No 32
Holly continues to scream as she struggles to extricate herself from the Christmas tree at the bottom of the pool. Luckily, Haz has somehow realised what's going on and dives in to separate the sash on her dress from the tree. They surface, Holly coughing and spluttering, but otherwise seemingly unharmed.

HAZ: You're okay. It's okay - I've got you. I've got you.

Ramsay Street
Still unaware of Holly's plight, Mackenzie has woken Sadie and they sit on the kerb for a chat.

MACKENZIE: The way Holly was carrying on, it was like I'd broken every rule of sisterhood. But, you know, I'm trying to be respectful.
SADIE: Hmm. What would the sisterhood think of you two squabbling over a man?
MACKENZIE: Well, exactly. It's just so embarrassing.
SADIE: Maybe not as embarrassing as Holly falling into the pool.
MACKENZIE: I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

But at that point, both are surprised to hear sirens as an ambulance pulls up outside No 32.

Penthouse
Leo asks how Paul's Christmas Day was, admitting he didn't enjoy leaving Paul here alone - but Paul insists he wasn't lonely.

PAUL: I had a couple of visitors who were determined to make me see the error of my ways.
LEO: Did they?
PAUL: Well, Toadie certainly went for the jugular. You know, he just fails to recognise the depth of history that I have with Terese.
LEO: Oh, well, I'm sure you gave as good as you got. Who was the other visitor?
PAUL: Oh, never mind. So how were my granddaughters - did they enjoy their presents?
LEO: Yeah. Isla loved the zoo pass, if that's what you're asking. Aaron even told David it was from you.
PAUL: Oh dear. Dare I ask how that went down?
LEO: Surprisingly, he didn't lose it.

Paul gets a message on his phone about a work matter, and looks exasperated - but then smiles as an idea begins to form in his devious mind...

No 32
Holly is on the couch, being checked over by Travis, the paramedic, when Karl rushes in having heard the news. Haz, Sadie, Byron and Mackenzie (and Trevor) are all present, Mackenzie looking very awkward. Holly's struggling to keep warm and looks rather traumatised, but Travis reports that her lungs are clear and her vitals are strong - physically she's fine. Haz brings Holly a cup of tea, as Mackenzie explains to Karl what happened.

MACKENZIE: We were talking, and then she fell in the water.
KARL: Wait - you just left her there?!
MACKENZIE: Well, I didn't realise that she was in danger (...) I thought she was okay.
KARL: You didn't hang around to find out?
MACKENZIE: ... I guess I didn't.

Holly wants to go home, and Karl agrees that's best. But she hugs Haz before she goes.

HOLLY: You saved my life. Thank you.

Karl gives Mackenzie a disapproving look as they leave. Mackenzie looks distraught, and swears to the others that she thought Holly was fine when she left the garden. Sadie tries to reassure Mackenzie, but Haz doesn't look very happy.

HAZ: All I know is, she nearly drowned, Mackenzie.

He walks out.

Lassiter's Hotel
In the lobby, Susan is about to take Aster off Elly's hands so she can prepare for the wedding. Elly reveals she's booked Susan and Aster in for a pamper session at the day spa, and both look very excited.

ELLY: I booked Mum in as well, before she told me that she was going to change her flight.
SUSAN: She's cutting it fine, flying in this afternoon.
ELLY: Heaven forbid she goes a couple of hours without seeing the new boyfriend.

Elly heads off, while Susan and Aster go to the spa.

No 28
Karl's phone is ringing - it's Susan, updating him on her whereabouts - but he's too busy attending to Holly to answer it. He's trying to encourage her to rest but Holly is pacing around the room, still in quite a state, her breathing heavy and panicked as she recounts her ordeal. Haz also stands by, looking worried.

KARL: We really are incredibly grateful to you.
HAZ: I only did what anybody would do.
HOLLY: Not anybody.

Karl finally gets Holly to sit down, and goes to get his doctoring bag to check her lungs for himself. Haz joins her on the couch.

HOLLY: I should get ready for the wedding.
HAZ: Hey - Elly will understand if you don't make it. You've been through a trauma... When I saw you in the water, it terrified me too. The thought of losing you, I... I couldn't bear it.

He strokes her face.

HOLLY: What does this mean?
HAZ: It means that this morning put things into perspective for me.

Lassiter's Hotel
In Krista's room, she and David are doing a meditation session, as part of her sober strategy. But Krista is distracted and admits she has something she has to tell David, which she's been psyching herself up for.

KRISTA: I'm pregnant.
DAVID: ... That's massive.
KRISTA: Yeah. I found out while I was in rehab, and suddenly it was all the incentive I needed to get clean.
DAVID: And the father?
KRISTA: It's Eden's. And he can't know. At least, not any time soon.
DAVID: And your family?
KRISTA: I'll tell Reece when I'm ready. I just need some time to get back on my feet.

David says they should discuss the health implications, but at this point Krista gets a phone call from Paul, and answers it. Paul wants to see her in the office urgently. David is visibly not keen on seeing Paul, but insists on accompanying her anyway, having already concluded he's 'up to' something.

Meanwhile, in the day spa, Aster is showing Susan a picture she drew on the plane from Sydney, while they wait to get their manicure and pedicure. It's a picture of Aster, alone and looking sadly out of a window.

SUSAN: How come you look so sad? Is it... is it cos Mum's getting married?

But Aster denies this, telling Susan that it's 'a secret' why she's looking sad in the picture.

SUSAN: Oh. Who told you to keep it a secret?
ASTER: Grandma Liz.
SUSAN: Well, sweetheart, I am sure that Grandma Liz didn't mean for you to keep it a secret from your family. And maybe I can help. Why don't you tell me what's making you so sad?

In the office, David stands by while Paul tells Krista he has a task for her - she needs to drum up a proposal for a birthday party for Belinda Jorgensen, a travel agency owner and one of the hotel's largest clients.

PAUL: She's unbelievably picky and notoriously quick to judge.
KRISTA: Right. So what's our plan of attack?
PAUL: Your plan of attack is to absolutely nail this brief, alright? You only get one crack at it.

Krista promises to research it and then pull together a draft over the next couple of days. But Paul says Belinda wants it tonight!

DAVID: Come on. You're setting her up to fail.
PAUL: Chloe would've done it.
KRISTA: Then that's what I'll do.

Paul smirks as Krista leaves.

No 32
As she chats to Sadie and Byron, Mackenzie is feeling guilty about having left when Holly fell in the pool without checking on her.

MACKENZIE: It didn't even occur to me that she could be in trouble. I was just so... mad at her over Richie.
SADIE: With good reason.
MACKENZIE: But maybe it was my anger that stopped me from realising that she was in danger.
BYRON: Hey, hey. You can't keep torturing yourself.
MACKENZIE (tearful): Byron, she almost drowned. Because of me. And she clearly blames me for it too. She didn't even look me in the eye before.
BYRON: Holly's just rattled right now, okay? Once she calms down, she'll realise she can't hold this against you.

Mackenzie wants to go to No 28 and check on her, but Sadie suggests it might be best to give her some space. Karl comes in, and tells them Holly's shaken, but will be okay.

KARL: I have to say, accident or not, I am very disappointed you would leave her in that situation.

Mackenzie nods, contrite.

Harold's Café
Leo, Krista and David have convened to discuss the Belinda Jorgensen Same- Day Party Challenge. Krista wasn't able to find any clues as to how to wow Belinda in her file, which Leo finds surprising as the hotel has done lots of events for her.

DAVID: Funny that. Vintage Paul playing his games.

Leo suggests they call Chloe for some pointers, but Krista says they can't - it's Chloe wedding day. Krista decides to resolve the problem herself. Paul comes in and walks past them; David heavily rolls his eyes. Krista tells David not to give Paul any energy - he's just testing her.

DAVID: It's a lot of stress, given... what you told me earlier.
KRISTA: Oh, no need for code. Leo knows.

David looks disapproving. Leo suggests telling Reece what's happening, but Krista doesn't want to show any weakness to her sister, or to Paul. In which case, says Leo, they'll just have to replicate a previous event, but tweaked to fit Belinda's tastes.

DAVID: But we don't know Belinda's tastes.
KRISTA: Yet. It's times like these you've got to play to your strengths (...) It's time to pull a Sinclair.

She asks for Belinda's phone number.

No 32
Tension continues to prevail at the sharehouse as Mackenzie, Sadie and Byron clear up following the party. Haz comes in looking sombre. He tells the others, who are keen to go and see Holly, that she's not ready for visitors yet and just needs rest.

MACKENZIE: Did she say anything about me?
HAZ: Umm, I think she's just trying to get her head around it all.
SADIE: You know, it's not Mack's fault. She didn't know she was in trouble.
BYRON: Yeah. It's just one of those crazy, unexpected things.
MACKENZIE: If I could go back, I'd fix it.
HAZ: Yeah, I get all that. I'm sorry, I just... I can't shake that image of Holly trapped under the water.

Declaring he's really tired, Haz heads off for a lie- down. Mackenzie looks worried.

The Waterhole
Krista is charming Belinda Jorgensen at a table with champagne and tales of Sinclair family exploits.

KRISTA: But they weren't bouncers. They were secret service agents.
BELINDA: Did they arrest you?
KRISTA: No. Their boss intervened. They said I helped make the fundraiser more interesting.
BELINDA: By 'boss', you don't mean...
KRISTA (nods and winks): Last time my father ever dragged me to a black tie event in Washington.
BELINDA (laughs): Unbelievable!
KRISTA: That's why I always say, giving people a plus- one to an event never works out. Someone always brings a stripper!

As Belinda laughs along to Krista's story, David and Leo watch from a distant table. Leo is impressed with Krista's ability to turn on the charm.

DAVID (worried): Why do you think she told you? About the baby?
LEO: I dunno. I was just there.

David looks sceptical. Back at the other table, Krista and Belinda wrap up their meeting.

KRISTA: Thanks so much for seeing me on such short notice, B.
BELINDA: B?

There's an awkward pause and Krista worries she may have been overfamiliar, before Belinda laughs and declares that she loves her new moniker - as well as all Krista's ideas for the party.

BELINDA: If we're sure that red carpet isn't a cliché.
KRISTA: Hmm, well, I could ask my godmother - see what she's got planned for the next gala.

Belinda gets up to leave, as Krista agrees to 'do lunch soon', and they exchange air- kisses on Belinda's way out. Krista then goes to join Leo and David.

KRISTA: Sometimes, you've just got to let the Sinclair name do the work for you.

Krista now needs to write up a full proposal for the party, she says, and Leo enthusiastically offers to help with the graphics. But David is making disapproving faces again.

Lassiter's Hotel
In the lobby, Susan is filling Elly in on her conversation with Aster earlier, it having proved too urgent to wait until after the wedding. It transpires that Elly's mum Liz has been leaving Aster in the house alone when she was supposed to be looking after her, to go gallivanting off with her boyfriend.

ELLY: What if she hurt herself? What if something happened? (...) Mum always goes on about how she loves looking after Aster - but why? Why would she say that if she's too busy with her boyfriend?
SUSAN: Because she's Liz!
ELLY: I just, I so badly wanted to trust her. I'm gonna have to speak to her, and... we're gonna have to cancel our honeymoon.
SUSAN: No - can't Shaun change his plans?
ELLY: No, he's got a work trip. It's been booked for months.
SUSAN: Oh, Chloe is so looking forward to this trip.
ELLY: (...) But, yeah, she'll agree that Aster's safety is the most important thing.

Susan looks sympathetic.

Meanwhile, Krista is in her room with Leo, working on the proposal for Belinda's party and engaging in some mild teasing, which feels flirtatious. David comes in with food; Krista says she needs to focus on her work, but he reminds her of the importance of regular mealtimes, including for her unborn baby, so she agrees to break off.

LEO: Well, it looks like you know how to throw a fun party, huh?
KRISTA: Oh, I have a master's in fun. I minored in mayhem and majored in hangovers.
DAVID: I know you're joking, but...
KRISTA: I wish that I was, but unfortunately it's the closest thing I came to an actual degree.
DAVID: Well, it's good to play to your strengths. But we need to avoid triggering bad habits.
KRISTA: Hey, don't worry. I've got a very clear line between my past and my present.

David nods approvingly.

Back in the foyer, an angry Elly is on the phone to Liz while Susan listens.

ELLY: No, Mum, I don't need you to look after Aster anymore... okay, well, if that's the case, don't even bother getting on the plane. You're off the hook, in every way.

Elly hangs up.

SUSAN: What did she say? Did she have an explanation?
ELLY: 'What's the problem? Aster never complained!' And she's somehow offended that I won't leave Aster with her for the honeymoon.
SUSAN: Why doesn't Aster just stay with us while you're away?
ELLY: That's a really nice offer, but she's got pony club, and I know she'd be devastated if she missed out. But a staycation honeymoon will be fabulous. The only vital ingredients are me and Chloe.

But Elly looks disappointed, prompting Susan to suggest that she could go and stay in Sydney with Aster, leaving Elly free to go on her honeymoon as planned.

ELLY: I don't know - it's a huge ask. Do you think Karl would mind?
SUSAN: Oh, no, not at all (...) Besides, you'd be doing me a favour. He's threatening to have a slide night of his train trip.

Elly calls over to Aster, who is sitting nearby, and asks her what she thinks of the idea of Susan looking after her in Sydney. Naturally, Aster loves the idea, and the honeymoon is back on!

No 32
Mackenzie is still stressing about Holly and wants to go and see her, despite Sadie's advice to put it out of her mind. Byron asks Haz what he thinks - he says he'll go over and ask if Holly's ready for visitors.

HAZ: Oh, yeah - by the way, just so you all know, Holly and I are no longer on a break.

He leaves, and Mackenzie looks disconcerted.

BYRON: Guess a near- death experience makes the heart grow fonder.
SADIE (unenthusiastic): Apparently.

Sadie asks Mack if she's okay; Mack says she will be, once she's made things right with Holly.

Lassiter's Hotel
Krista walks into Paul's office and places a fully completed proposal for Belinda's party on his desk. Paul's sceptical that it isn't a 'rush job' and says Belinda will be the judge - but Krista says Belinda has given the go- ahead to her plans already, and asked her to begin preparations.

PAUL (lost for words): How?
KRISTA: You'd be amazed how many people want to see a genuine Sinclair in the wild, Paul.

She walks out smugly, leaving Paul frustrated.

No 28
Haz rejoins Holly, who has slept a little since he last saw her, but is still having visions of being in the pool.

HOLLY: At least something good came out of it - we're back together. As long as this isn't some 'I saved your life so now I wanna be with you' thing.
HAZ: Of course it's not.
HOLLY: Well, the New Year's suddenly looking really good.

They hold hands. Haz asks if Holly is up for visitors, as Mackenzie was really hoping to see her.

HOLLY: No, I'm not ready.
HAZ: She feels awful about what happened.
HOLLY: I know it wasn't her fault, but... it hurts. She just left me there.
HAZ: Yeah, but maybe it would help to just talk it out.
HOLLY: Or maybe something else needs to change (...) The fight we had, before I fell in the pool, it was because of this tension between us over you.
HAZ: So let's wipe the slate clean. New year, new start.
HOLLY: I don't think it's that easy. She used to have feelings for you - on some level, she probably still does.
HAZ: Yeah, but you and I are together.
HOLLY: I want to be secure in that. But knowing that you and Mackenzie are next door, under the same roof... and her friendship is important to me, too.
HAZ: Wait, so what are you saying?
HOLLY: What I'm saying is for us to wipe the slate clean, one of you needs to move out. It's the only way.

Haz looks conflicted.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Chloe and Elly convene in Ramsay Street; 'This is really happening!' says Chloe
- Terese asks somebody what's wrong; we see Chloe looking into a mirror uncertainly
- Haz tells Mackenzie they can 'move past' the weirdness between them, but she seems doubtful
- Krista tells David he should be supporting her, not implying she's already messed everything up
- David objects, but Krista tells him to leave... now