Paul's Penthouse
Paul is playing chess alone in the penthouse, when David turns up to see how he's doing. Paul doesn't reply, just chugs a glass of whisky.

DAVID: I know this situation with Terese and Pierce must be hard for you.
PAUL: If you mean them trying to rip away everything that I've worked so hard to rebuild, then yes - yes. It's a little difficult.

David reminds him the hotel is only a small part of his business empire.

PAUL: It's not just about business. This place, this - it's my legacy. And my home. Terese knows that.

David points out that Paul owns the penthouse outright, but Paul replies that he wouldn't want to endure the humiliation of living here if he lost his share of the hotel. Paul mentions that Leo came around earlier to attempt to make amends, but makes it clear he regards it an empty gesture.

DAVID: I'm sure he didn't mean it to sound flippant. He knows you're heartbroken.
PAUL: Heartbreak I can take. It's the betrayal I can't forgive. You know, it's not as easy as just choosing to move on from something. I can't control the way I feel any more than I can control this buyout.
DAVID: Well, maybe control is overrated. You've got so many other great things in your life. Why not concentrate on them?

Paul looks pensive.

No 32
Sheila is hanging out in the garden with Shane and Dipi, when Alice appears from around the side of the house. Dipi's surprised to see her, as they hadn't asked her to clean; Alice says it's a good job they hadn't, as she has an old wrist injury that's giving her trouble. It'll mean she won't be able to do the cleaning at No 32 anymore. Sheila gives Dipi a look, as Dipi tries to appear disappointed.

DIPI: What a shame (!)

Alice asks Sheila what she's up to tonight; she explains she's having a night off, celebrating the end of her exams. Alice wonders who'll be running the pub; Shane explains that the junior staff have been left in command, as it's the quietest night of the week. Alice seems unduly intrigued by this, and hurries off. Dipi makes a face as she leaves.

Lassiter's Complex

Paul is standing outside the hotel looking up at the building. Gary turns up, and starts gloating because Paul is going to lose the hotel.

PAUL: Shouldn't you be standing in the unemployment queue?
GARY: Too busy enjoying a day out with my mates.

We cut to a shot of Gary's so-called 'mates' - I.e. Amy, Aaron and David - having a coffee outside Harold's.

GARY: I'd recommend it to you, if you had any friends left.
PAUL: I think you're confusing friends with people who bankroll charity cases out of pure pity.
GARY: Oh. Well, we'll see who has people stand by them when times get tough, won't we? I'll leave you to say your goodbyes.

David and Aaron look over at Paul with concern. Paul steams as Gary goes over to join them, and kisses Amy, before glancing back at Paul pointedly. Paul walks off. David admits he feels bad that things are so difficult with Paul right now; he feels stuck in the middle. Amy says she's sorry for that. Paul is behaving unreasonably right now - they need to give him time, but he'll come around.

No 30
Alice is glammed up for her night off and Toadie and Sonya comment on her outfit, but she tries to make out that she is just 'the same old boring Nanny Alice'. Alice comments that Sonya is looking very 'recharged'; Sonya admits she hasn't felt this relaxed in a while!

SONYA: And the pain in my neck has just completely gone.
ALICE: Oh! Must be my shortbread! It's been known to have that effect on people.

Alice explains she's heading out to bingo, one of her favourite evening pastimes. Toadie jokes that he's heard bingo can bring out your wild side.

SONYA: You go out and be as naughty as you like. You deserve it!

Alice obeys, telling them not to wait up.

The Waterhole
Alice applies some lipstick and goes to perch at the bar, swiftly ordering a cocktail from the barman, Mike. Karl comes in and orders his usual; the two haven't met yet, and unaware of his connection to Toadie and Sonya, Alice gets straight down to flirtation!

Paul's Penthouse
David comes into the penthouse to overhear Paul talking about Gary, to a gentleman we recognise as Jeremy Sluggett! Paul is saying something about Gary being unable to resist 'the low-hanging fruit'. They make a cryptic arrangement about tomorrow, and David looks worried. Paul notices David, and quickly ushers Jeremy out, saying he'll be in touch with the details. Once he's gone...

PAUL: He's just a contractor I'm interviewing for Robinson Pines.

Paul says he's done with 'dwelling on all this ugliness' over the hotel, and is getting back to work on his new project. David smiles but, based on what he's just overheard, doesn't look convinced.

The Waterhole
Karl is telling barman Mike all about his adventures in Boston, USA, with his sister Jemima. Mike isn't all that interested, so Alice swoops in instead, fluttering her eyelashes at Karl as she works her magic. Karl explains he still has jetlag following his trip. Alice promises to 'keep him company till bedtime', and asks to hear all his travel stories.

KARL: I'm Karl, by the way.
ALICE: Allie.
KARL: Nice to meet you, Allie.

Alice gives him the eye as he regales her with his tales.

No 26
David calls round to see Gary, and awkwardly tells him that he thinks Paul's planning something to get at him.

GARY: Well, that's hardly breaking news, mate. I'd be surprised if he wasn't!

But David explains what he's just overheard at the penthouse. He describes the man he saw as 'wiry, with sandy hair and a beard' - and Gary immediately starts to look suspicious.

The Waterhole
Karl and 'Allie' are still talking travel. He's telling her about all the bike paths Boston is planning to erect in preparation for its 2024 Olympic bid.

KARL: Which I absolutely love, because I'm a big advocate for bike paths!

Don't we know it, Karl! While eyeing him up, 'Allie' remarks that she was going to ask if Karl was a professional athlete. He laughs modestly.

KARL: Goodness, no! I do ride regularly, to stay fit...
ALICE: Oh, yes - I can tell!

She touches his leg flirtatiously, and asks what he does for a living; he explains he's a doctor.

ALICE: I bet you could help look after some of my ailments!
KARL: I have to say at this stage that I am a happily married man...

But this doesn't deter Alice, as she starts stroking his shoulder.

KARL: I should probably get home.

But Alice grabs him by the collar!

ALICE: If a married man falls over in the woods, and his wife isn't there to witness it, do you think he's actually done something wrong?

Karl awkwardly removes her hands from his shirt, and tells her it's been lovely chatting but that he has to go! Alice smiles and bids him goodbye as he leaves.

No 30
The following morning, Toadie bids farewell to Nell and Sonya as he heads out to work. They wonder why Alice hasn't risen yet; Sonya needs to go to work too. They laugh and joke about her wild bingo nights.

Alice comes in, doing her best sprightly nanny impression, and Toadie and Sonya both head out to work, leaving Alice with Nell. The moment they're gone, Alice gives in to her hangover, telling Nell she has a terrible headache! She hands Nell a tablet to play with, telling her it's her 'new best friend for the day'! Meanwhile, Alice lies on the sofa feeling sorry for herself...

The Waterhole
Aaron is giving David a present - a goldfish!

AARON: I saw how flat you were this morning. And I just wanted to remind you that not all family has to be complicated.

David says he loves it, and they kiss. But Sheila turns up to rain on their parade, warning them that the pub has a strict no-animal policy!

SHEILA: So unless that is a seeing-eye fish, you need to get it out!

Meanwhile, Gary is at the bar ordering lunch, when Paul turns up and starts taunting him for being unemployed. Paul hits a nerve, and Gary is not amused...

No 30
Nell hasn't had breakfast yet and is asking Nanny Alice if she can have some. Alice is holding an ice-pack to her head to numb her hangover, and sends Nell into the kitchen to get some shortbread for breakfast!

ALICE: Don't sprinkle any of Nanny Alice's special sugar on top, will you?

Alice runs to the bathroom to vomit, while Nell nibbles on the shortbread. At this point, Toadie comes in with Karl, who is telling him how much the situation with Finn is worrying Susan. Toadie isn't pleased to find Nell eating shortbread so early in the day, and asks her to hand it over!

KARL: I wonder where she gets her sweet tooth from?
TOADIE: She should do as her daddy says, and not as he very occasionally does!

He asks Nell where Alice is, and whether she said Nell could have the shortbread. Alice is about to come in, but recognises Karl from the night before, and sneaks back off to hide around the corner...

No 24
Aaron is unpacking all manner of fish paraphernalia for the new family member. He's concerned that the goldfish doesn't have enough 'room to play' in the bowl they've got.

DAVID: It's a fish, Aaron. It swims in a circle.

But Aaron has bought plants and driftwood which demands a larger tank. He suggests they get Amy to build one for them - or even an aquarium wall. But David is not as excited as Aaron seems to imagine he ought to be, his mind seemingly elsewhere...

No 30
Alice has now prepared herself, and comes back into the living area to join Nell, Toadie and Karl. Karl raises an eyebrow when he sees who she is! Toadie introduces Karl as Susan's husband, but Alice reveals she already met Karl last night.

KARL: You certainly did (!)
ALICE: Oh, yes - it's lovely to meet you again in the fresh light of day! I hope I didn't embarrass myself?
KARL: Ah, well... (!)
ALICE: I had such a big win at bingo that my friends twisted my arm into having a few extra nightcaps at The Waterhole. And I'm struggling to remember much after that!

Karl reminds her that they talked about Boston - Alice claims she can't remember.

ALICE: You must think me a duffer!

Toadie then mentions that he found Nell with a shortbread, so Alice brazenly chastises Nell for helping herself to Nanny Alice's treats! Nell's about to point out that Alice said she could have it, when Alice interrupts and snatches away the tablet, saying she's told Nell about having too much screen time! Toadie is forgiving of Nell eating the shortbread - they are delicious, he admits.

ALICE: Yes, they've been quite a hit. Especially with Sonya.

Alice offers to make some for Karl and his 'lovely wife'. Karl raises his eyebrows again!

The Waterhole
Paul is sitting at a table, when Jeremy Sluggett comes in. Jeremy gives Paul a look, then walks straight to the bar, where Gary is having lunch. Jeremy's asked Gary to meet him; he says he's heard that Gary's been fired, and tells him he has a 'low risk, high opportunity' for him, with heaps of cash to be made. Gary just smiles.

JEREMY: Thought you might want to step up, be a man. Instead of relying on handouts from your missus.
GARY: You must think I'm a complete idiot! What are you talking about, being a man? I mean, how manly is it to be a puppet for Paul Robinson?

Jeremy tries to deny it, but Gary has his number.

GARY: And you know what you can tell that scumbag from me? You can tell him that this is low, even by his lofty standards. Now, go on - get out!

Jeremy leaves, laughing. Gary looks disconcerted.

No 30
Alice takes Nell and Hugo out of the living area, reminding Nell of 'the rules' as she goes - 'the one who stays quiet is the winner'. In the kitchen, Toadie tells Karl that Alice is like their very own Mary Poppins. But Karl is sceptical.

KARL: You would not believe the way she was carrying on last night. The last thing on her mind was bingo (...) by the end of the evening, her hands were all over me.
TOADIE (laughs): Are you saying that she was trying to come onto you?!
KARL: Why is that so hard to believe? She was hanging on my every word!

Toadie is sceptical; he thinks Karl is flattering himself, and that Alice was just being friendly. But Karl continues to insist that Alice was being suggestive towards him. However, at that moment, Sonya comes in - she claims she's come home because she's forgotten something from the kitchen, and immediately makes a beeline for Alice's shortbread!

Alice comes in, and finds Sonya feasting.

ALICE: Couldn't stay away, huh?
SONYA (mouth full): No, I couldn't. I was working, and I just couldn't stop thinking about them! I've been craving them.
ALICE: (...) Wait, wait, wait! Let me put on some of my special icing sugar!

Alice pours on some of the painkiller-laced sugar.

ALICE: Have some more.
SONYA (mouth full): I might take some for later.
ALICE: You take as many as you like!

No 24
Aaron has invested in a larger tank for the goldfish, while David hangs around looking miserable. Aaron announces that they need to name the fish.

DAVID: This is a really sweet idea. But it's gonna take more than a fish to fix my family.

Aaron knows this; he just wanted to cheer David up. David says it's fine, but goes to the bedroom to study, saying they can think about names later.

AARON (to the fish): I thought you were gonna make everyone feel better.

Lassiter's Complex
Paul is droning on to Amy about Robinson Pines, and how he's going to focus on that from now on. Amy says it's good to hear him being more optimistic. However, at that moment, Gary appears, and gives Paul a sarcastic round of applause. Nearby Shane, Dipi and Sheila stop to listen.

GARY: Another classy stunt from Paul Robinson! (...) You're getting lazy in your old age, mate - trying to pull the same stunt on me twice!
AMY: Dad?
PAUL: I've got no idea what this clown's talking about! I rarely do.
GARY: Well, I could stand here and tell everybody about the ridiculous stunt you tried to pull. But why waste my breath? It's not important. Nothing about you is important anymore.
PAUL: I would shut that mouth of yours, before you say something you might regret.
GARY: You want to know how I found out about your little ploy with Jeremy? David told me. By my count, that's all your kids that have turned their back on you now. Seen you for what you are - a pathetic, lonely old man with pockets full of cash and nothing to show for it. No family, no friends - and soon, no hotel.
AMY: Gary, that's enough.
GARY: Yeah, you know, you're right, Ames. Good luck, Paul - you're gonna need it.

But Paul sees red, and punches Gary square in the face!

Coming up on Neighbours
- Leo asks a worried- looking Terese what her phone call was all about
- Mark is sceptical that Chloe would be dumb enough to jeopardise her job; Elly looks sheepish
- Shane finds the ring Yashvi got from Chloe, and demands to know where she got it
- Paul smugly tells Leo that the fight for Lassiter's isn't over yet