No 24
Mark is washing up (of course) while Tyler borrows a tablet from Paige - explaining that Piper wants to keep up her vlog while she's in hospital. Mark seems distracted, and admits he's 'worrying about people'.

PAIGE: Piper and David?
MARK: Among others.

He says the investigation into the backpackers' incident has stalled for now; they need a new lead to take it further. Tyler still thinks T-Bone may be responsible, and is frustrated that Mark hasn't chased him down yet, saying he could be halfway across the country now. Mark tells Tyler to leave it to the police, and storms off to his room. Paige tells Tyler to let Mark do his job.

No 28
Xanthe is on the hunt for choccies to take to Piper in hospital. Susan directs her to behind the potatoes, where she's taken to hiding them since Toadie moved back in. Ben is heading to the garage later, where he's covering for Tyler while he looks after Piper in hospital. It leads Susan to lament as to how awful the accident was.

ELLY: If you can call it that. Amy's ute didn't reverse itself into the building.
BEN: Are you saying she did this?
XANTHE: As if! Amy would never do something like that.
ELLY: Some people do crazy things when they have a broken heart. I know I've had my moments.

Susan hurries Xanthe and Ben towards the door - she's taking them to the hospital to see Piper. She offers Elly a lift too, but she has to go straight to school.

Finn turns up, wanting to take Elly for breakfast before school. She makes the excuse that she was going to take Xanthe and Ben to the hospital - but Xanthe points out that it was Susan who was taking them. Susan comes to the rescue, saying Elly can take them as she has things to do. Elly hurries out with the teens, telling Finn they'll catch up at school.

Susan invites Finn to walk to school with her to discuss the Year 9 social. He unenthusiastically agrees.

Erinsborough Backpackers
Leo is outside, on the phone to a guest, apologising for the backpackers' closure. Mark is examining Amy's ute, and find's Dipi's statue of the deity Ganesh in the glove compartment. A worried-looking Amy turns up, and asks how long they'll need her ute for - she needs it back so the insurance company can assess the damage. Mark says it will be a while; they're towing it to the police depot.

Leo sees Amy and starts having a go at her, saying she shouldn't be here because of what she's done to David, who might never be the same again. Amy continues to protest her innocence, but Leo makes it clear he doesn't believe her. Amy leaves, asking Mark to keep her in the loop.

Erinsborough Hospital
Xanthe and Elly are waiting to go in and see Piper, who's with family at the moment (in other words, Not In This Episodetm). Xanthe suggests Elly should go and visit David while they wait, but she says he's sleeping (also Not In This Episodetm).

XANTHE: It's a real shame that you and Mr Kelly couldn't go out to breakfast this morning.
ELLY: I'm sure he's fine. He's a big boy.
XANTHE: Yeah, but it's kind of sweet how he got up early to see you before school.
ELLY: We really shouldn't be talking about this.
XANTHE: I know that you and Mr Kelly have your issues, but I thought you were working through them? You shouldn't listen to everything Mrs K says, you know.
ELLY: I beg your pardon? What do you mean?
XANTHE: Well, I just don't think she really understands him. I mean, he has reasons for doing the things that he does, and it really upsets him when you push him away!
ELLY: You seem to know a lot about this.
XANTHE: No - I've just been getting a vibe.
ELLY: Has Mr Kelly been talking to you?
XANTHE: No, he hasn't.
ELLY: I know that we speak outside school, but that's because we're friends - we know each other. Mr Kelly should not be sharing personal information with you.
XANTHE: Well, he hasn't been. I swear on Emma Watson's cats' lives!

Unsurprisingly, Elly doesn't look all that reassured by this declaration. Xanthe runs off.

No 30
Sonya is on the phone to colleagues at the council. Shortly afterwards, Mark arrives; Sonya explains they're going to have to get a damage report done on the backpackers' as it's council property. But it turns out he's here to talk about her - revealing that Steph told him Sonya had a drink last week.

SONYA: She had no right to do that.
MARK: Son, she's worried about you.
SONYA: It was really - it was one slip.
MARK: Are you sure you didn't slip up again the other night? You can tell me. I just wish you'd told me the first time.
SONYA: No, really, I was sick. And Steph's just completely misconstruing things.

Mark warns Sonya how easy it could be for her to slip back into destructive patterns given the tough time she's had. She angrily tells him she knows that, but she has her AA meetings and support network - she's looking after herself.

MARK: I don't know that you are.
SONYA: Well, that's just not my problem, Mark. I'd really like you to go.
MARK: Son...

But she leaves the room, telling him to see himself out.

Harold's Café
Elly confronts Finn about his having inappropriate conversations with Xanthe about his private life. Finn denies gossiping with Xanthe, but admits he probably did say a bit too much about him and Elly.

FINN: You know what she's like. Asking a lot of questions, reading between the lines...
ELLY: You cannot discuss personal issues with a student.
FINN: Yeah, I know. But sometimes, you know, I just - I guess I try too hard to be all buddy-buddy. But haven't you had a similar experience? Getting too close with that kid who you lived with? I heard the rumours when I arrived.
ELLY: Yes, Angus had a crush on me. And the lines were a little bit blurred - for him. But I can see the same warning signs with Xanthe.

Finn says he'll talk to her; Elly insists he needs to be firm, and set boundaries, even if she doesn't like it. He assures her he will.

FINN: I'm sorry you got dragged into this. It won't happen again.

Erinsborough Hospital
Amy is making some kind of confession to Jack, but we only hear the second half of it.

AMY: I went back to the ute today, to try and sort it out. To cover myself. But Leo and Mark were there.
JACK: You didn't feel like you could just tell them about it?
AMY: Leo was accusing me again. I mean, other people probably are too. And I feel like if I come clean now, then I'll look dishonest, and people won't believe me about anything.
JACK: You have been through something that most people never have to deal with.
AMY: But that's just it. I haven't been through it - I'm still in it. Leo's always there, in the back of my mind, and it all gets too much. I feel like I don't recognise myself anymore. Hooking up with random guys, getting angry - and now this.
JACK: That's okay, because you're aware of that negative cycle, and you can stop that.
AMY: Maybe. But I still have to sort out this mess.
JACK: Well, I feel the best way to sort it out is just to be upfront.

Erinsborough High School
Elly is telling Susan about her concerns around Xanthe getting too close to Finn. She says Finn made out it was all on Xanthe's side, and Elly knows that's in Xanthe's personality - but she also wonders whether Finn has encouraged her. Elly says she knows Finn had every right to compare the situation to her and Angus - she did confide in Angus, after all.

ELLY: Finn is so focused on his career, he wouldn't risk it in this way.
SUSAN: He's also pretty focused on getting back together with you.
ELLY: What, so he's going to make Xanthe his PR manager?
SUSAN: Whatever his motivation, the bottom line is, he shouldn't be forming personal relationships with students.

Susan decides to check in with Xanthe and make sure she understands the boundaries. Elly offers to speak to her, but Susan says that's not a good idea. She suggests Elly should reassess her own relationship with Xanthe, too, and maybe pull it back a bit. Elly agrees. Susan adds that she'll talk to Finn too - she'll be interested to hear his version of events.

Robinson's Motel
Mark has been interviewing some of the rehoused backpackers to see if they could throw any light on the crash, but he tells Steph that they were all asleep at the time. He also admits he saw Sonya before, and that he told her he knew she'd been drinking again. Steph's annoyed, as she's worried Sonya won't trust her again now she knows she blabbed to Mark.

MARK: It's not like I'm some random person!
STEPH: No, it's worse! Now she's going to be humiliated knowing that her best friend thinks she's failed!
MARK: Well, that's not what I think.

But Steph's concerned that Sonya will keep drinking and shut down now she thinks she can't talk to her. Mark says Steph's being unreasonable; she couldn't have expected him to stay out of it.

MARK: Sonya and I are close.
STEPH: Well, then, you should have realised that you are not the right person to try and fix her.
MARK: Of course I am! I love her!
STEPH: ... What did you just say?
MARK: ... I said, I love her.

Steph asks how long this has been the case. He insists it wasn't while he and Steph were still together - he started developing feelings for Sonya around the time they lost the baby.

MARK: She doesn't feel the same. She never has.
STEPH: Good. Because Toad's our friend.
MARK: Toadie does not deserve her.
STEPH: He is trying to find his way back to her, and you cannot stand in the way of that. Oh, Mark, please tell me you're not harbouring hopes of her changing her mind?
MARK: No.
STEPH: Mark!
MARK: No, but I can't just switch my feelings off either.
STEPH: Well, you have to. Sonya's in a really bad way. And I believe getting her cleaned up and back with Toad is the best thing for her. If you really do love her, you need to let me make that happen.
MARK: Yeah, okay. I'll stay away.

No 26
Susan comes round to talk to Xanthe (and to silently judge the Cannings for not having taken the plastic wrapper off their new sofa yet). She quickly gets onto the topic of Finn, and asks if he and Xanthe ever go 'off-topic' in their study sessions and talk about personal things. Sensing where this is going, Xanthe asks if Elly has been talking to Susan.

Susan says Elly's just concerned that the atmosphere in Finn's study sessions may be a little too casual, but Xanthe insists they stay on topic 'like, 90% of the time'.

SUSAN: The other 10%?
XANTHE: ... Well, we talk a little bit. He came to town to win Elly back - it's romantic!
SUSAN: Xanthe, it's also an inappropriate conversation between a student and a teacher. He should never have allowed it.
XANTHE: Well, I'm the one who asked all the questions.
SUSAN: Even so, he should have shut it down. Has he ever made you feel uncomfortable in any way?
XANTHE: If you're implying that he's inappropriate - like, creepy old man inappropriate - then, never.
SUSAN: Well, there are different kinds of inappropriate behaviour. For instance, has he ever told you something, and then asked you not to tell anyone else?
XANTHE: ...
SUSAN: Xanthe, he should never say anything to you that he couldn't say to any other student.
XANTHE: Well, he hasn't. And even if he did - which he hasn't - I don't understand what the big deal is? Isn't it good that we get along?
SUSAN: Not if it's taking away from your study time.

Susan tells Xanthe she wants her to get a new tutor. Xanthe immediately starts apologising, saying she'll stop talking to Mr Kelly about personal matters and concentrate on her work.

SUSAN: Xanthe, you have nothing to apologise for. You've done nothing wrong. I just think you'll do better with somebody else.

Susan says she'll speak to Gary about it. Xanthe looks upset.

Harold's Café
Mark is on the phone to his sergeant, saying he's drawing a blank on the backpackers' investigation, and may have to reinterview the suspects. As he finishes the call, Sonya comes in and joins him.

SONYA: I'm sorry that I shut you out earlier (...) You've been such a good friend to me. I mean, your friendship's been the only thing that's gotten me through all this, and now I want to be a friend to you and I want to be honest with you. I want to be honest with you about my drinking. Because it hasn't just been one slip; it's happened quite a few times now.

She explains about the argument she had with Toadie the other night, culminating in him taking Nell next door.

SONYA: And I just felt so completely alone. And so I just went out, and I wrote myself off.
MARK: What about all your years of being sober?
SONYA: (...) It's just that it didn't matter, compared to making myself feel good again in that moment, yeah? And really, no matter how bad I feel the next day, the desire to drink is there.
MARK: I wish you had told me. I could've been there.
SONYA: I was ashamed, Mark. I was just scared that you and everybody else was gonna judge me for it.
MARK: I could never think any less of you for something like this. Okay? Now, tell me how I can help.
SONYA: I mean, you being here for me is really enough. But I think, beyond that, I really need you to keep this to yourself. Because, you know, I'm going to AA, and Steph is keeping me accountable, and I know I can keep this under control. It's just that no-one, and especially not Jarrod, can find out.
MARK: Well, I think he would understand.
SONYA: No. No, see, he can't ever know that I'm struggling. He can never, ever doubt my ability to look after Nell - do you understand?

Agreeing with Sonya that she's still a good mother, Mark promises to keep quiet.

Erinsborough Hospital
Mark is with Paul, Leo and Amy. He tells them that Amy has been cleared of any suspicion regarding the accident, since an eyewitness put her in the Lassiter's Complex less than a minute after the collision. Mark asks a contrite-looking Leo if David's up for giving a statement - Leo says he's conscious but still in a lot of pain. Mark says to get him to call him once he's up and about.

Leo apologises to Mark for pestering him over the investigation earlier, and then asks to speak to Amy alone.

LEO: I want to apologise.
AMY: You thought I was responsible.
LEO: Everything pointed your way, and I jumped to the wrong conclusion.
AMY: I just can't believe you thought I could do something like that!
LEO: I was stressed about David, angry and confused about us. But yeah, I should've known better. Look, I'm really sorry. Do you maybe want to grab a coffee?
AMY: Do you think that's a good idea?
LEO: Probably not.

Leo goes in to see David, assuring Amy that everything will be fine now she's in the clear. So why is she still looking guilty?

No 22
Finn is clearly taking his promise to be firm with Xanthe seriously, by hanging around topless while they converse in the back yard. Xanthe explains what Susan has said, but assures Finn that she hasn't told anybody about his aneurysm. She apologises for interfering between him and Elly.

FINN: It's fine... But you should probably go now.
XANTHE: You're mad at me.
FINN: I'm mad at myself. For involving you in my problems.

He puts his shirt back on.

XANTHE: What, so that's it - we can't even be friends?
FINN: Not if it's going to put us in hot water. My work is too important; the same goes for your schooling.
XANTHE: But don't you think that you should have someone to talk to? Someone who knows about your condition?
FINN: Yeah, but it's too risky.
XANTHE: I don't want you to be alone. I worry about you. I can help you - I can be, like, your own personal nurse.
FINN: That's very sweet of you.
XANTHE: I can even give you girl advice about Elly, free of charge.
FINN: Forget nursing - you could make a very lucrative career as a saleswoman if you really wanted to!
XANTHE: Does this mean we can still be friends?
FINN: Yes, we can still be friends. But we have to meet in private, okay?
XANTHE: Fine by me!
FINN: Just remember, not a word to anyone.
XANTHE: My lips are sealed, and I'm throwing away the key! Promise.

Xanthe leaves, all smiles. Finn smiles too, albeit slightly evilly.

No 24
Ben and Tyler are discussing garage logistics while Piper's still in hospital. Tyler is beating himself up for having gone away and left Piper alone at the backpackers'. Ben encourages him not to, but Tyler says that until they find out the culprit, he doesn't have anyone else to blame.

Mark walks in, and Tyler immediately starts pestering him about going after T-Bone. Paige, who has been lurking, again tells Tyler to back off. So Tyler and Ben head off to look at Tyler's exhausts.

Mark whinges to Paige about the relentless pressure of having to actually solve a police investigation. He brags that he's laying off the beers too, out of 'solidarity for a friend'.

PAIGE: That's very sweet of you to think of me, but totally unnecessary.
MARK: ... Uh, yeah. Soda water?

Paige smiles as Mark goes to fetch one.

No 28
Finn has turned up to see Elly, and he's not happy - accusing her of giving him the cold shoulder and mixed messages about their relationship. Elly's busy with marking, but...

FINN: I want answers. You keep avoiding me with your schoolwork, and -
ELLY: I'm not avoiding you! I told you, I want to take things slow.
FINN: Any slower, and we'd be non-existent.
ELLY: Maybe that's not a bad thing.
FINN: And what's that supposed to mean?
ELLY: Maybe it's not the right time for us.
FINN: If two people want to be together, they find a way. Bad timing, it's just an excuse!
ELLY: Okay. Fine. You're right. It's an excuse. I don't want to be with you.
FINN: What was the other night, then?
ELLY: It was a mistake. I don't trust you.

Finn starts getting angry and shouts at Elly, getting right up in her face.

FINN: You're being such a paranoid -
ELLY: No, I'm not. Let's just leave it.
FINN: But I love you! And this is the way you're gonna treat me?!
ELLY: Deep down, I know you're not being honest with me.
FINN: You think I'm not honest?! What about you?! The way you lead men on! You're nothing but a dirty s-
ELLY: Get out!! Get out!

Finn leaves, and Elly looks upset.

Must-See Neighbours
- Brooke looks a picture of Xanthe and her half- sister Jessie
- Xanthe admits she's worried that Brooke will leave with Jessie if she comes to town
- Brooke says she won't ask Jessie to come if Xanthe doesn't want it. Xanthe says "good, so don't"
- Xanthe sympathises with Finn after his break- up with Elly
- Finn warns Elly that he outranks her; it won't be him they 'ship off'