Previously
- Rafael tells David his mother's death haunts him; he needs to find out who's responsible
- Piper, meet Chloe
- Piper whinges to Xanthe about how Chloe has 'kicked her out'
- Shane and Toadie's mutual pranking goes too far when new law client Rita gets pied
- Mishti is suspicious of Leo's reasons for being in London
- Mark tells Paige to avoid him from now on
- Paige tells Jack that she wants them to move to Queensland with Gabe
- Piper lets slip to Mark that Paige is leaving, not realising he hadn't been told
Lassiter's Complex
Paige stands in the largely deserted courtyard, looking nostalgic about her times here. We see a flashback to her first meeting Lauren inside Harold's, before Lauren realised she was her daughter. Paige then has a second flashback to her first meeting with Jack, just before the hotel explosion.
Back in the present, Mark jogs by, and sees Paige. He approaches, remarking that it's a 'big day' for her and explaining that Piper told him about the move. Paige guiltily says that she only didn't tell Mark because she thought he didn't want to see her.
MARK: You don't have to explain, okay?
PAIGE: If you want to come and say goodbye to Gabe...?
MARK: No, no - you guys are probably busy packing. I'll leave you to it.
Mark walks off again. Paige looks sad.
No 30
Toadie and Steph are clearing the table when Shane shows up, with a peace offering for Toadie - an Easter egg! Toadie is unimpressed.
SHANE: I'm sorry if the pie in the face put Rita offside. I'm hoping she has a sense of humour (...)
TOADIE: You threw a *cake* at my client's head.
SHANE: Well, technically I was aiming for you.
Toadie is still unimpressed. Shane offers to call Rita to make things better, but Toadie says she has already fired him, and walks out. Steph explains to Shane that Toadie has been working really hard to make up the $100,000 that Andrea swindled him out of, before Sonya gets home from the US.
Steph says Toadie might respond better to Shane's apologies if there was some thought behind it - and suggests he should think about how to attract some new 'cashed-up clients' for his brother.
No 24
Breakfast with the Brennans - Aaron is shirtless, and Chloe's untidiness is beginning to grate on Mark, and also Piper. When Chloe steals Piper's toast, it's the last straw, and she heads off to help Paige and Jack with their packing. Mark suggests Chloe should think about getting a job if she's planning on sticking around.
CHLOE: Aaron's helping me put a CV together.
AARON: I am?
Mark grouchily replies that this is 'good'; and once he's out of earshot, Aaron explains that he's grumpy because Paige is leaving town today. Chloe asks Aaron about the breakdown of his own relationship, noting that David has 'totally disappeared from your Insta posts'.
AARON: It's complicated.
CHLOE: Complicated as in, 'we broke up but still love each other, so will inevitably fall back into each other's arms'?
AARON: No, he's seeing someone else.
CHLOE: Who is he, and what do we know about him?
No 22
Shane has come round under the pretence of helping with Paige and Jack's packing, but really to pester Terese about taking on Toadie as Lassiter's lawyer. She explains that they have a firm from The City™ on retainer, which she's happy with - but mentions that she is looking for an executive assistant to replace Paige. Shane wishes Paige and Jack luck with their move, and leaves.
Terese hugs Paige, who has picked up the mail from work, saying it's her last official duty as her EA. Terese heads upstairs, and Paige admits to Jack that she just ran into Mark.
PAIGE: It wasn't much of a farewell.
JACK: Can you, er, maybe try again?
No 24
Mark is telling Aaron about his encounter with Paige. He says there's nothing left to say between them, but Aaron begs to differ.
AARON: Mark, you guys have been through so much together. Don't you at least owe it to each other to acknowledge that?
No 22
Paige tells Jack that Mark wants nothing to do with her; she doesn't blame him.
No 24
Chloe tells Mark that...
CHLOE: A neat freak like you needs something way tidier than that whole baby-with-her-ex setup.
MARK and AARON: ...
CHLOE: I'm being supportive!
But Mark is already leaving the house! Chloe continues to pester Aaron about David, and how he should acknowledge his Feelings™ for him.
AARON: Hey, just wash your dishes.
Paul's Penthouse
Leo is home from London, and David and Amy welcome him back. Leo reports that Dakota was 'too smart to be cornered a second time' but didn't deny involvement in the fire in Brazil. Amy retorts that she didn't clear Paul of involvement, either - but Leo says he has a gut feeling that Paul's innocent.
Leo asks about the court case for the construction site sabotage. We learn that Jayden and Sue Parker have both been jailed for six months, but that Rafael got away with a $10,000 fine.
DAVID: At least you get some closure. That's more than Raf's ever gonna have.
David reports that Rafael is still holding back on their relationship, and that he can't see that changing while there's still a possibility Paul is responsible for the fire that killed Raf's mum. Leo isn't giving up on finding out what really happened.
Mishti arrives, and overhears Leo mentioning Dakota, but he diverts her with kisses - and avoids explaining the real reason why he didn't go to the hotel conference. He cites scheduling conflicts, but Mishti continues to press Leo about Dakota; and Amy tells her that she's an old business associate of Paul's.
Leo again changes the subject, and a suspicious Mishti exits - not saying anything more, but visibly annoyed that she seems to be being kept at arm's length from the truth about Leo's activities in London.
Erinsborough Backpackers
Leo is surprised when Jack tells him he's leaving town today. Jack says he'd do anything for Paige and Gabe; Leo will know what that feels like when he's a father one day. Leo looks awkward. Jack thanks Leo for all he's done for him, and they hug it out.
Outside, Leo tells Rafael he's sorry that nothing came of the London trip. Raf suggests Mishti could help him find Dakota, but Leo tells him he doesn't want Mishti involved - if the cops could find Dakota, he'd have gone to them himself, but he has nothing to give them.
RAFAEL: At least you've tried. Even if it was just to protect Paul.
LEO: I promise we're not giving up, alright? But if we can't get the answers you're looking for, you might need to consider letting go.
RAFAEL: I've explained this to your brother. I can't accept that.
LEO: My brother cares about you. So there's no chance for you and David?
RAFAEL: It's not as simple as that.
LEO: Is it ever?
Rafael walks off.
Ramsay Street
Steph is tinkering with her bike on the lawn. Shane turns up to talk to Toadie; he's come up with an idea to recoup the cash he's lost from Rita's contract. He suggests ditching the corporate contracts and going back to his roots of helping 'the battlers facing down the law'.
TOADIE: Mate, I've always done pro bono work. This time I need to get some serious cash.
SHANE: No, I'm not talking about freebies. I mean people that can pay. People like the ones we grew up with.
TOADIE: I'm not gonna chase ambulances.
But Steph says Shane has a point.
STEPH: You've already got your brand, The Lawman. There's nothing like a pair of tights to show people you're approachable!
SHANE: We can help rustle up some business!
No 30
Cut to a montage of Steph, Shane and Toadie making phone calls to rustle up business from various ne'er-do-wells (including Angie's neighbours from Colac!)
SHANE: G'day, mate, how's life? ... Oh, sorry to hear that. You don't want to be facing down another stretch inside... Have you got representation? (...)
TOADIE: Hi, Mum... You know that family next door - the ones who always end up in court? ...
Power Street
Paige finds Mark sitting contemplatively at The Only Bus Stop™.
PAIGE: Are you gonna claim my thinking spot now?
Gabe starts babbling from his pram, and Mark says hello! Things appear to be thawing between Mark and Paige, as she sits down to join him.
MARK: I was just remembering all the times I found you sitting here. Usually after I did something to drive you crazy.
PAIGE: I think I was delivering most of the crazy.
MARK: You did attack me with a broom once.
PAIGE: It's right up there with you arresting me at our wedding (!)
MARK: Yeah. I can't tell you how many times I kicked myself because of that.
PAIGE (charitably): We both had a role to play.
MARK: Hey - remember what an old man you thought I was when we first started dating?
PAIGE: And now I'm the one with the family.
MARK: Yeah, it all looked pretty good on paper, didn't it? Suddenly, you were the one with the baby I always wanted.
PAIGE: It made sense to get back together.
MARK: I did love you.
PAIGE: And I loved you.
MARK: I guess it all worked out the way it was meant to, hey?
Mark goes to talk to Gabe.
MARK: You are gonna have an amazing life, doing things you can't even imagine. You just take good care of your mum, okay?
PAIGE (sadly): ...
MARK: Hey - go. Be happy. I will never regret a moment we've had together.
GABRIEL: (approximating) Bye-bye!
MARK: Bye, Paige.
PAIGE: Bye.
Mark walks away.
Harold's Café
Aaron introduces Amy to Chloe.
CHLOE: You're right - she's adorable!
Chloe starts pumping Amy for information about the 'crazy stuff' going on with Rafael and her family, remarking on how messy it all is. Aaron attempts to shut Chloe up, but she's keen to help him get the inside scoop on Rafael and David. Amy admits that she doesn't think Raf and David have a future unless Raf knows Paul is innocent - and she doesn't know whether that will happen.
No 22
Gary is helping Jack pack up Gabe's things; Jack explains he's just been to a last church service with Amy and Jimmy, and that it was weird being a spectator rather than a speaker. Gary tells Jack he'll be missed in the community; Jack says he's welcome to come and visit. Gary thinks Terese is already planning a visit, and Jack goes to talk to her in the kitchen.
JACK: You have done so much for us.
TERESE: We're family.
JACK: Yeah. We are. But I wasn't always there for Paige - not in the ways she needed me. I know how lucky I am. And I will never stop finding ways to show Paige that I love her. I won't let her down again, okay?
TERESE: Yeah. She's lucky too.
Jack heads upstairs, and Terese tells Gary that she's worried how Piper will cope with Paige leaving - she's been fairly quiet on the topic. As for herself, Terese says she's 'starting a new chapter', and isn't going to pressure Piper into moving back home. Among the business post Paige brought in earlier, Terese opens an envelope with a USB stick in it, apparently marked for Leo.
TERESE: That's weird. Leo must've left that in the back of a taxi or in the hotel in London. Doesn't say where it's from, though.
She resolves to pass it onto Leo, and puts it on the desk next to her laptop.
No 24
Paige turns up with Gabe, and meets Chloe for the first time. They have a brief chat.
CHLOE: I can totally see why Mark kept proposing!
Aaron emerges with some CVs he's printed for Chloe, and they leave for a job-hunt, promising to swing by and say goodbye to Paige later. Piper comes out of her room - she's bought Gabe a toy elephant as a goodbye present.
PIPER: You know that I freaked out when Dad told me that he had another kid. But I am really glad that you came looking for us.
PAIGE: It was the best decision I ever made. Straight after Gabe.
PIPER: Gabe wasn't really a *decision* though, was he?
PAIGE: (...) I know you're staying here to be close to Tyler - but you know, that's going to start getting a bit harder now that Chloe's living here.
PIPER: I survived living with you!
PAIGE: Ha-ha-ha! All I'm saying is, it might be a good idea to think about moving back home.
No 30
Toadie's annoyed that none of his prospective clients have called him back; all their hard work appears to have been in vain. Shane tells him to give it time.
TOADIE: I remortgaged our house. Sonya deserves to get every penny of that back.
However, Steph then looks at Toadie's emails and realises he has five enquiries from potential clients - all the calls paid off after all!
TOADIE: Okay, we've got two counts of disorderly conduct, one of trespass... Sheep-stealing?!
Shane's about to leave for work, and Toadie makes it clear that all is forgiven as regards the Rita/pie incident, admitting he did quite enjoy the food fight.
Lassiter's Complex
Aaron and Chloe are dropping off a CV to Shane at The Waterhole.
CHLOE: I've worked with some royals! Ex-royals - there was a nasty divorce. I wasn't involved, of course, but it was time to move on - so I took a job cooking on a tycoon's yacht. You can check my referees!
Shane takes a copy of the CV to pass to Sheila, and mentions that Terese is also looking for a new EA. Chloe is grateful for the tip, and she and Aaron head off to harangue Terese instead! David appears at the other side of the courtyard, and looks at Aaron sadly. Chloe correctly guesses who he is.
Rafael appears, and David tells him that he wants to help him pay his court fine. Raf thanks him but says it's not necessary.
DAVID: Don't suppose you've had a change of heart, about us?
We return to Aaron and Chloe's perspective as Raf and David's conversation continues unheard. Soon, Raf walks off, and David looks forlorn, while Aaron and Chloe watch.
No 22
Aaron is now helping Gary take Paige's possessions out to the car, while Chloe gives Terese a copy of her CV on USB, hoping she's in with a chance for the EA job. Terese puts the USB in her computer and has a look, remarking that Chloe's had a lot of short-term jobs.
CHLOE: I'm super adaptable!
TERESE: And no experience in hotel management.
PAIGE: Well, neither did I when I first started, but I learned quickly!
But Terese has already pulled out the USB and naturally, flung it on top of the envelope so it's next to the one that was sent to Leo in the post. She hands Chloe the wrong USB by accident, and tells her to send her an email and that she'll keep her details on record. Chloe leaves, paving the way for Paige and Terese to share a moment.
PAIGE: I'm really doing this, aren't I?
TERESE: You sure are.
Ramsay Street
Jack loads Gabe into the car, as friends and family gather in the street to say their farewells to Jack and Paige. Elly hugs Paige, and they share a tearful goodbye, promising to stay in touch. Aaron then hugs Paige too, promising to keep an eye on Piper for her - and Mark! Amy turns up, and shares a goodbye hug with Jack. Paige then says her goodbyes to Piper and Terese too.
Mark turns up suddenly.
MARK: I forgot to do something.
He hugs Paige goodbye, and then shakes hands with Jack, who promises to take good care of her.
JACK: You ready?
PAIGE: Yep.
Steph waves at Jack from across the road, as he and a tearful Paige get in the car.
PAIGE: I love you guys.
They drive out of Ramsay Street, as the assembled RSRs wave them goodbye.
No 22
Terese is just sitting down on the sofa, when Piper comes through the door with some of her possessions - she's moving back in. They hug emotionally.
No 24
Chloe remarks to Aaron that Mark must have fallen hard for Paige. He agrees, and asks if Chloe's had anyone special in her life.
CHLOE: No-one worth mentioning!
AARON: Well, there's nothing wrong with being single, is there?
CHLOE: Yeah - not if you're ready for it. On the other hand, there's you and David.
But Aaron replies that as soon as Leo gets Paul off the hook for the fire, Rafael and David will be together. Chloe points out that Amy said they may never find out the truth about the fire - and then loads the USB into her laptop, realising Terese has given her the wrong one. Aaron offers to take it back over to Terese's, but Chloe has already opened the file on it.
CHLOE: This document - it's a UK statutory declaration about a fire in São Paulo (...) Someone called Dakota swears she and Carlos Horta started the fire to collect insurance money! She says Paul Robinson's completely innocent!
AARON: ... I think David needs to see this.
CHLOE: Wait - think this through! (...) If this does clear Paul's name, then there's a possibility you're gonna lose David to Rafael. Is that really what you want?
Aaron looks pensive.
Next week on Neighbours
- More of Aaron looking pensive
- Xanthe is visiting Ben in Oakey, but he's too busy at the garage to spend time with her
- Leo is annoyed to learn that Mishti knew about Rafael's vendetta; she says she had no choice