No 24
In the sunroom, Jane is seeking Byron's input on which shade of blue to repaint her kitchen cabinets. But Byron is distracted looking at his phone; he's seen that the money from Vic has just dropped into his bank account. Byron admits he's surprised Vic was true to his word, particularly after last time.

JANE: Always a surprise when your father does the right thing.

Taking a look at Jane's colour charts, Byron admits he doesn't know why she's repainting the kitchen; he quite likes the lilac! But now it's Jane's turn to be distracted by her phone. She's had a message from Karl, who has been browsing the online classifieds, and come across Mike's bike back up for sale already.

JANE: They're trying to sell it for more than they paid me! Absolute gall.
BYRON: Well, it's their bike now, Mum. They can do with it what they want.

But they then notice that the phone number on the ad looks familiar - it's Vic's!

JANE: He has done it to me again! He has scammed me into selling him Mike's bike.

The 82
The Rodwells are having a family chat outside the tram. Andrew tells Sadie that he knows things have been tense at home lately. Sadie tells him and Wendy that she just wants everything to go back to normal.

SADIE: I can't believe I'm saying it, but I miss you guys being all loved up and embarrassing. Even in public.
ANDREW: Yeah, we want that too.
WENDY: Which is why we are going to a therapy session today.
SADIE: That's so great!
WENDY: Yeah. I mean, it's a good first step.
ANDREW: Anyway, we just want you to know that we're committed to trying.
SADIE: I know. And I don't say it enough, but I love you guys.
WENDY: And we love you too.

But when Sadie heads off to work, the warm family atmosphere evaporates quickly. Unable to think of any further conversation, Andrew heads inside to pay the bill. Wendy looks disappointed.

Harold's Café
Over a coffee, Vic is telling Melanie about having transferred the money to his kids' accounts. He hopes that when they see it has gone through, they might be more inclined to take him at his word about making amends.

MELANIE: Here's hoping.
VIC: Melanie, I feel like I crossed a line before.
MELANIE: It's fine.
VIC: No. No, it's not. The last thing I want is for things to be difficult between us.
MELANIE: I just think if we're gonna be friends then we need to be really careful with...
VIC: Overstepping boundaries. Yeah. I agree. I'm sorry.

Vic goes to the counter to pay for the coffees - but while he's there, Jane comes in.

JANE: I can't believe that I fell for it.
VIC: Fell for what?
JANE: Don't insult me, Vic. You bought Mike's bike anonymously, for the sole purpose of selling it again for a profit!
VIC: No, Jane, that's not -
JANE: This is *exactly* the kind of underhanded trick that I should've expected from you! And to think that I was actually starting to buy your redemption act!

Cognisant that Melanie is overhearing this, Vic quietly asks Jane if they can talk about it so he can explain, but Jane just keeps on ranting.

JANE: And I was silly enough to convince our children to accept your guilt money (...) I don't want to hear it, Vic. As far as I'm concerned you can take your unethical profit, and... because I will not believe a single word that comes out of your mouth again.

Jane walks out. Vic glances over at Melanie, who looks disappointed.

Lassiter's Hotel
The piano bar in the foyer looks like it's almost ready to roll, as Krista, Leo and Aaron power- walk past it, West Wing- style, discussing the existential threat to Boylesque posed by Moira and Hilary's petition. Krista says she's not cancelling the event - she's worked too hard and put too much energy into organising it. Aaron agrees, but Leo says if the petition gets a lot of signatures, they may need a contingency plan.

KRISTA: No! Look, there's no contingency, okay? If the event fails, then it means that Paul was right all along; and I can just see his face when he rubs it in!
AARON: Okay, so what do we do?
LEO: I dunno, burn the petition? I'm kidding. We can't burn the petition...

But then Sam turns up with a solution. She's wielding a box of supplies for Felix's magic act - specifically, some disappearing ink pens!

SAM: What about this?

It takes a few moments for Leo, Krista and Aaron to realise what Sam is suggesting - but when they do, devious smiles spread across their faces...

A little while later, Krista, Aaron and Leo are watching Moira as she convinces some guests to sign her petition. Eventually, Moira stops to take a phone call - and while she's distracted, Aaron sneaks over to the clipboard with the petition which she's left on a table, and swaps Moira's pen for one of the 'magic' disappearing ink pens. He returns to the others, who look happy that the mission is accomplished!

Counsellor's Office
A marriage counsellor, Craig, welcomes Andrew and Wendy to their session; it's established that their appointment was fast- tracked as they are 'friends of Remi', whatever that has to do with anything! Wendy and Andrew both start talking at once, but eventually it's Wendy who begins explaining their issues.

WENDY: It's me, really. I recently started going to uni, and felt like a total outsider. So I started pretending to be like everyone else - you know, younger, and funkier, and -
ANDREW (interrupting): Childless. And single.
WENDY: Yeah, but I only did that because of how I have always been insecure about fitting in. And then, when I came across racism again at uni... a friend made me realise that I wasn't the one with the problem.
CRAIG: A friend?
WENDY: Quinn.

Andrew's body language changes for the worse as Quinn's name is mentioned.

Harold's Café
It seems Melanie is understanding of Vic's purchase of Mike's motorbike now that he has explained why he did it, and she tells him to stop punishing himself.

MELANIE: What you tried to do was genuine. You tried to help her with something that she said was painful for her. Maybe you should've just been honest and offered to sell the bike from the start.
VIC: She would never have let me.
MELANIE: Well, if you knew that, why did you do it anyway, behind her back?
VIC: Because... I feel like it's my fault that Jane and Mike broke up.
MELANIE: That's just not true.
VIC: Well, Jane denied it; but I gave her a list of home truths, and then, splitsville. I overstepped. And now I want to do whatever I can to make things less painful for her.
MELANIE: (...) Vic, she needs to know.
VIC: No, it's my fault that Jane doesn't trust me. She thinks I scammed her because that's what... that's my track record. You reap what you sow.

Vic thanks Melanie for listening, and heads back to the hotel. Mel looks concerned.

No 24
In the sunroom, Jane is moaning to Byron, Nicolette and Sadie about how Vic bought the bike and then sold it on at a higher price. She says it is 'textbook Vic'. Sadie points out that it's strange Vic only marked up the price by 10 percent - it hardly seems worth it for the hassle.

JANE: I've long given up trying to figure out how my ex- husband's money- grubbing mind works (...) I should have taken a leaf out of your books and just kept my distance. And from now on, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Lassiter's Complex
In the courtyard, lo and behold, all the signatures that Moira has managed to collect have simply evaporated, thanks to Sam's pen switcheroo idea!

LEO: I'm not saying you're lying, but maybe you made a mistake?
MOIRA: I didn't make a mistake!

She thrusts the clipboard at him and storms off, exasperated. Once she's gone, a grinning Leo joins Aaron, Krista and Sam at one of the tables outside the foyer.

LEO: It's so strange (!) Moira swore she had four pages full of signatures.
AARON: Four pages? Seriously? (!)
KRISTA: Yeah, that's really weird. I mean, where could they have gone? (!)
SAM: So strange (!)
AARON: Why would she even give you the petition?
LEO: Well, apparently she wasted a whole day, her ankles are sore, and I tuned out after the rest.

They all make faux sympathetic noises, then burst out laughing.

KRISTA: Hey, getting rid of that petition was huge. Sam, you're a genius.
SAM (sassy): Tell me something that I don't know.

Counsellor's Office
The session continues, and counsellor Craig is now keen to hear from Andrew about his thoughts on his marriage. He takes a long time to reply.

ANDREW: I feel like I just... like I don't mean as much to Wendy as I used to. Like she's outgrowing me.
CRAIG: Okay, can you explain that?
ANDREW: Neither of us have ever had a connection with anyone else before. Now Wendy has. It's a massive shift.
WENDY: No... it was never about Quinn, though, Andrew - I explained that. It was about finding my identity.
ANDREW: Yeah, I get that. I know that I don't share a culture with you guys. But I'm adopted, and I know what it's like to feel like you don't belong. I wanted to go on this journey with you, even if it was with Quinn. But then you left me behind.

No 32
Aaron is wearing a pair of special stripping trousers with a frontpiece that rips off, which he intends to deploy at Boylesque. For some reason he is bending over and gyrating in front of Byron, Nicolette and Sadie in order to 'test the limits' of these trousers to make sure they can withstand his exertions, and informs them that he isn't wearing anything underneath - but will be on the night of the show. (So why not now?!)

Nicolette suggests that Aaron could truly test the garment's robustness with a game of Twister, but Aaron isn't keen on that idea! At this point, he gets a call from the Waterhole - Trent, one of the staff, is having problems with the keg lines. With Wendy out at her counselling session, it's up to Aaron to rush out to help Trent with the problem - still wearing the trousers. (No idea where this is going. No, sirree.)

No 24
Jane is getting ready to repaint the kitchen cabinets when Melanie shows up, having decided to intervene on Vic's behalf.

MELANIE: Your family politics have nothing to do with me - but if I were in your shoes, I'd want to know the truth.
JANE: If this is about Vic...
MELANIE: Vic did buy Mike's bike through a third party. But he paid the full asking price because he knew that you wanted a quick sale. He knew that it was hard for you.
JANE: I don't know what Vic's told you. But that is not why he bought Mike's bike.
MELANIE: He feels responsible for you and Mike breaking up.
JANE: All he did was bring existing issues to a head. No, no -
MELANIE: He was trying to take some of the weight off your shoulders.
JANE: Did he also tell you that he has listed it for more than what he paid me?
MELANIE: Not for profit. Only as a buffer, in case the new buyer tries to haggle. Vic only wants what he paid for it. Anything above and beyond that, he'll pass on to you.
JANE (softening): He said that? ... Well, I suppose he did just give the kids $100,000.
MELANIE: I know you two have a complicated history, and I know that he's done things that he regrets. But this was well- meaning.
JANE: Why are you here defending him?
MELANIE: Well, after that first time we met at the Waterhole, I bumped into him a few times... He feels like his family have pretty much disowned him. I've just been a friendly ear.

Jane looks thoughtful.

Lassiter's Complex
Whimsical music is playing as Aaron walks towards the courtyard in his special stripping trousers. A car is blocking the walkway, so he takes a shortcut by hopping over a bench. But predictably, this tests the robustness of his trousers beyond their limits, and they rip down both sides, the front falling open. Even more predictably, Moira is nearby and witnesses this in horror!

MOIRA: That's disgusting!

As Aaron desperately tries to gather the remnants of the trousers to cover himself, Moira takes a photograph of him with her phone as evidence of his depravity, despite his pleas for her not to! Andrew then shows up and apologises to Moira and another onlooker, before ushering Aaron, bum fully on view, towards the pub. Moira gasps with indignation.

The Waterhole
Aaron has been able to get changed due to keeping his gym bag at work, and looks embarrassed as he rejoins Andrew, and thanks him for his help. Andrew warns him, however, that Moira was headed to the police station, presumably to report Aaron for indecent exposure. Aaron is worried.

Aaron asks how Andrew's counselling session went. Andrew admits that Wendy had a lot of 'truth bombs' for him; and he had stuff to say too, but doesn't think Wendy was ready to hear it.

ANDREW: I still can't trust her. And I don't know how to change that.
AARON: Hold on - isn't this the whole reason you're going to counselling?
ANDREW: How do I know that she's not hiding things in those sessions too? Look, I only have her word that nothing happened between her and Quinn.

No 24
Jane has started her painting operation when Vic arrives, having been summoned by her.

JANE: You should have told me about the bike sale.
VIC: Well, would you have let me sell it for you if I had?
JANE: It's beside the point, Vic, and you know it.
VIC: You're right. I'm sorry.
JANE: Why do you always do these things - again, and again?
VIC: Guilt. Contrition. I should never have written that latter. I mean, I hate that you and Mike broke up, and the role I played in that.
JANE: The role you played? You did us both a favour. Look, Mike and I had been living in denial for months. We were lying to ourselves that our marriage was ever going to work, and your letter was just the push I needed to do what had to be done.
VIC: Is that what Mike thinks?
JANE: Yes. He does.
VIC: Thank you.
JANE: I don't need your thanks, Vic. I need your honesty. But for what it's worth, I do appreciate you taking on the bike sale. It's something that I really wasn't looking forward to.

He informs her that there's already been interest, so it should sell quickly - then notices the paintbrush she's using on the cabinets.

VIC: Are you seriously gonna do all that painting with that tiny brush?
JANE: Well, I wanted to do a good job.
VIC: You could be here for months.

He takes off his jacket and grabs another, larger paintbrush from the sideboard, telling Jane to move over. She smiles, and they begin to tackle the cabinets together.

Lassiter's Complex
Aaron is having a drink with Leo, Nicolette, Byron, Krista and Sadie, having told them the story of his embarrassing accidental striptease. They all find it rather amusing.

LEO: Sounds like Andrew really saved your butt.
NICOLETTE: Literally!

But Aaron's not amused; he could be in a bit of strife with the police after Moira's complaint. Krista informs them that as a result of this, Moira and friends will be picketing outside Boylesque on the day. Aaron apologises, but Krista says they'd always have found a reason. Sadie suggests that the publicity of the protest may actually help the event, and the others agree with her.

KRISTA: Exactly right. We're gonna turn this negative into a positive.

The Waterhole
Andrew is deep in thought at the bar when Sadie comes in, and asks how the counselling went.

ANDREW: I think your mum and I got something out of it.
SADIE: That's a start.
ANDREW: I was thinking of... doing something nice for her. Maybe roping in her uni mates?
SADIE: She'd like that.
ANDREW: Do you have Parker's number? I'll start with them.

Sadie does, and sends it to Andrew, before ordering some drinks for the gang outside. Meanwhile, Andrew walks some distance away as he phones Parker.

ANDREW (casual): Hey, Parker, it's Andrew, Wendy's husband... yeah, good, good... hey, I was just thinking of organising a little get- together for Wendy... yeah, could you send me through the numbers of all her uni mates? ... like James, and Mika... Quinn?

Sure enough, Parker is quick to send the phone numbers through to Andrew, including Quinn's. Andrew opens Quinn's number in his contacts, and looks conflicted...

No 24
Vic and Jane are still painting the kitchen cabinets together. Vic doesn't understand how she put up with the 'hideous' lilac for so long.

JANE (teasing): Now that is rich, coming from a man who wore geometric- patterned knits for a decade after they went out of style.
VIC (laughing): You loved those geometric patterns (...) You wanted one yourself!

Nicolette and Byron walk in, bemused to find Vic there and he and Jane having a whale of a time together.

NICOLETTE: Uh, what's all this?
JANE: ... I was wrong.
VIC: Great. Should I be recording this?
JANE: I misunderstood what your father was trying to do with Mike's bike, but we've worked everything out.
BYRON: Everything? Just like that?
JANE: No. We've been talking most of the afternoon.
CRAIG: And painting. Speaking of - you've got a spot on your nose.

Vic dabs Jane's nose with a brush, leaving a smear of blue paint!

JANE: Honestly! How old are you?

Jane does the same to Vic! Byron and Nicolette still look as if they don't know what to think. A smile starts to spread across Nicolette's face, but Byron remains disapproving.

Harold's Café
Quinn is sitting at a table looking apprehensive. Sadie comes in, and is furious to see him.

SADIE: What are you doing here?!
QUINN: I spoke to your mum...
SADIE: She told you to stay away!
QUINN: Sadie, I promise I'm not trying to get between your parents. The only reason I spoke to Wendy was because your dad asked to meet me here, and I thought she should know! She was *so* mad.

At this point, Andrew comes in. Sadie marches over to him.

SADIE (angrily): What have you done?

Coming up on Neighbours
- Remi tells colleague Stevie that Cara's been thinking of having another baby
- Nell is back, and JJ is thrilled to see her, asking what she's doing here and if everything is okay
- Sadie asks Byron how she should 'fix this', to stop Andrew making things worse and her family falling apart