Previously on Neighbours
- Paul and Leo console each other as the reality of David's death hits home
- Toadie looks worried when Terese heads off to check on Paul
- Paul tells Terese he doesn't deserve her help, but she replies that she's not going anywhere
- Toadie's frustrated when he gets a message from Terese saying she doesn't want to leave Paul alone
- A tearful Terese tells Toadie she's worried about what Paul might do; he suggests she should call Leo
- Krista visits Eden in hospital and tells him David's dead because of him, and that he's going back to jail
- Paul looking shifty as Krista says that the police should have notified her of Eden's release
- At the hospital, Paul tells Eden he's made an enemy, and that, 'You are done'
- Andrew tells Leo and Krista that Eden has escaped from the hospital
- Eden turns up at No 28, where he points a blade at Melanie and tells her she's going to help him
No 28
Still clearly in a lot of pain from his injuries, Eden demands to know who the 'people' were who got Melanie out of trouble in the UK, seemingly thinking she can lean on them to help him. But Melanie says no one helped her other than Krista, who paid for her flight back to Australia. Her passport was in her maiden name, she explains, whereas the police were looking for Melanie Mangel.
MELANIE: Eden, you need to get back to hospital. You really don't look well.
EDEN: Give me your wallet. Where's your wallet?
MELANIE: I haven't got money!
But he insists, and she gets the wallet out of her bag. He rifles through it and, finding nothing, decides there must be money elsewhere in the house. He begins to search. Melanie offers to tell the authorities that Eden was confused and left the hospital by accident, trying to convince him that they'll understand. But Eden isn't even well enough to reply.
Melanie's phone rings - it's Andrew. Eden picks it up and recognises the name as being the cop he has been dealing with. He accuses Melanie of 'working with' Andrew; she insists she's not, and that he's probably just ringing to warn her that Eden's escaped.
EDEN (yelling): Sit down! Shut up! Let me think. Let me think.
Melanie sobs as Eden frantically considers his next move...
Penthouse
Paul is sitting silently on the sofa, looking broken. He turns to an empty whisky tumbler on the table next to him, and it prompts a flashback - also at the penthouse, but at night - in which Paul is talking to Eden, while Eden drinks whisky from the glass.
PAUL: So, what's your plan with Krista?
EDEN: What's yours?
PAUL: I don't have one. Let's just say I was a lot happier before she arrived, though.
EDEN: Mm. How about you just tell me what room she's in.
PAUL: No, if you go looking for her now, security will just bail you up. And before you can blink, off to jail you will go.
EDEN: So why didn't you call security when you saw me? Why did you invite me up instead?
PAUL: ... You know, I don't even think she'll still be in her room. She's more than likely already gone on a little holiday house getaway by now. Or it could be a babymoon.
EDEN: ... She's pregnant?
PAUL: What, she didn't tell you? Well, that's a bit unfair, isn't it?
EDEN: It's mine?
Paul shrugs and half- smirks. Eden laughs and downs his drink. We then cut to a slightly later flashback, which sees Paul and Eden in the elevator, which opens into the hotel reception.
PAUL: Don't contact me directly again.
Eden silently gets out of the lift, while Paul stays in it, and the doors close.
Back in the present, Paul looks wracked with guilt. He takes the empty glass that's left over from his meeting with Eden, and throws it furiously against the wall, where it shatters - just as Leo and Krista come out of the elevator. They exchange a glance, and Krista goes to fetch something to clean it up.
LEO: Dad... I'm glad you're here. Eden's escaped.
Paul looks absolutely horrified.
LEO: The police don't think he's got far, but Krista's gonna stay with us until they figure it out, okay? We should probably ramp up security across the complex.
PAUL: No, no. Security on the elevator is enough. Leo, I will not be intimidated by him.
No 28
Eden is still searching the house for money.
MELANIE: No one keeps cash around anymore.
EDEN: If you're not gonna be helpful, shut your mouth!
He points the blade at her, and tells her to move, so he can search the dresser by the door. Melanie suggests she could phone Karl and ask him for money for Eden, and claim it was for her medical expenses. She assures him he can trust her not to do anything rash. But at this point, Holly arrives at the front door, and is horrified to see Eden. Melanie tells Holly to get help, and Holly quickly leaves again.
HOLLY (shouting): I'm calling the police!
Furious, Eden lunges towards Melanie with the knife, slashing her arm.
EDEN (shouting): Very stupid, Mel!
Terrified, she clutches her arm to contain the bleeding...
Lassiter's Complex
Andrew is briefing Paul; they have police officers stationed in an around the hospital, and Eden's 'physical state isn't good'.
PAUL: I don't want a prognosis! I want him caught!
Aaron marches up and demands to know how Eden escaped. Andrew explains it happened during a shift change between guards, but Aaron is not impressed.
AARON: he killed my husband, and you let him get away! He should be in jail right now!
Andrew mumbles something about procedure, but Aaron yells back at him.
AARON: The guy's a psycho, and you guys are sitting here following procedure?! What happens now? Who's next?! You know the blood is gonna be on your hands -
But Paul intervenes, begging Aaron to stop.
PAUL: It's not his fault, alright? Andrew wants Eden locked up just as much as you and I do.
Paul tells Aaron he has to go, but that Aaron should listen to Andrew's explanation of the situation. Pacified somewhat, Aaron agrees. Andrew gets a phone call - it's Holly.
ANDREW: Woah, woah, hang on. Slow down. Speak slowly... What's happened?
Ramsay Street
A crowd is gathering behind police tape; Andrew and colleagues have the cul- de- sac cordoned off, and everyone is watching No 28 - including Aaron, Holly, Sadie, Wendy and extras.
No 28
Eden and Melanie are watching the goings- on outside from the front window. Melanie breathes heavily.
EDEN: You're gonna wish you kept your mouth shut.
She looks tearful; and we can see through the glass of the window that Eden is crying, too, as he watches the police outside.
Ramsay Street
A worried Sadie asks Wendy if Andrew will end up going in the house. Wendy isn't sure. Toadie, Terese and Karl arrive, joining the crowd.
TOADIE: What's happening?
HOLLY: Eden's in there. With Mel. He's escaped; he's holding her hostage.
KARL: Oh, lord.
No 28
Andrew makes a phone call to Eden. He doesn't answer at first, but Melanie tells him he can't make any demands unless he speaks to the police - so he takes the call.
ANDREW: Look, I want us to find a peaceful resolution here. We know Melanie's in there with you; can you please tell us how she is?
EDEN: She's fine.
ANDREW: And can you tell me what you want?
EDEN: Money. With a car. I want time to get away.
ANDREW: Alright. If you can release Melanie safely, you and I, we can keep talking.
EDEN: Do you think I'm stupid?
Eden ends the call. While they've been talking, Melanie, who is still clutching her bleeding arm, begins to move away from the window and Eden - but he sees her and tells her to sit down. Eden sits too, now seemingly very weak.
MELANIE: You need a doctor!
Andrew calls Eden back, but he ignores it.
MELANIE: I've got pain medication, left over from when I had my shoulder reconstruction. Strong stuff.
EDEN (weakly): Where is it?
MELANIE: It's in the kitchen drawer. I can get it. Eden, I don't want you to suffer, despite the things that you've done. I'm not that sort of person. Let me help you.
The phone rings again, and Eden still doesn't answer it. Tearful, he tells Melanie to go and get the medication. She rifles through the kitchen drawer and finds a bottle of pills. Unable to get through on the phone, Andrew uses his loudspeaker to ask Eden to answer it, so that they can keep talking. Eden cries out in pain as he staggers towards the window to assess the situation again.
Ramsay Street
Outside, the crowd continues to watch.
ANDREW (loudspeaker): We can end this peacefully, Eden. But we need to know that Melanie is safe. Please just release her, and then you and I can keep talking and find a way forward.
No 28
Melanie is watching Eden carefully; he has his back to her at the window, while she empties the contents of drug capsules into a glass of water. Apparently overheating, Eden removes his hoodie and approaches Mel again.
Ramsay Street
Toadie is looking very worried, as Karl wonders aloud whether the police have some kind of strategy about going into the house.
ANDREW (loudspeaker): Eden, you need to pick up your phone, mate, if you wanna keep talking.
No 28
Melanie hands Eden the water, but then gives him another two tablets to take with it, suggesting that whatever's already in the water is over and above the dosage she's suggesting. However, the water is cloudy from the drugs that Mel has mixed into it, and Eden notices. He looms over her.
EDEN (yelling): Do you think I'm stupid? Huh?!
He grabs some duct tape and orders Melanie to sit at one of the dining chairs, then begins ominously to unwind the tape...
Ramsay Street
Leo has now joined the crowd outside, and is on the phone, telling Krista to stay put, saying that she's safer wherever she is now. Karl has a brainwave.
KARL: The spare bedroom window... Andrew! There's another way in. The spare bedroom window's always unlocked.
TOADIE: Yeah, there's bushes right in front of it. It is an easy approach.
ANDREW: No way. For all we know, he could have a firearm, or a knife to her throat.
TOADIE: Well, then, we need to get in there now!
AARON: Or are you just gonna go and let him kill someone else?
ANDREW: Look, surprise tactics are only going to increase the risk. No one is going in there, okay? We'll secure the perimeter; when Special Operations arrive, they'll form a plan.
Toadie pretends to be satisfied with this, saying that if Andrew has everything under control, they'll just go into their house and stay out of the way. Andrew permits Toadie, Terese, Aaron and Leo to go past the police tape and into No 22, but says they must go straight inside and lock the door behind them.
No 22
Once indoors, Toadie and Aaron immediately start rifling through cupboards to locate possible hazardous substances to use against Eden!
TOADIE: Bug spray or oven cleaner?
AARON: Both.
TERESE: Neither. No - neither! You can't do this.
TOADIE: I can't just sit here and do nothing.
TERESE: Babe, Special Ops are on their way. They can handle it.
TOADIE: He's just had surgery!
AARON: We can take him out.
Leo is appalled when he realises Toadie and Aaron are planning to sneak into No 28. Toadie's critical of what Andrew told them - that it's 'apparently too risky' for the police to go in.
TERESE: If it's too risky for them, it's too risky for you! (to Leo) Oh my god, could you please talk them out of this?!
LEO (to Aaron): Your daughter has already lost one dad this week. You owe it to Isla to stay safe.
AARON: ...
TOADIE: I can do it myself.
TERESE: No. No, no, no. No, Toadie, no!
TOADIE: Yeah. I know every inch of that place. I know every creaking floorboard. He won't hear me coming.
TERESE: Why are you trying to be the hero here? Think about *your* children!
TOADIE: My children would want me to help!
Aaron passes Toadie a wrench. Armed with this and the bug spray (or oven cleaner, it isn't clear which), Toadie rushes into the garden and climbs over the outer wall...
No 28
Melanie is now secured to the chair with the duct tape. She sees Toadie creeping into the room via the hallway, and silently mouths to him that Eden has a knife. Eden is still looking out of the front window, and hasn't seen Toadie.
ANDREW (loudspeaker): You're gonna need to tell me what's going on in there.
Toadie creeps up to Eden till he's right behind him, then says 'hey' - and when Eden turns around, squirts him in the face with the spray! Eden yells out in pain. At which point Toadie leaps on top of him, pinning him to the floor, and hollers for police assistance.
TOADIE (yelling): He's down!
Andrew and two colleagues rush into the house and apprehend Eden, who's still clutching his face in agony.
ANDREW (to Toadie): Not a smart move, mate.
TOADIE: It worked, didn't it?
Toadie checks on Melanie, asking if she's okay. Tearfully, she replies that she is now.
TOADIE: Oh my gosh, you're bleeding.
MELANIE: It doesn't matter. You saved me.
Toadie hugs her as she sobs.
TOADIE: Hey, it's okay. It's alright. You're safe now.
Penthouse
Paul comes out of the elevator into the penthouse, and is quietly livid to find Krista there.
KRISTA: Leo told me the police caught Eden. I hope they lock him up for good.
PAUL: To save your skin.
KRISTA: Actually, I was thinking of the baby.
PAUL: Oh, yeah. Another life ruined because of your stupid choices. Not even born yet.
KRISTA: ... I know what you think of me.
Paul walks right up to her, glaring.
PAUL: If you hadn't come into our lives, my son wouldn't be dead.
Krista struggles to maintain her composure.
No 28
Terese, Karl and Holly have joined Toadie, Melanie and Andrew in the house. Karl has examined Melanie's arm and says she's lucky - it won't need stitches. Melanie calls Toadie her 'guardian angel' but Terese is still annoyed that he risked his own safety, saying he was very lucky not to be hurt too.
TOADIE: Was it luck? I was gonna say skill.
MELANIE: Well, whatever you want to call it, I am very thankful. You really saved the day.
TOADIE: Nah, I just did what anybody else would've.
ANDREW: Anyone else would've taken orders. Now there's a lot of explaining to do.
Toadie sheepishly apologises to Andrew, who then leaves.
HOLLY: Well, I say you're a hero.
MELANIE: And I will second that. Third, fourth and fifth it, too.
Keen to call time on the love- in, Terese suggests she and Toadie get back to the kids - as they're pretty shaken having heard what happened, apparently, having been to the movies after school. Karl says he'll walk them out, as he has to head back to the hospital for a night shift. Karl asks Mel if she'd prefer him to stay; but she insists she'll be okay now that Eden's locked up, and Holly's here.
No 22
Toadie comes downstairs, and reports to Terese that the kids are finally getting off to sleep.
TOADIE: As careful as we were telling Hugo, he still knows that whatever went down was pretty scary. And Nell - well, she just wishes that she was here.
Terese suggests Toadie join her on the couch, but he admits he's still worried about Melanie, with Karl having gone back to work, and says he wouldn't mind just checking on her.
TERESE: Uh, Holly's there.
TOADIE: Yeah, and she's probably fine. But you know what she's like; she always puts on a brave face. I'd feel better if I could double- check.
TERESE (strained): Of course.
Toadie promises not to be long. Terese's smile fades as he leaves.
No 28
Holly is in her work uniform, as the hotel has asked her to cover a shift - but when she comes into the living area and accidentally startles Melanie, she offers to stay at home instead. But Mel is still being brave, and insists Holly should go to work, adding that she's heading to bed soon anyway. Holly is hesitant, but Mel insists, promising to call if she gets worried.
Once Holly's gone, Mel puts the door on the chain immediately, and puts the duct tape away! But a silhouette appears at the door and starts banging on it, terrifying her.
TOADIE (shouting): Mel, it's me. Just checking in.
Mel opens the door frantically and hugs Toadie, sobbing, saying she thought he was Eden. Toadie reassures her, saying she's fine, and has just been through a very traumatic event. He encourages her to take a seat and some deep breaths. Eventually she calms down, but...
MELANIE: Can you stay? Just for a bit?
TOADIE: ... Uh, yeah. Sure. Whatever you need.
Lassiter's Hotel
Leo arrives at Krista's room, and they share a hug after an exhausting day. Krista apologises, saying the last thing Leo needed was to be caught up in her drama.
LEO: Well, your drama is my drama. And it actually kind of helped take my mind off David for a little bit there, so...
He notices Krista's bag on the bed, and asks if she's staying here rather than the penthouse. She claims she just needs her own space.
LEO: What did Dad say?
KRISTA: Nothing. It's just the usual tension.
LEO: I'll have a word to him.
KRISTA: Please don't. I really wanna put all of that on hold.
Leo agrees, and Krista asks him to stay the night with her.
LEO: Yeah, I want to. But I, um... have to call Mum again, and Andrew and Elle and Amy, and see if they can all make it out, so... I've just got a lot to plan.
KRISTA: I can help.
LEO: No. No, you should just rest. I'll see you in the morning, okay?
He kisses her, then leaves. Krista looks slightly worried, perhaps sensing something is off with Leo.
No 22
Terese is still on the couch, on the phone to Toadie, who's explaining that Melanie is 'not great' and that Holly and Karl have gone to work.
TOADIE: So I don't think I should leave until someone comes home.
Terese looks concerned, but simply agrees, saying he should stay 'if there's no one else'.
No 28
Toadie thanks Terese and hangs up, then looks over at Melanie who's sitting quietly on the sofa.
No 22
Terese looks peeved.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Dex asks Chelsea why she's been looking up the Robinson family tree
- Remi accuses Chelsea of having been scheming since before she even met Paul
- As they lie on adjacent sofas, Toadie tells Melanie that he missed her when she left, despite being mad
- Karl tells Melanie it's not fair to lean on Toadie; she says he didn't seem to mind
- Terese tells Melanie, 'I'm his wife, and I won't let you steal him away from me'
