Harold's Cafe
Remi and Cara are celebrating winning the Lassiter's Longest Lie- In (which is a trip to New York). They tell JJ and Dex to order whatever they want becaues they're celebrating.

Andrew comes over and asks if JJ wants to do any more boxing practice, but he says he's OK for now.

Nell rings Andrew in a panic to tell him that Hugo has been kidnapped by Slade in his car. JJ tries to tell him about the nail, but he rushes off to raise the alarm.

Waterhole
Wendy introduces Felix to Terese. He thanks her for giving him a job on the site. She gets a text from Nell about Hugo and tells them what's happened. Felix looks worried when he hears that Slade's car is involved.

A road
Slade and his mates are driving around at high speed. They are taunting poor Hugo who is shouting from the boot for him to stop.

Waterhole
Nell is beside herself with worry and Terese hugs her. Toadie is looking a bit white to say the least. Andrew explains that the police are trying to avoid a chase situation so are trying to intercept Slade.

Harold's Cafe
The Varga- Murphy's are heading off. JJ hangs back saying he has to go to the bathroom, but instead he frantically speaks to Felix saying they have to tell the cops about the tyre. Felix tells him to "cool it" as he could go back to jail. The tyre might not blow immediately anyway(!)

Waterhole
Andrew comes back to tell Toadie that the police haven't found Hugo yet, so Toadie vows to go and look on his own.

TOADIE: If you can't find him, I'm going to join the search myself.
ANDREW: Look mate, I can't allow that, OK? You said it yourself, we can't spook Slade. He might do something stupid.
TOADIE: I can't do nothing!
ANDREW: This is not a request, Toadie! I cannot have you taking things into your own hands like you did with Mel at the siege!

Nell and Terese react to this.

ANDREW: Just stay put. That's final.

He heads off.

When he's gone, Terese goes over to Toadie.

TERESE: OK, listen. I understand the fear that you're feeling. And I'm frightened too. But you need to keep your head. Now, I'm going to get some water. We're just going to let the police do their jobs.

Toadie sits down and hugs a distressed Nell.

A car park
Slade is still driving at high speed and swinging the car around.

Waterhole
Toadie, Nell and Terese are upset and worried.

Power Road
The tyre of the car finally blows out. Slade and his gang abandon the car and run off (one of them is carrying some bags)

(A few minutes later)

Aaron and Mackenzie are walking along having a chat about bereavement.

AARON: I felt like...
MACKENZIE: Like what?
AARON: I felt like David was sending me signs...like he wanted me to be surrounded by people. And I know that sounds crazy, and it's not true...
MACKENZIE: It doesn't sound crazy at all.
AARON: How long did it take you to feel normal?
MACKENZIE: After losing Hendrix?
AARON: Yeah.
MACKENZIE: I don't think I ever have. 'Normal' isn't the right word...my life will always be different now.
AARON: This isn't like when I lost my parents. It's like a part of me is gone now. Like I'm never going to be the same again.

Suddenly they see the car which is sitting there with its doors open.

MACKENZIE: That's weird.

They go over to the car.

AARON: Hello? ...Tyre's blown out.

Mackenzie examines a bag left on the back seat.

MACKENZIE: Guess the driver must have bolted.
AARON: Probably stolen.
HUGO:(from the boot) Help me!
AARON: Did you hear that?

He goes around to the boot and tries to open it, but it is locked.

AARON: Hello?
HUGO:(from the boot) Let me out!
AARON:(to Mackenzie) Quick, open the boot, quick, quick. Hello? It's alright, we're going to open the boot.

Mackenzie goes to the front of the car and presses the release button. Aaron gets the boot open and looks in.

AARON:(shocked) Hugo! Come here, buddy.

Hugo crawls out and Aaron hugs him.

AARON: It's OK, buddy, you're safe now, alright?

He and Mackenzie both hugs him.

No.22
Hugo is now home and Toadie is hugging him. Remi assures him that the bump on his head has been checked out and he'll be fine in a few days.

As Toadie and Terese show Remi out, Nell give Hugo a long hug, before heading off with him to watch TV before bed.

TOADIE: Um...thank you so much for being there for me and the kids today. I know it wasn't easy putting all that aside like you did, it means a lot.
TERESE:(awkwardly) Well, I'm glad it all worked out.
TOADIE: Look, I know it's been a pretty emotional day, but maybe we could have a chat now.
TERESE: I don't think now's the best time.
TOADIE: Please? I'm not expecting to solve everything, but at least we could start the conversation, you know? I want to make up for what I've done. Work through this together, you know, and salvage anything that I can.
TERESE: Yes, I understand. But honestly...I don't even know what *I* want.
TOADIE: Fair enough. Yeah. Well, you just take as long as you need. I can wait.

She goes to walk away and as she does, he speaks again.

TOADIE: You're it for me.

Her face changes to anger.

TERESE: Don't say that!

She turns to look at him.

TERESE: I hate it when you say that!
TOADIE: I'm sorry?
TERESE: Paul used to tell me those words all the time. But he still hurt me. So when you say it, it just makes me feel worse and not better, OK?! Just stop it.
TOADIE:(shocked) Yeah...

She stalks off upstairs.

No.26
Andrew is telling Wendy and Felix that Hugo is OK. They managed to catch Slade's mates too, although not Slade himself.

Felix looks awkward and then says he's going to get an early night ahead of his new job.

When he's gone, Wendy tells Andrew that she thinks Felix is settling in. She wonders if they could organise a "Welcome to the Street" party - to introduce him to the neighbours and help him feel part of the community. Andrew is a bit dubious, but says a low- key event would be fine.

Lassiter's Lake, the following morning
JJ and Dex are hanging out. Dex goes ahead to Harold's, and when JJ is alone, Slade approaches him.

SLADE: I know you did something to my tyre!
JJ: No idea what you're on about.
SLADE: My wheels were fine before you and that guy came around!

He approaches JJ aggressively.

SLADE: You're going to cop it!
JJ: Hey, how dumb are you?! You're really showing up here a few metres away from the police station and you kidnapped a police yesterday! You know they've got your mates, right?
SLADE: That's crap!
JJ: Why don't you go in there and ask? If you had half a brain, you'd be a thousand miles away from here by now. Not picking fights with schoolkids!
SLADE: This isn't over! I'm coming for you.

But he runs off. JJ lets out a long breath of relief.

Building Site (Eirini Rising)
Felix is at work. JJ comes up and talks to him about Hugo and they agree that all's well that ends well.

FELIX: I shouldn't have put that on you. Won't happen again.

JJ tells him about Slade backing off. JJ thanks him for his excellent advice - it's the only advice that's actually worked. Felix warns him not to get too cocky at his success - Slade will be back.

No.22
Toadie tells Hugo that he's in charge of what they do today. He wants to play a board game first.

HUGO: I wish Terese was here.
TOADIE: So do I, mate.
HUGO: She's the best at board games. Everyone else just lets me win.
TOADIE: Yeah, well, um, I'm sure Terese would love to play with you very soon. She just wants a bit of space from me right now, and I'm sorry that it's affecting you two.
HUGO: If you're sorry, why don't you fix it?
TOADIE: Because Terese isn't sure that she wants to fix it right now, but I am going to keep trying, OK? In the meantime, I can organise for you to go and visit her at the hotel any time you like.
HUGO: I'll just play with Nell.

Toadie's face falls.

TOADIE: I will just head upstairs and do some work, I guess. Just give me a call if you need anything alright?

When he's gone, Nell talks to Hugo.

NELL: I miss Terese, too.
HUGO: What's going to happen to our family?
NELL: I don't know. But we'll always be here, okay? I promise.

Building Site (Eirini Rising)
Andrew pops in to see Felix. He tells him about the "low- key" welcome party that Wendy is organising.

FELIX: Sure you want to introduce your mates to your criminal brother?
ANDREW: I don't think of you like that. You did your time, you deserve a fresh start.

Felix still doesn't look sure, but says he's happy to go with the flow.

ANDREW: You deserve a welcome. This is your home now.
FELIX: Thanks. It's really nice of you guys.

When Andrew has gone, Felix sees JJ walk by. They wave to each other. Felix looks conflicted.

A few minutes later, Felix sees a dodgy bloke walk by.

Hotel
Nell has come to see Terese at the hotel. She tells Nell that she's not ready to talk to Toadie about their relationship yet.

NELL: I hate that my family's such a mess...again! And...maybe it's my fault.
TERESE: What? What do you mean?
NELL: I gave you such a hard time in the beginning. And when Mel came back, I convinced Dad to see the best in her...
TERESE: OK, Nell, please, don't blame yourself. This is not your fault - none of it. Look, I don't know what's going to happen with me and your dad, but you're not going to get rid of me. I'm your stepmum, and I'm here for good, no matter what.

Building Site (Eirini Rising)
Felix tackles the dodgy bloke he saw - it's Slade!

Slade insists he just needs somewhere to lay low until he can make enough cash to "shoot through"

FELIX: Wait. You want cash? I might need your help with something.
SLADE: I've heard that before.
FELIX: Listen, you moron. I'm going to do a runner too. Once this is done, you don't come back and you leave JJ and Dex out of it.
SLADE: Fine. Not worth the hassle anyway.
FELIX: Good. You help me with this job, both make enough cash and we disappear.
SLADE: What's the job?
FELIX: This place.

Slade nods, then heads off.

Felix still looks conflicted.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Chelsea tells Krista that the success of the Lie- In was a fluke(!)
- Holly fancies Felix in the Waterhole
- Andrew tells Felix that a few bad decisions don't define him forever.
- Andrew tells Wendy that he wishes he had protected Felix more when they were kids.