Erinsborough Hive
Yashvi asks Sheila 2 why Ned is quitting the gallery, when he's been so excited about making it happen. Sheila 2 feigns ignorance, saying she doesn't know what Ned is thinking, and suggests Yashvi go and ask him.

No 26
In the garden, Roxy is updating Terese on arrangements for the volleyball tournament. In the background, Kyle is reading a magazine in a way that blocks his nasal injuries from view. He briefly removes the magazine to confirm to Terese that he's happy to help Roxy with the organisation of the tournament - and we don't see his nose, but Terese does and looks disconcerted.

As Terese leaves, Sheila 1 turns up, and Roxy moans to her and Kyle (who is still covering his face with the magazine) about how much she wants the manager job at The Flamingo Bar. Sheila 1 thinks Roxy will get it, but Roxy is stressed that the volleyball tournament won't go smoothly and scupper her chances.

KYLE: Babe, so now wouldn't be the best time for a team to pull out?
ROXY: It would be a major pain.
KYLE: You want to talk about pain?
SHEILA 1: Oh, are you using my home remedy, or what?
KYLE: It's made things worse! I look like a half-eaten hamburger! (...) I'm not going out there with everyone gawking at me.

Roxy says she can probably redo the tournament schedule. Kyle feels bad, but Roxy tells him he still has to be there, even if he's not playing - as she needs all the moral support she can get. Kyle is unenthusiastic.

No 32
Nicolette is ranting to a tired and increasingly weary Chloe and Aaron about how Roxy has changed the volleyball tournament schedule, which means they'll now have to play first instead of third as originally planned - leaving Nicolette with no chance to analyse the other teams' strategies again before they play! David comes in.

NICOLETTE: Excuse me, David, but this is a confidential pre-tournament strategy meeting, and you're not welcome.

David just laughs and walks straight back out of the room! Nicolette tells Aaron and Chloe they need to be in bed by 8pm so they're fresh for the tournament tomorrow.

CHLOE: But we'll miss The Bachelor!
NICOLETTE: You can watch it online tomorrow, and just think how sweet it'll be once we've won.
AARON: You do know that winning's not guaranteed, right?
NICOLETTE: Well, not with that losing attitude. Shower and bed - come on!

Aaron laughs wearily as Nicolette drives Chloe out of the house.

No 22
Ned is on the sofa looking pensive. Yashvi comes in, and asks him why he quit the gallery, explaining that she heard the tail end of his conversation with Sheila 2 as Ned left the Hive earlier.

YASHVI: She's just as confused as I am. So what's the deal? I thought running the gallery was your dream?
NED: Uh... I just realised that I didn't want to be roped into a nine-to-five job.
YASHVI: But you've always been doing that, managing the Hive.
NED: Yeah, and it took time away from me producing my art.

Ned says Sheila 2 deserves someone who's fully committed; the gallery would always come second to his work.

YASHVI: I don't get it. You've been given the opportunity to showcase your artwork with an awesome business partner. There's got to be something you're not telling me.
NED: No, I gave you my reasons.
YASHVI: Well, you'd better tell Sheila - otherwise she's gonna think it's something to do with her.

Ned looks stressed.

The Waterhole
Sheila 2 is chatting to Sheila 1 about her situation with Ned; Sheila 2 hasn't heard from him since he left the Hive yesterday, and is worried he'll pull out of the volleyball contest after what's happened.

SHEILA 2: You warned me about being alone with him, but did I listen? No.
SHEILA 1: But nothing actually happened, remember?
SHEILA 2: Yeah, but part of me wishes that Yashvi had walked in 30 seconds earlier.
SHEILA 1: What, to hear Ned tell you that he had feelings for you?
SHEILA 2: That way it'd all be out on the table.
SHEILA 1: Maybe he told her how he really feels.
SHEILA 2: I hope so. It's the least she deserves.

The Flamingo Bar
In the beach area, Terese kicks off the volleyball tournament with a short introductory speech, before praising Roxy for organising the event and handing the microphone to her. Roxy gives her own speech as Levi, Bea, Chloe, Aaron and Nicolette gather to take part - while Jesse takes his seat as the referee.

The prizes, Roxy reveals, are a Flamingo Cup trophy, and a $200 bar tab, which should buy the winners a few 'Flaming Balls', the official cocktail of the event. She then introduces the first match, which is between Aaron and Chloe, and Bea and Levi.

NICOLETTE: Defeat's only bitter if you swallow it.
AARON (weary): What if you just want to have a little bit of fun, Nic?

But Nic just slaps him on the bum and tells him fun starts with a victory lap! Jesse blows the whistle and Aaron is first to serve, but Levi and Bea quickly win the first point, making Nicolette very irate! The match continues, with Nicolette coaching furiously from the sidelines.

NICOLETTE (shrieking): Eyes on the ball! Hustle, hit, never quit! (...) Competitive juices overcome excuses!

Nicolette is making such a scene that Roxy has a quiet word with her, and Aaron remarks to Chloe that Nic is behaving flat-out embarrassingly.

Shortly afterwards, inside the bar, David is enjoying a Flaming Balls cocktail courtesy of Roxy. Roxy tells Terese that they've run out of gin, but that Sheila 1 is fetching more and the bar staff are improvising in the meantime. Terese is impressed at how Roxy's handling things.

ROXY: It's practice for the new manager role. And since you're so impressed, I don't think you need to bother with interviewing anyone else. Right?

But Terese looks sheepish, and doesn't give a straight response.

TERESE: Roxy, just enjoy the day. Try and have some fun.

Roxy looks a little worried as Terese leaves.

Back outside, David comes to join Chloe and Aaron, who are enduring a half-time team talk from Nicolette.

NICOLETTE: When you get back onto the court, I need you to enact beast mode!
AARON: Nic, using unnecessary strength is a great way to get somebody hurt.

Jesse blows the whistle to signify the start of the second half.

NICOLETTE (shrieking): Come on! Release the kraken!

Aaron, Chloe and David all look bemused! But as Aaron and Chloe take their positions to commence the game, Aaron suddenly gets a twinge of back pain - or so he pretends! David goes along with the pretence.

DAVID: Is it your old injury?
AARON: Yep.
DAVID (exaggerated): Oh, no, we have to ice it! He can't play.
AARON (exaggerated): Ah, man!
CHLOE: I guess we'll have to forfeit.
NICOLETTE: This is ridiculous.
ROXY: This stuffs up the whole schedule! Aaron, are you sure you can't play?
AARON: I'm so sorry, Roxy.
NICOLETTE: I'll fill in.
CHLOE: But what about the baby?
NICOLETTE: I'm pregnant, not impaired!

Chloe looks concerned. Nicolette kicks off her shoe, which whacks Aaron on the leg.

NICOLETTE: Now you've got a legitimate injury!

She marches onto the pitch, ready to play.

Harold's Café
Yashvi and Ned are picking up a pre-volleyball coffee, when they run into Sheila 2. Yashvi tells her that Ned's explained why he's pulling out of the manager job.

SHEILA 2 (tense): He did?

But Sheila 2's relieved to learn that Ned has simply made an excuse about juggling the job with his own artwork.

YASHVI: I can see that you're sad to lose him, but even with a different manager, can you still work together in launching the business? You guys make such a good team.
NED (tense): Vee, that's really up to Sheila.
SHEILA 2 (pointed): What would you like to do, Ned?

But at this point, Roxy appears and ushers them all over to the volleyball court, reminding them that they have a game in 20 minutes. Ned's about to object, but unwilling to endure any more schedule changes, Roxy insists they're all playing.

The Flamingo Bar
Sheila 1 has come in with some gin for the cocktails. Bea and Levi are drowning their sorrows at a table, and Bea explains to Sheila 1 that Nicolette trounced them in the last set of the game.

LEVI: Whatever. I'd rather hang out with you than run around in the sand anyway. I've got it everywhere.
BEA: Ugh, everywhere?!
LEVI: No, babe - *everywhere*.

Sheila 1 laughs, and Kyle comes in wearing a bandana over most of his face.

SHEILA 1: Oh, Kyle, love - you look like you've just knocked off a servo! Levi, arrest him!
BEA: Are you still a little bit insecure about your nose?
SHEILA 1: Ah, yes, he gets his vanity from his grandfather. I couldn't drag Frank away from the mirror.
KYLE: I don't like people staring at me!

But Sheila 1 tells him to stop thinking of himself, and go and support Roxy. Kyle reveals he's already frightened a small child with his face earlier, and takes his bandana off to demonstrate. The skin on his nose, cheeks and forehead is all red and peeling.

BEA: Why's it getting worse? Aren't you using Sheila's home remedy?
KYLE: Well, it wasn't working fast enough. So I just went straight to the secret ingredient, lavender oil, and I cut everything else out.
BEA: What?! So you're using lavender oil straight on your skin?
KYLE: Well, I wasn't gonna drink it!
SHEILA 1: Oh, you're a gumnut, Kyle!
BEA: You're supposed to dilute the essential oils. Otherwise it's gonna look like that!

Embarrassed, Kyle covers up again, and Levi laughs. But Sheila 1 offers him some make-up so he can paint over it. He accepts the foundation, but...

KYLE: No lipstick!

They all laugh at him.

Harold's Café
Ned is alone at a table, now in his volleyball gear, and looking pensive. Sheila 2 comes in and sits down with him. They talk in hushed whispers.

SHEILA 2: I don't know what you told Yashvi, but it wasn't the truth.
NED: How can I explain it to her when I don't even understand myself?
SHEILA 2: There's something going on between us, and we need to stop pretending and sort it out.
NED: Nothing happened. You said it yourself.
SHEILA 2: Ned, I am not here to play games with you. You admitted you feel something for me.
NED: I am in love with Yashvi. I'm in a committed relationship.
SHEILA 2: And those feelings have just disappeared overnight, have they?
NED: No, but...
SHEILA 2: What do you want, Ned?
NED: I'm quitting the gallery, Sheila. Sorry.
SHEILA 2: ... Let's just get this game over with.

She gets up to leave. Ned looks conflicted.

The Flamingo Bar
Outside, David and Aaron are drinking mocktails, Aaron now 'loving the spectator life'. Yashvi turns up, and she and David get into positions for their game, which is against Ned and Sheila 2. Nearby, Sheilas 1 and 2 are sitting on a bench together. Sheila 2 explains to Sheila 1 that Ned hasn't told Yashvi the real story about why he quit the gallery - he'd rather hide it and keep lying.

SHEILA 1: Well, he does have a Y chromosome.

Roxy takes the microphone again and welcomes everyone back to the tournament, introducing the match.

SHEILA 2 (to Sheila 1): I don't even know why I'm doing this. I mean, I did this as a favour for Ned, and now I can't even stand being around him.

But Sheila 1 begs her to do it for Roxy, as she's had a stressful day with people pulling out of the tournament. Sheila 2 reluctantly gets up to play with Ned, and the match commences. We lapse into slow motion as the game is played, until Roxy declares it over - and Ned and Sheila 2 the winners. But Sheila 2 walks straight off the pitch afterwards rather than celebrating with Ned, leaving him looking put out.

Inside the bar, Kyle has finished applying the make-up and asks Levi and Bea for feedback. Bea thinks it looks 'natural', though Levi is still teasing Kyle. Roxy comes in, and tells Kyle that Sheila 2 and Ned have bailed on the final match, so she needs Kyle to play in the final match. He reluctantly agrees.

ROXY: Are you wearing...? Doesn't matter - come on!

The Waterhole
Sheila 2 is sitting alone at a table, when Sheila 1 comes in. Sheila 2 says she couldn't keep playing volleyball and pretending it was all fine, but Sheila 1 says Roxy has sorted out replacements so it's fine. Sheila 2 says she should never have agreed to play anyway; combined with this and her work on the new gallery, she's neglected her other businesses.

SHEILA 1: Yeah, well, you've had a few distractions.
SHEILA 2: I'm acting like a teenager instead of a grown woman. I assess risk for a living. I should've seen the risk of falling for a work colleague who has a girlfriend.
SHEILA 1: No, you deserve a man who is a hundred percent devoted to you, and you alone.
SHEILA 2: Yeah. Thanks, chook. I'm gonna miss this.
SHEILA 1: You're leaving?
SHEILA 2: Mm. As soon as I find Ned's replacement for the gallery, I'm headed back to Eora.

Sheila 1 looks sad.

The Flamingo Bar
On the volleyball pitch, the grand final is now looming, and Jesse has a wary eye on Nicolette, who is doing an aggressive-looking pre-match workout.

JESSE: Terese, do I have to ref this match? That lady scares me.
TERESE: Yeah, sorry. Hang tough.

Terese takes the microphone and welcomes the finalists - Chloe and Nicolette, and the new stand-in team, Kyle and Roxy! Everyone is impressed by how improved Kyle's face looks.

CHLOE: I thought he was out due to injury?
NICOLETTE: Yeah, he's about to be.

Another slow-motion montage ensues. Nicolette and Chloe start to lose, and Nicolette tells a distracted Chloe to focus.

CHLOE: It's just... Kyle's face.
NICOLETTE: Yeah, what's up with that? Looks like his skin's melting.

We see that Kyle's make-up has started to sweat off, revealing his injuries again. Roxy thinks it's a good thing; if Kyle keeps distracting them with his face, then they have the match in the bag. She then decides it would be best if he wiped off the make-up altogether, for peak distraction. Kyle's hesitant, but...

NICOLETTE: Oi, Canning! Heads up, the ball's about to hit your snout!

This angers Kyle into wiping off the make-up.

CHLOE: He's hideous!
NICOLETTE: Try not to look.

But sure enough, Kyle's exposed face (improbably) has the desired effect on Chloe and Nicolette, causing Kyle and Roxy to begin to win points. In an ultra slow-motion sequence, Kyle scores the winning point against a blindsided Nicolette, and he and Roxy have won the tournament! Terese presents them with their trophy, and the crowd cheers.

Harold's Café
Ned and Yashvi come in. Yashvi doesn't understand why Sheila 2 didn't want to play the final match, and suggests Ned check she's okay. Ned says she's just upset about him quitting the gallery. Pressed by Yashvi, Ned says he doesn't feel good about it, and she points out it's not too late to change his mind.

YASHVI: You said it yourself - Sheila is the only one invested in you and your art.
NED: Apart from you.
YASHVI: Sure, but I don't have the means to further your career. She does.
NED: Being an artist and being a gallery manager are two very different things.
YASHVI: But one job complements the other. And if you're gonna have a boss, Sheila's an ideal one. She values your input; she's cool to me. I just don't want you to regret this later on.
NED: No, I won't. I'm protecting what's important.

Yashvi looks sceptical, but eventually stops pushing, and expresses her support, if being a 'starving artist' is really what he wants.

NED: Thank you. That, right there, is why I love you.

The Flamingo Bar
Nicolette is looking absolutely bereft after losing the volleyball tournament, and Chloe laments that it was a 'messed-up nose' that did for them. Nicolette says she should've focused more on mental training; she can't believe she got psyched out.

Nearby, Aaron is enthusiastically praising Kyle and Roxy for the 'poetry' of them beating Nicolette, saying the look on her face was 'beautiful'!

TERESE: It was a fitting end to a terrific day.
ROXY (hopeful): So I did good?
TERESE: Yeah, you did great! I mean, you managed the scheduling hiccups and the traffic. The Lassiter's socials were way up, and you made a killing at the bar.
ROXY: So, when are you and Paul telling everyone I'm the winning candidate?

Terese looks sheepish again at the mention of the bar manager job - and at that moment, a familiar face appears - Amy Greenwood!

AMY: Hi, party people! Epic event!
KYLE: Amy! Didn't know you were back in Erinsborough.
AMY: I flew in this morning. Super-disappointed that I couldn't make the entire thing, but it's, like, a really fab way to promote the bar.
ROXY: Thanks!
AMY: Yeah, I'll be keen to get your ideas on how to capitalise on the buzz.
ROXY: ...
AMY: Did Terese not tell you? I've been hired as the new bar manager!

Roxy looks furious, and Terese, guilty.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Roxy tells Kyle that she deserves to be the bar manager, not Amy
- Roxy watches Amy talking to Paul and Terese; we hear Roxy say, 'She definitely stole those ideas'
- Hendrix asks Mackenzie, 'Do you still want to tell her?'
- Harlow tells Mackenzie, 'I might not get to see him for years'
- Brent kisses Harlow on the forehead
- Harlow looking tearful