Previously on Neighbours
- Leo tells Krista he doesn't want to let her go
- Byron asks Leo if he can help lawyer Georgia with Leo's case
- Max invites Holly out for dinner
- Andrew is worried he's accidentally thrown away Wendy's jewellery
- Cara tells Aaron she's been given the auditing job as punishment for exonerating Fallon over Seb's death
- Cara asks Andrew if the police are looking for suspects other than Leo; he says they're not
- But Cara suspects that Seb's drug dealer Jordan might have been involved and starts surveilling her
- Jordan notices this and, seeing the same car the next day, confronts the driver - except now it's Remi
- Remi denies taking photos of Jordan but ends up getting beaten up by her and her gang
No 26
Sadie, Byron and Holly are all helping Andrew to make jewellery out of odds and ends, hoping they can pass it off as Wendy's homemade jewellery which he apparently threw away! Byron doesn't think the plan has high odds of success, but Sadie says it's a nice thought. They'll have to pack away now though as Wendy is due home. Byron has to go anyway, to his first meeting with Leo's barrister, Georgia.
BYRON: But I'll catch you later?
SADIE (unenthused): Sure. If you want.
Byron looks sad that he and Sadie still aren't on the same page, and then leaves. Deciding against intervening, Holly tells Sadie about her 'date- not- date' with Max tonight and says she is wondering what to wear. This cheers Sadie up as she gives Holly some sartorial tips.
HOLLY: I need something that says, 'I'm keen if you are, but if it's just a friend- hang, then whatever'.
SADIE: But isn't it a date?
HOLLY: Well, it's at the Waterhole, which is, like, literally where I work. And he never really used the word 'date', so...
Sadie offers Holly something of hers to wear, and Holly is keen.
SADIE: But for the record, you would look hot even in a potato sack.
HOLLY: A potato sack? Do you have one of those?
The Waterhole
Cara is moaning to Aaron about how nobody around the Complex wants anything to do with her now she's doing the compliance/auditing job; she's been removed from all the hotel group chats. Aaron suggests she shouldn't take it personally and that people probably just don't see why all the auditing is necessary. As they speak Bradley, one of the disgruntled anti- Cara- ites, nicks her takeaway coffee, unseen by her or Aaron.
AARON: Surely the hotel budgets for a bit of minor theft?
CARA: Paul's given me a job to do, and I'm gonna do it properly. Even if it means everyone hates my guts.
Krista, who is sitting at the bar, overhears this; Aaron explains to her that some of the staff are reacting badly to Cara's audit. At this point, Cara realises her coffee has gone. Bradley, who took it, is still lingering in the background.
BRADLEY (with undisguised contempt): Oh, were you still drinking that? I tipped it out.
CARA: I was *obviously* still drinking it.
BRADLEY (sarcastic): It's my bad. I was trying to be efficient.
CARA: You work at reception!
BRADLEY (sarcastic): Yeah, well... we're all on the same team though. Right?
Cara tries to point out to Krista how she's being marginalised, but Krista is too busy reading up on info from Leo's legal team on her phone. Cara concedes that's more important, and says she hopes it goes well.
CARA: He's really lucky to have you on his side.
Power Road
Remi is still in the car following Jordan's attack, and appears to be half- conscious. Wendy is coming out of the off- licence and spots Remi, then rushes over to say hello, or more accurately...
WENDY: Yoo- hoo!
But she soon sees Remi is woozy and in pain. Remi tries to explain what happened to her, saying the attackers stole her phone. Wendy decides to drive Remi to the hospital, and gets into the car.
Ramsay Street
Max is just back from a run when he sees Holly coming out of Sadie's house with the borrowed clothes, which Holly claims is 'laundry'! She says she'll see him later (for their sort- of date), but Max manages to give the (wrong) impression that he's having second thoughts, by querying whether Holly has anywhere else to be.
The conversation gets progressively more awkward as they almost talk one another out of their dinner plans, despite both wanting to go. But Max eventually concedes that they 'may as well stick to the plan', and the sort- of date is back on! They high- five and go their separate ways.
No 30
In the sunroom, Max is telling Taye about the awkward conversation with Holly.
TAYE: A high- five? For real?
Max still isn't sure Holly is keen on going on the date, but Taye advises him to go along and suss it out. If she goes cold on him, he should move onto the next woman, Taye opines.
Dex and JJ come in and try and rope Taye and Max into a game of basketball. They're not keen, so JJ suggests to Dex that they play later instead.
DEX: Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to drown yourself in cologne before Nell gets here.
JJ looks mortified as Max and Taye laugh.
DEX: Dude, they can smell you coming, like, in Anson's Corner.
JJ decides to shoot some hoops after all, so he can beat Dex in revenge for his remarks! As the boys go out, Taye jokes that maybe it was Max's stink that put Holly off. Max sniffs inside his footy shirt self- consciously.
Penthouse
Georgia is welcoming Byron to the legal team and thanks him for volunteering to help. Leo echoes the sentiment; Byron says he's grateful for the chance to refresh his skills. Georgia tells Leo, Byron and Krista that they'll need all hands on deck now they have a trial date for Leo in two months. Krista thinks it's good, as they could have been waiting much longer.
Terese comes in with Nell, who's back from her holiday with her family in the US. A subdued Nell says she has heard about Leo's plight from Terese, and hopes things are okay. But the adults try not to burden Nell with it all, Krista telling her not to worry about them. Nell reports that she enjoyed her holiday; it was good to see Callum and some fresh scenery following Big Kev's funeral.
As Nell and Terese go to unpack Nell's things, Georgia tells Leo, Krista and Byron that their task is to find evidence that casts doubt on the prosecution's case. She hands them all documentation...
Erinsborough Hospital
A worried Cara comes to see Remi, having heard what's happened; Wendy is still there and Andrew has joined them. Remi is very shaken, but says her scans are clear - there are no serious injuries. She explains that it was the 'woman with the neck tattoo' who attacked her.
REMI (to Cara): She must have thought that I was you.
WENDY: Yeah, and it was just lucky that I was passing by.
Andrew is unimpressed that Cara went and surveilled Jordan after grilling him about her.
CARA (guiltily): I... thought it might help Leo.
ANDREW: Jordan has an alibi. She's been ruled out as a suspect.
CARA: I didn't know that.
ANDREW: Yeah, because you're not a cop. You shouldn't be in the middle of this; it can get dangerous.
CARA: I was trying to help. (To Remi) I'm really sorry.
REMI: You didn't know this would happen.
But Andrew points out that it wouldn't have happened if Cara had left things alone; she needs to leave the policing to the police from now on.
Penthouse
Georgia has had the idea of identifying other viable suspects in Seb's death in order to help establish reasonable doubt of Leo's guilt. Leo thinks the police should be doing that, but Georgia says they stopped looking at anyone else once they'd charged him. However, Georgia has hired a private investigator to look into Seb's Melbourne connections, and wants more detail from Krista on Seb's overseas acquaintances.
Krista agrees to come up with a list of all the places Seb has lived or travelled to, and anyone he knew who could have resurfaced and harmed him. Leo seems annoyed by Krista's presence, or perhaps the talk of her travels with Seb.
LEO: Maybe you should go and compile that list somewhere. Somewhere quiet.
Krista wants to stay for the rest of the meeting first, but Leo tersely tells her the list is pretty important and glares at her, until a hurt Krista agrees to go and get started.
Erinsborough Hospital
Cara and Remi are alone now. Cara is feeling awful for inadvertently getting Remi hurt.
REMI: It was a bit scary.
CARA: I was trying to be a hero, and all I did was put you in danger. Andrew was right. I'm an idiot.
REMI: He didn't say that. He just said you should stop investigating.
JJ, Dex and Taye rush into the room. Taye wants to know who attacked Remi, deciding he wants to pay them a visit. JJ says the same,
REMI: No! No more vigilante stuff. Just... can we let the police do their job, please?
Penthouse
Nell is sketching something on her tablet but hides it when Terese comes in. She wants to check in with Nell after all the chaos of Leo's situation, moving house and Big Kev's death.
NELL: I'm just feeling really... sad.
TERESE: Yeah. Well... you will, for quite some time. It's just part of the process. What's the saying? You need to feel it to heal it. But listen, I want you to know, Nelly, that I will always be here for you, no matter what, okay?
Nell nods, looking somewhat but not entirely reassured.
Lassiter's Complex
In the car park, Krista finds Aaron gazing wistfully at what used to be the Drinks Divas van, but which has now been rebranded as 'Lassiters on Tap'. Krista is clearly worried that Aaron has been triggered by the removal of David's image from the van's livery, but he says it's fine - she'd already prepared him for it - and it would be strange if David and Mel's faces were still on the side in its new guise.
AARON: I truly am fine. Thanks for asking.
As he walks off, Holly and Taye show up. They are impressed with the new- look van. Krista mentions she is looking for people to staff it, and Holly and Taye both instantly volunteer. Holly says she was going to ask for more shifts anyway, but Taye contends that he's better at bartending, as they discovered when they competed for the Piano Bar job. But Holly says that as the van's a cocktail bar, it's her 'natural habitat'.
TAYE: Maybe as a customer.
HOLLY: Aaron's trained me well. I'm really ready for this.
But Krista tells them they can both work a trial shift today. They each need to come up with a signature cocktail, and whoever sells the most gets the job. Taye rubs his hands together confidently, and Holly rolls her eyes.
The Waterhole
Cara is picking up some arancini from Aaron at the bar, to take back to the hospital for Remi. Disgruntled hotel staffer Bradley turns up again and dumps some linen on the bar where Cara is sitting. He sarcastically apologises that it's late; management made him do 'a completely pointless training module'. But this time Cara bites back, saying Bradley was in need of the training on proper break procedure given how often he underreports his meal times to accrue overtime pay.
BRADLEY: ... I don't get hungry at work.
CARA: Huh. Well, I wonder if the staff meal receipts will tell the same story? I guess when I cross- reference those with the timesheet audit, I'll find out.
Defeated, Bradley strops off.
AARON: Did you really just say 'timesheet audit'?
CARA: Yeah, well, Lassiter's isn't a charity. Pay needs to be calculated on actual hours worked.
Holly and Taye arrive to pick up some supplies for their cocktail trial. Holly says Aaron should swing by the van later. Aaron says he will but adds, teasingly to Cara, that he might have to wait till his official lunch break.
AARON: Don't worry, I'll bring a stopwatch (...) Can I ask, though, how is it that you know exactly where to look? Is someone feeding you intel?
Holly looks guilty in the background, but neither she nor Cara let on that Holly is her secret source on how the staff are abusing the system.
CARA: I'm just paying attention. That's all.
But Taye seems to have noticed Holly looking guilty, and follows her out as she leaves with the cocktail supplies.
Yorokobi
Byron and Leo are setting a large dining table outdoors for a function tomorrow (have they learned nothing from the diarrhetic seagulls?) Leo asks if Byron has time to be helping here when he has work to do for Georgia. Byron assures him he can manage both, and that any work he does on the case won't affect Yorokobi.
Krista turns up. She's got the afternoon off work and has given Georgia all the info she asked for, so wanted to come and check on Leo. Uncomfortable in her presence, Leo says he's fine - but admits when asked that he hasn't eaten today. Krista goes indoors to whip something up.
Harold's Café
Nell is doing her mystery sketching again, but again hides the screen from view when JJ arrives, wondering why she hasn't been answering her phone. She unconvincingly claims she left it on silent. JJ says he'd have come to meet her sooner, and explains about Remi getting beaten up and hospitalised. Nell is concerned, but JJ says Remi will be okay, and the police know who did it - they'll hopefully lock them up soon.
JJ seems keen to spend some time with Nell if she's feeling up to it, and tells her he's really glad she's back. But Nell makes the excuse that she's really tired, and that Terese needs her help with chores. She's not very convincing, and JJ looks as if he understands he's had the brush- off - but promises to call her later. When she's gone, he looks concerned.
Lassiter's Complex
In the car park outside the drinks van, Taye and Holly are preparing their rival signature cocktails, while trying to psych each other out. Holly asks why Taye even wants the job, as it's surely a step down from managing the Piano Bar.
TAYE: What can I say? I'm a man of the people. Here you go - try the winning drink.
Nearby, Max is chatting to his dad Shane on the phone. He moans that he's not sure whether Holly is still into him or not. It appears from Max's end of the chat that Shane is advising him to 'play hard to get', but Max worries that this is 'kind of toxic'. Back at the cocktail contest, Holly has tried Taye's drink.
HOLLY: It's good, but I'm still gonna get the job.
TAYE: Yeah, I guess when you're feeding intel to the management, you can afford to be cocky.
HOLLY (rattled): What? I'm not. Who told you that?
TAYE: Your guilty face, before and now. It's true!
Holly explains that she wanted her old hotel job back, and Cara said she'd put in a good word if Holly helped her. Taye says at least Holly's getting something out of it; he blabbed to Cara about the freebie hotel room staff were using for parties by accident. They laugh and agree they're a couple of snitches, but at this point Max approaches and sees them being all friendly and close. He looks worried.
Taye spots Max and invites him to be their first customer. Holly quickly checks her reflection in the drinks tray, then offers Max a 'New Fashioned', her cocktail, while Taye offers him a sip of his 'Fruit- Tease'. Seemingly annoyed that Holly has been flirting with Taye, Max decides to side with Taye and tells him his cocktail is the hands- down winner. Holly looks sad as Taye celebrates and fist- bumps with an also sad Max.
Erinsborough Hospital
Cara, Dex and JJ are back to visit Remi and have brought her some flowers - or rather, Dex has, and wastes no time saying that he bought them, not JJ!
DEX: JJ wanted to go and see Nell, but she bailed, so we're stuck with him.
JJ: She didn't bail. She just needed to get settled.
Remi says she's just glad to have all her number ones here, and Cara assures JJ that Nell's just grieving - it's not a reflection on him if she doesn't feel up to hanging out. Cara then sends the boys to get some drinks so she can talk to Remi alone.
Cara has been trying to call Andrew about the search for Remi's attackers, but keeps getting his voicemail. Remi asks her to leave it and to concentrate on her own investigation - the audit at work. Cara remarks that it's making her public enemy number one, which is what Paul wanted, to punish her.
CARA: But I'm gonna see it through, and not just for Paul. I really hate when people take advantage, rort the system. It's so wrong.
REMI: Mm. Well, hopefully it'll keep you busy enough to stay out of police business.
Lassiter's Complex
In the car park, Holly accuses Taye of winning cocktail sales because he's flirting with the customers. Taye suggests she should try the same, but Holly wants to win based on skill.
TAYE: Mm, shame you've got none.
Holly lobs a bit of fruit at Taye, staining his shirt. He moans about how much it cost and says she's ruined it. Meanwhile, Max is at a table drinking the Fruit- Tease and looking miserable, seemingly convinced that Holly and Taye have the hots for each other. Taye goes into the van to take his shirt off to soak it, then re- emerges topless.
HOLLY: Would you duck down? Your body's earned you enough sales today.
TAYE: Yeah, that's how I'm going to win!
But Holly tells him to stop flaunting it.
TAYE: Fine, I'll put the wet T- shirt back on.
HOLLY: That'll make it worse!
TAYE: Are you seriously threatened right now?
HOLLY: You're a good- looking guy! It's not fair for you to use it against me.
Holly tries to cover Taye's torso with a pair of tea towels but it doesn't quite do the job. Max fumes at how pally he perceives them to be.
Yorokobi
Byron finishes up a phone call with Georgia, then tells Krista and Byron about Remi being attacked by Jordan and her gang. Jordan has been detained by the police, but Georgia is going to talk to her to see if she can provide any intel on Seb. Leo thinks this is a smart idea. But Byron also has bad news - the family function that they've been preparing for has just cancelled their booking, without giving a reason. Leo fumes.
LEO: Here we go again. I'm a pariah. Just... action the refund.
BYRON: No, Leo, they didn't give us any notice -
LEO: No, please, just process them with apologies.
KRISTA: Leo, I'm so sorry.
LEO: I don't even need a podcast this time. Murder rumours speak on their own.
KRISTA: No, we are gonna prove your innocence.
LEO: Even so - if customers are pulling out at this rate, when the trial hits, it's gonna be even worse. I'm gonna have to step back from the business. (To Byron) And that means you're gonna have to step up. Can you be the face of Yorokobi?
Byron looks a bit worried, but eventually tells Leo he can count on him.
Lassiter's Lake
Holly finds Max sulking on a bench, and sarcastically thanks him for his support with the cocktail contest.
MAX (sulky): Didn't think you'd care either way. Like with our date.
HOLLY: Oh, so it *is* a date now?
MAX: Do you want it to be? Because from what I saw today, you'll have fun with whoever's handy.
HOLLY (scoffs): If you're referring to me getting along with Taye, that was a condition of us applying for the job. And I'll tell you what I want. I want someone who knows what *he* wants. I want someone who doesn't treat me like a backup plan. I want something real, and I don't want any more games!
Max seems lost for words, and walks out of shot - we think he's gone. But then he rushes back into view, having grabbed some wildflowers for Holly from somewhere nearby.
MAX: I don't want any games either. Because I do know what I want. It's you.
He gives her the flowers. Holly smiles, and they play- fight over them, before falling into a pash. They smile at one another adoringly...
Coming up on Neighbours
- Karl tells Susan that Darcy's behaviour as regards the job share 'had the whiff of underhandedness'
- Krista wishes Leo wouldn't shut himself off from her; Byron empathises, being in the same boat with Sadie
- Max, Holly, Taye and Sadie all having drinks and looking happy
- Karl comes to see Holly at the drinks van, but she's inside pashing Max and is shocked to hear Karl's voice
