Previously
- Finn helps Elly with baby Aster
- After they almost kiss, Elly tells Finn she's confused by how intense things are between them
- But Elly tells Finn they have to put their feelings aside and let them pass
- Roxy admits she was a kidney donor match for David all along
- Paul bawls at Roxy after her admission, telling her he doesn't give a damn about her
- Roxy and Kyle end up drowning their sorrows together
- Back at No 32, Roxy says the night is ending way too early; Kyle responds by kissing her
No 32
Kyle pulls back following the kiss, and Roxy looks distinctly unimpressed!
ROXY: ... Wait - what?
KYLE: I thought we were having a bit of fun.
ROXY: Yeah, we were - but what are you doing?
KYLE: Oh, sorry! I just figured you'd be up for it!
ROXY: 'Up for it'?
KYLE: Yeah, I guess.
ROXY: We're mates, Kyle.
KYLE: Yeah, I know we are!
ROXY: Just because we go out together, we have a good night, doesn't mean that I'm up for it.
KYLE: Yeah, I - I get that.
ROXY: I don't think you do.
KYLE: I do!
ROXY: What, you kiss all your mates?
KYLE: No. I'm sorry.
ROXY: Whatever!
Roxy pushes him out of the way and goes to leave. Kyle shouts after.
KYLE: Come on, Rox - don't let me being an idiot ruin the night! Come on, just stay and we can just hang out!
But Roxy has gone, and slams the door behind her.
The Waterhole
Shane is just closing up the pub, and is surprised when a fuming Roxy turns up.
ROXY: You covered for me, so I'm helping you close up.
SHANE: (...) Where's Kyle?
ROXY: You realise the less we talk, the quicker we'll get home?
SHANE: Pretty sure you wouldn't be here if you didn't want to talk!
ROXY: Fine, I'll go then! Sorry for helping (!)
SHANE: Rox, come on - something happened tonight.
ROXY: Kyle tried it on.
SHANE: ... And you didn't want that?
ROXY: No! I *didn't* want that! Why does every single guy assume that that's how the night is gonna end with me?
SHANE: He didn't push it, did he?
ROXY: No, he didn't push it. He backed off as soon as I said something, but that's not the point. I'm so sick of guys thinking they're in, just because we hang out for five minutes! I dunno, I just thought that Kyle and me were on the same page. Clearly we're not.
No 28
Finn and Bea are asleep in their bedroom, but the sound of Aster crying has awoken them. Bea wants to go and help Elly, saying she must be exhausted - but Finn says Bea has work in the morning, and tells her to go back to sleep. He'll go and help with Aster instead.
BEA: You're the best uncle ever.
FINN: Best boyfriend?
BEA: Yeah. You're a dream.
Finn kisses her on the forehead, then goes to leave the room - but looks conflicted as he glances back at Bea.
In the living room, a tired Elly is desperately trying to settle Aster, but to no avail. She apologises for Finn and says it's lucky Hendrix is Not In This Episode™, or she'd have disturbed him. Elly doesn't know what to try next - Aster's been fed and changed but still won't settle. Finn offers to have a go at holding her, and Elly agrees.
Aster continues to cry, and Elly says she'll talk to the maternity nurse tomorrow to see if there's anything she's not doing. Finn is sure it's nothing Elly is doing wrong - but presently, as they both sit down on the sofa, Aster stops crying in Finn's arms.
FINN: Hey, I don't want to jinx it by saying anything, but I think we might be good here.
But Elly has already fallen asleep next to him. Finn smiles at the baby.
The Waterhole
Roxy is still talking to Shane about Kyle's kiss attempt.
ROXY: I mean, it's not that I don't get it - I do. Most guys think I'm up for it. But is that my fault?
SHANE: Of course not.
ROXY: I'm hot - I'm not gonna deny that. But are these clothes screaming something they shouldn't?
SHANE: Nah.
ROXY: I just hate the idea that it's giving them the wrong impression.
SHANE: Can I ask you a question? Why do you dress the way you do?
ROXY: I like my clothes. I feel confident in my body.
SHANE: Great. Then, you shouldn't have to change any of that just cos some guys think they're entitled to something they're not.
ROXY: ... I was hard on Kyle. I just got upset because I thought we were mates.
SHANE: Ah, he'll be alright.
ROXY: And it's not like I don't do one-night stands, because I do.
SHANE: Rox - doesn't matter what anyone says. You're in charge of what you do, and who you do it with. If guys don't get that, that is not on you.
No 28
Karl, Susan, Elly, Bea and Finn are having breakfast in the garden. Elly is apologetic to everyone about how much Aster is crying, but Susan is dismissive - they've had plenty of crying babies in the house before.
KARL: I slept like a log, to be honest!
SUSAN: Yeah, Karl perfected the ability to sleep through a night feed - when was it? Right about the time that Mal was born.
KARL: As you know, doctors need to sleep when they can, where they can!
SUSAN: Oh, something you have taken full advantage of.
BEA: Well, at least you got her settled eventually!
ELLY: I didn't - Finn did.
FINN: I think she'd hit a wall by the time I took over.
ELLY: That's not the truth, and you know it! Whatever you did, it worked.
FINN: Just happy to help. Any time.
ELLY: Thank you, but I can't keep taking her out to the lounge room, not when Hendrix is asleep on the couch.
FINN: ... What if Hendrix was to move into my room?
ELLY: What?! You can't bunk with a teenager!
FINN: I wouldn't have to. (To Bea) You fancy taking on a roommate?
BEA: Of course! You're in there most nights anyway!
KARL: Okay, we don't really need to go into all the details.
Elly looks conflicted. But Susan remarks...
SUSAN: Actually, that would solve a lot of issues.
BEA: Yes! And no more teenage bombsite in the lounge room every morning.
ELLY: (...) It wouldn't be too disruptive?
BEA (to Finn): I dunno, would you feel disrupted?
FINN: So disrupted (!)
BEA: I dunno how we're gonna cope (!)
Elly forces a smile, but looks uncomfortable as Bea and Finn kiss.
No 32
Gary has dropped in to see how Kyle's doing, and Kyle correctly guesses that Sheila sent him to check up. Gary admits Sheila's been at him since before breakfast! The suggestion is that Sheila was worried about Kyle and Roxy going partying together following her warning last night, and Gary wants to know what he should tell her.
KYLE: Well, firstly, you can tell Gran to back off. Right, and not that it's anyone's business - but nothing happened!
Surprised by Kyle's outburst, Gary asks if he's okay. Kyle claims he's fine, but then admits he 'might've had a crack at Rox', but that she knocked him back.
KYLE: The whole thing was about me trying to forget...
GARY: Amy. Mate, I get it.
Kyle tells Gary he's heading for a bike ride with Toadie to get some air. 'Good plan', Gary replies.
No 28
Elly returns from the shops with Aster in her pram. She's bought Finn and Bea a room-warming present - a set of French flax linen sheets!
ELLY: I can't sleep on anything else anymore. It's one of Mark's legacies.
KARL: That's an expensive legacy to uphold.
SUSAN: Oh, no, it's a lovely gesture!
But when Finn comes out and Elly gives him the sheets, it's a little awkward. He tells her they're great, and that he'll practice his 'surprised face' before Bea gets home, as Elly wanted to give them the present together. Susan senses the awkwardness between the pair of them, then follows Karl back into the house.
ELLY: I should get in and change her.
FINN: Yeah. Uh, Elly... You're okay, aren't you? After everything we talked about?
ELLY: Yeah, yeah. I'm glad we got everything out in the open.
FINN: Yeah, me too.
ELLY: Plus, I wanted to get you something to say thank you for your help last night. You don't realise how much you value sleep until it's taken away!
FINN: Well, any time.
ELLY: Cool.
But Finn looks anything but cool as Elly walks off with the pram.
No 30
Kyle and Toadie are preparing for their bike ride, while Dipi makes coffee. While Toadie's fetching his shoes, Shane emerges. Dipi remarks that he came in late last night; it seemed to take him a long time to close the pub.
SHANE: Roxy dropped in.
KYLE: Roxy?
SHANE: Yeah, she told me what happened, man.
KYLE: ... Yeah, I was a bit of a clown. But we sorted it.
SHANE: Right, well - that's not the story she's telling. She's pretty upset.
DIPI: ... Wait, can someone catch me up?
Kyle explains that he got 'a bit carried away' with Roxy when they got back to his place last night - but stepped back as soon as it was clear Roxy wasn't into it.
SHANE: It's not what you did, it's what you assumed - that she'd want to sleep with you.
KYLE: Ease up! I would never assume anything like that!
SHANE: Well, that's not how she saw it.
KYLE: Well, then, she saw it wrong! And, mate, you making me out to be some sort of sleazebag is not helping anyone!
SHANE: I'm not - I'm just looking out for Roxy.
At which point Toadie comes back in, but Kyle's lost his appetite for the bike ride, and leaves.
No 22
Kyle pays a visit to Roxy, but she's still annoyed with him.
KYLE: What am I missing here? Why does Shane think I tried to sleaze onto you last night?
ROXY: You kind of did!
KYLE: Rox, I was out of line, but in my mind, it was sorted when you left.
ROXY: ...
KYLE: It wasn't?
ROXY: I don't think you meant anything by it.
KYLE: Then, what's going on?
ROXY: It's hard to explain. We were having a good time, we got to your house, and then the kiss.
KYLE: That was a mistake.
ROXY: It just kind of made me feel like it was all set up, you weren't my mate, and you were just trying to get your leg over!
KYLE: Rox, no! We were having a good time, you know, just hanging out as mates.
ROXY: Yeah, until you stopped seeing me as a mate, and started seeing me -
KYLE: Seeing you as what?
ROXY: As something you could use to get over Amy.
KYLE: Rox, I didn't plan it! I don't even see you that way, I swear. It was one moment, and I misread it.
ROXY: That's the thing - there *was* no moment for me. I thought we were mates.
KYLE: We are.
ROXY: Yeah, sure. But what happens the next time we get messy? I'm laughing at your jokes, I feel comfortable. Are you gonna have another one of your moments?
KYLE: I'm really sorry.
ROXY: Yeah, so am I.
Roxy walks off.
No 28
Elly is at her wit's end with Aster, having again tried everything to stop her crying but to no avail. Karl assures her Aster's in excellent health, and Susan points out that some babies are just criers - it will get better.
ELLY: Any idea when?
KARL: Finn had some success - why don't you try him?
Susan glances at Karl worriedly.
ELLY: I can't expect him to help every time she cries.
KARL: Well, it's no reflection on you. He lives here. If he can help -
ELLY (shouting): I said I'm fine! ... I'm sorry.
SUSAN: You've got nothing to apologise for.
KARL: No, no - we're just trying to help, that's all.
ELLY: I understand that. I am trying as hard as I can.
SUSAN: We know you are. You're doing a wonderful job.
Susan and Karl try to comfort an upset Elly.
No 30
Shane and Dipi are talking to Toadie about the Kyle/Roxy situation.
TOADIE: I've known Kyle for years, and he would never deliberately hurt anyone. He's not that type of guy.
SHANE: It's not about Kyle being a good bloke; we all know he is. But it really affected Roxy, and he needs to own that.
TOADIE: I'm not saying that he shouldn't, but you know - it sounds to me like he just misread the signals.
SHANE: But what signals? That she likes to go out with a mate and have some fun? I'd hate for either of my girls to be treated that way. I think Roxy's just sick and tired of guys making assumptions about her because of the way she dresses, and I don't blame her.
TOADIE (to Dipi): What do you think?
DIPI: I think you should both probably let Kyle and Roxy sort it out for themselves. I'm surprised she confided in you, though.
SHANE: I think she just needed to vent.
DIPI: Still, sounds a bit more personal than a vent.
SHANE: I dunno. I was there; we work together. I suppose I'm not as quick to judge her as lots of other people are.
DIPI: Hmm.
Lassiter's Lake
Finn and Bea are hanging out together on a bench, as they talk about their new status as roommates. Bea jokes that Finn won't be getting too much space in the wardrobe.
FINN: Not even a little drawer for my socks and jocks?
BEA: Oh, well, they're usually on the floor anyway, aren't they?
Finn raises a takeaway coffee toast...
FINN: To the room.
BEA: To *our* room.
But at that moment, he gets a text from Karl, saying that Elly is having trouble with Aster. Bea tells Finn to go and work his magic. They kiss, and Finn leaves.
No 32
Kyle is chatting to Gary about his fall-out with Roxy, saying he'd hate to lose her as a mate over this. Gary thinks Roxy will come round; Kyle needs to stop beating himself up in the meantime.
KYLE: I just wish I could go back in time.
GARY: You can't. Mate, all you can do is learn from it. Sounds to me like you already have.
KYLE: It's not just about Roxy. I can't get anything right at the moment! (...) I nearly killed David, Amy's moved on, and I can't even do the right thing by my mates!
GARY: David's okay, and sometimes relationships just aren't meant to work out. Come on, mate, it's the New Year. Just press the reset button and watch things pick up.
KYLE: Every choice I make is the wrong one! I end up second-guessing myself, and I stuff up! That's because I've got nothing. I don't even know where I'm going anymore...
Kyle looks utterly miserable.
The Waterhole
Roxy is working when Shane and Dipi turn up; Shane just wanted to make sure Roxy is okay.
ROXY: You know me - tough as a croc in a leather jacket. So he filled you in?
DIPI: Yeah, only the headlines. I'm really sorry about what happened.
ROXY: Thanks.
SHANE: You spoke to Kyle?
ROXY: Yeah, I definitely didn't leave anything on the table, that's for sure.
SHANE: Well, I spoke to him as well. I hope I didn't make things worse.
ROXY: No. He totally saw where I was coming from. As a matter of fact, I owe you one.
SHANE: Oh, I dunno about that.
ROXY: I probably would've let the whole thing slide if you didn't totally agree with me.
SHANE: I didn't say anything to you that I wouldn't say to my own daughters. You're in control of who you are and what you put up with.
ROXY: Put out a motivational calendar, and I will be the first to buy it. Thanks for looking out for me.
As Roxy walks away, Dipi is looking fondly at Shane.
DIPI: You're a good man, Puff.
She kisses him.
No 28
A tearful Elly is still in the garden rocking Aster, who is still crying. Finn turns up, and tells Elly that Karl texted him to say she was having trouble with Aster.
ELLY: He shouldn't have done that. I have to be able to do this on my own.
FINN: Why?
ELLY: Because Aster's my daughter.
FINN: That doesn't mean you need to not get help if you need it.
ELLY: I'm fine, Finn.
But she's clearly not; she's exhausted and very emotional.
FINN: Elly...
ELLY: What do you want me to say? Aster's not even a week old, and I'm already failing at this.
He touches her hand.
FINN: You are new to this. What mother nails it from the word go? You're not failing, you're... you're learning.
ELLY (crying): Nothing's working, Finn.
FINN: So, do you want to give up?
ELLY: No.
FINN: Of course you don't, because... because you love her! She's your bub. And you would do anything for her. Even if she's crying her little heart out.
ELLY: I just don't know what else I can do.
Finn touches her face as she continues to cry.
FINN: Hey, hey - you don't have to do anything. You just have to be here for her. That's all, just... just be here for Aster.
Susan emerges, and sees the way Finn's touching Elly. The intensity between them isn't lost on her.
SUSAN: Elly?
A few minutes later, Finn takes Aster inside in the pram, while Susan sits down with Elly.
SUSAN: Please tell me I'm wrong. Please tell me that wasn't something between you and Finn.
ELLY: It wasn't, no.
SUSAN: Elly...
ELLY: I can't explain it.
SUSAN: Well, I'm sorry; you're gonna have to try.
ELLY: Finn's been so helpful with Aster.
SUSAN: Of course he has (...) he's her uncle. He's also Bea's partner.
ELLY: I know that!
SUSAN: I have been aware for some time just how focused Finn has been on you, and I was hoping that it was simply about the baby.
ELLY: It was - I thought it was!
SUSAN: Elly, it's obviously not just about Aster - not after what I saw! And not when he puts your needs ahead of Bea's... Is it one-sided?
ELLY: Finn has been keeping his distance. I haven't accepted any of his extra help, and I've been telling him he needs to spend time with Bea.
SUSAN: Do you feel the same way about Finn as he feels about you?
ELLY: ... Yes. Yeah, I think I do.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Kyle looks sadly at a picture of Amy and Jimmy in New York
- We hear Sheila saying that all Kyle's plans have gone up in smoke
- Bea tells Elly she's 'actually not buying this'; Susan looks anxious
- Susan tells Elly she hopes this works out; Elly replies, 'me too'
- Another intense moment between Elly and Finn