Lassiter’s
Mackenzie is in the bathroom, filming her video diary – and she is so excited that she’s struggling to get words out!

MACKENZIE: … So, hey – I just kissed Richie Amblin! Oh, my god! Yashvi and Harlow aren’t here, and I’m dying to tell someone. So here I am – telling you! I mean me – future me. Hello, me! You just kissed Richie! It was so good, like… *really* good. It was so romantic – the cute awkwardness at the beginning, and then – wow. When I kissed Hendrix a month or whatever ago, that was different. There were lots of people around, and it was like, huh. But this was… I dunno! More real? Like, meaningful? I can’t wait to do it again. I mean, if Richie wants to. Hopefully he does. Oh my god, oh my god, I just kissed Richie! Okay – now I’m gonna go back out there, so… calm down, Mackenzie.

But she can’t calm down!

MACKENZIE: No, no – okay, I’m good now. Just gonna… play it cool! Oh, my god!

Cue titles.

Lassiter’s
Richie is knocking back a cup of champagne, but correctly guesses Hendrix has added something stronger to it, as a little ‘something to get you going’. They’re just starting a game of beer pong, when Richie gets a text from an unknown number, which says, ‘NEWS ALERT: Muggleton’s rooting Olivia Lane’. A worried Richie replies, saying, ‘who is this?’

RICHIE: I need to call someone.

Richie moves towards the door to make a call outside, just as Ollie arrives. He’s had the same message about Liv and Muggleton, and gleefully tells Hendrix and Mackenzie all about it. Mackenzie looks worriedly at Richie as he’s leaving.

School corridor
The next morning, as Mr Muggleton arrives, everyone is laughing at the rumours about him and Liv – with texts to and from random pupils flying left, right and centre. Harlow looks concerned as Muggleton walks past, and Ollie offers to shake his hand.

OLLIE: Solid work, sir.

Everyone laughs, leaving Muggleton disconcerted. Miss Reyner emerges from the office, and Muggleton tells her he’s been receiving emails overnight suggesting Yashvi has passed on her suspicions about him being in a relationship with Liv.

MISS REYNER: You know what kids are like. They love to talk, until there’s something new to talk about.
MR MUGGLETON: Yeah, you’re probably right.

But Muggleton looks worried.

Common room
Jeremiah is working. We can see bruises visible around his eye. Ollie comes in, showing off to his mates who are hanging out by the door.

OLLIE: Ghost. What happened to your face?
JEREMIAH: … I, umm… I fell down some stairs.
OLLIE: Should watch where you’re going next time.

Richie comes in, and exchanges small- talk about Muggleton with Ollie. Ollie leaves, giving Jeremiah a threatening glare as he walks out.

We cut to an emotional Jeremiah filming his video diary, possibly earlier as the bruising on his face seems more extensive.

JEREMIAH: So, this happened.

He loosens his shirt collar to expose more bruising around his neck.

JEREMIAH: Got this, too. Ugly.

But he has some make- up with him, to cover the bruising on his face.

JEREMIAH: Bit of this, and no- one’ll ask any questions. Not that anyone looks close enough to notice anyway. You know, they always tell us to stand up. To talk to the teachers, like that ever does anything. It’s my own fault, really. I made myself stand out, so of course this would happen. I guess I was just hoping I could make my life different. Obviously not.

School corridor
Mackenzie approaches Richie at the lockers, all friendly and flirtatious. But she gets a very lukewarm response.

MACKENZIE: How was your sleep?
RICHIE: … Yeah, fine.
MACKENZIE: Well, I had the craziest dream last night. I was like, a flight attendant, but on an aeroplane full of animals. And then, Vee was there, and she got into a fight with an emu in the line for the toilet. She was fierce – the emu, I mean.
RICHIE: … Sounds pretty weird.
MACKENZIE: Uh, do you want to study for psych together?
RICHIE: No, I’m good.
MACKENZIE: Oh, okay.
RICHIE: I’ve, uh, already teed up another study session with the boys, so…
MACKENZIE: Okay.
RICHIE: Cool.

Mackenzie walks off, feeling humiliated. Hendrix watches her go, and sees Richie bang his head into his locker with frustration.

HENDRIX: Hey, what is the go with you two? I mean, it’s alright if you’re into her. She’s hot. I kissed her.
RICHIE: Yeah, good for you.
HENDRIX: You know, you talk to girls worse than you play beer pong. I didn’t even think that was possible.
RICHIE: Yeah, well – there’s nothing going on. I dunno what you’re talking about.

Richie walks off, leaving Hendrix looking nonplussed.

Lassiter’s Park
Richie is sitting sadly in the park, filming his video diary.

RICHIE: So, yeah. That was a pretty dick move. But I just feel that… how do I say this? Mackenzie’s cool, yeah? I like her – I really like her. I definitely feel things. And I want to keep kissing her, and doing other stuff, but…

He stands up, agitated, then sits down again.

RICHIE: Alright, I’m just gonna say it. And maybe this makes me look like a prick, but… she’s trans. And, I don’t want that to be an issue, but… it has to be, yeah? Cos things’d be… different. Or is that bad to say? And everyone’ll want to stick their noses in, and ask questions, like, do you have sex? How do you have sex? Are you still straight? Or is that even offensive that I’m thinking that? It’s just… complicated. And I like her, I do. But things’d be so… different… Anyway, I want to talk to her about it. But I just know the words’ll come out wrong, and… I’ll probably offend her… Corned Beef Tin!.*

Richie looks really upset.

Miss Reyner’s office
Mr Muggleton has requisitioned the office for a chat with Hendrix, who grudgingly takes a seat. Muggleton says he’s marked Hendrix’s physics exam.

HENDRIX: How did you find the time? I’ve heard you’ve been doing a lot lately!
MR MUGGLETON: … So you didn’t pass.
HENDRIX: I guess that should make you pretty happy.
MR MUGGLETON: Why would I be happy about that? Are you planning on doing physics next year?
HENDRIX: I started it.
MR MUGGLETON: Good, because I think you have the potential to do really well here.
HENDRIX: Ah. So you want to have the ‘potential’ chat. Sorry, bro, I’m tapping out.

Hendrix goes to leave, but Muggleton calls him back.

MR MUGGLETON: What little you actually did, your answers were right. You just weren’t showing your workings properly. Now, if you want to do well at this next year, I’d suggest getting a tutor, like Jeremiah.
HENDRIX (laughs): No, no, no.
MR MUGGLETON: I’m sure he’d love to buddy up with you, and he can help you catch up on what you’ve missed this year, and next year.
HENDRIX: Why is it that having potential equals doing more work?
MR MUGGLETON: Because that’s the price of having something to offer the world.
HENDRIX: Oh, dude, save the corn for your little salad there.
MR MUGGLETON: Hendrix, I’m just trying to help.
HENDRIX: Is this gonna end in the same kind of help you give Olivia?
MR MUGGLETON: Don’t say that. Sit down… Look, just think about it, okay? I mean, I’d love to have you here next year. Especially if you’re working at the level that I know you’re capable of. I know you’re capable of smashing this.
HENDRIX: … Is that all?

Mr Muggleton says Hendrix can go, but gives him his exam paper, as a ‘reminder of the moment you chose to do better’. Hendrix takes it, and leaves. Mr Muggleton turns to his salad…

Harold’s Café
Yashvi is getting a coffee when Liv comes in, and has a go at her, saying everyone thinks she’s sleeping with Muggleton because of her. Yashvi’s surprised to learn Miss Reyner has told Liv about Yashvi seeing her in Muggleton’s car; but Liv insists he was only giving her a lift to school. Yashvi denies having told everyone there’s something going on.

LIV: So you haven’t said anything – to anyone?
YASHVI: No… I mean, I told Harlow.
LIV: What the hell?
YASVHI: She wouldn’t have said anything.
LIV: Like anyone around here can keep their mouths shut. Do you have any idea what you’ve started?

Liv shows Yashvi her phone, which is full of messages of abuse from kids at school.

LIV: And what about Mr Muggleton, hey? He won’t even be able to teach. Everything that happens to him now is on you.

Yashvi wants to help Liv find out who started the rumours. But Liv doesn’t want her help.

LIV: You’ve ruined my life.

Lassiter’s Park
Liv sits alone on the grass and bursts into tears.

Classroom
Mackenzie is also in tears after her encounter in the corridor with Richie, and is being comforted by Harlow.

MACKENZIE: I feel like such an idiot.
HARLOW: You’re not.
MACKENZIE: It’s just that the whole time, he just wanted me to go away, and I just kept going on and on. Oh, my god – idiot.
HARLOW: You know, maybe it’s not about you? I mean, this whole thing with Liv – he’s probably really freaked out by it.

Outside the classroom, Richie appears and can see them through the window. His eyes widen as he realises Mackenzie’s crying because of his reaction to her.

MACKENZIE: Maybe. I just don’t know.
HARLOW: I’m sorry. The guy’s a jerk.
MACKENZIE: A total jerk.
HARLOW: And an arsehole.
MACKENZIE: An arsehole- y jerk.

Unseen by them, Richie gulps, and looks sad.

MACKENZIE: I don’t even know why I’m crying. It was just one kiss, and it obviously meant nothing to him.

But it’s evident from the look on Richie’s face that that’s far from the truth.

Lassiter’s Park
Richie is filming his video diary.

RICHIE: So, I’ve been thinking a lot… and I’ve come to the conclusion that this morning, I was being a fiddleer*. A real fiddleer*. I let myself get all intense, thinking about what other people are gonna think of me – again. And what’s the point? I just never thought I’d end up in this position. But here I am. And all those labels, like trans, and gay – straight, bi – all they do is make everything so black and white. But the world isn’t black and white… Seeing Mackenzie like that this morning… I don’t want to see her like that again. I care about her. And… I want to be a person that makes her happy. So… Mackenzie and I, if I can save it… We’re not gonna be like everyone else. And I’m okay with that, because… I like her. And that’s it.

School courtyard
Mr Muggleton comes out of the school building, and sees that someone has added to Hendrix’s existing graffiti ‘Muggleton is a…’, with the word ‘pedo’. We see him desperately trying to erase the word with a cloth, but to no avail. Nearby, Yashvi eyes him suspiciously as she enters the school.

School corridor
Richie catches up with Mackenzie and tries to talk to her. She’s cold at first, saying she’s busy, but Richie persists.

RICHIE: Wait, please. I need to apologise.
MACKENZIE: Yeah. You should.
RICHIE: I am so sorry.
MACKENZIE: You should be. Can I go now?
RICHIE: I’m scared, alright? You scare me.
MACKENZIE: Wow, I’m scary – great, thanks (!)
RICHIE: No, no – I didn’t… I suck with words, okay? It’s probably why Liv and I didn’t work. She ghosted me, and I let it happen, cos… I didn’t know what to say.
MACKENZIE: You mean, you never officially broke up?
RICHIE: She just started avoiding me.
MACKENZIE: And you didn’t try and talk to her about why?
RICHIE: I know – it was dumb. But… I figured she wanted out, and I was too much of a coward to say anything. But I don’t want the same thing to happen. But… this is weird for me.
MACKENZIE: Why? Just say the words, Richie. It’s not gonna kill you.
RICHIE: … Because you’re trans. And I don’t want that to be a problem. Look… this is all new to me. And it would be to my family, too. I just… had to get my head around that.
MACKENZIE: Why didn’t you just talk to me about it?
RICHIE: I panicked. And I shouldn’t’ve. Because, really, you being you – which is, a totally rad girl – isn’t complicated at all. And all that matters is, uh… I seriously, seriously like you. A lot. And I don’t want to mess that up.

Mackenzie is thawing fast. Richie takes her hands in his.

RICHIE: So… I want you to know that I’m all in. And what I want to do right now, is to kiss you again. *If* you’ll let me.
MACKENZIE: … Go on, then.

Richie kisses Mackenzie, just as Miss Reyner is walking past.

MISS REYNER: School corridor, guys… But, yay for you!

They laugh as she walks into the office.

Miss Reyner’s office
Mr Muggleton is already there, waiting for a meeting with Miss Reyner.

MISS REYNER: Guess who I just saw mackin’ on?

But Mr Muggleton’s looking worried. She asks if he’s okay.

MR MUGGLETON: It’s getting worse.
MISS REYNER: Did you talk to Susan?
MR MUGGLETON: Yeah. She said, there’s gonna have to be an investigation, and that just means more gossip. All because of a stupid car ride.
MISS REYNER: Have you thought about taking a break?
MR MUGGLETON: I’m not gonna run away. Not when I haven’t done the things that they’re saying that I did.
MISS REYNER: Okay, but say this ends with no proof anything’s happened between you two –
MR MUGGLETON: Which it hasn’t.
MISS REYNER: Yes, I know. What I’m trying to say is… will the talk ever stop?
MR MUGGLETON: This morning you said it would.
MISS REYNER: Things seem a little more serious than they did this morning. You know what this place is like – the kids, the parents. Once you’ve got that stain on your reputation, it doesn’t come off, whether the story’s true or not.
MR MUGGLETON: But it isn’t fair.
MISS REYNER: No, it’s not. Marty, I’ve sat opposite you long enough to know that teaching’s not your only passion. And yes, changing careers now would be hard. But it could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

But Mr Muggleton looks despondent.

Common room
Hendrix has sought out Jeremiah, who’s still working.

HENDRIX: Hey, dude. You didn’t come to my party last night.
JEREMIAH: Yeah, umm… something came up.
HENDRIX: Something more important than a blinder hosted by yours truly?
JEREMIAH: …
HENDRIX: So, I need your help, apparently. That’s what Muggleton reckons.
JEREMIAH: Oh. So you’re listening to what he says now?
HENDRIX: Mate, what’s with the sass?
JEREMIAH: Look, I’m not your mate.

Hendrix sits next to him.

HENDRIX: Well, you could be. If you want to be my physics tutor next year.
JEREMIAH: …
HENDRIX: I need your help. And I can pay – Dad’s loaded.
JEREMIAH: You should ask someone else.
HENDRIX: I’m asking you.
JEREMIAH: Why?
HENDRIX: Because you’re smart, and you’re cool.
JEREMIAH: Sure (!)

Hendrix puts an arm on his shoulder.

HENDRIX: And you have this fun thing, where you get all sarcastic, and act like no- one would want to hang out with you. Seriously, mate! You’d be good value, if you just… let yourself.
JEREMIAH: …
HENDRIX: So, that’s a yes?
JEREMIAH: … Yes.

Jeremiah smiles, and Hendrix shakes his hand. But as he does so, he notices the bruising on Jeremiah’s face.

HENDRIX: Hey, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?

Jeremiah tries to play it down, but Hendrix is concerned.

HENDRIX: Bro, what the hell? … Was this Ollie?
JEREMIAH: …

School corridor
Yashvi is telling Harlow about how she ‘copped it’ from Liv for the Muggleton rumour. But Harlow insists she didn’t repeat what Yashvi told her to anyone. At this point, Mackenzie and Richie approach, holding hands and looking pleased with themselves.

YASHVI: Excuse me, what is this?
MACKENZIE: We’re holding hands.
YASHVI: Yeah, I can see that.
HARLOW: Does this mean you two are…?

Richie puts an arm around Mackenzie.

RICHIE: Yeah. We are.
YASHVI: Well, let me tell you – if you hurt her…
HARLOW: We’ll hurt you.
YASHVI: Many times.
RICHIE: I get it. Best behaviour.
YASHVI: You’d better get it, buddy.

Liv appears, and approaches Harlow.

HARLOW: I promise, I didn’t tell a soul about what Vee told me.
LIV: So explain why everyone’s talking about me.
HARLOW: I really wish I could.

Mackenzie asks if Yashvi got the first text (from the anonymous number, which kick- started the Muggleton rumour at the party). Yashvi didn’t, but says she saw Liv get something.

LIV (to Yashvi): For the last time, you didn’t see anything. (To Mackenzie): What message are you talking about?
RICHIE (to Yashvi): Wait, what are *you* talking about?
YASHVI: I saw Liv get into the car with Mr Muggleton.
RICHIE: And that meant she was sleeping with him?!
YASHVI: Well, no, I didn’t tell everyone! But even if I did... (to Liv): There’s more, and you know it.
LIV: There isn’t more.
YASHVI: You told me you were seeing someone you’re not supposed to. And there was a pregnancy test!
LIV: That pregnancy test has nothing to do with anything. That was from when Richie and I were s–
RICHIE: Wait, what? What do you mean?!
MACKENZIE: … Richie, just show her the message you got last night.

Richie shows Liv his phone. He says a few people got the same text, which was how the rumours started. He replied asking who it was, but didn’t get a response. Liv looks horrified as she looks at the message…

The Pavilion
Liv is alone, texting the anonymous person with an encrypted message. ‘Why did you send those messages about Mr Muggleton?’ she writes, then sends it and waits anxiously for a reply. ‘I did it for us,’ comes the eventual response. Liv starts replying.

Miss Reyner’s office
Miss Reyner’s phone buzzes. It’s an encrypted message, saying, ‘But you made everything worse’. Miss Reyner replies, writing, ‘Everything’s going to be okay. Trust me.’ She looks anxious.