Previously
- Mackenzie bids an emotional farewell to Shane and Dipi
- Mackenzie admits it'll be weird without Dipi and Shane; Hendrix says she can hang out with him
- Sheila is confronted by the intended recipient of her mystery packages - another Sheila Canning!
- Sheila 1 tries to return the packages' contents, but Sheila 2 tells her to leave her alone
- Ned learns that Paul is planning to sell the Hive
- Ned complains Paul is inflating the Hive's figures and booking numbers to make it look viable
- Terese says that's just business, but Roxy doesn't think it's okay
- Sheila 1 warns Sheila Canning 2 about getting mixed up with Paul Robinson
- Sheila 2 is surprised to receive a USB with the Hive's real financial figures on it
- Sheila 2 tells Paul of the anonymous tip- off, and says their deal for her to buy the Hive is off
Lassiter's
At reception, Terese is signing a document that Toadie has drafted for her, which seems to be a settlement for Vera Punt following her accident at the complex. As Toadie leaves, he is witness to Sheila Canning 2 storming past, on the phone to presumably an employee or lawyer, telling them that she's no longer interested in buying the Hive. Paul has appeared and overheard this, too.
Paul explains to Terese about Sheila 2 having been given the unedited Hive accounts anonymously. Paul is furious, as Sheila 2 was close to buying the place. Terese is sure another buyer will come along.
PAUL: Terese, I wouldn't need another buyer if I didn't have a rat in the ranks!
Paul is convinced Ned is the 'rat', but Terese says Ned would never do that to Paul after everything he's done for him. Paul says Ned is the only one who knew he was fiddling the books, but Terese corrects him, saying Roxy also knew, and wasn't impressed. Terese is sure whoever did it didn't mean any harm.
PAUL: This is a deliberate act of sabotage! Somebody wants to kill this deal, and I'm gonna find out who it is.
No 28
Hendrix and Mackenzie are discussing movies they could watch.
MACKENZIE: What do you mean, you don't do subtitles?
HENDRIX: I just don't. Harlow was all about French films, and those days are over, so...
MACKENZIE: Okay, yeah, but Korean horror films are seriously next-level (...) I see what's happening here, you can't handle the scare factor!
HENDRIX: I can handle it, okay? Don't you worry about that.
MACKENZIE: Okay, then, prove it. Tonight.
Hendrix agrees, and asks Bea, who's working on her computer at the table, whether she wants to join them for movie night. She says she's got heaps to get through with her podcast preparation, so can't. Mackenzie asks how it's going; Bea says she's making progress.
HENDRIX: That's her polite way of saying that Karl is driving her crazy.
BEA: He means well, but it's just so intense.
Karl himself comes through the front door, and starts giving Bea unsolicited food for thought about the podcast, having been listening to some true crime ones down at the tram.
KARL: How do we separate ourselves from the pack? I mean, every man and his dog's doing a podcast at the moment. And then I thought, well, our point of difference is me. I mean, with my standing, it adds credibility, gravitas. So I wondered how you might feel about me co-hosting. 'Hello, this is Dr Karl Kennedy here, bringing you The Kelly Files.' I mean, that's just a working title, obviously.
Hendrix and Mackenzie make faces in the background. Karl heads off for a shower without waiting for an answer from Bea, who looks stressed and put out.
The Flamingo Bar
As she walks along the sand with Ned, Yashvi becomes distracted exchanging smiles with Jesse.
NED: Hey, boyfriend right here!
Yashvi tunes back in, and tells Ned about how Shane and Dipi have already found a new house in Sydney. An angry-looking Paul approaches, and Ned tells Yashvi not to get involved; he'll handle it. But to Ned's surprise, Paul walks straight past him.
Ned explains to Yashvi that Paul has been manipulating the Hive accounts to make it look like a more successful business than it is. Ned admits he didn't want Paul to rip off the prospective buyer (Sheila 2), so he sent her the real financial figures.
YASHVI: That is...
NED: Stupid, I know.
YASHVI: Well, I was gonna say brave.
By the bar, Paul and a parasol-carrying Jesse are struggling to negotiate their way past one another.
JESSE: Sorry, Pete... Mr Robinson.
PAUL: Just get out of my way, will you?!
Ned tells Yashvi that Paul mustn't have realised it was him who leaked the figures, or else he'd have been fired by now.
Paul walks into the bar, and finds Roxy, who's apparently on the phone to Harlow, telling her she hasn't seen Brent. Roxy wraps up her phone call, and Paul demands to know whether she stole the Hive figures from his laptop and gave the USB to Sheila 2. Roxy admits she thought Paul's massaging of the figures was 'totally sketchy', but denies all knowledge of leaking them.
However, Roxy says that Sheila 1 did warn Sheila 2 about getting involved with Paul.
PAUL: What did that busybody do now?!
No 28
Karl continues to pester Bea about the podcast; he advocates doing a 'deeper dive into Finn's neurological abnormalities'.
BEA: I want to focus more on the human side. A portrait of all the victims, showing how it felt to both love and hate someone at the same time.
KARL: Yeah, it's a bit of a slippery slope, though. We wouldn't want to elicit sympathy for him. I mean, you've really got to ground this in science. I -
BEA: No, no, Karl, stop! This is my project, this is my story, and I'm going to decide how we tell it!
KARL: Right, yeah, of course.
Hendrix and Mackenzie look awkward on the sofas.
KARL: Bea, I'm so sorry. I've just been mulling over what you said yesterday, about the fact that details matter, and... Olivia's claims about me, they've painted me in a very bad light. I guess I saw this project as a way to restore my reputation, if just a little. Which is why I'm so invested in it. I really didn't mean to tread on your toes... You wouldn't do it without me, would you?
BEA (reluctantly): No. Of course I wouldn't.
Karl offers to take her to Harold's for coffee and continue the conversation there. Bea agrees.
The Waterhole
Roxy tells Sheila 1 that she thinks she's put her foot in it with Paul - and sure enough, Paul comes storming in to confront Sheila 1. Sheila 1 thinks Paul is angry about her telling him off for being messy yesterday, but denies taking his USB stick and giving it to Sheila 2.
SHEILA 1: I did warn her to keep her wits about her while she was around you. But that's a given.
ROXY: See? What did I tell you? No-one handed over your files. If your own lies blew up in your face, then it's your own fault.
SHEILA 1: Too right. Maybe you could try - hmm, dunno - some common decency? It would save you a lot of headaches.
Sheila 1 and Roxy high-five.
Harold's Café
Karl is trying to give a frustrated Bea elocution lessons in preparation for her podcast hosting. He warns her that microphones pick up every little detail.
BEA: Karl, I'm a singer. I know how microphones work.
Ned comes in; apparently Karl has been in touch with him to try and book the recording booth at the Hive, but it's not available till next week. Karl is disappointed, saying he was hoping to get started right away - but it turns out Bea is the one who has booked it up.
KARL: One step ahead of me - great minds, eh?
Karl explains to Ned that he and Bea are now doing the podcast together, but says that their first few sessions will probably just be practising on the mic.
KARL (to Bea): We can't have a podcast host who sounds grating, can we? Not that *you* would ever sound grating, of course. But we just need to do a little bit of work on the diction, that's all.
Ned quietly feels sorry for Bea as Karl continues lecturing her.
Lassiter's Complex
Sheila 1 is outside the pub when Sheila 2 turns up, on the phone to somebody, and takes a seat nearby.
SHEILA 2: Well, if they can't secure the financing by next week, then I'll have to move on.
Roxy emerges from the pub and apologises to Sheila 1 ('Mama') for setting Paul onto her. Sheila 1 tells her not to worry, and gives her a list of jobs to do in the pub that Shane used to be responsible for - of which there are three pages! Roxy asks Sheila 1 how she'll be able to do all this on top of her normal work.
SHEILA 1: How do you eat an elephant?
ROXY: Eat a what?
Sheila 2, overhearing, laughs.
SHEILA 2: One bite at a time. It's an old saying. It means to break things down into smaller bits. Tackle it one at a time.
ROXY: Oh, right. (to Sheila 1) Why didn't you just say that in the first place?
Roxy goes inside.
SHEILA 2: Kids these days, eh?
SHEILA 1: Yeah. Too much texting, you know? LOL, IDK, BSB. She wouldn't know a good proverb if she fell over one.
SHEILA 2: Oh, you would've liked my nan. She used to come up with absolute corkers when I was living with her.
SHEILA 1: She sounds like a woman after my own heart.
SHEILA 2: You know, I still find myself using them every now and then. I'm sure your daughter will be the same before long.
Sheila 1 says Roxy isn't her daughter. Sheila 2 says she overheard her calling her 'Mama', but Sheila 1 explains Roxy is just dating one of her grandsons, Kyle, and adds that both he and Levi live with her.
SHEILA 1: It's a madhouse. Not that I'd have it any other way. Family's everything.
SHEILA 2: It is.
Ned appears, and orders a toastie from Sheila 1, who goes inside to fetch it.
SHEILA 2: Hello, again. I was hoping I might bump into you. I wanted to say thanks for looking out for me.
NED (evasive): Oh, I'm not sure what you're talking about.
SHEILA 2: If you say so. Just know I appreciate it.
Ned simply nods, and goes inside.
Ramsay Street
Yashvi is outside No 30 texting Ned, to tell him she hopes everything goes okay with Paul, adding, 'I'm really proud of you.' Yashvi then looks up thoughtfully towards No 22. Toadie pulls up and gets out of his car, and notices Yashvi distractedly staring at the house.
TOADIE: Are you actually gonna go for a run, or are you just gonna stand there and stare at your boyfriend's place?
YASHVI: I was thinking about something he did earlier. It was unexpected, but quite impressive.
TOADIE: No, no - don't need to know.
YASHVI: Alright, Dad (!) See you later.
Yashvi goes off for her jog, just as Mackenzie comes out of No 30 and tells Toadie that the internet keeps cutting out, which is annoying as she's been trying to FaceTime Harlow all day. Mackenzie admits she's been missing Harlow, and it's been even harder with Shane and Dipi gone. Toadie asks Mackenzie to help him move some files indoors. Mackenzie gets a call from Hendrix.
MACKENZIE: Chickening out of our movie night already? (...) Whoa, slow down! Take a deep breath. What's going on? ... I'll be right there...
Erinsborough Hive
Bea visits Ned, and tells him he should give back the recording booth booking slots he cancelled for her to the people who originally had them.
NED: Does this have something to do with Karl?
BEA: No, no... I just feel bad for taking their bookings. Okay, maybe it has a little bit to do with Karl (...) It's awesome that he's so committed, but it's getting so intense.
Bea admits she's going to have to suck it up, so will keep the bookings after all. Ned says that if she ever needs him to 'launch a rescue op', 'just text me the code word'.
BEA: And what's the code word?
NED: Dolphins.
BEA (laughs): Ah, dolphins! Thank you.
They high-five. As Bea leaves, Paul comes in.
PAUL: Ned? I'm only gonna ask this once, and I want the truth (...) Did you leak confidential information to Sheila Canning?
NED: Why would I do that?
PAUL: I seem to remember you took umbrage to my sales strategy. And seeing as Roxy and Sheila know absolutely nothing about it, that leaves you as the prime suspect.
NED: Right, cos I would cross the guy who signs my pay cheques (!) You really think I'm stupid enough to risk my job for someone I don't even know? I know I'm on thin ice from last week.
PAUL: If I find out you're lying to me, the fact that you're family is not gonna protect you, understood?
NED: Understood.
As Paul walks off, Ned, who has been keeping his cool till now, looks worried.
No 28
Mackenzie has arrived to find Hendrix standing on the sofa looking scared!
MACKENZIE: Is *this* why you brought me here? I thought you were being attacked.
HENDRIX: I *am* being attacked, it came right at me. Okay, not right at me - but it was thinking about it! You grew up in the country. I figured you would know what to do.
It turns out Hendrix has been scared by a spider, which he explains is behind the TV cabinet.
HENDRIX: It's the size of my head!
Agreeing it's a fairly big specimen, Mackenzie nonetheless calmly fetches a glass to catch the spider in, so she can take it outside.
HENDRIX: Are you insane? Mackenzie, kill it!
MACKENZIE: I thought you were an animal lover?
HENDRIX: That's no animal. That is a bloodthirsty monster, that thing, okay?
Hendrix fidgets from his vantage point on the couch, as Mackenzie tries to lure the spider out - but it ends up inside the TV cabinet instead. Hendrix declares the humane approach a failure, and heads to his room for refuge.
MACKENZIE (laughs): You are so not coping with the Korean horror movie.
Erinsborough Hive
Ned is wrapping a portrait of Bea in bubblewrap, when Sheila 2 comes in. She's brought him a bottle (of whisky?) as a thank-you gift for the anonymous tip-off about the Hive's finances.
NED: Like I said earlier, I dunno what you're thanking me for.
SHEILA 2: Sticking to your story, then, huh? You reckon you're a painter - I reckon your true calling could be acting. You know - spies, espionage, top secret files - those kind of films.
NED: Never really got into those. Always seemed a bit far-fetched to me.
SHEILA 2: Yeah, why's that?
NED: Hero's too noble. For example, why would anyone risk their livelihood to betray their boss? A boss they live with because he happens to be married to his ex-stepmum?
SHEILA 2: Well, it makes the hero's actions impressive. It proves that they're a decent human being, that couldn't just stand by and watch while someone else gets ripped off.
NED: Nah. No-one's that good a guy.
Sheila 2 asks if the painting of Bea is one of Ned's. He confirms it is, and Sheila 2 says she can see why he won the Osborne Prize.
NED: Thank you. Shame you're not buying the place. It'd be nice to have an art lover in charge.
Sheila 2 teases him by going to leave with the whisky, but Ned says he can take it off her hands if she really wants!
SHEILA 2: Thanks, Ned.
NED: Happy to help.
Lassiter's
Paul is reporting to Terese on his progress in tracking down who leaked the Hive's finances. He says his gut feeling is it was Ned, but he can't prove it yet. Terese doesn't believe it, but Paul says all the evidence points that way. At this point, Sheila 2 comes in, wanting to talk to Paul.
SHEILA 2: I've changed my mind. Turns out I'm interested in buying the Hive after all. But you and I need to have a little talk about your asking price.
No 30
Ned tells Yashvi he knows Paul didn't believe him when he denied leaking the Hive figures, but that he can't do anything about it without proof.
YASHVI: Whatever happens, you did the right thing (...) I'm really proud of you. I've been thinking about it all day.
Toadie comes in and overhears, again seemingly assuming they're talking about something rude. He quickly exits again.
YASHVI: So much for living a parent-free lifestyle. I can't even praise my boyfriend without having the awkward dad routine.
NED: Maybe he's trying to fill in for Shane.
Yashvi suggests they go to the cinema, and Ned agrees.
YASHVI: Bea says there's a really cool new spy movie out.
NED: (laughs)
YASHVI: What?
NED: Nothing. Just, it reminded me of something someone said at work today.
YASHVI: About spy movies?
NED: Yeah. Don't worry about it.
Ned smiles to himself as Yashvi walks away.
No 28
Hendrix has brought out the big guns in pursuit of the spider - the vacuum cleaner. Mackenzie has located the spider within the TV cabinet.
HENDRIX: Make sure you get right in there, because if it escapes, we'll have to burn the house down.
MACKENZIE: Look at you! You're shaking.
HENDRIX: Can you focus, please? You can mock me after this thing's dead.
MACKENZIE: You know you're making me an accessory to murder right now?
HENDRIX: It's self-defence. No jury in the world would convict us, okay? Kill it.
Hendrix turns the vacuum on, and Mackenzie picks up the hose to suck up the spider.
HENDRIX: Show no mercy!
The spider appears, and they both scream and leap backwards onto the couch.
HENDRIX: Where is it, where is it?
MACKENZIE: I don't know. It crawled up the nozzle.
Mackenzie starts laughing.
HENDRIX: What?!
MACKENZIE: Sorry. That scream! Never heard you reach those high notes before.
HENDRIX: It's not funny, okay?! I just stared death in the face!
As Hendrix and Mackenzie stare into one another's eyes at close quarters, a romantic underscore fades in - could they be having a Moment?
Coming up on Neighbours
- Yashvi asks Mackenzie if something happened. 'No,' Mackenzie replies
- Mackenzie tells Toadie, 'Something just happened'
- Chloe asks Hendrix if he likes Mackenzie
- Mackenzie asks Toadie, 'What's Harlow gonna say?'
- Holden tells Brent he still owes him for the bike
- In the Hive after dark, Brent tells Emmett to get out of here
- Holden is at the Hive too, and Nicolette asks him, 'Have we met?' as he approaches her