Previously on Neighbours
- Paul is surprised to hear from the Kennedys that Harold is leaving
- At a farewell party at No 28, Harold tells his Erinsborough friends, 'You will all be in my heart. Always'
- Sebastian tells Leo that Krista loves him, and that he's the one she's supposed to be with
- Leo grabs Seb and demands, 'Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end you right now?'
- Detective Fox tells Leo he's charging him with Seb's murder
- Georgia McNamara wants to identify another viable suspect to create reasonable doubt of Leo's guilt
- Leo is worried about what will happen if he goes to prison, but Paul tells him it's not going to happen
- Nell seems unkeen to spend time with JJ following Big Kev's death and her return from the USA
- Terese welcomes Darcy to the Eirini Rising team, but Karl is annoyed there wasn't more discussion first
- Darcy flatters Chelsea, calling her 'very smart, very attractive'
- Paul tells Chelsea he doesn't want Darcy near Thomas, but Chelsea tells him she and Darcy are an item
There's an update to the opening titles today in the wake of the departure of Harold (Ian Smith) from the cast. The previous Harold/Agnes shot is removed, and a new shot has been added in the Eirini Rising courtyard featuring Agnes with fellow residents and first- time additions to the opening titles Gino Esposito (Shane McNamara), Vera Punt (Sally- Anne Upton), Moira Tohu (Robyn Arthur) and Hilary Robinson (Anne Scott- Pendlebury). At a table by the coffee hut, Vera, Gino and Agnes are laughing about something, while Moira and Hilary look less amused!
No 22
We pick up in the back garden, where we left off - Darcy still holding baby Thoms. Paul is incredulous that Darcy and Chelsea are seeing one another, saying Chelsea barely knows Darcy.
CHELSEA: I know enough!
PAUL: Since when?
CHELSEA: Since today, actually. We were just talking, and... we really connect.
DARCY: Yeah. We do. It's true.
Paul asks for a word in private with Chelsea, but Chelsea retorts that there is nothing to say.
CHELSEA: My private life is none of your business.
PAUL: Anything that affects my son is *absolutely* my business.
Terese intervenes, suggesting they take a breather and talk about it later. Grudgingly, Paul follows her away. Darcy and Chelsea smile.
No 28
Jane and Wendy are alone in the Kennedy house, clearing up after Harold's farewell party. Wendy is glad she made it to say goodbye to Harold (offscreen) and imagines the Eirini residents are crying over him at his second farewell back at Eirini Rising. It seems Karl and Susan have gone with him to Eirini and will then be ensuring Harold catches his flight tomorrow, as promised to his granddaughter Sky.
WENDY: Will she be back at some point to drive his campervan up north?
JANE: Yeah! Yeah, possibly. But in any case, it's fine in my driveway till then.
Wendy asks Jane whether there's been any change in the staffing situation at Erinsborough High, as she's ready to sink her teeth into some teaching. Jane says there aren't any vacancies, but thinks Wendy has done the right thing signing up with the relief teaching agency. Wendy, though, is really looking for a permanent role. Jane says she'll keep her fingers crossed. Wendy looks unreassured.
Penthouse
Nell comes up in the lift to overhear Aaron and Leo talking about Leo's court case. It seems there's been no luck so far finding alternative suspects who may have killed Seb. Although we learn Krista had managed to give Georgia the solicitor a long list of names of people Seb had 'rubbed up the wrong way' over the years, it seems none of them have been anywhere near Erinsborough. Nell listens to this with concern.
When Leo notices Nell, he apologises to her, but she says it's fine - she was going to do some study here, but she'll head to school instead.
LEO: No, it's not fine. You've only just moved in here, and you're dealing with your grandad, and everything's been about me.
NELL: Honestly, Leo, I totally get it. I am more than happy to give you some space.
LEO: But you shouldn't have to give me space -
NELL: It's not a problem.
LEO: Okay, well... thank you. And this will all be over soon, I promise.
Nell heads back into the lift, still looking unsettled. Aaron assures Leo that Nell will be okay.
LEO: I just hate how this is getting in the way of everyone's lives.
No 22
Darcy and Chelsea are still on the patio. Darcy asks if she's going to explain what 'that was all about' with Paul earlier. But Chelsea seems to double down on her claim to Paul that they're an item now.
CHELSEA: Is it okay? I mean, we like each other, don't we?
DARCY: Yeah. But you could've told me that you liked me back before you announced it to Paul.
CHELSEA: ... Not the most romantic timing.
DARCY: Well, how am I supposed to take it? Was it to make him jealous?
CHELSEA: No.
DARCY: You know, I don't want this if it's not real.
CHELSEA: ... I've been holding back, because my life is so complicated. A relationship has truly been the last thing on my mind.
DARCY: So what changed?
CHELSEA: We've both made mistakes in our lives. But we're just two people, doing our best. No matter what others like Paul throw at us.
DARCY: Yeah, but... you have to admit, the timing's pretty convenient.
CHELSEA: ... I like you, Darcy. We have fun together. Forget Paul. I'm not with him - I'm with you.
Darcy smiles, perhaps a little nervously!
Lassiter's on Tap
Max has painted a face on an orange and is using it as a puppet to amuse Holly while she works her shift. She's finishing up and they decide to head to her place. But Andrew turns up to remind Holly about the self- defence class this afternoon. Holly says she has other plans. Andrew is disappointed as Sadie has bowed out for the moment and he needs help with the demonstrations. He begs her to come, and Holly grudgingly agrees.
Holly apologises to Max as they were going to spend some time together, but Max says it's fine and suggests that he come along to the session too. Andrew says he'll see them both there, and walks off.
HOLLY (to Max): Just so you know, I might play rough.
Erinsborough High School
JJ is looking for Nell, and finds her in one of the classrooms. She's sketching again on her tablet, and once again, she looks alarmed and hides what's on it when she sees JJ.
JJ: Nell, hey - you missed Harold!
NELL: JJ, you scared the hell out of me.
JJ: Oh, sorry.
NELL: And as if I'd miss Harold. I said goodbye before everyone else.
Disconcerted by her standoffishness, JJ says he was hoping she'd come to lunch in the canteen with him - but Nell says she's not hungry, and busy.
NELL: Can you please give me some space?
JJ: ... Some space? Nell, we've hardly seen each other since you got back. You're not answering my messages, you don't wanna hang out with me... How much more space do you need?
NELL: More than this, JJ!
She gets up and walks out, leaving JJ baffled and upset.
Eirini Rising
As they enter the courtyard, Terese and Paul are talking about the confrontation with Chelsea earlier. Terese doesn't think Paul is doing himself any favours by meddling with Chelsea's relationships - she thought he wanted to keep her onside because of Thomas.
PAUL: I know Darcy Tyler and I know what he's done. I do not want my son anywhere near that.
TERESE: But you're gonna make Chelsea think that you don't trust her. And that you're overly invested in who she spends her time with.
PAUL: Oh, come on, that's nonsense.
Nell then turns up, in tears. Paul stalks off, saying he'll see them at home.
TERESE (to Nell): What is it? Is it Harold leaving?
NELL (crying): No, it's not that. I miss Dad, and I miss Hugo...
TERESE: Oh, I know you do.
NELL: I never should've left. Can I go back to America, please?
Terese gives Nell a hug and looks worried.
Lassiter's Lake
Andrew is laying out mats for his self- defence class, when Wendy turns up looking excited. She can't make the class, as she's been called in to teach some relief lessons at a school in Ferntree Gully, as a teacher there is sick. Andrew is delighted for her. It's a drive away, says Wendy, but at least it's a foot in the door - and means she's not a student teacher anymore, but a real one (and in record time, too!)
Wendy kisses him and heads off, Andrew shouting 'good luck' to her as she goes.
Eirini Rising
Karl and Susan come in to find Darcy setting up a desk for himself in the office. Susan confirms that Harold made his flight to Queensland, but it was really sad to see him go. At this point, Gino comes in; Susan remarks on the 'lovely send- off' he gave Harold.
GINO: Oh, I'd got used to having the old fart around!
Gino goes on to moan that he has 'the mother of all ingrowing toenails' that needs some attention. Susan rushes off and Gino goes to wait outside. Darcy asks Karl if he'd mind if he took the consultation with Gino.
KARL: Technically, you haven't started yet.
DARCY: Yeah, I know. But I want to win Gino's trust again. This would really help.
Karl calls Gino back in and asks if he'd be happy to see Darcy instead of him.
GINO: It can be Doctor Who for all I care. As long as somebody fixes my toe.
Karl leaves them to it as Darcy leads Gino in for an examination...
Erinsborough High School
Terese has walked Nell back to school, advising her to stick it out for a few hours and then they can have a proper chat tonight; if she really wants to spend some time with Toadie, they'll call him and see what they can organise. Nell thanks her.
TERESE: Listen, Nell... there's nothing more to this than just missing your family, is there?
NELL: No. Just, losing Grandad and then... all the stuff that's happening with Leo, and Paul's baby stuff... just made me want them. I'm sorry.
TERESE: No, no. There's nothing for you to apologise - I'm just sorry you have to deal with everything.
Nell heads to class, and Jane appears. Terese asks Jane whether it would be possible for them to arrange some study support so that Nell could head to the US to spend some time with her dad. Jane says it would be challenging but starts suggesting some options. But JJ has appeared nearby, and listens in with concern...
Lassiter's Lake
Andrew's self- defence class has started, with Holly and Max among the attendees. Andrew tells them to get into pairs, but when Holly and Max pick one another, Andrew says he'd rather mix things up, as they know one another too well; self- defence is about dealing with people of all different strengths and sizes. As such he pairs them with other people. He places Max with a woman called Sandra, and Holly with a man called Phil.
Andrew tells everyone they'll start with a basic throw, and asks those who know the technique to show those who are new. Sandra volunteers to throw Max, and Phil asks Holly if she wants to throw him. She agrees. We see a montage of everyone throwing one another onto the mats. But Holly notices what she thinks is Sandra copping a feel of Max's leg, and goes over to intervene.
HOLLY: Hey. Sandra, isn't it?
SANDRA: Hey, it's Holly isn't it?
HOLLY: Yeah. I float around and help Andrew. Anyway, it's Max's first class. I noticed you guys were struggling a little bit with the throw.
SANDRA: Not really.
HOLLY: Well, I thought I'd give you a demo. It's a bit more like this.
Holly grunts and lunges at Sandra, who screams and lands up on the mat! Sandra groans in pain. Andrew looks worried...
MAX: Wow!
Eirini Rising
Darcy has managed to deal with Gino's toe and has given him some numbing spray, which seems to have won Gino round. On his way out...
GINO: You'll have to let me know about that information session, on the medical centre.
Darcy says he will. Karl is concerned, and once Gino has gone...
KARL: What was all that?
DARCY: Oh, it was just small talk.
KARL: Small talk?
DARCY: Yeah. He wanted to know how long I was gonna be here, and I told him my future plans.
KARL: And about an information session for potential investors?
DARCY (innocently): Well, actually... yeah. He latched onto that, so it must have legs -
KARL: Darcy, you can't solicit our patients to invest in your centre!
DARCY: I wasn't.
KARL: It's unethical!
DARCY: That's not what I was doing. Karl... he was curious, alright? I wasn't soliciting anything. Just lighten up, alright?
But Karl looks unreassured.
Lassiter's Lake
Andrew is apologising for Holly throwing her onto the mat! But Sandra says it's fine - what hasn't killed her has made her stronger!
SANDRA: But thank you. I appreciate your concern.
Sandra smiles at Andrew as he walks away. Andrew then comes to talk to Holly, and tells her off for how dangerous what she did was - Sandra wasn't ready and could've been seriously hurt.
ANDREW: I'm trying really hard to make this a safe space for everybody.
HOLLY: Botox Betty over there was trying to crack onto my boyfriend! She's the one making the space unsafe.
MAX: She wasn't cracking onto me.
HOLLY: I'm not blind! She was sliding her hand up your leg (...) It was lowkey groping.
MAX: I told her to grip my leg so that she could do the move easier.
HOLLY: ... Oh. I guess that makes sense. Sorry.
ANDREW: I'm not the one you need to apologise to.
They all gaze over at Sandra, Holly looking awkward...
Harold's Café
Darcy and Chelsea are holding hands at a table. Darcy is telling Chelsea that, while he wouldn't describe Gino as a friend quite yet, Gino was 'really impressed'. Darcy calls Chelsea a 'genius' - seemingly, she had something to do with him talking to Gino. Chelsea says she has more ideas too if Darcy wants them. He says he'd love that, and she goes to the counter to order some dessert for them.
Paul and Terese come in, and Paul approaches Chelsea, admitting that she was right.
PAUL: Your personal life is none of my business at all, and I did overstep, so I'm sorry. I'm just concerned about Thomas, that's all.
CHELSEA: I understand, Paul. But I don't see the Darcy you do.
PAUL: Really? Have you looked?
CHELSEA: Yes. And what I see is a genuine, authentic, good person. You know I would never do anything that would put Thomas in danger.
PAUL: Good, cos that's all I'm asking.
Meanwhile, Darcy and Terese have a surreptitious chat about his relationship with Chelsea.
DARCY: You've got nothing to worry about.
TERESE: Really? Cos it seems like it's going to affect our arrangement.
DARCY: That's not the way I see it. I don't think Chelsea's going after Paul now. But if she did, I'm as keen as you are to head her off.
The Waterhole
Holly and Max are having dinner. We learn Holly apologised to Sandra, but is feeling embarrassed about it.
MAX: I can't lie, though. That throw was kind of hot.
HOLLY: You haven't seen half the moves I've got.
MAX: Oh yeah? Maybe you should show me?
HOLLY: Maybe I should!
They head home to get on with it! Meanwhile, Wendy is telling Andrew and Jane about her successful day teaching at Ferntree Gully - the students and staff were great, and it was lovely to be part of a team, albeit only for a couple of lessons. Jane says that's wonderful, 'because sometimes relief teaching can be a challenge'.
WENDY: Well, maybe I was born to do this?
JANE: Well, yeah, maybe you were.
Jane leaves them to celebrate, and Andrew decides champagne is in order. He kisses Wendy and goes to order some. But once he's gone, Wendy's face falls... perhaps her day wasn't as great as she's making out?
Penthouse
Aaron is having dinner with Paul, Terese and Leo. Leo tells Aaron that Byron might have made some headway on his case - a precedent from several years ago, from another case where it looked like the victim hit their head in a similar way to Seb before drowning. The police have been arguing Seb was pushed, but a forensics expert that Byron has found out about cast enough doubt in this earlier case to get the defendant off.
The expert is called Alexander Hill, and Georgia the lawyer is already trying to get hold of him, Leo explains. They glance out to the balcony where Nell is sitting, sketching on her tablet again.
PAUL: She's still upset, isn't she?
TERESE: Yeah, I think so. But she's gone back to hiding it. I think she still wants to go back to the US to see Toadie.
PAUL: Alright, well, we can make that happen.
TERESE: Yeah, I know. I just... I just feel like it's because we haven't given her the support that she needs.
Paul says they'll have to give her more time, and calls Nell inside to get something to eat. But Nell says she's not hungry, and decides to go for a walk instead. Terese looks worried.
Penthouse / The Waterhole
Some time later, Terese is leaving Nell a voicemail, asking her to call her when she can, as she's getting worried. Terese gets a phone call from Karl, who's sitting in the pub. Terese is keen to get Karl off the phone, but Karl says they need to talk about Darcy. While Karl's still happy for Darcy to be working at Eirini, he says, he's worried he might be using the role to promote his new health centre.
Karl explains how Darcy told Gino about the investors' session and that Gino is now interested in going.
KARL: I'm just worried that vulnerable residents might be taken advantage of.
TERESE: You don't think he'd solicit them for money, do you?
KARL: Well, I don't want to think the worst. I mean, he is Susan's nephew, after all. But... the way he's talking, he's skating very close to the line.
Terese promises to look into it, and wraps up the call. She looks frustrated.
Harold's Café
Nell is sketching on her tablet again on one of the sofas. JJ comes in, and yet again she hides the screen.
JJ: So you want to go back to America?
NELL: That's none of your business.
JJ: None of my business?! Nell, I'm supposed to be your boyfriend. Unless that's why you've been shutting me out? Do you want to break up?
NELL: Don't be stupid.
JJ: What sort of answer is that, Nell?
Annoyed with her, he grabs her tablet.
NELL (frantic): JJ, don't!
JJ: Nell, why are you doing this? What's going on?
NELL: Give it back.
JJ: Why? What's in here that's so important, compared to us?
Nell begs him not to look, but JJ turns from her and sees what's on the screen. It's a sketch she's drawn, that clearly depicts Lassiter's Lake, and a man who's dressed a lot like Seb, seemingly falling backwards and being pushed by a young woman who is mostly out of frame.
JJ: ...Is this you and Seb?
Coming up on Neighbours
- Cara tells Taye, Holly and Sam that she's sick of being the bad guy at work, but Taye is unsympathetic
- He says he's being ostracised too because people think he's dobbing them in to her. Sam asks, 'Aren't you?'
- Georgia tells Paul, Leo and Krista that there's a chance they can argue Seb fell, rather than being pushed
- Nell asks JJ not to tell anyone what he knows; he promises to keep her secret
