Previously
- Jane, David and Aaron encouraging Brent to go back to school
- Hendrix warning Harlow that Brent is just using her
- Hendrix making another failed attempt at winning Harlow back
- Amy and Shane angry with Dipi for messing with Amy's business proposal
- Yashvi telling Dipi that it's time to let Shane go
- Toadie convincing Dipi to tell Shane how she really feels
- Dipi telling Shane that she still loves him and wants him back
Number 30
Dipi is well aware that she's made mistakes, but she loves Shane and she believes there's still a part of him that loves her too. She tearfully admits that it could all be too late, but she at least had to ask if they can save their marriage. Shane doesn't have an answer for her and looks deeply conflicted.
Number 32
Nicolette, David and Aaron look on in amusement as Jane vents her frustrations at her laptop - or more so, at the five reminder emails new teacher Curtis has sent her about updating the English section of the student resource centre. Brent walks in and David and Aaron offer to take him to the fabric store for supplies so he's got a project to keep himself busy with while he's working out his next steps. But Brent surprises them all when he says he's decided to go back to school. David suggests Brent chat to Harlow for some advice, but Brent says he's already done that and she gave him a lot to think about.
The Waterhole
Toadie has told Yashvi, Ned and Mackenzie about what Dipi was planning on confessing to Shane. Yashvi doesn't think it's a great idea, but Toad is convinced Shane needs to hear the truth. He thought Yashvi would be thrilled about her parents possibly getting back together. Yashvi says she'd be on board with it if her mum wasn't acting so crazy and Shane wasn't genuinely happy with Amy. "There's got to be a full stop somewhere, whether we like it or not," she points out. Ned agrees they should stay out of Shane and Dipi's business, and Mackenzie feels the same way. "Getting involved in other people's relationships never ends well," Mac says, ruminating on her run-in with Hendrix and Harlow. They see Dipi walk in, and Yashvi joins her mum at the bar to talk.
YASHVI: Mum, what's going on?
DIPI: I know you told me to let it go, but I couldn't leave anything unsaid.
YASHVI: So what did you say?
DIPI: I told your dad how I feel and what I want.
YASHVI: And?
DIPI: He said he needs to think about it.
Suddenly, Yashvi isn't so steadfast in her 'there's got to be a full stop' opinion.
YASHVI: So... that wasn't a flat out no?
DIPI: I thought it would be after what I did to Amy's proposal.
YASHVI: So do you think dad's still open to the idea of the two of you getting back together?
DIPI: I'm realistic enough not to get ahead of myself.
Harold's Café
Harlow's thrilled to hear that Brent decided to go back to school. Brent smiles and says it was probably a better plan than staying home playing video games all day. Harlow jokes that he could, but it probably wouldn't help him become a famous fashion designer. Brent thinks he'd better suit being a "constructionista" instead of a "fashionista". Hendrix walks in and isn't too happy seeing them together, but he keeps his thoughts to himself and says a brief, cheerful hello to Harlow while ignoring Brent altogether. After Harlow heads home, Brent joins Hendrix at the counter so he can gloat about Harlow not wanting a bar of her ex. Hendrix tries his best not to take the bait.
HENDRIX: You don't like me, and I don't like you, so let's do ourselves a favour and stay away from each other, okay?
BRENT: Fine by me, mate, but might be a little bit hard since I'm starting back at school tomorrow.
HENDRIX: Not Erinsborough?
BRENT: Nah, Geelong Grammar. Are you really that thick, mate?
HENDRIX: Whatever. Still doesn't mean that we have to talk.
Number 30
Amy says that Shane sounded stressed on the phone when he called her, and nervously jokes that it's probably not about last night's episode of Dating Sideways. But Shane's in a solemn mood and asks Amy to have a seat on the couch, which sets her nerves on edge even more.
SHANE: Dipi has told me she loves me and wants us to get back together.
AMY: ... Right. I genuinely did not see that coming. (Uneasy) What did you say to her?
SHANE: I told her I needed time to think. I know that's not what you want to hear but I need to be honest about what's going on.
AMY: (trying not to get upset) Honesty's good, I guess.
SHANE: Asking for time doesn't mean I'm bailing on us.
AMY: That must have been a shock, her saying that to you.
SHANE: Yep.
AMY: (holding his hand) Shane, I believe in us. We're really good together, we're good to each other, and I see us being together for a really long time... I'm sorry, I'm overselling.
SHANE: You don't need to apologise. I'm sorry for putting you in this situation. But you're right, it's hit me for six. And I need to give it the thought it deserves.
Erinsborough High
The next morning, Jane shows Brent to his new locker she organised for him. She says if there's anything else he needs, he knows where the staffroom is. Things get tense when Hendrix arrives and Jane asks for a word. Hendrix and Brent indulge in the longest stare-off known to mankind while Jane talks about the animosity between the boys, and how she hopes it won't interfere with their learning.
JANE: Could I please have an assurance right from the start that there won't be any issues?
BRENT: No. No issues from me, Miss.
HENDRIX: As long as he stays out of my way, he'll be fine.
A short while later, Brent takes great pleasure in telling Hendrix about a text he received from Harlow. "It says, 'Good luck on your first day back', smiley face emoji," Brent says gleefully. Hendrix gives a curt "good for you" in reply, but Brent keeps needling at him. He comments on how great Harlow is, and how gutted Hendrix must be about the break-up.
HENDRIX: You're right, Harlow's awesome. And she told me to stay away from you so that's what I'm doing.
BRENT: She asked you to back off? So she's trying to protect me, which means she likes me, mate.
HENDRIX: Or she feels sorry for you. You know, she's always been a sucker for a charity case.
This hits a raw nerve with Brent and he calls Hendrix a loser before shoving him in the back, causing him to drop his laptop on the ground. Hendrix is peeved, but Brent says "Richie Rich" should be able to afford a new one. The boys look as though they're ready to get into a punch-on in the corridor before Jane intervenes and demands they both go to the office, right now.
Number 30
Toadie offers to give Shane a lift to work, but Shane says he'd rather walk so he can clear his head. Feeling bad, Toadie says he can tag along with his brother and be a sounding board for him, but Shane doesn't think Toadie will be too impartial on what's troubling him. Shane admits he honestly never thought he'd hear those words from Dipi again, so he let himself move on. And he didn't force things with Amy, it just happened naturally. "I suppose it just boils down to what I want, and what's going to make me happy," Shane says. Amy pops around for a visit, and was hopeful she could spend the day with Shane but didn't realise he was working. Shane says they'll catch up later, then leaves Amy and Toadie alone in the kitchen together for a nice, awkward chat.
AMY: I take it you know everything. You know, for the record, Shane and I haven't broken up we're just... Like, he would have got back with Dipi straight away if he wanted to.
TOADIE: You know that I think they gave up too soon.
AMY: (groaning) Ugh, here we go again. I feel like I should make you some 'Team Dipi' pompoms or something.
TOADIE: It's twenty years of marriage, three kids. That's just way too much history for them to just walk away and never look back.
AMY: They called it quits, Toad.
TOADIE: It wasn't a clean break, not even close, and you know it.
AMY: I'm not tapping out if that's where you're going with this.
TOADIE: No, no I'm not. All I'm saying is that maybe you could give them some space so that they can work out how they really feel.
Erinsborough High
Jane apologises to David and Aaron for calling them in, but given Brent's history she thought it was for the best. The boys speak with Brent and tell him they want to hear his version of events. Brent says the whole thing was an accident; Hendrix dropped his laptop and then just went off at him. David says that Hendrix told him Brent bumped into him on purpose. And accident or not, David says Brent is going to have to help with the cost of repairs. Brent's outraged, especially since Hendrix's dad is rich, but David says that's beside the point. Brent reminds them he has no money, so Aaron says they'll help him look for a job. This puts Brent into an even fouler mood and he huffs and puffs his way into class.
Hendrix is waiting in Susan's office, and when Jane joins him he states that he's not taking the blame for the incident, "not when I've done nothing wrong". Jane reminds the teen he promised he'd stay away from Brent, but Hendrix says he kept up his end of the bargain and yet Brent insisted on provoking him. Jane says she's sorry Hendrix is upset, "but after last week you promised to make a concerted effort to control your emotions." Hendrix retorts there's a fat chance of that happening now. Repeating Year 12 was already hard enough, and now it's ten times worse with Brent around. "I might as well quit," Hendrix says, much to Jane's disappointment.
Lassiters Complex
Yashvi and Mackenzie see Dipi cleaning tables out the front of Harold's. Mac asks Yashvi if Dipi's heard anything from Shane yet, but Yashvi just shrugs. Yashvi feels like it's all up in the air at the moment and worse than it was before. "I don't think this is going to help things," Mac replies, as she observes Amy making a beeline for Dipi. The two girls watch the conversation unfold from across the complex.
AMY: It's amazing how it all makes sense now, isn't it?
DIPI: Don't know what you're talking about.
AMY: You messing with my proposal, trying to get me out of Erinsborough. All so you can have Shane to yourself.
DIPI: How is that any different to you trying to trick Shane into thinking I'm still interested in Pierce?
AMY: The difference is, Dipi, that I'm actually with Shane. You must have momentarily forgotten that while you told him that you loved him.
DIPI: Amy we've been married for twenty years, and we've gone through things you would never understand.
AMY: (mocking) Well if your marriage was so great, then why did you throw it all away and sleep with somebody else?
Yashvi and Mackenzie start to make their way over to the pair.
AMY: He would be crazy to go back to you.
DIPI: Really? Then, uh, why's he taking his time to think about it?
AMY: Because he's a respectful person.
DIPI: (raising her voice) Don't attack me because you're scared of what's coming next!
AMY: Oh I'm not scared, Dipi. The only reason why you want him back is because you're jealous of what we have. I see straight through you.
Yashvi finally intervenes and tells them both to cool their jets; they're being completely embarrassing right now.
Lassiters Lake
Hendrix bumps into Harlow, who is annoyed with him for getting into a fight with Brent when he promised he'd leave him alone. Hendrix is frustrated Brent has got into Harlow's ear already and wonders if she's seriously going to take Brent's side without hearing his version of events. Harlow chooses to listen to Hendrix, who explains he was staying out of Brent's way until he pushed him and got in his face.
HARLOW: About what?
HENDRIX: You! And how you like him way more than you like me, which seems pretty accurate right now.
HARLOW: No, I never said anything like that. I just think he's had a really tough life and he needs a break.
HENDRIX: (scoffing) A break. I've heard a hundred times about how he needs a break.
HARLOW: Maybe because it's true!
HENDRIX: So what, that gives him a free pass to be a jerk?
HARLOW: No, of course it doesn't, Hendrix. But put yourself in his position, okay. He was homeless, and hungry and so scared of other people that he had to carry around a blade.
HENDRIX: What? He carries a blade?
HARLOW: You're missing the point.
HENDRIX: If Ms Harris didn't break us up and we really went at it, he could have used the blade. Then what?
HARLOW: (in disbelief) I give up.
Lassiters Complex
Ned waits outside the pub for Yashvi, but when she sees her dad cleaning tables she heads straight for him to let him know about the bickering she just witnessed between Dipi and Amy. Shane looks weary to the bone, but Yashvi just wants to know what he's planning on telling Dipi. Shane replies that he honestly doesn't know, which doesn't sit well with Yashvi.
YASHVI: What don't you know? You either want to be with Amy or you still love mum.
NED: Vi I don't think it's that simple.
YASHVI: I don't get why you can't just say.
SHANE: You think this is easy for me?
NED: No one thinks it's easy. Vi, I don't think this is helping.
YASHVI: I just want to know where we all stand. I get what mum said would have been a shock but I know you still love her. Unless this is your way of punishing her.
SHANE: What?
YASHVI: She hurt you, so this is your way of getting back at her.
SHANE: Okay, that's ridiculous.
YASHVI: Well it's a fair question.
SHANE: No, actually, it isn't. This isn't about revenge, and if you think I'd do anything like that to your mum ever, you... You know what, I'm done talking with you about this.
Shane angrily walks away leaving Yashvi looking quite contrite.
Number 28
Mackenzie's pleased to hear that Hendrix already has his laptop fixed; last time she broke hers it took a week. "Although I guess you didn't drop it in a turtle tank, though," she adds with a grin. Hendrix is just happy he doesn't have to use Susan's to finish his assignment now. Mackenzie leaves a book on the table she brought over for Susan to read, then asks Hendrix if everything is okay between them.
MACKENZIE: I was only trying to do the right thing by you and Harlow.
HENDRIX: Yeah, don't worry about it.
MACKENZIE: I don't want to choose sides, I want to be there for both of you.
HENDRIX: I get it, don't worry.
MACKENZIE: You do?
HENDRIX: Yeah. I shouldn't have bitten your head off, I was cut up about Harlow. But that's no excuse to yell at a friend.
MACKENZIE: (happy) Well how about we call it even Stevens and get back to being friends?
HENDRIX: I definitely don't need anymore enemies, so that works.
Mackenzie heads home and Hendrix tries to start his assignment, but it turns out his laptop is still busted. With a sigh, he grabs Susan's laptop to work on. But when he opens it, he sees a file on the desktop labelled 'Brent Colefax - Personal Records'. Intrigued, Hendrix grabs a USB stick and is about to transfer the file onto it when Mackenzie suddenly reappears after forgetting her favourite bookmark in the novel. What Hendrix doesn't realise, though, is that when he was startled by Mac, his hand slipped and he transferred the file into the 'Shared Student Resources' folder instead.
Lassiters Complex
Toadie sees Shane while he's collecting his mail and tells his brother he owes him an apology for not being impartial when he said he was going to be. Shane doesn't look as though he holds it against him, but Toad explains that he'd give anything to have his wife back and his family whole, "so I'm always going to come from that place". Toadie adds that he loves his brother, though, so from now on he's going to be on board with any decision Shane makes. Shane thanks him and says it means a lot. Dipi approaches Shane when Toadie leaves and says she got his message about wanting to talk. She suggests they head into the Café, but Shane says he'd rather just get out what he wants to say right there and then. Dipi is initially happy when Shane says he's been thinking about her declaration a lot, but her smile fades when he adds that he can't stop thinking about her and Pierce together and how much it hurt.
SHANE:(upset) But what actually hurt most was that when you two were over and he said he didn't want to be with you anymore, you said you still didn't want to be with me. And even after everything, that left me in the most desolate place I have ever been. Then along came Amy. She sees me for who I am and she makes me happy. And you come waltzing back in out of the blue and you tell me that you want me to come back to you. I can't. I just can't. So we're done.
Dipi looks crushed.
Number 32
Nicolette, David and Aaron are in the kitchen with Jane while she's finally uploading the English content to the student resource centre. But Jane is shocked when she realises that someone has uploaded all of Brent's personal files onto the shared student resources folder. The other three are equally as shocked and walk over to have a look. Jane says it's all of Brent's academic reports, psychiatric reports and police incident reports. "It's all there for everyone to see," she says, while David, Aaron and Nicolette look on in concern.