No 30
Nell is pacing up and down nervously. JJ comes back in from another room. Nell wonders if she should wait till tonight to tell Terese the truth, but JJ queries whether she can wait that long.

NELL: No. We should go now.

Remi comes in as Nell and JJ leave. Chelsea emerges from the sunroom.

CHELSEA: Have JJ and Nell gone?
REMI: Yeah, you just missed them.

Chelsea glances at Thomas, who is sleeping, then asks Remi if she'd be able to keep an eye on him for an hour or so. Remi says that's fine. Claiming she needs to clear her head, Chelsea rushes off.

A house somewhere
On the lawn of an unfamiliar house, Abigail is picking flowers, which she presents to Leo when he comes out to check on her. He tells her they have to go inside to pack for their plane ride tonight.

But at this point, Krista turns up. Leo is shocked, but she reassures him that nobody else knows he's here - she tracked him down via Isla's tablet using Wombat Watch's 'share location' facility!

KRISTA: I was so relieved to see you were still in Melbourne. I thought you'd be long gone.
LEO: That was the plan. But the guy preparing our passports let me down, so... our flight's tonight.
KRISTA: Where are you going?
LEO: It's best you don't know.
KRISTA (tearful): Leo, just tell me!
LEO: Brazil. Dad has friends there. I was gonna look them up, and... I dunno.
KRISTA: Look, I told you that I would never let you go to jail.
LEO: It's not that simple, Krista.
KRISTA: No, Leo, you're not doing this on your own! I'm coming with you.

Eirini Rising
Terese, Susan, Karl and Darcy are just finishing up a meeting in the office. Darcy tells the Kennedys that one of Chelsea's contacts wants to talk to him about the health centre. Susan says she's glad things are working out well for him, but there's a tone of reservation in her voice. Darcy invites them both to dinner tonight to get to know Chelsea better. They make excuses, saying they were looking forward to a night in.

DARCY: Hmm. You've heard things... Chelsea's not her mistakes. Just like I'm not mine. Doesn't she deserve a second chance too?
SUSAN: The difference is that you have literally put years into your redemption. Chelsea's 'mistakes' are still in the rear view mirror.
DARCY: Everyone has to start somewhere.
SUSAN: I'm sorry, Darcy. I just don't understand why, out of all the women in the world, you have chosen to align yourself with someone who has such a chequered history.
DARCY: Well, we've all got skeletons, right? Don't you want to see what I see in her?

Susan and Karl reluctantly agree to come to dinner. At this point, a worried- looking Nell arrives with JJ.

NELL (to Terese): I need to speak with you. Privately.
TERESE: Nell, are you alright?
NELL: I just really need to speak with you.

Susan, Karl and Darcy hurry out to give them some space.

TERESE: Nell, you're scaring me. What happened?

Nell just hugs Terese tearfully.

Lassiter's Complex
Paul is walking through the courtyard. When he sees Detective Fox coming towards him, he turns the other way - but it's too late, he's already been seen. Fox says that Leo hasn't been to the vineyard today, and Abigail is absent from school.

PAUL: So? Kids get sick all the time.
FOX: Yeah, okay. I'm only here to let you know as a courtesy that we've issued a warrant for Leo's arrest.
PAUL: What for?
FOX: Breach of bail. He's officially a fugitive. And when we catch him - and we will - he'll be heading straight to remand while he awaits trial.

Once Fox has walked off, Paul immediately gets his phone out to call Leo - but at this point, Chelsea hurries into the courtyard wanting to speak to Paul urgently. Paul is dismissive until she explains her reasons.

CHELSEA: I know who killed Sebastian.

Penthouse
JJ sits nearby as Nell tells Terese the full story about her involvement in Seb's death. She swears she had no idea what had happened to him until she got back from the US and heard he'd died.

TERESE: Oh, Nell! You should have come to me!
NELL: I didn't know how to tell you.

JJ confirms that he hasn't known about it for long. Nell tearfully says they need to go to the police, and Terese agrees, saying they'll call Toadie on the way.

TERESE: This was just an accident. Everyone will see that.
NELL: They did not see that with Leo.
TERESE: But that was completely different. You were defending yourself. Seb was making you feel unsafe. I will be with you, Nell. Every step of the way. I promise.

Nell nods shakily.

The house somewhere
Leo and Krista are watching Abby as she plays on the grass. Krista asks whether Leo is bound for Rio or São Paulo, wanting to look up tickets for herself. But Leo warns her she'd never be able to come home, or contact her friends or family.

KRISTA: *You're* my family. You and Abby.
LEO: But you deserve more than living your life on the run. That's why I left how I did.
KRISTA: Is it? Or is it because of what I did?
LEO: Krista, this has nothing to do with -
KRISTA: Tell me the truth, Leo. If you don't want me with you, then just say it.
LEO: Of course I want you with us. But -
KRISTA: Good, then I'm coming with you. City?
LEO: ... Rio.
KRISTA: I'll book a different flight to you and Abby, and then I'll meet you there when you're safely on the ground.
LEO: It's too much for you to sacrifice.
KRISTA: I would do *anything* for you. And Abigail. Don't you get it? I love you. And I don't want to do life without either of you. You're my husband, and I am your wife. And we're doing this together.

Lassiter's Complex / Police Station
Terese, Nell and JJ are headed for the police station. Terese is trying to get hold of Paul on her phone, and leaves him a voicemail asking him to come to the station as soon as he can. As the trio arrive at the station, we hear from Terese that Toadie has already recommended a lawyer and that she'll be here shortly. Terese reassures Nell she won't let anything happen to her...

But at that moment Terese sees that Paul and Chelsea are already in the interview room, talking to Detective Fox. A slow- motion sequence begins, as Fox shows Paul and Chelsea out, and the two groups come face- to- face.

FOX: Nell Rebecchi. Just the person I was hoping to see.

Some time later, Nell and JJ wait at the desk, while Chelsea fills in Terese on what she overheard and how she decided Paul needed to know ASAP. Terese is annoyed that Paul wasn't answering his phone - he says it was on silent while he was speaking to Detective Fox.

TERESE: Well, if you'd answered, you'd know that Nell has already confessed to everything. We could've all come down here together!
PAUL: They had just issued an arrest warrant for Leo breaching bail. I had to move quickly.
CHELSEA: That's right. Anything could've happened to him and Abby.

But Terese is unimpressed. At this point, Detective Fox asks Nell to come into the interview room while they wait for her lawyer. Nell asks for Terese to come with her, which Fox agrees to. JJ promises to wait outside, but Nell tells him to go home, as they'll be ages. He asks her to call him as soon as she's done.

PAUL: Do you want me to come in with you?
TERESE (scoffs): You have Leo to worry about.

Terese marches past Paul. Chelsea puts a conciliatory hand on his arm.

The house somewhere / Police Station
Leo, Krista and Abby are preparing to leave for the airport. Leo reminds Krista to remove the SIM card from her phone so she can't be traced by the authorities. Leo reminds Abby that it's a long flight.

ABIGAIL: Can I watch cartoons?
LEO: Of course you can. You can watch as many as you like.

Krista begins to use a safety pin to try and open the SIM slot on her phone. But just at this moment, Paul tries to call her from the station. Krista glances at Leo as the phone rings, displaying Paul's image.

LEO: No, you can't take it. What if they're tracing the call?

Krista agrees, and cancels the call. But as she continues to try and open her phone, Paul sends her a message instead.

KRISTA: Paul says they know who killed Seb.
LEO: What?!

Paul tries to ring again, and this time Leo nods for Krista to answer it.

KRISTA: Paul, what's happening?
PAUL: It was Nell (...) Sebastian grabbed her and she managed to push him away. He hit his head and fell into the lake.

Leo and Krista are stunned.

PAUL: Krista? Are you still there?
KRISTA: Are you... are you sure it was Nell?
PAUL: Yes! Yes, she's in there talking with the police right now. Listen, we've got to find Leo.
LEO: Uh... Dad? I'm here (...) We were gonna fly out tonight.
PAUL: Oh, thank god. It's okay. You can come home, son.

A relieved Krista and Leo share a hug.

No 30
While Chelsea lingers in the background, Remi is grilling JJ about why he didn't come to them when he found out what had happened with Nell and Seb. JJ says it wasn't his secret to tell.

REMI: JJ, we're talking about someone dying here! Leo was up on charges. There are some things that are just too big to handle on your own!
JJ: Yeah, but it was Nell's decision. And she made the right call eventually. It's just a pity that we didn't get to go to the police first!
CHELSEA: I'm not gonna apologise for doing the right thing, JJ. As your mum says, this is serious stuff.
JJ: Yeah, but now you have dumped Nell right in the middle of it. She was coming forward all on her own, and... and you took that opportunity away from her.
REMI: I love that you want to protect her. But it really worries me that you didn't tell us something this big.
JJ: Look, it was Nell's call. I could not make that for her, and Chelsea - you shouldn't have either.

JJ heads off to his room. Darcy then turns up, and invites Chelsea over to his tonight for dinner with Karl and Susan. Chelsea tells Darcy about Nell having confessed to killing Seb; Chelsea says she should probably be available tonight in case Paul needs support. But Darcy points out that Paul and Terese will be focused on Nell and Leo tonight, and persuades Chelsea to come to dinner after all.

No 22
Later on, Darcy is holding Thomas on the sofa while Chelsea brings glasses of wine for Karl and Susan. Karl gets a message from Toadie, asking if he can stay with the Kennedys when he comes back from the US to support Nell. Susan says of course he can. She says she spoke to Nell briefly before she came over; she's pretty overwhelmed, but looking forward to Toadie coming back.

CHELSEA: I can't stop thinking how Leo must be feeling. Imagine thinking you're about to be convicted for a crime you didn't commit. Awful.
SUSAN: Yeah... It's just a shame that Paul didn't talk to Terese first.
CHELSEA: Oh, he didn't have time! There was an arrest warrant out on Leo. The police needed to know the truth as quickly as possible.
SUSAN: ... But you didn't go to the police. You went to Paul.
CHELSEA: He's Leo's father. I knew how upset he was about the whole situation.
SUSAN: And Terese is Nell's stepmother. Surely you can see the complexities here.
DARCY (diplomatic): Umm... more wine, Susan? Chelsea?
CHELSEA: I did what I thought was right.
SUSAN: (judgy eyebrows)
CHELSEA: And honestly, I'd do it again.
SUSAN: I just think there was a better way to handle it.

Chelsea grabs a carrot stick from the array of nibbles on the table and bites it passive- aggressively! Darcy looks awkward...

Penthouse
Aaron is In This Episode™ so has popped round to offer support to Nell, who is with Terese. Terese tells Aaron that the police will make an official response to Nell's confession tomorrow. Paul lingers in the background. At this point, Leo, Krista and Abby come up in the lift. Paul is thrilled and relieved to see them and welcomes Leo home.

PAUL: Let's never, ever go through that again, yeah? (...) All the charges have been dropped. How does it feel to be a free man?
KRISTA: I don't think it's sunk in yet, has it?

Leo and Krista make eye contact with Nell, and it's suddenly very awkward.

KRISTA: Why didn't you say something sooner? I mean, you must've seen what it was doing to Leo.
NELL: I wanted to. But I was scared.
TERESE: Look, Nell's had a big day. I don't think now's the best time to talk about this.
NELL: I am so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen.

Leo approaches Nell looking grim, and we wonder if he's going to tear into her. But instead...

LEO: We're all here for you. Okay? We're gonna get through this together.

They hug, and Terese then hugs a relieved Nell.

No 22
Karl, Susan, Darcy and Chelsea are finishing what appears to have been a very awkward meal. Susan declines seconds.

SUSAN: It was lovely, though. The asparagus was... was, uh... was very fresh.
KARL: It was great asparagus, yeah. Very, umm... asparagus- y.

Everyone chuckles awkwardly. Darcy takes Susan into the kitchen on the pretext of getting her 'opinion on dessert'. But really, he wants to talk. They do, in a low whisper.

DARCY: It's really important to me that you and Karl like Chelsea.
SUSAN: Nell is like a granddaughter to us. I'm sorry, but I have feelings about what happened today.
DARCY: I really like her.
SUSAN (scoffs): Yes, I can see that.
DARCY: I just want what you and Karl have.
SUSAN: ... I didn't realise you were so serious about her.
DARCY: Ever since I've been back in Erinsborough, I've been thinking about the baby that... Dee and I lost. Maybe this is my second chance.

Susan looks thoughtful.

The Waterhole
Leo and Krista are at a table. Krista asks how Leo's feeling. He isn't sure, and says it's hard to be happy because of Nell.

LEO: This has been hanging over me for so long now, I'm almost scared to feel relieved in case it isn't real.
KRISTA: It is. Leo, this is *over*. You can feel however you need to feel
LEO: I'm not going to jail.
KRISTA: Yeah.

They hug, and Leo allows himself a sigh of relief.

No 22
Karl and Susan are preparing to leave, but Susan has taken Darcy's words to heart.

SUSAN: Chelsea, I know things got a little heated earlier. Nell's like family to us - I hope you can respect that.
CHELSEA: I get it. Leo's family to me too.
SUSAN: Yes, of course. Maybe we can try again later in the week. A brunch, or lunch, or something?
CHELSEA: Uh, sure - yeah, that'd be great.

Susan says they'll check their diaries and let them know. Darcy shows Susan and Karl out.

CHELSEA: I don't know what you said in the kitchen, but that was some turnaround.
DARCY: I, umm... I told her how important you were to me, and you're gonna be part of my life.
CHELSEA: Uh, wow. That's certainly direct!

He takes her hands.

DARCY: It's the truth. I just want you to see Karl and Susan the way I do. They're good people.
CHELSEA: I'm game to try.

They hug. But Chelsea looks a bit uncomfortable.

No 30
JJ is nervously awaiting contact from Nell. Remi comes to join him.

JJ: What do you think's gonna happen to her?
REMI: Well, sounds like self- defence to me, and the law makes allowances for that.
JJ: Yeah, but what if the police don't agree?
REMI: I don't think that's gonna happen. And Toadie's a lawyer, remember? He's gonna throw everything at this, and then some.
JJ: Yeah, I guess.

But JJ still looks very worried. At this point, Chelsea and Darcy come in with Thomas in his pram. Evidently still annoyed at Chelsea, JJ goes to his room without a word.

REMI: He might just need a minute.

Darcy thanks Chelsea for 'hanging in there' with the Kennedys at dinner.

CHELSEA: Hey, I'm all about second chances these days.
DARCY: This is just the beginning for us. Uh... coffee tomorrow?
CHELSEA: Why not?

But as Darcy kisses her goodnight on the cheek, Chelsea's smile looks a bit strained. Once he's gone...

REMI: Wow!
CHELSEA: I know. He's a bit...
REMI: Full on?

They both laugh, and Chelsea looks conflicted.

Penthouse
Nell has gone to bed, and Terese finds Paul pouring himself a whisky. Paul asks her if she thinks Nell will sleep. But Terese is in combative mood.

TERESE: You threw Nell under the bus to save Leo. It's a little bit late to start caring about her welfare.
PAUL: Hang on, look... Leo had just been declared a fugitive! The clock was ticking.
TERESE: Yeah, it would've taken ten seconds to call me! But no, you were too busy rushing to the police station with Chelsea!
PAUL: Hey - after losing David, I had to make sure Leo was protected.
TERESE: Oh, stop playing the David card! What are we doing here? Are we comparing dead children? Is that the game we're playing?!
PAUL: If the positions were reversed, you would've done exactly the same thing.
TERESE: Okay, I told Toadie that we would love Nell like she was one of our own, but you abandoned her!
PAUL: You're not listening. This was an emergency! The second Chelsea told me what she -
TERESE (shouting): Oh my god! *Stop* saying that woman's name! I can't stand it!
PAUL: So that's what this is really about, isn't it? You're upset because it was Chelsea that alerted me.
TERESE: What? I don't care about her! I care about us! But you betrayed Nell and me, and there is no coming back from that!

They glare at one another.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Susan welcomes a 'Mrs Harris' to Eirini Rising - it's Amanda, Jane's mother!
- Darcy invites Chelsea for arvo tea at Harold's; Chelsea tells Cara that he's acting like they're engaged
- Aaron tells Krista she and Leo seem in a better place; she can't wait to get on with their lives together