The Waterhole
Jane apologises to Clint for wasting his time, but he's keen not to end the date so abruptly.

JANE: I thought that I was meeting someone my own age, so...
CLINT: Well, your profile never specified an age preference.
JANE: No... a mistake on my part!
CLINT: 'It takes two to make an accident.'
JANE (in recognition): 'The Great Gatsby.'
CLINT: One of the many literary greats I was hoping to dissect with you.
JANE: So you knew that you were meeting someone older?
CLINT: Mature women are far more stimulating. Plus you'd be hard pressed trying to find somebody my age willing to debate 'The Tell- Tale Heart'.
JANE: Well... what is there to debate? I mean, the narrator is truly insane!
CLINT: Well, nervousness and overly acute senses don't equal insanity.
JANE: But only a deranged man could do the things that he does.
CLINT: Well, if you feel that strongly about it, why don't you sit back down and convince me? You're here now; there's no harm in having a chat.

Jane agrees and sits back down, but looks nervous...

702 Eclipse Apartments
Krista, Leo and Abigail have returned having set off for the movies, so that Krista can tend to Sebastian. She is looking at Seb's freshly injured arm, which is badly bruised. Seb claims that he fell while reaching for a glass in the cupboard. He says he still needs to shift the stock that Nicolette asked him to do, but Krista tells him not to worry about that; they need to take him to the hospital to get checked out.

LEO: I can drive you guys.
SEBASTIAN: No, man. I've already ruined your arvo with Abi.

But Leo insists on taking him, and Seb does little to disguise his disappointment! Leo looks annoyed too as they leave the apartment.

The Waterhole
Jane and Clint are debating the merits or otherwise of Charles Dickens over a bottle of wine. Clint thinks Jane is condemning Dickens through a modern lens and not taking full account of the social progression he contributed to for the working class. But Jane thinks Dickens did the bare minimum for the things he cared about! Nonetheless...

JANE: I must say, I'm impressed by how well read you are.
CLINT: Nothing better than curling up with a good book. Especially when it's Brontë.
JANE: Couldn't agree more. It's refreshing knowing that there are people your age still appreciating the classics.
CLINT: I love literature that makes you think, and has a meaning. I get so drawn in by different points of view, and being consumed by lives I'll never live.

Clint offers Jane another drink. She's hesitant, but eventually decides that one more won't hurt, and he tops up their glasses...

Erinsborough Hospital
Leo and Abi are in the waiting area, while Krista is with Seb in the examination room. Seb apologises for being a 'pain in the arse' and encourages Krista to go, but she insists there's nowhere she'd rather be. Seb feigns feeling bad for Abi as she's missing the movie, but Krista says they can see it another time.

SEBASTIAN: Leo should still take her. There's no point them hanging around here.

Krista agrees and goes outside, where she tells Leo she's not sure how much longer Seb's x- ray will be. She suggests Leo take Abi to the movie on his own for some 'daddy- daughter time', and then they can meet at Harold's for dessert later. Leo agrees, and Krista heads back into the room to be with Seb. Leo looks uncomfortable.

Ramsay Street
Andrew delivers Sadie and Byron news from New York - Cara's in hospital again, having got another infection. She's okay, but the doctors want to monitor her for a few days before allowing her to fly back to Australia. Remi is staying with her, while JJ and Dex will fly home on their original flight tomorrow, so as not to miss the start of the school year; and Andrew will be looking after the boys in Cara and Remi's absence.

Andrew mentions he's going shopping for a hat and sunglasses later, and jokes following the debacle with Sadie's piercing that he will run his choices past the 'beauty police' - AKA Byron!

ANDREW: I'm thinking of getting a mankini, too. Something, I dunno, that sort of hugs all the wrong places and doesn't leave much to the imagination. Is that good by you?
BYRON: Whatever floats your boat.
SADIE: Oh, I'd be careful with him, Dad. I mean, he might seem all nice and accepting on the outside, but underneath, you never really know what he's feeling.

But Andrew has spotted something over the road - what he thought was a curtain moving in one of the windows of No 30, the Varga- Murphys' place. Since he has a spare key, Andrew decides to go over and check it out...

Meanwhile, Sadie assures Byron that she and Andrew were just joking about the piercing and Byron's judgy fashion views! But Byron looks a bit peeved.

Lassiter's Hotel
Krista and Seb are back from the hospital. There are no new breakages, but Seb's recovery is now going to take a lot longer - possibly 'several more months of me being a burden'.

KRISTA: You need to stop thinking like that.
SEBASTIAN: It's not easy having me around. Maybe I should go back to Sydney.
KRISTA: No! You're not going anywhere. Look, I know what it's like to feel like you're being high maintenance. But right now, you need to accept your situation and let me take care of you. I'm here to be your rock.
SEBASTIAN: I don't deserve you (...) You know, in NA, we were talking about the touchstone people in your life. The ones that are pivotal to your happiness.
KRISTA: I'd better have made that list.
SEBASTIAN: You're the only one on it. Ever since we met.
KRISTA: It's not like you to get all mushy and sentimental.
SEBASTIAN: I was going through some old photos in the cloud. You've always been there for me, no matter what.
KRISTA: Yeah, because you're really important to me.
SEBASTIAN: And now you're about to go and get married, and have this whole other life. Things might never be the same between us.
KRISTA: Impossible. I will always have time for you, okay? You're my ride or die.

Seb offers to show Krista the photos he was looking at, but she's not keen as they're probably terrible! Seb notes that her 'Hilary Duff era' was a particular highlight!

The Waterhole
Jane and Clint are still on their date, and Jane can't believe how the time has flown. Jane has to go; Clint says Jane was every bit at smart and interesting as he thought she'd be - but Jane seems unwilling to press for a second date, and instead wishes Clint luck 'finding someone on the apps'.

CLINT: I don't like my chances. Lightning doesn't strike twice.
JANE: Well, goodbye, Clint.
CLINT: 'Parting is such sweet sorrow.'

Jane gazes back at Clint as she leaves the pub...

No 32
Byron and Sadie are on the sofa, looking through a book called 'The Piercing Bible'.

BYRON: Wow! Is there anything you *can't* get pierced these days?
SADIE: Not really. Ooh, look at this one.
BYRON: Is that even legal?!

Sadie enthuses about how 'incredible' some of the piercings are, and this seems to cause Byron to settle on a decision.

BYRON: You are right. So, uh, which one should I get?
SADIE: Oh, I'm thinking tongue. You know, like a multiple diamond formation? (...) Wait, are you serious?
BYRON: Yeah. I want to do something, you know, spontaneous and exciting, like you. And I know if you did it, I'd be in safe hands. It'd be fun.
SADIE (surprised): Okay! Are you sure?!
BYRON: Yeah. Maybe not the diamond tongue thing, but...
SADIE: Yeah, no. We'll start off with something small.

This sounds great, says Byron, but he doesn't look like he entirely means it...

Lassiter's Complex
Jane is reporting back to Nicolette and Aaron about her date with Clint. She says she had a lovely time; Clint was the perfect gentleman and they had a lot in common.

JANE: There was a 'but'.
NICOLETTE: Oh, we hate buts.
AARON: Well, speak for yourself!
JANE: No, he's... he's a lot younger than I am.
AARON: So?
JANE: A *lot* younger. No, we... we couldn't possibly date.
NICOLETTE: Mum, if he ticks all your boxes, surely age doesn't matter.
JANE: I'm not a cougar, Nicolette! No, sometimes great conversation with a charming and fascinating man just isn't enough.
NICOLETTE: Mum...
JANE: Which is a shame. Because he is a rare find. I mean, how many people do you know who can recite Virginia Woolf?
AARON: Virginia who?
JANE (sadly): My point exactly.

Ramsay Street
Sadia and Byron are walking down the street (with the piercing book!) and chat to Andrew again, who reports that he checked out No 30 and it was a false alarm.

BYRON: It was probably just a rat.
SADIE: Eww. Gross.

Andrew spots the book and asks if Sadie is getting another piercing already. But Sadie reveals that Byron is now looking to get one. Andrew is sceptical, but Sadie insists they're headed to the day spa now to grab a piercing kit.

BYRON (nervously): It's no biggie.
ANDREW: I think you might be underselling that decision.
BYRON: Well, it's not like I'm getting a tattoo or anything. If I don't like it, I'll take it out, the hole closes over...

Sadie asks if Byron's decided where the piercing will be; he's thinking about his ear.

ANDREW: You do realise that people that get a piercing on a whim are doing it because they're been dared, or they're blind drunk. You're doing this just for fun?
BYRON: ... Just for fun.

But Andrew continues to look sceptical. Sadie leads the way to the spa, as Byron looks worried...

Lassiter's Complex
Leo and Abi are at a table outside the café, waiting for Krista to meet them for dessert - but Abi is really hungry and doesn't want to wait! Nicolette stops by and joins them. She has the perfect distraction for Abi's hunger pangs - a notebook to draw in and some pencils. Leo wonders where Krista has got to; he'd have thought she'd be home from hospital by now.

Leo notices a slip of paper caught in the notebook that Nic has given Abi, and pulls it out; it's a parking ticket from the airport, for $210! Nic takes the ticket from Leo and quickly puts it back in her bag, immediately realising that this could link her to Yasmine's departure from the country. But Leo has already noticed her odd response, and begins to connect the dots as Nic rushes off...

No 24
Jane is sitting on the sofa giggling at some messages she's received via the dating app. Aaron correctly guesses that they're from Clint.

JANE: He wants to start his own email server called 'Ish- mail'.
AARON (feigned laugh): Ah! I don't get that!
JANE: Ishmael, you know? From 'Moby Dick'. Oh, never mind.
AARON: If you ask me, Jane, you are smitten for Clint.
JANE: Nonsense!

Jane is distracted by something on her phone.

AARON: Did Clint finally send you a photo of his Moby -
JANE: No - no!! Why is it that you and Nicolette always have to jump straight to filth? ... No, he's asked me out again.

Aaron thinks she should go for it.

AARON: Hey, I might not know who Virginia Wilde is, but I do know that you guys have the hots for each other.
JANE: Well, regardless of what you *think* you know... no, I can't say yes. The age difference is too much. And don't you give me that look!
AARON: I'm not going to say another word.

No 32
Andrew is watching with amusement as Sadie prepares to pierce Byron's ear. Byron doesn't think the needle looks too bad - but then Sadie realises it's the wrong size and pulls out a bigger one! Byron looks terrified.

ANDREW (amused): Do you want me to find something for you to bite down on? Or do you need a safe word?
SADIE: Dad, when I invited you over, it was for moral support, not heckling.

Sadie moves closer to the ear she's piercing, and Byron yells out! Assuring him she hasn't started yet, she gives him a countdown, telling him to expect a sharp pain. But at the last minute Byron pulls away; he can't go through with it.

BYRON: I really wanted to want this, Sades, but... I don't.

Sadie's surprised but assures him it's fine, and asks if he felt like he had to get a piercing.

BYRON: No, I just... I just felt horrible about how I reacted to yours, and wanted to do something to show you that I was on board.
ANDREW: (...) And this is another reason why people get a piercing on a whim. To win points with a girl.

Andrew leaves them to it. Sadie admits that Byron's reasoning for getting a piercing is 'kind of weird'.

SADIE: But it's also sweet. Just don't make a habit of doing crazy things to make me happy.
BYRON: Noted.
SADIE: I know that you have my back.

They kiss and hug.

702 Eclipse Apartments
Seb is providing crucial exposition as to how Krista earned the nickname 'Krusty'!

KRISTA: No, that's not how it happened!
SEBASTIAN: It is, it is! You grabbed the loaf from both ends and started wearing the crust like a bra.
KRISTA: (...) Well, I don't remember any of that.
SEBASTIAN: Why else would I call you Krusty?

Outside the apartment, Leo can hear laughter from inside, and looks annoyed. He's hovering over Nicolette's number on his phone, seemingly about to call her - but he decides against it and goes inside. Leo asks Seb how he went at the hospital, and looks none too pleased to hear that he'll take months longer to recover now. He's also annoyed that Krista hasn't been replying to his messages.

KRISTA: I forgot about dessert at Harold's. We got caught up looking at old pictures.
SEBASTIAN: Yeah, nothing like a trip down memory lane. Ain't that right, Sourdough?
KRISTA: I think you'll find it was multi- grain.
SEBASTIAN: So you *do* remember!

Krista apologises to Leo and hopes Abi wasn't too disappointed. Krista offers to come back to the penthouse and read Abi a bedtime story, but Seb unenthusiastically says he'll be fine on his own, which leads Leo to tell Krista not to worry - they can do it another night. Krista thanks Leo for being so understanding. Krista goes back to fussing over Seb, and Leo goes to leave; but Seb smirks at him unpleasantly as he goes.

Harold's Café
Byron comes in and chats to Nicolette, who's working. Nic gets a text from Aaron, telling her that Clint wants to take Jane on another date. Byron hasn't even heard of Clint, so Nic explains about the date this afternoon.

NICOLETTE: But Mum's a little worried about the age gap.
BYRON: Uh, how much older is he than her?
NICOLETTE: Well, that's the wrong direction. Cos I just did some online stalking, and he looks about your age!

Byron starts laughing, assuming Nic is having him on!

BYRON: Very funny.
NICOLETTE (laughing): I'm serious.
BYRON (annoyed): What, some young guy's trying to horn onto our mum?!
NICOLETTE: (...) What? You used to date women Mum's age.
BYRON: Totally different circumstances. This is some random that Mum's met online. And we both know how she got taken advantage of last time.
NICOLETTE: She knows that, she's on top of it.

Nic doesn't think Jane and Clint dating is a problem, but Byron looks unconvinced and heads out - just as Leo comes in.

LEO: We need to talk.
NICOLETTE: ... It was just a parking ticket.
LEO: From the airport. At the same time Yaz fled the country. Why are you keeping it a secret, Nic?

No 24
Byron is quizzing Jane about the date with Clint and making his feelings about it quite apparent, wondering whether Clint was 'legit' into all the poetry, literature and classical music that he told Jane he was.

JANE: Well, he knew his Mozart from his Beethoven. No, we truly hit it off, and so there's no need for the third degree.
BYRON: I'm just making sure you've done your due diligence. Look, he hasn't asked you for money or anything, has he?
JANE: No, Byron, this isn't a dating scam (...) Mannix was a completely different situation. Clint is an intelligent young man who... well, who prefers mature women.
BYRON: Well, I don't know too many of them.
JANE (annoyed): Are you saying that Clint couldn't possibly be attracted to me?
BYRON: ... No, that's not what I meant! What I meant to say was... well, it's like finding a unicorn, right? Look, do you really believe this guy's for real?

But Jane is now really annoyed, and goes to retrieve her phone.

JANE: I wasn't going to see Clint again. But you have helped me to change my mind - so, thank you, Byron.

Byron looks worried as Jane starts texting Clint...

Harold's Café
In the kitchen, Leo continues to press Nicolette for answers. Eventually she admits that she followed Yaz to the airport.

LEO: To help her escape?
NICOLETTE: No. At first I just wanted an explanation, and then she told me the whole story - how she listened to the Crimesborough podcast - and she convinced herself that Heath's death wasn't an accident.
LEO: What, so she tried to electrocute Holly as revenge?
NICOLETTE: It was more complicated than that, and she knew she made a mistake. She tried to reverse the damage; it was too late. Heath was her baby brother. She loved him, and I felt sorry for her. So I told her to get on the plane. She did the wrong thing for the right reason - I mean, how many times have I done that?
LEO: You know the police are still looking for her, right? She could still get caught.
NICOLETTE: Yeah. There's just a chance the US police won't act, and that's what I'm clinging to. Don't look at me like that - I feel awful! I care about Holly. I really do.
LEO: ... I believe you.
NICOLETTE: You do?
LEO: That's why I'm willing to keep your secret, if you'll do something for me in exchange. For the right reasons. I need to get Seb out of Krista's life. I need you to fire him.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Rhett turns up to see Aaron
- Jane tells Aaron he deserves to find happiness again; David wouldn't want him sitting around being sad
- Andrew and Sadie are in No 30, when he thinks he hears something from the sunroom
- A stranger is crouched behind the sunroom door, looking worried
- Leo confides in Nicolette about Seb getting in the way of his happiness with Krista
- Seb looking at Krista wistfully as she sleeps on his shoulder on the sofa; he goes to stroke her hair