Lassiter's Hotel
We pick up where we left off in the hotel room, as Terese apologises to Jesse for calling him Josh.

TERESE: I'm sorry, I don't... I don't know where that came from! I must be more tired than I realised.
JESSE: It's been super-hectic.

An awkward atmosphere has descended, and Terese leaves Jesse to finish whatever he's doing. Outside the room, she looks shaken.

No 32
Aaron is panicking about some 'white stuff' on Isla's collar.

AARON: I'm not sure if it's vomit or if it's just, like, milk that never made it into her mouth.

David assures him Isla's fine, and it's probably just milk; she would let them know if something was wrong with her. Meanwhile, David admits he's still worried about Paul asking for a loan without telling Terese. Aaron points out it's not the first time Paul has kept something big from Terese.

DAVID: But every time he does, it's because it isn't good.

At this point, Paul himself drops in, so David takes the opportunity to ask him if there's something wrong. Paul says not, other than the stress that the hotel strike caused him. Paul gets a phone call, and heads outside to take it. David looks suspicious.

DAVID: Something's definitely up.
AARON: Hey, don't get yourself worked up, Boo. Whatever mess Paul's got himself into, just leave him to it (...) Now, are you *sure* this is milk?

Paul has gone into the garden, and is having a robust discussion on the phone with his accountant.

PAUL: As far as I'm aware, it's not illegal to move money around in a business... Oh, yes, of *course* I'm keeping records! ... You know, I don't pay you to give me the third degree!

Paul ends the call as David comes outside with coffee, and asks if all is okay. Paul keeps it vague, saying his accountant is just micromanaging him, and making mountains out of molehills.

DAVID: Isn't the whole point of an accountant to keep a close eye on everything?
PAUL: David, there's close and there's downright intrusive. The man needs to back off; I know what I'm doing.

Paul asks how David and Aaron are doing with Isla; David says they're finding their feet as parents.

DAVID: I can't imagine what life would've been like if you hadn't brought Isla back.
PAUL: Ah, you know I'm only too glad to help.

They head back inside to spend some time with Isla.

Lassiter's Hotel
Roxy is helping Harlow as she works a shift in the laundry room in the basement.

ROXY: Who knew that you're supposed to separate the colours when you do the laundry?
HARLOW: Pretty much everyone in the world? (!) Luckily I'm generous enough to show simpletons like you the ropes!
ROXY: Oh, really? So how are your reflexes?

Roxy whips Harlow with a stray pair of Y-fronts from the laundry.

HARLOW: Roxy, gross!

She's about to retaliate, when Chloe comes in. She tells Roxy that they've found a couple of casuals to come in and cover the afternoon shift, so she doesn't need to hang around.

CHLOE: But thank you so much for your help. It would've been chaos here without you.
HARLOW: Can someone relieve me as well? I'm sweating buckets down here.
CHLOE: Sorry, but we do still need you here pressing and folding.

Harlow sulks as Chloe goes to leave, and Roxy teases Harlow for being 'the basement queen'. Harlow throws the Y-fronts at Roxy, but they miss and hit an unimpressed Chloe instead!

HARLOW: Oops.

Shortly afterwards, at reception, Jesse is coming to the end of his shift on the front desk. Harlow, who is coming through with her laundry trolley, remarks that the front desk is 'too high-status' for her. At this point, Jesse notices that Terese is nearby, staring at the memorial plaque for Josh and Doug and looking very shaken. Harlow heads back to work.

Paul appears next to Terese; he wants to talk about getting a new accountant. Terese tersely tells him that their current accountant is perfectly good; there's no need to complicate things. Jesse approaches to tell them he's finishing his shift. Terese thanks him for all his help with the strike, but things are clearly awkward between them still, and she makes a swift exit.

PAUL: What was that?
JESSE: Uh, what?
PAUL: Well, you two have been as thick as thieves lately. What's happened?

Jesse prepares to explain...

The Waterhole
Paul tracks down Terese, and explains that Jesse has told him what happened with Terese calling him Josh. She says there's nothing to discuss; it was just an accident. But Paul says he knows Terese and Jesse have become very close, and wants to talk about it.

PAUL: I just think that you maybe should talk to a professional. This slip of the tongue -
TERESE: Was just that! It was a slip. I don't need somebody analysing me over it.
PAUL: Terese, you are too close to Jesse. And that slip-up proves that it's for all the wrong reasons.
TERESE: It's fine, Paul. Jesse's a nice young man who just needs mentorship and guidance, and I'm helping him.

But Paul doesn't appear convinced as Terese hurries away.

Lassiter's Complex
Paul comes across David and Aaron in the courtyard, walking Isla in her pram. Kyle turns up too, just because. Paul thanks Kyle for his help during the hotel strike, admitting he might not have sufficiently expressed his gratitude earlier. Kyle says Roxy made him do it.

Kyle grumbles about having an imminent shift at the tram with Karl, who is scaring away the punters with his music. We learn Karl has been trying to promote the music so people will use it in their films for the festival. Paul tires of Kyle whining on, and threatens to sell the land the tram's on to Karl, so he doesn't have to listen to Kyle and Karl bickering anymore.

Once Kyle's gone to work, David expresses surprise that Paul is talking about selling his property on Power Road. Paul admits he'd decided not to, but says he's beginning to see the appeal again.

DAVID: Isn't the rent from it a better financial option?
PAUL: Well, sometimes a large chunk of money can be quite helpful.

Paul asks David if he could borrow him to help with something. David agrees.

Lassiter's Hotel
In the foyer, Terese thanks Chloe for sorting out the staff roster. Chloe says a few staff were wanting to make changes to their normal hours and shifts when she spoke to them, using the strike as leverage. Terese concedes it's important to keep the staff happy for now given the circumstances, but tells Chloe not to let them make her feel as if they have her over a barrel.

Harlow, who has been listening to all this, approaches Chloe as Terese leaves. She offers to help with the roster by calling up staff and telling them when their shifts are.

CHLOE: Thanks, but I don't think that's a great idea.
HARLOW: You're not still mad about the underwear, are you? Because it was an accident.
CHLOE: No.
HARLOW: I'm just trying to help.
CHLOE: I actually think it'll have the opposite effect. Given how the strike came about, it might be best for you to keep a low profile. At least as far as anything managerial is concerned.

Harlow accepts this, but pulls a face and rolls her eyes as Chloe walks away.

Harold's Café
On her break from the hotel, Harlow moans to Jesse about Chloe and her life in general. Harlow admits she's found it hard to accept her demotion, but Jesse asks if they can talk about it later. He admits he's deep in thought about Josh, having seen Terese looking at his memorial plaque earlier.

JESSE: I've never really wanted to think about him before, because of what Mum did. You know, my life changed so much in that moment. But I've never really known about his.

Harlow admits she doesn't know much about Josh either, and says Terese would be the best person to ask - but Jesse replies that he doesn't want to upset her.

Kyle and Roxy come in, and Harlow tells them that Jesse wants to know about Josh. Roxy says she was young when he died, but adds that Kyle lived on the street at same the time as Josh. Kyle says he has 'a few stories' about Josh, and asks what Jesse wants to know. Roxy goes to fetch them some coffees.

The Waterhole
Paul is talking to David about Terese having called Jesse Josh. David says it's an easy mistake to make, but Paul thinks there's more to it.

PAUL: She can't pretend that he's just some stray boy she's mentoring. He's a Quill.
DAVID: Associating with the Quills didn't seem to be a problem for either of you when you were buying into their business.
PAUL: That's because it was business.
DAVID: Was that all it was?
PAUL: Well, alright, yeah. Terese did say she felt it was an opportunity to turn a negative experience into a positive one, I suppose.
DAVID: There you go. It could be the same thing with Jesse.
PAUL: Yeah. I just don't like the way he's getting under her skin.

David offers to talk to Terese about it, and Paul agrees.

DAVID: But is there anything else going on? Any other issues? You can talk to me about anything.
PAUL: Why would there be?
DAVID: No reason. Just thought I'd ask.

No 22
Terese is preparing dinner when David (who has been invited to join, with Aaron) arrives early, with baby Isla in tow. He offers to help with the prep while Terese has a cuddle with Isla, and uses the opportunity to attempt to talk to her, as per Paul's request.

But first he casually questions her as to whether the hotel strike was 'scary, financially', seemingly hoping to glean some clues as to the reason for Paul being cash-strapped. But Terese says the hotel didn't take a hit for long, adding that the strike has been the least of her worries.

DAVID: How many people are eating tonight? Ned, Roxy and Harlow... Jesse?
TERESE: ...
DAVID: I just know that you two have gotten close, that's all. I'm - I was wondering...
TERESE: You wondered? Or your father?

The Waterhole
Roxy and Harlow are having a drink, while talking about Josh. Harlow says it must be hard for Terese to work in the same place he died every day.

Meanwhile, Chloe is on the phone to 'Bec', a hotel employee. She firmly tells her that she'll need to work occasional weekend shifts, the same as everyone else. Harlow overhears this, and tells Roxy that if Chloe had accepted her help with the roster, Chloe could be having a drink right now too.

HARLOW: Not that I'd actually invite her.
ROXY: She's not that bad.
HARLOW: Yeah, she's worse.
ROXY: Are you sure? Or are you just upset because you didn't get your job?

Roxy says that at least Harlow will have more time for uni now, adding that it's not Chloe's fault Paul offered her something he couldn't deliver. However, Harlow still blames Chloe for supposedly whipping the staff into a strike. Roxy says she understands what it's like to miss out on a job she wanted, recalling how much she hated Amy.

ROXY: But she wasn't as bad as I thought she was. And I'm learning a lot from her. Maybe you could do the same.
HARLOW: No, Chloe can't teach me anything. I have been doing great without her. You know, I really thought I could handle this, but... first chance I get, I'm getting my job back.

No 22
David and Terese are having a heart-to-heart.

TERESE: You know, I won't lie. I do feel like Jesse's come into my life for a reason. You know, he reminds me so much of Josh. He was even born on the day that Josh was due.
DAVID: I can see how that might *feel* significant.
TERESE: Yeah, but I'm not confused. And I'm certainly not wanting to replace my son, if that's what Paul's worked up about.
DAVID: Do you still think about Josh a lot?
TERESE: Yes, of course... Maybe not as much as I should, if I'm to be honest. You know, I... I sometimes see the plaque at the hotel. But you know what? I really can't remember the last time I went to his grave.
DAVID: Do you know why that is?
TERESE: I dunno, maybe it's... maybe it's still too painful. You know, I find it difficult enough even talking to Amber and Matilda. I never fly up to see them. And I feel so guilty about that.
DAVID: Is it possible that Jesse's just another way to avoid dealing with your grief? That being there for him fills a Josh-shaped hole?
TERESE: Well, yeah, but the same could be said for Harlow, and Ned, and Roxy. I mean, nobody bats an eye at that.
DAVID: Well, that's different. They're your family.
TERESE: But Jesse has no family that he can rely on. And I care about him. A lot.

Paul comes in, and Terese immediately bristles. David acknowledges that Terese knows it was Paul's idea to come and talk to her; Paul says he only asked because he was worried about her.

TERESE (coolly): Yeah, I'm aware of that. And I've explained to David that everything's under control. So please just stop.

Upset, she announces she needs to head back to the office to pick up a file, and walks out.

Lassiter's Hotel
In the foyer, a very worried-looking Jesse is on the phone.

JESSE: Okay. I'll call you back as soon as I can.

After he ends the call, Terese approaches, having retrieved the file she wanted. She asks Jesse if everything's alright. He's conflicted, but says yes, clearly not wanting her to know why he's upset. Terese sits down, wanting to clear the air after calling him Josh.

TERESE: It must've been a little weird.
JESSE: A little.
TERESE: Jesse, I'm so, so sorry.
JESSE: *I'm* sorry. I... You calling me Josh made me think about what my mum did to you and your family -
TERESE: Oh, please, you've got nothing to apologise for. I just don't want things to be awkward between us. I'm... I'm so glad that we met, and I just want to keep supporting you, in any way that I can. So I hope we can put this silly mix-up behind us.
JESSE: Of course.... There is, umm, actually something that I don't know how to handle right now. There's been a situation with Mum...

No 22
On the sofa, Aaron is now seeking Harlow's opinion on the milk/vomit on Isla's collar. Harlow thinks it's just drool, much to Aaron's relief.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Paul and David chat about Terese as they clear up the dishes from dinner, Terese having missed the meal. David reports that Terese is confident that she can handle being around Jesse, and that she thinks the scrutiny of their relationship is unfair. He adds that she won't change her mind under pressure from Paul. He agrees, and thanks David for talking to her.

DAVID: Is something wrong, Dad? (...) The loan you asked Leo for. He told me about it before you asked him not to. If you're in some kind of trouble -
PAUL: No, I am fine, alright? It's nothing you need to worry about.

He heads outside to clean the barbecue, but David follows him out.

DAVID: You don't ask for a loan unless you need money. And you would never ask one of your children, unless you were completely desperate.

Mentioning Paul's crankiness with the accountant and also his Power Road sale plans, David adds that Paul doesn't want Terese to know about the loan either.

DAVID: So what are you up to?
PAUL: David, this is none of your business.
DAVID: It never ends well when you try to keep secrets from us. So if you're hiding something, it's better to come clean sooner rather than later.
PAUL (annoyed): You know what? I've had about as much as I can take of this.
DAVID: Then I'll cut to the chase. I'm not going to stand by and do whatever you're up to, if it's gonna cause stress for Terese (...) Either tell me what's going on, or you and I are talking to Terese tonight.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Susan tells Melanie that Toadie wants to make things right, and is waiting to hear from her
- Toadie admits to Karl and Susan that he can't deny caring about Rose; there was always 'something there'
- Sheila confronts Levi about his expecting the family to lie to Evelyn about his relationship with Amy
- Sheila tells Evelyn that Levi isn't quite as pure as she thinks