No 28
Susan is quizzing Karl on what Melanie did when working with Justin Buke to make her so ashamed as to not include the role on her CV.

SUSAN: It's Melanie. How bad can it be? What, did she take tarot cards into the office or something?
KARL: If only. I remember hearing a couple of years ago, the Bukes were having marital issues. Justin had an affair with a work colleague. My sources just told me the work colleague was his PA, she'd been there for a year, and the timeline fits with Melanie.
SUSAN: It's hardly conclusive.
KARL: Why would you leave a contact like that off your CV? Apparently the affair was common knowledge at the hospital. Anna found out, and it all blew up. I believe it got rather ugly.
SUSAN: Define 'ugly'.
KARL: Oh, you know - public, messy. And now we have this information, we can't just sit on it.
SUSAN: It's got nothing to do with us. And Melanie's a friend. Well, alright, 'friend' might be a bit strong.
KARL: Melanie's strange. I mean, yes, okay, she's nice. But our loyalty should be with Toadie, huh?

Susan looks conflicted.

The Waterhole
Roxy and Kyle are sitting at the bar when Levi and Amy come in, back from their date swimming with sharks!

LEVI: That big one was checking you out like you were dinner.
AMY: Is it weird that I take that as a compliment?
LEVI: I mean, clearly the shark has good taste.

As Sheila appears behind the bar, Amy raves to Kyle and Roxy about how the shark-swimming was a 'spiritual' experience.

AMY: And, like, they were as curious about us as we were about them, right?
SHEILA: Of course they are! I mean, a shark doesn't often see a cougar in the wild.

Everyone looks uncomfortable, particularly when Sheila goes on to quip, on discussion of drinks, that a lot of the pub's vintage might be on the old side for Amy's tastes. Levi puts Sheila in her place with a sternly delivered drinks order! Levi and Amy go to sit at a table, and he apologises for Sheila's behaviour but Amy insists it's all good.

Harold's Café
Ned is grilling Kyle and Roxy about Levi and Amy's date, worried he's been outdone by Levi as it 'must have cost a bomb'. Kyle concedes that Levi paid for everything.

KYLE: But if it's any consolation, I don't think the night kicked on any later. Gran pulled a championship-level block.
NED: I'm not really doing too well on that front either. Amy and I haven't even made it past a kiss.

Roxy assures him there's nothing wrong with a slow-burn, and Kyle's sure Ned will have a suitable date plan to match Levi's.

NED: Stand-up paddleboarding is too tame. I need something else. What does Amy like?
ROXY: Fashion. Cocktails. Attractive men?
NED: ...
ROXY: Travel? She used to be a flight attendant.
NED: That's it (...) Indoor skydiving!

Roxy queries whether it's romantic, and Kyle whether it's too expensive. But Ned is convinced it's a worthwhile investment to get Amy's full attention.

NED: It's time she and I took a leap of faith!

Kyle and Roxy look unimpressed.

The Waterhole
Toadie and Melanie come in, in low spirits because she didn't get the job she was interviewed for. Toadie can't believe they turned her down given the improved CV Mackenzie did for Melanie, but he's unaware Mel didn't actually use it. He tells her the employers are 'idiots for passing on you'. Amy approaches.

TOADIE: Ah, here she is - Zsa Zsa Gabor, back from taking one of her menfolk for a canter.
MELANIE: And who was it today? Was it Levi? It was Levi, right?
TOADIE: No, I thought it was Ned, actually. How does she keep track?
MELANIE: Name tags.
TOADIE: Roster.
AMY: Ha, ha, ha (!) No, Levi was the lucky gentleman caller this evening. While it lasted.
TOADIE: What? Oh, no stamina - I wouldn't have picked that!
AMY: No, meaning our fabulous time came to an abrupt stop sign, whose name starts with S, ends in A.

She's being vague because Sheila is still at the bar nearby, and possibly within earshot.

TOADIE: Okay, yeah, that old chestnut.
AMY: Yeah, well, that old chestnut thinks this chestnut is also old. As in, too old for Levi. It's really doing my head in.

Melanie thinks Sheila's just jealous of Amy's fun, but Amy says she's sick of all the cougar references.

MELANIE: Excuse me! As a card-carrying member of that particular club, I am proud of the title, and you should be too (...) You are a goddess in your prime, and men are drawn to you - how is that your fault? Should you deny them the privilege of your company?
TOADIE: That would be cruel.
MELANIE: I say you get your cougar on.
AMY: Alright, you know what? I'm going to.

Amy and Melanie celebrate with a chorus of finger-snapping. Toadie asks when Amy's next 'on the prowl', and she explains she's dating Ned tomorrow, and has 'high hopes'.

No 28
Karl and Susan are still discussing Melanie. Susan wonders if she may have already told Toadie about her past affair with Justin Buke, but Karl says he could equally be oblivious.

KARL: I don't want to insert myself into this situation, but we need to know that Toadie has all the facts (...) He needs to know the kind of person he's dating.
SUSAN: No, no. Last time we interfered in Toadie's love life we unleashed Angela Lane.
KARL: Well, the time before, it was Audrey, and her past was a deal-breaker.
SUSAN: Why drag up ancient history?
KARL: It's pretty recent.
SUSAN (pointed): What are you saying? Once a cheater, always a cheater?
KARL (point taken): No. I'm not saying that.
SUSAN: No. It's her life, it's her story to tell. And we are in no position to judge Melanie over her past mistake.

Hendrix comes in and has heard this last bit, declaring that this 'sounds juicy'! He asks what Melanie's done.

SUSAN: It's none of your business. (to Karl) Or ours.
KARL: I suppose you're right.

But Hendrix's curiosity has been piqued - and the next morning, he puts a cheeky plan into action to extract the details from Susan.

HENDRIX: I am seriously shook.
SUSAN: Why, what's happened?
HENDRIX: Melanie. I never would've guessed she had it in her.
SUSAN: Who told you?!
HENDRIX: Who do you think?
SUSAN: Oh, hopeless!
HENDRIX: How did she keep it quiet for so long?
SUSAN: By not telling Karl, apparently!
HENDRIX: Have you ever heard of something like this happening before? And how does this *specific* thing affect *other* things?
SUSAN (catching on): You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?
HENDRIX: Please tell me, Susan - just tell me! I'll cook your favourite meal. I will!

But Susan tells Hendrix he can stop trying to weasel it out of her.

SUSAN: Only a complete fool would fall for this sort of tactic.

She goes out, and Karl emerges from the bedroom!

HENDRIX: I can't believe Melanie would do that!
KARL: Did Susan let it slip? Oh, hopeless! Still, given her track record, I suppose it's not entirely out of character.
HENDRIX: What track record?
KARL: Well, sleeping with the bosses, obviously. Still, Paul and Toadie didn't have wives, but Justin Buke...
HENDRIX: Whoa. *Whoa.*
KARL (catching on): Oh, no. I can't believe I've fallen for that.
HENDRIX: No, me neither.
KARL: Okay, you can't tell another living soul.
HENDRIX: I thought she'd done something stupid, but this is *heavy*.
KARL: Hendrix, this is serious.
HENDRIX: Don't worry, okay, Karl? Unlike some, I can keep a secret! Hopeless.

The Waterhole
Susan is getting a coffee when Toadie and Melanie turn up; they've just dropped the kids off for a party at the Community Centre.

MELANIE: Although I did have half a mind to stay. Some of the dads there were yummy.
TOADIE: Well, luckily, you've got this piece of prime steak, hey?
MELANIE: Never too soon to upgrade, babe.

Susan looks worried, clearly wondering whether Mel is only half-joking! Mel realises she's still holding Nell's jacket and decides to pop back and return it to her. Toadie jokes that this must be a calculated plan to go back and check out the yummy dads. 'You've got me,' jokes Mel, but Susan is now deeply suspicious.

After Mel leaves, Toadie tells Susan about how Mel missed out on the job, despite a good interview, and was quite down about it last night - so he's dedicating today to boosting her morale. He remarks that he doesn't know why she keeps being overlooked by employers. Susan forces a smile, and keeps quiet.

Lassiter's Complex
Kyle and Levi are tagging along with Sheila as she walks to work. Levi asks her to keep her commentary about Amy to herself, as it's making Amy uncomfortable.

SHEILA: Oh, well, if that poor little delicate floozy of a flower wants it to stop -
LEVI: See, this is exactly what I'm talking about!
SHEILA - all she needs to do is dump you like a sack of spuds.
LEVI: Oh, you are totally out of line, Gran.
SHEILA: And you are totally thinking with the wrong half of your body. You deserve much better than a hot mess with expensive tastes.
LEVI: I'm trying to have fun, Gran, okay? Don't ruin it.

Levi walks off, and Kyle suggests Sheila should let Levi be.

SHEILA: And let him end up like poor Aaron and David?!
KYLE: Well, that's a long, confusing bow, Gran, even for you!
SHEILA: All I'm saying is, complicated group things end up with stolen babies!
KYLE: Come off it. Levi's just looking for fun - he's not looking for anything long-term.
SHEILA: Levi is not into that modern, feelings-free palaver nonsense! He's a boy with a big heart, and when he falls, he falls hard.

But Kyle insists she should respect what Levi wants and lay off him.

SHEILA: Fine! (...) You won't hear another peep out of me about this issue... until I'm proven correct.

The Waterhole
Sheila is telling Susan about the 'absolute debacle' of Levi's involvement with Amy.

SUSAN: Well, if Levi's happy -
SHEILA: He's not happy, he just thinks he is! It almost makes me believe in witchcraft - Amy Greenwood ensorcelling two grown men who should know better!
SUSAN: Ensorcelling?
SHEILA: Word of the day calendar.

Sheila declares that Levi and Amy are a 'train wreck waiting to happen', but at this point Hendrix comes in, and assumes Sheila is talking about Melanie and Toadie, and that Susan has told Sheila all about it.

HENDRIX: Don't play dumb, Susan. Karl spilled the beans about Melanie's steamy affair.
SHEILA: What?!
SUSAN: (gives Hendrix a look)
HENDRIX: The... short film idea that he had. 'Melanie's Steamy Affair'. Completely fictional. I should probably talk to him about changing that name...
SHEILA: She's cheating on Toadie?!

Susan's forced to tell Sheila that the incident in question was years ago, and that they don't have any details.

HENDRIX: Except that it got ugly when the wife got involved.
SUSAN: Hendrix!!
HENDRIX: Sorry. Karl needed a sounding board. He thinks that history might repeat.
SUSAN: Oh, rubbish.
SHEILA: Are you sure?
SUSAN: This is a very difficult situation, and Toadie should not be bothered with it. So everybody just needs to stop spreading it around.
HENDRIX: Looking at you, Sheila.

The Flamingo Bar
At the fire pit, Ned is sorting his hair with the assistance of his phone camera, in preparation for his date with Amy, when Levi approaches from behind and jokingly offers to fix his hair for him, declaring he would never mess up another dude's hair. He sits down next to Ned, and they engage in some friendly but mildly competitive banter.

NED: Heard your date was, uh... nice.
LEVI: I'm sure yours'll be fine. So, what have you got planned?
NED: Something that's bound to get Amy's heart racing.

Amy herself appears.

AMY: Well, my, oh, my. It's the full buffet!
LEVI: I was just, uh, giving Ned here some pointers. You know, seeing as I'm a bit more familiar with what you like. If you get bored, give me a call.
NED: She won't.
AMY: Now, now, boys. Play nice.

Levi tells them to have fun, and leaves them to it.

AMY: So, what was it you wanted to do with me?
NED: *So* many things.

But Ned's plans are suddenly disrupted when he gets a text. He asks Amy if she can wait for him for five minutes, and rushes off. Amy remains seated alone, drumming her fingers impatiently!

Lassiter's Complex
Toadie and Melanie are outside the pub. They've decided to have a meal, so Toadie asks Sheila for some menus. But Sheila rudely sends him inside to get them himself, and the cutlery while he's there! It's all a ploy so she can get some time alone with Melanie and do some digging.

MELANIE: I heard you've been giving Amy grief. Are you gonna give me a serve as well?
SHEILA: Why would I do something like that? You're not playing with my grandson's heart!
MELANIE: Oh, Amy's not gonna hurt anyone - she's just a modern woman.
SHEILA: Back in the day, we had a word for those sort of modern women. Indecisive. Ah, but you are really committed to Toadie, aren't you?
MELANIE: Well, all relationships are different.
SHEILA: Yes, but sometimes, you know, competition in love can go very, very wrong. You know, we've all been there.
MELANIE: There was a time when picking the wrong-slash-complicated horse was my specialty.
SHEILA: Oh, and that's what you call Paul Robinson, is it?
MELANIE: (seal laugh)
SHEILA: Oh, yes, I went a little bit wacky when other women came into the picture with Clive.
MELANIE: There's nothing wrong with a little bit wacky.
SHEILA: Oh, then I went completely troppo with Angie, you know, Toadie's mum? Over a guy called Russell. And don't even get me started with Hamish in the spa.
MELANIE: That's nothing. It wasn't my proudest moment, but not that long ago, I got myself into some real trouble...

Mission thus accomplished, Sheila listens with bated breath.

Harold's Café
Ned is begging Hendrix, who is working, to help him out; a supplier needs him to pick up some produce, as Ned didn't realise when he placed the order that they didn't deliver. But Hendrix can't pick it up, as he's still on his learner's permit. The produce will have to be thrown away if someone doesn't collect it, but Ned doesn't want to bail on his date with Amy.

However, Amy appears behind him, having overheard some of this, and says it's not a big deal, offering to help him fix the problem.

NED: No, no - our date can't be a car trip to a produce supplier!
AMY: Sure it can. I mean, two regulation hotties with a deadline - could there be anything sexier in the world?
NED: (...) I'm not even sure we're gonna make it on time.
AMY: Hey, I once broke the sound barrier in a catering truck to restock a plane in Kuala Lumpur. We've got this. And don't worry, we'll make time for something else afterwards. Promise.

Amy walks to the exit, and Ned follows.

HENDRIX: Do not let her drive.

The Flamingo Bar
Roxy is starting to feel like 'Amy's love life concierge' after Levi asks her if she's heard anything about Amy's date with Ned. She admits he mentioned indoor skydiving, and Levi wonders how he's going to top that. Kyle, who is hanging around too, admits he's starting to wonder whether Sheila is right to be worried.

KYLE: Sounds like you're taking things way too seriously, mate, which is the complete opposite of casual.
LEVI: Okay, calm down, bro. It's like a board game, alright? It's not that big of a deal, but you still want to win, right?
KYLE: Well, that doesn't make sense.
ROXY: No, I think it's cool. It's like The Bachelorette.
KYLE: Yeah, if the contestants foot the bill.
ROXY (pointed): Is it *so* traumatic to imagine a man spoiling his special lady friend?
LEVI: Yeah, that's right, bro. Why don't *you* take Roxy swimming with sharks?
KYLE (strained): Oh, feels like I already am!

Meanwhile, Levi continues to despair that Ned will be 'killing it' with Amy.

The Waterhole
Karl is apologising to Susan for letting slip the truth about Melanie to Hendrix, but she doesn't want to talk about it anymore. He goes to get her a coffee, and Sheila spies her opportunity to update Susan on her chat with Melanie.

SHEILA: Don't worry, I was perfectly subtle as always. But I got the goods... You don't want the goods?
KARL (returning): Coffee's ordered.
SUSAN (lying in her hunger for gossip): I meant tea.

Karl suggests Sheila could go and change the order for him, but she declares she's on a break, forcing him to go and do it himself so the two women can chat. Susan waits till Karl's out of earshot, then...

SUSAN: Out with it.
SHEILA: Melanie once had a restraining order taken out against her. She said it was when things got awkward with a man and another woman - I reckon it was that Justin bloke.
SUSAN: What could she possibly have done to bring that on?
SHEILA: Something really terrible, I imagine!
SUSAN: Oh, I just wanted to put this out of my mind. It's obviously much worse than we thought!

Harold's Café
Amy and Ned have completed their trip to the supplier, and Amy admits she's enjoyed just hanging out. When asked, Ned admits he's enjoying his job managing Harold's - it might seem like a step back for his art career after the Hive, but in fact he's under less pressure, so has more time and mental space for art outside of work.

AMY: I like the way you smile when you talk about art. It's really sexy.
NED: Really? (...) Does this mean we should take this somewhere else?
AMY: Well, umm... if you still want to do something crazy, I can think of a couple of things we can do right here.

Ned immediately calls Hendrix out of the kitchen, and tells him he can finish his shift early; Ned will finish up here. Once Hendrix has left, Ned sets the clock on 'back in...' sign to 15.

AMY: Uh, we're gonna need more than 15 minutes.

She changes it to 30, and they put the sign on the door, before locking themselves in and rushing to the kitchen! The doors close behind them, and we hear the clattering of pans, presumably as space is made on the nearest available surface...

Lassiter's Complex
Outside the pub, Melanie is staring into space, in a world of her own, while Toadie talks about dropping off some food for David and Aaron given their current crisis. Melanie admits she was 'away with the fairies', distracted thinking about something she was chatting with Sheila about earlier. But she says it was just a 'boring thing' and doesn't tell Toadie what it was.

Toadie goes to sort out the bill, and Mel follows him, still looking a bit distracted/worried.

The Waterhole
Toadie and Melanie head to the bar to pay up, and Karl, who is still with Susan, goes to chat to them, leaving Sheila free to sit with Susan.

SHEILA: I'm texting you that phone number. It's that doctor, Anna Buke - I found her on the hospital website.
SUSAN: Why?
SHEILA: Because we need to find out the full story, and you know the woman.
SUSAN: In the most fleeting sense! What am I supposed to say to her?!
SHEILA: Well, she'll do all the talking, as long as it's about Melanie.
SUSAN: Oh, I wish I'd never told you Anna's name.
SHEILA: But you did! And deep down, you know it's really important.

They glance over at Toadie, as Sheila tells Susan she should do it for him.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Ned tells Levi, 'You like Amy, and I think you want something more'. Levi says, 'But you do too'
- Levi and Ned tell Amy, 'It doesn't matter what we think, as long as you're into it'
- Susan tells Karl she has no idea what to do with this information now she has it
- Sheila asks Karl, Susan and Hendrix who is going to tell Toadie
- Aaron tells David that Jane is beginning to think Nicolette isn't coming back