Lassiter's Lake
Fallon is sitting in the rotunda looking forlorn. Taye walks by and, noticing her, asks if she's okay.

TAYE: Didn't Fergie say pretty girls don't cry?
FALLON: It's big girls. And didn't Fallon say 'please stop hitting on me'?
TAYE: I'm gonna guess you're Fallon. I'm Taye, and I was just trying to make you smile. You seem sad.
FALLON: I am. Relationship issues.
TAYE: Oof. Those are the worst. I have them back home. Times three.
FALLON: Impressive. Yeah, but I still win.
TAYE: I'm gonna need more details. Telling a stranger your problems is like a... Australian tradition.
FALLON: Nice try, but I'm not in the market for anything.
TAYE: Hey - I'm just a guy, new to town, trying to make a friend. Come on. Have a drink with me - and sing me the rest of your 'don't hit on me' song. Sounded like a bop.
FALLON: Why not? Lead the way.

They walk off together.

Ramsay Street
Holly is looking pensive as she collects the mail. Byron turns up and drops a banana into her hands!

BYRON: Max's banana. I was thinking maybe we could take it to him at work, and maybe get a drink at the tram?
HOLLY: Umm... a drink sounds good. But the tram feels too much like work, and Max can't peel a banana right now - so, the Waterhole.

She hands him the banana back, and they agree to head to the pub. Holly then gets a text from Krista telling her that Lassiter's is looking for a manager for the Piano Bar. Holly hasn't done bartending before but 'makes a mean cocktail' and knows the hotel, so decides she'll apply for it. They both scream with excitement for some reason!

Fallon is filling in Taye on her backstory, and how she was dating Sebastian for six months. She insists it wasn't a secret from her sister, particularly; it's just that they were on opposite sides of the world.

TAYE: Then you pop the question, and he disappears without a trace.
FALLON: Then I find him here, attached to her lips.
TAYE: Brutal.

Taye asks why Fallon hasn't confronted her sister yet. She explains there's a further complication - she's engaged to someone else.

TAYE: She can't be that into her fiancé if she's kissing your ex.
FALLON: Exactly! I can't make any sense of it.
TAYE: Serious question. Do you like her?
FALLON: I actually don't know her that well.
TAYE: Oh, snap. I can relate to that.

Fallon asks Taye what he'd do in her shoes.

TAYE: Sit back and see what happens before you speak up (...) Knowledge is power, and you're the one holding the cards. So maybe keep it that way until you figure out what you want from this situation.

No 30
JJ is home when Andrew turns up to check in. He finds the kitchen looking moderately messy, and starts preaching at JJ about how he and his mums let him and Dex stay here alone because they trusted that they could handle the responsibility. JJ claims it's been a bit of a learning curve, but Andrew is unimpressed by the state of the place, moaning that 'it should never really get to this point'.

JJ assures Andrew that the place will be clean and tidy long before Remi and Cara get home from the US, as they're not back for another two days.

ANDREW: Well, I'm gonna give you two hours. Once this place is clean, just keep it nice.
JJ: Yeah - two hours? Try two minutes. But I promise this won't happen again.
ANDREW: Righto, mate.

Andrew walks out. To JJ's relief, Andrew hadn't noticed an empty beer bottle that had been left on the shelf. Sighing, JJ quickly puts it in the bin.

The Waterhole
Krista, Leo and Fallon are hanging out - Krista's still excited that Fallon's in town.

FALLON: Revolving door of visitors for you (!)
KRISTA: Yeah, well, with Seb gone, the spare room's all yours. For as long as you need it.

Leo asks whereabouts in Europe Fallon was based - Mykonos, she replies (a Greek island), and prior to that she was travelling.

Holly and Byron come in. Holly thanks Krista for the heads- up about the Piano Bar job; Krista warns her, though, there are a lot of really strong applicants. Holly thinks she can handle the competition. Krista introduces Fallon to Holly and Byron.

HOLLY: Hang on, little sister?
KRISTA: Yeah, on my mum's side.
BYRON: I'm Byron. I actually used to date Krista's sister on the dad's side.

Fallon is smiling, but doesn't otherwise react to this, leaving Byron looking awkward. Krista goes to get some drinks for everyone and Byron and Fallon go to help. Leo takes the opportunity to apologise to Holly for knowing about Nicolette encouraging Yasmine to escape and not telling her about it.

At the bar, Byron asks Krista why Seb left. Krista simply replies that she doesn't want to talk about it. Fallon listens carefully.

Back at the table, Holly tells Leo that she doesn't 'love' that he knew about Yaz. But she's moving on, so just wants to put it behind them. Leo thanks her.

Power Road
Max is struggling to take a parcel into the garage with his bandaged hands. Taye, who is coming out of the bottle shop with some beers, rushes over to help him, and takes the box over to the garage. Taye clocks Max's bandages and remarks that he'd have thought he'd need his hands to be a mechanic. Max explains he's just doing limited jobs at the moment, and tells Taye about the electrocution.

While Max and Taye are chatting, Dex emerges from a shift at Grease Monkeys. Taye sees Dex and says he has to head off, but wishes Max a speedy recovery - then joins Dex to walk home.

TAYE: No burgers? Your poor uncle doesn't get a freebie?

Dex is worried that Taye was talking to Max, explaining that he and JJ know him. Taye tells him not to panic; he didn't tell Max anything about himself.

DEX: It's just we have to be careful. We don't want anyone blabbing to Andrew. Have you talked to anyone else?
TAYE: I'm a social creature. But I'm aware you guys know every man and his dog, so I'm not gonna say anything to anyone that would connect me with you.

Taye shows Dex the beers, and suggests they head home, presumably to start drinking them!

The Waterhole
Holly, Fallon and Krista are at the bar. Fallon says she fancies a cocktail, but then makes a point of asking if that was insensitive of her to say, given Krista's past addiction issues. Krista insists not.

FALLON: It's not hard for you to be in this environment?
KRISTA: No, I'm fine.

Krista heads back to the table, and Holly assures Fallon that Krista is very much sober now.

FALLON: I didn't mean to sound heavy- handed.
HOLLY: It's cool, you weren't.
FALLON: Last time I saw Krista, she was Partying™ pretty hard.
HOLLY: Hmm. Well, Krista will be the first one to tell you she's had some challenges.
FALLON: Relapses?
HOLLY: Mm. But she's in a really great place now. And I mean, Leo's the perfect guy for her.
FALLON: He picks her up when she falls, that kind of thing? Because that's the kind of guy I'm looking for.
HOLLY: I guess you could say that. He adores her. It's actually a little bit sickening.

Fallon glances over at Leo and Krista being all loved up, and looks inscrutable. 'Suspenseful' music plays.

Ramsay Street
Andrew pulls up in his car just as Dex arrives home with Taye, and JJ is putting the bins out. Telling Taye to 'be cool', Dex introduces him to Andrew as a friend from his coding course, who's come to 'geek out' and load a programme onto his laptop. Andrew takes another opportunity to hector the boys about the cleaning, warning them he's not stoked with the state of the house and that they need to lift their game.

ANDREW: I'm working tonight, so I'm gonna trust that both of you stay out of trouble.
JJ: Yeah, totally.

Andrew drives off. JJ looks worried, as Taye and Dex celebrate pulling the wool over his eyes! Taye remarks on how uptight Andrew is.

DEX: Ah, yeah, he's just following orders.
TAYE: Not exactly shocked to learn your ma's bossing cops around now!

The Waterhole
Holly, Krista, Leo, Byron and Fallon are still having drinks. Holly asks if Krista and Fallon went to the same boarding school. Fallon says she went to public school, and had 'a very different lifestyle' to Krista.

KRISTA: Yeah, Fallon here actually comes from a functional family.
FALLON: I'm not sure I'd call our mom functional.
KRISTA: Yeah, true. We should swap stories on her later, by the way.
HOLLY (to Fallon): Bet you were jealous of this princess jetting round the world, using cash as toilet paper?
KRISTA: Uh, okay, I object to so many things in that.
BYRON: Classy as always, Hoyland.
FALLON (strained smile): I didn't really think about it.
KRISTA: Well, if anyone should be jealous, it's me. I mean, your dad was... so there. He was so invested in your life. I would've loved that kind of support from my dad.

Fallon smiles, but avoids direct eye contact with Krista.

No 30
Taye proposes to Dex and JJ that he invite over a few mates tonight, since 'the warden' is working!

JJ: You don't know anyone here.
TAYE: I know people *everywhere*. Crowds flock to the coast all the time, and I make friends easily.
DEX: Especially with girls, right?
TAYE: Hey, you know it! It'll be super chill - a couple of people. I'll get some more drinks, dip in the pool... music...
JJ: ...
TAYE: *Quiet* music... Pizza!
DEX: I like the sound of that.
JJ: I... I dunno. Like, it sounds fun, but if anyone found out, I'm totally out of lives.

Andrew turns up yet again, so Taye rushes off to hide in the sunroom. Andrew reminds JJ and Dex that it's bin day tomorrow - so 'be there or be square'. Andrew then goes to take something (a mop, or broom?) into the sunroom, despite Dex and JJ's panicked protests...

No 32
Taye has scaled the fence to avoid being seen by Andrew, and lands up in the No 32 back yard. He immediately sees Max coming into the garden with a beer, and hides behind a tree. But Max can't open the can because of his hands.

TAYE: Looks like you need help again. Dex said he knew you - he didn't say you lived next door!
MAX: Yeah, bro, what are you doing in my back yard?
TAYE: Hiding from the fun police. Who's also the literal police.

He explains he's Remi's brother and is staying with JJ and Dex, but they don't want Andrew to know - and Remi can't know about it either. Taye spots the foosball table and is keen for a game, but Max goes a bit 'fun police' himself, saying Taye seems like an okay guy, but needs to tell him exactly what's going on.

TAYE: Well, I was... having a few issues, in Apollo Bay.

Scant explanation done with, he flashes Max one of his charming smiles, and Max seems won over!

702 Eclipse Apartments
Leo and Fallon are chatting, and Fallon is quick to move the conversation onto Seb, saying Leo must have got to know him pretty well.

LEO: Uh... enough, I guess.
FALLON: See, that makes me feel like there's a story I'm missing.
LEO: If I'm being honest, I didn't really like the guy.
FALLON: That can't have been easy. He's Krista's oldest friend.
LEO: Well, she's given him his marching orders, so...
FALLON: Did they have a fight? ... Sorry, I should ask Krista about that.
LEO: No, no, it's fine. She hasn't actually told me much about it, but... I'm happy with that.

Krista emerges from the spare room, having changed the sheets so Fallon can move into it. Fallon goes in to get settled, and Krista asks Leo what they were talking about. He admits she was asking him about Seb. Krista looks uncomfortable.

LEO: You know what? Let's never mention his name again, okay?
KRISTA: Okay. That suits me just fine.

Fallon lingers in the doorway, listening to this exchange...

Lassiter's Complex
Taye has just picked up some ice from the Waterhole when he spots Fallon walking through the courtyard. He explains he's having a few people over for drinks, and asks if she's up for it.

FALLON: Thanks, but I'm not in the mood.
TAYE: Hey, I thought Taye said pretty girls don't cry?
FALLON: My sister hasn't changed (...) She still hasn't told her fiancé about kissing my ex.
TAYE: Maybe she was just trying to find the right moment.
FALLON: They both agreed to close the subject. She obviously wants to sweep the whole thing under the carpet.
TAYE: That sucks, man.
FALLON: He's a really nice guy.
TAYE: Maybe you should tell her your history.
FALLON: I'm not ready. At this point it's all so... humiliating (...) I want to give her the benefit of the doubt.
TAYE: But?
FALLON: She's had *everything* handed to her in her life. Now she's got this great guy and she's lying to him. Maybe my sister is just a bad human.

No 30
The house is full of randoms when Taye arrives back with the ice - and so, apparently, is the back yard.

DEX: Your mate Chook's got a pool playlist going.
TAYE: Who?
JJ: Your mate, Chook. He's outside, floating on a blow- up sheep he rocked up with.
TAYE: Classic Chook.
JJ: You don't know Chook, do you?
TAYE: Nah, must be a plus- one. Let's get this party started!

The randoms all cheer. But JJ says he has some rules to impart.

DEX: Me first. Never take candy from a stranger.
TAYE: Unless Candy's hot, and the stranger hasn't put a ring on her!

Dex and Taye bump fists, while JJ looks unimpressed!

JJ: I just really need everyone to be respectful, okay? So that means keeping the music down, no glass in the pool, no eating without plates...
DEX: No eating without plates? When are you gonna bust out the scones, Grandma?

Max arrives with more beers to join the party. Dex is worried that Max is here, reminding Taye that he promised not to say anything that would connect them to him. Taye explains that Max busted him in the No 32 back yard hiding from Andrew. JJ's annoyed that Max knows he's staying here.

TAYE: What was I supposed to say? 'Oh, I'm just stealing the jocks off your line'?
MAX: Guys, come on. I could do with blowing off some steam. And I'm not gonna dob, don't worry. My lips are sealed.

Harold's Café
Byron and Holly are waiting for takeaway. Byron is keen to go and eat it at No 32 so that Sadie can join them after work, but Holly is oddly insistent that they go to her place instead, adding that Sadie can come and find them there.

BYRON: Alright. You want to tell me why you're avoiding Max?
HOLLY: Uh, that is not a thing that's happening. I've just been over at your place a lot lately, and I don't want to impose.
BYRON: Since when have you had a problem with imposing? And also, that doesn't explain why you've been staying away from Power Road. Look - you and Max, you've been getting on, like, really well. I'm just trying to understand why this whole sudden turnaround.
HOLLY: ... Okay, fine. There's a bit of a vibe -
BYRON: Ooh!
HOLLY: - between us. No, I don't want to feed into it, okay? I need to focus on getting myself together. So I'm gonna do the smart thing, for once in my life, and stay away from potential mess.
BYRON: Okay, I get it - you've got to look after you. But you can't avoid Max forever.

Terese turns up, and wants to know why Holly and Byron didn't give her a heads- up about the party.

HOLLY: What party?
TERESE: There's music blaring from your side of the street.
BYRON: Oh, it's not us.

Terese is confused...

No 30
The party is now in full swing with even more randoms in attendance. JJ is trying to tidy up after the guests. Max asks JJ if he can invite Byron over, but JJ insists they can't - no one else must know that Taye is staying here. Taye, meanwhile, is in his swimming shorts in the kitchen chatting up a load of women. JJ goes over and interrupts, reminding Taye he was only going to invite a few people.

TAYE: I only invited a handful. The rest are randos. But, like, fun randos. And a few hot randos.
MAX: (...) I think I heard someone say they posted the address online.
JJ: Seriously? Really?! We might've been able to get away with a little thing - but not this!! Everyone knows everyone around here - this will get back to Mum and Ma!
TAYE: Relax - you are so tight! Do you recognise any of these people?
JJ: No!
TAYE: So, do you think these are the sort of people that would hang out with your parents? So there's nothing to worry about - just chill, have some fun.

JJ is lost for words. At this point Taye laughs as he spots Dex using scissors to stab the sides of beer cans, then drinking from the slit, while randos cheer him on! Taye and Max think it's hilarious, but JJ just looks despairing!

702 Eclipse Apartments
Krista is cooking while chatting to Fallon. Krista explains Leo's with Abigail, and Fallon is surprised to learn he has a daughter and that Krista will be a stepmum.

KRISTA: Hey, I'm really glad you're here.
FALLON: Even though there's so much going on, with Seb leaving?
KRISTA: I just feel like you've come back into my life for a reason. And I dunno - maybe you feel the same way? I know I haven't been very present in your life up until now. Feels like this is our time.

Fallon smiles back at Krista, but the smile falls once Krista has turned away...

No 30
JJ announces the end of the party, and tells all the randos to leave. Dex is on the sofa with a can of beer in hand.

DEX (tipsy): Don't listen to him. He is *no* fun.
JJ: How many of those have you had?
DEX: Not enough.
JJ: You're drunk.
DEX: You're boring! Come play beer pong.
JJ: ...
DEX: Okay, look, you don't need to worry. If Andrew comes in, I have a cover story (...) We will tell them these all people from my coding course, and they're here to load a programme onto my laptop. It worked before - it could work again. Easy peasy.
JJ: The place is trashed! Chook just knocked himself out crushing a can on his head cos it was full. One guy - one guy did a finger painting on the fence, and there's no paint on his fingers, Dex!! Not a single, single finger has any paint on it!! These people are feral - they are animals! Nobody is mistaking this for a computer club study session!
DEX (laughing): It is pretty cool, though.
JJ (reaching for Dex's beer): Give that to me.
DEX: No, get your own!

While JJ attempts to wrestle the beer from Dex's grasp, Taye emerges from the sunroom, still in his swimming shorts.

TAYE: Hear ye, hear ye! I have an important announcement to make.

He whips off the swimming shorts!

TAYE: It is... nude o'clock! Everybody in the pool!

But before anyone else can join in, who should walk through the front door but Remi and Cara! JJ looks horrified, as Taye reaches for Cara's wooden rooster, Rupert, and uses it to cover his modesty. Cara gapes in outrage, Remi fumes, and now even Dex is looking worried...

Coming up on Neighbours
- Jane and Clint bump into one another in the school corridor
- Aaron tells Jane she could still change her mind about not seeing Clint, as she doesn't seem happy
- Dex still has the giggles as JJ tells Remi and Cara the 'gathering' wasn't meant to get out of hand
- 'You shouldn't have been having a gathering!' retorts Remi, and demands Taye 'get out here and stop hiding!'