Previously
- Shane tells Ned it won't be long before Yashvi realises she's better off without him.
- Amy farewells Kyle.
- Kyle kisses Roxy and she's taken aback.
- Kyle tells Shane that he backed off as soon as he realised Roxy wasn't interested. Shane replies that it's not what he did, but what he assumed.
- Pierce tells Chloe that Lucy wants him to fire her.
- Chloe says Lucy is bringing in a consultant.
- Terese helps Chloe with hotel business.
- The consultant Anita walks in on Terese telling Chloe she enjoyed helping.
- Anita says it's going to be a very different phone call to Lucy now.
Lassiters Hotel
Pierce returns after looking for Anita who didn't want to discuss the situation with him. Pierce berates Chloe and Terese for what they've done but Terese insists that Chloe worked really hard on her presentation; all Terese did was give her some ideas for her pitch.
TERESE: She needed a confidence boost more than anything.
Terese goes to find Anita to explain. When Pierce and Chloe are alone, she says she was only planning to get Terese to help her that one time so she could buy some time and settle into the role. She has some ideas for the hotel and Pierce looks concerned.
The Waterhole
ROXY: What is that?
SHEILA: It's a customer satisfaction survey kiosk.
Sheila explains that the customers will scan their receipts and have the option of 3 faces to choose from to rate customer service. Roxy makes sarcastic comments but Sheila puts her in her place, telling her that customers have the option of commenting on particular staff members. Sheila goes to the bar leaving a worried Roxy who says to Shane they can't afford to get bad ratings as several staff have been laid off recently. He replies that they'll just have to make sure they don't get bad reviews.
ROXY: I feel like taking this thing and chucking it in the lake.
SHANE: Shh, I think it's listening.
Lassiters Complex
YASHVI: I thought we said 9.
NED: Yeah sorry, I slept through my alarm, Chloe made me do a double last night.
Yashvi tells him she's got to go to police academy boot camp a bit later so they should make the most of the time they've got; she feels like doing something artsy, especially after Ned enjoyed re-designing the history wall so much. He says he'd like to teach some art lessons and she replies that they should go and raid Nell's art supplies.
NED: Reckon she'd have some chalk?
Number 30
Gary and Toadie are getting ready to go fishing. Gary looks for bait in the fridge but pulls out some vegetables.
GARY: It's like a national park in here, what are you on a health kick?
TOADIE: (laughs) Bit of a New Year's resolution; to live life the way Sonya would have wanted us to. Healthier and better for the environment.
Kyle arrives, clearly looking for a distraction. He sees that they're going fishing but declines an invitation to join. Gary comments on the fact he wants to take his mind off the Roxy situation and Kyle points out that that's not the only thing he needs to take his mind off. After he leaves, Gary voices his concerns to Toadie and they agree that he could do with being a bit busier.
GARY: I could get him some more shifts at the tram.
TOADIE: No no, not to worry. I've been mulling over an idea.
The Waterhole
Shane catches Roxy scanning a receipt at the 'customer satisfaction survey kiosk'.
SHANE: Hey, the customer's supposed to do that.
ROXY: I'm just saving them the effort (smiles).
She selects the 'happy' face. Shane questions whether the customer told her to rate the service that highly and she says she asked them in a manner of speaking whether they were satisfied with the service.
SHANE: There were 4 receipts for that one table?
ROXY: That's how many drinks they had.
SHANE: So you're splitting the bill and putting each item through individually and all with rave reviews.
ROXY: Exactly...So many happy happy customers.
Lassiters Hotel
Terese arrives back from talking to Anita. She says she assured her that Chloe put in most of the work herself and she only helped her a little bit. She's also convinced Anita not to say anything to Lucy.
TERESE: From now on though, you sink or swim on your own.
CHLOE: But I can only dog paddle.
TERESE: That'll still get you to the other side of the pool. Just focus on those targets and paddle like hell.
CHLOE: For the next 5 years...
TERESE: 5 years?
CHLOE: That's how long the contract's for, if I get it...
Terese looks a little shocked. Pierce says that the contract is long because Lucy wants some stability for the hotel after everything recently. Terese then admits that she's surprised Chloe still wants the job as it's a huge commitment and will completely consume her life.
Ramsay Street
Ned and Yashvi are making chalk drawings on the street.
YASHVI: My butterflies look like old man ears.
They laugh at the drawing as Terese arrives. She's impressed and admits that she's not all that artistic herself; Piper once gave her a stress-relieving colouring in book but it only served to prop up her desk at work. Yashvi goes inside to raid more of Nell's chalk supplies. Terese says that things seem to be going well between him and Yashvi but he admits he has concerns after something Shane said.
NED: He said Vi would outgrow me...but this whole thing was her idea. She's finally found her passion and she seems just as keen for me to chase mine. It's like she want us to move forward together. New beginnings.
TERESE: Aw that's great. You know after everything you've been through Ned, you deserve happiness.
Harold's Café
Gary and Toadie enter Harold's and Kyle wonders why they're not fishing. They say there's been a change of plan.
TOADIE: We want you to be the face of buddy club.
Kyle doesn't think he's the right guy for the job, saying that the kids need a good role model, not him.
TOADIE: Yeah, you struggled at school but you made it through and then you started your own company, your own business.
KYLE: Yeah and then gave it away and moved across the world. Came back, blew it with the love of my life for a second time, fell asleep at the wheel and had a drunken crack at my mate. Yeah, what a role model!
GARY: That's nothing compared to my laundry list!
TOADIE: Okay, making mistakes is relatable.
Kyle continues to feel sorry for himself before Gary chimes in with some tough love, telling him he needs to pull his socks up.
Number 22
Terese admits that she couldn't resist getting involved in Lassiters business and it felt good to be back in the driver's seat. Paul isn't surprised given how important her job was to her, saying that Chloe's definitely the wrong person for the manager's job. Terese sticks up for her, saying that he's just disappointed she's not still there, but Paul replies that he just thinks Chloe isn't management material. Terese says that whoever the new manager is, she's come to terms with the fact that it won't be her.
Ramsay Street
Ned and Yashvi's masterpiece is almost complete. As she stands up, she has chalk all over her jeans. Dipi arrives home and puts a dampener on things.
DIPI: You know it's going to rain later, right?
YASHVI: Mum, that's the point of street art, it's ephemeral.
DIPI: I don't think I even know what that means.
YASHVI: Ned told me. It's art that doesn't last forever.
Dipi asks Yashvi if she's packed for her flight and she hasn't. Vi remains unconcerned, saying she'll start packing in five minutes but Dipi doesn't look impressed.
Lassiters Lake
Paul sits beside Chloe on a bench at the lake.
CHLOE: I'm guessing Terese told you.
PAUL: She helped you dodge a bullet? Yeah, she did.
He says he just wants to give her some advice; to quit now before Lucy fires her.
CHLOE: I can't give up now. I've worked too hard to get to this point.
PAUL: I think we both know that your current position has very little to do with hard work.
Chloe says Pierce may have something to do with it, but she doesn't think he would have insisted on her managerial role if he didn't believe in her. Paul agrees but says that he's been in the game much longer than Pierce so it'd be worth taking his advice.
PAUL: You're just not cut out for it. The sooner you realise that the better off you're going to be.
Harold's Café
Gary and Toadie are waiting for Kyle to come back from the bathroom. They wonder if he's ok. He returns and has a question for them.
KYLE: Do you really think I'm a good role model or are you just trying to cheer me up?
Toadie admits they do want him to feel better but he wouldn't have suggested it if he didn't think it was right.
GARY: You've spent your whole life being a role model for me. I might be the dad but you're the dependable one in the family and truth be told, I've always looked up to you, we all have. You're honest, you're loyal and hard-working. And the whole reason I split up with Amy was because I knew you were the better man for her.
Kyle continues to dwell on his mistakes with Amy but Gary says life isn't about mistakes but how you learn from them.
GARY: So mate, are we gonna do this thing or what?
Lassiters Complex
Dipi tells Shane about Ned and Yashvi's drawing in the street earlier but he's still clearly not on board with the relationship, saying that she'll be distracted by the police academy soon and will be meeting loads of new people so won't have time for Ned. Dipi isn't convinced but Shane's opinion won't be swayed.
SHANE: It's a phase...we just need to wait it out.
DIPI: Alright Puff, we'll do it your way.
SHANE: When do we not?
DIPI: Always...
Shane laughs.
The Waterhole
Shane and Dipi enter the bar and Sheila says they're out of milk, but Dipi wants something stronger. Shane notices Chloe standing at the Customer Satisfaction Kiosk and asks Roxy what's going on.
CHLOE: Absolute superstars!
SHEILA: Are you talking to us?
CHLOE: 53 transactions today and the customer satisfaction scores are off the charts!
SHEILA: 53?!
CHLOE: It's totally exceeded my expectations.
SHEILA: And mine.
CHLOE: Listen to this review. "Today I was served my steak with a smile, by Shane. If there was a happier face than the one I already pressed, I'd press it. He was awesome!"
Chloe heads off to share the good news with Pierce.
SHEILA: Okay, which one of you two idiots has been mucking around with this?
ROXY: Are you suggesting that Shane didn't offer excellent service to our customers?
SHEILA: He may well have but I also know for a fact that we didn't serve any steak today.
ROXY: How?
SHEILA: Because we ran out yesterday.
Roxy admits she's fiddled the reviews and Sheila's not happy at all, berating them for their behaviour, saying they have to do things properly from now on. She storms back to the bar where Dipi is sitting.
SHEILA: Thick as thieves...they are both as bad as each other!
Dipi looks concerned.
Lassiters Hotel
Chloe is buzzing about the reviews and tells Pierce all about it, saying it's exactly what she needs to prove Paul wrong. He wonders what she means and she tells him that Paul said she only got the manger's job because of who she's married to.
CHLOE: This is it, Pierce. This is going to fix everything.
Pierce looks unconvinced.
The Waterhole
Sheila delivers some table service.
SHEILA: So, there's a light ale for you.
TOADIE: Didn't I order the organic non GMO.
SHEILA: Yeah but because I am an executive bar manager and not a miracle worker you'll be having this. And I also tacked on a free drink for the new face of the buddy club.
GARY: Ok, so where's mine?
SHEILA: Well, you didn't order anything and there's a bar over there.
Gary and Sheila bicker and Kyle offers to go and get him a drink. Roxy's at the bar and things are awkward. She says she's just finished her shift but Shane takes a while so she offers to serve him. He apologises for the other night and she says things are all good. He heads back to the table and Shane returns. Roxy thanks him for sticking up for her earlier and she jokes that otherwise it could have been her last shift.
SHANE: We can't let that happen, the place would be dull as dishwater without ya.
Dipi returns from the bathroom and asks Shane if Kyle and Roxy have sorted everything out. Shane says they have and he's glad as she's had a lot on her plate recently.
DIPI: Because of Kyle?
SHANE: Not just that. I suppose I can tell you now that her family know. She was a complete match for David and she really freaked out about it and didn't tell them until after the operation.
DIPI: But she told you?
Shane says she must have just needed someone to confide in. He doesn't pick up on Dipi's dismay.
Lassiters Hotel
Terese arrives to apologise to Pierce for being so defensive that morning. He admits to her that he has concerns about Chloe. Chloe overhears him tell Terese that he thinks he might have made the wrong decision about encouraging her to manage the hotel and everyone's now going to know that she's only there because she's his wife. Chloe looks shocked.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Roxy says she can't change what happened.
- Roxy says she feels like she can't get anything right.
- Dipi says Shane doesn't think what he did was wrong.
- Dipi asks Shane exactly what is going on between him and Roxy.
- Nell goes missing.
- Toadie and Kyle panic about Nell.
