Previously
- Amy's daughter Zara turns up in town, and her first sight on arrival is Amy, Levi and Ned in bed together
- Amy tells Levi and Ned that Zara doesn't know about her relationships with them
- Nicolette notices Britney looking longingly at Leo, and asks her what's going on
- Terese goes missing on Christmas Day, and Glen admits to the family that Terese has been drinking
- Harlow searches Glen's hotel room safe, and knocks Terese's wedding ring to the floor without seeing it
- John Wong passes Harlow a file he's compiled on Glen, telling her Glen has some secrets
- A row at the Lassiter's rooftop pool leads to Harlow marching away from Terese, telling her to sober up
- But Terese slips and ends up dangling by her hands from the roof, while screaming for help
- Paul rescues Terese, and Harlow coolly tells everyone it wasn't her fault Terese fell; she was drunk
- David tells Harlow he thinks she's suffering from compassion fatigue
- Roxy, Susan and Chloe rally round to support Terese, telling her they're not going anywhere
The Penthouse
Paul is holding baby Abigail while chatting to Leo and Britney on the sofas. Harlow, sitting at a table away from the others, is concentrating on her phone. Britney thanks Paul for letting her and Abigail stay.
PAUL: Don't be silly, you're family. There's always room for you and Abigail here.
BRITNEY: I know things haven't been great between us.
PAUL: No, you don't have to say it.
BRITNEY: No, I do. I said the same thing to David and Aaron. I'm really sorry for everything that happened.
PAUL Yeah, so am I. But, you know what, I'd really appreciate it if we can just put it all behind us.LEO: Yeah. New Year, new beginnings, right?
Leo asks how things are with Terese following her almost-fall. Paul's still eaten up by seeing Terese hanging off the hotel roof, but Harlow coolly remarks that she's more interested in John Wong and what secrets he knows about Glen. She seems sceptical that the missing page from the dossier Terese threw off the roof was really about Glen's parking violations, as John has told her.
Visibly concerned by Harlow's order of priorities, Paul turns the conversation back to Terese herself.
PAUL: You know, I just want to see her again, just to be able to talk to her. But I don't want her to think that I'm taking advantage of the situation, so...
LEO: But you saved her life. That's got to mean something to her.
Paul tells Britney she's welcome to stay as long as she wants, and she thanks him.
No 22
Chloe and Susan are visiting Terese, who expresses surprise that Paul hasn't come to the house to see her since rescuing her from the roof.
SUSAN: Maybe he's just respecting your space.
CHLOE: Hmm, very unlike Paul. Usually when he plays the hero, he milks it for all it's worth.
SUSAN: Has this changed your feelings about the separation?
TERESE (sighs): When somebody rescues you from an eight-storey drop, it's pretty powerful. I really saw in that moment how much he loved me.
CHLOE: But it doesn't just wipe away everything that happened before.
TERESE: No. No, but I'll never forget what he did.
CHLOE: You just concentrate on you.
Chloe tells Terese she needs to make a statement about what happened on the roof, for the safety report. Terese says she'll do it.
CHLOE: Harlow doesn't seem to be taking it overly seriously. I guess it's due to her compassion fatigue.
Terese says she's heard about that, and Susan says Mackenzie and Hendrix are worried about Harlow too. Glen turns up to see Terese, and Chloe and Susan leave them to talk. Glen suggests they go for a walk. Terese smiles, and says that would be lovely.
Ramsay Street
As Terese and Glen walk down the drive, she's already apprehensive about being out in public. But Glen insists nobody is around to judge her, and Terese resolves to stay out, saying she should make the most of the daytime.
GLEN: Yeah, days are easier, aren't they? More people, more things to keep you distracted.
TERESE: The nights are too quiet. There's too much time and space to think, which really makes the cravings stronger.
Paul pulls up in his car, with Harlow in the passenger seat. Glen grimaces, and suggests to Terese that they keep walking. But Terese smiles at Paul, who smiles back sadly from the car.
HARLOW (to Paul): Do you want to go over?
GLEN (to Terese): Come on, we've got to think of your health.
Paul looks annoyed as Glen leads Terese away.
HARLOW: Subtle (!) Couldn't get her away from you fast enough.
PAUL: Harlow, we're here for David and Aaron. The most important thing at the moment is Terese's recovery, and if she needs Glen's help to achieve that, then I just have to accept it - and so do you.
The Penthouse
Leo is telling Glen about his ideas for how to bring in more capital for the vineyard business - but Glen is distracted, and admits he's preoccupied thinking about Terese. Leo looks a little suspicious at this, but Glen refocuses his attention on their business meeting - and Leo explains he wants to sell whiskey and gin by the barrel by getting investors to buy upfront, then reward their investment when the product is sold down the line, making a tidy profit in the process. Britney, who is nearby, overhears this.
BRITNEY: It sounds like buying shares.
LEO: Yeah! Yeah, but in a much more stable market. I've done all the costings and projections; I think it could really work.
GLEN: If you can sell the barrels.
LEO: Which is why I'm thinking about holding an event at the vineyard. Something to attract the kind of investors we're looking for.
BRITNEY: Women. You could put on a ladies' lunch, show them what you have to offer. Ply them with wine and cheese...
LEO: Intimate, classy - plenty of time to talk through how the packages work with them. I like it. I'll set it up. Thanks, Brit - I guess Abi's gonna get a good business brain from both sides of the family.
Leo suggests Britney cancel her planned meet-up with Nicolette to help them discuss a business strategy. But Britney suggests Leo and Glen come and join her to meet Nic instead, so they can all 'spread the word' about the business idea.
Harold's Caf é
Sure enough, Leo, Britney and Glen have joined Nicolette at the caf é. Paul lingers nearby, while Leo and Britney pitch the barrel investment idea to Susan and Karl. Susan says she can't get to the ladies' lunch, but seems quite interesting in investing nonetheless, and asks for more details via email.
KARL: No, no, sorry - we don't have $10,000 to sink into a dodgy barrel scheme. No offence, Leo.
LEO: Some taken!
SUSAN: You're not the boss of our money, Karl.
Karl strops off, followed by Susan, who asks Leo again to email her with details. Leo then suggests that Britney take on a role in the business, and she looks quite keen, although points out that they'll have to juggle looking after Abigail. Nicolette seems less interested in the business and keen to get Abigail and Isla back to their playdate, so Britney leaves with her.
While Glen goes to get some coffees, Paul comes over for a word with Leo.
PAUL: You know it would've been so much easier using my money.
LEO: Yeah, or you could just buy a barrel like everyone else.
Leo leaves, and Paul goes over to talk to Glen.
PAUL: Glen, putting aside what's going on between you and me at the moment, can you, umm... can you tell me how Terese is doing, please?
GLEN: What Terese needs is for you to leave her alone.
PAUL: If I had left her alone... I was the one that was on the roof. I saved her. And where were you, hey?
GLEN: Yeah, I know. And I'll never forgive myself for that.
PAUL: And yet, you still find justification in coming between us.
GLEN: Her sobriety is delicate.
PAUL: Oh, what makes you the expert?!
GLEN: I know you're the trigger.
PAUL: You know, I'm having great difficulty overlooking this unfair grudge that you have against me. But I'm doing it because you're family, and because I have compassion about what you went through. But you have absolutely no right to keep me from Terese, and you know that.
Paul walks off, leaving Glen looking tense.
Amy's Apartment
Zara is on the couch, listening to music through headphones while fiddling with her mobile. Meanwhile, Amy answers the door to Toadie, who has brought round a coat that she left at his house. Amy's keen for him to stay for a cuppa, explaining she really needs to talk to him about her chat with Ned and Levi.
TOADIE: Are you sure you want to do this here, now - in front of her?
AMY: Oh, she can't hear a thing through those things. (shouting in Zara's direction) What?! Jungkook left BTS?! (to Toadie) See? Nothing.
TOADIE: I don't even know what you said.
Zara's obliviousness thus confirmed, Amy explains that she told Ned and Levi she'd need to cool things while Zara's in town - but that she was thrown when they said in reply that they wanted a break.
TOADIE: Maybe you should tell her the truth about them.
AMY: How do I even have that conversation? But, you know, I don't want to lose Ned and Levi.
TOADIE: There's every chance that she's gonna hear about your relationship if she sticks around (...)
AMY: Yeah, which is why I have to figure out whether I'm telling her about my two boyfriends, or my two ex-boyfriends.
TOADIE: Yeah. You should probably work that out with them first.
AMY: Mm. You know where the coffee is.
TOADIE: Oh, I didn't mean... now.
But Amy has already left! The door slams, getting Zara's attention.
ZARA: Where's Mum gone?
TOADIE: Run an errand.
ZARA (uninterested): Yeah. Cool.
Toadie does his best impersonation of a 'sassy teen' face as Zara puts her headphones back on!
Lassiter's Complex
Amy has convened with Levi and Ned outside the caf é to finish their conversation from before. She explains she's thinking of telling Zara about their relationships.
LEVI: How do you think she'll take it?
AMY: I have no idea. I should be honest, though, about what she walked in on, right?
NED: About that... Umm, as fun as it was, we don't really want to -
AMY: Go there again?
LEVI: Uh-uh.
NED: No.
AMY: That's cool. I love what we have individually.
NED: Okay. Well, cool - let's just chalk it down to one crazy night.
Amy heads off to have the conversation with Zara.
Harold's Caf é
Paul is at a table when Harlow sits down to talk to him.
HARLOW: I don't like how weird things have become between us. And I want to just say, I shouldn't have left Terese alone on that roof. And I'm really sorry.
PAUL: Well, I think you should be telling Terese that. Oh, Harlow, you know, it breaks my heart to see you two at odds.
HARLOW: I don't like it either. But for as long as Glen's around, coming between us, I can't see that changing.
PAUL: Yeah. I think I'm fighting a losing battle with Glen.
HARLOW: Finally! You should talk to John again.
PAUL: I don't think digging into his past is the answer.
HARLOW: Isn't that what you'd normally do? And I am positive there is a lot more to that missing page than just parking fines. Why are you giving me that look? Aren't you happy that I'm taking a leaf out of your book?
PAUL: No - I never wanted you to become me, Harlow! Now, let's put Glen aside for a moment - I'm really worried about you.
HARLOW: I'm fine, Grandad.
PAUL: I don't want you to become estranged from your family like me. You may not think so at the moment, but people are only prepared to give you so many chances.
Lassiter's Hotel
In Glen's hotel room, Terese's wedding ring is still lying unnoticed on the carpet. Rebecca from housekeeping is changing the bedsheets, and the old ones land on the floor, on top of the ring. As Harlow walks past the room, Rebecca shouts to her and asks for some help, as one of the other rooms has been left in a mess and she's behind schedule.
Harlow explains she can't help, as she's not allowed in Glen's room, but at this point, Chloe walks past and sees Harlow in the doorway. Chloe reminds Harlow she's not supposed to be in Glen's room; Harlow explains she was just telling Rebecca the same thing.
As Rebecca scoops up the sheets from the carpet, the ring is caught up within them, and the whole lot lands up on a maid's trolley. Harlow grudgingly takes it down to the laundry at Rebecca's request.
Amy's Apartment
Zara is lying on the sofa, still wearing her headphones, when Amy comes back in. She takes off Zara's headphones, and Zara angrily snatches them back.
AMY: I just want to have a chat. Adult to adult.
ZARA: I'm sixteen, but okay.
AMY: I, umm... Look, what you walked in on when you first arrived... I wasn't exactly honest about Ned and Levi and I just being friends.
ZARA (scoffs): Yeah, I figured.
AMY: Well, of course - because you're a mature and intelligent young woman. But you deserve an explanation.
ZARA: Mum, when I said I figured, I mean, I *figured*. You really don't need to go into detail.
AMY: Oh, well, I'm not going to go into the details. But you should know that it wasn't a one-night stand. I'm actually seeing both Ned and Levi. Separately, usually. The other night was just a one-off thing.
ZARA (horrified): Are you, like, poly or something?
AMY: Exactly. They're both my boyfriends. And, darling, they are so wonderful.
ZARA: I thought you were just fooling around with them!
AMY: ... Well, isn't this better?
ZARA: No! Being poly might be cool for some people, but not for you.
AMY: Zara, that is a bit unfair.
ZARA: I don't care! Everyone else I know has a normal mum, who spends time with them doing normal things. You have to run off interstate and get two much younger boyfriends!
Zara storms out of the apartment, despite Amy calling after her. Amy sighs.
No 22
Susan and Karl are in Terese's house dropping off some groceries for her, and arguing about whether Leo's barrel scheme is a good investment; Karl thinks not.
SUSAN: Well, it's better than filling the house with a bunch of wholesale goods that we couldn't use in a lifetime!
KARL: That saves us money, and it certainly doesn't cost us $10,000!
They start talking over one another, as they discuss the merits or otherwise of being involved in the gin and whiskey trade. Ned comes in, and overhears them talking about alcohol, just as Terese is walking downstairs. He tries to warn them to change the subject, but it's too late. Karl suggests they talk about it at home 'over a glass of red wine', but Susan looks awkward as Terese appears behind them.
KARL (awkward): Sorry, I thought you were still upstairs.
TERESE: No, no - it's fine.
But Terese looks ashamed to have everyone tiptoeing around her.
Lassiter's Hotel
Glen is frantically searching through the contents of his safe, but can't find Terese's ring anywhere. Chloe turns up at his door, and he shiftily explains he's lost something.
CHLOE: What is it? I can help you look if you like?
GLEN: Uhh, it's personal.
CHLOE: Well, can you at least tell me the last place you saw it?
GLEN: It was in the safe. I don't know how it would've gotten out.
Chloe looks worried, and mentions that Harlow was hanging around the room earlier while Rebecca from housekeeping was cleaning it.
CHLOE: I didn't see her go in, but she might've come back later.
Lassiter's Complex
Harlow is in the hotel foyer with the maid's trolley when Chloe summons her outside, to speak to her and Glen. Chloe asks if Harlow knows anything about a missing item from Glen's safe. Harlow denies being in the room, and Glen says he believes her. Harlow asks what's missing, so she can keep an eye out for it. Chloe tersely replies that that won't be necessary. Glen and Chloe go back indoors, and Harlow looks puzzled.
The Penthouse
Nicolette and Britney are playing with Isla and Abigail on the floor. Britney remarks that Abigail has inherited her height from both Leo and herself.
BRITNEY: Pity she didn't get Leo's dimples.
NICOLETTE: Someone's mentioned him a lot today! I know why you schlepped it down here for Christmas. You want to rekindle things with Leo.
Nicolette suggests that's why Britney is getting involved in the vineyard. But Britney is coy, saying Leo's business success is good for their daughter. Nicolette looks sceptical.
BRITNEY: Okay, fine. Those weeks we spent in Wollongong, we... reconnected.
NICOLETTE: I do remember him saying it was a really nice time.
BRITNEY: Yeah. When he left, I really missed him, and I started looking forward to his FaceTimes and texts. He has a sweet side, and I guess I'm remembering that. I just needed to know that I could be comfortable around his family.
NICOLETTE: Yeah, well - you know how I feel. They're not the easiest bunch to get along with.
BRITNEY: Paul's welcomed me - so have all of you. It's a new year, and it could be a new chapter. For all of us.
The Waterhole
It's time for a musical montage of lots of characters looking pensive - starting with Paul in the pub, gazing at his wedding ring...
No 22
... followed by Terese at home, watching TV, while Ned contemplates using his phone, presumably to call Amy, then decides against it.
Harold's Caf é
Levi is also contemplating calling Amy.
Amy's Apartment
Amy makes Zara a cup of tea, but Zara is still looking annoyed with her, and puts on her headphones again so as to avoid any further conversation.
The Penthouse
Harlow is standing on the balcony looking thoughtful, while drinking a whisky, Paul-style!
Harold's Caf é
The next day, Ned serves Zara a coffee with a smile, as Amy comes in, having been tipped off by Ned that Zara is here. Zara's holding her neck, and when Amy asks, Zara explains it's due to an uncomfortable night sleeping on the sofa at Amy's place, which 'sucks'.
AMY: Well, you should've jumped in with me. There's plenty of room in my bed.
ZARA: Not after what you've been doing in it.
Ned and Amy look awkward. Levi comes in, compounding the tension. Levi tries to chat to Zara, but she ignores him. While Levi and Ned go to the counter so Levi can get a coffee, Amy presents Zara with a gift she's bought her.
AMY: Don't you want to know what's in the bag?
ZARA (mock excitement): Something way too short with puff sleeves?
AMY (wrongfooted): No, they're... they're actually more your style.
But Zara takes a brief look in the bag, and closes it again.
ZARA: Did you keep the receipts?
AMY (hurt): Yeah, they're... they're all in the bag.
ZARA: At least you got that right. I'll be back when I've exchanged everything for something wearable. (shouting to Ned) Mum'll pay for the coffee.
Zara walks out, and Ned and Levi rejoin Amy.
NED: Wow. I'm guessing you told her?
AMY: Yeah. Let's just, umm, say that she's... processing.
Amy leaves, promising to pay for the coffee later.
LEVI: Yikes.
NED: Yeah. Poor kid, huh?
LEVI: Poor kid?! Dude, she is a brat.
NED: Imagine finding out *your* mum had two boyfriends!
LEVI: Point taken.
Ned decides he might have a chat with Zara. Levi is sceptical.
NED: I know what it's like when your parents start dating other people, alright? Maybe I can help her see that we're not gonna stuff Amy around. It's what you're supposed to do for your partner's kids, right?
LEVI: Okay, I never really thought about it like that.
NED: I'm serious about Amy, and kids are part of the deal, so...
LEVI: Yeah, yeah. I mean, if it helps Amy out, then it's worth putting the effort in, right?
But Levi only looks half-convinced of his own words.
Lassiter's Hotel
In the laundry room, Harlow is ironing when Chloe turns up, to ask if Harlow's written up her safety report about Terese's rooftop incident, as Lucy wants it ASAP. Harlow hasn't, but says she'll do it now; at least it will get her out of the laundry.
As Harlow leaves, Chloe goes to stuff a sheet into a dryer, and something drops out of it, clattering to the floor. Chloe picks it up - it's Terese's wedding ring. Chloe looks confused...
Coming up on Neighbours
- Jane tells Paul that the situation with Terese and Glen has come about because he's hurt them both
- Paul looking pensive; David says, 'There must be something he's not telling me. My whole family is a mess'
- We see Harlow approaching the Community Centre, and watching Glen through the door
- We hear Harlow tell somebody that Glen's keeping a secret, and can't be trusted