The special 'flashback week' short opening sequence is used for the third time in this episode.

No 22 (present day)
Toadie is on the phone to Remi, who is still looking after Hugo and Nell at No 30 as revelation day continues! He reports to Susan and Terese that Nell is fine physically, but 'overwhelmed'. The three of them rejoin Holly and Melanie in the living area; Terese angrily tells Melanie that Nell could have been seriously hurt today.

MELANIE: Of course, I feel terrible about that. But I wasn't to know that she was gonna come to my house, or that Eden would be there.

Susan observes that Holly moved to Erinsborough around a year ago, at roughly the same time that Melanie moved away. Toadie says he's been wondering about that timeline, too.

MELANIE: Krista and Eden pulling our strings again.
HOLLY: The funny thing is, I can remember her writing postcards.
MELANIE: (...) Yeah, I got the first one about three weeks before your vow renewal. Maybe you remember. We were both out on the street...

ONE YEAR AGO

Ramsay Street (flashback)
Melanie's narrative continues as voiceover, as in the past, we see her retrieve the mail for No 30.

MELANIE (voiceover): I'd been going about my life thinking I'd never hear from Krista again.

Before Mel can look at the mail, Terese greets her warmly, and tells her that she and Paul are finalising numbers for their vow renewal ceremony.

TERESE: Can you and Toadie still come?
MELANIE: Oh, hello? Of course we are! It's, like, the hottest ticket in town!
TERESE: Oh, stop it, you make us sound like rockstars.
MELANIE: Well, you two are getting married on the rooftop of the hotel that you both own. Screams rockstar to me, babes.

We learn Karl and Mike can't come to the vow renewal because of a 'music weekend thingy'.

MELANIE: Well, if they come back better songwriters, I won't be complaining!
TERESE: Exactly. Oh, and on the plus side, Imogen, Elly and Chloe are all coming.
MELANIE: Woohoo! Toadie and I can't wait to go hard on the d- floor.

Terese bids her goodbye and walks off, and Mel begins to look at the mail.

MELANIE (voiceover): If I were to pinpoint a moment when all of my happiness started to slip away, it would've been then. The postcard was from Krista.

Melanie gazes anxiously at the postcard, which is from Port Pirie.

MELANIE (voiceover): Krista was making her way back, and the postcards kept coming. She was making her way along the coast. Adelaide, Apollo Bay, Lorne...

No 30
Melanie is looking worriedly at another postcard from Apollo Bay, and hides it when Toadie comes in. He's been at some kind of school science event that Nell was participating in.

TOADIE: They also put out some really nice biscuits for the parents. I swear I only had three (...) They're all so cute and nerdy, talking about things that I don't understand!
MELANIE: I am just so happy that she's doing so well in her first year at high school.
TOADIE: Well, you know that that has a lot to do with you. No, no, I'm serious. You turned up when she needed a mum the most.

Toadie starts talking about how one of the other parents told him there are cheap flights to Tokyo currently, so suggests they go there for their first anniversary with Hugo and Nell. But Melanie is distracted and terrified by a text she's just got from Krista, which says, 'I'm out the front'. When Toadie prompts her for a reaction, Mel says the idea sounds wonderful - but says she has to deal with a work emergency, and rushes out.

Ramsay Street
Melanie runs into the street and sees Krista parked up in the old maroon car, honking the horn. She is visibly high on something or other.

KRISTA: Yo! What's happening?
MELANIE: Shh! Are you on something?
KRISTA: No. I'm just really happy to see you. And I was hoping things might've changed and you'd be happy to see me.
MELANIE: Not here.
KRISTA: Get in.
MELANIE: You are not driving. Move. I can take you to wherever you need to go.

Mel hurries Krista into the passenger seat, and takes the wheel. She asks where Krista's staying; at Lassiter's, she replies. Krista whoops enthusiastically as they drive off.

Lassiter's Complex
As they pull in at the car park, Krista is telling Melanie of 'a really strong attraction' between her and somebody.

KRISTA: I mean, you know what it's like to be in love. And he just has to tell his girlfriend.
MELANIE: So, another messy situation. What's your plan?
KRISTA: Well, we really want to keep travelling. But in order to do that, we just need a little bit more money.
MELANIE: Are you seriously hitting me up for more cash?
KRISTA: This car's done a lot of Ks, Mel. It needs repairs.
MELANIE: Then get a job! Or don't stay in such an expensive hotel. Or here's an idea - stop doing drugs!
KRISTA: I'm not!
MELANIE: Don't lie to me, Krista. I can always tell when you are off your face. I can see it in your eyes.

She pulls off Krista's sunglasses.

KRISTA: Look, I really am trying to be good, Mel. Really - I've been saying this to myself.

She shows Mel the affirmation card that Reece gave her.

MELANIE: Why don't you just ask your family for help?
KRISTA: No, I've tried that!
MELANIE: Then try harder. Stop sending postcards to me, and write to them! You have ruined my life, Krista! And the last time I saw you, you promised you would stay away.
KRISTA: And if you help me this time, I promise that I will.
MELANIE: I don't believe you!
KRISTA: No, I just need a couple of grand. Not even that. I'll take whatever you can get. Please.

She grabs at Mel desperately.

MELANIE: Get off me, I'm serious! You need to leave me alone.

Mel gets out of the car and walks away. In a complete panic, she bumps straight into David.

MELANIE (present- day voiceover): David shouldn't have been there. He should've been anywhere else but there.

No 22 (present day)
We return to Terese's living room.

TOADIE: What does David have to do with any of this?
MELANIE: I think he should be here when I tell the next part of the story.

Toadie, Terese and Susan's faces are a picture!

TERESE: Well, that's hardly possible! He lives in the country!
MELANIE: They're on their way. David, Aaron, and Nicolette (...) They're all involved. And the next part of the story - well, it changed their lives, too.

A road somewhere
David is driving the awesome foursome back to Erinsborough - Aaron is in the passenger seat, while new- look Nicolette entertains Isla in the back.

AARON: This is huge.
NICOLETTE: I'd better warn Mum.
AARON: Yeah. Maybe just get her to meet us at Terese and Toadie's.

David is totally silent, and looks angry.

AARON: Isn't there a part of you that's a little bit excited to have this off our conscience?
DAVID: We should've come clean when it happened.
AARON: Yeah, well, we didn't. And now we're in this position.
DAVID: And we all know who to thank for that. Let's make a stop on the way. I want to see him.

No 22
Toadie is on the phone to Andrew, who we gather is still hoping to drop by when he can. Toadie tells the others that the sighting in Hawthorn came to nothing - Eden is still on the run.

TERESE: We can't just sit here in silence waiting for David, Aaron and Nicolette.
TOADIE (to Melanie): Yeah. Enough now. You need to tell us how they're involved.

Lassiter's Complex (flashback)
David walks a tearful Melanie towards the Drinks Divas van, which is parked up overlooking the lake nearby. We see that the image of Melanie, on the left of the van, is still as it always was - but the picture of Amy on the right has been replaced with one of David! Evidently, following Amy's move to Cairns, he's now the second Drinks Diva (or was, a year ago)!

MELANIE (present day voiceover): I couldn't stop crying. It was like a dam had finally broken. But David was so kind and caring. I guess by that stage, we weren't just business partners. We were really close friends.

Melanie tells David everything about what's been going on with Krista.

DAVID: You have to tell Toadie.
MELANIE: I can't do that. I can't!
DAVID: Look, I get that you're afraid. I felt the same way when I was facing charges over Gareth. I didn't want Aaron knowing. I didn't want to burden him. And I was petrified that he wouldn't love me anymore. But after he found out, it felt such a relief. And he stood by me ever since. Toadie can help you deal with this, Mel. And from what you've told me, you didn't even commit this crime. And it's been so long - maybe there's a statute of limitations or something.
MELANIE: He's a lawyer. If he gets dragged into this, his reputation will suffer. And what about the kids? Haven't they lost enough mothers? Hasn't everyone suffered enough?

At this point, Toadie and Aaron both show up. Toadie asks if Melanie sorted her work emergency, and she claims it was a false alarm. Toadie says he's just been chatting to Aaron about the possible family trip to Japan.

AARON: You guys have got to go. Seriously, we just had the best time when we went, didn't we, Boo?
DAVID: That was a while ago now.
AARON: You know, I think we should go again. Why don't we take Isla and Nic?
TOADIE: Hey, maybe we could all go together!

But at this point, Melanie is distracted again - this time by the sight of Eden, hood up, loitering at a distance, watching her.

MELANIE (present day voiceover): From the moment I saw him, I knew it was Krista's boyfriend, Eden. That was the first time I saw him.

No 22 (present day)
Melanie tells Toadie, Terese, Holly and Susan that Eden began 'showing up' over the next few days - not approaching her, but just watching from a distance. Meanwhile, Krista herself was still hassling Melanie for money, calling and messaging every day.

MELANIE: I was doing my best to ignore it. But then... the threats started.
TOADIE: She wanted to physically hurt you?
MELANIE: It was more blackmail. 'Give me money, or I'll dob you in to the authorities.' But then... someone almost did get physically hurt. It was a couple of days before your vow renewal, and the guests had started to arrive.

Ramsay Street (flashback)
Melanie, Terese, Toadie and Chloe are gathered out the front of No 30, watching Aaron play footie with Hugo in the front garden.

CHLOE: It's so good to be back.

She explains that Elly will be joining them tomorrow; she and Shaun have a parents' day at Aster's school today. When Toadie asks, Chloe says everything's been going great in Sydney.

CHLOE: Of course, my boss at Lassiter's Sydney isn't as good as the one I used to have here...
TERESE: Well, I hope you're referring to me, and not Paul!
CHLOE: Duh!
AARON: It's a shame Amy and Lance couldn't make their way down from Queensland.
TOADIE: Oh, they've got their hands full with a three- month- old.
TERESE: Yeah. Well, maybe we'll hear wedding bells from them, too?
TOADIE: Yeah, maybe.

Suddenly, Hugo cries out, and everyone turns around to see what's happened. His leg is trapped under the retractable steps of the Drinks Divas van, which appear to have come loose and fallen off. They free Hugo and he doesn't appear seriously hurt, but as the others discuss how it might have happened, Melanie sees Eden, lurking at the end of the street. He smirks as she makes eye contact, before walking away.

MELANIE (present day voiceover): I knew it was some kind of threat. And it was probably meant for me.

No 22 (present day)
Toadie is now livid with Melanie.

TOADIE: Even *then*, you didn't tell me?
MELANIE: I felt so guilty.
TOADIE: What if something worse had happened?!
MELANIE: You have every right to be angry! I was angry too - and believe you me, I didn't let it go.
TOADIE: Why? Why would I believe you, Melanie? Why would I believe or trust a single thing that you say?

Shortly afterwards, Toadie simmers in the kitchen. Susan is with him.

SUSAN: I don't blame you for being angry. Everything that Melanie's telling us... it's a lot.
TOADIE: Why didn't she tell me all this ages ago?
SUSAN: I don't know. But she's telling you now, and you have been so desperate for answers. So, come on - just let her finish.

Taking Susan's advice, Toadie walks back into the living room and rejoins Terese, Holly and Melanie.

TOADIE (brusquely, to Melanie): Well, go on. Get on with it.
MELANIE: After what happened with Hugo, I immediately messaged Krista, and told her that we needed to meet up, face- to- face.

Fitzgerald Motors (flashback)
Krista is having a conversation with Hudson, the mechanic, about her car, when Melanie storms into the garage.

MELANIE: Did you know that your boyfriend tampered with my van?
KRISTA (subdued): I didn't know.
MELANIE: My stepson Hugo was almost seriously injured! I know that Eden was probably trying for me, but this has got to end!
KRISTA: Mel, I really don't know what you're talking about.
MELANIE: You're loaded again. You can't even look at me.
KRISTA: We just want money. And then we'll go. It's that easy.
MELANIE: No. No, that's not gonna stop you. Because you - you're always gonna come back. Bleeding me dry - using me up. You're a user, Krista. That's what you are. And you are never going to stop.

Krista looks upset, maybe even tearful, as Melanie walks away.

No 22 (present day)
Holly has picked up on Melanie's mention of the garage.

HOLLY: That's the last place I saw Krista. She was dropping the car off for repairs.
MELANIE: We must've just missed each other. Could you tell that she was on drugs?
HOLLY: She was acting weird, and evasive. But... I put that down to another reason.

Fitzgerald Motors (flashback)
We now seem to be a few minutes before the previous flashback, as Krista is just arriving in her car, and Hudson tells her he'll be with her in a moment. Holly turns up and greets 'Kelly', who explains she's getting the car fixed.

KRISTA: As soon as that's sorted, you won't have to worry. We'll be gone and out of your way, we promise.
HOLLY: We?
KRISTA: Uh, yeah. Eden and I.
HOLLY: You're planning on travelling without me?
KRISTA: ... He hasn't told you. He said he was gonna talk to you and I thought that he had.
HOLLY: ... Have you guys hooked up? Since when?

Krista tries to walk away, but Holly grabs her and repeats the question.

KRISTA: I dunno - maybe Darwin.
HOLLY: Darwin? Are you kidding me? That was, like, months ago!

Krista tries to calm Holly down, but she's not having it.

HOLLY: You go. Have fun in the car that my brother's money paid for.

Lassiter's Hotel
Holly goes back to the room to find Eden, and shoves him onto a sofa.

HOLLY: I'm such an idiot!
EDEN: Woah. Calm down.
HOLLY: When I got that waitressing job, in Darwin, you and Kelly said you had jobs, too. But I could never understand why we didn't have any money.
EDEN: What has she told you?
HOLLY: And the same thing in Alice Springs. I was working all the time. You're supposed to be working too, but we're still broke. You never got jobs. Whenever I was on a shift, you were together.
EDEN: Listen, okay - I tried. I really did - I tried my best. But, baby, you just can't help who you're attracted to sometimes.

Furious, Holly begins packing her case.

HOLLY: Did you plan this, from the start? Did you ever love me?
EDEN: ... Of course I did. We had fun.
HOLLY: I thought we had a future. I was gonna introduce you to my dad and Susan.
EDEN: We can still be friends, Hol.
HOLLY: Friends?! I never want to see you or Kelly again!
EDEN: Yeah? Well, your loss. Trust me, I mean it - your loss.
HOLLY: You think you can get your hands on her money, don't you? She won't even tell us the name of her family - part of me thinks they don't even exist.
EDEN: She will.
HOLLY: I don't even care. You deserve each other.
EDEN: Hol, come here. Stay with me one last night - what do you reckon, huh?
HOLLY: Get out of my way.
EDEN: Let's get a few drinks; we'll see where the night goes...
HOLLY: You're disgusting!

She goes to walk out, and Eden reminds her they have to pay for the room!

HOLLY: The room's in Kelly's name. She can settle the bill.

Holly cries in the corridor as she slams the door behind her. It's Room 302, the same room that Reece traced Krista to a few weeks ago.

No 28
Holly turns up with her case at Karl and Susan's. They're both thrilled to see her, not having been expecting her for a few weeks yet - but she almost immediately bursts into tears, saying she hates her boyfriend, and sobs in Karl's arms.

No 22 (present day)
Susan comforts a tearful Holly as she recounts the story.

SUSAN: I remember you telling us about Eden. But you left so much out.
HOLLY: I was too ashamed to tell you everything. I mean, I thought I was a good judge of character, but I clearly have no clue (...) Eden turned out to be a terrible person. And I'm the one who brought him to Erinsborough, and now look at all the people he's hurt!
MELANIE: I also think it was him pushing Krista to blackmail me.
HOLLY: I think so too.
MELANIE: And if she hadn't done that, then... then maybe...
TOADIE (annoyed): Maybe what?
MELANIE: That's definitely all I can say right now.
TERESE (laughs): So we're back waiting for David, Aaron and Nicolette again?
MELANIE: They can't be far away.

Lassiter's Complex
They aren't far away; indeed, they've just pulled up in the hotel car park.

AARON: Are you sure you want to do this?
NICOLETTE: We don't owe him anything.
DAVID: I have to try. I might be wasting my time, but I have to try.

Nicolette gets a text from Jane, who's at the shops, but will be at Terese and Toadie's place in fifteen minutes. David tells Nicolette and Aaron to head straight to Ramsay Street; he'll see them there.

Penthouse
Paul is overjoyed to see David when he arrives in the lift.

DAVID: You may not feel that way when I'm done.
PAUL: Yeah, come on - whatever it is, you can put that aside for the moment. I want you to come and sit down. Tell me all about my granddaughter.
DAVID: You have no idea what's happening on Ramsay Street, do you? Melanie's at Toadie and Terese's house.
PAUL: Melanie is?
DAVID: She's telling them everything. Aaron and Nicolette are already on the way there, and I probably should've gone with them.
PAUL (worried): What, hang on - when you say 'everything', do you mean *everything*?!
DAVID: I wanted to come here first, to appeal to you to do the right thing.
PAUL: Oh, but she must be insane!
DAVID: Not insane. She's just at her breaking point. Paul, you have a chance to get in front of this. Go to the police.
PAUL: No! No, no. She has to be stopped - for her sake and for ours!
DAVID: It's too late. You have to own up!
PAUL: David, she cannot drag us down with her.

Looking anguished, Paul gets in the lift, and David follows...

Coming up on Neighbours
- Melanie is with David on the Lassiter's rooftop at sunset, looking haunted
- 'I knew I needed help,' we hear her say. 'I didn't know what he was planning to do'
- We see Paul on the rooftop at night, striding purposefully through the poolside area
- Nicolette tells David, Aaron, Melanie and Paul, 'We're all implicated, whether we like it or not'
- The guests are in place for the vow renewal, as are Paul and Terese, and celebrant Susan
- We hear David ask Paul if he can really look Terese in the eye after what he's done
- As revelation day at No 22 draws to a close, Paul tells Melanie she's made a very, very big mistake
- Jane has now joined the party, and asks Paul what he did. 'No more secrets,' says Terese
- Terese walks through the Lassiter's Complex looking distressed