The Waterhole
Holly is at the bar when Heath turns up to stand next to her. She smiles.

HEATH: Hello again.
HOLLY: Can't stay away?
HEATH: I'm getting a margarita. I've had an exhausting day.
HOLLY: What a coincidence. So have I.
HEATH: Remember, we're supposed to be keeping things on the DL.
HOLLY: You're the one talking to me.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie is at another table and chatting to Aaron while he works, sympathising about his health scare. He admits it's been 'a lot' but says it's nice that everyone's stood up for him. Mack takes his hand.

MACKENZIE: It's because we all love you.
AARON: Aww, thanks Macka!

Aaron notices Heath, and asks who he is. Mackenzie explains he's one of Rebecchi Law's new clients, but mentions how she got his surname wrong (or thinks she did). Aaron says it would be easier if everyone wore name tags.

No 30
Dex is looking over towards Cara, who's doing uni work on her laptop, while JJ sits on the kitchen top next to Dex. Remi arrives home from work, and suggests they go out for dinner as she's too tired to cook. Cara agrees, and complains that she's struggling with the coding element of her assignment. Dex remarks that she's been working on it non- stop. But Cara tells them the good news that she got a distinction last week.

REMI: What? Why didn't you tell us?
CARA: Oh, it might've been a fluke, or an accident.
REMI: Well, no one is handing out accidental distinctions!
CARA: Just... a bit hard to believe, that's all.
REMI (kissing her): Well, believe it, baby - it happened!
CARA: Yeah, do you know what? I've done all that I can. Let's go eat.

Cara puts her laptop on the table, looking a bit worried. Dex looks a bit worried too.

The Waterhole
Toadie, Terese and Nell come in. Toadie is quizzing Nell about why she hasn't been going over to the Varga- Murphys' recently. She insists everything's fine, and that she's been hanging out with Jasmine instead. Aware of what's been going on with boys and that Toadie is unaware, Terese tries to change the subject.

TERESE: In other news, I have been thinking about formally changing my name to Terese Rebecchi.
NELL: Really?
TERESE: Yeah, well, I've got a fish name, so I thought, 'why not?'
NELL: I love it.

Toadie looks rather uncomfortable about the idea, but masks it well enough.

TOADIE: Sounds like it's a done deal.

Mackenzie comes over. She explains how she was talking to Holly before who told her that she had Heath's surname wrong - that he was known to everyone at the hotel as 'Royce' rather than 'Silverson'. But Toadie agrees that 'Silverson' is the name Heath gave Rebecchi Law.

MACKENZIE: So I just looked him up, and I think I know why he's been using a different surname at work. Heath Silverson was convicted of fraud a few years ago, falsifying signatures on a bunch of insurance contracts.
TOADIE: Right, okay. We're just handling a property sale for him, so just make sure that everything is above board, I guess?
MACKENZIE: Do you think Krista knows?
TOADIE: Well, you're under no obligation to protect Heath, so if you want to go and tell her, go for it.

Krista is at the bar with Aaron as Mack and Toadie are talking, and looks over in their direction, smiling.

Lassiter's Hotel
We skip a scene as, having heard from Mackenzie about Heath's fraud convictions, Krista has reported the information straight to Tess, who claims to have had no idea about it.

TESS: I can't believe it.
KRISTA: So what are you gonna do?
TESS: Who else in the company have you told?
KRISTA: No one.
TESS: Heath has a lot of explaining to do. An extraordinary catch - please, thank Mackenzie for being so thorough.

Tess smiles as she promises to keep Krista updated - but once Krista leaves, Tess looks furious.

Harold's Café
The Varga- Murphys are all in the sofa area when Haz brings over a special cake to celebrate Cara's distinction last week. Cara plays her success down as 'no biggie', but JJ tells her she should 'own it', and Haz agrees! Haz also takes the opportunity to ask if he can borrow Cara's drill to fix his shed. She says he can pop by and grab it anytime.

Cara is still looking a bit worried about her new coding assignment; she says she can't stop going over the answers in her mind. But she decides that she's going to just send it off when she gets home, rather than going over it again, and if she gets a lousy mark, so be it.

Seemingly having had an idea, Dex asks if he can head home, claiming he has some homework to do. But as he leaves, we get the sense he has an ulterior motive.

Lassiter's Hotel
In Tess's office, Tess gives Heath a stern talking- to about the fact that Mackenzie has revealed details of his past to Krista after realising he was using two names. Heath's forced to admit he ploughed ahead with the Hawaii house purchase despite Tess telling him not to, leading to this situation. Heath claims Toadie called him to confirm some details, and he thought it would be more suspicious if he pulled the plug.

TESS: Do you know how hard I have been working to pull this off?
HEATH: I've been working hard too.
TESS: If we give anyone cause to look too deeply into either one of us -
HEATH: Alright, I get it! I made a mistake, alright? Another one. So, what now?
TESS: We'll have to go ahead with the property.
HEATH: Oh, thinking of those Maui sunsets?
TESS: This isn't funny. Obviously I can't fire you. I'm gonna have to hose Krista down some other way.
HEATH: Well, I can do that.
TESS: No. You've done enough damage.
HEATH: Let me make it up to you.

He gets up close to her, but she grabs his face and pushes him away.

TESS: You are not kissing your way out of this one.

No 30
Dex is back home and has Cara's laptop open, when there's a knock at the door. It's Haz, just calling round to borrow the drill as discussed with Cara. Dex points it out in Cara's toolkit, and Haz grabs it.

DEX: Hey, do you know software I can use to design a workflow builder for HVAC systems?
HAZ: Oh. What do you need to know that for?
DEX: Umm... just an assignment.
HAZ: Okay. That's a pretty specific one for Year 10.
DEX: ... I'm in an advanced IT class.
HAZ: Right, okay. Well, I'd go with something like Macro Coder.

Dex thanks Haz, but when Haz looks over his shoulder at the laptop screen, Dex quickly closes the lid so he can't see, raising Haz's suspicions.

DEX: Do you need something else?
HAZ: No. All good.

Haz leaves, and Dex opens the laptop again...

No 22
Nell and Hugo are on the couch, while in the kitchen, Terese tells Toadie that Nicolette, Byron, Jane and Harold are all coming to their anniversary party. She then quietly suggests that they tell the kids about the 'one person who can't come' - Melanie. So Toadie tells the kids that they did invite Mel, but that she had something else on.

HUGO: Okay. Whatever.
NELL: We know you guys are all cool with each other now.

Terese agrees, and suggests they put a full invite list together tomorrow. Toadie looks briefly worried.

NELL: Don't want to forget anyone.
HUGO: Unless their name starts with Vera and ends in Punt.
TERESE: Oh, Hugo!
HUGO: What? Dad always crosses the road when he sees her coming.

Toadie snaps out of it, saying that is very true! But he says he can't do the invite list tomorrow morning, claiming he has to head into the office. Terese points out it's a Saturday, but Toadie says he'll be back by lunchtime. They agree to do the list when he gets back.

No 30
Dex is lying on the couch when the rest of the family come back from a post- cake walk. Cara immediately heads for her laptop, and a worried Dex asks what she's doing.

CARA: I'm just gonna go over it one more time.
DEX: I thought you weren't doing that?
CARA: Yeah, well, can't hurt.
DEX (panicked): Ma, she's looking over it again!
REMI: Yeah, one more time's fine.
DEX: She'll just look over it again, and again, and she'll never get any sleep! (to Cara) You just have to trust in yourself.
REMI: You know what? He's right. Just send it.

Cara takes their advice, and presses the 'send' button. Dex breathes a sigh of relief.

Lassiter's Lake
The next day, Nell is practising her karate moves on the grass when JJ approaches. Things still feel slightly awkward between them.

JJ: What are you up to?
NELL: Perfecting the ancient art of killing my enemies with one punch.
JJ: That's cool, wow! Hey, I could help you practice if you want? You know, it'll probably be easier with an actual opponent. Also gives you a pretty good excuse to punch me, and I know you want to do that! So, uh, what do you say?
NELL: Erm... alright. But don't get upset if I actually hit you.

They begin practising some moves together while continuing the conversation. JJ tells Nell about the extra work Terese has him doing at Eirini Rising - including the gardening.

JJ: Which is a problem, cos I kill any plant that I try to water, you know? (...) You've got some plants in your room. How do you keep them alive?
NELL: ... My mum used to own a nursery. So I guess I picked up some tips from her.
JJ: Oh, that's cool. Where is it?
NELL: It's nearby, but I haven't been there in ages.

Talk of Sonya seems to have wrongfooted Nell somewhat, and she's keen to get back to her karate moves.

Lassiter's Hotel
In the manager's office, Tess and Heath have orchestrated a feigned dressing- down for him in the presence of Krista, who wants to know why he didn't say anything about his chequered history.

HEATH: I guess it was naive to think that my past could stay there and I could move on.
TESS: We need to hear the details.

Heath claims his uncle gave him a job at his insurance brokerage which involved unwittingly signing some dodgy paperwork.

HEATH: I trusted my uncle, and it almost ruined my life.
TESS: Why did you change your name?
HEATH: I only did it for work. I didn't want to be associated with that side of the family.
KRISTA: It also makes it hard to look into your background.
HEATH: Yeah, I suppose. But that wasn't the reason.
TESS (to Heath): You can go now. Krista and I need to talk.
HEATH: Look, I'm sorry. To both of you.

Heath leaves, and Tess claims she thinks he's telling the truth.

KRISTA: Tess, it's corporate fraud.
TESS: I know. But since he's been working for me, he hasn't put a foot wrong. This is Sincast business, not Lassiter's. And as someone who has received so many second chances, I would've expected a little more empathy.

Counselling Office
Toadie thanks Rhonda the counsellor for fitting him in for an appointment.

RHONDA: You sounded anxious on the phone.
TOADIE: Err, yeah, that's one word for it. Yeah. I don't really know what's going on with me. Erm... I mean, things were going really well. And, you know, I was happy. Am. I am happy. I'm very happy with Terese. It's just, I've been having these really... weird feelings.
RHONDA: Can you tell me when they started?
TOADIE: Yeah. After I spent some time in my old house. The pergola fell down, and I offered to help Cara, my neighbour - the new owner - I offered to help her fix it.
RHONDA: You lived in that house for many years, is that right?
TOADIE: Yeah. Nearly 30 years... Anyway, she was asking me about my life. And you know, just making conversation, I started telling her about my past relationships. And it just kind of struck me how crazy my life has actually been.
RHONDA: You've been through a *lot*.
TOADIE: Yeah. And then I get... I get these reminders, about Sonya, and Dee, my first wife. And it's just been snowballing from there. I can't stop thinking about them; and then I'm thinking about Melanie, and I'm... I'm thinking about Terese, and I'm thinking -
RHONDA: You just said that you are happy with Terese?
TOADIE: Yeah. No, I am. I'm very happy with Terese. We are very happy. I mean, yesterday, she came up with the idea of taking my last name, so becoming Mrs Rebecchi. And of course, I said that was great, because... it *should* be, right? But I get hit with another one of these feelings.
RHONDA: Do something for me. Close your eyes. Don't think of anyone. Just... describe the feeling. Any words that come to mind.

Toadie closes his eyes and sighs deeply, then is silent for a long time. Rhonda looks at him expectantly, but no answer comes, until...

TOADIE (emotional): No, I can't... I'm drowning.

Lassiter's Lake
At the rotunda, JJ is still asking Nell about gardening and plants, specifically how often to water them. She says it depends on the plant. JJ suggests that the people running Sonya's Nursery could give him some advice - maybe Nell could take him there and introduce him?

JJ: Hey, hey, I'm just trying to find some *sage* advice, alright? How was that? Was that very good?
NELL: Stop. You are so cringe!
JJ: What, then you'll do it?
NELL: ...
JJ: Hey, you said that you hadn't been there for a while.
NELL: Years, actually.
JJ: Isn't it, like, just round the corner?
NELL: Yeah. I used to go all the time, but at some point... I dunno, I... guess it just made me sad.
JJ: Umm... can I ask how long it's been since your mum died?
NELL: Almost seven years.
JJ: Okay. We don't need to go. Just forget I said anything about that.
NELL: No. I'm glad you did. I'm okay to talk about her. I... I like it, actually.
JJ: So, maybe it might be a good thing to go see your mum's nursery?
NELL (smiling): I think it might be.

Counselling Office
Toadie apologises to Rhonda for being 'a bit of a mess right now', but she says it's a safe space - he doesn't need to be sorry.

TOADIE: I've already put two people in an uncomfortable position - Karl and Melanie.
RHONDA: You really don't feel like you can speak to Terese?
TOADIE: No, I will. I hate withholding things from her. I just... I wanna know what's going on with me first. I don't want to make things worse. Again. Am I having a midlife crisis? Is that what this is?
RHONDA: It's normal for us to reflect on our lives and our choices from time to time. We've just got to figure out why this is happening to you right now. In our previous sessions we've talked a lot about Melanie and Sonya. Not so much your first wife, Dee.
TOADIE: And Steph Scully too, if you want to do the full count.
RHONDA: Well, I'd like to hear more about them.
TOADIE: Right. Okay. Well, I mean, Dee was... Dee was the first love of my life. And it broke my heart, losing her.
RHONDA: You were very young.
TOADIE: I found her again. It's still, err... very difficult to talk about.
RHONDA: I think it would be useful if we did.

Harold's Café
Heath is at a table, groaning and leaning back in his chair, when he sees Mackenzie come through the door (upside- down from his perspective!) He gets up and follows her to the counter, then leans performatively against it for a chat.

HEATH: Mackenzie?
MACKENZIE: Uh, yeah.
HEATH: You know, I did your boss a favour, asking him to help with the property sale. I didn't have to do that.
MACKENZIE: ... Okay.
HEATH: Mm. He's gonna make a few grand for just double- checking some papers.
MACKENZIE: What are you trying to say?
HEATH: Well, I'm just not sure why you wanted to go looking into my past and then go running to Krista.
MACKENZIE (assertive): Well, she's my friend... and I was curious.

Heath gets right up close to Mackenzie and speaks to her in a hushed, menacing voice.

HEATH: Well... you know what they say about curiosity.

He walks away, leaving Mackenzie looking shaken.

The Waterhole
Holly and Heath are having a surreptitious conversation as they sit close together but at different tables, Heath pretending to work on his laptop while Holly drinks a coffee. Heath is coming clean to Holly about his fraud conviction, saying he wanted to tell her before she heard it from anyone else. He claims it was a 'stupid mistake' on his part.

HOLLY: Well, I suppose I'm glad you're being honest with me.
HEATH: Does this change anything for you?
HOLLY: People have pasts. I get that.
HEATH: You know, you're taking this really well. Didn't you say that Mackenzie was your friend?
HOLLY: Yeah, she is. And I love her. But... I dunno, I see things differently.
HEATH: Meaning?
HOLLY: Life isn't black or white. Sometimes you need to break the rules, to get ahead.

They smile at one another.

HEATH: You sound like you're speaking from experience.
HOLLY: Your uncle sounds a lot like my mum. I mean, she's a good person, but she does what she has to.
HEATH: How's that working out for her?
HOLLY: Well, she's been with a crypto millionaire for about three years now, so pretty good, I'd say!
HEATH: Interesting. What else do I need to know about you?
HOLLY (turning serious): I don't like being treated like I'm an idiot.
HEATH: Holly - I would never treat you like that, okay? I hate it too.

The camera pans down to where they're holding hands between the tables.

HEATH: So are we still on?
HOLLY: Pick me up later for a drive?

He kisses her hand.

HEATH: Absolutely.

Sonya's Nursery
JJ and Nell are approaching the entrance to the nursery while chatting about karate, the awkward atmosphere between them seemingly having dissipated somewhat now they're talking again. But Nell pauses as they reach the entrance.

JJ: Hey, we don't need to go in, if you don't want to.
NELL: No, no, I should. I want to. I don't know why I left it so long.

But as they turn the corner, Nell is upset to see that the nursery is in an abandoned, derelict state, with debris and junk all over the ground and not a soul in sight.

NELL: No, something's seriously wrong. Why isn't it open? Dad, he's gonna be devastated when he finds out.

Coming up on Neighbours
- It's time for Wendy to receive her award, but she's torn between enjoying the moment and making a statement
- Nell tells Terese and Toadie the nursery's trashed, but soon gets the sense Toadie knows more than she does
- Karl tells Susan that Toadie has sworn him to secrecy; she asks him if they should be worried