Erinsborough Hospital
Elly, who's still in hospital herself, has come to visit Xanthe in her room. She's impressed that Xanthe is studying, and admits that she's been unable to sleep for thinking of Finn roaming free. Xanthe says she feels the same way. She apologises to Elly for initially thinking that she was driving the car; but Elly says they're both okay now, and that's all that matters.

ELLY: And you are an inspiration.
XANTHE: I'm really not.
ELLY: You were in a coma not long ago, and look at how you've bounced back. Xanthe, you are amazing.
XANTHE: You are too.

Xanthe's hand is still twitching.

Lassiter's Complex
Chloe, Terese and Leo are wandering around the courtyard discussing Christmas in July (still). Chloe has outlandish plans for the decorations, but warns that they may come at the price of an increased budget. She also tries to negotiate herself a Christmas in July bonus, but Terese is having none of it!

Conversation moves onto the staff Kris Kringle, and what price limit they should place on presents. Chloe suggests $250, but Terese had $20 in mind. Leo thinks that's a bit stingy.

TERESE: When people don't have a lot to spend, they put more thought into the gift.

Leo and Chloe concede that this makes sense, so $20 it is. Leo says he'll get to work organising it, and looks thoughtful as the others walk away.

No 30
Toadie comes in with baby Hugo, making loud pronouncements to Sonya about the veggie moussaka he's going to cook her for dinner. But Sonya's not in the house - and Not In This Episode™. Toadie finds a note from her, though, saying she's had to go to work and will be back late. Toadie looks disappointed.

No 32
Dipi and Shane are sorting out some of the admin for Flapper: The Musical in the back garden, while Cassius is hard at work in the background. We learn that the auditions are next week. Dipi suggests they should wear 1920s outfits to the Christmas in July gala to help promote the musical.

SHANE: I can wear my Shiny Pants Bobby costume!

Dipi looks awkward, and tells Shane it would be better if he didn't, as they 'don't want to give too much away character-wise'. Toadie turns up with Hugo, clearly at a loose end without Sonya around, and asks if Shane wants to come and hang out at his place. Shane says he's busy organising the musical, but Dipi seems keen to encourage him to go with Toadie.

Toadie admits that he was disappointed to find Sonya had gone to work, conceding that he's worried things aren't entirely back on track with them after the Hugo bombshell. Dipi thinks this is understandable (and I agree!) - and Shane agrees to come back to No 30 with Toadie for some 'bro time'.

Lassiter's
The staff are picking out names from a Santa hat for the Kris Kringle. Chloe announces that she is buying for...

CHLOE: Neduardo! Any requests?
NED: Yeah. Please don't call me Neduardo.
CHLOE: That's just feeding a troll!

Terese comes over to pick a name herself - she's buying for Kathy Parsons (whoever that is), which she remarks is 'lovely'. Leo is next to pick, and he appears to draw Paul - but Ned thinks he looked at the paper before he pulled it out. Leo denies it, and it's Ned's turn to pick next.

NED: Marty Lee. Don't know him.
CHLOE: He works in maintenance. Get him dental floss - trust me.

Conveniently, there's only one name left in the hat - Terese's. Leo announces that this means Paul will be buying for Terese. Chloe walks off, but Ned calls Leo out, accusing him of fixing the process.

NED: I pulled the last piece of paper out of that hat.
LEO: Nah, you must have missed one.
NED: It was empty. And you put Paul last.
LEO: Yeah, cos he's the boss.
NED: Or you rigged the whole thing.
LEO: How? By making sure he gets someone he knows?
NED: Well, specifically Terese. You're still trying to set them up, aren't you?

Leo doesn't confirm or deny, but says they'd better get back to work!

Erinsborough Hospital
Xanthe is still hard at work revising for the UMAT exam. She asks Sheila to print her out some more practice papers, but Sheila is worried about her getting over-tired. Xanthe proves her point by yawning, but tells Sheila to stop smothering her. At this point, the pain in Xanthe's arms starts to come back, and Sheila is concerned. Xanthe insists it will pass, but Sheila rushes to get a doctor.

XANTHE: Gran, no, I need to study!
SHEILA: Forget the study, forget the test! I'm not taking any more chances!

No 30
Toadie is bragging to Shane about baby Hugo's reflexes as he plays with his toys. But Shane seems distracted, saying he never really got into the whole baby thing.

TOADIE: You're such a liar - you've had three of them!

But as Toadie utters the word 'liar', Lyra the virtual assistant lights up in the background, misinterpreting the word as her name! Shane notices immediately, and starts lecturing Toadie about Lyra's technological capabilities.

SHANE: You know, every time it's activated, it records everything you say and keeps it for 28 days?
TOADIE: Why?
SHANE: Cos it can (...) Hey, Lyra - play back the last thing Toadie said.
LYRA: Playing last recording of Toadie.

Toadie is shocked as Lyra repeats back his last utterance, and starts to worry about exactly what she's been listening in on!

SHANE: What sort of dodgy things have you been saying?

Erinsborough Hospital
In the waiting area, David is talking to Sheila about Xanthe's symptoms - he says tremors and seizures are quite common in brain injury patients. The first few days are 'always a case of wait-and-see', he explains. Sheila is feeling guilty for allowing Xanthe to continue studying, after Clive advised her against it.

David says the seizures would've happened away; they just need to manage them from now on. Sheila resolves to try to convince Xanthe to defer the UMAT exam for a few weeks; but David thinks she should defer until next year. Sheila's worried that won't go down well.

SHEILA: Becoming a doctor is everything to her.
DAVID: And she doesn't need to give it up - she just needs to think long-term. She's lucky to have you to help her.

But Sheila is very upset, and doesn't look sure.

No 30
Shane and Toadie continue to test out Lyra's capabilities.

TOADIE: Lyra, do you know the band, The Right Prescription?
LYRA: Musical act from Melbourne, Australia, fronted by Karl Kennedy. The band has had no commercial success.

Toadie and Shane laugh triumphantly!

SHANE: At least we know she's not going to sugar-coat anything!
LYRA: Play The Right Prescription?
TOADIE and SHANE: No - no!
SHANE: Lyra, what's Toadie's favourite song?
LYRA: Toadie's most played song is 'Baby Got Back' by Sir Mix-a-Lot.
SHANE: Mate, seriously?
TOADIE: That's a good song!
SHANE: No - no, it's not! I'd rather listen to The Right Prescription!
LYRA: Okay - playing The Right Prescription.
TOADIE and SHANE: No!!

Shane steps up the interrogation of Lyra a notch, and asks her what the last thing is that she heard Dipi Rebecchi say. Toadie thinks this is beyond Lyra's capability, but sure enough...

LYRA: Would you like to listen to a recording from Dipi Rebecchi?
SHANE: Yes, please.
DIPI (recording): I hate lying. But I just don't know how to tell Shane that I don't think he's the best candidate for Shiny Pants Bobby! He's simply not leading man material.

No 32
Sure enough, Dipi has her sights on Cassius as her leading man for Flapper, and they are reading a passage from the script together.

CASSIUS (as Shiny Pants Bobby): For cryin' out loud, Ginger! I'm not givin' you the icy mitt. I really do gotta go see a man about a dog!
DIPI: No - dawg!
CASSIUS: Dog.
DIPI: Dawg!
CASSIUS: Dog. I think the accent needs work.

But Dipi's sure he's on course for auditions next week. At this moment, Shane re-enters with Toadie, and Dipi pretends that they're not rehearsing. But Cassius lets slip that he's practising to audition for the role of Shiny Pants Bobby, and Shane is very displeased!

SHANE: Shiny Pants is my role. I'm Shiny.
DIPI: No, Shane - you made that assumption.
SHANE: Well, only because I'm your husband, and I helped you write the thing! No, no, it's alright - I know I'm 'simply not leading man material'.
DIPI: Of course you are! You're my leading -
SHANE: I know what you said to Sonya. Toadie's Lyra recorded it.

Toadie explains that Lyra records whenever the similar word 'liar' is mentioned!

DIPI: I'm sorry about what you heard.
SHANE: And I'm sorry you don't want me to play Bobby.
DIPI: No, I do! Shane, I've just got to do what's best for the show.

Dipi starts objectifying Cassius by way of an excuse!

DIPI: Look at him! Imagine ticket sales with him on all the posters!
SHANE: ... Yes, I suppose he would be a good draw card. How's your accent, Cassius?
CASSIUS (bad accent): You don't have to worry about me, sir. Everyting's Jake!
SHANE: ... How's your accent, Cassius?

Dipi tries to placate Shane by saying he can wear the Shiny Pants costume to the Christmas in July gala. This seems to work in appeasing him.

SHANE: And after?
DIPI: Well, after, I'll help you take it off!
TOADIE: I don't need to be here for this.
SHANE: No. You can go. (to Cassius) You too.

Lassiter's Complex
Terese and Leo continue to witter on about the minutiae of the Christmas in July event. Leo subtly tries to probe Terese about what kind of gift she'd like for the Kris Kringle - but she's onto him, and immediately assumes that he picked her name from the hat. Leo denies this, but says he wants some advice for his gift, particularly as it must be less than $20. Terese tells him to be creative.

TERESE: Look, Christmas is more than just about presents. And this event is great from a marketing perspective, but I'd really like it to have some more meaning. You know, Christmas should be about family.

As they walk into reception, she glances over at the memorial plaque for her dead son Josh and father-in-law, Doug.

TERESE: And for me, it's just a reminder that Josh isn't here anymore.
LEO: You miss him?
TERESE: Yeah, like... you wouldn't believe. I mean, it's only been two years. And I feel like I'm already forgetting what his voice sounds like. What his face would look like when he'd come home from training. Anyway, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound maudlin.

Leo insists she has nothing to apologise for. Terese bustles off to sign some purchase orders, and at that moment Piper comes in. Leo asks for her help with something.

LEO: Just... you can't tell your mum.

No 22
Piper is handing Leo a curious box containing what looks like an old VCR, a camera, and some tapes.

PIPER: Any idea why Paul wants it?
LEO: No idea. Just following orders. But I'll make sure he looks after it, okay?

As Piper heads off to 'save Cassius from Dipi's theatre of the absurd', Ned emerges from the house. He immediately guesses that the box has something to do with Terese's Kris Kringle gift, even though the gift is supposed to be from Paul.

NED: Hey, I admire your cunning - but don't you think they should find each other naturally?
LEO: There's only one way to find out.
NED: And when it backfires?
LEO: It won't backfire.

Leo heads off with his box of goodies.

No 30
Shane is back at Toadie's, and wondering aloud how long Dipi would have kept her casting reservations about him a secret, if he hadn't heard it from Lyra. He's still hoping he might win her over at the audition, in any case. Toadie remarks that he'd rather not know some of the things Sonya's said about him over recent years, given all that's happened.

SHANE: You know, you could find out about what she's said lately, though.

Shane gestures backwards at Lyra. Toadie isn't keen on that idea, saying that whatever Sonya had to say about him over the last few weeks wouldn't be pretty - and that in any case, it would be a breach of confidence to listen to it. One of the things they worked on together on counselling, he says, is not keeping secrets from each other.

SHANE: Tempting, though, isn't it?
TOADIE: ... I have to trust her, and I do.
LYRA: ...

Erinsborough Hospital
Elly is sitting on a bench outside the hospital, when Sheila comes over to ask her some advice about Xanthe. Sheila wants to tell her to put off the UMAT exam till next year, but doesn't want to ruin her chances of doing medicine later on. Elly assures Sheila this won't happen - Xanthe can just apply for a special consideration for Year 12, and then do a nursing course and the UMAT the year after.

SHEILA: But you know what she's like. She wants everything now.
ELLY: It's not just her. It's a generational thing.

Elly offers to talk to Xanthe about it all, and Sheila is grateful.

We cut to indoors, as Elly and Sheila speak to Xanthe.

XANTHE: No!
SHEILA: It's only a year.
XANTHE: It doesn't matter. I'm doing the test next week - I'm not putting it off!
SHEILA: The doctors say you need time to recover.
XANTHE: I've already recovered, Gran - I'm fine!
SHEILA: No, you're having trouble remembering things. And there's those seizures with your hand.
XANTHE: They will get better if you stop pressuring me!
ELLY: (...) Sheila is right, okay? Deferring's not the end of the world.
XANTHE: No! You don't understand, okay? I can't defer it. I won't! (...) I'm not letting him do this to me again!
SHEILA: Who do what?
XANTHE: Finn!
ELLY: Oh, babe -
XANTHE: No, he's already wrecked my life once before and I finally got it back on track. And he will not do it again!
Shortly afterwards, Sheila watches Xanthe through the window of her room, as she struggles to move her arms fully. David approaches, and asks how her talk with Xanthe went. Sheila has now changed her mind again, and is supporting Xanthe's decision to go along with the UMAT in light of what she said about Finn.

DAVID: Sheila, she's not strong enough.
SHEILA: This is what she wants, and I support her.

Through the window, we see Xanthe getting tearful as she struggles to cope.

No 30
Toadie is alone now, looking pensively at Lyra. Eventually, he succumbs to temptation.

TOADIE: Lyra - play the last thing Sonya said about Toadie.
LYRA: Sonya has not mentioned Toadie in the last 28 days.
TOADIE: Play the last thing Sonya has said about *Jarrod*.
LYRA: Playing last recording.
SONYA (recording): But, I mean, seeing Andrea today, looking in her eyes, I, umm... I mean, I think I need more time to process this, okay? So please don't say anything to Jarrod. Bye.

Toadie looks shocked and perplexed...

Coming up on Neighbours
- Chloe tells Terese that she knows a good idea when she has it
- David and Aaron ask Chloe what the catch is - she admits there is something
- Sonya tells Susan she's done something really stupid - this is Andrea she's talking about
- We see Andrea smiling inscrutably into a mirror
- Elly tells Mark she's worried about Bea being on her own in a hotel room with Finn out there
- Little does she know, Bea's really sleeping in the Fitzgerald Motors van