Erinsborough Hospital
Karl tells Jack that Rena is worried Nikki might do something stupid to Paige, as she blames her for what happened to Angelina. They both worry for Paige's safety, as she isn't answering her phone. Jack leaves a voicemail, telling her to call as soon as she can.

The titles roll.

Blaze Outreach
Nikki is still challenging Paige to a fight.

PAIGE: You don't have to do this, Nikki.
NIKKI: I do, if I want you to get what you deserve.
PAIGE: And what happens when the police charge you with assault? What's your mum going to say after everything that she's gone through?
NIKKI: Put your fists up.
PAIGE: No.
NIKKI: I said, put them up!
PAIGE: I know how you feel.

Nikki slams Paige into the wall, and tells her to shut up.

PAIGE: My brother died a few months ago, right in front of me.
NIKKI: I told you to shut up!
PAIGE (emotional): And there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him. I miss him all the time. And I can't change it. I can't go back. I can't even talk about him because it hurts too much. And the only thing I'm capable of doing is throwing myself into other things to make the pain go away.
NIKKI: I just don't want to lose her.
PAIGE (crying): I know.
NIKKI: It won't work without her.

They hug, both crying.

No 26
Madison is modelling her job interview outfit for an impressed-looking Xanthe and Terese. Madison asks Terese if she's sure she's okay with her going for the job; Terese repeats that of course she is. Ben and Piper come in to join them. Madison gets a text from Uncle Paul, saying, 'brunch tomorrow sounds great.'

MADISON (to Terese): Can I take you out to brunch tomorrow? To say thank you for everything you've done for me?

Terese says she'll check her schedule.

MADISON: No need. I organise your schedule, and we can do brunch.
TERESE: Brunch it is!

Madison shows Ben photos of their accommodation on the Gold Coast. Xanthe admits to a degree of FOMO (fear of missing out) about not being able to go, and wonders whether she should talk to Susan again. Terese wishes her luck, and leaves. Piper doesn't think Susan will change her mind either, and Madison suggests Xanthe ask Gary instead, since he's 'way softer than Susan and Sheila'.

XANTHE: Of course, guys, I never even thought of that! It's official - I'm coming to the Gold Coast with you.

Blaze Outreach
Jack storms in and finds Nikki sitting alone. He loudly demands to know where Paige is, and what she's done to her. At that moment, an unharmed Paige comes in, and insists to Jack that she and Nikki have just been talking.

PAIGE (smiling): I'm sorry that you were so worried.
JACK: ...

Nikki gets a call from the hospital...

No 26
Sheila is riding on an exercise bike.

SHEILA: I don't know what all the fuss is about. I'm hardly out of breath and I've been doing this for ten minutes.

Gary turns up the resistance.

GARY: Exercise isn't meant to be fun, Mum.

Sheila encourages Gary to go over to see Terese, and ask her on another date. Gary says he's apologised for cancelling their last date and that the ball's in Terese's court. Sheila insists Terese 'likes a go-getter', but Gary wants to handle it his way. Sheila says he needs to be more assertive.

Xanthe comes in just as Sheila leaves the room, and asks Gary if he'll let her go to the Gold Coast with Ben and Madison. Gary says Susan's not keen, so Xanthe will just have to 'suck this one up'.

The Waterhole
Leo is playing darts, when David turns up, explaining he got held up at the hospital.

LEO: Next time, text. Time is money, you know.
DAVID: Actually, time is the indefinite continued progress of existence. But I take your point.
LEO: Whatever, nerd.

Leo suggests they get some food, but David says he can't stay - he needs to check up on Angelina.

LEO: You're not getting paid for any of this. You are aware of that, right?
DAVID: You are aware that not everything's about money, right?
LEO: Okay, now you're just being offensive. Go on - go.
DAVID: Sorry.
LEO: It's fine. Your good deed stories would've put me off my food anyway. But you're getting dinner.
DAVID: Send me the bill.
LEO: Don't think I won't.

David leaves, and Leo sits down to look at the menu.

LEO: Pub grub. Great (!)

Paul, who has been sitting at the bar, overhears him.

PAUL: Not your favourite fare?
LEO: I have adventurous taste-buds. Chips and parmas doesn't really excite me.

Paul introduces himself, and hands Leo a menu for The Flame Tree restaurant at the motel.

LEO: I said my taste-buds were adventurous. Not suicidal. Have you read their review in the local paper?
PAUL: That paper's biased.
LEO: Still, I'd rather play it safe.

Paul wanders off, disgruntled.

Erinsborough Hospital
Karl and David update Paige, Jack and Nikki on Angelina's condition. Dr Adisa has managed to excise the tumour completely, but they won't know whether there has been significant brain damage until Angelina wakes up.

PAIGE: Is there anything else you want to know?
NIKKI: She's alive right now. That's all I really care about.

Paige goes over to David and gleefully thanks him for everything he's done. Jack watches jealously, and Nikki notices.

NIKKI: You were pretty full-on back there. I thought you would have flattened me.
JACK: Paige is a good friend.
NIKKI: Didn't know you lot were allowed good friends.

Jack continues to watch jealously as Paige hugs David enthusiastically.

Lassiter's Complex
The next day, outside Harold's, Madison breaks the news to Terese that Paul will be joining them for brunch - just moments before Paul arrives.

PAUL: Let me guess - you thought this was brunch for two, didn't you?
TERESE: I've only just learned that it isn't.

Madison apologises, saying she would have told her earlier, but suspected she wouldn't come if she had. Paul sits down and they go over the menu. Sheila is passing, and points out to Gary, who is working, that unlike him, Paul isn't waiting around for Terese to come to him.

GARY: Mum, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not Paul.
SHEILA: Oh, and I'm very glad that you're not. But sometimes you could take a leaf out of his book.
GARY: Mum...
SHEILA: No, sometimes you have to fight for what you want. Now, do you want Terese or not?
GARY: I don't need you running my private life!
SHEILA: I think someone has to!
GARY: I'm gonna say this one last time - butt out, okay?

Sheila marches off.

Erinsborough Hospital
Karl and David let Nikki in to see Angelina. Paige follows her in. Angelina's still hooked up to a lot of equipment, but Karl explains that she can feel and hear Nikki.

NIKKI: I'm so proud of you, girl. Keep fighting for us, okay? We love you like crazy, so you have to come through this.

Angelina squeezes Nikki's hand. David says it's a good sign, and that Nikki should keep talking. As she does, the camera closes in on Paige, who is looking increasingly emotional.

Lassiter's Complex
Paul is getting impatient as the food hasn't arrived, and things are very awkward between him and Terese. Madison tries desperately to make conversation, but brings up Lassiter's sponsorship of Blaze Outreach, causing a full-blown argument between the pair, as Paul accuses Terese of stealing the sponsorship from him, and Terese points out that he stole it from her in the first place.

PAUL: You know what? One of these days, Terese, you're going to use your own tactics instead of borrowing mine.
TERESE: Oh, seriously, Paul. You are the most arrogant man I've ever met.
PAUL: Oh, is that right?
TERESE: Yes it is!
MADISON: Guys! Seriously! Can't you just spend twenty minutes together without behaving like children? I'm sorry. I love you guys, but I can't sit here and listen to this. I'm going home to pack.

Madison leaves, and Paul and Terese look thoroughly ashamed of themselves - for about a second, until their slanging match continues!

PAUL: Are you happy now?
TERESE: I hope you're proud of yourself.
PAUL: Oh, hey, it takes two to tango, sweetheart.
TERESE: Tell me, have you ever willingly taken responsibility for your appalling behaviour in life?
PAUL: Have you?

Erinsborough Hospital
Nikki is still by Angelina's bedside. Outside, Karl thanks David for getting Dr Adisa involved.

KARL: Between the two of you, you saved that girl's life.
DAVID: We both know it could've gone the other way.
KARL: Yes. And thank god it didn't.

David leaves to visit his great-grandma. Ben and Xanthe come in to see Karl.

BEN: How would you feel about talking to Grandma about letting Xanthe come on the Gold Coast trip?
KARL: You know how she feels about that.
BEN: I know, I know. But statistically, female teens are more mature and less impulsive than males. So having Xanthe along would be an insurance policy.
KARL (laughing): Is that right?
XANTHE: Yes, and I also know heaps of good places to eat. So technically, I'm like a money-saver!
KARL: Okay. Economical and safety-conscious too. You know, if you were a car, everyone would want one.
BEN: Plus, this would be an awesome adventure for us both. I mean, we'd learn valuable life skills.
KARL: Yeah, I think that's what Susan's worried about!

But Karl agrees to talk to Susan nonetheless. Ben and Xanthe are excited.

KARL: Just don't get your hopes up, alright? This is Susan Kennedy we're talking about.
BEN: We have faith in you, Grandad.

They leave.

KARL (sighing): Hormones!

Lassiter's
Gary apologises to Terese for cancelling their date the other day, explaining that Kyle was back in town and he wanted to spend some time with him. He explains how important his kids are to him, and Terese understands - they joke about wrapping them in cotton wool, but conversation quickly dries up.

TERESE: Look, I don't know if you're free later. But maybe you'd like to grab a coffee?
GARY: Yeah. Sure. Coffee'd be great.
TERESE: Great.

They go their separate ways - managerial heights and janitorial groundwork - but Terese looks back at Gary with interest as he leaves.

Erinsborough Hospital
Paige is sitting outside on a bench, when Jack comes to join her. Paige is crying, but she tells Jack they are tears of relief that Angelina has pulled through.

PAIGE: Except my relief is also for me. That I didn't kill her in the ring. I mean, how selfish is that?
JACK: You're not selfish. A selfish person wouldn't have fronted up to Angelina's family, and copped all the flack they threw at her. A selfish person would have run and kept on running. You're too brave for that. You never hold back, you never quit. Even if you might get hurt. You're amazing.
PAIGE: You really think that?
JACK: Of course I do.

Jack puts a comforting arm on her shoulder.

No 26
Xanthe gleefully tells Gary that Karl is going to talk to Susan about her going to the Gold Coast. But Gary swiftly bursts her bubble.

GARY: Even if Susan says yes, I don't want you going to Queensland.
XANTHE: Why not?
GARY: Because you're too young, and I don't like the idea of you and Ben spending time alone together.
XANTHE: Madison's going to be there too.
GARY: We both know that doesn't make any difference.

Xanthe protests that the Gold Coast is her home town; she wants to create new memories there with Ben.

GARY: Princess, you're sixteen.
XANTHE: You just don't want me to be happy. I'm your love-child. You never wanted me. You probably don't even love me.
GARY: Oh, do you really think that's the best way to get me to agree to this? I remember what it was like being a teenager, but you don't need to rush into anything, sweetheart.

Xanthe accuses Gary of U-turning, as he'd said he'd let her go if the Kennedys said yes.

GARY: That's because I thought they'd say no.
XANTHE: What, so you don't even have the guts to do your own dirty work?
GARY: I'm doing it now!
XANTHE: What if I called you every hour?
GARY: There's nothing you can say that's gonna get me to change my mind!
XANTHE: Why are you doing this to me?
GARY: Because I love you, and I don't want you doing something you might regret!
XANTHE: Well, I hate you, and I wish you'd never got out of prison!

Xanthe marches off in a strop.

Harold's Café
Paige and Nikki are hanging out, apparently BFFs now. Nikki explains that her mum is sitting with Angelina, and she wanted to give them some time alone. Jack comes in, and invites Nikki to come with him to Blaze to hang out with the cool kids.

NIKKI: I'm just not into all that churchy stuff.

Jack explains that Blaze isn't affiliated with the church - he just works in a counselling capacity there. Nikki suggests that Paige come with them after her shift's finished. She agrees. Once they're alone, Jack asks Paige if she's sure she wants to.

PAIGE: I feel like I owe it to Angelina to look after Nikki until she's back on her feet.

No 28
Madison is saying her goodbyes to Xanthe and Piper as Ben packs. Everyone's talking as if she's already got the job. A taxi horn beeps, and Madison and Piper rush outside. Ben promises to text Xanthe when he gets there, and they kiss, resolving to have their own Gold Coast trip on another occasion. Ben bids her goodbye (leaving Xanthe alone in his house!)

Erinsborough Hospital
Karl and David are having a chat in an office, while eating what is presumably more of David's great-grandma's food! He says he'll only be in Erinsborough until she starts to get better. His residency at Sydney is on hold till then. Karl admits he's been checking up on David, and says he has a very impressive reputation for a first-year.

DAVID (apparently without irony): That means a lot from someone working here. This is a top hospital.

Karl logs onto the hospital website to show David, saying there are often trainee positions advertised. But David watches closely as Karl types in his password, and appears to be memorising it. Leo turns up to pick up David, and David introduces him to Karl as his brother, before the two leave. Outside in the corridor...

LEO: Why are you always hanging around here?
DAVID: Hiobaa-chan, remember, she's sick?
LEO: The old witch is asleep most of the time! Although, when she's not, she can't get enough of her David-kun, can she?
DAVID: ...
LEO: Are you interested in someone here or something?
DAVID: It's not what you think.

Leo suddenly becomes serious.

LEO: Oh, tell me you're not. You're supposed to be the smart one - don't put yourself through this.
DAVID: I'm not having this argument with you again, okay?
LEO: David, I -
DAVID: Leave it, I said.

Leo looks worried.

Lassiter's Complex
As they drink their (takeaway) coffee on the date, Gary is talking to Terese about Xanthe's tantrum earlier, resulting in Gary's first 'I hate you' from his daughter.

TERESE: Congratulations. It usually means you're doing something right.
GARY: How about 'I wish you were still in prison'? What does that mean?
TERESE: That's the same as 'I wish you were dead'.
GARY: Ouch. Who said that, Piper?
TERESE: Erm, Josh, actually.
GARY: Oh. Sorry.
TERESE: Don't be. It's good to talk about him. So, erm, this isn't exactly what I imagined our date would be like.
GARY: It's not exactly what I had planned.
TERESE: Oh? You had a plan?
GARY: More of an outline, really.
TERESE: Oh. Well go on, let's hear it.
GARY: Well, I was hoping it would be a warm night. Thought we'd get some fish and chips, take a walk down by the lake. Talk for a bit, before I took you home.
TERESE: Oh. It's romantic. It's low-key, but it's romantic. There was no mention of a goodnight kiss?
GARY: I wouldn't kiss you. Not on the second date.
TERESE: Well, that's very gentlemanly of you.
GARY: I'm no gentleman. I figure you're too used to getting what you want when you want it. You can't be in charge all the time.
TERESE: ... So, erm, when would you kiss me?
GARY: That would be telling. But when I did, I'd kiss you the way you deserve to be kissed. And I wouldn't stop until you begged me.
TERESE: What if I didn't?
GARY: You would.

There's a sustained pause as they stare into one another's eyes.

GARY: I should go.
TERESE: No.
GARY: Thanks for the coffee.

There's an almost-kiss, but true to the plan, Gary resists and walks on his way.

No 26
Sheila and Xanthe are in their dressing gowns, watching TV. Sheila announces that she's going to bed, and leaves the room. But the moment she's gone, Xanthe gets on the phone and orders a taxi. Then she slips out of her dressing gown to reveal a dress underneath! She grabs a bag and shoes, and hurries out of the house.

Promo
- Xanthe arrives at the Gold Coast
- Madison is hanging out with Lucy
- Dolphins!
- Ben, Xanthe and Madison on the beach. Madison asks if Gary knows she's here
- More dolphins, as Xanthe gets a well- timed selfie of her and Ben
- Madison looking worried
- Steph gets a call from a mate, and tells Mark she has to go and help them out
- Elly watches suspiciously, and later tells Mark about Regan's husband being in jail
- Steph arrives at Warrinor Prison for a visit...