Previously
- Toadie admitting to Melanie that he has feelings for Rose
- Melanie getting upset and breaking up with Toadie
- Toadie telling Rose it'll take time for him to move on
- Amy reminding Ned and Levi they're not in competition with each other
- Nell asking Ned if he's Amy's boyfriend
- Toadie worrying when Nell sees Amy with both Ned and Levi
- Toadie telling Amy that letting her move in was a big mistake
Number 30
Amy knows that Toadie is angry, but she is too. She can't believe Toadie thinks he has to "protect" the kids from her lifestyle. Regretting his choice of words, Toadie concedes that's on him and not her. Amy reminds Toadie they've been friends since they were "little kids". Toadie says that'll never change, but Amy isn't sure.
AMY: (crying) Your opinion means more to me than almost anyone in the world.
TOADIE: Please just forget what I said.
AMY: You said what you wanted to say.
Toadie looks upset that he's hurt Amy's feelings so deeply.
Harold's Café
Mackenzie is waiting on a coffee, but Ned and the staff are rushed off their feet with the Father's Day crowd. Toadie arrives and sets up Nell and Hugo at a booth with some colouring books. Mac wishes him a happy Father's Day, but Toadie smiles and says every day is Father's Day with his two kiddos. "Dad, that's lame," Nell teases, but Toadie wonders if she'll still think that when he gets them pancakes.
Over at the counter, Toadie confesses to Mackenzie that he and the kids were supposed to go to the zoo with Melanie today to celebrate. Mackenzie feels bad for them but Toadie's hoping the kids won't remember - especially since he hasn't had the courage to tell them he and Melanie have broken up. Things get awkward when Nell calls out that they need to eat ASAP so they make it to the zoo on time. Mackenzie offers to put Toadie's order in while he tells the kids the truth, but Toadie's version of that is letting Nell know Melanie had to cancel so they'll have to go another time.
Lassiters Complex
Rose bumps into Hendrix and apologises for her lack of spatial awareness as she's got a million things on her mind right now, like organising Father's Day activities. Hendrix thinks she means with her own children, but Rose admits she's put something together for Toadie. Hendrix isn't sure Toadie's in the right headspace for anything after the break-up. Rose says she feels terrible that her meddling caused the hurt, but it's what had to be done.
HENDRIX: Well, I mean you didn't really do anything wrong.
ROSE: Yeah I know!
HENDRIX: Maybe a bit of flirting.
ROSE: (rambling) Yeah, a little bit of flirting! Like, a lot of flirting. And also there was the Justin and Melanie meet-up that I might have had a hand in, but y'know, that's it.
HENDRIX: (surprised) Oh. Okay, that might have been a step too far.
ROSE: But I mean, like, they were always going to break up.
HENDRIX: I guess?
ROSE: Yes, it wasn't my finest moment, granted. But it was the nudge that they needed, and it did help Toadie see Melanie for who she really is.
HENDRIX: Yeah except it was a set up. She's not really like that. And Toadie wasn't the one who broke it off either.
ROSE: No, but Toadie was staying with her out of loyalty. And at the end of the day, if they were meant to be together then they would have figured out a way. But they didn't, so they won't.
She bids a hastily farewell and rushes off leaving Hendrix quite bewildered.
The Waterhole
Amy's hoping to have a debrief with Ned about her fight with Toadie, but Ned can't spare the time. "You're my rock, and I need my rock," Amy sighs, but Ned's literally only in the pub to grab more milk because they're getting smashed at the Café. When Amy realises it's Father's Day, she figures out why Toadie would have been in a funny mood from the outset. Ned feels bad he can't stay and chat but Amy promises she'll be fine.
Harold's Café
While the kids are at the counter, Susan gently tells Toadie he'll have to fess up about Melanie at some stage. Toadie jokingly replies that he hoped a life-size cutout of Mel and some of her voicemails might have worked for a while. But Susan says it's best to be honest in these situations, especially when the kids are going to find out regardless. "That's true for a lot of things," Toadie nods. He then gets a text from Rose, asking if he and the kids are free to head down to the lake. Unimpressed, Susan thinks it's odd Rose is asking him to hang out on Father's Day, but Toadie points out that it's not like he's got anything else planned.
The Flamingo Bar
Melanie gives Mackenzie and Hendrix some film festival coupons courtesy of the Flamingo Bar. She's doing Amy a one-off favour distributing them around the complex, but Mel is freaking out over the possibility of running into Toadie along the way. Mackenzie asks how she's holding up. "I'm not," Melanie replies. "Toadie was the helium in my balloon. And now that we're over, I'm flat." Hendrix looks uncomfortable after what he's just learned from Rose, especially when Melanie says she'd planned on spending the day at the zoo with Toadie and the kids. Mackenzie offers to help Melanie distribute the coupons after she's finished working on Hendrix's film edits. Melanie is grateful for the offer, but says she can't dump her commitments on them. She turns to go and Hendrix calls out when she leaves a bag behind.
MELANIE: I don't even know why I'm walking around with this.
MACKENZIE: What's in it?
MELANIE: It's a bag of broken dreams.
Mackenzie feels sorry for Melanie. Hendrix can only sit there in guilty silence.
The Waterhole
Levi has arrived after Amy contacted him and jokes that he's willing to strip down again to help her learn people's names for the film festival. But Amy says she's "not sexy Amy right now, I'm depressed Amy". Worried, Levi asks if she's spoken to Ned yet as she might feel more comfortable sharing this with him. Amy explains that Ned's busy elsewhere, so Levi promptly sits down and encourages her to spill. This opens the floodgates for Amy to vent her hurt and anger.
AMY: Since when did Toadie become so stiff and conservative that he has to protect his kids from our relationship?
LEVI: He said that?
AMY: (crying) He could use this as a teaching moment, that not all love is conventional. But no, I have to pull my head in because he can't explain it. Like I get that what we're doing is unconventional, right? But the fact that he can't see that it's serious, it really hurts. I thought that he knew me better than that. And I get that he's trying to protect his kids but it just makes me feel cheap, Levi, and I don't know what to do. Can you just tell me what to do?
Levi confesses that it is a very heavy topic of conversation, but he wants to discuss it further with her back at his place.
Lassiters Lake
Melanie hands out coupons and then is disheartened to get a glimpse of Rose hanging out with Toadie, Nell and Hugo. She quickly walks away. Over on the picnic rug, Hugo is delighted when Rose blows bubbles for them, but Nell is less than impressed. Toadie says it's very thoughtful of Rose to have brought so many snacks too. Rose tries to get Nell interested in a game of snakes and ladders, but it's a hard no from Nellyfish.
Number 26 Backyard
Levi says it sucks that Amy feels like she has to keep her distance from her best mate. He adds that he gets what she's going through after everything that happened with Evelyn, but he wishes he'd been open from the start. Amy would like to be open with everyone but she's not sure if she can do that at home.
AMY: I really respect Toadie and I respect what he wants, I really do.
LEVI: But it doesn't mean it will stop being a problem though.
AMY: No it doesn't.
LEVI: Look, you're just going to have to figure out how to balance your friendship with Toadie and what you can live with.
AMY: (smiling) Yeah, you're right. Thank you, this has been a real help.
LEVI: Anytime.
Amy gets a call from Ned, who offers to have coffee with her and help her sort out her troubles. Amy says yes to the coffee, but she's just finished hashing everything out with Levi, so she's all good on the talking front. Levi looks chuffed that he's been able to help.
The Flamingo Bar
Susan can't believe Hendrix and Mackenzie are still working on their film, and Hendrix admits they're cutting it pretty fine. After learning about Melanie's coupon run, Susan hopes she doesn't see how Rose has swooped in on Toadie today. "The film festival launches tomorrow," Susan adds. "How does she even have time to insert herself into someone else's family?" Mackenzie agrees it's a bit on the nose, especially since Toadie and Mel only just broke up. Susan can't believe that Rose would be that manipulative. But the look on Hendrix's face says otherwise.
HENDRIX: She is.
MACKENZIE: What do you know?
HENDRIX: Can I just say that she feels bad about what she did. It's important that you know that.
MACKENZIE: What exactly did she do?
HENDRIX: Rose was the one behind Justin Buke and Melanie meeting up. She made sure Toadie was there to see it too. She kinda broke them up.
Susan and Mackenzie are shocked.
Harold's Café Exterior
Toadie, Rose and the kids have relocated after Hugo spilt juice all over the cupcakes. Rose tries again to engage with Nell and make her laugh by telling a joke, but Nell is still in no mood for her company. Toadie then says that Rose barracks for the Bombers and Rose asks who Nell loves - just as Melanie walks into frame. Thrilled to see Mel, Nell calls her over and they share a hug. Nell asks if Melanie can hang out with them, but Mel says she's helping Amy at the moment.
NELL: We want to go to the zoo.
ROSE: I'd love to take you to the zoo, Nell. Did you know that I'm a zoo member?
NELL: Mel's more fun.
Toadie says that since it's his day he gets the final say, so there'll be no zoo today unfortunately. Melanie diplomatically tells Nell that whatever she's got planned with her dad and Rose will be great. Nell looks sad when Melanie leaves, and Rose shares an awkward look with Toadie.
The Flamingo Bar
Susan and Mackenzie state that Rose's "sunny disposition" hides a wealth of deception. Hendrix honestly thought that Rose was better for Toadie at one point, but promises he only found out about the Justin thing today. He reiterates that Rose does feel bad about what she did. "Melanie's side of the bed is still warm, she mustn't feel that bad," Mackenzie replies. Mac also wants to tell Melanie the truth, but Susan doesn't know if that's the best course of action. Melanie suddenly appears to let them know she managed to give away all her coupons, and that she saw Toadie and Rose play happy families together twice. She also divulges that the bag she's been carrying around contains Father's Day presents her and the kids made for Toadie. "He's moved on now, I need to do the same," Melanie sighs. Witnessing Mel's pain, Susan suddenly has a change of heart on her 'don't let Melanie know about Justin' stance.
SUSAN: No, giving up is the last thing you should do. Rose went out of her way to break up you and Toadie.
MELANIE: What?
SUSAN: Justin Buke didn't contact you out of the blue, Rose set it up!
HENDRIX: She made sure Toadie saw it.
MELANIE: I knew in my guts that she was after Toadie from the start.
MACKENZIE: Then you have to fight for him.
MELANIE: How do I do that? I'm the one who called it off.
SUSAN: Toadie doesn't know what Rose did. You have to give him that gift bag and tell him!
Number 26 Backyard
Amy sits between Ned and Levi while they all have a coffee. They share horror stories about working busy days in retail, the business class cabin and the MCG on Boxing Day. Ned apologises to Amy for not being there today, but Amy says it all worked out for the best. Levi admits that's one good thing about what they've got going on. Ned agrees that it's nice they've got each other's backs.
Harold's Café
Melanie finds Toadie and the kids and hands Nell the bag of goodies. Toadie is moved when he receives a homemade Father's Day ribbon, crown and trident. "You're their King of the Sea," Melanie smiles. Toadie gets Nell to escort Hugo to the bathroom so he can have a chat with Melanie. Mel says she didn't want to interrupt when he was with Rose earlier, but she wanted Toadie to have the gifts.
TOADIE: I'm glad you came back.
MELANIE: Is she around still Rose?
TOADIE: No she's gone to work. Why?
MELANIE: Well I thought you should... (She changes her mind on telling him the truth) I think it's best you enjoy your homemade pressies, just the three of you. They worked really hard on them.
Toadie says the kids will definitely get dessert tonight. He smiles when Melanie remembers that Hugo has gone off green jelly. Melanie leaves and Toadie gets a wistful look on his face.
Number 30
Toadie finds Amy mixing together some cocktails for them in the kitchen. Amy apologises for not realising it was Father's Day - if she'd known, she wouldn't have been so harsh. "Yeah you would have - and I deserved it," Toadie replies.
AMY: I don't like fighting, Toad. It feels really wrong.
TOADIE: I'm not a fan either. Amy I owe you a huge apology.
AMY: Me too. But look, what today taught me, it made me realise that my relationships with Ned and Levi are so uncomplicated. It really works.
TOADIE: And I'm really happy that you found what you've got.
Amy then wonders if that means Toadie might explain what's going on to Nell and Hugo so she doesn't have to hide it, but Toadie doesn't even know where to begin. It's what Amy expected to hear, though, so she's come up with a Plan B. She hands Toadie his drink and says she's going to move out. Toadie is alarmed, and starts to say that it's not needed, but Amy reassures him it's not because of their fight.
AMY: I need more space to explore what I've got with the boys and I can't do it here.
TOADIE: Are you sure? We love having you here.
AMY: Yeah well obviously, because I'm fabulous! But no, I think it's the best thing for everyone. (Holding her drink out to Toadie) I am calling this cocktail 'Sayonara House of Blouser'.
TOADIE: Well if it's named after our friendship I think we should call it 'The Long Run'.
"The Long Run," Amy smiles as they clink their drinks together.
The Flamingo Bar
Melanie giddily informs Susan and Mackenzie that her and Toadie had "a moment" in the Café. Mac wants to know what Toadie said when he found out about Rose, but Melanie says she didn't tell him. She didn't want to get him back by hurting him because that's Rose's game.
SUSAN: Okay, so what's your game?
MELANIE: I don't have one. I'm stepping back remember? Toadie really hurt me when he told me he still had feelings for Rose.
MACKENZIE: Because things were unresolved between them.
MELANIE: Things were unresolved between us too.
MACKENZIE: Yes, exactly.
SUSAN: Which is why you can't step back.
MELANIE: You're right. I need to seize the opportunity before the window closes.
She gets a sudden idea on what her next move will be - but she's going to need Susan and Mackenzie's help.