The Waterhole
Aaron is having a post- Boylesque beer when Rhett sits down to join him.

RHETT: So are we gonna talk about what happened on stage, or are you planning to avoid me forever?
AARON (flustered): I'm sorry... I was just a little overwhelmed, that's all.
RHETT: Just because I asked you out for a drink?
AARON: Rhett, it's not that I'm not flattered. it's just that I... I'm not ready to be dating anyone at the moment.
RHETT: I see. It's fine - I understand. But if you change your mind... you've got my number.

Aaron still looks apprehensive as Rhett heads to the bar. Here, Rhett overhears a conversation between Byron, Sadie and Nicolette. Byron is telling the others that the advance money Krista gave them for rent before she moved out has almost dried up, meaning he and Nicolette will have to find a new housemate. But neither of them are looking forward to the process of finding one.

Rhett suggests to them that they could host an open house; that way everyone can see the house at the same time, and Nic and Byron can weed out any 'weirdos' before the interview stage, only bothering with those that they gel with. They both think that's a great idea, and decide to set it up for tomorrow afternoon.

Vera Punt turns up, wanting to know what they're talking about, but Byron changes the subject, asking if she enjoyed the show. She admits she missed it as she was 'called away on urgent business'.

VERA: Maybe you could do an encore for me. Give me a little taste of what I missed?
BYRON: Oh, me? I'm actually a bit tuckered out!

Changing the subject again, Byron introduces Vera to Rhett as one of the other performers, and explains he's a real estate agent.

VERA: Mm, charmed, I'm sure!

She holds out her hand expectantly, liking the look of Rhett!

No 28
Susan and Karl have invited Jane and Vic back to theirs for tea. While Karl and Vic chat in the living area, Susan and Jane are having a hushed conversation in the kitchen. Susan admits she's surprised by Jane's revelation that she's falling in love with Vic again.

JANE: You and me both. At first I thought maybe I was just on the rebound from Mike - because, you know, I do have form on that front. But I can truly see that Vic is becoming a different person. Because when things first started to go wrong in our marriage, I was so preoccupied with Nan, I put Vic last.
SUSAN: Yes, but from what you've told me, he also hurt you as well.
JANE: Yeah. Yeah, well - terribly. The cheating was awful, and I thought I'd never forgive him after he abandoned the kids when he was here last. But at the same time... You think I'm crazy, don't you?
SUSAN: No, no. I mean, look at me and Karl. There was a time I thought I could never forgive him.
JANE: Well, exactly! If you two hadn't have drawn a line under everything that went wrong, you wouldn't be together today.
SUSAN: Yeah. I just want you to be really sure before you act on anything.
JANE: Well, my eyes are wide open.

Susan and Jane head over to join Karl and Vic with the tea. Karl gets a text from somebody which he looks inordinately pleased about, but when Susan asks who it is, he claims it's 'nobody important' and changes the subject. He gets a Right Prescription CD out of its case!

KARL: I might just pop this on now while we have our tea. Let the music do the talking!

Jane and Vic exchange a smile.

The Waterhole
Sadie and Andrew are chatting as Andrew clears up behind the bar (for some reason!) Andrew is excited about the prospect of Wendy coming home tomorrow, as it's her birthday. He's ordering all her favourite Chinese dishes, and 'heaps of fortune cookies'!

SADIE: Dad... I don't think she's coming home. She sounded serious when she said she needed space.
ANDREW: Your mum and I have spent every birthday together since we were teenagers. She'll be there.

Sadie looks worried.

No 28
Karl is fishing for compliments about his music from Vic, as 'Free as a River' plays in the background!

KARL: I'm sure you agree, it's your vibe?
VIC (straight- faced): Oh, definitely. (to Jane) Reminds me of the band that was playing the night we met. The Mighty Kangaroos?
JANE: Koalas.
KARL: Ah. There's a name to conjure with!

Jane helps Susan take the cups back into the kitchen; and having spent a few minutes in Vic's charming company, Susan opines...

SUSAN: I think I can see what first attracted you to each other.
JANE: Sometimes it feels like we're back in Earl's Court, where we first met.
SUSAN: Only older, wiser?
JANE: Yeah...

The song finishes, much to Susan's relief. Karl offers to play the extended mix as it's only 14 minutes long (!) but Vic and Jane both decide it might be best to leave it for another time, as it's getting late and they need to be going. Susan is all smiles and pleasantries as she sees Jane and Vic out of the door, but the moment they've gone she turns to Karl and demands to know...

SUSAN: Okay, so who texted you before? And don't say 'no one important' because I could tell by your shifty behaviour that you're up to something.
KARL: ... It was Mike.
SUSAN: Jane's Mike?
KARL: Yeah. When I was interested in buying his bike, I was texting him questions, and out of that, he offered me the opportunity to do one of his bike tours in Italy.
SUSAN: (scoffs incredulously)
KARL: Before we say no, it'll only cost me the airfare, because someone pulled out - so he said I could do the tour for free. That's *free*, Susan. F, R, double E...
SUSAN: Yes, yes, Karl - your favourite word, I know!

Karl admits he didn't say it was Mike when she first asked as he didn't want to make things uncomfortable for Jane. Susan doesn't think Jane would mind; she knows Mike and Karl are friends. Susan then tells Karl the gossip that Jane might be interested in getting back with Vic. The cogs whirr in Karl's brain.

KARL: If Jane's moving on, and if Terese gave me permission to take the leave, then there'd be nothing to stop me doing the tour...
SUSAN: Nothing?!
KARL: Well, why would *you* say no? It's free!

Susan looks appalled!

Ramsay Street
The next morning, Karl is rifling through other people's bins, 'finding the gold', when he greets Terese, who's seemingly about to leave for her trip to Adelaide to see Piper.

KARL: You know, each one of these items is worth ten cents in the container deposit scheme!

Terese feigns an interested smile.

KARL: I didn't get much out of Vera Punt's bin, though. It was just full of wine bottles, and they don't qualify for the scheme. Tell you what, though, if she is drinking that much, that is some cause for concern.

Terese now looks shifty, remaining silent on the fact that she's the one who's been filling Vera's bin with wine bottles. Karl asks Terese if he can have leave to go on Mike's bike tour; she tells him to email the dates and she'll take a look, then gets in her car and begins to move off. Karl asks her to send the Kennedys' love to Piper, but Terese is distracted and barely responsive.

Before Terese drives away, she shouts to Karl out of the window...

TERESE: I've scheduled the work to be done in my front yard while I'm away. I hope it's not an inconvenience.

As if on cue, a lorry with plant equipment on the back turns up as Terese drives off...

Lassiter's Complex
Vic runs into Melanie; he's disappointed she isn't wearing her Boylesque outfit again!

MELANIE: Probably not appropriate for running my morning errands!
VIC: Oh, I dunno about that. Start a new trend!

Vic says he has to keep moving, pointing over to a table outside the café where Jane is waiting for him, but tells Melanie it was a pleasure to see her, as always. She looks back at him with interest as she leaves. Vic sits down to join Jane.

VIC: Breakfast invitation, just you and me - should I be worried?
JANE: Well, not that unusual, us eating breakfast together, is it?
VIC: No, it's nice. Can't think of the last time we did it, you and me.

Jane does, telling him it was in Camden in 2012, shortly after Nicolette had moved to Australia. They laugh at how quickly Nicolette charmed herself into a job.

VIC: It wasn't all bad, those last few years.
JANE: No. No, the good memories are there. You just... you just need to dig for them.

Jane looks nervous and is about to say something significant to Vic, but is distracted by Aaron walking into the café, and greets him with a wave. She rejoins her train of thought, but backs out of whatever she was going to say, opting instead for...

JANE: I've been thinking about getting new glasses. Maybe ones with frames, like Iris Apfel, you know? I'm just not sure if they'd suit me...

Vic looks mystified by this fresh direction of conversation!

No 32
Sadie has stayed over with Byron, and they get up to the sound of loud construction noise coming from No 22. Nicolette, however, is more concerned with getting ready for the open house for prospective tenants later today. Byron is annoyed that they've run out of coffee, remarking that it would never have happened when Haz lived here!

Sadie says the yard at No 22 is full of bulldozers and diggers - it looks like major work. Nicolette is worried that none of their prospective housemates will want to live here with all that going on. Byron is not prepared to start cleaning the bathroom 'uncaffeinated', so Sadie offers to do it while he goes on a coffee run!

NICOLETTE: You have a really cool girlfriend, you know that?
BYRON: I do know that!

702 Eclipse Apartments
Krista is working when Melanie arrives home, and tells her that 'sparks are definitely flying between me and Vic' whenever they run into each other.

MELANIE: But I said I wouldn't go there, and so did he. It's too messy. And after everything I went through with Toadie and Terese, I never want messy again.
KRISTA: I don't think it would necessarily -
MELANIE (interrupting): But letting go isn't working either, which makes me wonder, maybe we just need to work through the Jane hurdle.
KRISTA: Yeah, that's a great idea. I think you should -
MELANIE (interrupting): I think I just need to see him and work out how he's feeling. But without letting him know how *I'm* feeling.
KRISTA: Mm- hm...
MELANIE: Then, I just need to take the next step. (Sighs.) Thank you, for helping me talk all of that through. You really are amazing!
KRISTA: Any time.

Krista laughs to herself as Melanie rushes back out again!

No 32
In the garden, Byron and Sadie are drinking takeaway coffees. Sadie is a bit hyper, which she partially blames on the fumes from the cleaning products! But she admits she's also worried about her parents - specifically Andrew not giving Wendy enough space. She explains about Andrew thinking Wendy is coming home for her birthday and planning the special meal.

BYRON: Well, that doesn't sound like a bad thing, does it?
SADIE: She's not coming home. And I can't stop thinking about how upset he's gonna be. I mean, how do I even get through to him? If he keeps going like this, he's just gonna make things worse.
BYRON: Okay. I know that you're worried about them, but... Sades, the way you protect the ones you love is something that I have always adored about you. I'm worried about how this is affecting you, trying to hold them all together. I don't want to see my gorgeous girlfriend all upset.
SADIE: ... You're right. I shouldn't be trying to fix my parents. Being in that house, it's just hard not to get caught up in all their drama and everything, and...
BYRON: Hey, hey. How about this? You can come stay here whenever you want, okay? For as long as you want. It's whatever you need. I got ya.
SADIE: I love you.
BYRON: I love you too.

They hug it out.

Harold's Café
Vic is on his laptop at a table when Melanie comes in and greets him.

VIC: Twice in one day! Maybe the universe is trying to tell us something.

He explains he's emailing the owner of the pub in Gippsland that Mel told him about. It seems he's quite interested in taking it over as a business prospect.

VIC: I know you only mentioned it in passing but, yeah, it made an impression on me. You seem to have a habit of doing that.

He explains he's going to go and check it out in person, but if he likes the town and the pub, there's a strong possibility he will buy it.

MELANIE: So, would you manage it from here, or...?
VIC: Oh, no. Uh, definitely move down there. Make a full fresh start.

Melanie tries not to look disappointed at the prospect of Vic leaving.

No 26
In the back yard, Sadie tells Andrew she's heading to work. He's busy cleaning the place up in preparation for Wendy supposedly coming home.

ANDREW: Look, I know that it hits you really hard when Mum and I aren't in a good place. So I promise that I'm gonna do whatever it takes to work things out, even if it's hard.
SADIE: Really?
ANDREW: Pinky swear.

Visibly not entirely convinced, Sadie nonetheless takes him up on the pinky swear and they share a hug. Sadie heads to work, and Andrew phones his fortune cookie supplier to check they'll be ready to collect at 4pm!

ANDREW: Yeah, it's a big order...

No 32
The open house has begun and Nicolette is showing extras around, while apologising for the construction noise from No 22.

NICOLETTE: Usually it's an incredibly quiet street, and nothing really happens at all!

Byron is surprised when Rhett shows up.

BYRON: Come to see if our open house is up to your professional standards?
RHETT: Uh, no, actually. I was coming to check it out for myself.

Rhett goes to have a look around, and after some more extras come in, Aaron shows up looking for Nicolette. Aaron's surprised to see Rhett among the house viewers, but Byron is more concerned by a phone call from Vera, and wonders whether to answer it, worrying that she might know about the open house.

BYRON: What if she's on her way?
AARON: No, Vera wouldn't call you to give you a warning. She would just appear from a cloud of smoke.

Byron answers the call and asks Vera what he can do for her...

No 28
Jane is having a cuppa with Susan. In a brief respite from the construction noise, Jane admits she almost told Vic how she felt about him - they were reminiscing and the moment felt right, until she got flustered and backed out.

SUSAN: Well, maybe that's a good thing. Give yourself a bit more time to be absolutely sure.

Karl comes in with a bag full of cans and plastic bottles he's retrieved from the neighbours' bins for the container deposit scheme!

SUSAN: Oh, for heaven... have you been doing that all morning?!
KARL: Yeah, worked all the surrounding streets. I reckon there'll be about eight bucks' worth there!
SUSAN: So definitely worth the time and effort, then (!)
KARL: Well, darling, if I'm gonna pay the airfare for this trip, then yeah, every dollar counts.

Jane asks what the trip is, and Karl hesitates, but Susan tells him to just tell her! He explains about the Italian bike tour invitation from Mike. Jane isn't disconcerted at all, and says that sounds wonderful.

JANE: You'll get to meet Angela, too. Apparently, she and Mike are going strong, so...

But Susan is looking worried.

JANE: Don't you want him to go?
SUSAN: ... I'm happy for him to go and see Mike. I just don't want him to ride a motorbike, because he's got no idea how to ride a motorbike, and he'll probably go and get himself killed!
KARL: Oh, darling, I'm sure I'll be fine.
JANE: Mike is a very good teacher.

Karl promises Susan he'll ride really slowly!

SUSAN: You'd better. Cos I need you home in one piece.
KARL: Does this mean I can go? Oh, I love you!

He goes to kiss her, but Susan complains that he stinks! He explains he had an encounter with rancid milk in one of the bins, so goes to have a shower! At this point, the construction noise starts up again.

JANE: Trust Terese to flit off to Adelaide and leave us with all that clamour.
SUSAN: Yes, she is a clever cookie!

702 Eclipse Apartments
Melanie comes in, and excitedly tells Krista how Vic said that she'd made an impression on him. She explains about the pub in Gippsland, and how she thinks that the fact Vic is considering taking it on means he must really respect Mel's opinion.

KRISTA: Great. I think that -
MELANIE (interrupting): Whatever we have, I feel like he is not letting go of it. Question is, would he be up for navigating the Jane factor? Because he'd be more worried about upsetting her than I am, given their past relationship. I need us -
KRISTA (interrupting): Melanie! You're gonna drive yourself insane asking the questions that only Vic can answer. You should talk to him, and see how he feels about it. That's the only way you're gonna know.

Melanie nods apprehensively.

Harold's Café
Aaron is at the counter when Rhett comes in. Aaron mentions he saw him at the open house at No 32. Rhett claims he was checking the place out for a friend, contrary to what he told Byron.

AARON (sceptical): Why wasn't your friend there?
RHETT: Well, let's just say this friend is a bit odd, and doesn't like anyone knowing their business. But hey, don't worry - I'm not moving in.

Rhett grabs a table for himself. Meanwhile, Byron has finished up a chat with Vera at another table, and is about to leave. Aaron asks Byron what Vera wanted.

BYRON: Oh, she was asking some follow- up questions about Boylesque. I usually wouldn't indulge her, but it's a good way to keep her away from the open house.
AARON: Wow. That is some serious dedication.

Lowering his voice, Aaron asks if Rhett said anything to Byron about his mate who wants to move into No 32. Byron says there was no mention of a mate; Rhett said *he* was interested in moving in. Disconcerted, Aaron tells Byron that he doesn't think that's a good idea, and they leave to talk about it further.

We expect the scene to cut away, but instead, we see Vera whisper over to Rhett, summoning him across to her table for a chat!

VERA: So, how'd you get on? Do you reckon you've got a solution for me?
RHETT: Yeah. I reckon I do...

No 26
In the back yard, Andrew has set up a dinner table with roses, food, and hundreds of fortune cookies in anticipation of Wendy's return. At this point, she calls him on the phone.

ANDREW: There's the birthday girl!
WENDY: Hi.
ANDREW: You'd better be calling cos you're close, because I have a surprise for you.
WENDY: That's... so sweet of you.
ANDREW: Well, you are coming home, right?
WENDY: No, Andrew, I... I'm not coming home.

He takes a seat, looking worried.

ANDREW: Uh... soon, though?
WENDY: Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. My mentor has found me an opportunity in Murrayville. It's a special arts summer programme. Then I'd stay on at the local high school for term one. But it's really competitive, and I need to decide right away.
ANDREW: Murrayville... that's hours away.
WENDY: Yeah...
ANDREW: It's a good opportunity.
WENDY: It is. And I really want to do it. And with everything that's going on with us... the timing doesn't feel like a coincidence.

Andrew is looking increasingly upset as the phone call continues.

WENDY: You know, this is the first real chance I've had to learn who I am without you.
ANDREW (tearful): ... Are you leaving me?
WENDY: No! No, Andrew - no. I love you so much. And I'm completely committed to our marriage. But we've been together since we were kids... and now that I've started figuring myself out, I need to keep going. We won't be the best version of us if I'm not the best version of me.
ANDREW: I get that... I don't want to stand in your way.
WENDY: Thank you. I think it might be good for you to do some work on who you are without me, too.

Andrew wipes away tears.

WENDY: I know it sounds scary, but it's been really amazing for me so far.
ANDREW: I'm not sure I know how to do that. But I'll give it a go.
WENDY: I know you will. You're my Superman. I love you.
ANDREW (voice breaking): Yeah, I love you too.

He hangs up, and quickly wipes his face again as he hears Sadie's voice; she's back from work and wants to play a game of Scrabble! But her tone changes when she sees all the food laid out on the table.

SADIE: What's this?
ANDREW: It's your mum's birthday dinner. Doesn't matter - she's not coming.
SADIE (angry): I told you that. I told you that *so* many times, and I thought you'd finally got the message. But clearly, you weren't listening to either me or Mum!
ANDREW: Sadie...
SADIE (angry): No!! Nothing is going to change until you start listening! I'm sorry, Dad. But I'm so done. I have to move out.

Andrew looks despairing as Sadie walks away.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Jane plays innocent when Nicolette accuses her of being into Vic again
- Sadie tells Byron she needs an escape from her parents' drama, and he needs a new housemate, so... ta-da!
- Byron looks less enthusiastic than Sadie as he realises she's planning on moving in