No 26
Gary shows off a suit he's wearing to Sheila - it's for two job interviews he's managed to secure for today, for positions he'd be able to juggle alongside his coffee hut gig. Sheila is impressed.

GARY: I'm gonna work my guts out to pay Amy back. No shortcuts.
SHEILA: That's the attitude I like to hear.

Gary admits he's worried about Amy, as she's been stressing over the Robinson Pines launch event this afternoon. He wants to help; but Sheila says that while it's tempting to swoop in and rescue Amy, Gary needs to stick to his game plan.

SHEILA: Become the man she needs you to be day in, day out, and she won't be able to resist you.

Sheila wishes Gary luck in the interviews.

Lassiter's Complex
Aaron finds Mel peering through the window of the previous Rebecchi Law offices, when he worked there with Toadie. Mel asks Aaron if he knows anything about the office space; he recommends the space and the location. Mel explains she's keeping her eye out for opportunity.

AARON: So you are gonna stay around longer, huh?
MEL: I heard it's the Most Liveable Suburb, 2017! Nah, it's good coffee. Nice growth corridor. This could be the perfect space to settle into my own real estate venture.
AARON: That's very grown-up of you.
MEL: Think Chloe would be impressed?
AARON: Yes. I think she would. Tell me again - Chloe is the real reason why you want to stay around longer, right?
MEL: Can't confirm. Can't deny.

Mel walks away, smiling.

No 24
Aaron arrives home from his run and finds Chloe and Mel in the kitchen, fresh from a swim in the pool. Chloe has to get ready for work; Elly laments that she still hasn't found a job of her own. Chloe says she just needs to stay out and about; and to that end, Elly suggests they go for a drink tonight. Aaron immediately looks worried. Once Elly's out of the room...

AARON: Wow. Drinks with Elly (!) (...) One-on-one drinks!
CHLOE: (...) I'm helping her plan her wedding!
AARON: Well, maybe you should try and hang out with someone who's actually available?
CHLOE: Oh, like, umm, Mel? (!)
AARON: I didn't mention any names.
CHLOE: Well, not that it's any of your business, but Mel and I did actually have a drink last night. One-on-one.
AARON: Oh? How was that?
CHLOE: It was fine.
AARON: Just fine?
CHLOE: Look, Mel is the one I need to be careful of, not Elly.
AARON: Chlo, it really does seem like she's changed.
CHLOE: She knows how to work people.
AARON: Can I be blunt?
CHLOE: You don't usually ask for permission!
AARON: Chlo, you spending some non-Elly time with someone who is actually available - it might be healthy for you.
CHLOE: You promised you weren't gonna butt in.
AARON: Yeah, I know I did. But seeing you overreact about planning this hens' thing... I'm worried for you, Chlo.

Harold's Café
Sheila and Gary come in for coffees. Amy is sitting at a table, and Gary goes over to talk to her - saying he wanted to wish her luck for the launch today. Amy awkwardly thanks him, and comments that he looks 'spiffy' - he explains he has job interviews.

SHEILA: Plural!
GARY: (...) Yeah, yeah - don't worry, they're legit!

Amy wishes him luck with the interviews, and heads down to the lake to set up for the meet-and-greet...

Lassiter's Lake
But when she gets there with Ned, who is helping, she finds that there are already prospective clients milling around, even though the event wasn't scheduled to start till 3pm. One of them (Maria Alvarez) is impatient for the event to get started as she has another appointment to get to. Amy is confused as to why they're here, until Maria shows her the email stating an 11am start!

The Waterhole / Lassiter's Lake
Sheila is throwing some practice interview questions at Gary, when Amy calls him from the lake. She tells him the event is a disaster; everyone's here four hours early because the email had the wrong time on it. She and Ned are having little success setting up the stall for the event; and she asks Gary to bring some cold drinks down to help keep the clients there while she sets up.

Gary immediately agrees to help; but when he hangs up Sheila is horrified, as he's due at the job interviews. Gary tells her he'll ring the first company to reschedule, and then hopefully make the second one, as helping Amy won't take long.

Lassiter's Lake
Paul turns up at the lake and demands to know what's going on. Amy explains they are starting early, and sends Ned to pick up some flyers from the hotel.

Lassiter's Complex
Chloe is just leaving the hotel building when Mel turns up, and thanks her for the drink last night. Chloe shrugs it off.

MEL: And I want to say sorry. I've been pushing too hard to make things happen that you might not want. Like the drink. I mean, landing here out of the blue was pretty full-on, and I get that now. So if you want to catch up, great. Ball's in your court - I won't pressure you anymore.

Chloe suggests that Mel should stop by at the Robinson Pines meet-and-greet later.

CHLOE: You're into real estate, and... I'll be there!
MEL: I might do that!

Mel heads into the hotel, and Chloe watches her, conflicted. She then gets a call from Amy...

Lassiter's Lake
Amy and Ned are making some progress on the event stand, and Gary has turned up with drinks for the clients - while Paul apologises for the delay and says the presentation will start soon. Chloe turns up - she doesn't understand what's happened as she thought she typed up the exact details Amy gave her. Amy concludes she must have said the wrong time to Chloe. Mel turns up.

MEL: Everything seems pretty frantic. How can I help?
CHLOE: It's fine, we've almost caught up now.

But at that point Amy falls over while rushing around with boxes of leaflets - and seeing the chaos, some of the prospective buyers begin to leave. Mel, of course, takes the initiative, and grabs a handful of flyers before heading over to start making sales pitches to the buyers; she tells Chloe that she's read up on the project on the website, so knows all about it.

Amy is about to stop Mel, worrying that she'll ruin things - but Paul can already see what a good job Mel's doing, and holds Amy back. As the event goes on, Paul witnesses Amy's own sales skills and project knowledge, which in her stress and confusion leave something to be desired. Nearby, Mel is outshining Amy totally, playing on the project's 'family-friendly' credentials with reference to Jim.

Mel comes over to ask Paul if he has any contracts on hand - some of the potential clients are 'itching to put down deposits'. Paul is visibly impressed, and leads Mel away to get some contracts. Gary tells Amy that all's well that ends well - but she doesn't look so thrilled.

Paul's Penthouse
The event has wound up, and Paul and Mel are having a glass of champagne together, to celebrate the two house deals Mel managed to sign! Naturally, Paul says, he will pay her commission, and is also wondering if she'd consider joining the team officially. He admits he made a mistake when he didn't give her a chance the other day.

PAUL: How would you like to come on board as sales manager at Robinson Pines?
MEL: I'm interested. How about you put together an offer? And when that's done, I'll let you know.
PAUL: Very shrewd. I am going to enjoy working with you.

Chloe comes in, and Paul leaves them alone while he goes to sort out the contracts. Chloe congratulates Mel on Paul's job offer, and suggests they celebrate with a 'proper drink'. Mel suggests this afternoon, and Chloe hesitates, before agreeing to shift her other commitment.

The Waterhole
Gary is buying Amy a drink, meanwhile, and goes to the bar to order. But Sheila gives him a piece of her mind after he admits that he missed both job interviews to help Amy.

GARY: Amy needed my help, and that trumps any interviews - end of story.
SHEILA: Amy *is* the story, you goose! Aren't you supposed to be being the man she can depend on long-term?
GARY: Yeah, I am.
SHEILA: Well, then, stop trying to be Mr Instant Superhero!
GARY: Just relax, Mum. I've got a feeling everything's gonna be fine.
SHEILA: You're getting way ahead of yourself.
GARY: No, no - I know Amy Williams, and trust me, the signs are all good.

Gary returns to the table with the beers, and raises a toast to 'surviving the day'. Amy's a bit despondent that she didn't make the sales herself, but Gary reminds her that as the project manager, it's win-win anyway.

AMY: That's what I love about you. You always find a way to put a positive spin on things.

They clink bottles.

No 24
Chloe comes in, and Elly is excited to head out for their drink - but Chloe asks if Elly would mind if they postpone.

CHLOE: Mel smashed out a couple of Robinson Pines sales, so I kind of agreed to join her for a low-key celebration.
ELLY: I didn't know she was involved in Robinson Pines?
CHLOE: Yeah, nobody did - until she was!

Elly agrees to take a raincheck, but once Chloe's left, there seems to be a hint of bitterness in the way she says to Aaron...

ELLY: Good to see her upbeat, isn't it?
AARON: Mm. Hey, I was pretty suss on Mel as well, when I found out what actually happened between them.
ELLY: Exactly. Abandoning her like that! And the debt? That was shocking!
AARON: Yeah, yeah - I know. But don't forget, they were both pretty young.
ELLY: I guess...
AARON: And career-wise, it seems like Mel's really got her act together now...
ELLY: Maybe...
AARON: Elly, no offence - but do you think you've gotten too comfortable having Chloe as your on-call friend? Don't get me wrong - it's great that you guys are spending all this time together. But you can't stop her having other friends.
ELLY: I'm not trying to stop Chloe from having other friends.

But she's rattled by Aaron's intervention, and quickly leaves the room. He looks concerned.

Fitzgerald Motors
Bea is fixing a car, when Elly turns up with some coffees for them, so they can discuss the hen night. But it's clearly a pretext for wanting to sound off about Mel. She asks Bea if she's met her.

BEA: No, not yet. Why, don't you like her?
ELLY: Oh, she's alright, I guess.
BEA: Which means you don't like her!
ELLY: Well, no, I don't know her. I just get this vibe off her (...) And I mean, she's fine. And she gave me good advice yesterday. But it was a weird situation.
BEA: Well, do you think she has an agenda?
ELLY: I dunno, maybe.
BEA: Well, Chloe's a big girl. I'm sure she can look after herself.
ELLY: Yeah, you're absolutely right.

Bea asks Elly if she's heard anything from Mark about his new job yet - Elly hasn't, but knows that Bea is worried about what will happen at the garage when he leaves.

ELLY: But Mark will look after you. And I know that Lucas is on board as well - so whoever manages this place, you will be here, and that will be part of the deal.

Elly shifts conversation back to Mel, saying she'd like Bea to meet her so she can get her thoughts.

BEA: Chloe is her own woman, Elly. Just stay out of it, and let whatever happens between them happen.

The Waterhole
Mel comes over to chat to Amy and Chloe after a successful day for Robinson Pines. Amy thanks her for her efforts - but is bowled over when Mel tells her that Paul has offered her the job as sales manager. Her silence prompts Mel to ask if it's a problem, but Amy congratulates her and says it's well-deserved. Once Mel's gone, however, Amy admits to Gary that she's not happy.

GARY: It doesn't mean anything.
AMY: Of course it does. I do the hiring and firing on this project; that's my job. Why would Dad make such a huge decision without talking to me?

Lassiter's Park
Chloe and Mel are having some beers on the grass, because...

CHLOE: Illegal public drinking just feels more 'us'.
MEL: You mean, risky?
CHLOE: Do you remember when we bummed a ride from that woman in the yellow kombi?
MEL: With the shotgun in the passenger seat -
BOTH: In case of snakes!
MEL: Oh, we had some good times.
CHLOE: We did... mostly.
MEL: I'm sorry - about how I handled our break-up. I look back on it, and I can't even believe my own behaviour.
CHLOE: It's okay.
MEL: No, it's not. If I had my time again, I would've done things so differently. I need you to know that.
CHLOE: Mel, you've apologised; I accepted it. It's ancient history.
MEL: Okay.

The nearby sprinklers suddenly activate, spraying the pair of them. They then proceed to have great fun getting soaked as they attempt to retrieve their beers, and engage in some daggy dancing...

Paul's Penthouse
Amy and Gary enter from the lift. Amy is annoyed at Paul, telling Gary he had no right to hire Mel, despite Amy's mess-ups with the meet-and-greet event. She calls out for Paul angrily, but Gary suggests she should calm down before she talks to him.

AMY: I make one stuff-up, and he completely loses faith in me.
GARY: No, he hasn't.
AMY: When I took the job, he promised me he wouldn't go behind my back. He obviously thinks I'm not good enough.
GARY: Hey, come on - you know that's not true. You are brilliant at your job, and you've totally got this.
AMY: And what I did to you today - making you miss your interviews to bail me out...
GARY: Yeah, don't even mention that. I'm just happy I could help.
AMY: Well, umm, it means a lot. I really appreciate it.

They have a Moment™, and Amy grabs Gary by the neck, about to kiss him - only to have second thoughts and pull away. He looks forlorn.

AMY: I'm sorry... I can't.
GARY: Yep. That's okay.
AMY: I... I shouldn't have done that.... Umm, please can you go?
GARY: ...
AMY: Gary, I said go - please.

Gary leaves, devastated. Amy looks sad and guilty as he enters the lift.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Shane and Dipi wonder whether everything's okay with Toadie and Sonya
- Karl checks in with Toadie, who doesn't look pleased to see him
- Sheila tells Amy that no- one wipes their feet on her son!
- Chloe is with Piper and Elly, and asks Elly if there was something else she wanted; Elly says it's fine
- Noting their odd behaviour, Piper asks Mark if something is going on with Elly and Chloe
- Mark asks Elly why Chloe wouldn't want to be involved