Previously on Neighbours
- Krista and Leo decide not to use the voucher from the Hamilton Island resort after their shortened honeymoon
- They gift the voucher to Aaron; he was going to take Isla but she's ill, so Nicolette tells him to go alone
- Sandra vehemently objects that Archie, one of the self- defence class members, is cracking onto her
- As a result, Andrew asks Archie if he really wants to be there, and he stalks off
- Nicolette has set up a dating app profile to find out whether HotRod69 is really Andrew or not
- Wendy tells Andrew that she knows he's having an affair, but Andrew insists the app user isn't him
- Andrew is convinced someone has stolen his photos and used them to catfish Sandra
- Nicolette tells Andrew and Wendy that HotRod69 has agreed to meet her at the tram
- But somebody is watching the trio from the other end of Ramsay Street through binoculars...
No 26
Andrew, Nicolette and Wendy come into the house. Andrew's concerned that something could go wrong if Nicolette meets with HotRod69; they could be seriously dangerous. Nicolette dismisses this, saying she's meeting them in public. Andrew then suggests they could start fixating on Nicolette, but she says they won't have a chance - she'll bail as soon as she sees who it is.
NICOLETTE: You should be happy. I'm trying to clear your name. Unless there's another reason that you're against this?
ANDREW: This feels too risky.
NICOLETTE: We have to get to the truth. Right, Wendy?
WENDY: ... I think it's worth a shot.
ANDREW: Alright, fine. Well, I'm coming too.
NICOLETTE: No, you're not. If HotRod sees you, they'll know that it's a trap.
Andrew says he'll watch from a distance, but that he needs to see who's responsible. At this point, Sadie comes in, and asks what they're talking about.
Piano Bar
Krista is leading Leo in with his eyes covered for a special surprise. The outdoor area has been decked out like a French restaurant. Taye is dressed in a beret and cravat, holding a baguette (or I guess that's the intention, but actually, it looks more like ciabatta) and sending a photo of himself to a woman called Zoe, saying, 'See you tonight'.
When Krista and Leo come in, Taye adopts a dodgy French accent and invites them to take a seat.
TAYE: You can call me Pierre, your maître d'.
KRISTA: Oh!
TAYE: I shall go get some aperitifs.
LEO: Uh, could we have some pommes frites?
TAYE: ...?
LEO: Don't worry about it.
Taye wanders off, and Leo asks what's going on.
KRISTA: Looking at our wedding album kind of got me thinking about the things I wish we could redo. And meanwhile, Aaron is away finishing off our honeymoon. I'm just thinking that we should do something to mark this next chapter. And since we're not going back to Hamilton Island...
Krista holds up a little French flag on a cocktail stick!
Hamilton Island
Aaron is reading a novel (The River Crossing Murders by James Pearl) as he lies on a deckchair by the sea in his boardies. A handsome stranger walks by, and Aaron's gaze follows him. The stranger perches on another deckchair nearby, and we can see that he's reading the same novel...
No 26
Wendy, Andrew and Nicolette are filling Sadie in on the story so far, about Wendy thinking Andrew was having an affair.
NICOLETTE: In her defence, the evidence was pretty damning.
Sadie wants to see said evidence for herself, and on looking at the dating app profile with its pictures of Andrew, can see why Wendy came to the conclusion that she did. Cara comes in to join the war council - it seems Andrew has recruited her to help catch whoever is pretending to be him.
NICOLETTE (to Cara): And you're already dressed for the part. We're going fishing. And I'm the bait.
Hamilton Island
Aaron reaches a part of the novel that causes him to exclaim out loud. At this point, the stranger smiles and realises he's reading the same book.
STRANGER: I know, right?
He holds up the book, and Aaron laughs.
STRANGER: Did you just finish Chapter 5?
AARON: How can the detective be the killer?
STRANGER: He wasn't even in the country when the murder happened.
AARON: Right? It just doesn't make any sense.
STRANGER: And how can the priest and the nun be twins?
AARON: ...
STRANGER: You haven't read that. I'm so sorry. I've ruined it for you!
AARON: It's fine. I'm not much of a reader anyway.
STRANGER: Yeah, me either.
They both laugh.
STRANGER: I'm, uh... I'm here alone.
AARON: Yeah, me too.
STRANGER: I love this place. The peace. The solitude. Problems from home feel a million miles away. I'm, uh... I'm flirting. If it's not obvious. I'm Colton.
AARON: Charlie.
Piano Bar
Krista admits to Leo that she's already reached out to Haz and Mackenzie to tell them they're coming to Paris, in anticipation of Leo saying yes. Krista has factored in plenty of alone time together, but suggests Haz and Mack could show them around the city. Leo suggests they extend the trip - Byron could step up at Yorokobi, and Paul could manage the hotel alone for a while.
KRISTA: Yeah, I'm sure he'd love it if me and my ideas went on vacation.
LEO: Yeah. And if we're going on an extended holiday to redo our honeymoon, we may as well do something else as well (...) Let's get married again.
KRISTA: Are you... are you serious?
LEO: It would just be us. It would give us a proper chance to have a new beginning... Is that a yes, or...?
KRISTA (grinning): Yeah. Oui. Yes.
They kiss.
The 82
Cara and Nicolette set themselves up at adjacent tables at the tram, back to back. Nicolette is wearing a baseball cap.
CARA: Nice disguise (!)
NICOLETTE: It's just so HotRod recognises me. My photos don't show my face... Go on, say it.
CARA: No - I am just a wannabe police officer doing some casual, unpaid surveillance work.
NICOLETTE: You have an opinion, so just spit it out.
CARA: I thought we would've just learned our lesson when we went behind Remi's back with all the Chelsea stuff.
NICOLETTE: I have Wendy's back, just like I had yours.
CARA: Rodders isn't a cheater. He adores Wendy.
NICOLETTE: Oh, newsflash. Men can adore their wives and still have affairs (...) Will you turn around? We are not meant to know each other!
CARA: This better be over soon.
NICOLETTE (checking the app): It will be. HotRod is on their way (...) They're within 300 metres. But then again, so is someone else.
She looks out of the window and sees Andrew parked up in his car down the road. Wendy then gets into the car!
ANDREW: What are you doing?
WENDY: Couldn't stay at home.
Andrew is still mad at Wendy, and tells her she should've trusted him.
ANDREW: Do you still doubt be?
WENDY: ...
ANDREW: You do! (...) Wendy, can you please be honest with me.
WENDY: Okay... Honestly, I love you. And I just want to get past this.
ANDREW: Okay. Well, let's just hope this person shows up, so you can get the peace of mind that you seem to need.
Hamilton Island
In the pool, Colton tells Aaron (or 'Charlie') that he was meant to come here with his boyfriend, but that they've split up.
AARON: Sorry to hear.
COLTON: Don't be. Turns out he was sleeping with half of Bundaberg behind my back (...) It was a while ago now, though. This holiday was the last thing tying us together. I'm oversharing, aren't I?
AARON: No, it's cool.
COLTON: Where are you from, Charlie?
AARON: Me? Uh... I am a citizen of the world.
COLTON: Love that. I'm seeing... pro athlete?
AARON: No.
COLTON: Spy?
AARON: Flight attendant.
COLTON: Ah. The perfect cover job for a spy. So, what countries do you fly to? Sorry - spy to?
AARON: All of them. Well, Europe mostly.
COLTON: Got a fave?
AARON: I do. Yeah. Iceland. It's just... the Northern Lights, and all the hot springs. It just feels so good to be away from what I'm used to.
Colton mentions he was meant to be doing a European trip with his boyfriend, but realises he's talking about him again and stops himself.
COLTON: It's bad form. I meet a cute guy, and...
AARON: (laughs)
COLTON: I just called you cute.
AARON: Hey - you know there's a lot to do on this island, right?
COLTON: What do you have in mind?
Power Road
Wendy and Andrew are still staking out the tram. Wendy says it reminds her of Sadie's thirteenth birthday, when she banished them from a café where she was having a meal with her friends, and they had to watch from outside!
WENDY: It was at that precise moment that I knew we'd become uncool in her eyes. We watched from a distance - what, two, three hours went by?
ANDREW: She still managed to sneak us a bit of birthday cake.
WENDY: Hmm. I'd give anything to go back to that day... and we can get back from this, too. You know you doubted me, too?
ANDREW: This is a different situation to Quinn.
WENDY: Yeah? I stayed friends with him when I knew he had feelings for me. Just like you and Sandra.
ANDREW: But I'm not friends with Sandra. Look, I told her to back off as soon as I was aware.
WENDY: Yeah, and she kept on coming to your classes! And very familiar with you.
ANDREW: But that's no reason to doubt *me*.
WENDY: It still made me feel insecure.
In the tram, Nicolette is still watching her app, and tells Cara that HotRod is now moving away from their location. In fact, they're over a kilometre away now.
NICOLETTE: They're not coming.
Nicolette presents a thumbs- down out of the tram window to alert Andrew to the situation! Andrew sighs. Wendy clearly doesn't know what to think.
Hamilton Island
Aaron and Colton are out walking together. Colton suggests he's ready to move on from Bundaberg, and asks where Aaron lives when he's not jetsetting.
AARON: Uh... I'm from Sydney.
COLTON: Oh, what suburb?
AARON: Manly. Just love waking up by the water, you know?
COLTON: You surf?
AARON: I just started surfing, yeah. It's amazing.
COLTON: I bet you're a lifesaver, too.
AARON: No, I'm not a lifesaver. But I might be, one day.
COLTON: Well, look, if I was stuck in a rip and you pulled me out, I'd feel like I was in pretty good hands.
AARON: Back at you.
They arrive at a secluded beach and glance at each other, laughing nervously. Then they strip off their shirts and shorts, and run into the ocean in their trunks to do some snorkelling.
Harold's Café
Sadie is talking to Max and Holly about Wendy thinking Andrew was cheating on him. Sadie doesn't think he'd ever do it, but she understands where Wendy is coming from having seen the app profile. Max thinks it's gross that someone is using his photos. Sadie gets a message, saying that the sting at the tram failed to snare the culprit.
Holly points out that whoever is using the photos of Andrew to catfish Sandra must know that she had the hots for Andrew. Sadie agrees.
HOLLY: Okay, so who would know that? Somebody from the self- defence class.
At this point, JJ comes in, and Holly looks at him pensively.
HOLLY: He's reminded me of someone... I think I know who the catfisher is.
No 26
A greater war council has now been assembled at the Rodwell house, with Andrew, Sadie, Wendy, Nicolette and Cara now having been joined by Holly and JJ! Holly expounds her theory that Archie, the annoying kid who Sandra accused of harassing her at the last self- defence class until Andrew told him to leave, is the catfisher. We learn that Archie goes to school with JJ, who thinks he's a pest.
JJ: Yeah. He likes to push people.
Holly observes that Archie might be resentful of both Andrew and Sandra for the circumstances that led to him being kicked out of the class, and this could be payback. What's more, JJ confirms that Archie wasn't at school today, so could have made plans to meet Nicolette at the tram via the Ziva app, even though he didn't ultimately show up.
Sadie suggests that Andrew go to Archie's house and 'flash his badge' at him to make him confess. But Andrew says he can't do that - he needs more solid evidence.
HOLLY: You need Sandra. She has the messages. She could have the proof that connects it all.
Wendy is looking bamboozled by all this, and eventually heads out of the front door for some air. Nicolette follows.
Hamilton Island
Aaron and Colton are having fun snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, and seem to be getting on like a house on fire. Later, they sit on the beach together and discuss the wildlife they've seen.
AARON: I haven't heard you mention you- know- who for... how long now?
COLTON (shoving him playfully): Sorry.
AARON: No, it's fine. I'm just teasing.
COLTON: I guess that's one good thing about your job. You're probably away so much you wouldn't get sick of each other. And, uh, yes... that was my clumsy way of trying to find out if you've had a boyfriend recently.
AARON: Uh, no. I... I have been single for some time now.
Colton is having trouble rubbing sunscreen on his back, so Aaron gets to work helping. Aethereal music plays as they both smile.
COLTON: If this were a cheesy novel...
AARON: Mm?
COLTON: ... what would happen next?
AARON: What, like a choose- your- own- adventure kind of thing?
COLTON: Yeah. Maybe.
They end up holding hands, and then lean in for a kiss.
AARON: How's that for a twist?
They kiss again.
Harold's Café
Wendy is with Nicolette, and wondering if Holly is right about her theory that Archie is the catfisher. Nicolette is noncommittal, saying they should wait and see. But she does admit that they know one thing after today's events.
WENDY: My husband hates me?
NICOLETTE: We can rule Andrew out. HotRod69 was online while we were in the tram, heading in the opposite direction. It wasn't him.
WENDY: Which I should've known in the first place. Why do I always feel like I'm in the wrong?
NICOLETTE: No, it shouldn't be like that... I'm sorry. I should've just encouraged you to talk to Andrew more.
WENDY: Nic, you have been nothing but a good friend to me... How did it get to this?
Hamilton Island
Aaron and Colton are still pashing. They stop to smile at one another and laugh nervously.
AARON: What are you thinking?
COLTON: I'm thinking, this is not the way I thought this holiday would go.
AARON: Me neither.
COLTON: Well... should we...?
Colton goes to kiss Aaron again, but then declares 'race ya!', grabs his stuff and runs off along the beach. Aaron follows, laughing.
Ramsay Street
Wendy, Nicolette, Cara and Andrew gather outside No 26. Nicolette admits that a lot of this situation is 'on me'; she encouraged Wendy to look for evidence that Andrew was being unfaithful, so he shouldn't blame Wendy. She says she'll keep checking the app, and asks where Archie lives - Andrew replies that he lives in Anson's Corner. HotRod69 is currently offline, says Nic, but she might see a location if they log in from home later.
From a distance, someone is watching the Ramsay Street residents again, from across the main road. This time, we see who it is - Phil Buffett, one of the other self- defence class members. They don't see him, and he turns away from them and walks in the other direction...
Hamilton Island
Colton and Aaron are lying in bed together. Colton looks over at a sleeping Aaron and smiles. Colton gets out of bed and steps into his shorts, then pulls his shirt on. Noticing Aaron's wallet lying under some clothes on the floor, he picks it up. It falls open, and inside he sees a photo of Aaron with David and Isla, and a wedding ring pushed against it. Colton looks worried.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Colton learns Aaron's from Melbourne, despite claiming he was from Sydney. Aaron looks embarrassed
- Dex sees Taye getting out of a car with an unknown woman, who thanks him 'for the fun'
- Taye is awoken from his daydreams on a sunbed by Vera - she's heard about his side hustle!
- Jeffrey tells Chelsea that she has until tomorrow to get him his first payment
- But as Jeffrey is threatening Chelsea with the consequences if she doesn't pay, Max shows up and sees them
