Previously on Neighbours
- Leo suggests that Sebastian should go to a rehab clinic once he's off the painkillers, but Seb isn't keen
- Krista finds Seb collapsed on the floor with painkillers scattered around him
- She tells him she knows he feels really lost, but it won't always be that way
- Krista cancels a date with Leo to stay in and hang out with Seb, thinking he shouldn't be alone
- Yasmine cancels a dinner with Nicolette and Isla, claiming she has to scout out a possible Lights Up venue
- Paul arranges a meeting with Mayor Helen Brown and Terese to discuss his plans for developing Power Road
- But Terese sabotages his schmoozing with the mayor, warning her Paul will have 'surprises up his sleeve'
- Paul demands to know why Terese went behind his back
Penthouse
Paul is still demanding an answer from Terese. She admits that she hinted to Mayor Helen that Paul had grander plans for Power Road than he was letting on, so she'd back out of involvement.
PAUL (annoyed): I'm sorry, have I missed something here? Why would you *not* want her to go for it?
TERESE: ... I was trying to avoid being the one to tell you 'no'. I didn't want to be the one to burst your bubble.
PAUL: Oh. So you don't want to do this project together?
TERESE: Paul, I'd rather keep our personal and business lives separate for now. We've only just got back together.
PAUL (angry): You could have brought that up in any number of conversations that we had!
TERESE: But surely you appreciate that it's not that simple?
PAUL: Not that simple? Terese, you made a fool of me!
TERESE: I was doing it for us.
No 24
Jane is looking at her dating site again, while Aaron looks over her shoulder. He compliments her for 'raking in the matches', but Jane is overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to chat to her.
AARON: Yeah, you see, I think that's generally the idea of trying to get to know someone.
JANE: Well, how am I supposed to chat with seven different people all at once?
AARON: it's easy, just make a list, prioritise. This guy looks nice.
JANE: Yeah. Except he's holding a snake.
AARON: Well, I mean, you can't diss animal lovers.
Aaron spots someone else he likes the look of and declares 'hello, daddy!' just as Nicolette comes in. She reminds Jane of the importance of being safe with online dating - checking ID etc.
Nell's friend Jasmine (with a J) shows up at the door, hoping that Jane will look over her school group's ideas for the forthcoming light show. Jane is happy to help. The event really seems to have motivated Jasmine to get involved, but as she talks to Jane about how cool Yasmine (with a Y) is, Nicolette looks pensive...
The Sonya Wall
Krista and Sebastian are out for a walk, and reminiscing about a long- ago summer together in Amsterdam. Krista broaches the subject of Seb getting clean; she knows he isn't keen on rehab, but there's a Narcotics Anonymous meeting at the community centre over lunch, and she asks if he'd be interested in going.
Seb doesn't seem keen, but Krista highlights the pros - he'd learn coping mechanisms to break unhealthy patterns. Krista says the sessions really helped her to understand her addictive behaviours and that they were really common, making her realise she wasn't alone.
KRISTA: And sure, the coffee and snacks are really bad, but... it's good to be around non- judgemental people.
SEBASTIAN: (...) Okay, I guess I could give it a go.
Krista's pleased, and assures him he doesn't even need to say anything on the first session.
Ramsay Street
Aaron and Nicolette are leaving No 24, and he takes the opportunity to ask how things are going with Yaz. Nicolette's hopeful that she can make it work with her.
NICOLETTE: Usually *I'm* the high- maintenance one in relationships. This time I'm good.
AARON: That's your karma for you.
NICOLETTE: Don't say that. I'm due so much more bad karma than good.
He asks if she's found out any more about Yaz's brother who she started her business with. But Nic says Yaz has asked her to keep what she knows to herself. Nic says she doesn't know all the details, other than that it's 'really heavy stuff'.
Harold's Café
Krista is reassuring Leo that she still cares about their wedding (!) Leo makes out he's understanding about all the time she's spending with Seb, and says he admires her for being a good friend. Krista reveals she's made a fresh reservation for them today at the restaurant they were thinking of using as a wedding reception venue; she's asked Byron to cover Leo at the vineyard. Leo declares her amazing; they kiss.
Nicolette and Aaron come in, and Krista asks for a word with Nic. She wants to know if Nic would be prepared to take Seb on to work in the café, as he could really benefit from the discipline of a job. Leo intervenes, querying whether Seb is really ready for that. But Krista doesn't want him lounging around in the apartment all day, as it's bad for his mental health - albeit he'd have to be on lighter duties due to his injury.
Nicolette says she can't promise loads of shifts, but she's happy for Seb to come in for a trial. Krista is pleased; Leo isn't.
Penthouse
Leo whines to Paul that he's fed up of feeling like a third wheel in his own relationship, due to Seb taking all Krista's focus. But Paul is irritable and tells Leo this is just what 'keeping your enemies close' is all about. Leo asks what's up with him, giving Paul a chance to moan that he's having issues with Terese.
LEO: Already?
PAUL: ...
LEO: Sorry. Forget I said that.
Paul explains how Terese sabotaged his plans for the Power Road development by going behind his back to warn off the mayor.
PAUL: She couldn't even tell me to my face that I am the last person she wants to be in business with (...) I should've realised, I guess, when she took an eternity to tell everybody about us (...) Maybe I was wrong in thinking that we are both back on the same page.
LEO: Maybe you are. I hate to say it, Dad, but Terese has lived a whole other life while you've been on the sideline pining after her. And maybe she handles her relationships differently now. Maybe her priorities have changed. Maybe she's just not as all- in as you are.
Harold's Café
Nicolette is quizzing Aaron about how things are going with Rhett and whether there'll be a second date. He awkwardly says that he thinks so, but doesn't elaborate.
NICOLETTE: Alright, don't get too excited (!)
AARON: No, I am - I am excited. I would definitely like to see him again.
NICOLETTE: It's not that easy, is it?
AARON: It's just... having a good time with him comes with a million other feelings. I think I just need to take it slow and steady.
NICOLETTE: Hmm. I think that's a good call. But I like Rhett. I hope it works out.
Krista finishes up a frustrating phone call. Nicolette asks what's wrong; Krista says that it was the Sincast legal team, and they still have no leads on who the lawyer was who went to see Tess Carmichael in prison. But at least she's stopped sniffing around, Krista adds.
NICOLETTE: I can't believe Heath's family believed he was innocent.
KRISTA: I know. I feel really bad for Holly. I promised her more intel, so...
No 24
Jane tells Jasmine how impressed she is with the work she's done for the light show, and asks her to tell Nell that she's welcome to submit something too, as Jane would love for her to be involved. Jasmine promises she will, saying that Nell seems pretty interested.
As Jasmine is leaving, Terese shows up, and soon makes it clear to Jane she's here for a moan about Paul. Terese protests that she tried to tell Paul that she wasn't interested in the joint business venture, but that he was oblivious. Jane asks how firm Terese was about it, and Terese grudgingly admits that she wasn't as direct about it as she could have been; she just didn't want the tricky conversation when they'd only just got back together, and didn't want to dredge up that chapter from their past.
JANE: Terese, look, I understand. And I am not on anyone's side here, but have you thought about this from Paul's perspective? Cos he has been pining for you for a very long time. And I can see that, now he's finally got you back, no wonder he's all guns blazing.
TERESE: Hmm. Yeah, I know. He just hasn't stopped to think about what I want.
JANE: Because he feels as though you're finally running in the same direction. Together. Whatever it is that you're afraid of, holding back isn't gonna help.
702 Eclipse Apartments
Seb is doing shirtless exercises on the floor, presumably to aid his recovery. He tells Krista that she didn't have to get him a job - but she says she wanted to.
SEBASTIAN: I guess I should start contributing. I don't want to mooch off you forever.
KRISTA: Going to work every day will give you the structure that you need. And I know it seems daunting at first, but it really helped me with my recovery.
SEBASTIAN: Yeah, I guess you're right. It'll be good for me.
Krista pesters Seb about whether he'll go to the Narcotics Anonymous meeting today. Turning on the charm, he claims he's feeling 'edgy' about going, and asks if Krista would come with him for the first session. She says she would, but has the lunch date with Leo at the potential wedding reception venue. Seb is disappointed, but by way of compromise she offers to walk him to the meeting on the way to lunch.
Ramsay Street
Aaron walks into the street to find Nicolette frantically searching her car; she explains she's lost a pair of gold earrings that her dad got her. She can only think of one other place she might have left them - in Yaz's hotel room when she's stayed over. Aaron reveals that Yaz gave him her hotel key card, to deliver some equipment to her room while she was away, so they can go and check.
AARON: While the cat's away...
NICOLETTE: Well, we'll only be a second, right?
AARON: Exactly. Plus, it looks like you might explode if you don't find those earrings soon.
NICOLETTE: Yeah, I might!
They head off to the hotel.
702 Eclipse Apartments
Seb enlists Krista's help in getting his shirt back on! With him unable to move his arms much it proves to be quite a challenge, and they both end up laughing as Krista struggles to help him. Leo comes in and looks annoyed. Krista asks Leo if he has any ideas to help (!) but Seb replies that he'll figure it out, and scuttles off to his room.
Leo has come to pick up Krista for lunch, but she says she promised she'd walk Seb to the Narcotics Anonymous meeting first - so Leo grudgingly agrees to them all walking that way together.
No 24
Jane answers the door to an animated Paul, who walks in without being invited.
PAUL: Am I completely delusional when it comes to Terese?
Jane wearily puts the kettle on! Paul says he knows Jane can't betray Terese's confidence, but he's wondering if something's going on with her that he isn't seeing. Paul has interpreted her snub over the Power Road development as Terese not being as on board with their relationship as he thought she was. But Jane suggests that Terese was just setting a boundary between their relationship and business.
PAUL: But we were amazing business partners.
JANE: Have you forgotten how that all ended last time? With the divorce, and the settlement? Now, you two have been given the rare chance of a fresh start. But it's not a clean slate.
Paul looks thoughtful.
Lassiter's Hotel
Nicolette and Aaron let themselves into Yaz's hotel room so that Nic can search for her earrings. Aaron's anxious that they're not supposed to be here, so wants Nic to hurry. She checks one of the bedside drawers, and sure enough, her earrings are there. She retrieves them - but she's also found something else. It's a business card for 'Leah Curtin, Criminal Lawyer'.
Nic reads the name out loud, but before she can look more closely or think any more about it, Aaron is hurrying her out of the room - so she returns the business card to the drawer and rushes away.
Power Road
Paul is gazing down the road looking pensive when Terese turns up. Paul jokes that he's just picturing their future shopping precinct.
TERESE: Listen, I'm not proud of the way I handled things with the council. And I'm sorry I went behind your back. But Paul, I really need you to understand that the combination of you and Power Road takes me back to our divorce. And that time was unbearable.
PAUL: Yeah, I know. I know. And I haven't forgotten how this precinct became yours. Maybe, you know, starting a new and good project with you was my way of trying to patch over the bad. But... I don't think it's wise.
TERESE: Really? You know, I had a whole second part of my speech planned.
PAUL: Yeah? Did it involve telling me you need to reset the boundaries?
TERESE (laughs): Yes.
PAUL: You know, I did have a little help from my therapist - Jane.
They laugh as they realise they've both been talking to Jane about it.
TERESE: She helped me see that I was holding back from you.
PAUL: Yeah, it's no wonder why. I mean, I wouldn't want to revisit the 'd- days' either.
Paul suggests a pact - from now on, they should promise to tell each other what they need, no matter how difficult, and stop running away from the hard conversations. Terese agrees.
PAUL: You know, I really want this to work. Because Terese, you are the love of my life, you know that?
TERESE: And you're mine.
They seal the deal with some face- sucking, which is briefly interrupted by a car honking its horn, because they're standing in the middle of the street!
Community Centre
Outside the centre, Leo watches from a distance as Krista wishes Seb luck at the Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Seb seems nervous, but decides to 'rip this band aid off'. As Seb goes into the centre, Krista leaves with Leo for their dinner date. But as they walk off, Seb re- emerges and watches them pensively.
Penthouse
Paul and Terese are in their dressing gowns having presumably popped back for some afternoon delight. They gaze out at the skyline from the balcony, all loved up.
PAUL: You have no idea how content it makes me to see you happy.
TERESE: You know, I do feel happy. More than I have in a long time.
PAUL: Hmm. I mean, having you here - it just feels right. Familiar.
TERESE: Mm. Yet different.
PAUL: Good different, though.
Terese agrees - but in the spirit of their promise to have tough conversations, tells Paul that his ugly old slippers have to go!
PAUL: How dare you?
TERESE: We said we'd be honest with each other from now on.
PAUL: Not about my slippers, though (...) They're a part of me.
They kiss again.
Lassiter's Complex
On their way to lunch, Krista is trying to reassure Leo about what he walked in on at the apartment earlier, when she was helping Seb with his shirt. She insists Seb and she are like a brother and sister. Leo accepts it was innocent.
LEO: I trust you. I just... I want to be sure the thought never crosses Seb's mind either.
KRISTA: It never has before.
LEO: But you're living together now. He's needy and vulnerable. I just want to make sure the lines don't get blurred.
Community Centre
Seb has come in for the meeting, and helps himself to a coffee.
Lassiter's Complex
Krista assures Leo there'll be no blurring of lines - and anyway, she's completely committed to Leo.
KRISTA: And one day in the not too distant future, I'm gonna stand up in front of all of our friends and family and say just that. You're the one who I want to spend the rest of my life with, okay? There's no comparison.
Leo looks somewhat placated, and they head off for dinner.
Community Centre
A woman, Deanna Finley, is making small talk with Seb over a coffee, noting that she hasn't seen him here before. Seb admits it's his first session.
DEANNA: You won't be nervous for long. Everyone's really chilled (...) Do you have a support person?
SEBASTIAN: Yeah. She couldn't make it today.
DEANNA: That's too bad.
SEBASTIAN: Yeah. It's actually... it's actually a really complicated situation. She's with her fiancé.
DEANNA: Do you have Feelings™ for her?
SEBASTIAN: I mean, you know, I didn't used to. I never really thought of us as anything more than friends. But the way she's been with me... I really feel like there's something there. I think I'm falling for her.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Terese tells Paul that Nell's on her way, but she isn't sure how Nell will feel about their relationship
- Family and friends come together for a party to celebrate Leo and Krista's engagement
- Paul thinks Leo should be able to celebrate without putting up with Seb latching onto Krista
- But at the party, Krista gets a message and tells Leo that Seb is having a 'malfunction'
- Erinsborough Lights Up is here, and Aaron declares it Lassiter's best event ever
- Yaz is looking shifty at the light festival; in the pub, Nicolette says she needs to find Yaz
