Previously on Neighbours
- Callum's romantic gestures to Rani win him a kiss, but not the part he wanted in the play
- Georgia applies for the nursing course having told Kyle otherwise; Kate disapproves
- Amber sabotages Chris's date with Seamus by sending a text from Seamus's phone
No 26 (garden)
Chris is speaking to Seamus on the phone, who wants to know why Chris stood him up. Chris explains he thought Seamus had cancelled, but it seems Seamus doesn't buy his story about the text. Chris tells Sheila he's nonplussed as to why Seamus has suddenly gone cold on him, mentioning in the process that Amber crashed their lunch- date. Sheila looks suspicious.
Indoors, Georgia has brought over a CD of Bollywood tracks for Kate to use in the school play, and stays for a kiss with Kyle. Sheila comes in and starts whining about having to clear up after everyone, picking up one of Mason's tops from when he got changed at the house earlier. Georgia says she has to rush off, claiming she's on a split shift. When Kyle offers to pick her up from the hospital later, she says he should come round to hers for dinner instead.
Kyle leaves for work, and Georgia admits to Kate that she doesn't really have a split shift - she's got an interview for the postgrad course. Kate says Georgia should tell Kyle the truth, but Georgia insists he doesn't need to know until there's something to tell.
Erinsborough High
Bailey brags to Callum that he's going to start building a box projector tonight, in preparation for the eclipse. Callum is unimpressed, and concerned Bailey won't have time to learn his lines for the play now he has the lead role of Raj. Bailey says that even though Raj gets the girl, Callum's part, Sanjay, has more lines, and is a better character because he gets the audience's sympathy.
Rani turns up, informing them of the schedule for their rehearsals tonight. They're doing all the Rani and Raj scenes, minus the kiss - that can wait till the performance. Once Rani's gone, Bailey asks Callum if not rehearsing the kiss will make things less weird. Callum admits that it does, and tells Bailey that they're 'cool'.
In the classroom, Kate talks to a pupil called Justin who is whining about the fact that he and two other volunteers are having to do all the work on costumes and sets. Rani adds that if they don't get more volunteers, they'll never be ready for the dress rehearsal at the uni next week. Kate has an idea and rushes off to pursue it, leaving the kids unsupervised.
The rehearsals begin. Callum watches wearily as Rani and Bailey deliver smouldering romantic dialogue to one another, culminating in Bailey/Raj kissing Rani's hand. Rani is pleased with the scene, and decrees it be performed again.
Harold's Store
Chris is at a table, and Amber comes in, asking him if he wants to go to a movie tonight. He's too busy mourning the collapse of his date with Seamus.
CHRIS: Should have known it was too good to be true. He drove a good car; he was smart; funny; hot.
AMBER: He wasn't that hot.
CHRIS: ...
AMBER: Okay, he was kind of hot. But on the inside he was cold.
Chris is still confused as to why Seamus denied sending the text message cancelling the date. Amber looks guilty. Chris concludes Seamus must be a player, but says he can normally pick those guys. Amber's about to confess all, but Chris cuts her off, saying he's not the best company right now, and leaves.
Erinsborough High
Rani's rehearsal continues with 'the scene in front of the Taj Mahal'. (Evidently Priya didn't think to number her scenes in the traditional manner). Bailey charitably suggests they do one of the scenes featuring Rani and Sanjay (Cal), but Rani is determined to get the Raj/Rani chemistry right first.
RANI: I mean, if the audience don't believe our connection the whole play falls apart.
Unfortunately for Callum, the connection between Rani and Bailey is so believable that he can't help but interrupt, saying he has some great ideas for the Sanjay scenes. Rani slams him down, saying they must get this right first.
Charlie's
Lou is at the bar, when Sheila turns up for work. Sheila asks if Lou's noticed Amber spending a lot of time with Chris - and that they seem to be more like a couple than friends.
LOU: Except for one very important thing. They're hardly on, erm, the same team, are they?
SHEILA: Yes, but how much experience does Amber have with Chris's team, exactly? I mean there can't be too many out- and- proud in Mount Isa, can there? Although you never know with those mining towns...
LOU: I wouldn't have a clue, Sheila. Why do you ask?
SHEILA: Well, do you think it's possible that she might want Chris to join her team?
LOU: And why would she want that? He is happy with his team.
SHEILA: Because some people bat for both teams. You know, kick with both feet. Do you think she wants Chris to visit her team?
LOU: Sheila, what the heck are you getting at?
The extended sports euphemism dispensed with, Sheila admits she thinks Amber's falling for Chris. Lou admits Amber talks about Chris a lot, but is reluctant to get involved. Sheila warns him Amber could end up getting her heart broken, however.
Erinsborough High
Rani has thrown the costumiers and other actors out of the classroom, ostensibly so she and Bailey have a quieter atmosphere to rehearse in. She now wants to rehearse the kiss scene (minus the kiss, of course). Bailey looks nervous.
BAILEY: Of all the wedding receptions in all the world...
RANI: Raj, what are you doing here?
BAILEY: Just looking for royalty.
RANI: My husband's getting me a drink.
BAILEY: Oh. It's a long queue.
RANI: Is that right?
BAILEY: At least a few minutes.
RANI: Well that's not long.
BAILEY: It's long enough.
Loaded pause, as Rani and Bailey get very close. We're expecting Callum to burst in with takeaway milkshakes, but that would just be too clichéd - instead it's Kate, who has poached Sheila from Charlie's in order to help with the costumes.
BAILEY: We were just rehearsing.
SHEILA: Oh, is that what they call it now?
No 26
Ignoring Chris's clear desire to be alone, Amber shows up with a tray of nibbles. Chris shows her in, and apologises for being in a bad mood - but Amber admits she should be the one apologising. She confesses to sabotaging the date by sending the text from Seamus's phone, then deleting it. Angrily, Chris asks why. Amber explains Seamus told her he didn't want anything serious with Chris, and she didn't want him to get his heart broken.
CHRIS: Who does that kind of thing?
AMBER: A friend? Although you could say this kind of pushes me into crazy territory.
CHRIS: Yeah, you could say that.
Chris asks her to leave, so she does.
Ramsay Street
Bailey is walking home from school, the weight of the world on his shoulders. Callum says he's managed to bribe Justin, the whining costumier, into not quitting the play. Cal asks how rehearsals went, and Bailey claims they were a bit repetitive - he's glad it's done with.
Rani calls Cal over from across the street, and Lou turns up, asking Bailey how the play's going. Bailey admits he thinks he likes Rani.
BAILEY: It doesn't matter, anyway.
LOU: Why not?
BAILEY: Callum's my friend.
LOU: All's fair in love and war, sunshine. When we were younger, I used to pinch all Jelly Belly's girlfriends!
BAILEY: You're not seriously telling me to go after my best mate's girlfriend?
LOU: Oh, I'd never do that. But if you tell Rani how you feel, then she chooses you over him, there ain't much you can do about it, sunshine.
BAILEY: Yes there is. I can make sure I'm not even a choice.
Charlie's
Kate runs into Georgia, who's confident she did well at her interview - but she says she's still not going to tell Kyle until it's confirmed.
KATE: You know it sounds like you're trying to protect yourself.
GEORGIA: You'd know!
KATE: What?
GEORGIA: Well, Mason could be going to jail, and you're acting like nothing's wrong - like it's all going to be okay.
KATE: That's not true.
GEORGIA: That's okay, I get it. If you keep your distance, don't get too invested, you don't get hurt. I'm doing the same thing with Kyle. Enjoying the moment while it lasts - just like you. See ya.
Not used to her sermons boomeranging thus, Kate has a face like thunder, and marches off. Outside, she gets a text from Mason, asking her out for a drink tonight. She stops Ajay en route from his office and says she needs to know what Mason's chances are of going to jail. Ajay tells Kate it's a bit of a lottery, but that Mason could go to jail.
Back inside, Sheila and Chris discuss the Amber situation; Sheila is doing the "I told you so" routine, but Chris is still in denial that Amber has a crush on him.
SHEILA: You're fooling yourself. This is just like Rock Hudson and Doris Day; Peter Allen and Liza Minnelli; Phil and Judy.
CHRIS: Who are the last two?
SHEILA: A couple I met in Frankston. Look - love is blind, and Amber is Ray Charles.
Sheila continues to try to convince Chris. He points out that Amber must know realistically that nothing can happen between them; but Sheila says that where love and particularly teenage girls are concerned, reality doesn't come into it. Chris asks what he should do, if it's true; Sheila suggests putting some distance between himself and Amber for a while. He protests that she's probably become his best friend, but Sheila says the more time they spend together, the harder it'll be.
No 32
With the eclipse not far away, Bailey shows off his projector to Lou, who is impressed. Amber comes in as Bailey leaves, and Lou asks her to sit down. He wants to talk to her about Chris, and asks her whether there's anything more in her feelings for him than just friendship. She denies there is, and Lou says he's glad, because things like that can hurt.
LOU: You know, there were some wonderful things about growing up in Australia when I was a kid. But other parts weren't so great - especially if you were a bit different. There was this bloke who lived on our street. Piano teacher. He was different. I'd say everybody knew that he was gay but people didn't speak about that sort of thing in those days. Anyway I guess he got tired of being different. And he married a woman from the area. A nice girl, nice girl. They tried to make it work. But they couldn't.
AMBER: What's your point, Gramps?
LOU: Sweetheart, you can't fight nature when it comes to love. Anyone who tells you different, is either a fool or a politician. Chris doesn't have to hide who he is anymore.
AMBER: I'm not trying to convert him, if that's what you mean.
LOU: I'm glad. You're both two wonderful young people. And your hearts are too precious to be wasted on someone who cannot love you the way that you love them.
Amber insists she and Chris are just friends, and goes to do her homework.
No 30
Cal is about to go next door to see Bailey. Kyle knocks at the door, and Georgia asks Cal to let him in while she puts some lipstick on.
CALLUM: He's seen you without lipstick like a million times.
GEORGIA: Please!
(Opens the door)
KYLE: Squid... I thought we had the place to ourselves.
CALLUM: Yeah you do. I'm about to leave. Georgia's in the bathroom; she's putting on lipstick. She thinks it'll make her look more attractive. Should I have told you that? Probably not. Am I going to stop talking and leave? You bet.
Cal leaves. While Kyle waits for Georgia, the phone rings. He calls her, but she doesn't emerge, so Kyle answers the phone. Cue 'lost trust' music as he takes a message. When she comes into the room and kisses him, Kyle announces that she had a phone call from the overseas postgrad course admissions board. Kyle is annoyed that she told him she wouldn't apply, then did the opposite. Georgia says it's at least a year away, and she didn't see the point in raising it.
KYLE: How does that work?
GEORGIA: Can we just forget it, and focus on the here and now?
KYLE: And what about later?
GEORGIA: You'll be fine.
Georgia says she doesn't want to be the one who ends up with nothing all over again, "because that's the way it goes" for her. Flipping out, she decides to save them both a lot of time and end their relationship now.
KYLE: You're breaking up with me?
GEORGIA: Yeah. You should go.
Tomorrow on Neighbours
- Kate theorises that Georgia needs closure from Scotty; and as if by magic, he appears
- Drama aplenty over the costs of Mason's legal representation
- More Rani/Raj play awkwardness; and Bailey admits to Mason he likes Rani