Previously
- Nell gives Dipi and Shane her blessing to go to Sydney after all
- Nicolette hears of the manager vacancy at Harold's and decides to apply; Chloe offers to help
- Following the interview with Nicolette, Dipi tells Shane she thinks Nic is a good option
- Chloe tells Nicolette she has Feelings™ for her
- But Nicolette tells Chloe it's not mutual, and that she should stop pestering her about it
- These protestations predictably last all of five minutes, and the pair end up kissing
No 24
It's the morning after, and Chloe and Nicolette are having subtext-ridden breakfast chat.
CHLOE: You're still okay with avo on toast?
NICOLETTE: Yeah.
CHLOE: Because if you've changed your mind...
NICOLETTE: Let's not drag innocent vegetables into this.
CHLOE: Avocados are fruits.
NICOLETTE: You're talking about how we just slept together.
Thanks, Nic - in case we hadn't gathered.
CHLOE: I don't regret it.
NICOLETTE: Neither do I. But if this was just a heat-of-the-moment thing...
CHLOE: I want to see where this goes.
NICOLETTE: It's all I've ever wanted.
They smile soppily at each other. But Chloe adds that she doesn't think they should tell David and Aaron just yet, lest it precipitate a 'judge-a-rama'. Nicolette agrees, adding that Jane's back today and that she will be pretty 'anti' as well, given that Nic was crushing on Chloe while she was with Pierce.
CHLOE: You moving in with her could be a bit of a handbrake, then.
NICOLETTE: So, it's settled, then.
CHLOE: This will be our secret.
Ramsay Street
Dipi is collecting the mail when Shane pulls up in the car; he's had it serviced ahead of their road trip to Sydney. Dipi says all they need now is snacks and show tunes.
Dipi tells Shane that she's been through all the applications for Harold's manager, and surprisingly she's decided to award the job to the only one from Ramsay Street - Nicolette. She thinks she and Chloe will make a great team. Meanwhile, Shane is looking forward to his last shift at The Waterhole, which he says 'should be a cracker'.
SHANE: Sheila always puts on a big show for her favourites when they move on.
Toadie pulls up in his car with Nell, who shows off her latest moves from her dancing lesson. She asks Dipi and Shane if they're coming back to Erinsborough to watch her dance show, but Toadie reminds her that he's going to video it and send it to them. Toadie and Nell go inside, and Dipi laments that she can't be at Nell's show in person.
The Waterhole
Chloe and Nicolette are still talking about avocado - honest.
CHLOE: I am starving. That avo didn't touch the sides.
NICOLETTE: The avo didn't. Me, on the other hand...
CHLOE: We'll grab something quick here, but remember, it's hands-off in public.
NICOLETTE: Or we could be hands-on and eat at home.
CHLOE: Takeaway it is!
Dipi calls, and tells Nicolette she's got the job as Harold's manager. A delighted Nicolette thanks Dipi, promising her she won't regret this. Chloe is excited too, and the pair are just getting romantic again when Jane and Clive come in, back from their trip to Brisbane. Jane expresses her condolences to Chloe over Fay's death.
Jane is keen to have a catch-up but Nicolette makes excuses to leave, saying she has lots to do before her work shift. Chloe mentions that Nicolette got the manager's job, and Jane and Clive congratulate her. But this leads Jane to insist on a celebratory drink.
JANE: And we can dive into the house-hunting at the same time, because I have come up with a shortlist that I think you're gonna love.
Nicolette fakes a smile.
Lassiter's Complex
Outside the pub, Roxy is telling Shane about the skull symbol she found on the shipping container, which is the same as the one from her attacker's ring - and says the police agree it's no coincidence. Shane congratulates her on her detective work. Sheila, who is also present, says she's going to go on a long break and catch up with Dipi before she leaves town.
Shane reminds Roxy and Sheila that it's his last day, too.
SHEILA: I do have something special for you today (...) It's gum-scraping duty. There is so much old chewy stuck under those tables that it's enough to plug all the holes in the Great Wall of China. Get on it!
Sheila leaves.
ROXY: Score! Also, you are on toilet-scrubbing duty.
SHANE: No, it's your turn!
ROXY: No, it's not. Sheila's put me on spirit stock-take.
SHANE: Why do you get the cushy job?!
ROXY: Because hard liquor is my area of expertise.
Roxy walks off.
SHANE: But it's my last day!
The Waterhole
Back indoors, Jane is showing Nicolette and Chloe pictures of potential new homes for her and Nicolette. Jane has identified a 'perfect' place she wants to inspect tomorrow.
NICOLETTE: Oh, I don't think we should rush it. It's a big decision.
CHLOE: Slow and steady wins the race.
JANE: Hm. The early bird catches the worm...
CHLOE: It's better to blow longer than burn your mouth!
JANE: A tortoise only ever moves when it sticks its neck out (...) Darling, you don't want to be imposing on Chloe any longer than you need.
Chloe insists it's not an imposition; it's been really nice having Nic around.
JANE: It is lovely to see the two of you getting along again. All the more reason why you wouldn't want to spoil things by overstaying your welcome, hm?
Nicolette fakes another smile, which swiftly fades as Jane goes to get more drinks.
Flamingo Bar
Dipi is telling Sheila how she regrets that she'll miss Nell's dance show due to moving to Sydney. Jesse the 'lifeguard'/barman comes out with cocktails for them, but he's messed up the order as they ordered mocktails.
SHEILA: You need to check at the bar.
JESSE: Right. Thanks... Shelly.
SHEILA: Mm. Close enough.
Jesse leaves to correct his mistake.
SHEILA: Sweet boy, but I'm so glad he's not working behind *my* bar, because he's as dumb as a box of hair.
Sheila tells Dipi not to feel too down on herself about leaving Nell and Hugo; there are loads of ways to stay in touch, such as online videos, 'like those tick-tacky things'. Dipi says she wants a special way of staying connected with Nell, so Sheila recounts the story of her friend Leona, a textiles worker who moved to Brazil.
SHEILA: She was having the same problem with her nephew as you're having with Nell. But she came up with a very, very nifty solution...
Harold's Café
Nicolette has put up the 'back in ten minutes' sign on the door, and she and Chloe discuss her new role as manager of the café. Nicolette hopes that being so busy here will help keep Jane off her back about finding a new place together. She's not sure how to handle it.
NICOLETTE: If I tell her I want to stay with you, she'll realise pretty quickly that something's going on between us (...) She'll be a total drainer, and she'll rat us out to the boys.
CHLOE: Maybe you should stick with the original plan, and move out with Jane. It's not about me, or us, even. Jane wants to spend time with you, make up for all the lost years. And I know you want that, too. Maybe you should take the opportunity while you still can.
NICOLETTE: Well, at least you'll have the place to yourself, and I can visit all the time, and we won't have to be sneaky.
CHLOE: Shame. Would've been exciting.
NICOLETTE: Exciting, like... taking advantage of a closed café?
Chloe goes to follow Nicolette into the kitchen...
Lassiter's Complex
Shane is back from cleaning the dunnies, and joins Roxy at a table, who is taking a 'well-deserved rest' after her stock-take.
SHANE: As long as you didn't take yourself a sneaky from the stock?
ROXY: Hey, I don't steal booze from work, okay? That's what Paul's liquor cabinet is for.
SHANE: Fair enough. Hey, how about we mix up a few new cocktails, for old time's sake?
Roxy is baffled to get a text from Emmett, wanting to hang out, and wonders how he even got her number. At this point, Sheila returns.
SHEILA: I do not pay the two of you to sit around like two stale bottles of beer.
Shane is still keen to have fun given it's his last day, and suggests a tips competition. But Roxy and Sheila make out that they're uninterested.
SHEILA: Have you cleaned up the chewy yet?
SHANE: No, I thought we could have a bit of fun...
SHEILA: We're working, Shane!
ROXY: Yeah, that's what we're here for, Shane.
SHEILA: Get your head in the game, Shane.
Shane looks peeved.
Harold's Café
Nicolette is feeding Chloe ice-cream in the kitchen.
NICOLETTE: Sweet for my sweet.
CHLOE: That is the hokiest thing I've ever heard you say.
NICOLETTE: Yeah, I nearly choked on it. But I am about to double down. You, Chloe Brennan, are as sweet as ice-cream.
CHLOE: Look at you, being all soft and squishy!
NICOLETTE: If you tell anyone, I'll deny it, and then I'll have to kill you.
CHLOE: You know, I don't really mind this secret-hook-up bizzo.
NICOLETTE: I dreamt so long about being with you - every moment is worth it.
CHLOE: The sweet moments, and the spicy ones.
They hold hands and move further back, into the office area, oblivious to the fact that Aaron, David and Jane have just come through the front door! They're here with flowers and wine to surprise Nicolette and celebrate her new job, but are surprised to find the café empty.
Hearing a crashing noise out the back, Jane, Aaron and David head into the kitchen - and are flabbergasted to be confronted by Chloe and Nicolette pashing!
JANE: Oh, my goodness!
AARON: What is going on?!
CHLOE and NICOLETTE: ...
JANE: So how long has this been going on?
CHLOE: Officially, a few hours.
JANE: So, it's not exactly serious, then?
NICOLETTE: No, it is. We... we both want this.
AARON: Okay, right. So when you told me yesterday that neither of you have romantic feelings for each other...?
NICOLETTE: I wasn't lying to you. I was lying to myself. I have kept a lid on this for so long, because I thought it was the right thing to do, especially in these circumstances. But when Chloe told me she felt the same way...
CHLOE: We hope you can all be supportive. I know this isn't ideal for you guys, but... it's perfection for us.
NICOLETTE: And in no way is it a rash decision.
DAVID: If this is what you both want, then we can't hold you back.
CHLOE: We won't cause any dramas, we promise.
JANE: And so this is why you've been less than enthusiastic about us finding a place together - because you want to be with Chloe.
NICOLETTE: Sorry, Mum, I wanted to tell you. I just... We weren't ready for it to be out in the open yet.
CHLOE: We just wanted to enjoy this honeymoon period without having to explain ourselves.
NICOLETTE: Or be prematurely judged. And now that we have explained ourselves, we're hoping that the judging won't be too harsh.
Jane forces a smile, but Aaron doesn't even attempt that!
No 30
Toadie comes in to find Dipi and Nell looking at the computer on the sofa. Nell explains to him that she and Dipi are making a quilt together. Dipi explains it was Sheila's idea; Dipi's going to send through some squares for the quilt from Sydney, which Nell is then going to colour in with fabric markers, or do some (supervised) sewing, and send back to her to add to the quilt.
TOADIE (moved): This is amazing, Dipi. Thank you.
DIPI: Don't you start, Jarrod Rebecchi.
Toadie admits his sewing credentials are not first-rate, but promises to help Nell with the project nonetheless. Dipi and Nell head to the bedroom to find some fabric and get started.
Lassiter's Complex
Shane tells Roxy and Sheila he's finished up his shift. He's lingering, hoping they'll offer up some kind of last-day, goodbye sentiment, but they don't.
SHANE (hurt): I guess I'll just head home.
SHEILA: Oh. See ya.
ROXY: Say hi to your hotter half for me. Harold's will not be the same without Dipi. I'll miss that cheeky smile.
SHANE: Will do... Actually, you know what?! You'd think, after all these years, a bloke could get a proper send-off! I mean, Pete - no-one remembers Pete, but he got an open bar! And Wei Ling, she was only here for two weeks, and she got a vegan feast! And what do I get? Some crusty gum?! Which kinda makes sense, because I feel all chewed up and spat out! But... it was nice knowing ya.
ROXY: Shane (...) you naive wombat of a man! Do you really think that we would forget about your last day?
They step aside to reveal a table with some beers, a cake and some bottles of Tinkle water (Shane's infamous recycled urine invention) on it!
SHEILA: We really had you going, didn't we?
SHANE: No! I was just playing along!
Sheila goes inside to get some glasses, leaving Roxy and Shane to have a heartfelt exchange.
ROXY: I'm really gonna miss you.
SHANE: Gonna miss you, too.
ROXY (crying): Seriously - you're one of my best mates.
SHANE: Ditto, Rox. You know, I wouldn't have, umm... made it without you.
Harold's Café
In the kitchen, Chloe insists to Aaron and David that it wasn't an impulsive decision to get together with Nicolette - Chloe was prepared to keep her feelings under wraps, but then Aaron went and told Nic.
AARON: Well, I should've kept my mouth shut.
CHLOE: No, I'm glad you didn't, Az. This is a good thing.
DAVID: I think we have to give them the benefit of the doubt.
At the counter, Jane asks Nicolette if she's thought this through.
NICOLETTE: Mum, I know you've warned me off Chlo in the past. But it's different now.
JANE: What if the wheels were to fall off? You're carrying Aaron's child. You could put the boys in a very awkward position.
NICOLETTE: It's great to know you have so much faith in me (!)
JANE: I'm being practical.
NICOLETTE: No, you're being fatalistic. And annoying.
Chloe comes to join them.
NICOLETTE: I'm sorry you're upset.
CHLOE: We know this comes as a bit of a shock.
JANE (to Nicolette): What does this mean for our living situation? Do you still want to move out with me?
NICOLETTE: Yes, I...
CHLOE: Jane should move in with us. You two get to live together. We get to stay together. It's a win-win!
Jane says it's a thoughtful offer, but asks if it's alright with Nicolette.
NICOLETTE: Excellent. Roomie!
But once again, we get the sense she's not being entirely sincere!
No 30
Shane has brought the cake home to share with the family, having apparently protected it from Karl en route!
SHANE: It's his favourite kind of cake.
TOADIE: What, free?
SHANE: Bingo, Toad-o.
Nell tells Shane about the quilt project, and goes to get some supplies so he can help.
TOADIE: This is such a good idea. She's gonna be camping out the front, waiting at the letterbox for these squares.
DIPI: Can you please make sure you FaceTime me before she opens up the parcels?
TOADIE: Absolutely. Thank you so much for going to the effort.
DIPI: Come on, we're family. It's what we do.
TOADIE: ...
SHANE: Are you okay, mate?
TOADIE: Yeah, yeah. I was just thinking about how much the little fishies are gonna miss you guys.
DIPI: Can you not? I'm gonna miss them so much, too.
SHANE: And we're gonna miss the big fish.
Erinsborough Hospital
Nicolette accosts Clive in reception. He immediately looks scared!
CLIVE: Everything okay?
NICOLETTE: Yeah! It was just a shame you had to run off earlier. I was hoping to see some holiday snaps.
CLIVE (sceptical): Really?
NICOLETTE: Yeah. Not usually my type of thing, but you and Mum are cute together.
A bewildered Clive starts making excuses to leave.
NICOLETTE: Okay, I'll just come out and say it, then. I need your help with something.
Clive makes a noise that's somewhere between pain and dread!
NICOLETTE: You see, Chloe and I have just started seeing each other, romantically.
CLIVE: Yes, Jane called earlier.
NICOLETTE: Right. So, I probably don't need to tell you that Mum's not in love with the idea. And when Mum pushed me about moving out with her from Chloe's, Chloe could see that I was in two minds about it, so she came up with a solution - and asked Mum to move in with us.
CLIVE: Well, what did Jane say?
NICOLETTE: An emphatic 'yes'.
CLIVE: And what do *you* think?
NICOLETTE: Clive, if that happens, Mum will be watching my every move. She'll be breathing down our necks. And that's not really the way I want to start this new relationship. I have wanted to be with Chloe since the moment I met her, and I'm worried that if Mum moves in... well, I don't want to be in a position where I have to choose between the two of them.
CLIVE: I really don't see how I can help. Jane can be pretty stubborn when she wants to be.
NICOLETTE: See, there *is* something you can do. I need you to ask Mum to move in with you.
CLIVE: ...
Coming up on Neighbours
- Toadie tells Karl and Susan not to do this; Susan says she doesn't see another option
- Sheila tells Bea, 'She doesn't hold all of the cards'
- Olivia on the phone to someone, shouting, 'You know nothing! You are an amateur!'
- Terese asks Paul if he has some kind of money issue he's not telling her about
- Paul wants Ned to do something for him, 'no questions asked'
- Terese asks Paul what he's hiding