Lassiters Hotel - Amy's Room
Amy tearfully recounts to Shane the time she met the CEO of her airline while she was working. After accidentally spilling wine on him due to lack of flexibility in her uniform, Amy got to talking about everything that was wrong with her outfit and the CEO offered her a job on the design team. She didn't quite come up with all of the design elements, but "heavily contributed" to things like the pocket. Shane asks if Amy made any changes to the designs before she showed them to Terese and Paul. Slugging back a mini bottle of booze, Amy says she made a few tweaks, but she hoped the airline would have been forgotten and no one would have made the connection. Either way, Amy knows she's sold Terese a rip-off and her dreams have gone "crash, bang into the ocean".

Harold's Café
Hendrix cheerfully tells Harlow, Mackenzie and Jay that he paid for everyone's milkshakes and all he asks in return is for their eternal gratitude. Mackenzie can't believe that Hendrix is working as a labourer, as it's so unlike him, and asks how he got into it. Hendrix is cagey, but Harlow believes Mackenzie will be able to handle the truth. Mackenzie's face falls when she hears it was via Richie and asks if Jay and Harlow knew about the conversation. Harlow nods and says they didn't want to upset her, that's why they didn't tell her initially. Mackenzie paints on a smile and pretends she's fine about it. Jay gets a text and makes an excuse to take Hendrix aside so they can talk about the card game that's on tomorrow morning. Hendrix says he'll put in all the cash he's able to, and Jay promises he'll spot him extra because "when winners bet big, winners win big."

The Waterhole
Amy doesn't understand why Shane dragged her to the pub when there was perfectly good alcohol in her room, but Shane replies that he's going to shout her dinner because she needs something to "soak up the panic". Amy sends Shane on his way with her double cheeseburger order, just as Terese finds her to talk shop. She lets Amy know that Paul is aware she won the tender, which Amy assumes he was against and vetoed her win. But Terese says she calls the shots around here and Amy still has the contract. In fact, Paul was as impressed with Amy's designs as Terese was. Shane returns in time to hear Terese tell Amy that she's hired a PR consultant who wants to meet with Amy first thing in the morning. Paul wants to capitalise on the fact that Amy's supplier is ethically-minded. Amy is trying to back out of it, but Terese bulldozes ahead.

TERESE: Who knows, maybe you'll get noticed by other hotels in the franchise? Your designs will become famous all over the world. It's good news.

Terese leaves and Amy bemoans her bad luck. Shane thought Amy might have come clean about the whole situation, but Amy says Terese wouldn't let her get a word in. Shane says that at least Amy has the sustainability thing up her sleeve, but Amy sighs and says she met her supplier through the airline, aka another way this could all just blow up in her face.

Number 30
Jay and Mackenzie are clearing up dinner plates when Shane arrives home. He lets them know he's been working with Amy and doesn't need any leftovers since he already ate. Shane then realises Mackenzie looks upset and won't accept her "I'm fine" answer. Mackenzie explains that Hendrix got his new job through Richie. Shane's concerned the boys are hanging out again, but Jay jumps in says it was only a brief conversation over the phone.

MACKENZIE: I know it shouldn't matter, but I thought we'd binned him. And it made it easier to move on by pretending he never existed.
JAY: It's not like they're hanging out. Just Hendrix got Richie to hook him up through his uncle, that's all.
MACKENZIE: I know, but being reminded that he's still in our orbit, it's made me think about him again.
SHANE: You're doing really well keeping your distance. Even if Hendrix starts hanging around him again.
JAY: That's not happening.
SHANE: But if it does, you don't need to get involved. You just stay the course, love.

Mackenzie promises she will. Shane heads to his room and Jay reassures Mac that no one wants a bar of Richie, "he's not making a comeback".

The Waterhole
It's the morning of the PR meeting and Amy is waiting nervously with Shane. He thinks that if she comes clean now, Terese will probably see it for the honest mistake it actually is. Terese soon strides in with their PR woman, Noni Beal, and introduces her to Amy. Terese believes Amy will be a great asset to the campaign and wants to feature her as much as possible. Noni likes the idea and wants to figure out what makes Amy special so they can promote that angle - like how she was a flight attendant before she became a designer. Terese looks worried when Amy isn't her usual chirpy self, so Amy pretends she's fallen ill from some minibar nuts she ate earlier. She reschedules the meeting with Noni for later. Shane looks on in disappointment.

Harold's Café
Terese chats with Harlow and Hendrix, letting them know she'd stay for a coffee if she weren't so busy. Right now she's dealing with noise complaints at the hotel. Harlow thought that was solved when they moved Amy to The Hive, but Terese says this is a new complaint about "excess foot traffic on one of the floors" and "people coming and going at all hours". This gains Hendrix's interest and he asks what floor. Terese replies that it's the second floor, wondering why Hendrix wants to know, but Hendrix just shrugs. Nonplussed, Terese heads out to keep schmoozing Noni, hoping to keep her busy while Amy regains some of her sparkly self as Noni's only around for one day. When Terese leaves, Harlow asks if Hendrix wants to head into the city for the day. Knowing he has a card game coming up, Hendrix lies and says he wants to wait around in case work calls. Harlow compliments him on his good work ethic.

HARLOW: I cannot wait to see you in those little, tiny tradie shorts.
HENDRIX: They're not that tiny.
HARLOW: (grinning) Oh, they will be after I wash them.

Number 30
Jay is ready to head out and meet Hendrix for the card game when he notices Mackenzie looking upset and clutching her phone. She sadly tells him that she couldn't sleep last night thinking about Richie and stupidly decided to scroll through all his socials.

MACKENZIE: What do you think this quote means: some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.
JAY: Michael Jordan, classic.
MACKENZIE: But what type of person is he saying he is? Is he the one who wishes it would happen, or the one who wants to make it happen? And does that mean he wants to get back together?
JAY: Is that what you want?
MACKENZIE: (crying) After what he did, no. But maybe I owe him a chance to explain?
JAY: Richie doesn't deserve you.
MACKENZIE: I miss hearing his voice.

She asks Jay to stay with her for a while. Jay agrees, also telling her he's going to confiscate her phone. He heads into the kitchen to get her a drink, sending a quick text to Hendrix that he'll be there soon and not to start without him. Jay looks guilty for staying, but he knows he can't abandon Mackenzie either when she's so upset.

Lassiters Hotel - Kane's Room
Kane invites Hendrix inside and the teen looks slightly startled when he realises Jay isn't there, but covers it up with his usual Hendrix swagger.

KANE: You made it.
HENDRIX: Said I'd be here, I'm here.
KANE: For a kid who doesn't wear socks you're pretty cocky.
HENDRIX: No reason to be anything else.
KANE: Yeah, we'll see.
HENDRIX: You should know there's been a noise complaint on your floor.
KANE: Who says?
HENDRIX: I know people, you might want to keep it down.

Kane says it's a fair call, and besides, he wouldn't want to shut up shop before he wins back all the money Hendrix took from him last week. Before they begin, Hendrix gets the text from Jay that says he's been held up and not to start without him. Kane and the other two players want to get the game going, which panics Hendrix. He wonders if they should wait for more players so they can get more money on the table, but Kane just glares at him and asks if he's thinking of bailing.

KANE: (cold) You cleaned me out last time. So it's polite to give me a chance to even things.

The Waterhole
Shane spies Amy walk in with her luggage and realises she's planning on skipping town. Amy thinks it's for the best so she doesn't land Lassiters in a PR scandal. Shane asks if she's spoken to Terese, but Amy says she'll email her.

AMY: Can you do me a massive favour? Can you help Toadie with the lip syncing battle?
SHANE: I really didn't think you were the sort to give up so easily.
AMY: Look, the truth is my life didn't exactly turn out the way I thought, you know? The airline, it was supposed to be my ticket to something.
SHANE: And it was, you hustled your way onto the design team.
AMY: (crying) Yeah it took, like, twenty years. And in the meantime, I clocked up two gay ex-husbands, kids I never got to see. I'm really proud of them. I'm really proud of these designs. They're ninety per cent my work. I just really wanted people back home to be proud of me too.

This resonates with Shane, and he takes on a more gentle, less disappointed tone with her.

SHANE: So stay. Figure it out. And let me help you.
AMY: Why would you do that?
SHANE: My life hasn't exactly worked out the way I thought it would either. But there were some good people who made sure I didn't give up. So I want to pay that forward. We just need to look at the problem from a different angle.

Amy nods, grateful for Shane's support.

The Hive
With more of a spring in her step, Amy is back in designer mode and has Shane modelling one of the porter uniforms. It's quite snug on Shane, but it doesn't matter as Amy's making adjustments to it anyway. She figures they'll get rid of the hat to make it look less like a pilot's uniform, but she's concerned about changing the pocket as that was the main selling point for Terese. Shane says that Amy will just have to come up with another winning feature. Amy's worried she's already used up her one stroke of genius, but Shane's having none of the self-pity party on his watch.

SHANE: (smiling) Think of that little girl cutting up her mum's sheets. She had so many ideas in her head and they're still in there.
AMY: How do you know?
SHANE: Because you're talented. And talented people have loads of ideas. You just need to keep working at it and have someone really annoying around to push you into action! You just need to find that really annoying person!

Amy laughs along with him but they stop when Terese appears. Amy says she felt better so she thought she'd make some uniform adjustments. Terese squints at Shane and suggests that a little more fabric might not go astray. Amy apologises about flaking earlier and hopes Noni isn't shirty with her, but Terese says she kept her busy. She then hands Amy the "fully executed copy" of her contract, which Amy tries to be enthused about.

TERESE: (slightly worried) So, um, what adjustments exactly are you doing?
AMY: Improvements only. I promise the finished product will blow your business cape off! Like in a really good way!

Terese says she looks forward to seeing them and heads off, but not before casting one more unsure look Shane 'Snug Fit' Rebecchi's way. Shane keeps his winning smile plastered on, sharing a sigh of relief with Amy when the coast is clear.

Lassiters Hotel
In the corridor outside Kane's room, Hendrix leaves a hushed voicemail for Jay, telling him to hurry up and get to the game because he's losing. Kane emerges, concerned Hendrix had done a runner. Hendrix explains he was just making a phone call, but Kane reminds him he was the one telling him about the noise complaints so he should be staying hidden. Kane invites Hendrix back into the room so they can keep playing - and so he can keep taking Hendrix's cash.

Number 30
Jay listens to Hendrix's voicemail and is relieved when Harlow arrives on the doorstep. He's filled her in on what's happened with Mackenzie and she's there to take over as support crew while Jay heads out. Jay also explains to Harlow that he's put Mac's phone in the fridge, but she's asked for it about twenty times in the last hour. Harlow goes over to sit with Mackenzie on the couch, but Jay can't help hovering in the entryway for a moment longer. Mackenzie feels like an idiot for breaking her own rules and looking at Richie's socials.

MACKENZIE: I thought that I had skipped the depressed stage and gone straight across to acceptance.
HARLOW: The cycle of grief doesn't really work like that. It's more of a two steps forward, two steps back kind of thing.
MACKENZIE: I thought that pretending he never existed would help me move on. But he's out there living his life, having fun, and I'm here in pain.
HARLOW: I know it feels like you're alone in this, but trust me, Richie is grieving too. It's just, guys do pain differently.

She asks Jay to agree with her, but Jay is distracted by a text from Hendrix asking where he is.

MACKENZIE: Do you think he misses me?
JAY: Of course he does. Why would he not?
MACKENZIE: Why do I even care? I ended it, I don't want to get back together with him... I just wish we could turn back time.

Hating the fact that Mac is so upset, Jay can't help but stay and sit with the girls for a while to show his support. Mackenzie smiles at him through her tears, grateful he's there.

Lassiters Hotel - Kane's Room
Hendrix is trying to do the maths in his head like Jay taught him, but the games are going too fast and he can't keep up. He keeps making bets and keeps losing big money, much to Kane's delight.

The Hive
Amy tells Shane that he's right - she can't back out now, Lassiters needs her. And Shane is now her number one model, muse and pushy stage mum all rolled into one.

AMY: I need your inventor wisdom too. I love that we have that in common. Don't you?

Reading through the contract Terese brought over, Shane tells Amy that the fine print is very specific. As in she's been commissioned to design uniforms based exactly on the prototypes. But Amy says, like she told Terese, the changes will be all about improving the product.

SHANE: You're going to have to do more than just tweak.
AMY: Yeah, and I'll do what you said and I'll change the pouch. And I'll change anything that's too close to the old design.
SHANE: Okay. Then you will do this stage mum very proud, little Amy.
AMY: I do have to ask you a little favour though.
SHANE: Another one? Aren't I in the middle of one?
AMY: Can we not tell Toadie about this?
SHANE: But he's a lawyer, this leads to trouble.
AMY: But it won't, so we don't need to tell him... Anyway, we've got more pressing issues.
SHANE: What, like convincing Terese to buy all new designs?

Amy nods and smiles.

Lassiters Hotel - Kane's Room
Hendrix puts in one measly chip as his bet, but Kane retorts that he's a blackjack dealer, not a busker. He needs to see some real money. Miserable, Hendrix puts in his last two chips and gets a king and a seven card in return. They're interrupted by a knock at the door. Kane is concerned it could be the manager, but finds Jay on the other side. Jay apologises for being late, but Kane says the game's almost over. Jay sits at the table, immediately troubled when he sees how much Hendrix has lost.

JAY: Has this guy bet everything?
HENDRIX: What's it to you, are you a cop?
KANE: (to Jay) He's been a hack all game.
JAY: Happens to the best of us.

Jay panics again when Hendrix says he wants another card. He's like, "Dude, you've got seventeen", but moody Hendrix won't be told and he demands another card. Kane is only too happy to oblige, especially when Hendrix receives a jack and officially goes bust. Jay looks guilty while Hendrix wallows in his misery.