The Waterhole
Vic nervously approaches Leo, who's at the bar, to begin his itinerary of apology - in this case for pulling out of the Yorokobi investment deal.

VIC: I won't interrupt. I just wanted to say, I know things got a bit messy... I hope you're doing okay.
LEO (scoffs): Do you have any idea how much Nicolette and Byron have done to fix the damage you've caused? You know, it's only cos of them that Yorokobi's still going.
VIC: They're good kids. Things have changed since I was sick; I'm not walking away anymore. I'm sincerely sorry for what happened.
LEO: What's a sorry from you worth, Vic?
VIC: Everything. You have my word on that.
LEO: Yeah. But you're not a man of your word, are you?

Leo turns away, leaving Vic to shuffle out the way he came!

Eclipse Apartment 702
Krista brings over a large tub of ice cream and two spoons to cheer up Melanie, who's laid up on the sofa feeling down about Vic.

MELANIE: I know we'd only been chatting for a few weeks, but... it felt like he was my perfect match.
KRISTA: Yeah. Turns out he was a womaniser who bailed on his kids.
MELANIE: But he said he wasn't that person anymore. Oh, why am I even going through this?
KRISTA: Because you liked him.
MELANIE: But it can never happen.
KRISTA: Unfortunately, I don't think men like that change so easily.
MELANIE: You're right. I'm lucky that I found out when I did.
KRISTA: You know, you're still allowed to be sad about it.
MELANIE: No. Here's to things working out better for once (...) Here's to happier times and better men.

They clink spoons and dig in, but Mel is still looking wistful.

No 28
Karl has written five songs today and wants to regale a distinctly unkeen Susan with them.

KARL: This first one is very Harry Styles.

Someone knocks on the door.

SUSAN (relieved): Oh! There's the door!
KARL: (sighs)

It's Paul, and Karl tries to get rid of him so he can carry on with his songs. But Susan enthusiastically invites Paul in; he's looking to get Susan's thoughts about Terese has been doing since Toadie's departure.

SUSAN: Uh... coping, I think. Why, has she said something?
PAUL: No, no, just - this coping, I think it might be a bit of a front, though.
KARL: She seems to be holding it together very well at work.
PAUL: Problem is, she's going back to an empty house every night and I... I just think she needs her friends around her.
SUSAN: Yeah. Well, maybe we can come up with some sort of a schedule, taking turns to check in on her?
PAUL: I can't be part of that, though.
KARL: Ah, we're outsourcing compassion these days, are we?
PAUL: Karl, I can't trust myself to be around her. I mean, I've tried, but I just can't. (to Susan) And I was hoping that you might be able to keep an eye on her?
KARL: And report back?
PAUL: She just needs her friends, Karl.
SUSAN: Yeah, of course. We can be there for her.

Paul thanks her.

No 24
Vic turns up to make his next apology, to Jane. She's reluctant even to open the door, but eventually agrees to give him one minute.

VIC: Probably more than I deserve. Umm... firstly, I'm sorry I didn't get to make contact the way I'd planned. I wanted to do everything right this time. I'll do whatever it takes, Jane.
JANE: When you showed up last time, desperate to reconcile because you thought that you were dying, we did everything that we could do forgive you, and support you. That was a precious gift!
VIC: I know.
JANE: Well, no, you don't, because... the minute you got good news, you abandoned us. You will never know just how disposable you made us feel.
VIC: ... As always, you know how to cut me down. I just thought you might have a bit of pity for the stress on me. Cancer specialists going back and forth on whether I was gonna live or die...
JANE: I don't know what you want me to say.

Vic wants to talk about the letter that he left for Jane, but she doesn't want to go there.

VIC: I hope it didn't cause trouble for you and Mike.
JANE (sighs): Well, as it so happens, we *have* broken up.
VIC: Oh... That's a shame.
JANE: Look, I can really do without your questions, and your faux sympathy, so... if you don't mind...

Vic tries to interject, but Jane closes the door in his face.

Eclipse Apartment 702
Leo and Krista are talking about Vic's apology; she's surprised Leo didn't pour a drink on him.

LEO: He's not really worth the drink.

But Krista is more interested in accidentally- on- purpose dropping her pen on the floor so that she can ask Leo to bend over and pick it up so that she can perve on him!

KRISTA: Okay, well, I think that deserves a little spin.

A bemused Leo complies, and Krista coos and giggles at his efforts, before trying to convince him that he needs to be one of the performers in Boylesque, reminding him that they only need one more in the troupe.

LEO: Look, the idea of being on stage terrifies me, okay? But I'll make a big donation.
KRISTA: Alright. Compromise accepted.
LEO: Yeah, well... what about a private show?

They have a bit of a pash, and then Leo stands up and whirls Krista around, before pashing some more...

Lassiter's Complex
Terese and Susan are walking through the courtyard when Paul appears. Keen to get Terese away from him, Susan tries to hurry Terese along to work, but Terese is clearly keen to talk to Paul. Terese remarks that Paul looks stressed; he claims it's because he's left some papers on his desk and has back to back meetings today.

Susan pointedly reminds Terese that they have meetings to get to too, but Terese is too busy volunteering to help Paul to 'take the load off'. Paul thanks Terese, but says it's not necessary, as he knows they're busy today. Susan chips in that yes, they are! But Terese is practically begging to do some work for Paul.

He says he'll check his schedule, at which point Susan cuts the conversation dead, saying Karl is wondering where she and Terese are. Paul awkwardly prepares to go on his way, but Terese repeats that he should call her if he needs her. Paul looks sad as she leaves and is almost about to follow, but thinks better of it.

No 32
Vic has turned up; Nicolette says it's a bad time, as she's about to go and pick up Isla. But it turns out Vic has come to see Byron rather than her, and has bought him an expensive bottle of whisky as an opening gambit.

BYRON: Whatever this is, I'm not interested.

Seemingly annoyed that Vic seems to be more concerned with Byron than her, Nicolette heads out. Vic tells Byron he has something important to discuss with him.

VIC: Just so you know, I've tried to make peace with your mum. And I apologised to Leo, too.
BYRON: Great, so everything's fixed (!)
VIC: I'm here, and I'm trying. Anyway, I've managed to pull together some money to help you and Nicolette. I figured you both took out a loan to buy in with Leo, so this would be a start, paying that down.
BYRON: Gee. Wow (!)
VIC: You don't need a hundred thousand?
BYRON: Don't need an empty promise.
VIC: Don't punish yourself to punish me.
BYRON: You've asked to be let off the hook so many times. I have nothing left. I look at you... I don't see my father anymore.
VIC: You don't... you don't really mean that?
BYRON: ...
VIC: Well, I'll... give you some space.

Vic gets up to leave. But on his way out, he adds...

VIC: I'm not gonna see you kids worse off because of me. I'm gonna fix that for you and Nickel. Please, mate. Please let me do that for you?

Byron doesn't reply, so Vic reluctantly goes.

Eirini Rising
In the office, Susan suggests to Terese that they do brunch sometime this week, adding...

SUSAN: Karl's too busy.
KARL: I am?
SUSAN: Well, you often are!

But Terese claims her schedule is overloaded this week. Susan's surprised, given Terese offered to help Paul, but Terese unconvincingly claims she just thought he looked really stressed and needed the assistance. She excuses herself to go for an online meeting.

KARL (quietly, to Susan): Just a shame he can't be as self- sacrificing for her.

Once Susan and Karl have gone, Terese looks worried.

No 24
Aaron is alone and practising his Boylesque routine to a row of chairs representing an imaginary audience.

AARON: Introducing Big... Belt... Brennan!!

He starts doing a karate routine combined with a striptease, and then once down to his undies, starts gyrating and bending over right in the face of one of the imaginary audience. He then attempts a high kick, but falls to the floor and cries out in agony...

The 82
Aaron is limping as he arrives at the tram. Leo and Byron are at a table having a work meeting and seemingly discussing Vic, as Leo tells Byron to just 'forget about him'. When Aaron sees them, he turns around and hobbles off in the opposite direction, keen for them not to know about his injury. But Byron spots him and calls him over. Aaron limps towards them, playing down his injury, saying it's just a stubbed toe.

AARON: I can barely feel it, to be honest.

Byron wants to show Aaron some moves he's been practising, so Leo leaves them to it, keen not to be roped into Boylesque. But Aaron is still limping very severely, and Byron asks him if he's sure he hasn't broken something. He suggests Aaron go home and put some ice on it. Eventually Aaron relents, and limps off home. Byron looks worried.

Eirini Rising
In the office, Terese is finishing up her online meeting. As the other participants log out, Terese's 'happy mask' drops, and she looks weary and depressed. She looks at her phone, at a string of several messages she's sent to Paul, suggesting coffee and asking if he needs her help. But he hasn't replied. She sighs despairingly.

Harold's Café
Melanie comes in, and sees Jane at a table, tired and lost in thought.

MELANIE: I'm gonna take a wild guess that you didn't get a very peaceful rest last night.
JANE: Did my quadruple shot coffee give me away?
MELANIE: Did you manage to talk to Vic?
JANE: I don't even know why I give that man the time of day. I just don't understand why he can't just do what people need, instead of always just talking his way out of trouble (...) What a coincidence, you being the first person that he chats up when he gets here.

Melanie doesn't acknowledge that they met via the dating app, saying she didn't even realise it if that's what Vic was doing. At this point Vic himself comes in; Melanie notices him at the door, but Jane has her back to him and doesn't see him.

JANE: All Vic wants from me or from any other woman is to make himself feel better for a few minutes. Well he's not going to sweet- talk his way out of anything with me anymore. I am done.

Vic has overheard this, but Melanie still doesn't acknowledge his presence to Jane; and Vic leaves again sadly before Jane has a chance to see him. Melanie looks worried.

Lassiter's Complex
Outside the hotel, Paul is looking conflicted as he reads the string of messages from Terese. He considers replying, but decides against it and puts his phone away.

Eirini Rising
Terese is still staring at the unanswered messages on her own phone, and still looking depressed. Susan's finishing up for the day and is just about to leave when...

TERESE: Actually, Susan?
SUSAN: Yeah?
TERESE: About brunch... If you're still keen, I'd love to come.

Susan offers to make a reservation, but Terese says she'll take care of it after she finishes up with work.

No 24
Byron comes in looking for Jane, but only Aaron is home, and is just in the middle of tending to his injured leg. He's forced to admit to Byron that he pulled his hamstring, and that it's pretty bad; he probably shouldn't be walking on it. Byron teases Aaron for not having warmed up prior to rehearsing his routine, and asks if he'll still be able to perform.

AARON: Sure.
BYRON: Do we need to get Karl?
AARON: No! No, because he's gonna tell me to stay off it for six weeks or something like that. I have to make this work. Krista is counting on me.

Byron says that they'll have to revise their 'special talent' section and do 'low- stakes' stuff like posing, then pair Aaron with someone who can handle the 'high movement stuff' for the finale.

BYRON: We aren't letting this fall over just because somebody's dancer's body ain't what it used to be!
AARON: As soon as I can kick again...

But in response, Byron just gyrates provocatively as he leaves the house!

BYRON: The show *must* go on, Aaron!

Ramsay Street
Nicolette and Isla have been decorating the street with coloured chalk, and Isla plays hopscotch on one of their creations while Nic talks to Jane.

JANE: Have you seen your father again?
NICOLETTE: He's working his way through his priorities. First Byron, with an expensive bottle of whisky.
JANE: Oh. No bribes for me, just apologies.
NICOLETTE: Well, I am obviously at the bottom of his list.
ISLA: Can I stay with you tonight, Mummy?
NICOLETTE: That sounds like so much fun. But I think Dada's doing something even more fun with you today.
ISLA: Please?

Jane starts to look uncomfortable, and tells Isla they need to go.

JANE: Come on, Isla. We're gonna watch a movie, and then Dada is gonna make your favourite for dinner.
NICOLETTE: Ice cream, huh?
JANE: And jelly.

Isla seems somewhat placated by this. Nicolette asks for a hug and gets an enthusiastic one, her heart visibly breaking at having to say goodbye to Isla for the day.

NICOLETTE: I love you so much!

Jane leads Isla across to the other side of the street. Nicolette's lip trembles as she watches them go.

No 32
Vic is back, this time bearing French pastries, to talk to Nicolette.

NICOLETTE: You obviously don't know I work in a café again. I was wondering when you were gonna get around to seeing me.
VIC: I figured I'd save the best for last.

Nicolette watches, unimpressed, as Vic starts eating the pastries.

VIC: You know I spoke to your mum? She's talking tough right now, but I think I can find a way. Maybe Byron, too. Did he tell you what I said?
NICOLETTE: All I know is, there's over a hundred dollars of whisky for Byron, and a few pastries for good old Nickel (...) You're so worried about Mum and Byron - what about fixing things with me?
VIC: That's why I'm here.
NICOLETTE: You haven't even asked me why I'm living here, and not at Mum's with Isla and Aaron.
VIC: ... Well, I figured you moved because you wanted some privacy.
NICOLETTE: You think I'm here because I wanted time away from my own kid?!
VIC: No, that's... that's not what I meant.
NICOLETTE: I'm banished because I messed up so badly with Aaron that he and Mum don't want me around.
VIC: ... That's rough.
NICOLETTE: It's killing me. Being away from Isla, and my family.
VIC: Of course it is.
NICOLETTE: But you are just okay leaving everyone behind.
VIC (emotional): No. I wasn't okay. You know, I love you kids. All I could think about when I was sick was... making sure you and Byron were looked after. I thought out of everyone, you would understand that. And we get each other.
NICOLETTE (tearful): I used to think that, but... now I think I just made allowances for you because I wanted people to make allowances for me when I behaved badly.
VIC: Well... we all have to put ourselves first sometimes.
NICOLETTE: But, Dad, you *always* put yourself first. And it's not the kind of parent that I want to be.
VIC: ... I really didn't know you felt that way.
NICOLETTE: I've tried so hard to believe in you, Dad. But I remember every single lie that you ever told me. And it's really damaging. And I do think it's better if you're just not... around us anymore.
VIC (shocked): You hate me that much?
NICOLETTE (crying): I don't want Isla to be hurt. I don't want Mum and Byron to be hurt. And you've actually made it impossible for me to lie to myself anymore. So, no, I don't want you in our lives.

Now Vic is crying too, taken aback by what he's heard.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Holly asks Felix how much experience he has in hospitality; he explains how he worked in the prison kitchen
- Vic asks Melanie if she'd like to grab a coffee