Previously
- Toadie assures the other island- goers there's nothing going on between Roxy and Kyle
- But Elly's watching them flirting, and thinks differently
- Kyle and Roxy pashing in the tent
- Later, Roxy tells Kyle, 'what happens on the island stays on the island'
- Kyle encourages Sheila to attend a grief support group at the community centre
- Sheila tearfully tells the group how she recently lost her son Gary
- Prue meets her demise in the car explosion
- Harlow tearfully listens to Prue's final voicemail in the hospital
- Out of hospital, she's still listening to it repeatedly; Terese and Paul are worried
- Harlow admits to Hendrix that it feels like Prue's still here if she listens to it
- A worried Paul snatches Harlow's phone away, but accidentally deletes the voicemail
No 22
On the patio, Paul's apologetic to Harlow for deleting the voicemail, but she is furious.
PAUL: I was just trying to help.
HARLOW: Oh, yeah, because you know how to grieve for my mother better than I do (!)
PAUL: No, of course not. But I just don't want to see you upset anymore!
HARLOW: Oh, it's all about you, isn't it?
PAUL: No -
HARLOW: Then what do you expect me to do?! Laugh? Pretend my mother didn't die?
Harlow storms into the house, and Hendrix follows her. Paul and Terese are concerned. Roxy emerges, having seen Harlow storm off and wondering what's going on.
No 32
Kyle has come round to collect his bike from David and Aaron's house. David asks how Sheila got on with the support group; Kyle thinks it was beneficial, and that Sheila will probably go back.
DAVID: Do you want to?
KYLE: ... Oh, I dunno. Spilling your guts to a bunch of strangers isn't really my thing.
AARON: Kyle, you've got to talk to someone, mate.
KYLE: I'm good. I'm fine.
Kyle asks David and Aaron to pass on his best to Harlow, explaining he doesn't want to go to the memorial for Prue after what she did to Gary. Kyle leaves. David and Aaron look worried.
No 22
Paul is on the phone to Harlow's mobile provider, trying to secure a copy of the deleted voicemail - but to no avail, as they hang up on him.
TERESE: Maybe they didn't like your tone. You were being rude.
PAUL: I was trying to get back the one thing that Harlow had left of her mum. The thing that I destroyed.
TERESE: Darling, you deleted it accidentally. Harlow will understand that eventually.
But Paul isn't much reassured.
No 26
Roxy has been visiting, and shouts to Sheila (who's Not In This Episode™) to say goodbye. Kyle comes in, looking glum. Roxy asks Kyle how he is; he says he's going for a bike ride, alone. Roxy tries to encourage Kyle to come to Prue's memorial instead.
ROXY: There'll be booze. Lots of booze. Does that change your mind?
KYLE: ... Alcohol does sound like a good idea.
Roxy adds that if Harlow accepts Roxy's idea, it won't be 'some sad sack memorial'. Roxy shows Kyle the Restoration Order book that was Prue's life bible, and explains she came round to collect it.
KYLE: What are you planning on doing?
No 24
Harlow is crying at the table; she's used up all the tissues, so Hendrix fetches her more.
HARLOW: I don't even know if I have any more tears left.
Pierce and Mark come in from the pool, and see Harlow's upset; Hendrix explains about the deleted voicemail. Mark has good news; the police has a copy of the voicemail as part of their cache of evidence of Finn's crimes. He'll be able to make her a copy, although it wouldn't be until after Elly's trial.
HARLOW: Thank you so much! As long as I get to hear her voice again, I can wait.
No 30
Yashvi and Ned are pashing on the sofa, when Shane comes in; it's awkward. Yashvi asks Shane if he's going to come to Prue's memorial, but Shane isn't - he's had his fill of 'death talk' and 'didn't know Prue from a bar of soap'.
Shane asks Yashvi to read an email for him on his phone; it's his results from a uni assignment he just did, and he's too nervous to read it himself.
YASHVI: Woah, Dad!
SHANE (despondent): Yeah, I thought so.
NED: You got 98 percent!
SHANE: Yeah... Sorry, what?!
YASHVI: And you got accepted in some accelerated degree programme.
SHANE: No - that can't be right! (takes the phone) Holy mother in heaven!
No 22
Harlow returns home, and tells a concerned Terese she's fine. But she's still fairly cold towards Paul.
PAUL: Darling, I am truly, truly so sorry.
He explains he's been trying to get the voicemail back from the phone company, but Harlow tells him Mark's going to get her a copy.
HARLOW: But it still doesn't change the fact that you didn't listen to me.
PAUL: Yeah, you're right - I didn't.
TERESE: He was just trying to help.
HARLOW: And I made myself really clear. I do not need you telling me how to grieve.
PAUL: Yeah, of course. It won't happen again.
HARLOW: Good.
Roxy chips in with the ideas she's thought of for Prue's memorial. She tells Harlow they can do it another way if she'd prefer, but...
ROXY: ... I was thinking, we don't have a memorial.
TERESE: Umm, what do we do instead?
ROXY: A party (...) It's what Prue would've wanted. And besides, it's what the Order does when someone dies.
We see Roxy's holding the Restoration Order book. Harlow looks thoughtful.
Shortly afterwards, Roxy justifies her idea; she understands Harlow's feelings about the Order are complicated, but she's read up on how the Order feels about death, and all she could think about was Prue.
ROXY: It's not about looking backwards, it's about looking forwards - and how that person can keep having an impact on life.
TERESE: I think it's a nice sentiment.
ROXY: If there's one thing I knew about Prue, positivity was definitely her thing. So we wear bright colours, we eat, we drink - we celebrate the essence of Prue, and bring a little bit of fun to the street.
PAUL: The Order was the thing that ruined the relationship between Harlow and her mum. Why on earth would she even entertain the idea of them being anywhere near this? (...) We don't believe in what they do.
ROXY: Prue did. I think we can honour the spirit and not get culty.
Paul thinks something more traditional is in order, but Harlow tells him he's doing it again - telling her how to deal with Prue's death. He reluctantly concedes that it's Harlow's choice.
HARLOW: Yeah, it is - and... let's do it.
PAUL: Oh, please don't do this just to spite me.
HARLOW: I'm not. It's what I want. If you don't like it, you don't have to come.
No 30
Shane and Yashvi are reading about the accelerated degree programme; it's a heavy workload, and Shane would have to give up shifts at work if he was going to do commit to it. He's worried that he'd always be running between work and uni; it wouldn't be fair on Dipi. But Yashvi thinks Dipi would love it if Shane finished his degree earlier.
SHANE: Not if it means dropping the slack around here.
YASHVI: Well, at least ask Mum.
SHANE: No, no - it's a no-go, I reckon.
Ned gets a text from Roxy, requesting 'bright colours and good vibes only' for attendees at Prue's memorial-turned-party. Yashvi tries to convince Shane to join them; if he's going to give up the idea of the degree programme, he should at least have some fun now. Shane obediently goes to get changed.
The Waterhole
Pierce and Mark come in for a beer, and find Paul looking miserable at the bar. Paul explains he's come here so Harlow can have Prue's memorial in peace, without him lingering around; Terese will be there to provide support.
PIERCE: And Hendrix.
PAUL: Yeah. How could I forget? (!)
PIERCE: Hey, I'm proud of the way he's been there for her through all this.
Mark confirms that Hendrix seems to have taken a level in maturity; but Paul mumbles something about leopards and spots. Pierce looks angry.
No 22
At Prue's party, Shane is telling David and Aaron about the degree course in the kitchen, while Roxy chats to Hendrix and Ned in the lounge. Kyle comes in, and Roxy goes over, saying it's great that he came.
KYLE: Dad loved Prue. So I figured he would've wanted me to give her a proper send-off for him.
ROXY: I think he would've.
Kyle heads through for a beer, and Roxy follows, dispensing careers advice to Shane from Prue's Restoration Order book!
ROXY (reading): 'It may be hard, but hard doesn't mean impossible. The only person holding you back is yourself.'
Roxy explains to a bemused Shane, David and Aaron that she's 'being Prue' - the book includes 'a bunch of stuff she wrote, including her affirmations'. Shane's unconvinced, but Roxy reminds him it's Prue's party; they have an obligation to listen and learn from what she had to say!
Harlow is looking tearful in the sun room, and Hendrix comes to join her. Terese watches them from a distance.
HENDRIX: What are you hiding out here for?
HARLOW: I'm too scared to go in there.
HENDRIX: That's okay.
HARLOW: No, I'm being stupid.
Terese gestures to Hendrix, offering to take over - but Hendrix signals that he has it in hand.
HENDRIX (to Harlow): No, you're not. You know, Roxy might've made today a party (...) but it's still about your mum, and you.
HARLOW: I want to have fun. And she'd really want me to have fun. But I just... I don't think I can do it.
HENDRIX: I get it's hard. But they're all in there - your friends, your family. They're all here for you, okay? ... So, do you want to give it a go?
HARLOW: ... Yeah.
They walk back into the living area, hand-in-hand.
The Waterhole
Pierce and Mark are playing pool. Mark congratulates Pierce on resisting the urge to bite Paul's head off earlier; Pierce says Paul's had a rough couple of months.
MARK: Guess you've got to keep the peace for work's sake as well.
PIERCE: Yeah. But if he keeps making comments about my son, then we can forget about the peace.
Terese turns up and goes to talk to Paul, who's still at the bar. She tells him to come home; it would be better for Harlow if he was there. Paul reckons it would put her on edge, and she's already dealing with enough.
TERESE: Your granddaughter needs you, Paul.
PAUL: ...
No 22
Paul and Terese have returned home to the party, and Roxy asks everyone to gather round so that Harlow can share some words about Prue.
HARLOW: Thanks, everyone, for coming. I had a complicated relationship with Mum, and I think that's why a lot of people thought we didn't get along. But in all honesty... Mum was my best friend. And sometimes, the worst friend. But it doesn't feel like I've only just lost my mum and my friend. It feels like I've lost my favourite part of myself. Anyway, I'm not gonna keep getting upset anymore. And we should all have fun, because that's what Mum would've wanted.
Paul raises a toast.
PAUL: To Prue.
ALL: To Prue.
Harlow retreats back into the sun room, and Paul follows her and sits next to her.
PAUL: That was a really nice speech. You did well.
HARLOW: Thanks.
PAUL: Hey, I dunno if you've heard, but I can be pretty single-minded when it comes to protecting the people I love.
HARLOW: Yeah. I have heard - from Amy, David, Leo...
PAUL: Yeah. Harlow, I love you - and I just don't want the death of your mother to be any harder for you than what it already is.
HARLOW: You can't control that, Grandad. It is hard, but I just... I simply have to get through it. Can you just promise me one thing?
PAUL: Of course, anything.
HARLOW: I don't like to be controlled. And I know you can't help but doing it with your kids - just, please don't do it to me.
PAUL: ... I shall do my best.
HARLOW: Good. Because I'm just trying to have some fun, and this conversation is bringing down the mood a little bit!
They hug, and Paul again tells her that he loves her.
Meanwhile in the garden, Shane has retreated to a sun chair to read Prue's Restoration Order book. Yashvi emerges to join him.
YASHVI: Please don't tell me this party has inspired you to take up Order life?
Shane explains that Roxy's made him read it!
SHANE (reading): 'Just like corn, everyone pops at different times.'
YASHVI: True, though! Maybe it's your time to pop!
SHANE: Don't you start.
YASHVI: Dad, come on - what would you do if I passed up an opportunity just because it made life a little bit harder?
SHANE: I'd say the hard yards are worth doing.
YASHVI: Exactly!
Shane agrees to talk to Dipi about the accelerated degree course. Ned comes out to join them, and Shane makes a swift exit back indoors!
In the living room, Roxy and Kyle are flirting. Observing, David quietly suggests to Aaron that Kyle and Roxy hanging out isn't a good idea. But Aaron says Kyle needs someone to talk to, and it's not going to be a support group.
DAVID: Somehow, I doubt they'll be *speaking* through his grief (...) I just hope he's not getting into something he's not ready for.
Roxy announces that it's time for a party game! She produces a bowl full of pieces of paper.
ROXY: Prue's best quality was to turn negativity into positive action. So we are going to draw a name out of the bowl, and pay them a compliment!
It's Shane's turn first, so he picks a name...
SHANE: This is rigged... Ned!
NED: ...
SHANE: Something nice about Ned... Umm, you're very artistic...
EVERYONE: ...
SHANE: ... and I appreciate the way you used your talent to remember Sonya. That mural means a hell of a lot to our family.
NED: Thanks, Shane.
Roxy moves over to Hendrix to give him the next pick from the bowl.
HENDRIX: Terese! ... I hope I'm as scary as you when I'm old!
TERESE: Excuse me! I am not old, thank you very much!
HENDRIX: You are terrifying when you want to be.
NED: I'll second that!
The fun continues, but an unsmiling Harlow is lost in her own thoughts...
No 26
It's late, and Roxy has walked Kyle home - both are a little tipsy. Roxy notices Sheila isn't here; Kyle explains she's at Clive's place.
KYLE: You're pretty good, you know.
ROXY: Why's that?
KYLE: You spent the entire day looking after Harlow... and me.
ROXY: You both mean a lot to me. If there's anything you need, I'm on it.
KYLE: Anything?
ROXY: Whatever you want, I got it.
KYLE: Hmm. What if I need a kiss?
ROXY: Easy.
She kisses him on the cheek. However, this has sparked a Moment™ between them - and then they kiss for real. Before long, they're pashing on the couch, with Roxy on top of Kyle. But just as she takes her top off and things heat up, Kyle is distracted by a framed photo of Gary, staring down at him from the shelf.
KYLE: I'm sorry, I can't do this. I shouldn't have...
ROXY: It's okay, it's alright. You don't have to be sorry. What's wrong? What?
But Kyle is in tears.
KYLE: I forgot. For, like, an hour. I forgot.
Roxy comforts Kyle as he sobs.
No 24
Hendrix has brought Harlow back to his place, to escape the 'rager' back at No 22.
HARLOW: Ragers were Mum's thing.
They kiss.
HARLOW: And I'd rather be here with you.
She kisses him again, more intensely.
HENDRIX: Woah! What was that?
HARLOW: What do you think?
She does it again.
HENDRIX: Okay. So, I think I know what you're getting at - but is this the best time? You just had a full-on day.
HARLOW: Yeah, today was all about fun. And I want to end it with the most fun I can think of.
I want to do this tonight, Hendrix, with you.
The kissing continues.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Mannix comes out of a room and asks Mackenzie for a bit of privacy
- Mackenzie fiddles with a padlock on the door
- Sheila tells Karl that Susan's the reason her son is dead
- Susan asks Karl, 'I have to know where you stand - please!'
- We see someone in handcuffs; Sky says, 'it doesn't look good for her'; Mark agrees
- Elly tells Chloe she's scared this isn't going to work out anymore