Previously on Neighbours
- Aaron doesn't take too kindly to Krista telling him how special David was
- Paul feels guilty after recalling his secret meeting with Eden to discuss their respective plans for Krista
- Leo accuses Chelsea of using David's death to get close to Paul, telling her to be a gold- digger elsewhere
- Paul and Aaron tell Leo that they don't want Krista to attend David's funeral
- But the sharehouse gang rallies round to offer a rejected- feeling Krista their support
- Sadie realises she saw Eden at Lassiter's the night before David died after his hoodie is found at No 28
- Sadie convinces Katrina to source CCTV footage from that night, and sees Eden was in the lift with Paul
- As Andrew and Wendy sympathise over what David's family is going through, Sadie feels conflicted about Paul
No 26
Wendy is putting make- up on at the mirror as she chats to Sadie; they're preparing to leave for David's funeral.
WENDY: You know, I love you so much (...) I bet Aaron and Paul would give anything to say 'I love you' to David one more time.
SADIE: Are Aaron's parents coming?
WENDY: No, he's already lost them both (...) At least he's got Paul to lean on.
Wendy heads to the front door while Sadie lingers by the mirror, as if examining her conscience in it.
SADIE: Right... Paul.
Lassiter's Complex
Leo and Abigail are sitting in the courtyard. Abi is happily playing with a bit of stalk!
LEO: Hey, Abigail, so... you'll be able to say goodbye to Uncle David at the end, okay? You won't be able to see him, but he'll hear you.
ABIGAIL: Okay.
Lucy arrives outside the hotel, and Leo hurries over to greet her. Paul emerges, followed by Chelsea who's holding his suit jacket. Lucy hugs Paul.
LUCY (tearful): Paul, I'm so sorry.
Paul takes Lucy over to get Abigail, leaving Leo to say some choice words to Chelsea.
LEO: Thanks for helping Dad get ready, but... I've got it from here.
He takes Paul's jacket from her and rejoins his family.
No 24
Jane, Nicolette, Byron and Sam are getting ready for the funeral. Aaron is making handwritten amends to a printout of a speech he's drafted, entitled 'For My Boo'. Nicolette tries to get Aaron to talk to Chloe, who's on the phone, but he's too embroiled in what he's doing, and doesn't respond.
NICOLETTE (on the phone): I'm sorry, Chloe. No, he's not mad at you. Flights get cancelled, there's nothing you can do.
Nicolette says she's sent Chloe a link so she can watch the service remotely. Meanwhile, Jane tells Aaron that Isla needs his help getting dressed. Aaron says he can't; as Nicolette winds up her call to Chloe, Jane explains that Isla won't let Jane help, and keeps asking for David.
NICOLETTE: Aaron, can you try?
AARON: Nic, it's not me she wants.
Nicolette seems frustrated, but doesn't push it. Byron suggests he and Sam should try and help Isla, and they go through to the bedroom. Noting that Aaron isn't even dressed yet, Nicolette passes him his shirt.
AARON: I'm just not ready yet. Please.
NICOLETTE: Well, we don't want to be late!
JANE: They can't start without us. You just take all the time that you need.
No 32
Mackenzie joins Haz, Krista and Trevor on the balcony. Haz and Mackenzie are trying to persuade Krista that she's welcome to stay in the house while they're at the service, to keep Trevor company. Byron and Sadie emerge, and are quickly filled in on the fact that Krista has been asked by Leo not to come to the service.
SADIE: Why? David was her friend as much as any of us.
KRISTA: Well, Paul and Aaron don't want the person responsible for David's death to be at the funeral.
SADIE: Eden is the reason David died, and Paul should know that.
KRISTA: Eden wouldn't have been anywhere near us that day if it wasn't for me.
SADIE: Paul is the one who...
But Sadie realises she's about to spill the beans, and dials it down.
SADIE: Paul and David just started talking again. He doesn't get to decide who comes to the funeral.
KRISTA: Yeah, but Aaron and Leo do.
MACKENZIE: They'll come around. It's just a really emotional time.
Krista agrees, but looks unconvinced. Sadie continues to bite her tongue, clearly furious that Paul is putting the blame on Krista.
Ramsay Street
It's a rainy day in Erinsborough, as Toadie and Terese prepare to get into the car to make the journey to the cemetery. Across the road, Melanie, Karl and Holly are also preparing to make their own way to the service. Melanie stares at Toadie, and he stops and looks back, for long enough that Terese has to call his name to get his attention. He apologises, and gets into the car.
Lassiter's Complex
Aaron, Nicolette, Isla, Leo, Paul, Jane, Byron, Sam and Lucy have convened outside the hotel to head to the cemetery together.
ISLA: I want Daddy to pick me up.
But Aaron is unresponsive, even when Nicolette prompts him - so Paul picks up Isla instead, and walks away towards the car with Nicolette, who tells him that Aaron hasn't been near Isla all morning.
PAUL: I think we can cut him a little slack today, don't you think?
NICOLETTE: I'm trying, but this day means something to her as well. She needs him.
PAUL: I'll talk to him.
Chelsea is still lingering, and attempts to follow Paul towards the car. But Leo isn't having it.
LEO: Wasn't I clear enough earlier? This is close friends and family only.
CHELSEA: I'm just here to support your father.
LEO: Well, he doesn't need it. He hasn't even noticed you're here.
Lucy watches this exchange with curiosity from a distance. The various family members begin to get into the cars, but Chelsea remains where she is and doesn't attempt to follow. Having glanced back at a despondent Aaron, Paul looks guiltily at his reflection in the glass of one of the car windows before he enters. The vehicles slowly pull away.
Cemetery
Leo and Nicolette are handing orders of service to mourners as they arrive. David's coffin is nearby, with a framed photo of him on top of it - and Aaron sits alone near the front, deep in thought. Paul watches sadly as Byron and Sadie play with Isla and Abigail on the grass. As she sees Paul, Sadie looks conflicted.
In addition to the above and Lucy, most of the other Ramsay Street residents are here to pay their respects, including Mackenzie, Holly, Haz, Karl, Jane, Sam, Melanie, Terese, Toadie and Wendy.
Aaron continues to sit alone, looking distraught as he holds the sheet of paper with his speech on it. Paul places a hand on his shoulder and sits down next to him.
PAUL: Isla was asking for you. This is a confusing day for her. She needs her father.
AARON: I can't do it. I... I don't want to mess her up.
PAUL (emotional): Aaron, nobody's asking you to be strong. I mean, if you want to cry, just cry. And if you want to scream, scream. Just... let Isla do it with you.
Aaron looks over to where Isla is standing with Byron and Abi.
PAUL: You know, there are mistakes you make as a father that you can never come back from. Don't make this one yours.
AARON (crying): I don't want to do this without him.
Paul tries to comfort him as we cut to black.
Lassiter's Lake
Alone at the rotunda, Krista appears to be holding her own memorial for David. She's written 'Thank you for believing in me' on one piece of paper, and 'I'm sorry' on another. Tearfully, she folds them into origami swans and then places them on the water of the lake.
Cemetery
With everyone else now seated, Aaron takes Isla's hand and leads her to the front, then picks her up and puts her on his knee. Nicolette smiles, relieved to see him connecting with Isla again. Paul smiles too at seeing this. Leo stands up to make the first speech.
LEO: When I was eight years old, I, uh... I believed I had superpowers. And the only way I could unlock them was to jump off the roof of our house. David said the only thing I'd unlock would be a broken leg. And when he was right - because, of course, he was - somehow this little guy kept my mum and I calm all the way to the hospital. It was then that I knew that... I wasn't the twin with the superpower.
Leo begins to breaks down as he speaks, but recomposes himself.
LEO: Most of us only have room in our hearts for the ones we love. But David had room for everyone. It didn't matter who you were; he was there to help, even if you didn't know you needed it. David, I'll miss you for the rest of my life. And I wish you'd been selfish enough to save yourself, the way you saved so many others. But then you wouldn't have been my brother.
It's Aaron's turn to speak next, but it's clear he's really struggling.
AARON: I had a lot that I wanted to say. I struggled to find the words. And I still do, because I... I just can't accept that he's gone. We won't get to see all the incredible things that he still has left to do. Even if they are just the mundane kind of incredible, like helping Nicolette and I raise our daughter Isla. Growing old together. Being happy. And I know that I should be grateful that we even got to love each other at all, but... it wasn't enough. Not for any of us.
Aaron rejoins Nicolette and Isla, and the trio huddle together, Aaron and Nic holding hands. Leo then gently reminds Paul it's his turn to speak. But Paul seems to be struggling the most of all, a fact not lost on Sadie, as his voice begins cracking almost immediately when he speaks. Terese's lip trembles at the sight of Paul looking so desperate, and Toadie doesn't fail to notice.
PAUL: I didn't get to watch David grow up...
But Paul seems unable to continue beyond this, so Lucy goes to the front and stands next to him, reading the prepared speech on his behalf.
LUCY (reading Paul's words): I didn't get to watch David grow up, but learning that this gentle, intelligent man was my son has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Lately, we spent too much time apart, and I regret every minute of it. But I knew that was going to change when he called me Dad the other day.
Paul can't hold it together anymore, and begins to weep. Sadie looks deeply conflicted. Soon, we move to a slow- motion coffin procession, with Nicolette, Leo, Karl, Aaron, Paul and Toadie carrying David to his final resting place, followed by the other mourners.
The Waterhole
We move to the wake, where all of the RSRs who were at the burial are gathered. Sadie is looking very contemplative as she sits alone with a drink, and Byron comes over to join her.
SADIE: Was this your first funeral?
BYRON: No, I went to my Nan Mangel's. But she was ancient - it felt more like a farewell party. David had his whole life ahead of him. What about you?
SADIE: The only other one I went to was Hendrix's memorial. They had one here, and one in Sydney. But I didn't get to see what his family went through.
BYRON: Yeah, watching Paul break down like that was rough.
SADIE: ... Can I ask you a random question?
BYRON: Yeah, sure.
SADIE: Is it better to be kind, or honest?
BYRON: And I can only choose one?
SADIE: In this scenario, yes.
BYRON: Then... I would choose 'be kind'. What about you, what would you be?
Sadie looks over to where Aaron is sharing a hug with Mackenzie.
SADIE: I... I can't decide.
Lassiter's Complex
Paul is outside the pub looking contemplative, while Lucy is on a phone call nearby. Karl emerges from indoors with a whisky for Paul and a glass of wine for himself. Chelsea is still lurking at a distance, and begins to approach.
KARL (to Paul): Here's to the best doctor I've ever had the privilege of working with.
PAUL: To David, yeah.
Leo calls Paul back inside, as Jane wants to say a few words. Karl goes with him, while Lucy continues what sounds like a work call. But Lucy notices Chelsea lingering, and stares at her.
The Waterhole
Jane begins speaking to the mourners.
JANE: I thought it might be nice to take a moment, as the wonderful and slightly unconventional family that we are, and just reflect on a memory of David that makes us smile.
NICOLETTE: Like how he couldn't pack for a weekend trip away without making a detailed spreadsheet?
AARON: With itemised underwear.
Everyone laughs.
LEO: You know, once I walked in on David doing this crazy, crazy aerobics workout, cos he thought if he got fitter, Aaron would notice him.
AARON: Well, hey, it worked.
LEO: The only times I saw him act like a complete crazy man were over you. That's how I knew how much he liked you.
AARON: Thanks, Leo. You obviously haven't seen him off his trolley enough, though.
NICOLETTE: He was such a funny drunk. Do you remember that time that we prank- called Paul?
AARON: Yeah, that was great!
But Paul is very quiet, so Aaron approaches him, thanking him for everything he said to him earlier at the burial, and for everything he's done for them as a family.
AARON: You know, Isla and I, we're... we're lucky to have you.
Aaron hugs Paul.
PAUL: No, I'm... I'm actually the lucky one. Always have been.
AARON: Thanks, mate.
Sadie is listening to this exchange carefully, and Wendy asks her what she's thinking about.
SADIE: That sometimes, it's more important to be kind.
Paul heads outside, while Leo sends a text message.
Lassiter's Complex
Lucy is just finishing up her phone call as Paul walks past her, looking troubled.
Lassiter's Lake
Krista is still at the rotunda, watching the paper swans on the lake, when she gets a text from Leo. It says, 'I'm sorry. You should have been here today. Want to come to the wake? I've missed you.' Krista smiles.
Meanwhile, at the other side of the lake, Paul is looking into the water when Lucy appears behind him.
LUCY: Are you trying to slip away?
PAUL: Nah, I just had to get some air.
LUCY: I have seen you grieve before, okay? But this is different.
At this point, Paul sees Krista across the lake at the rotunda, and anger descends.
PAUL: What the hell does she think she's doing? (...) No. No, she does not get to mourn David. Not when she's the reason.
LUCY: The reason for what?!
PAUL (furious): It should have been her!
Paul walks back towards the courtyard, while Lucy looks worried.
Lassiter's Complex
As Paul heads back towards the pub, followed by Lucy, Chelsea emerges between them from Harold's Café. She calls out Paul's name, but he ignores her and keeps walking. Lucy stops to talk, however.
LUCY: Chelsea, is it? I'm Lucy, Paul's sister. Do you have time for a chat?
CHELSEA: Of course. Such a pleasure to meet you.
We see Holly, Haz and Mackenzie walking homewards in the foreground, no doubt to excuse their absence from tomorrow's episode when scenes at the wake continue!
LUCY: I understand that you've been a real comfort for my brother this past week.
CHELSEA: I hope so. That's why I'm here. For anything he needs.
LUCY: What he needs is time and space to grieve and heal.
CHELSEA: I understand.
LUCY: I don't think you *do* understand. Can you please back off?
The Waterhole
Melanie is doing her trademark seal- laugh as she recalls a time David got covered in orange juice, presumably during their time together as Drinks Divas. But the mood immediately turns when Krista walks in.
PAUL: Get out. (yelling) Get out!
KRISTA: I'm sorry. I thought Leo must've cleared it with you.
PAUL: You are the reason my son is dead. You should be ashamed to show your face around here!
LEO: Dad, stop.
KRISTA: No, it's fine. I'll leave. I'm really sorry.
PAUL: Oh, you're sorry? What do you think your 'sorry' is worth to Aaron, or to Isla for that matter, hey?! I mean, what could you possibly ever do to bring her father back?
KRISTA (upset): I know that I can't make up for what Eden did...
PAUL: Eden was there because of you!
KRISTA: Well, he shouldn't have known where I was.
On hearing this, Sadie puts two and two together.
PAUL: Oh, you know what? Just stop with the victim routine. We've all heard -
SADIE (screaming): Leave her alone!! You were the one with Eden the night before David died. I saw you.
Everybody looks completely shellshocked as Very Dramatic Music™ plays...
Coming up on Neighbours
- As the wake continues, a guilty Paul insists he didn't think anyone would get hurt, 'least of all David'
- Nicolette demands to know what Paul thought Eden was going to do
- Leo tells Krista it's 'so twisted', and that Paul's the reason David is gone
- Terese says that no one will suffer more from the consequences of this than Paul
- Paul looking lonely in the penthouse
- Toadie can't believe Terese is defending Paul
- At No 24, Aaron tells Paul he's no longer a part of this family
