Harold's Café
Toadie is telling Susan what he's learned from Jane about Nell and Melanie. Susan thinks it's a 'really beautiful gesture' on Nell's part to offer her pocket money to help Melanie get legal advice.

TOADIE: I hate that Nell feels an obligation to help Melanie.
SUSAN: Try and see this from Nell's point of view. She was so hurt when she thought that Melanie didn't want to be her stepmother (...) and now she finds out that Melanie left for another reason, and it had nothing to do with her or Hugo.
TOADIE: She still left, Susan.
SUSAN: You're angry, and justifiably so. But Nell's take on this - she's relieved.
TOADIE: So I should just... let her see Melanie?
SUSAN: I think you should try and see her point of view. Nell's love for Melanie is quite separate from the hurt that Melanie caused you. Sometimes I think the best thing we can do as parents is just remember that it's not about us.

Erinsborough Hospital
Byron and Reece show up, Reece still in disbelief that Krista is alive after all. Mackenzie follows them in. Holly and Haz emerge, and tell Reece that the doctors are worried Krista may have pneumonia, and are still waiting on the test results to find out about the drugs in her system.

HOLLY (to Reece): She doesn't want to see you.
REECE: She said that?
HOLLY: I'm sorry.
REECE: Well, she's not in her right mind.
HAZ: The doctors are still assessing her.
MACKENZIE: Does she know what's been happening this last year? About Paul and the blackmail?
HOLLY: I told her. It all seemed to be news to her.

Reece wants to know why she can't see Krista when Holly and Haz have, but Byron says it's perhaps best they wait for now, and suggests Reece call her dad to update him. Reece reluctantly agrees.

Lassiter's Office
Wendy is briefing Chloe on preparations for the Christmas fair.

WENDY: We are looking at a daylong event - grab a photo with Santa and a free candy cane!
CHLOE: We can do better than that.
WENDY: ... Well, now that you're on the case, we will!
CHLOE: Maybe it can be a team effort.

But we aren't treated to the specifics, as this puzzling scene is interrupted by Paul's arrival! Wendy excuses herself so Chloe can talk to Paul.

PAUL: It's really good having you back, Chloe.
CHLOE: I really miss this place. Your sketchy behaviour, not so much.

Chloe reveals she hasn't seen Aaron and David yet, but has heard the 'whole sorry story'. Paul asks after Elly, and Chloe very quickly says that she's great, before changing the subject swiftly back to Paul.

CHLOE: What's the deal? Have I walked into the headline, 'Lassiter's owner goes to jail... again'?
PAUL: I don't know what's gonna happen, honestly. But I can tell you I'm gonna be fighting those charges tooth and nail, though.

Paul gets a message on his phone, and looks stunned.

PAUL: Krista Sinclair is alive!

Erinsborough Hospital
Holly is visiting Krista, while Haz waits outside. Krista is fully conscious but is on breathing apparatus, presumably for the possible pneumonia. Holly offers to organise some fresh clothes for her.

KRISTA: I can't believe you're being so nice to me.
HOLLY: I'm not gonna lie - it was a huge betrayal when you and Eden got together.
KRISTA: I'm really sorry. And then to hear what Eden was doing to everyone else...
HOLLY: Melanie thought you'd drowned. She thought she'd killed you. What do you remember about that night?
KRISTA: Nothing. I vaguely remember going to meet Mel, and then... Eden and I were driving up the coast.
HOLLY: With half a million dollars of Paul's money.
KRISTA: I never knew about any of that. I swear. I mean, Eden was cashed up, but he just kept saying he'd been to the casino. And then, one week, it all stopped, so guessing that the half a million ran out.
HOLLY: Look, Reece really wants to see you.
KRISTA: I'm not ready.
HOLLY: She's been in Australia for a few months. She's been trying to find you.
KRISTA: Yeah, she'll be wanting to tell me what a stuff- up I've been.
HOLLY: She wouldn't say that.
KRISTA: I need more time.

Harold's Café
Terese comes in with Nell, and they go over to join Susan and Toadie at their table.

NELL: The adult- to- teen ratio tells me this is gonna be a heavy chat.
TOADIE: You are correct.

Jane is watching from another table. Susan is about to leave Toadie and the family to talk, but at that point, Toadie gets a text from Andrew, informing him that Krista is alive after all. Jane gets the same news via a text from Byron, and rushes over to join them - she tells them that Krista is stable, but has pneumonia.

TERESE: Does that mean that Krista faked her own death?
TOADIE: Uh, I dunno. I mean, there's got to be some kind of scam happening, though, right?
NELL: (...) Does this mean Melanie didn't commit a crime?
TOADIE: Umm... it changes *some* things.
NELL: Does she even know?
JANE: No idea.
NELL: Someone should tell her.
TOADIE: It's normally up to her lawyer.
NELL: If she even has one. We could do it.
TOADIE: Nell...
NELL: The past year, she's thought she's killed someone. We have to let her know that that isn't true, as soon as possible.

Erinsborough Hospital
Reece and Byron are still in the waiting area. Byron tells Reece not to take Krista's refusal to see her personally.

BYRON: Krista's probably just really down on herself right now.
REECE: But I can help her.
BYRON: Yeah, once she's had some rest, I'm sure she'll change her mind.
REECE: Well, until then, I'm not going anywhere.

Goodwood Prison
Jane and Susan have gone to tell Melanie the news about Krista being alive.

MELANIE (stunned): She can't be. I was with her. I saw her - she fell. She hit her head.
JANE: She was found with Eden this morning.
MELANIE: Are you sure? Have you seen her?
SUSAN: No. But Holly is with her right now at the hospital.
MELANIE: If she's alive then - then, I didn't...
SUSAN: No.
MELANIE: And if I didn't...
JANE: Then you could be free.

Shortly afterwards, Melanie tells Susan and Jane of the nightly nightmares she's had about that fateful night on the hotel rooftop. Susan tells Melanie that Krista had no idea what Eden had done.

MELANIE: He let me think that I was a murderer. He destroyed my life, just for money.
JANE: He's locked up now.
SUSAN: Yeah, and he's a flight risk, so apparently he's got no chance of getting bail.
JANE: No, especially once Krista's father finds out what he did to her. I'm sure he'll use all of his influence to keep him locked up.
MELANIE: How is Krista?
JANE: Physically she will be okay, but... psychologically, it was obviously an abusive relationship.
MELANIE: Poor kid.
JANE: I'm surprised you have any sympathy. She was trying to take money from you, too.
MELANIE: Yeah. But deep down, she's a good person.
SUSAN: You'll have the option of visiting her soon, if you want to. I mean, surely most of the charges against you will be dropped. You could be released in the next few days (...) Nell insisted that we tell you straight away.
JANE: Then you can rebuild your life.
MELANIE (sadly): Some things can't be rebuilt.

Erinsborough Hospital
Mackenzie is sitting in Krista's room when Krista returns from the bathroom, and greets her awkwardly. Holly than returns with food for Krista from the canteen, and introduces Mackenzie to Krista.

KRISTA: I think Eden mentioned you, too.
MACKENZIE: We had a very brief, umm, friendship, I guess you could say.
KRISTA: You got him the job at the vineyard, right?
MACKENZIE: Yeah, I helped. Did you know that Eden robbed me, and several other people?
KRISTA: I knew Eden had cash, I just never asked any questions. I never spared a thought for the victims.
MACKENZIE: Well, from everything I've seen and heard, you're a victim, too.
KRISTA: Yeah, of my own stupidity.
MACKENZIE: Eden is a master at coercive control.
KRISTA: And I got sucked right in.
HOLLY: I know you don't wanna see Reece. But she was devastated - she thought you'd died. Now you're alive, she's so happy. She loves you. She's not gonna judge you. Just give her a chance?

Lassiter's Hotel
Paul is finishing up a phone call to Georgia, his lawyer, when Chloe comes in; but Georgia seemingly hasn't been able to tell him about whether he could still face jail time.

PAUL: But you know, if Krista is still alive, what possible charge can I still be facing?
CHLOE: Maybe something with the word 'conspiracy' in it?

Chloe asks if Paul can give her a budget for the Christmas fair, but he's not keen to discuss it right now. He asks if she can manage it.

CHLOE: I don't know if I'll still be here. Leo pitched this as a short- term crisis visit.
PAUL: I need you - please. You know, even after today, Reece and her father are still gonna be gunning for me.
CHLOE: How long are we talking?
PAUL: Can we keep it fluid? I'll square it with Lassiter's Sydney for you.
CHLOE: Well, I'm sure Elly and Aster won't begrudge me a slightly extended stay...
PAUL: Thank you, Chloe - thank you.

No 22
Susan is with Toadie and Terese, who haven't been able to continue their conversation with Nell since it was derailed at Harold's earlier. Susan suggests that they might reconsider allowing Nell to visit Melanie given that the circumstances have now changed drastically.

SUSAN: I think it would mean the world to Melanie.
TOADIE (scoffs): I don't care what it would mean to Melanie. I care about Nell.

Toadie asks Terese for her view; she thinks that Krista being alive is a game- changer and convincing Nell otherwise will be difficult.

SUSAN: If you did agree, I'd be happy to take her. That way you don't have to interact with Melanie yourself.

Toadie decides they should do this before he changes his mind, and calls Nell downstairs to join them.

Erinsborough Hospital
Reece goes in to visit Krista, and gives her a hug.

KRISTA: It's been a while.
REECE: I'm so sorry I didn't help you a year ago.
KRISTA: I'm guessing you got my postcard, then?
REECE: I'll admit, it made me pretty angry at the time.
KRISTA: Is it true you've been searching for me?
REECE (nods): Look, it took me a while to start looking, but once I did... I've been so worried about you. Dad, too.
KRISTA: I should have got in touch. Eden wanted me to.
REECE: Well, it sounds like Eden wanted our money.
KRISTA: I mean, deep down, I knew that I was in trouble; I just... I just couldn't face you. Or Dad. I was so in love with him, I... I thought I couldn't live without him.
REECE: And now?
KRISTA: Something in him changed recently. I think it was me saying for the hundredth time that I wasn't gonna call my family. So when they found me today... I was relieved.

Reece takes the sun necklace that Krista lost from her around her neck, and gives it back to her.

REECE: I found it. And now I've found you.

Krista holds the necklace, looking emotional.

No 32
Holly, Haz and Mackenzie decide to open the champagne to congratulate themselves on finding Krista, and reuniting her with Reece.

MACKENZIE: I have toasted marriages, babies and promotions, but never the capture of a pathological con man.

Haz praises Holly's 'super action' and Mackenzie's 'super brain' for the success, and draws them both in for a group hug - before going to fetch alcohol.

Erinsborough Hospital
Krista is explaining to Reece why she ran away from the family in the first place - she'd been fighting with their dad, and her mum was in Zurich, so she just had to get away.

REECE: I get that now.
KRISTA: Really? You've always toed the Sinclair family line.
REECE: Put it this way. I've been doing some re- evaluating. Hey, Krista, I've got to ask you - Eden never hurt you physically?
KRISTA: No, he never hit me. He just kept giving me drugs. He wanted to mess me up, and I guess he succeeded.

Reece remarks that Krista can't have been living rough, given all the money Eden got from Paul. Krista says it was the opposite - they were staying in the best hotels. She begins to explain what happened when the money ran out, but begins to have severe withdrawal symptoms. Krista adds that Eden is still 'living in her head rent- free'. Reece replies, 'not anymore'.

KRISTA (smiling): Holly said you've got a boyfriend.
REECE: I'll tell you about him later. Get some rest.

Reece leaves the room.

Goodwood Prison
Nell arrives with Susan to see Melanie, and rushes up to her - but Melanie reminds her they're not allowed to touch.

MELANIE: Hug or no hug - I'm so happy that you're here.
NELL: Me too. I've been so worried.
MELANIE: I'm fine. At least, I am now.
NELL: I knew there had to be more to you leaving.
MELANIE: I'm so sorry.
NELL: Even when I heard about the letter... it was so hard to believe.
MELANIE: I never stopped caring about you and Hugo. But I had to let you go. You and your dad.
NELL: But it's different now. Hopefully, you're going to be free soon. Everything's going to be better.

They almost touch fingertips on the tabletop.

No 32
Holly is recounting the story of her encounter with Eden at his hideout, presumably for Mackenzie's benefit (since Haz was there) and embellished for dramatic effect, while pouring herself more alcohol.

HAZ: She's like that Chihuahua at the park that hassles Trevor. Thinks she can take on a dog twice her size.

Mackenzie congratulates Haz for parking the car across the driveway to stop Eden escaping. Haz says the cops have asked them to go in tomorrow to make formal statements.

HOLLY: But right now, time for shots!

But Mackenzie gets a text, and says she's going to have to go into work to handle something for a client. She leaves.

HAZ: Guess it's just you and me.
HOLLY: Guess so.

They down their first shots...

Erinsborough Hospital
Reece is chatting to Byron about Krista in the waiting area, telling him how long it's been since she last spoke to Krista like that.

BYRON: Do you feel any anger towards her?
REECE: No. I just saw a scared little girl (...) They're going to keep her here under observation, until they can get on top of the pneumonia. Then I want to move her to a rehab facility.
BYRON: Did you mention that to her?
REECE: Well, not yet. But it's the only way she's gonna get better. Look, she's woken up to Eden now, but I know how these things go. She might start missing him again.
BYRON: Still no word from your dad yet?
REECE: No, he still hasn't called me back. Tess hasn't returned any of my calls either (...) I told them it was urgent.
BYRON: Maybe they're on their way.
REECE: No, they would've told me. I'm sure I'll hear from him soon.

No 32
Haz and Holly are settling in on the sofa together.

HOLLY: I can't believe you called me a Chihuahua.
HAZ: Chihuahuas are cute. Angry, but cute.

There's a knock at the door. While Haz goes to greet the pizza guy, Holly gets a text from Krista (who's still listed in her phone as 'Kelly Miller'), saying 'thank you for saving me'. Holly suddenly becomes very emotional, and when Haz returns he comforts her, saying it's been a massive day.

HOLLY (tearful): I just... I feel so bad for Krista, just knowing what she went through with Eden. And it terrifies me thinking that, in some alternate reality, if Eden and I had stayed together, then that somehow could've been me.
HAZ: But it's not, okay? You're okay. Everything's gonna be alright.
HOLLY: Is it?

He hugs her.

HAZ: Yes. You're here. With me.

There's a loaded pause, before a pash ensues! Things quickly escalate, and Haz picks Holly up and carries her off to the bedroom...

Coming up on Neighbours
- JJ and Dex are worried that Remi has 'taken off', and seek reassurance from Cara
- Mackenzie notices that Holly is wearing Haz's shirt
- Haz tells Byron that 'it was definitely fun'; Byron asks what he's going to do
- Reece tells Paul that she hopes he ends up in jail
- Reece tells Byron she's doing what she has to do
- Reece looks pensively at the picture of Paul in the lobby
- Chloe asks Paul what this means, for Lassiter's and for him