Erinsborough High
Yashvi catches up with Mackenzie as she runs off, apologising for making her upset. But Mackenzie is hurt and tells Yashvi her apology means nothing if she doesn't understand what she's apologising for. Mackenzie feels overwhelmed with all the students watching her and races out of the building.

Harold's Café
Shane tells Dipi he bought some Aussie treats (Tim Tams, Mint Slices etc) on Callum's request to slip into Toadie's suitcase for their trip. They're chatting about having the house to themselves for a while when Mackenzie walks in crying. Shane and Dipi ask what's wrong, but when Mackenzie can't reply, they change the topic to her butterfly charm bracelet. Mackenzie says her mum bought it for her 13th birthday.

DIPI: That's a lovely way to have her with you all the time.
MACKENZIE: Whenever I was upset she'd take me to the Butterfly House at the Zoo. It would always make me feel better.

Dipi knows it's not the same thing, but suggests a walk around the lake with her and Shane so that Mackenzie can have a chat if she wants to.

Number 32 Backyard
Chloe packs up the wine date props in the yard after her and Pierce have slept together. She thanks Pierce for brightening her day as he always does. Mark pops by to give Chloe an update on Fay.

MARK: She's back home. Her doctor's got her on some new medication, so she's much better.
CHLOE: Good. How are Ty and Piper doing?
MARK: They're a bit shaken up but they're okay. They're looking out for mum.

Pierce gets a phone call but chooses to ignore it. He tells Chloe it's just work stuff and says he'll get back to them later. Mark leaves them to it and tells them with a sly smile that he's glad the two of them have figured things out. Pierce and Chloe share a kiss.

Erinsborough High
Susan thanks fellow teacher, Cherie Reyner, for helping her out with Mackenzie. Susan told Richie that there'd be serious consequences if she hears of him stirring up any trouble. Cherie asks what Susan wants her to do and Susan says she'll need her to cover while she searches for Mackenzie. Cherie queries what she should say if the students start asking questions, but Susan says there's nothing to tell: other students' private lives are none of their business.

Harlow tells Yashvi that she feels awful for Mackenzie and that she understands why they were being so secretive now. Harlow goes on to say how unfair everything is for Mackenzie, making Yashvi feel more and more guilty.

HARLOW: She shouldn't feel like she has to talk about it. She shouldn't feel like she has to hide it either. I mean I guess she's probably used to dealing with this sort of stuff, but it doesn't make it any easier.
YASHVI: Yeah okay, I get it; I'm a terrible person!
HARLOW: I didn't mean it like that, Yashvi.
YASHVI: I know I stuffed up. I already feel sick about it. You don't have to rub it in!

Yashvi walks off leaving Harlow a bit taken aback.

The 82
Chloe and Pierce laugh at "the supreme overlord" aka Karl, keeping everything in tiptop, overbearing shape at the café. They start chatting with him about hosting wine events at the tram, which pleases Karl, and his love of making some cash, to no end. He tells the duo they should start talking numbers.

Harold's Café
Shane, Dipi and Mackenzie return from their walk. Mackenzie has told them what happened and says she wishes she would've had more time to deal with it all. Dipi agrees, "Yashvi had no right to speak on your behalf like that". Mackenzie says she hates the feeling of people staring at her.

MACKENZIE: I was in such a good place too. Feeling stronger, ready to look for my dad. And I'd put all that stuff from my last school behind me. I really thought Erinsborough was going to be a whole new chapter.
DIPI: It still can be.
MACKENZIE: This is how it starts. People start making assumptions and it's like I'm trans first and me second. And they forget that I'm an actual human, if that makes any sense.

Dipi says it does and Shane solemnly agrees, telling Mackenzie it's not right people treat her that way.

MACKENZIE: (upset) Maybe I'm just going to have to accept that it's going to be like this everywhere. And in the end I'm going to have to run away.

Shane looks distraught for her. Dipi says that Mackenzie might be surprised as people in Erinsborough can be quite welcoming. They both remind her that they're there for her any time. Susan arrives, relieved to see Mackenzie, and asks if she'll come back to the school for a chat.

The 82
Pierce, Chloe and Karl chat more tram biz. Chloe tells Pierce to check out the storage inside the café and while he's gone, Karl comments on how well Chloe's getting along with Pierce. Chloe tells him they're giving a relationship a go, "it's early days but it feels right". Karl congratulates her, wondering if he should keep the news from Elly. Chloe says she hasn't mentioned it to her yet but she's not hiding it either. Pierce returns and shakes hands with Karl, sealing the deal (I'm sure Karl not telling Gary and Kyle about the deal will in no way come back and bite him in the bum...).

Number 32 Backyard
Chloe and Pierce toast to their new business venture with Mark. Pierce says the only thing they're waiting on is to hear from a contact he has in the Barossa Valley, but he and Chloe are quite pleased with themselves and their teamwork. Pierce asks Mark if he has any intel on new business partner Karl, but Mark says Karl's pretty straitlaced.

CHLOE: Uh, as if! Doctor Kennedy is a total playboy.
MARK: I'm not sure that's entirely fair.
CHLOE: Has he or has he not had multiple affairs? And not to mention the lovechild in London.

Mark doesn't think that's going to have any bearing on a business partnership, but the mention of a lovechild has garnered Pierce's interest. He asks if Karl ever sees his kid and Mark says yes, but it's complicated. When Pierce heads inside for more wine, Chloe hears his phone ring. She notes it's a private number and answers, assuming it's Barossa guy, but she's shocked to hear a familiar voice.

MARK: (after she hangs up) Who was that?
CHLOE: It was Ebony. She was furious! She told me to tell Pierce to stop dodging her calls and take some responsibility?
MARK: For what?
CHLOE: That's what I'd like to know.

Erinsborough High
Susan asks Mackenzie to wait in the office for her while she speaks to Cherie and another teacher, Marty Muggleton. Susan's eyebrows raise when Marty wonders if they should have been informed first that Mackenzie was transgender, "not that I have any issue with it, but I'm not sure what to tell the students and parents". Cherie admits she's unsure about what to say to the kids as well and says there could be a discussion to address everything.

SUSAN: The last thing I want to do is turn Mackenzie into a spectacle. She's been singled out enough as it is. The questions, the curiosities of the staff and students, they're not the priority here. We have to do what is best for Mackenzie.
CHERIE: I guess everybody just wants to get it right. It's a pretty big deal for the school.
SUSAN: No! No it's not. And it's no one's business but Mackenzie's. It's deeply unfortunate that hasn't been respected but our job now is to make sure that she feels safe and welcome. That's all.

Cherie and Marty nod in agreement.

Number 32 Backyard
Pierce brings more wine out but is met with the curious and accusatory faces of Chloe and Mark. Chloe admits she answered Pierce's phone and wants to know why Ebony's calling. When Chloe mentions something about the joint account he was trying to close, Pierce runs with that excuse and says the lawyers are still working on it. This placates Chloe for now but Mark remains dubious.

Ramsay Street
Mark helps Toadie pack his luggage into the car for the trip to America. Pierce emerges from #32 and Mark's detective radar goes off again when Toadie evasively tells Pierce he "looked into that thing we talked about" and printed off some info. Mark stares after them as Pierce heads into #30 with Toadie to chat more.

Erinsborough High
Susan speaks with Mackenzie in her office and apologises again that she wasn't given the chance to share her story on her own terms - if she even wanted to share at all. Susan hopes Mackenzie feels comfortable coming to her if she's having any problems. Mackenzie thanks her but says she doesn't want any special treatment.

MACKENZIE: I just want to be like the other students.
SUSAN: Of course. And it's completely up to you how we proceed from here. I will follow your lead.
MACKENZIE: At first I thought, 'here we go, time for another school'. But I decided that I don't want to run away. This is my school as much as anybody's and I want people to get the chance to know me.
SUSAN: That's a very admirable response. Mackenzie I'm sure there will be other challenges, but I expect the best from the staff and students. And I do believe that on the whole they're a really good bunch. You are a very mature and strong young woman, and we're lucky to have you in the school community.

Mackenzie thanks her and leaves, just as Cherie arrives for another chat. She tells Susan that there have been a few calls from parents - including Angela Lane. Susan rolls her eyes and thinks it'd be too much to ask for a sensible response from Angela. She tells Cherie to leave it with her.

Ramsay Street
Shane, Dipi and Yashvi wave off Toadie, Nellyfish and Hugo as they head to the airport. Yashvi asks her parents if they've heard from Mackenzie and Shane is quite cold in his responses to her, asking if Yashvi's "suddenly concerned about her wellbeing now".

SHANE: You really hurt her, Vi.
YASHVI: I know, but I was only trying to help. That Richie kid is always a jerk, I was just getting sick of it.
SHANE: Exactly. You were sick of it. You made it all about you. But it's not about you, it's about Mackenzie.
YASHVI: I made a mistake and I feel terrible. But what do you want me to do? I tried apologising but she doesn't even want to talk to me.
SHANE: Well maybe you should stop talking for a bit and try listening.

He walks off and Dipi comforts Yashvi.

Harold's Café
Harlow tries to cheer up Mackenzie by telling her funny stories about the classes she missed. Yashvi walks in to say hey, so Harlow gives them a minute alone to talk. Yashvi says she's not there to say sorry again because she knows that's not enough, but she wants to understand why the things she said hurt Mackenzie so much.

MACKENZIE: Do you remember what you said to Richie?
YASHVI: I got angry at him and I outed you.
MACKENZIE: No, you didn't just out me, Yashvi. You said Mackenzie 'used to be a boy'. I didn't 'used to be a boy', that sounds like I changed into a new person. But I haven't. I've always been a girl; I've always been me.
YASHVI: Mackenzie I didn't mean it like that.
MACKENZIE: I know you were coming from a good place but words are powerful, and you just took me back to one of the worst times of my life.
YASHVI: I'm so sorry.
MACKENZIE: I accept your apology. I'm just going to need some time.

She gets up and leaves Yashvi sitting at the table while Harlow looks on.

The Waterhole
Karl is at the bar with Pierce discussing something that is apparently "a very tricky situation, but all you can do is be honest". Mark sidles up to Pierce when Karl leaves and asks what their chat was all about. Pierce says it was just a medical question, but Mark doesn't look like he believes him.

Number 22
Ned finally arrives back after all his airport delays and flops onto the couch, only to be disturbed by a knock at the door. He doesn't stay grumpy, however, when Yashvi immediately envelops him in a big hug. Ned senses something's wrong and Yashvi blurts out the gist of all her recent woes (without betraying Mackenzie's privacy this time), concluding that Mackenzie might not want to be friends anymore. Ned tells her to take a breath and that things might not be as bad as she thinks. Yashvi smiles, happy she's got Ned by her side again.

Number 32 Backyard
Pierce and Chloe are snuggled up under a blanket, chatting about their day and how Pierce thinks Chloe is a great partner - business and otherwise. Chloe heads inside to get another drink when Mark arrives, wanting a chat with Pierce. Detective Brennan can't let this Ebony business go and wants to do more digging.

MARK: That phone call from Ebony earlier and seeing you get advice from Karl... I wouldn't normally make it my business but I did encourage Chloe to give your relationship another shot, so I feel responsible.
PIERCE: Responsible for what?
MARK: Is Ebony pregnant?

Pierce struggles to find the words to respond.

Coming up on Neighbours...
Roxy sits on Mark's lap.

ROXY: This all works very well for me.

But maybe not well enough, as Roxy shares something with Harlow.

ROXY: There's been an incident.

Surprise! Runaway bride Scarlett is in Harold's! And Ned looks wary.

SCARLETT: Ned! Oh my god, no way! I thought I could use a fresh start.

More trouble at Erinsborough High as Yashvi acts evasive about something.

MACKENZIE: What is it?
YASHVI: Uh, nothing...

A random, shirtless teen boy talks to Chloe in #32

TEEN BOY: You seem like someone who knows how to party.