Previously
- Toadie telling Melanie he wants to keep seeing her
- Yashvi unable to face Ned after their break- up
- Roxy throwing an oversized chess piece into the lake
- Amy and Roxy deciding they need to fake a friendship to keep their jobs
- Sheila and Kyle not doing Levi any favours by babying him
- Levi reading an article from when he was assaulted as a kid
- Levi contacting Packo to get more information about the assault
Number 26
Kyle has loaned Roxy a pair of Gary's old fishing waders so she can search for the chess piece in the lake. When Levi chats to them, Kyle apologises for trying to trick him into doing menial tasks earlier with Sheila. Levi isn't impressed that they tried to baby him, but he understands he hasn't been acting like himself lately and says they're cool. After Levi heads out, Kyle wonders if Levi sounded truly okay but Roxy thinks he'll be fine.
Number 30
Yashvi creeps into the kitchen and has a whispered conversation with Toadie because she thinks Amy might be home, ready to strike with more housemate bonding ideas from the newly implemented 'household social calendar' stuck to the fridge. (Highlights on that include: Love Capsule Grand Final, Tiki Tuesday at the Flamingo Bar and the Erinsborough Night Market). But Toadie says the only other person in the house is Melanie. This doesn't sit well with Yashvi either because Amy has now added Melanie to the group chat. While Toadie also baulks at the busy household schedule, he insists Amy and Melanie are really nice people once you get to know them. He asks Yashvi to give them a chance for her dear, old uncle and Vi relents, but insists she's not being dragged to the open mic comedy night.
Erinsborough Police Station
Sergeant Rodwell wants to know why Levi's at work when he's supposed to be on leave, but Levi says he just wanted to check out the noticeboard. When the sergeant leaves, however, Levi jumps onto the computer and starts to look up the names Packo gave him: Mitch Foster (possibly from Hastings) and Nelson Ryker. Before Levi can delve too far into the database, Yashvi drops by on her way to check the roster. He convinces her that he's there because he's bored on leave, so Yashvi coaxes him into going to the pub with her.
Number 30
Toadie thanks Susan for looking after the kids for him that evening. They both jump when Melanie drops something in the kitchen but she swears nothing's broken. Toadie quietly informs Susan that Melanie's sorting out the feng shui in the crockery cupboard. Melanie joins them and gifts Toadie one of her ceramic pigs for company, informing Susan that she collects them. Susan says Karl used to have one called Elvis and Toadie jokes that it didn't last long, "not like this little snort-ski" he quickly clarifies to Melanie. Susan tries to hide her amusement when Melanie tells Toadie she'll be back after work to sort out the feng shui of his plates and bowls, and she'll bring her sage stick too.
The Waterhole
Levi tells Yashvi he hasn't spoken to Bea since their break-up, and Yashvi admits her and Ned aren't talking either. Levi says at least Ned wants to try be friends - Bea, meanwhile, couldn't wait to dump him and leave. "I get no closure, no say, no control and it sucks," he adds. They see Ned walk in and Levi urges Yashvi to go and clear the air. Yashvi joins Ned at the bar and says she was a bit harsh earlier, so if he's still keen to talk then she is too. Surprised but eager, Ned agrees to meet her later at the Flamingo Bar to chat. Returning to Levi, Yashvi says he was right; if she wants things to be normal with Ned then they have to talk it out.
Lassiters Complex
Toadie feels his freedom slip further and further away when Melanie says she's going to cross-check Amy's social calendar with their work one. She rattles off a whole bunch of activities they've committed to, and a weekend getaway, that basically adds up to no free time to breathe for the next couple of weeks. Karl is waiting for them when they reach the office, keen to book Toadie in to record his podcast episode. But Melanie cheerfully informs him that Toadie's busy for the foreseeable future.
Harold's Café
Kyle has a catch up with Toadie while they wait for their orders and says it's been a while since they've hung out. Toadie says he's been super busy lately, so Kyle suggests they round up Ned and Karl and have a boys night on the beers. Toadie's eyes light up and he says he's keen. Kyle admits they may regret asking Karl to tag along if he starts banging on about his microbreweries, but they'll cross that bridge once they come to it. Melanie brings Toadie his wallet he left at work, and Kyle tells her about the boys' night they're planning. Melanie says Toadie's far too busy for that for the next couple of weeks, but she'd love to have a double date with Kyle and Roxy sometime down the track. Kyle looks perturbed but says he'll ask Roxy, while Toadie just looks downtrodden.
Lassiters Complex
Roxy tells Kyle that the waders were a waste of time since the water came up to her chest. Kyle brings up the double date Melanie suggested and wonders if Roxy'd be cool with it. But Roxy's all for it as she's been meaning to get to know Melanie better, "she seems fun in a Looney Tunes kind of way." They spy Levi looking upset and ask if he's okay. Levi admits he's just encouraged Yashvi to speak with Ned, and now he's angry he didn't get the chance to do the same with Bea.
The Flamingo Bar
Ned and Yashvi sit outside in awkward silence until Ned breaks the ice. He says he'd still like them to be friends if that's at all possible, but Yashvi's wary of going "back into the mate zone" after everything that's happened. She wishes things weren't weird between them, but they broke up for a good reason.
YASHVI: But I still love you and it really hurts to see you.
NED: I get that. I still feel it too. It just hurts more not to see you.
Yashvi says it's hard because she doesn't want to act like they're best buddies where they gossip about their new crushes. Ned doesn't want that either, but they both know they can't completely stay away from each other. So they decide to set ground rules - they won't get too personal with one another, they'll just keep it chill. Ned smiles and says one of the benefits of being friends is that Yashvi can get mate's rates at the bar.
Roxy and Kyle watch them from across the 'beach' and Roxy says it's nice to see them work things out. Kyle agrees and says it's a shame Levi can't do the same with Bea. Kyle then becomes concerned when he gets a text from someone unexpected and quickly rings them back.
Rebecchi Law Office
Yashvi drops by to tell Toadie that her and Mackenzie won't be home that night as they're going out. She says it's a mini celebration because her and Ned are on speaking terms again. Toadie's glad for her, and says Amy won't be home tonight either. Yashvi teases him and wonders if Toad and his "lover" will hold a seance while everyone's out. Toadie wishes Vi wouldn't keep making fun of Melanie, especially since she's trying so hard to fit in. They keep their voices down because Melanie's in an adjoining room, but Yashvi can't help but comment on how intense Melanie can be. Toadie reluctantly acknowledges that Mel does have a lot of energy. Sensing that Toadie needs some alone time, Yashvi puts a plan into place when Melanie returns. Vi pretends that Toadie just found out that he has to stay back at the office and do work, and that Melanie should head home because otherwise she'll be a distraction to him. The plan works and Melanie leaves none the wiser, giving Toadie the free evening he'd been craving.
Number 26
Turns out, the person who called Kyle was Packo. And Kyle is super interested to know from Levi why he's been in contact with him. Levi says it's not a big deal, he's just been wondering how Nathan turned his life around and if his other attackers did too. Kyle doesn't understand why Levi was keeping it a secret, and reminds him just how all over the place he's been lately since Bea. He bets Levi is even stalking his attackers online as they speak. Levi carefully closes his laptop while Kyle encourages his cousin let him know what's troubling him. But Yashvi suddenly drops by to thank Levi for pushing her to speak with Ned as it turned out quite well. She then encourages her workmate to try and enjoy his break, not spend all his time at the station doing paperwork. This grabs Kyle's attention and he becomes suspicious.
Number 30
Toadie is stoked that he has the place to himself. He's dressed in a burger t-shirt and his boxers for maximum comfort, and is just about to settle on the couch with beer and chips to watch the wrestling when he hears something outside. Looking out the window he suddenly panics. Grabbing his beers and chips, he sprints out the back door.
Number 28 Backyard
Karl and Susan are trying to work out the new pizza oven when they're startled to see Toadie climb over the back fence and into their yard. For a moment they're worried someone has broken into Toadie's place because he's acting panicked, but Toadie soon tells them he's running and hiding from Melanie. He says he told Melanie that he was working late, but he really just wanted alone time to pig out and watch wrestling. Karl seems quite understanding, but Susan is taken aback.
SUSAN: Let me get this straight. You lied to Melanie about having to work late, you asked us to mind the kids, just so you could lie around on your couch in your underwear, and now you're hiding from her because you don't want to tell her the truth?
KARL: Come on, Susan, the woman never gives him a minute to himself. Of course he has to resort to stealth.
SUSAN: (gesturing at Toadie clutching his beer and snacks) There is nothing stealthy about this!
TOADIE: I know it looks bad but she's not getting any of my hints. We spend so much time together at work and now with Amy organising all of these bonding activities, it's claustrophobic!
SUSAN: Have you tried being honest with her?!
TOADIE: Don't be stupid, I like her! I don't want to ruin this.
He pleads that he just needs a few hours to himself, so Karl takes pity on him and invites him to stay for homemade pizza with them and the kids. Susan begrudgingly goes along with the suggestion, but tells Toadie he needs to be upfront with Melanie tomorrow. And he needs to borrow a pair of Karl's trackie dacks, stat.
Number 26
Kyle wants to know the truth about why Levi was at work earlier. Levi confesses that he wanted to look up his attackers on the database but Yashvi inadvertently stopped him from doing so. Kyle doesn't buy that Levi was just looking them up out of curiosity though. He was about to break the law, so he was definitely up to something more. Kyle asks what kind of information Packo gave him, but Levi says it wasn't much to go on except one of them might live in Hastings. Levi doesn't get why Kyle is getting so worked up about it, especially since he was the one who sought out Packo in the first place. "Yeah, but I didn't do something that could jeopardise my job," Kyle points out. He gets that Levi has questions, but he doesn't have to do it alone. He'll ask Honga if he knows any information, and if any leads pan out, Kyle will tag along with Levi. He just wants Levi to promise to keep him in the loop.
Number 28
Toadie, Karl and Susan are chatting at the dinner table and the topic is on ceramic pigs. Karl says if Melanie's looking for more he should rummage through the garage and give her Elvis, but Susan says Elvis has left the building. Toadie bursts into laughter when Susan tells an outraged Karl that the pig was hideous and she couldn't risk him stumbling upon it again.
KARL: Where is he?
SUSAN: (mocking) He's on a big pig farm with lots of other little pigs and he's very happy.
TOADIE: I didn't know there was a farm for ceramic pigs, I've got to tell Melanie about it.
SUSAN: He went into hard rubbish five years ago!
KARL: (glaring at Toadie cackling) It's not funny, Toad! I loved that pig!
But Toadie's laughter dies out when Susan answers a knock at the door and finds Melanie on the other side. "I thought you were working late?" Melanie says in surprise as Toadie freezes on the spot.
Erinsborough Police Station
Unable to help himself, Levi has returned to access the database. He puts in Mitch Foster's name and finds a match to a Mitch from Hastings. Levi clicks on the file to download it and has a look at it too. A photo of Mitch comes up, along with a fairly substantial list of crimes including assault with a weapon, break and enter and motor vehicle theft. Levi prints out the information, hoping not to get caught.