Previously
- Kyle asks a returning Roxy for a drink, but she just wants to go home and chill
- Sheila accuses Kyle of keeping his interest in Roxy from her as he knew she wouldn't approve
- Kyle says he'll give Roxy more time, but Sheila sets up a dating profile for him
- Leila asks David and Aaron if kids they fostered would be disadvantaged with no mother- figure
- Aaron interprets this as homophobic and loses his cool, demanding, 'how dare you?'
- But later, he tells David that he's written a letter of apology to Leila
- Elly reads David's email from the agency; they've approved David and Aaron as foster carers
- Another message comes through from the agency; they have a child who needs emergency care
No 32
Paul and Terese have come round to see David and Aaron. David's explaining to them that the foster child's last placement broke down unexpectedly, and now he has nowhere to go. His name is Emmett, and he's currently at Lassiter's - if they can't find anyone to take him then he will stay there overnight with his case worker. They don't know much more about him yet.
TERESE: Hey - you're doing a wonderful thing.
AARON: Ah, yeah, look, that's if we say yes.
Paul and Terese leave them to it. Aaron and David are struggling to come to terms with how quickly things have moved since their approval as carers earlier today.
AARON: Hey, this boy's situation - it must be pretty bad, right? To be ripped out of your home like that?
DAVID: It can't have been good.
The Waterhole
Sheila is swiping through potential matches for Kyle on the dating app! Roxy is just finishing up her shift, and is concerned by Sheila's silence towards her this evening.
ROXY: You haven't had a go at me once all night - you're clearly mad. Kyle, right?
SHEILA: ...
ROXY: We didn't tell you because you were grieving, and he was grieving. We didn't even know if it could work.
SHEILA: Well, as long as it's just a distant memory!
ROXY: Excuse me - a memory?
SHEILA: Look, you might look good behind the bar, and you do - but not with my grandson. You and Kyle will never work.
ROXY: Don't hold back (!) You and Clive have a great night.
Roxy walks off, past Kyle who's just coming in - he asks her to stay for a drink, but she replies she's fine as she marches out.
KYLE: Did Roxy say anything about me?
SHEILA: Nothing specific. Maybe that means she's over you.
KYLE: Or maybe she's still thinking.
SHEILA: Love, it's time to move on. You don't want to be hanging around for someone who leaves you in the lurch like that.
Lassiter's
David and Aaron arrive outside the room where Emmett is staying. Leila comes out to meet them, and invites them in. A boy is lying on the bed, next to a bin bag presumably containing his possessions, glumly watching TV. Leila introduces Aaron and David, but they're taken aback when they see Emmett, and ask to speak to Leila outside again.
AARON: Uh, he's a teenager?
DAVID: I thought we'd put ourselves down to take care of a child under five?
LEILA: Well, this was an emergency. There's no room in resi care, and your application just got approved - so I thought I'd introduce him and let you decide if you could help.
DAVID: What was the emergency?
LEILA: Emmett's had a rough couple of days. He was suspended from school, and then this afternoon, he got into a fight with one of the other foster children at his placement, so...
AARON: So he's violent?
LEILA: No. Not at all... not usually. There were some kids picking on him at school about his old shoes, and his placement isn't working out. But I just think there's been a build-up of frustration, that's all.
AARON: Yeah. I'm sorry, but we should've really been told this before we rocked up here.
LEILA: I know. And look, he's great - as long as he feels safe. It'll only be for a night.
Seeing they're unsure, Leila goes back into the hotel room to leave Aaron and David to talk it through in private...
No 22
Sheila calls round with some reports that Terese has requested, though Sheila doesn't understand why she couldn't have just emailed them. It turns out, it's because Terese wants to bend Sheila's ear about her interference with Kyle and Roxy's possible romance.
TERESE: She came home today very upset about the things you said to her, even after I told you to stay out of her and Kyle's business.
SHEILA: I have. Sort of.
TERESE: Well, warning her off Kyle isn't staying out of it!
SHEILA: I was just telling her what I think!
TERESE: Yeah, well, you've made her feel very worthless. And you know, that's not only unfair, it's just really mean.
But Sheila's not listening, because she's playing with the dating app on her phone!
TERESE: Sheila!
SHEILA: Absolutely. I am wrong and you are right, and I will never do it again. And from now on, my lips are zipped! Can I go now?
TERESE: ... Fine.
Terese looks annoyed as Sheila scoots off.
Lassiter's
In the corridor...
DAVID: This isn't what we were expecting.
AARON: Yeah, or prepared for.
DAVID: I was ready to read books and play games, and -
AARON: Yeah, right. Not look after a teenager who's just been suspended. Look, I'm not against taking a teen, alright, eventually. But I just... I just thought we'd start smaller, you know. Like, way smaller.
DAVID: We can say no, Boo. It's our choice.
AARON: Like, surely there's someone else who can take him, right? Someone who's done this before?
DAVID: I think if there was, they would've called them first.
AARON: Are we ready for this? Like, seriously, are we really ready for this?
DAVID: It's only for one night.
AARON: I know, but the last thing I want is for him to leave our house tomorrow more damaged than he already is.
Leila rejoins them from the hotel room.
LEILA: Hey, guys - I don't want to rush you, but Emmett's hungry. I have to feed him, so I'll need an answer.
AARON: Look, we can sort dinner out for him.
LEILA: So you're up for it?
DAVID: We'll take him for the night.
LEILA: That's great. Thank you!
She leads them back into the room, and tells Emmett that he'll be staying with them for the night.
EMMETT: Cool.
DAVID: We've got a room just for you, mate!
LEILA: No need to share with anyone!
EMMETT: There's no other kids?
AARON: Nope, all yours.
EMMETT: And it's just you two? Like, you're together?
DAVID: Yeah, we're married.
AARON: Is that okay with you?
Emmett shrugs. David explains they have a swimming pool; he replies that he has no bathers, but Aaron says they can get him some tomorrow. Emmett thanks them, but isn't very effusive. David suggests he gets his stuff together, but Emmett just picks up the bin bag.
EMMETT: That's cool. I'm ready now.
No 32
Aaron and David are giving Emmett the grand tour.
EMMETT: Your house is huge.
Aaron asks if he wants to watch TV, but Emmett replies that he's okay. David asks what he normally does after dinner.
EMMETT: I dunno. Play games?
AARON: Right. Like, umm, board games?
EMMETT: Video games. Like Fortnite.
DAVID: Yeah, you play it for, like, two weeks, right?
EMMETT: ... No.
Aaron asks what school grade Emmett's in; Grade 8, he replies. David acknowledges that they've heard Emmett had a tough time at school and has been suspended - he mentions the shoes. Emmett looks down at them, shame-faced.
AARON: You know, you must be zonked. How about we get you a warm glass of milk before bed?
EMMETT: I'm not a baby!
AARON: Sorry!
David points Emmett in the direction of the bathroom. Aaron remarks how guarded he is; David says he must've been through a lot of carers, but thinks he'll open up.
AARON: By the way, Fortnite has nothing to do with weeks.
DAVID: Well, thanks, Mr 'ooh, would you like some warm milk before bed?'
The Waterhole
The next day, Terese and Paul are discussing David and Aaron's fostering news. Paul thinks they are 'already chucking their boundaries out the window' by taking in a teenager.
PAUL: They have to learn to say no - otherwise they could be stuck with this moody ratbag teenager permanently.
TERESE: You don't know that he's gonna be moody or a ratbag! You haven't even met him!
PAUL: He's a teenager in foster care. Need I say more?
TERESE: Only if you want to keep making unfair generalisations. Listen, you need to be supportive, Paul. Nobody needs you catastrophising.
Terese goes to the bar and finds Sheila as uncommunicative as she was yesterday - and still playing on her phone. It seems she is arranging a date for Kyle with a woman called Jamie!
TERESE: What is up with you and your phone? You're worse than the kids!
SHEILA: The internet is a wonderful place, Terese - it's so full of potential.
Terese asks if Sheila has been 'stirring the pot' again with Kyle about Roxy. But Sheila assures her she didn't; she'll stick to their agreement not to say anything. This doesn't stop her finishing the text to Kyle's 'date' the moment Terese's back is turned, though, as she arranges a coffee meet-up with Jamie this morning!
No 32
Not having been sure what was best to buy, Aaron has bought out the whole grocery store for Emmett's breakfast! David smiles at this. Emmett emerges, with a bucket of water, and claims the windows look dirty, so he's going to clean them!
AARON: You're not related to my brother, are you? He's a clean freak (...) Emmett, you do realise that we don't expect you to do this kind of thing, right?
EMMETT: No, it's cool, I want to. I like cleaning.
David offers him some breakfast first, but he's already heading round the back of the house to check the rest of the windows. Aaron looks concerned.
No 22
A cheery Roxy is making a smoothie when Terese comes in. Terese comments on how perky Roxy seems, despite Sheila's words to her last night.
ROXY: That's because I remembered my most valuable quality (...) I don't do what people tell me to do.
TERESE: Haha. Yeah, that's very true.
ROXY: Sheila is entitled to her opinion. I'm entitled not to listen to it.
Terese says she 'had words' with Sheila and that she's promised to stay out of it. Roxy isn't convinced that will necessarily last! Terese asks if all this means Roxy will be dating Kyle.
ROXY: I don't know! I was so sure that it was over. I went to Darwin to get over him - I thought I did. He's just so... perfect. He's funny, down-to-earth, great banter, ripper sex...
TERESE: Okay, your aunt does not need to hear that, thank you very much!
ROXY: I've wanted him for so long. It just wasn't the right time. He was so cold, hot, cold, hot. I get it, though; he was grieving.
TERESE: Yeah. He does seem like he's in a better place now.
ROXY: I think he is, too. Maybe it's the right time to give it a red-hot go.
TERESE: Really? Well, then, what are you waiting for?
ROXY: Who said I was waiting?
Roxy rushes out of the house, smoothie untouched!
Lassiter's Complex
Sheila spots a woman approaching the pub and recognises her as Jamie, the date she's lined up for Kyle. What's more, she's the spitting image of Kyle's ex, Amy Williams, right down to the ponytail and chequered shirt - even the names rhyme!
Sheila 'guesses' that Jamie is here for a first date, claiming she has a gift for spotting these things, and directs her to a seat while she waits for her date to arrive.
SHEILA: I'll get you a macchiato while you wait.
JAMIE: How did you know that I -
SHEILA: Oh, it's another gift. I'll be right back.
Kyle turns up at this point, having been summoned here by Sheila on the pretext of some emergency. Jamie recognises him from the photos on the app, and calls him over!
KYLE: Hey! Uh, do I know you?
SHEILA: She's not crazy, I promise. She's nice. She's witty. And she really likes the fact that you love your gran!
KYLE: How would she know that?
SHEILA: I might've started a little teeny, weeny, tiny dating profile for you.
KYLE: What is wrong with you?
SHEILA: You've got to be in it to win it, love.
KYLE: I want to be in it to win it with Roxy!
SHEILA: Yeah, but you need options! Look, she's come all this way to meet you. You don't want to embarrass her now?
Kyle grudgingly agrees to go over, while Sheila goes inside to arrange an indoor table for them.
No 32
David has just spoken to Leila on the phone. He tells Aaron that she's now asking if they can take Emmett for a week until they sort out a permanent placement for him. Aaron's taken aback. His first question is what they'll do about school - Emmett's is over an hour away and he starts back tomorrow. David says the agency will pay for a driver for pick-ups and drop-offs.
AARON: I dunno. We haven't studied up on teenagers, have we? What boundaries do we set? How do we discipline him?
DAVID: I think you're getting ahead of yourself there.
AARON: No, we don't even know if he likes it here! He chose to skip breakfast with us because he chose to do all the cleaning instead!
DAVID: Boo, that was his way of saying, 'please like me'.
Paul turns up at this point, just as David is telling Aaron he's happy for Emmett to stay a week if Aaron is. Paul rather grouchily says it's 'very generous' of them to be considering it - but when Emmett comes in, he changes his tune, introducing himself and handing Emmett a present he's brought for him.
PAUL: You don't have to open it now - although you've probably worked out what it is already.
EMMETT: ... Cricket bat.
PAUL: Very perceptive, isn't he?
EMMETT: Thank you, Paul.
Paul offers to bowl a few overs now, but Aaron reminds Emmett he hasn't had his breakfast yet, and they give him some, while Paul leaves. David suggests they go for a tour of the neighbourhood after breakfast, and to Harold's for milkshakes.
The Waterhole
Kyle and Jamie (AKA Amy the Second) come in. He establishes she's a self-employed landscape gardener, and has a son called Johnny! Sheila smiles at them as Kyle glances over at her disapprovingly, knowing what she's up to by setting him up with an Amy clone! Sheila brings over mimosas to prolong Kyle's agony, making out that he ordered them.
SHEILA: You've got to admire a man who thinks ahead, and particularly one who loves his well-meaning family!
KYLE (murmured, to Sheila): Hmm. These better be free.
At this point, Roxy comes in and sees Kyle with Jamie. She looks devastated, and immediately leaves again.
Harold's Café
Harlow and Hendrix are at a table, when Susan comes in, having encountered David, Aaron and Emmett on her way. Susan asks Emmett what he likes about Erinsborough; 'the ponds' is the best he can come up with, and David recalls how Hendrix once waded into one of them. This leads to Harlow introducing Hendrix, and herself as David's niece.
David encourages Emmett to sit and have some 'teen time' with Hendrix and Harlow, while he and Aaron go to order milkshakes.
HENDRIX (to Emmett): 'Have some teen time!' David's a dork, if you didn't pick that one up already.
Emmett smiles, as David and Aaron watch them from the counter.
Lassiter's Complex
Sheila asks Kyle how his 'date' with Jamie went.
SHEILA: She seemed lovely.
KYLE: She was Amy 2.0!
SHEILA: Really? (!)
KYLE: Yes, really! (...) Give her a control freak dad and I would've had a hard time telling them apart!
SHEILA: Oh, what can I say? I know your type - kind, ambitious, family-oriented. Hardly the way that I would describe little Roxy.
No 22
Roxy comes in in a foul mood, and fetches a bottle of whisky and a glass, before sitting at the table and staring at it.
Lassiter's Complex
Kyle tells Sheila that who he's suited to romantically is none of her business, reminding her that he and Amy didn't work out as a couple either.
KYLE: Gran, you can't force me to only date women that you get along with. Now I've got to text that girl from some app that I didn't sign up for, and let her know that I'm not interested.
SHEILA: Well, I'll just keep the profile, cos you never know -
KYLE: Delete it. Now.
SHEILA: Kyle!
KYLE: Gran, I want to be with Roxy. She's the *only* one I want to be with.
No 22
A despondent Roxy pours a large glass from the whisky bottle...
Harold's Café
Emmett is still at the table with Harlow and Hendrix, having milkshakes, while David and Aaron are watching from a nearby table. Emmett seems keen to adopt a nonchalant stance on the milkshakes, remarking that they could do with more syrup! Hendrix remarks that Emmett has a 'retro phone'. He looks hurt, and Harlow tells him it's cool - those phones never break.
EMMETT: My mum got it for me. This is the only way I can talk to her.
HARLOW: So, you can't visit her?
He shakes his head. Hendrix asks what games he has on the phone - it only has Tetris and Snake. Hendrix says Emmett should come over to his place sometime and play video games with him. Emmett says he's only staying the week.
HENDRIX: Well, sounds like seven days of solid gaming to me.
EMMETT: Do you have Borderlands 3?
HENDRIX (scoffs): Do I have... Yes, I have Borderlands 3! But I have to tell you, I'm pretty good.
EMMETT: I reckon I can take you.
HENDRIX: Do ya? Hmm.
No 32
David, Aaron and Emmett are arriving home. Emmett wants to go over to Hendrix's later. David says they can ask, but that it is a school night. At this point, Chloe and Pierce turn up for a visit.
CHLOE: Can't a girl just pop by to see her second-favourite brother?
DAVID: Emmett, this is Chloe, Aaron's second-favourite sister. And her husband Pierce, also Hendrix's dad.
EMMETT: You have a lot of relos!
While Emmett goes to open Paul's present, the adults go inside, and Chloe asks how it's going. David says it's weird, but good; Aaron remarks that Emmett's taking a little time to settle in. Emmett is playing with the bat and ball in the garden, and the ball rolls onto the patio, so he comes to retrieve it - thereby being able to hear what's being said in the sun room.
CHLOE: He's older than you were planning for?
AARON: Well, yeah, we requested someone younger. But, I dunno, they were desperate to find Emmett a home.
DAVID: It's harder to place an older child.
CHLOE: Do you think they'll ask you to take him full-time?
DAVID: Who knows?
AARON: No, maybe next week they'll find us someone younger.
Emmett looks hurt and furious as he hears this, and storms away from the door. But David then says it was nice seeing him interact with Hendrix and Harlow, as if he's getting used to the idea of Emmett staying. They suddenly hear the sound of smashed glass.
AARON: Emmett?
Coming up on Neighbours
- Aaron asks David if Emmett's the right teenager for them
- Dipi says to Grant, 'I thought you accepted Mackenzie for who she is?'
- Prison guard Owen tells Heather that they're going on lockdown
- In the prison garden, Dee asks Owen if something is happening
- Terese has something to tell Karl and Susan; we see them looking outraged at something