The 82
Karl is not impressed at Susan for going behind his back by pretending Remi was interested in the doctor's position at Eirini Rising, in her bid to convince him not to leave.

KARL: After everything we went through with Darcy? And Remi, I cannot believe that you deceived me.
REMI: I'm sorry, Karl.
SUSAN: No, no, no - please don't blame her. This is all me. Remi was a very reluctant participant.
KARL: You still had a choice.

Nearby, a klaxon sounds as the tram's 82,000th customer is served - but staff member Louisa announces that two winning customers have ordered at exactly the same time, namely Gino and Vera!

VERA: I started saying my order first.
GINO: I definitely completed my order first. That's what counts.
VERA: Says who?! You don't make the rules around here.
LOUISA: Neither do I.

Louisa hands the promotional prize (a huge pie- trophy with a crown on the top) to Gino, but he and Vera continue their bickering about who has the claim to it; Gino puts the crown on his head, while Vera puts the pie on hers! Susan and Remi are watching. Susan calls for Karl to adjudicate, but Karl has gone walkabout...

No 26
Andrew is preparing for the lunch event with Gretchen and Steven. Wendy tells him she's put a selection of family photos on a USB drive for him to print out and take along with him, as the 'life memorabilia' that his birth family have asked for. She has also got him some snacks for the drive. Andrew declares her 'amazing'.

WENDY: I really do wish that I could be there with you.

But Andrew is understanding, saying Wendy needs to be there for her students. Wendy promises she'll be at the next family event, and tells Andrew to have a great time, before rushing off to work.

Harold's Café
Aaron finds Rhett looking annoyed after having witnessed Colton kissing Aaron. Aaron swears he was only meeting Colton to let him down gently, and had no idea he was going to kiss him. Rhett is sceptical.

AARON: Can you please just believe me? I want to be with you.
RHETT: If I hadn't given you an ultimatum, you'd still be flitting between me and Colton, wouldn't you?
AARON: No!
RHETT: I just don't think you're ready for this.

Rhett gets up and walks out, leaving Aaron looking worried.

No 26
Holly calls round looking for Sadie, but she's Not In This Episode™. Andrew tells Holly about the nightmare he's been having with the photos Wendy prepared. He took them to be printed but all the files were corrupted, as are the copies on his computer - and he needs to leave for lunch with Steven and Gretchen soon. He really wanted to have the photos with him after the effort Steven made with the package of family mementos.

ANDREW: I just want to show him I care as much as he does.

Holly looks thoughtful.

The 82
Vera and Gino are waiting for Karl to show up to officially adjudicate (Vera is sitting on the winner's throne!) on which of them wins the free pies. Susan takes the initiative and declares them joint winners!

VERA: What's that supposed to mean? We've got to share pie for 82 weeks?
GINO: Is Karl gonna cut it in half?
SUSAN: No, no - rest assured that you will each receive a free pie every week.
VERA: Ooh! Well, same time, same place next week, Mr Esposito?
GINO: It's a date, Ms Punt!

Susan talks to Remi about where Karl's got to - she's not sure Karl will be pleased with her decision to give away double the pies! Moreover...

SUSAN: I just don't like the idea of him being on his own right now.

So Remi tells Susan to go and find Karl, saying she'll hold the fort at the tram!

No 26
Holly is helping Andrew look through a load of family photos that are already printed, and suggests he take some of them. But Andrew explains they're the only copies they have, which is why Wendy scanned them - and he now doesn't have time to redo them as his scanner's too slow. Holly grabs the pile of photos and says she'll take care of it.

No 28
Holly has brought the photos home to scan and print, but finds Karl looking depressed on the sofa. She asks if he's okay, but at this point Susan comes in. As they start to argue, Holly ducks back out the front door.

KARL: There is nothing you can say to excuse your behaviour.
SUSAN: Karl - I am so sorry that I went behind your back, but I was trying to protect you (...) I didn't want you to make a decision you would regret.
KARL: I'm not going to regret it! I'm done with medicine. Why can't you accept that?!
SUSAN: Because I know you. Because I know that being a doctor is your passion. And because I know that right now, you are not in the best frame of mind.

But Karl tells Susan the conversation is over, and that she can't change his mind.

No 26
Holly has swung by Lassiter's to use the hotel reception printer and returned with all the photos of Andrew printed successfully. Andrew thanks her for getting it done so quickly as he pastes them into the album Wendy gave him.

HOLLY: I told you we could. Just maybe don't ask how.
ANDREW: I'm off- duty.

But Holly still declines to say! She spots a picture of Andrew aged around sixteen and says it's 'cute'. Andrew thanks her again, and prepares to head out to the lunch. He asks Holly what she's doing today - she mentions a date with Max in the city tonight. They speak over each other as they wish one another a good day, then laugh and leave.

Lassiter's Complex
Aaron is moping over Rhett when Colton turns up.

COLTON: I'm sorry Rhett got the wrong idea before. I just wanted to say goodbye.
AARON: No, Colton - it's not your fault.
COLTON: You really care about him, don't you?
AARON: Yeah, but something always happens to get in the way, and it's mostly me.

Aaron begins giving Colton a potted history of his relationship with Rhett, then stops, saying he shouldn't be dumping it on Colton.

COLTON: It's fine. I asked.
AARON: I think part of the reason I struggled letting Rhett in, and I strung you both along, was guilt (...) I just had this sense that Rhett was someone that I could actually build a life with. But that felt like betrayal at the start.
COLTON: Anyone that cares about you would want that for you. I do. I reckon David would, too.
AARON: The closer I get with Rhett, the more it feels like we could've had something special.

No 28
Susan is in the kitchen while Karl sits glumly on the couch, his laptop in front of him. There's a knock at the door and Karl ignores it, so Susan goes to answer it. It's Remi, who reports that the tram promotion has been a huge success - the staff reported record- breaking sales for the day, and it has made the front of the West Waratah Star.

But Karl can't even bring himself to get excited at this. Remi apologises again for lying to him.

REMI: When Susan pitched the idea of buying you a little more time while you made your decision, it seemed right. For what it's worth, I think quitting Eirini is a terrible idea.
KARL: Well, thank you for your unsolicited opinion (!)
REMI: I remember how passionate you were when you took on the role. Wanting to make a positive impact on the residents' lives. And you know what? You've done that. Moira spent half the tour telling me how much you help them. Doesn't that make you feel good? Karl, you're the heart of that community, and they admire you - they need you. You can't just throw it all away.
KARL: ... I've made my decision.

Karl walks out of the house. Susan looks at his laptop, and sees he's been writing a letter of resignation...

V Bar
Holly is sitting alone in the bar when she gets a call from Max. We don't hear both sides of the conversation, but can gather from Holly's side of it that Max has cancelled their date, perhaps for work and/or to spend time with Saskia. Holly says she's going to stick around here anyway since Karl and Susan are fighting at home.

Holly looks glum - until she gets a message from Andrew, at which point her face lights up with a smile. He tells her the lunch party with his birth family was great and that the photos were a hit. Holly hesitates, before replying that Max couldn't make their date and inviting Andrew to join her for a 'quick debrief' instead!

Andrew sends her a thumbs- up emoji, and Holly smiles nervously...

The Waterhole
Colton is chatting to Rhett, and taking the full blame for the kiss, saying he caught Aaron off- guard. Rhett says he doesn't know what to think - the whole thing's a mess.

COLTON: Stop thinking! He picked you.

At this point Aaron comes in, so Colton makes a diplomatic exit so they can talk.

RHETT: Well, he is a great guy.
AARON: Yeah. He is... I'm really sorry. I never meant to hurt you. And it wasn't my intention to mess you around or make you feel insecure...
RHETT: I mean, if you thought this could be something real, then why did it take you so long to say so?
AARON: I guess I just didn't want to admit to myself that I had feelings for someone else after David. And, I mean, the thought of me putting it all on the line, and then maybe you didn't feel the same way, it was just...
RHETT: (...) Well, it's okay, because I do.

Rhett leans in and kisses Aaron, and they both laugh.

V Bar
Andrew has met up with Holly for a drink. He asks after Karl and Susan following their row. Holly thinks Susan wouldn't go behind Karl's back unless she was really worried about him leaving Eirini, and Holly agrees that Karl can't be thinking straight.

HOLLY: I mean, I understand what he's going through. Trauma really messes with your head; you can lose perspective.
ANDREW: You mean like what happened to you, after Heath?
HOLLY: Yeah. And the others. I dunno, I just think he's kidding himself if he thinks devoting himself to the tram's gonna cut it. I mean, he loves being a doctor. I just hope he doesn't remember it too late.
ANDREW: The kind of serious trauma your dad went through takes a while to get over.
HOLLY: Mm, I know.
ANDREW: The only thing that you and Susan can do is just... be there for him. Until the storm passes.

Holly then changes the subject to Andrew's lunch, and they laugh and joke together.

No 28
Susan is preparing dinner when Karl comes back in, the atmosphere between them still tense. Susan wants to talk about the pros and cons of his resignation from Eirini, but Karl says it's too late - he's sent his resignation letter to Terese.

SUSAN: I can't believe that you would do that without talking to me about it first!
KARL: We already *have* talked, numerous times. You just haven't been listening.
SUSAN: Of course I have!
KARL: No, no - you haven't *really* been listening. Because you're not interested in how I feel, because you've convinced yourself you know what's best for me.
SUSAN: Everything that I've done with Remi was to protect you, during a very volatile time.
KARL: Imagine the shoe was on the other foot - I was telling you how to think, how to run your professional life. Would you like that?
SUSAN: No. No, I wouldn't. But I also know how hard it was for me when I left Erinsborough High.
KARL: But you worked through that. You started the new chapter at Eirini. That's all I'm trying to do.
SUSAN: But you're doing it because of Darcy! It's the wrong reason.
KARL: According to you.
SUSAN: According to reality!
KARL (groans): I told you that what Darcy did has changed me.
SUSAN: ... Karl, medicine's been your life's work. It's what you always come back to. Have you thought about who you'll be if you're not *Doctor* Karl Kennedy?
KARL: All the other things I've been as well. Look, I don't know what life after medicine looks like, but it's my decision. You have to respect it.

Karl heads off to the bedroom room. Susan looks concerned.

V Bar
Andrew tells Holly that he's thinking of inviting Steven and Gretchen to Sadie's twenty- first birthday. Holly thinks this is an awesome idea as they can 'get the full Ramsay Street experience' (!)

ANDREW: Exactly. Maybe Karl could come with his guitar. Lift his spirits.
HOLLY: Okay, as official party support crew, I am vetoing that.. . You know, I'm really happy for you that everything's working out. You deserve it.
ANDREW: Thanks, Holly. If it wasn't for you, none of this would have happened.
HOLLY: Thanks for being such a great listener. After all my offloading about Mum and Dad and Susan, you deserve some kind of public service award.
ANDREW: Well, after you saved me from Phil, finding out more information about Steven, and saving the day again today, listening is no big deal.
HOLLY: Well, it is to me. And you're really great at it.
ANDREW: What about Max? Is he a good listener?
HOLLY: He tries his best. But I don't think he really gets it on the same level. It comes from a really good place, but... he's not the best at understanding what I need emotionally. He's great in so many other ways, though.
ANDREW: Well, if he knows what's good for him, he should pick up his listening game. He's lucky to have you.

We close in on Andrew and Holly's legs under the table, which suddenly touch. There's a charged moment between them as they stare at one another, faces a little too close together, like rabbits in the headlights. It's Holly who finally breaks the deadlock, saying she needs to go to the toilet. Andrew looks surprised at himself as she leaves.

No 30
Remi opens the door to Susan, who's brought around a bottle of wine to apologise for dragging Remi into all the unpleasantness with Karl. Susan says that Karl's already sent his resignation letter to Terese.

REMI: Oh... Think we should open this now?
SUSAN: Please.
WENDY (arriving at the front door): Yoo- hoo! Hi. I don't suppose you want some extra company? Andrew's not back from his family do, and I feel like a bit of a loose end.

Susan tells Wendy to come in (!) while Remi, smiling to herself, gets out a third wine glass. Wendy says the exhibition she's been running at school has gone great, but she's been distracted thinking about Andrew and his day with his birth family. Remi thinks he must be having a good time if he's not home yet.

Susan tells Wendy about Karl quitting Eirini Rising, and that it's because of Darcy - and because of her. Remi tells Susan it's not her fault.

SUSAN: Maybe not directly. But if I'd taken his concerns about Darcy more seriously, maybe this would've ended differently.
REMI: Or, it could've gone exactly the same.
SUSAN: I still feel like... I'm the one that's cost him the thing that he cares about the most.
WENDY: Susan!
REMI: Oh, I'm so sorry.
WENDY: Yeah, me too. It's just unfair.
SUSAN: Thank you. Thank you both. You know, they say 'don't work with your spouse' - but aside from a few teething problems, it's been wonderful. We supported each other. We... we got to work on something that we both cared so deeply about. Now it's gone.

V Bar
Holly returns from the bathroom... but is concerned to find that Andrew has gone. She checks her phone and looks around, but there's no sign of him.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Byron tells Saskia that he's told Max about the way she's been acting around him
- Karl tells Terese and Susan about an advisory role he's interested in at the council
- Holly asks Andrew why he ghosted her last night. 'I think you know,' he replies
- Terese asks Krista if she'll tell Leo something. 'I want to be sure first,' she says