, who is not pleased to see him.
PAUL: But I come bearing gifts, well, metaphorically speaking. I've got a scoop for you.
He tells her about the new cleaning contractors. She thinks it might hurt Terese and he assures her it will help Terese since it was Tom who hired the company.
PAUL: And remember, if you don't write it, somebody else will.
No 30
Sonya comments to Toadie how she felt she was put on the spot regarding Blaze at the BBQ - and she was feeling friendly because they'd just TITTNL™. Now it was going to mean more work and a bun fight. Toadie says that if she'd already said it was a good idea then she should support it.
TOADIE: ...and let them throw buns.
Sonya says there are so many demands that it's hard to know which are worthwhile, and it's all time away from him and Nell. Toadie reminds her she won't be Mayor forever and she wants to make it count. She's impressed he listened to her, and they go off to the bedroom.
Waterhole
Madison tells Amy she doesn't want to follow up on Paul's story.
MADISON: It's like going to the dark side.
AMY: And dad's Kylo Ren.
Amy says that getting a "shonky business" shut down wouldn't be a bad thing, and tells her to go for it.
At the next table, Jack is asking Aaron for tips on how to approach Sonya, since he has worked with her. Jack thinks that having the Citizen of the Year on board will help their cause. Aaron suggests Jack get the church involved.
AARON: After all you do have the Big Man on your side. Speaking of big men...
Tom arrives, then goes to the bar. Aaron explains to Jack that he's trying to teach Tom how to budget. Aaron asks about Paige, and Jack says she was a bit distant.
AARON: Ah, maybe she lost her nerve. She was hoping to get things happening with you. She wanted to sexify the state of play last night.
JACK: She told you that?
AARON: Yeah, but it's fine. She talks to me like I'm a girlfriend. She asked my opinion and I told her to go for it.
JACK: OK, this conversation is totally inappropriate.
Aaron says he thought that Jack was supposed to be exploring his options while he was on a break, but Jack tells him to stop.
No 32
Brad and Lauren are in the spa pool. He tells her that Jack is on board with Blaze. Lauren says it's going to make things awkward for Paige. Brad is surprised, but Lauren explains that things went awry at the BBQ. She suggests they should be sensitive and not have Jack around too often. He agrees and they kiss.
Harold's
Jack finds Paige in the kitchen.
JACK: I'd appreciate if you didn't treat my current dilemma as a communal joke.
PAIGE: Sorry?
JACK: By discussing with your mates whether to seduce the priest.
Paige claims she was just asking for advice, and accuses him of breaching her privacy by talking to Father Vincent, who had paid her a visit. She says he made her feel terrible, so she's giving up. He starts to help her with her apron, then he stops and says when he's around her, he can't think straight. She smiles to herself.
Off Air
Brad, Susan and Sonya come into the deserted bar. Susan leaves and Brad enthusiastically tells Sonya about his vision. She asks about insurance and maintenance, and Brad promises to find a sponsor. She says she will try but can't promise anything.
Waterhole
Aaron is chatting to Tom about cooking his own meals, when Madison approaches to ask Tom if Lassiter's are offering a sexy maid service. Tom denies it, and asks Madison to leave. Aaron tells her she can't publish anything. Tom stands up to leave, saying that they can't afford any more bad publicity. Aaron is upset that he caused the problem.
Off Air - outside
Brad is dragging a big wheelie-bin and Lauren asks if he really wants to be clearing up before he's got the go-ahead. He says they might have to do a presentation to council, so it would look better. Paige arrives with four coffees. She's very upbeat, and tells Lauren it's clear Jack feels the same way about her as she feels about him. So she's decided not to avoid him.
PAIGE: If I'm around him more, maybe he'll decide he can't fight it.
Father Vincent's Church
Jack challenges Father Vincent about why he spoke to Paige, saying his choices are between him and God. Vincent says that he needs to see the big picture. He went away partly to plan his retirement, as he has heart trouble.
FATHER VINCENT: When you came here, it seemed like divine providence.
He says the church needs Jack and it's pretty clear what God intended.
Off Air
Sonya tells Brad that they can use Off Air for the three months until the lease runs out, but afterwards there's no guarantee. Jack arrives with Father Vincent, who has given him a reference. Sonya says if she can put that Jack is head counsellor, it's a deal. There's an awkward moment as Paige (who is cleaning) looks over at Brad. Then Brad says everything's fine. Paige and Jack share an awkward look.
No 22
Amy arrives to find Madison at her laptop - she has been working all night. Amy makes some coffee while Madison takes a look at the cleaners' website... and comes across Anika's picture.
MADISON: Woah!
AMY: Something juicy?
MADISON: Uh, no. I just er ...almost accidentally deleted something.
Promo
- Aaron asks Madison not to push the story
- Ryan tells Terese he'd like to talk to her. Outside, he tells her how attractive she is.
- Piper and Tyler kiss in a car
- Tyler says that society is heteronormative
- Belinda is back
