Previously on Neighbours
- Paul tells Terese he shouldn't have lashed out at Nell, blaming his mood on the anniversary of David's death
- Terese passes on Paul's apologies to Nell, but she feels he ought to have said it to her face
- Nell tells JJ that Paul is the last person Terese should be with
- Paul thanks Katrina Marshall for all the good work she's doing at the food bank
- Jane tells Clint they can no longer see each other; it's inappropriate for her to date staff
- Clint tells Jane he'll work night shifts cleaning at the school and day shifts at Eirini Rising
- At the airport en route to New York, Cara spies a heavily pregnant Chelsea
- Dex lies to Andrew about Taye, saying he's a student from his coding course
- Taye decides to invite 'a few mates' to No 30 for the evening
- It becomes a full- blown party, and Taye strips off for a skinny- dip just as Remi and Cara walk in the door
No 30
Remi is pushing the last of the party randos out of the door, then returns to the living room to give JJ and Dex a severe telling off with Cara.
REMI: I don't even know where to start.
Dex still has the giggles!
JJ: Why are you home?
CARA: They discharged me early, so we caught the first flight out.
REMI: And just as well.
Dex drunkenly hugs Cara.
DEX: Yay for us!
CARA (pushing him off): No, don't bet on it.
REMI: You're drunk!
CARA: And the place is trashed. My favourite chair, and poor Rupert!
DEX (laughing): He has seen things no rooster should *ever* see.
JJ: Our gathering was not meant to get out of hand.
REMI: Well, you shouldn't have been having a gathering. What were you thinking?!
She shouts off to the bedrooms, telling Taye that that question goes for him too. Dex takes another cheeky swig of his beer, but Cara snatches it off him!
REMI: Taye, get out here and stop hiding.
Taye emerges, looking sombre, as Dex continues to giggle.
TAYE: Well, it wasn't the boys' idea, so don't have a go at them.
REMI: And when did you get here?
TAYE: ... Today.
At which point Andrew walks in, and is surprised to see Remi and Cara are home. He's had a few noise complaints and Remi tells him about the party.
ANDREW: So much for trusting you two to do the right thing.
DEX: (giggles)
Noticing Taye, Andrew realises the story about him putting a programme on Dex's laptop was just a cover.
DEX: So, Taye is actually our uncle. He's been staying with us since we got back from the States.
Remi glares at Taye...
No 24
Jane moans to Aaron about the racket at No 30; it turns out she's among those who called Andrew.
JANE: Cara and Remi would be horrified to know what those boys have been up to. I had half a mind to go over there myself! With that and the whole Nicolette debacle with Yaz... it certainly has been a time, hasn't it? Cos there's always *something* with my daughter, and now we... we wait for the next thing! Don't you agree?
AARON: Well, I mean, it certainly has been a time, but... you seem overly stressed. Is there something else going on?
Jane hesitates before admitting that one of her contract cleaners has fallen sick, meaning Clint will be filling in - and inevitably she'll run into him.
AARON: And that's a problem?
JANE: Well, given our history - yes, of course it is.
AARON: Jane, you do know that you can always change your mind about not going there?
JANE: Why would I change my mind?
AARON: Well, you just don't seem happy!
JANE: Well, no! No, I... I'm not happy! Clint and I were extraordinarily compatible, and I had high hopes, but... well, it's just not meant to be. And now I just want to put the whole thing behind me, but I can't, cos we're colleagues. And I have nowhere to hide.
No 30
Andrew is explaining to Remi and Cara how he thought someone had been in the house prior to JJ and Dex's return, and had a good look around, but now feels he shouldn't have let it go.
ANDREW: I'm really sorry. I said I was gonna keep an eye on the boys, and I really stuffed it.
CARA: No, you didn't stuff anything. We all agreed that they could be left on their own.
REMI: That's when they'd earned our trust, which obviously now is out the window.
JJ, Taye and Dex are sat in a row on the sofa, looking very contrite.
JJ: I'm so sorry. I really didn't want this to happen.
CARA: And yet, it did. And to let it happen when we're jet- lagged and grumpy, and I'm still not a hundred percent.
REMI: Not smart.
TAYE: Don't blame the boys. I surprised them. I talked them into letting me stay. They're the best. We were having fun.
Dex complains that he doesn't feel well, and rushes over to the kitchen sink to vomit. Remi tells JJ and Taye to go to bed; they'll pick up this conversation in the morning.
Lassiter's Complex
Terese and Nell are finishing up a meal outside the pub when Paul turns up, turning on the flattery as he calls them his two favourite women in Erinsborough. Paul tells Terese he needs to reschedule their breakfast plans for tomorrow - Lucy wants him to jump onto a worldwide Lassiter's meeting. He promises to make it up to Terese, though.
NELL (playing nice): Why don't you two stay and have dessert? I should head home early anyway.
PAUL: I like your thinking, but I do really have to prepare for this call.
NELL: Ah. What a shame.
PAUL: Next time, maybe you could join us?
NELL: Sounds good.
Paul kisses Terese and leaves. Nell looks a bit fed up.
No 30
The next morning, Remi and Cara have grounded JJ and Dex, and confiscate all their devices, except for phones which they're allowed at school only. JJ wants to hang out with Nell after school, but Cara tells him that's not how being grounded works!
REMI: You'll see her at school. You should count yourself lucky for that.
DEX: Oh, I don't feel great. Can I please just go back to bed?
Cara claps in his face!
CARA: It's called a hangover, and it's self- inflicted! So suck it up, and get outta here.
The boys traipse off to school forlornly, as Taye comes out of his room. Remi's about to give him a talking to, but it appears he'd rather get on with cleaning the house!
TAYE: It's the least I can do.
Cara and Remi exchange an incredulous glance.
Erinsborough High School
Jane and Clint bump into each other in the corridor, and awkwardly greet one another. Clint is apologetic about ending up working the day shift despite their agreement, and promises to stay out of Jane's way. Jane thanks him and walks to her office.
Lassiter's Complex
Nell and Terese are on the way to school and work respectively. Nell gets a text from JJ: 'Uncle Taye throwing a party + Ma & Mum rocking up = RIP JJ.'
They come across Paul, carrying two coffees. Terese mentions the conference call with Lucy; Paul is shifty, but claims it's just about to start, blaming the length of Lucy's meetings for having two drinks. Nell looks suspicious as Paul hurries off.
As Terese goes in another direction to take a phone call, Nell sees Paul convening with a woman outside the hotel - it's Katrina Marshall. Paul gives Katrina one of the coffees, then leads her into the hotel, his hand on her back. Nell now looks even more suspicious...
Erinsborough High School
JJ, Dex and Nell are in the corridor watching a video message from Taye. He says he's sorted the mess at the house, but 'can't say the same about your mums' and apologises for it, but promises to make it up to Dex and JJ. Dex thinks that whatever Taye has planned will be 'awesome'.
JJ: Well, if awesome means more grounding, count me out.
NELL: I can't believe you guys didn't invite me. It'd have been so much better than having to be fake- nice to Paul.
JJ: Well, it wasn't meant to be a party. I was actually trying to be good for once. Now I'm grounded thanks to you.
DEX: Chill, dude.
But Dex is soon rushing for the bathroom again as he's still feeling sick. Once he's gone, Nell asks after Cara's health; JJ says she's still feeling a bit beaten up but will be alright soon.
NELL: Well, maybe being mad at you both will take her mind off the pain.
JJ: So, how bad was it with Paul?
NELL: He's really dodgy.
JJ: Well, isn't that, like, his natural state anyway?
NELL: I mean, he had the chance to spend time with Terese and he bailed. And then, this morning, I caught him putting his hand on the back of a woman he works with (...) It seemed fully sus. If he's doing something that's gonna upset Terese, I'm gonna find out.
No 30
In the sunroom, Remi is impressed with Taye's cleaning efforts, but...
REMI: Now you're done stalling, let's chat.
TAYE: I really am sorry about last night. I mean, I know things got a little crazy, but it wasn't JJ and Dex's fault. They're such good boys, and they just wanted to bond. I hope you and Cara can go easy on them.
Remi is noncommittal on this point! She wants to talk about Taye instead, adding that it seems 'a bit random' him showing up like this.
TAYE: I needed a place to crash, and saw on the socials you were away. It's no biggie.
REMI: So you broke into our house?
TAYE: Technically I didn't. I found the spare key.
REMI: You could've messaged me.
TAYE: I didn't want to bother you on hols.
REMI: Apart from a few phone calls, I haven't seen you since your 18th birthday. And you show up with no warning, knowing we're not home? I get we're not super close, and I understand you wanting somewhere to hide out without being asked a lot of questions. But we are family, so...
TAYE: What's the point of getting into it? I know what you think of me. A walking insult to your mum.
Remi looks surprised as Taye walks off indoors.
Erinsborough High School
Jane is teaching a lesson, and Nell and Dex are in the class; Jane's filling in for Mr Edwards while he recovers from gastro, and tells the pupils there's a nasty strain of it going about, so to stay at home if they feel unwell. Nell mimes vomiting.
DEX: I do not need that visual right now.
Outside in the corridor, Clint has spotted some graffiti daubed in pen on the classroom window, and begins cleaning it (extremely slowly!) which distracts Jane from telling the class about their new media assignment, inspired by the recent Lights Up show.
JANE: Despite its unfortunate ending, I was... I was very proud of what we achieved.
She continues to explain the brief - to source inspiring local stories and present them creatively in a manner of their choosing - but Clint is still cleaning the window, and Jane's gaze keeps returning to him as she speaks, until she's pretty much entirely looking at Clint rather than the class. Nell asks if a graphic novel would be an acceptable format; eventually tearing her eyes from Clint, Jane says it would be perfect.
Clint finally finishes cleaning the graffiti and moves off, leaving Jane looking a little disappointed (!)
Lassiter's Complex
Nell, JJ and Dex are out for lunch. Dex is hoping that the fried food they've just bought will be good for his hangover; JJ says they'll have to ditch the (presumably healthier) lunch Remi packed for them before they get home, in case she checks their bags!
DEX: Do you think Uncle Taye's gonna stick around?
JJ: Yeah, only if he likes being lectured.
At this point, Nell spots Katrina again some way away outside the hotel, though she doesn't seem to know her name - just describing her as the woman she saw Paul with earlier. Soon enough, Paul himself shows up, and Katrina gives him an enthusiastic hug.
KATRINA: Thank you *so* much. Sorry, probably not appropriate for the workplace.
Once Katrina's walked off, Paul looks around furtively, but he doesn't notice Nell and the boys, who are still watching from a distance.
Harold's Café
Remi is telling a surprised Cara what Taye said about being 'a walking insult' to her mother.
REMI: I mean, I get it, we've never been close. And maybe I could've made more of an effort. But honestly, I did not think he would be interested.
CARA: And now?
REMI: He is family. And since he's here, I feel like I want to make sure he's okay.
Remi orders some coffees and a panini, asking Cara if she wants to share. But Cara seems to have become distracted, and as they grab a table, Remi asks if she's okay. Cara admits she feels 'awful' but that being out and about is helpful.
REMI: Okay, I just want you to know, I'm holding back the urge to remind you that rest is vital to recovery.
CARA: Hmm. The urge just won the fight, then? All this talk about family... I have something I need to tell you, but I feel a bit weird about it.
REMI: Don't feel weird about it. Taye hasn't made this easy on either of us.
It clearly isn't Taye that Cara wanted to talk about - but at this point, Andrew arrives, interrupting, to enquire about Cara's health. He also apologises again for taking his eye off Dex and JJ while Remi and Cara were still away.
REMI: You weren't the only adult in the mix.
ANDREW: I didn't know that you had a brother.
REMI: Half- brother. My dad had an affair with Taye's mum and left us for her.
ANDREW: Yeah, that's rough.
REMI: Yeah, they had Taye years later.
CARA: Me and the boys hardly know him.
REMI: Yeah, we've kept to our corners, which is why it's odd that he showed up like this.
ANDREW: Did he give you a reason why?
REMI: No, I'd love to know. But we're practically strangers, and he's closer in age to our kids, so it's been hard to connect.
Andrew encourages her to keep trying, and says he saw Taye walk into the pub just now, if she wants to give it a shot. As Andrew leaves, Remi looks conflicted.
The Waterhole
At the bar, Aaron pours Taye a beer, and receives only silence in response.
AARON: Well, 'thank you' is obviously not in your vocabulary. Just like 'sorry'.
But Taye still doesn't say anything! Remi and Cara turn up, and Remi introduces Taye to Aaron as her brother; Aaron had no idea she even had one. Taye seems to take this to heart.
REMI: So, we are still curious as to why you're actually here. And we're not done talking about the boys or the party yet, but just put that aside for a minute. Look, obviously there are some issues between us. But I in no way think that you're an insult to me and my mum... And you're here now. So we would like it if we stayed for a few days.
CARA: We'd love to have ya. On the proviso you stay away from my Rupert.
TAYE (laughs): What's the deal with that thing?
CARA: Nah. That's a story for another time.
REMI: I'd like the chance to get to know you better, and to sort out our stuff.
TAYE: Yeah. Why not. I had a blast with JJ and Dex.
Taye and Remi go to grab a table, while Cara stays at the bar to get drinks. But once they're out of earshot, Cara makes a phone call.
CARA: Hey, Mum. How's it going? ... Yeah, all good now, thanks. Hey, umm... have you heard from Chelsea lately?
Eirini Rising
Jane comes through the adjoining door from the school into the courtyard, but is unsettled to see Clint standing there.
CLINT: Oh. Fancy meeting you here (!)
JANE: I'm glad that you're finding this amusing, cos I'm certainly not.
CLINT: Sorry. Just trying to make the best of an awkward situation.
JANE: I thought you promised that you were gonna keep out of my way.
CLINT: I have been!
JANE: Well, what do you call this, then?
CLINT: I work here!
JANE: Well, you're working at the school today.
CLINT: I had to sort my shifts with Terese. It's the last place I expected to run into you.
JANE: Well, I wouldn't call pressing yourself against the classroom window, while I'm trying to teach a class, exactly 'keeping out of my way'.
Clint protests that he had no idea Jane was in the classroom (!) and says he would've moved on if he did - he was only trying to do his job.
CLINT: We really have found ourselves in a pickle here, huh? How would you feel about having a proper chat?
But Jane simply says she needs to speak to Terese, and goes past Clint into the building.
Lassiter's Complex
Nell is peering through the window of the hotel, hoping to catch another sight of Paul or Katrina. JJ is with her, and moans that he'll be in more trouble if he doesn't get back to school now.
JJ: Actually, I'm getting really sick of hearing myself say that. How is this my life now?
Nell tells JJ to go; but at that point, she sees Paul and Katrina coming out of the lift. Nell pushes JJ back around a corner so they aren't seen, and starts recording using an app on her phone as Paul and Katrina exit the hotel, and talk outside.
PAUL: I'll tell you, you certainly know your stuff.
KATRINA: I do my best.
PAUL: Thanks, but listen - we have to keep this between us, alright? Nobody can ever know.
KATRINA: So... satisfied?
PAUL: Yeah. Yeah, I think I've got everything I needed.
KATRINA: Thank you.
Paul and Katrina go their separate ways, neither of them seeing Nell and JJ behind the wall. Nell looks worried.
Erinsborough High School
Jane is just about to go through a door when she sees Clint through the window in it, replacing the tank on one of the watercoolers in the corridor. She looks at him longingly - until he spies her watching him, and she rushes off around a corner to hide! Clint smiles to himself.
Eirini Rising
Terese is in the office when Nell comes in. Terese is surprised Nell isn't at school, and asks if she's caught the gastro that's going around (!)
NELL: It's not that... I hate to do this to you, but you deserve to know the truth.
TERESE: What truth?
NELL: Just listen, please.
Nell plays the recording she took of Paul and Katrina talking.
TERESE: I don't understand; what is that?
NELL: It's proof that Paul is having an affair.
Terese is lost for words...
Coming up on Neighbours
- Clint tells Jane he enjoys every moment with her, and knows she feels it too - so why are they fighting it?
- Terese demands an explanation from Paul; he asks where she got the recording, but she wants her answer first
- Cara asks her mum on the phone if she's managed to find out anything more about Chelsea
