Previously
- Sheila finding the polyamorous relationship unsavoury
- Ned and Amy running out of the greenway half undressed
- Toadie worrying Melanie's only with him because he's her boss
- Some of Toadie's law clientele jumping ship because of Melanie's past
- Mackenzie trying to get Toadie's clients back on board via film festival sponsorship
- Mackenzie finding out that a familiar face runs the film festival PR
Harold's Café
Melanie thanks Toadie for buying her a muffin - unless of course it's a break-up muffin. Toadie assures Melanie he wants to work on their relationship, though, which has Mel relieved. Toadie's surprised when Rose Walker suddenly appears before them and he finds out she's the PR manager for the Shorts & Briefs film festival. Clocking a vibe between them, Melanie clears her throat and waits for Toadie to introduce her. When Mel learns the blonde is Rose, she clicks that she used to be Toadie's PA. Melanie then tells Rose she's also Toadie's ex-PA, but his "current squeeze". "Oh! Nice," Rose replies with a hesitant smile.
Rebecchi Law Office
Mackenzie is freaking out about Rose and her "unfinished history" with Toadie, claiming it could really get in the way of Toadie and Melanie sorting out their issues. Hendrix isn't as concerned, though, and says that Melanie is always going on about the universe so maybe it's the universe telling them they're not meant to be.
The Waterhole Exterior
Roxy brings out beers for herself and Kyle, and some top shelf whisky for Levi as a birthday shout. She then wonders why Levi's spending the day with them and not his girlfriend, but Levi says Amy's out with Ned. Plus they have the BBQ Sheila's throwing him, so he'll see Amy tomorrow. Sheila stops by their table on the way to the butcher's for the meat and 'innocently' wonders if Amy will be joining them tonight. Levi points out that Sheila's not exactly Amy's biggest fan at the moment, but Sheila laughs it off and says Amy should be there for his birthday celebration.
Ramsay Street
Amy's finishing up her date with Ned out the front of #22 when she gets a text from Levi asking if she wants to come to the BBQ. Amy starts to tell Ned about the text then stops, but Ned knows the rules about over-sharing and is cool with it. She gives him a goodbye kiss on the cheek and heads home. Ned then gets his own text and looks intrigued by the message.
Rebecchi Law Office
Melanie picks up the last of her belongings then asks Mackenzie and Hendrix if they knew Rose was running PR for the film festival. Mackenzie says she only just found out, but is curious how Melanie made the discovery. Mel tells them about how Rose rocked up at Harold's and "Toadie's jaw hit the floor". Hendrix smiles and says that Toadie and Rose did get along pretty well - more than that, in fact. Not wanting to alarm Melanie, Mackenzie plays down their connection and says that Rose was a great PA, but Hendrix soldiers on.
HENDRIX: No she wasn't, she was the worst. She had no idea what she was doing.
MELANIE: Then why did he keep her on then?
HENDRIX: Loved having her around.
MELANIE: Hang on, but didn't she use Toadie to get inside info on her husband and then he had to sack her?
HENDRIX: I'm not just talking about work though.
MACKENZIE: (interrupting him) Yeah he did fire her. End of story.
Melanie looks weirded out by Mackenzie's unsubtle full stop to the conversation.
Harold's Café
Mackenzie joins Toadie and Rose for a meeting. Rose says she loves all the changes Dipi's made to the Café, then finds out Dipi and the fam moved to Sydney. Toad then asks about Rose's family and she says the boys are cheekier than ever, and everything's good with her husband, James. Rose admits she found out through her lawyer what's been happening with Toadie and his clients, which is why she jumped at the sponsorship email Mackenzie sent her.
ROSE: You guys could use a bit of positive buzz right now, right?
TOADIE: Like you wouldn't believe.
ROSE: I'm thinking a multi-pronged PR package. By the end of it you'll be swimming in business.
TOADIE: You've got no idea how much I need this right now.
Rose smiles happily at him.
Number 26
Sheila can't believe Kyle's not attending his own cousin's birthday dinner. But Roxy says there's a 21st at the tram and Kyle has to man the bar because half the staff are on the guest list. Levi saunters out when he hears a knock at the door and is delighted to see Amy. "Are we sure this is a good idea?" Amy asks him with a painted on smile. But Levi says it was actually Sheila's idea to invite her and she promised to behave. Amy gives Levi a present, then uncertainly says her hellos to Sheila and Roxy. In the kitchen, Roxy congratulates Sheila on playing things cool so far, but Sheila says they underestimate her ability to accept change. There's another knock at the door and Levi's surprised to find Ned - who in turn is surprised to find such a small, intimate gathering. The only one not surprised is Sheila, who warmly invites Ned inside and then gives Amy a glass of wine with a giant, self-satisfied smirk.
A short while later, Levi, Amy and Ned are sitting on the couch together while Roxy sidles up to Sheila in the kitchen. "Quick question," Roxy asks. "Did you mix your heart medication with the hard stuff?" But Sheila replies that since Levi, Amy and Ned are boyfriend and girlfriend and boyfriend, why should Ned have to miss out. Roxy says Sheila knows how this all works, but Sheila retorts that she actually doesn't because no one's sat her down and told her the details. "Gee, and I wonder why?" Roxy mutters. Sheila then tells Roxy she's on BBQ duty since Kyle's not here because she wants the trio to mix and mingle.
Things are awkward on the couch. Ned apologises for crashing - he never would have come if he knew it was just a family thing. Sheila's text made it seem like the whole street would be there. Ned wants to bail, but Levi tells him to stay. He knows Sheila's trying to psych him out, so they're all going to stay and have a good time. "I'm not going to be embarrassed by something I decided to do," he adds. Amy looks weary but then acknowledges it's none of Sheila's business what they do, so all three of them decide to try and make the most of it.
The Waterhole
Mackenzie tells Hendrix that the film festival should be great for the practice, plus Rose is giving them free PR help too. "Sounds like Rose will be good for Toadie," Hendrix says, but Mackenzie tells him he's wrong as Rose is still happily married so Melanie has nothing to worry about. Hendrix wonders if Toadie would go there if Rose was single, but Mac points out that Toadie isn't single so there's no point hypothesising.
MACKENZIE: Toadie is committed to making sure his relationship with Melanie works, so I am committed to supporting Toadie a hundred per cent.
HENDRIX: I still think that Toadie needs to realise that he's better off with someone like Rose.
MACKENZIE: (sighing) Hendrix.
HENDRIX: What? I'm not going to do anything, I'm just saying. Melanie's too high maintenance.
MACKENZIE: I mean it. This ends here, are we clear?
Hendrix nods at her then gives a little salute for good measure.
Harold's Café
Toadie realises how late he's been working with Rose and says he needs to pick the kids up from the sitter. Rose asks how they are and Toadie tells her Nell's really into dance and performance. Smiling, Rose wonders if Nell remembers the dance she taught her. Melanie walks in and hears them talking about Nell's dancing. She tells Rose that Nell has this signature twirl and point move that's cute, but Rose is delighted because that's the move she taught Nell. "Well, she's got a heap of signature moves," Mel says, backtracking. "That one was flavour of the month a few months ago." But Rose replies that it's just nice to be thought of. She bids Toadie adieu, telling him she'll see him tomorrow. Mel exchanges a pleasant goodbye with Rose too, but can't help staring after her in slight discomfort. "She seems so lovely," Melanie comments to Toadie, but Mel's wary facial expression tells a different story.
Number 26
Sheila sits with Levi, Amy and Ned at the table and offers them some dip for their bickies. "I do have three different dips but I have separated them because I don't like my trio to be mixed together," she grins, really gunning for the position of most unsubtle person alive. Roxy wanders inside to the stony silence, wondering how everything's going. Sheila states that "The Three Musketeers" are going swimmingly, then makes a crack about Amy taking Levi into the greenway bushes since she's already been there with Ned. Levi tries to tell Sheila to cool her jets on the snide commentary, but Sheila replies that she's only trying to get things straight in her head.
SHEILA: Amy, let me know how it works. Is it like 'united we stand, divided we all lie down'? What is it?
AMY: (taking Levi's hand to play things up) Actually, Levi and I have our own secret places that we frequent.
SHEILA: Do you now?
AMY: Oh yeah. But it's nice that you're so interested in your grandson's gratification.
NED: Bit weird if you ask me.
Amy smiles and loops her arm around Ned's while still holding Levi's hand.
LEVI: Okay guys, come on, she didn't ask for details. (Turning abruptly to Sheila) Sorry gran, did you want details?
SHEILA: (staring at the trio linked together via Amy) Um.
LEVI: The very - vivid - details?
SHEILA: (quietly) No I don't think I need anymore details.
Amy, Ned and Levi smile triumphantly at each other.
Later, Roxy sits with Amy at the counter. Amy can't believe Roxy left Levi and Ned outside with Sheila, but Roxy says that Sheila's hardly said a word since "the double handsy at the dinner table". Amy sighs and admits that was a last resort tactic.
ROXY: From where I'm standing you're handling this very well.
AMY: Thanks, Rox.
ROXY: And for what it's worth I am Team Amy. What you have going on with Ned and Levi, it's awesome.
AMY: Yeah. It's not without its problems.
ROXY: But it's so worth it. If you want artsy and emotional, you go for Ned. If you want fun, you go for Levi.
AMY: (grinning) And if you want some lovin'-
ROXY: You have either of them to choose from! What more could a woman want?
Sheila returns and asks what they're laughing at. Amy says they're just trying to have some fun, but Sheila replies that judging by the girls' dirty laughter they were discussing Amy's "very nasty bedroom antics". Burying her face in her hands, Amy sighs and tells Sheila's she's had enough.
AMY: I have listened to your cheap cracks all night and I am done.
SHEILA: Oh well, I was just-
AMY: (standing up to face her) No, I'm not finished! None of us think that this is a joke. We know what's involved and we're going into this like a normal relationship. Look, I really, really care about Levi, okay? And I really, really care about Ned. And I am not going to sit here and listen to you put us down. If you think that you're going to embarrass us by carrying on the way that you are then you are going to fail! Because the only person that you're going to embarrass is yourself.
Amy storms out of the kitchen leaving Sheila reeling.
Number 30
Toadie tells Melanie that the kids are out like a light. But Mel's not surprised as they had a big day while Toadie worked late with Rose. Toadie says there's a lot of work to get through and that he's meeting with Rose again tomorrow. Melanie tries to pretend she's really chill with everything and comments that Rose seems switched on and smart. "Then there's that smile and those eyes," Melanie continues, "I almost melted myself." Realising Melanie's uncomfortable, Toadie reassures her that he's committed to working through things with her. She doesn't need to worry about Rose. Melanie apologises and says she let Hendrix get in her head earlier.
TOADIE: Hendrix?
MELANIE: Well it's ironic isn't it? My past history with bosses has just caused us trouble, and then in trots a reminder that you've got a history with your assistants.
TOADIE: I promise you, all I want to do is work on us with a clean slate, okay?
MELANIE: (smiling) Okay.
Number 26
Ned, Amy and Levi sit in a row by the front door. Sheila eavesdrops on them while she cleans the kitchen. Ned smirks that Sheila was pretty quiet after Amy had a word to her and wishes he heard what Amy said. But Amy's just surprised Roxy didn't film the whole thing and pop it on the socials. Levi informs them that he thinks Sheila's listening to them, as it cuts to Sheila throwing them a death stare. Deciding to call it a night, Ned stands to leave and gets a kiss on the cheek from Amy and a hug from Levi. After he goes, Sheila says that Amy must be ready to make tracks too, but Levi states that Amy's actually staying the night with him. Sheila is one unhappy camper.
Rebecchi Law Office
The next morning Hendrix is hanging out with Mackenzie while she works. Rose interrupts them and says she was hoping to catch up with Toadie and arrange some meetings. She then says it's nice that Hendrix and Mackenzie are dating, and that she met Melanie yesterday and she seemed "interesting". Rose then asks some rapid-fire questions with a bright smile, wondering when Melanie started working for the firm, and then how long Mel and Toadie have been dating. It's only when Rose muses on whether Toadie and Melanie are living together does Mackenzie change the subject back to scheduling meetings. But Rose suddenly remembers she has to head off somewhere and leaves. Hendrix stares at Mackenzie with a knowing look.
MACKENZIE: What?
HENDRIX: 'Do they live together?' What's that got to do with the film festival?
MACKENZIE: She's probably just curious.
HENDRIX: And what's with all the meetings? It's not normal for a sponsor to be that involved is it?
MACKENZIE: Hendrix stop! For Toadie's sake, let it go.
The Waterhole
Roxy and Kyle observe Amy and Levi enjoying breakfast together at another table. Roxy tells Kyle that Amy was awesome standing up to Sheila as it takes guts to stare her down. Kyle isn't very receptive, so Roxy asks what's wrong. Turns out Kyle's worried Roxy's talking so much about polyamory because she's keen to try it out too. But Roxy assures him that while she's happy for Amy, it's not something she wants for herself. "I'm strictly a one man gal," she adds.
Ned catches up with Amy and Levi, asking how Sheila's faring today. Levi smirks and says he thinks Sheila was too scared to emerge from her room this morning. Ned isn't sure how long this ceasefire is going to last, though, but Amy says Sheila will keep staying out of it if she knows what's good for her.
Harold's Café
Toadie finishes up a meeting with Rose and then heads back to work. Hendrix clears some dishes away for Rose, but then can't help plonking himself down at her table for a chat. He asks her why she's really in town, which confuses her.
HENDRIX: I see the way you look at Toadie. It's the same way I look at Mackenzie.
ROSE: You have no idea what you're talking about.
HENDRIX: Don't I, Rose? Because I know you well enough to know that you've got something to hide. Or maybe I should just call your husband?
ROSE: No, don't! Okay, you're right.
HENDRIX: That's a start.
ROSE: I wrangled this job with the film festival because I knew it was here and it would give me a chance to see Toadie.
HENDRIX: What about your marriage? I thought you and James were happy?
ROSE: No it didn't work. We're splitting for good this time. I'm here because I haven't been able to stop thinking about Toadie. I want to be with him.