No 32
In the back yard, Holly is telling Sadie about Yasmine having lost her temper earlier. Sadie suggests Yaz probably just had a bad day, but Holly says it's the last thing she needs right now, especially with Karl in hospital and Susan away. Max turns up, so Holly decides to make a swift exit!

Sadie isn't thrilled by Max's presence either. Max tells her that Vera has left them a note - she's heading down the coast for a few days with some friends.

SADIE: Seriously?
MAX: Yeah, I know - she's got secret friends - like, what?
SADIE: Well, maybe we should throw a house party or two while she's gone.
MAX: A house party, yeah. It's a shame it's not Halloween - I heard you killed it as Cleopatra.
SADIE: Yeah, well, that's ancient history now.
MAX: Haha - very good! Well, it's my loss I wasn't there to see you in costume.
SADIE (awkwardly): I have to... I have things to do.

Looking icked out, she begins to walk away, but Max tells her it doesn't have to be like this.

SADIE: No. It does.

She walks off indoors. Max looks frustrated.

Lassiter's Complex
Krista and Leo are sitting outside the hotel. Aaron turns up and invites Leo on a run tomorrow morning, but Leo says he'll let him know. Once Aaron's gone, Leo suggests getting some dinner to Krista, but she's distracted, and says she might just head home. When pressed, she admits she's worried about Sebastian still - and is sending him messages 'practically begging' him to let her know he's okay.

LEO: On his number, or the number that asked you for the money?
KRISTA: It's both, Leo. I know it was him.
LEO: Look, I know it doesn't feel right right now. But not giving him the money was the right thing to do. I promise.

Krista doesn't admit that she has in fact transferred money, and instead says she's heading home to get some sleep. A worried Leo says he'll talk to her in the morning. Once she's gone, Leo makes a phone call to legendary private investigator John Wong!

LEO: John, hey - it's Leo Tanaka... yeah, look, I'm sorry to call you so late, mate, but, umm... I might need your help finding someone. It's pretty urgent.

No 32
The next morning, Max and Byron talk about a festival called 'Doom Fields' that's happening this week. Max explains he has a mate working on the door, so can get them a few free VIP tickets if Byron and Sadie are keen. Byron is keen, and Max suggests they can come back here afterwards and 'kick on' with Vera being away.

BYRON: That sounds awesome. Sadie's gonna love that, so, thank you.

Max promises to sort it out, then heads off to work.

Goodwood Women's Prison
Tess Carmichael has assented to a meeting with Yaz - or, as Yaz introduces herself as, the lawyer Leah Curtain.

YAZ: Thank you for seeing me today. I'm sure you're wondering what this is regarding.
TESS: I don't get many visitors. Call me intrigued.
YAZ: I represent Heath Silverson's family.
TESS: Why do they need representation?
YAZ: The family feel as though they didn't get the answers they need regarding his death. They would like to hear your side of the story.
TESS: Have you come all the way from the States?
YAZ: I'm based here. Forgive me - the family called me out of the blue, so I'm still trying to piece things together myself.
TESS: ... I'm not proud of my association with Heath. I really don't want to talk about it.

Tess gets up to leave, but...

YAZ: Please, I can see you're a good person. From what I understand, you did everything you could to atone for the embezzlement. I'm sure you could find it in your heart to help a grieving family get closure.

Tess looks conflicted.

No 32
Krista has come round for a moan to Byron about the situation with Seb, and the impact it's had on her relationship with Leo. She concedes that there's been wrongdoing on her part too, when she initially pretended not to recognise Seb from the photo from the vineyard event.

But mid- rant, she gets a message from Seb, who is asking for a further $20,000. It's news to Byron that Krista even sent Seb the first $35,000.

KRISTA: And then I lied to Leo about it.
BYRON: Look, it was a hard call to make. How does he need all of this money, all of a sudden?
KRISTA: I dunno. He could be paying off a huge debt, and they're moving the goalposts? Although to be fair, he could rack up 20K debt in no time. I can't go to the police. If they bring him in, he won't tell them that he's being extorted.
BYRON: So you're gonna just send him the money?
KRISTA: I... I think he's in real trouble. If I do nothing, and then something happens to him...

The Waterhole
At the bar, Aaron is telling Leo that he missed out on a good run this morning.

AARON: Although David would say there is no such thing!

But Leo's distracted. He admits he has hired John Wong to help find Seb. Aaron pulls a face.

LEO: What?
AARON: (scoffs)
LEO: I'm just using Dad's PI. It doesn't mean I *am Dad*.

Leo insists he's doing the right thing, and heads out. Aaron's attention turns to a family of extras at a table nearby - seemingly, two dads and a young boy. Aaron looks wistful. Jane and Nicolette walk in, and notice the same extras and Aaron looking sad.

NICOLETTE: It's gonna be a hard Christmas this year.
AARON: Yeah. I just want it to be as happy as it can for Isla.
JANE: We'll all be there for her.

As Aaron heads off to serve a customer...

NICOLETTE: We're gonna have to be there for him, too.

Goodwood Women's Prison
Tess has sat back down and is talking to Yaz, or 'Leah', about Heath.

TESS: I can't pinpoint the moment that Heath turned. It was so out of character.
YAZ: You thought he was a good person.
TESS: I liked him the moment I met him. Sure, he was ambitious. So am I... I was.
YAZ: You fell in love?
TESS: Head over heels. I felt wronged by the Sinclairs. We hatched a plan to build a future. It was misguided.
YAZ: So the events that happened in the outback - why do you think Heath snapped?
TESS: He was under pressure. We both were. He's not a violent person. Well... he *wasn't*.
YAZ: I think the family feels the same way. They're having a hard time marrying the Heath that they knew with a Heath that could behave this way. They're wondering if Holly Hoyland may have... influenced him.
TESS: Do you really think she's capable of that?
YAZ: Well, she already has a very colourful past. And it sounds as though she actively pursued him, even though you two were together.
TESS: I don't know what happened.
YAZ: But it's *possible* that Holly targeted Heath? She saw dollar signs. She coerced him to buy her a very expensive necklace. And then when it was all over, she would have known exactly where Heath squirrelled all the money away.
TESS: Are you suggesting that Holly wasn't acting in self- defence when she pushed Heath into the river?
YAZ: The family feels that Holly should be fully investigated. The fact is, very few questions were asked. Her friends backed up her story, and the case was closed. You could help reopen it.
TESS: And why would I want to get involved in that?
YAZ: If you are prepared to support their complaint, there may be things I could do to help you.
TESS: What exactly would you want from me?

Harold's Café
Jane is chatting to Sadie, who is waiting for Byron to turn up so they can have a coffee on her break. Sadie explains she's trying to suss out what he wants for Christmas.

SADIE: I bet Isla's excited?
JANE: Oh, extremely. With David... gone, there will be some sad moments for the rest of us, but we will take heart in her joy.
SADIE: It's good that you've got each other.

Byron turns up just as Jane's heading out with her takeaway coffee. Byron tells Sadie about the VIP tickets to Doom Fields. Sadie is massively excited, as tickets for the event had been sold out for months - until she learns that Max is the one who's arranging it.

BYRON: I think maybe he's trying to make the effort too.
SADIE (less enthusiastic): Yeah. Maybe... Except I'm so broke right now, it's not even funny (...)
BYRON: Yeah, but that's the thing - it's all free. And it'd be nice for us to have a bit of fun - and who knows, maybe even turn a full corner with Max.
SADIE (forced smile): Sounds like a plan.

But afterwards she looks worried.

Lassiter's Complex
Nicolette is looking at a poster for a Christmas carol open mic event at the hotel piano bar. Yaz appears next to her and sees the same poster.

YAZ: Don't tell me you're a closet Mariah Carey?
NICOLETTE: Uh, no. I wish.
YAZ: I've been thinking about what you said the other day, about that second date.
NICOLETTE: It's fine. I'm sorry if I misread something.
YAZ: No, you didn't. I was hoping it was still on the table?
NICOLETTE: Oh! I assumed it was a no because I didn't hear from you.
YAZ: I'm sorry. I've been so slammed with work, but, umm... I've been thinking about you.
NICOLETTE (suppressing her elation): Really?
YAZ: It's just that when I got here, I had one focus, and I really didn't want anything to distract me from that (...) But then this really funny, cute, cookie- wielding hurricane blew in, and really caught me off guard. You really snuck under my radar there. I would love to get to know you more, if that's possible.
NICOLETTE: I finish work in an hour, if you haven't eaten.
YAZ: I will see you in an hour.

Yaz goes on her way, and Nicolette smiles.

Lassiter's Hotel
Holly is in Yaz's room when she returns - apparently Holly's been texting and calling Yaz all morning. Yaz says her phone was off, as she was in an important meeting. Holly says that the potential supplier of the extra rigging they need wants a commitment to his inflated quote, as he already has clients wanting the same commitment, who are ready to pay now if they don't.

Yaz is dismissive, abruptly telling Holly that the supplier is deploying a sales tactic, and not a very good one - and just for that, he can wait!

HOLLY: If we miss this, everyone's gonna be shutting down for Christmas. Seriously, you need to call the guy.
YAZ (tetchy): Don't tell me what I need to do, okay? I've been doing this a long time. I don't need advice from someone who should be lucky to just have a job like this.
HOLLY (surprised): You're right, umm... I apologise.
YAZ: No, I'm sorry. I've had a really stressful morning, and I hate sales pressure. Leave this to me - I'll sort it out.

Holly nods, but looks worried as Yaz walks past her.

Lassiter's Complex
Sadie accosts Max in the courtyard.

SADIE: Are you stupid, or is it just the way you talk, look and act?
MAX: What's this about?
SADIE: The dance party tickets, Max. You don't think I know what you're doing?
MAX: What, wanting to be mates with Byron? Or at least make living together bearable - or, like, even fun? Do you know what fun is?
SADIE: Cracking onto me and being fake friends with my boyfriend isn't fun. It's two- faced.
MAX: Look, I like spending time with you... I'm sorry. Do you want me to pretend I didn't say that, too?
SADIE: Just tell Byron that you couldn't get the tickets, okay?

Max doesn't reply - just wanders off.

The Waterhole
Leo comes in and finds Krista; he's wondering why she didn't text him back. She says she just needed some time by herself, and has an admission for him.

KRISTA: I gave Seb the money that he asked for.
LEO: What?
KRISTA: I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. Now he's asking me for more money, and I don't know what to think.
LEO: Well, you didn't have to lie to me.
KRISTA: I didn't want another argument about it, and you've made your position on Seb pretty clear.

Krista admits she hasn't decided whether to give Seb the latest sum of money he's asking for.

KRISTA: I don't know what to do. And I don't want another lecture about it, so I think I just need to be by myself, and clear my head.

As Krista leaves, Aaron comes over to Leo and asks if he told Krista that he'd hired John Wong.

LEO: I tried to, but... I just missed my chance.

Lassiter's Park
Nicolette has arranged an impressive and copious- looking picnic for Yaz, who feels very spoiled by her efforts.

NICOLETTE: I didn't know what you liked, so I had to go wide!
YAZ: You went wide, and it's perfect - I love it.
NICOLETTE: Okay, so what are you doing for Christmas? Are you going home, or...?
YAZ (laughing): I think I might still be eating this! No, I mean, there's nothing really for me in the States, so... I'm gonna be really busy with work. What about you?
NICOLETTE: It's our first Christmas without David, so I'm just gonna be there for Aaron and Isla.
YAZ: I'm sure that's not easy for you, either.
NICOLETTE: Oh - what I'm feeling isn't as important.
YAZ: That's not true. Grief isn't a competition - your grief is just as valid as theirs.
NICOLETTE: Thank you, for saying that.
YAZ: Well, I haven't known you very long, but... from what I've seen, your love and care for your family is very real.
NICOLETTE: Wow. I mean, I don't exactly have a great reputation for being selfless around here.
YAZ: I think you might be selling yourself short. (gestures at the picnic) Look at this! Look at this amazing spread.
NICOLETTE (laughing): I know, I'm so generous (!)

Harold's Café
Holly is telling Sadie about Yaz and her odd mood swings, despite being so lovely most of the time.

HOLLY: I thought last night was a one off, but now I would *not* want to be on her list of enemies.

Sadie is distracted, and Holly correctly guesses that she hasn't really been listening. Sadie admits she's had a 'rough day'.

SADIE: Have you ever had a guy straight- up tell you he likes you?
HOLLY: Mm, heaps.
SADIE: Even though he knows you have a boyfriend?
HOLLY: No, not so much. Who's the guy?
SADIE: No one. It's just some kitchen hand at the hotel. I've told him to cool his jets, but he just won't stop hanging around. It's... it's annoying.
HOLLY: Yeah, of course. But that's not on you. That's on the guy that won't leave you alone. What did Byron say?
SADIE: I haven't said anything to him yet. I don't want to make it a big deal.
HOLLY: Still, you should be able to go to work and not feel harassed. You should talk to Krista. She'll sort him out.
SADIE: Yeah... maybe. Thanks.

Goodwood Women's Prison
Tess is using a vending machine. She gazes pensively for a while at her reflection in the glass, then heads over to speak to one of the prison wardens.

TESS: I need to make a phone call. It's urgent.

702 Eclipse Apartments
Krista is moaning to Byron about Seb, again. She's concerned that Leo might be right and that Seb made up the whole loan shark story just to fleece her. Byron doesn't seem so convinced. Krista doesn't think Seb would rip her off for no reason, but possibly if his back was up against the wall. And she's worried what the consequences will be for him if she doesn't pay.

KRISTA (upset): I've got no way of actually knowing what's going on, and I've hurt Leo so much.
BYRON: Krista, look, you are in an impossible situation with no roadmap, okay? Just don't be so hard on yourself.
KRISTA: How can I not be, when I have no idea what to do?

Shortly afterwards, Krista is on the phone to someone. She tells them it's not a problem, and she'll be right there. Leo comes in in the meantime, and Krista ends the call.

KRISTA: Look, Leo, I'm really sorry. You were right before. I didn't send Seb any more money.

She shows him the message she's sent to Seb, but Leo assures her she doesn't need to prove it. He does, however, need to talk to her about something.

KRISTA: I'm sorry, I've really got to go.
LEO: No, babe, please. Aaron implied something to me this morning, and I can't stop thinking about it. When my dad's at his worst, he always uses the excuse he's trying to protect the ones he loves the most. That's the reason behind all the relationships he's destroyed. I'm not gonna do that with you. Look, I trust you, and I trust your judgement. And I'm so, so sorry for pushing Seb away; and I'm sorry for lying about it.
KRISTA: I'm sorry for lying too. I guess that really does make us equal partners.

They kiss.

KRISTA: Are we okay?
LEO: Yeah. Who was that on the phone?
KRISTA: That was Tess. She wants to see me.
LEO: Tess? Why?
KRISTA: I don't know. As if I needed one more thing to stress about.

Leo tries to tell Krista something else (presumably about John Wong), but she insists that she really needs to go, promising they can talk later. She tells Leo she loves him as she leaves.

Leo looks at his phone messages, where he's asked John Wong if he's got any updates - but there's no reply yet. Leo looks worried.

No 32
Sadie comes home to find Byron fanning himself with a pair of Doom Fields tickets! Max is here too, and Byron is clearly super- excited about the festival.

BYRON: And don't you even think about buying a drink the whole day, Maxie boy.
MAX: Dude, of course - all good. I can probably get us a couple of free drink vouchers as well.
BYRON: You are kidding. Legend.

Byron goes out into the yard to feed Trevor, leaving Sadie and Max alone.

SADIE: What the hell, Max? I told you to shut down this stupid dance party thing, and you deliberately ignored me.
MAX: Okay, that's not actually what happened.
SADIE: How are you still lying to my face?
MAX: Okay, look - Byron saw the tickets on my phone, and before I could do anything, they were printed.
SADIE: Stop playing games.
MAX: Games are fun. Look, in case you forgot, you're the one who brought up me being into you.
SADIE: No, no - you are not gonna flip this on me.
MAX: Yeah well, it's not on me either. Look, I'm not gonna lie about liking you, Sadie. I think you're hot. I'm sorry, it's the truth.

But Byron has re- emerged from the yard, and has heard this!

BYRON: What did you just say?

Coming up on Neighbours
- Toadie wants a 'proper catch-up' with Terese - 'bar snacks and a yak'
- Leo's on the phone to John Wong, and asks what he's got for him
- In the prison, Tess asks after Krista's family
- Krista replies that Tess has never been one for small talk - now's not the time to start!
- Byron tells Max that nobody wants him here, especially Sadie; Max asks him if he's sure about that