Previously
- Pierce gives Dipi the diamond necklace he bought for Chloe, saying it's as breathtaking as Dipi is
- Paul observes Pierce and Dipi getting frisky in the hotel office
- Paul uses this to blackmail Pierce into signing over his share of the hotel
- Chloe's surprised, but concedes to Terese that it will give Pierce time to focus on their marriage
- As he signs the papers, Pierce tells Paul to keep his mouth shut about the affair with Dipi
- Paul insists to Pierce that he's a man of his word
- Hendrix lets himself into the school office to take pictures of Harlow's exam
- Mackenzie thinks this was a bad idea, saying Harlow would never cheat
- But Harlow doesn't see the pictures until after the exam, when Jane finds them on her phone
Erinsborough High School
Jane is waiting for an explanation about why Harlow has photos of the exam paper on her phone. Hendrix tells Jane that this isn't what it looks like.
HENDRIX: I sent them to her. I stole your keys, and I took the photo. Harlow had no idea about it.
HARLOW: Yeah, my phone was off last night. I didn't see anything. I would never cheat.
JANE: I can't take that chance.
HARLOW: Oh, Mrs Harris -
JANE: I have no choice. I'm sorry, but I will be reporting this, and there will be serious repercussions for the two of you. Very disappointed.
As Jane leaves, Harlow lays into Hendrix.
HARLOW: What the hell?!
HENDRIX: You were freaking out, and it sucks - it sucks so much that they didn't give you special consideration!
HARLOW: No, no, that's not an excuse!
Hendrix says he realised he'd done the wrong thing, but didn't want to make Harlow even more stressed by telling her about it prior to the exam.
HENDRIX: I'm sorry.
HARLOW: No, you're not sorry! You're stupid.
No 30
There is banging coming from outside the door which leads from the kitchen into the garden, and Dipi and Toadie wonder what's going on out there. Shane emerges, telling them he's conducting a 'surprise renovation', and that no-one's allowed out there till the end of the week!
TOADIE: Mate, it sounded like you're tearing down half the house. *My* house.
SHANE: I'm not tearing anything down. And trust me, by the time I'm done, I'll have added ten grand to the value of this house. Maybe even more.
TOADIE: You didn't think you should run it by me first?
SHANE: It was a little bit spur-of-the-moment.
TOADIE: Okay, that has filled me with zero confidence.
But Dipi says Shane's pretty handy with the tools, and suggests they trust him and leave him to it! As Shane goes to collect a box of tools from the counter top, he accidentally knocks Dipi's handbag to the floor. Noticing that the diamond necklace Pierce gave her has fallen out, she's quick to scoop up the contents and replace them before either Shane or Toadie notice.
Shane goes back outside, and Toadie wonders what the renovations are about. Still flustered from hiding the necklace, Dipi says Shane's trying to make an effort for the household - she reckons it will turn out okay.
The Waterhole
Chloe and Terese are discussing plans for the Halloween murder mystery hunt that they are arranging for the hotel.
CHLOE: The aim is to catch the killer of a famous showgirl...
TERESE: Fantasia La Chance!
CHLOE: ... found murdered in her hotel room just after the annual Halloween variety performance.
Clues are hidden all around the complex, explains Chloe, with the various businesses pitching in as gatekeepers of the clues. Terese is impressed with all the effort Chloe has gone to, and remarks that it's good they no longer have a murder mystery to contend with at home!
Pierce turns up, and Terese asks if he has his costume ready for the murder mystery. However, Pierce thinks he's going to have a quiet one and not participate; he wants to give Paul some space having now sold his share of the hotel. However, Chloe says it would mean a lot to her if Pierce attended, given they planned the event together. Pierce reluctantly agrees to take part.
Harold's Café
Paul comes in to drop off the café's clue for the murder mystery hunt with Dipi. However, he can't resist sticking around to make vague insinuations about the affair, taking aim at the 'trio of dips' on the lunch menu and working it into a bizarre extended metaphor.
PAUL: Why do dips always come in threes?
DIPI: I don't know; is that what you're ordering?
PAUL: Mm... I usually find that two is enough for me.
DIPI: Well, if you want two dips, I'll give you two dips.
PAUL: Yeah, that's the thing, though - which one do you choose? I mean, do you go for the rustic and rough nut baba ganoush, or do you go for the refined and rich taramasalata?
DIPI: ... I thought you wanted them both?
Increasingly unsettled by Paul's rambling, Dipi asks him what he's talking about.
PAUL: Well, I mean, you're not married to any particular one, are you?
DIPI: Excuse me?
PAUL: The dips, I'm talking about. Well, I mean, I suppose you could be married to one and have the other on the side, couldn't you?
Dipi suddenly guesses that Paul knows about the affair - but before she can quiz him further, Paul takes a phone call from the high school, leaving a fraught Dipi on tenterhooks.
PAUL (on the phone): She what?!
No 22
On the patio, Harlow is telling Paul, Terese and Ned about what happened with the exam paper, explaining that Jane didn't believe her story. But the family believe Harlow didn't cheat, and Paul says the school will come to see that, too.
PAUL: You are not going to get a zero, okay? And certainly not because of something that Greyson reprobate did.
Paul wants to go and talk to Jane, saying their long friendship will surely count for something. Harlow thanks him, and Paul leaves.
Lassiter's
In the office, Pierce is giving Hendrix a telling-off for his attempt to give Harlow early sight of the exam paper. To compound matters, Chloe explains, Jane has told them there were also maths papers locked in the same office - meaning that Hendrix will be automatically disqualified from sitting his own maths exam, and that he'll have to sit all his other exams outside school.
Pierce gets a text message from Dipi, saying she needs to see him ASAP - she thinks Paul knows.
HENDRIX: I don't care about my marks, but if I've wrecked Harlow's chances... Dad?
PIERCE: You should've thought about that before you did what you did. I've got to go.
Pierce walks out, cutting the conversation short.
Harold's Café
Dipi is reporting to Pierce the detail of her conversation with Paul, and his cryptic comparisons of Pierce and Shane to items on her menu! Pierce is forced to admit that Paul does indeed know about their affair, explaining how he saw them in the office together.
DIPI: Why didn't you tell me?
PIERCE: Well, I didn't want to upset you. And I know he's not gonna say anything.
DIPI: Don't be naive. It's Paul Robinson.
PIERCE: Dipi, don't worry. I bought his silence.
DIPI: ... Your share of the hotel.
PIERCE: Yeah.
But Dipi's worried that it could crop up again the next time Paul wants something from her. Pierce says he's got to take Paul at his word that the sale of the hotel shares would be the end of the matter. But Dipi looks far from convinced.
Erinsborough High School
Paul and Terese are talking to Jane about the situation with Harlow. Jane says there's no getting around the fact that Harlow was caught cheating. Terese says they know it looks bad, but that Harlow swears that isn't what happened; and Paul appeals to Jane's knowledge of Harlow's character.
PAUL: There's only one person to blame here, and that's that Greyson kid.
JANE: Yes, I'm well aware that Hendrix is mixed up in all of this.
But Jane says that even if it's true that Hendrix sent the photos to Harlow's phone without her involvement, she has no way of knowing whether Harlow took advantage of the information before the exam.
PAUL: So all our years of friendship means absolutely nothing here?
JANE: What does our friendship have to do with anything?!
PAUL: Oh, get off your high horse, Jane. I'm just saying, considering our history...
JANE: You might find it easy to just cross over your ethical boundaries - if, in fact, you have any - but I don't. And if you were any kind of friend, you wouldn't be asking me to.
PAUL: Alright. How about I make a donation to the new performing arts centre?
TERESE: Paul!
JANE: I think we're done here. Harlow will have the outcome of my investigation by the end of the day.
No 30
Toadie is still trying to gauge what a tight-lipped Shane's up to in the back yard. Querying as to whether any structural walls have been altered, Toadie is told by Shane to have some faith. Toadie points out that Shane's inventions haven't always had the best success rate!
They're interrupted by Nell calling from the other room, asking if she can wear something. Toadie leaves the room to see what Nell's talking about, and comes back in with the diamond necklace! He asks Shane when he forked out for that, but Shane confidently insists it's not Dipi's.
TOADIE: Must be. Nell found it in her drawer.
Shane looks nonplussed.
No 22
Paul and Terese have returned to the patio for more chat with Harlow and Ned. Paul assures Harlow that they will think of something to exonerate her. Harlow's worried she won't get into her environmental science course if she gets a zero. Paul assures her it won't happen.
Hendrix arrives, to apologise to Harlow again. Paul is hostile, saying Harlow doesn't want to see him; and Harlow confirms this, by heading inside the house. Hendrix tries to follow her, but is barred by a furious Paul.
PAUL: Are you that stupid, hey? You are not good enough for her. You never have been.
HENDRIX: In your opinion, Paul.
PAUL: Oh, really? You want me to run through some of the things that you've done to make her life miserable, hey? Like the time you took your father's car and ploughed into her? And what about the time you stowed her away to the island, where she was bitten by a snake and almost died?!
HENDRIX: That wasn't -
PAUL: Your fault? No, no, no - it never is, is it?! No, because you're just some spoiled rich kid who's always got Daddy to bail him out. Well, guess what? He ain't gonna bail you out this time.
HENDRIX: Are you finished?
PAUL: Yes. Yes, I am. And so are you.
Rattled, Hendrix leaves.
Lassiter's Complex
Hendrix is sitting by the pond, feeling sorry for himself. Ned shows up for a chat.
NED: Look, don't be too hard on yourself. No-one enjoys copping a spray from Paul.
HENDRIX: Everything he said was right, though.
NED: I think most of it was aimed at your dad.
HENDRIX: Sounded pretty specific to the stuff I'd done. And accurate, too.
Ned says he's had similar speeches from Shane on numerous occasions.
NED: Nothing I do is ever good enough for him. And it used to stress me out, until I realised it really only matters what Yashvi thinks.
HENDRIX: You saw Harlow. She doesn't even want to talk to me.
NED: But she will, when she's ready. Like me, you have a girlfriend who plays by the rules.
HENDRIX: You think I don't know that?
NED: Oh, I think you know it - I just don't think you respect it. Look, take it from me; you're not what Paul says you are. Ride this one out. Do better on the next one.
HENDRIX: If there is a next one.
NED: There will be.
No 30
Dipi is home to change into her Halloween costume, when Shane shows her the necklace, asking her where it's from. Forced to think on her feet, Dipi claims she picked it up at the markets.
SHANE: You got a Stephanie's necklace at the market?
DIPI: It's not real! That's... that's a knock-off. As if I could fork out thousands for a genuine Stephanie's! (...) I just saw it and I fell in love with it. Pretty silly, for a piece of costume jewellery.
SHANE: Nah, it's not silly at all. It's a beauty.
Shane suggests they ditch the Stephanie's box, which Dipi claims the seller must have 'recycled', and put it in the home-made jewellery box that Shane has been making for her. Dipi says that would be great, but that they can sort it later, as they need to get ready. Shane goes to clear up outside, and Dipi looks at the necklace anxiously.
No 22
Paul wants to call the school board in another bid to intervene on Harlow's behalf. Terese thinks he shouldn't go over Jane's head, and suggests he head to the complex for the Halloween event to take his mind off things. Paul's reluctant, but Harlow tells him he should go - so he leaves, telling Harlow to let him know the second she hears anything.
TERESE: He really does care about you - you know that, don't you?
HARLOW: Yeah, that's what I'm worried about.
Harlow says she's aware Jane can't simply take her word for it that she didn't look at the photos; she needs some solid evidence. As she looks at her phone, she has an idea...
Lassiter's
Chloe turns up at Pierce's suite in her angel costume, ready for the Halloween event. Pierce clearly thinks she looks great.
PIERCE: Oh, my goodness, Chloe - wow.
CHLOE: Any sins to confess? It's a pearly gates thing.
Pierce says he was just about to get into his own costume. Chloe thanks him for coming along.
CHLOE: I've been thinking about how we can work on us. I don't think we can do it with you here at the hotel.
PIERCE: Chloe, I'm just... I'm not sure.
CHLOE: Don't you want to come home?
PIERCE: You know, staying here has really helped me clear my mind. I just... I don't want to move back too soon, and end up back where we were.
CHLOE: But things feel different now. And it can only be good for Hendrix. I mean, he needs you at home (...) He needs to see we're a family.
PIERCE: ... Can I think about it?
CHLOE: Of course.
They smile at one another.
No 30
Shane is dressed in a pirate outfit, complete with a parrot on his shoulder. Dipi emerges in a not-particularly-Halloweeny dress, saying she didn't have time to organise anything. But Shane says it's perfect.
SHANE: No, strike that - almost perfect. Two secs.
As Shane darts into the bedroom, Dipi asks if Toadie is taking the kids trick-or-treating tonight. He confirms they're going after dinner. Shane comes back in with the necklace, which he thinks would go perfectly with Dipi's dress. Understandably, Dipi is reluctant!
DIPI: I'm already wearing these heavy earrings, so...
SHANE: Ah, go on - put it on!
Dipi reluctantly obliges, and Shane and Toadie both comment on how great it looks. Anxiously, she closes her jacket around the necklace, so it's not so clearly on show...
Erinsborough High School
Jane is tidying up in the classroom when Harlow appears, to talk to her about the cheating allegations - she has something which she thinks will help Jane come to her decision. Harlow says that she realised that she got one of the questions wrong; she wouldn't do that if she was cheating. Jane replies that she could've just been trying to cover and avoid suspicion.
Harlow adds, however, that with the short essay section of the exam, they were given three topics to choose from, but only one of them is in the photos that Hendrix took, and Harlow didn't choose that one.
HARLOW: If I had such a big advantage, why wouldn't I use it?
Jane examines the photos on the phone, and decides that Harlow must be telling the truth.
JANE: ... Because you didn't cheat.
HARLOW: You believe me?
JANE: Yes. I do (...) But none of this absolves Hendrix from his part. He very well could've cost you a spot in university. I have no right to meddle in your personal life, but... you should just make smart decisions when it comes to him.
Harlow looks uncomfortable.
The Waterhole
The Halloween event is in full swing, and Chloe greets Paul and Terese at the bar, who are dressed as Gomez and Morticia Addams! Chloe then goes over to join Pierce, who is dressed as the Phantom of the Opera.
CHLOE: The killer has now been officially selected and is amongst us. Things are about to get crazy!
PIERCE: So you know who it is, right?
CHLOE: No, *they* don't even know it's them.
PIERCE: That's very confusing.
Hendrix comes in, still fraught with guilt over Harlow - he's not in the mood for dressing up.
PIERCE: Mate, Chloe and I have been talking, and... me being away has probably had a lot to do with some of the decisions you've made lately, so... I'm sorry.
HENDRIX: Okay. Apology accepted, I guess.
PIERCE: Well, I'm not gonna move back straight away, but let's start spending a lot more time together as a family. What do you say?
HENDRIX: Yeah. Yeah, that'd be good.
Meanwhile at the bar, Paul has had the good news from Harlow that she's been exonerated, but tells Terese he is still furious at 'the idiot Greyson kid'. Terese agrees it was a poor decision, but just wants to focus on Harlow being okay.
Pierce comes to the bar to order a drink, and while Terese goes to find a table, Paul saunters over to Pierce.
PIERCE: I've got nothing to say to you, Paul.
PAUL: Well, that's good, because I want you to listen. See, there's something else that I want (...) The problem is, as long as you're around, so is Hendrix. And that kid is toxic, and I don't want him anywhere near Harlow.
PIERCE: And I'm not gonna tell my son who he can and can't have a relationship with.
PAUL: (...) I want you gone. Off the street. Out of Erinsborough. And take your loser son with you. Otherwise, your dirty little secret will be out.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Terese joins Paul and Pierce at the bar, and asks what they're arguing about
- Dipi tells Pierce that she knew Paul wouldn't leave it alone
- Sheila looks at photos of Levi as a young boy
- We hear Kyle saying that it still bothers Levi what happened back then
- Kyle tells Roxy he plans to track down Levi's attackers; she's worried he's opening a can of worms
- Yashvi says Scarlett's going to haunt Ned forever
- Yashvi is about to tell Ned something he won't want to hear