Previously on Neighbours
- With Aaron AWOL, Leo suggests everyone keep texting and calling him to express their support
- Andrew tells Leo that Nicolette was really upset when he saw her
- Jane tells Byron that someone from the Education Department is coming to the school tomorrow
- Slade accosts JJ at school and tells him he hasn't forgotten that he dobbed on him, but Jane witnesses this
- Jane later tells Andrew, Remi and Cara that JJ was being harassed
- Cara is worried that JJ is being targeted for doing the right thing, as she was with the Linwells
- When JJ and Dex come across Slade's gang at lunchtime, Dex does a runner
- JJ stands his ground with Slade, but is violently assaulted
- Paul agrees to the Lassiter's Longest Lie- In when he discovers that Leo's in favour of it going ahead
- Krista takes great pleasure in informing Chelsea of this
- But Leo's unimpressed by Paul pandering to him, and tells him to stay away from his family
- Chelsea tells Paul it would help for her to keep abreast of things at the hotel if she had a job title
- Paul agrees to make her acting manager, saying he'll sign a contract if she has one drafted up
Lassiter's Hotel
Krista walks into the office, and is surprised to find Chelsea sitting at the manager's desk. Chelsea smugly shows Krista her contract of employment.
KRISTA: Acting manager?
CHELSEA: Paul wanted to reward the hard work I've been doing on his behalf. Responding to emails, getting back to suppliers...
KRISTA: You can't be serious. This is completely inappropriate.
CHELSEA: I've got extensive experience in hospitality. Paul saw my potential. I'm sure you will, too. That's a legal document, by the way - valid until further notice. I really hope we can work well together, don't you?
Krista puts the contract down, and walks out.
Power Road
A winded JJ is walking towards Grease Monkeys when Dex comes to find him. Dex asks what happened. JJ, though obviously in pain, pretends Slade didn't do anything, and that the gang ran off when they heard a siren. Dex wants to call somebody, but JJ tells him no. Nell then appears, and JJ whispers to Dex not to say anything.
Nell asks what's going on. JJ says he isn't feeling too well. Nell asks if they're coming to Harold's for lunch - JJ says they will, but will see her there as they 'might need to take it slow'. Nell looks a bit puzzled, but goes on her way.
DEX: What's that about?
JJ: Look, you need to keep your mouth shut, alright? Slade's gone, and it doesn't matter cos nothing happened. It's over.
DEX: He was threatening us.
JJ: Look, you need to forget about it.
DEX: Fine, whatever.
JJ still looks shaken as Dex starts walking.
Erinsborough High School
Terese and Jane are in hard hats and high- vis jackets, hanging out on the building site for the Eirini Rising development adjacent to the school. Toadie brings Terese some lunch and a coffee, then heads off again; the atmosphere between the two of them is still a little awkward.
Jane and Terese then convene and discuss the forthcoming visit of Lana Kline from the Department™. It's important the visit goes off without a hitch today, says Jane, and notes that it felt like there was something going on between Terese and Toadie.
TERESE: Well, you know, just one little thing - Melanie.
JANE: Right. You know, I'm happy to deal with this on my own. Obviously I would rather that you were here, but we could come up with a suitable excuse.
TERESE: Oh, no, no - don't be silly. I wouldn't let you do this by yourself.
JANE: Are you sure that you're in the right frame of mind to put on a good show?
TERESE: Jane, if there's one thing I've learned, it's how to stay professional when your personal life is falling spectacularly apart.
Jane looks unreassured by this!
Penthouse
Paul is showing Chelsea a slideshow of pictures on his computer that David's mum Kim has sent him, of David as a child.
PAUL: God, I wish I knew him then.
CHELSEA: He's adorable. I remember when mine were that age. There's so much potential. It's as if you can see who they're going to become. But at the same time, there's this sweet, youthful innocence.
PAUL: You know, of all my kids, David was the one who was the most driven to service. He just... he wanted to leave a productive and meaningful legacy.
CHELSEA: And he has.
Chelsea offers to reheat Paul's lunch, but he ignores this.
PAUL (upset): Maybe Isla might take after him in some way, hey? I missed so much of his life, and now I'm not gonna get the opportunity to watch him grow and mature as a father himself.
Chelsea closes the laptop gently, and suggests they get some fresh air and have lunch on the balcony. Paul tells her to go ahead; he's not hungry.
Lassiter's Complex
At a table outside the hotel, Krista is telling Leo about Paul appointing Chelsea as acting manager. Leo's surprised, as is Krista, that Paul is willingly handing over all his power to Chelsea. Leo reminds Krista that she's a partner; she doesn't have to sit back and take it. But Krista points out that pulling rank might mean involving Reece, and she doesn't want to do that.
LEO: Well, you can't let Chelsea walk all over you.
KRISTA: I won't. I just hate that she's taking advantage of his vulnerability.
LEO: I don't know how you can have any sympathy for him.
KRISTA: Sorry. I shouldn't be venting to you about your dad.
LEO: It's all good. You know you can come to me anytime you need support, right?
Krista asks Leo how his visit to his mum Kim went.
LEO: It was pretty hard. I mean, she's devastated. But for the first time since David died, I, umm... I let it all out.
KRISTA: You've been holding it together for everyone.
LEO: Yeah. I guess I needed it.
Harold's Café
Nell is complimenting Haz on his new chilli mayo as he clears her plate, along with JJ's and Dex's. He tells the boys that their toasties are on the house, as thanks for helping clean the graffiti from Melanie's van.
HAZ (to JJ): And for our fearless hero, your hot chocolate's free. My shout.
NELL: No freebies for me! As if I wouldn't have helped.
JJ offers to split the bill between them, but Nell says she was only joking, and is really glad that they helped Mel with the van. While Nell and Dex discuss a school assignment, JJ watches Haz cutting into a cake with a knife, then stares at the knife that's left on the counter top. As Nell and Dex leave, JJ hangs back and stares at the knife some more...
No 30
Cara moans to Remi that JJ isn't answering her texts. Remi points out that his phone's on the kitchen counter - he must have left it at home by accident. Seeing that Cara's panicking about him, Remi tells her to breathe; this isn't the same situation as the Linwell brothers, or even close. But Cara wants to go into school to check on the boys while they're on their lunch break.
REMI: You know what? JJ is gonna love that, his mum coming in especially. He won't be embarrassed at all (!)
CARA: What, I'm supposed to care about him being embarrassed, am I?
REMI: You know what I mean. He is a proud kid. He doesn't even like when we hug him in public, let alone in front of all of his mates.
CARA: Yeah, well, I do want to hug him, and Dex. I want to make sure they're okay.
REMI: I love you, mama bear. But you heard what Jane said - JJ is fine. The boys are safe at school; you don't need to check on them.
CARA: Yeah, maybe.
Remi suggests a compromise; that they pick the boys up together at the end of the day, so they don't have to walk home alone. Cara agrees, and they kiss.
Lassiter's Complex
Nicolette and Isla are at a table outside the pub. Isla, who is doing some colouring in, spots Uncle Leo passing and calls out to him. Leo comes over to join them. He mentions to Nicolette that Andrew noticed she was stressed out when she got the flat tyre the other day, and asks if she's okay.
NICOLETTE: David, Aaron, screw in my tyre... apparently, bad things happen in threes, so I reckon now I'll be sweet. How do you do it? You're so stoic all the time.
LEO: Believe me, I'm not. Do you guys mind if Uncle Leo hangs out this afternoon? I'm a good colourer- inner. I stay inside the lines and everything.
NICOLETTE: Oh, you don't have to do that.
LEO: It's okay. I don't have to pick up Abi for a couple of hours.
NICOLETTE: Okay, well, in that case... Isla loves a colouring buddy, and I could probably use the company too.
Toadie comes over, hoping to speak to them about their appointment to read David's will. They were booked in to do it tomorrow, but with Aaron still AWOL, Toadie isn't sure there's much point. Chelsea, who is sitting at a nearby table, is listening in with interest. Toadie tells Nic and Leo that they can postpone the reading until the family's ready; there's no rush. Toadie goes on his way, and Chelsea looks thoughtful...
Erinsborough High School
At the building site, Curtis Perkins reports to Jane and Terese that he's just found two of Slade's mates hanging around on the oval. He's warned them off and made it clear the school would call the police if they came onto the premises again. Jane thinks they're going to have to step up their diligence; but Terese is in a world of her own and not listening at all, so Jane has to wave at her to get her attention.
TERESE: Sorry. So, why is the gang here? Are they wanting to target the school?
JANE: Regardless of why they're here, we can't have them anywhere near our students.
TERESE: Well, why aren't we calling the police?
JANE: What, and have them patrolling the grounds while we're trying to prove our worth to the Department? It's not exactly the impression that I was hoping to make.
Jane asks Curtis to keep his eyes peeled; they need to ensure the gang is nowhere to be seen today. Terese's mind is wandering again, and Jane asks her again if she's certain she's up for dealing with the departmental visit, as Lana Kline will be here any minute.
TERESE: Yes. Absolutely.
Inside the school, Dex and Nell are talking about an essay and a test they have coming up, while JJ tags along behind them. He's acting a bit oddly and staring wildly at the unit of lockers by the wall. Once Nell has gone to her next lesson, Dex asks if JJ is okay. He gets his head bitten off in response.
JJ: Want do you want from me, Dex? Go. I'll see you later.
Once Dex has gone, JJ pulls something from his bag - the knife from Harold's, which it seems he's stolen. He appears to be looking for a hiding place for it behind the lockers, but is forced to improvise when Cara comes around the corner, and it's left in plain sight, protruding from a schoolbag on the top of the unit. Cara gives JJ a hug.
CARA: Mrs Harris told us about Slade. I can't believe that creep had the nerve to come onto school grounds. Are you okay?
JJ: No, yeah, Mum, I'm fine. Mrs Harris has probably just blown it way out of proportion.
CARA: No, she hasn't. Thugs like Slade, they need to be taken seriously. You hear me?
Having ensured JJ is okay, Cara tells him to head to class, promising she'll be back later to pick him up. As he follows her towards his classroom, JJ glances back at the knife, the handle of which is still visible at the top of the lockers.
Penthouse
Paul is still in his dressing gown when Chelsea comes in. She reflects that seeing all the photos of David has really thrown him, and he doesn't deny it. Chelsea suggests a warm soothing bath - she's even bought him some new 'goodies' for it - and says she'll bring him a drink and give him a shoulder message once he's ensconced. Without any particular enthusiasm, Paul gets up to do as he's told.
PAUL: Thanks... for thinking of me.
CHELSEA: I'm always thinking of you.
They kiss, and Paul goes to run the bath. But the moment he's gone, Chelsea opens his laptop and does a file search for the word 'will'. It doesn't seem to return any useful results, so she closes the laptop again and frowns thoughtfully.
Erinsborough High School
Lana Kline from the Department has arrived, and is being given a grand tour of the building site. Terese reports that their construction plans are largely on track for the agreed timeline, save a few 'minor adjustments'. Lana asks about how construction noise is affecting the school; Jane assures her that most of the noisiest work is being completed after school hours.
LANA: What about the boundary? Is there enough of a deviation between the school and the development?
JANE: I'm satisfied that the boundary is secured - securely separated. And the students are well aware of which areas are in and out of bounds.
LANA: So there's been no reports of students wandering into the restricted zones?
This question is directed at Terese, but she's deeply distracted and fiddling with her phone.
TERESE: Oh. Oh, sorry. No, not that I'm aware of.
LANA: I assume all your construction equipment has been properly secured at all times - tools, scaffolding, machinery, and so on?
Terese has dipped out again, and Jane has to prompt her! Lana repeats the question, and Terese says the equipment has definitely been secured. Jane looks unimpressed with Terese's lack of attention.
JANE: Lana, if I may, our students have adapted extremely well to this new chapter, and I'm confident that we have done everything that we can to ensure as smooth and seamless a transition as possible.
TERESE (mouthing silently to Jane): Sorry!
Lassiter's Hotel
Chelsea is prowling around the manager's office. She soon finds what she's looking for in one of the drawers - Paul's last will and testament. She glances down it; according to the will, Paul's residuary estate is to be split seven ways between Leo, David, Amy, Elle, Andrew and despite their divorce, Terese (each with 15 percent) and Harlow (the remaining 10 percent). In addition, Terese is to inherit his full investment in Lassiter's!
As Chelsea reads the will, Krista appears at the door, and loudly clears her throat. Startled, Chelsea gasps and hides the folder. She claims to be 'following up with some suppliers'.
CHELSEA: I think we can get a better deal on mattress protectors.
KRISTA: Okay...
CHELSEA: I know it's a lot for you to get your head around, me being the manager.
KRISTA: It's pretty out there.
CHELSEA: I want us to have a good working relationship, but I think boundaries are important too.
KRISTA: I agree. Boundaries are important.
CHELSEA: Good. Let's start by giving each other a bit more space... maybe knocking before entering a room? That would be greatly appreciated.
Krista is visibly suspicious, but smiles and agrees to this, then leaves. Chelsea breathes a sigh of relief.
Erinsborough High School
Following his lesson, JJ rushes back to the lockers, presumably in the hope of hiding the knife more securely before anyone sees it. But he's too late; Curtis is standing there, with the knife in his hand.
CURTIS: Get back to class, and tell your teacher we're going into lockdown. Do you understand? Now!
Curtis phones (presumably) Jane, and a worried JJ hides behind the corner to listen.
CURTIS: I'm afraid we have a situation. I found a weapon hidden on site.
No 24
Leo has accompanied Nicolette and Isla back to the house, and makes tea for them. He offers to take Isla for the night, to give Nicolette a break. Nic insists they're fine - and that Leo has enough going on without dealing with another kid.
LEO: Yeah, but didn't you take care of Abi for me when Britney died? I've never forgotten about that. Plus, I like seeing them together. They're almost twins. It... kind of reminds me of me and David.
NICOLETTE: I'm so glad they have each other.
LEO: Yeah... For what it's worth, you really don't deserve anything that you're going through right now. You're handling it a lot better than most people would.
NICOLETTE: I'm not sure I have a choice.
LEO: Well, at least Aaron will be back tomorrow.
This is news to Nicolette, and she queries it.
LEO: Oh, he, uh, finally replied to my text message earlier.
NICOLETTE (laughs bitterly): Of course. Yeah, why would he message me, the mother of his own daughter - who would do that?
LEO: I'm sorry. I didn't realise he hadn't texted you. At least we know he's coming, though.
NICOLETTE: Is he, though?
LEO: Why else would he send the message?
NICOLETTE: I'm not gonna get her hopes up. She already can't understand why both her dads aren't around. I can't bear the thought of having to try to explain things to her if he just changes his mind.
Erinsborough High School
On the building site, Curtis is giving Jane more detail about the knife, explaining that he's locked it in the cabinet in Jane's office until the police arrive to collect it.
CURTIS: I've done the right thing, haven't I?
JANE: Well, considering we've had gang members on the grounds twice, you absolutely have. You head back to the school, and keep rounding up the students.
As Curtis leaves, Terese and Lana Kline come over to Jane to find out what's going on.
Back inside the school, pupils are being ordered via the PA system to go to their homerooms immediately. JJ convenes with Nell and Dex in one of the classrooms. Nell and Dex are both panicking, having heard about Curtis finding the knife. JJ tells them not to worry, but looks at least as worried himself.
Back outside, Jane tells Lana and Terese that the knife has been secured, and the school locked down, in light of the gang having been on the premises.
LANA (to Terese): I hope you're right.
TERESE: Sorry?
LANA: About the construction equipment being secure.
TERESE: It is. I mean, of course it is.
LANA: Because it's bad enough someone's brought a knife onto the grounds. If they had access to your site and anything on it, that would be a serious security breach.
Back in the classroom...
NELL (upset): I don't like this. I want to go home.
JJ: It's gonna be okay.
DEX (upset): What if the knife is Slade's? What if he's come after us again?
NELL: What do you mean 'again'?
JJ: Dex, please.
Dex explains to Nell how Slade and his gang cornered them at lunchtime.
DEX: He wants to hurt us, I know he does.
NELL: What?!
DEX: That is totally his knife.
A worried JJ remains silent.
Coming up on Neighbours
- Aaron's back, and Nicolette asks him where he's been. 'Wow, straight to the interrogation,' he replies
- Terese tells Chelsea she's a vulture; Chelsea asks why Terese cares so much, as she's no longer Paul's wife
- Paul and Terese are standing on the balcony together
- Jane hands the knife to Andrew, who asks why Slade would leave it here; Jane says it may not have been him
- Dex tells JJ that whoever brought the knife to school is in serious trouble; JJ looks rattled
