Previously on Neighbours
- A humiliated Terese rushes away from the Longest Lie- In after learning Toadie cheated with Melanie
- Mackenzie asks Toadie why he did it, and says he'll have to work that out before he sees Terese
- Terese moves out to the hotel, telling Toadie he can stay at No 22 until he finds somewhere else to live
- Terese tells Nell she's not ready to have the conversation with Toadie that he's hoping for
- Terese thanks Paul for organising the room at the hotel for her
- In a thawing of relations, Leo thanks Paul for recognising Krista's work
- Chelsea feels sidelined when Paul nominates Krista to do the brief for Lucy's global rollout of the Lie- In
- Chelsea decides to stop taking her contraceptive pill, before seducing Paul on the sofa
Penthouse
Paul and Chelsea are in their dressing gowns and having a pash. Paul reminds her he has a hotel to run.
CHELSEA: I thought I was helping you do that.
PAUL: Yeah, it's just, I think I should resume my full responsibilities now.
CHELSEA: I hope that's not because of a certain hotel guest?
PAUL: Terese has got nothing to do with it. I hardly see her; you know that.
CHELSEA: I hope you mean that. It was big for you to take her picture down off the shelf. Don't go backwards.
PAUL: No, I won't. And if it makes you feel any better, I told Terese that we are together.
Chelsea says it does - so much so that she instigates another pash.
Harold's Café
Haz is working, while Krista and Mackenzie are at separate tables. Mackenzie suddenly cries Haz's name, and gets up to show him something on her phone.
MACKENZIE: Harold's has just won Best Local Coffee!
She explains that it's one of the council's Small Business Awards, and Krista congratulates him, but Haz looks confused and a little alarmed.
HAZ: How? I didn't even enter this.
Mackenzie sheepishly explains that she may have entered the café into the competition on Haz's behalf, and didn't want to tell him in case nothing came of it. Haz seems a bit annoyed, claiming he'd never have thought of entering - he's only focused on making good coffee, and isn't sure he deserves an award for it. But Krista and Mackenzie both make it clear that they think he deserves it, which elicits a smile.
HAZ: Thank you.
Mackenzie hugs him excitedly - but over her shoulder, Haz still looks concerned.
Lassiter's Lake
Terese is hanging out at the rotunda when Paul turns up to give her a takeaway coffee, correctly predicting that she wouldn't have slept well on her first night away from home. He tells her it'll be better tonight, and that she can stay for as long as she needs. She thanks him for letting her stay.
TERESE: I just don't know what I'm gonna do about Toadie. He betrayed me - only to turn around and say he wants me back. How does that make sense? And how do I believe him?
PAUL: Alright, forget about what Toadie wants for a moment. What do you want?
Harold's Café
Haz is looking at his 'Best Local Coffee' certificate. Krista's surprised the council moved that fast, but he explains it's a homemade one by Mackenzie, as a placeholder until his real one arrives. Krista seems surprised he hasn't hung it up yet so everyone can see it - but Haz still seems a bit unkeen on the whole thing. He says he'll put it up later, but at the moment it still feels a bit weird.
KRISTA: I know the ickiness of self- promotion. But you deserve this - you should own it.
She shows the certificate to Nicolette and Aaron as they come in. Aaron congratulates Haz.
NICOLETTE: Seriously? So first the Lie- In and now this? What else am I gonna be second best at?!
They all laugh, as Chelsea comes through the door looking at her phone. She is using an app which allows you to 'track your ovulation cycle for conceiving', seemingly further confirming her plan to get pregnant. Chelsea asks the others if they've seen Paul; Nicolette confirms she saw him at the lake with Terese on her way here. Chelsea looks worried.
Lassiter's Complex
Mackenzie and Toadie are walking and talking; Toadie tells her that Terese is still giving him the silent treatment, and that he doesn't blame her.
TOADIE: I'm just so disappointed in myself. After everything that happened with Andrea and Sonya, I just... I promised I would never be that person again. But, I mean, is that who I am? When the going gets tough, I go back to my ex?
Mack says it's good he's acknowledging the problem; now he just has to make sure it doesn't happen again.
TOADIE: I'm really sorry.
MACKENZIE: I know. You made a mistake, and I can't stand here and tell you that everything's gonna be okay. But you're owning up to it, and that takes courage. It's a start.
Toadie then gets a text message from Terese.
TOADIE: She's ready to talk.
Lassiter's Hotel
Chelsea comes into the office and makes a point of telling Paul that she's heard he was just with Terese, which is odd as he said he was keeping his distance.
PAUL: I happened to see her. I was being a friend.
Which of course explains why he'd already bought her a coffee when he ran into her - but Chelsea doesn't know that part! Krista turns up, and Paul tells her he has another project for her - preparing the quarterly performance reports. Krista is keen, so Paul says he'll email her the details. Chelsea looks annoyed, and Krista leaves.
CHELSEA: Seems like she's still playing into your game.
PAUL: There's no game. No, I'm just... I believe in rewarding people for good work.
CHELSEA: And who gets to reward you?
She sits on his desk flirtatiously, and closes his laptop, then tells him she has an idea, before getting up close and personal again...
No 22
Terese is out on the patio when Toadie arrives. He thanks her for agreeing to talk. He's about to approach her but she makes it clear she isn't ready for that.
TOADIE: You're probably thinking that I'm not the man that you married. And you'd be right. That man would never betray you the way that I have. I've been racking my brain trying to work out why I... did what I did. And all I come back to is that, umm, obviously I still had some unresolved feelings about Melanie.
TERESE (laughs): I mean... god, what, do you still love her?
TOADIE: ... I think that there is a version of her that I do still love, in my head, that is just... it's a fantasy. It doesn't exist anymore. And as for why I acted on that, uh... I was feeling insecure about you and Paul. You just kept running to him, and I was terrified that you were getting too close.
TERESE: I was helping him through his grief. And he was supporting me because my grief for Josh was flooding back.
TOADIE: I'm so s- ... I have resolved those feelings now.
TERESE: Well, how can you be so sure?
TOADIE: All you have is my word.
Lassiter's Hotel
Paul and Chelsea are at the hotel sauna; Paul is getting dressed, while Chelsea lolls around in a towel.
PAUL: Well, that was fun. And unexpected.
CHELSEA: I did warn you.
Paul says he'd better get on, as he has things to do this afternoon. Chelsea asks if he's seeing Terese again.
PAUL: I thought I reassured you?
CHELSEA: It's just... you've always had a connection, and... now her marriage is on the line and she's living two floors below us...
PAUL: Terese will always be part of my life. I wouldn't be so opportunistic as to make a play for her now.
CHELSEA: So I'm clear - that's more reassurance?
Paul takes Chelsea's hands, and tells her that when they're together, he isn't thinking about the past or the future - he's just enjoying having fun with her right here in the moment.
CHELSEA: That's all this is? Fun?
PAUL: Don't underestimate it. Fun is what you're best at, hmm? I certainly needed a good dose of that lately. So let's just keep doing what we're doing, and live in the moment, yeah?
He kisses her and leaves. Chelsea looks worried.
No 22
Toadie suggests to Terese that they could try counselling again, but she doesn't seem convinced they could learn anything they don't know already.
TERESE: We've already identified that the only reason you and Melanie broke up were because of events that were out of your control. Maybe deep down, there's a part of you that just wants to turn back the clock, so you can be with her.
TOADIE: You can't turn back time.
TERESE: Doesn't mean you don't want to.
TOADIE: I want to be with you.
TERESE: You say that, and I'm sure you want to believe it, but it doesn't make it true. You know, or maybe you're just in love with both of us. In different ways. I mean, it's possible.
TOADIE: If you gave me another chance, I would never betray you again. I would do all the work necessary to make sure that I never hurt you.
At this point, Hugo and Nell turn up. Hugo's fallen off his skateboard, and Toadie very churlishly tells Nell off for it, saying she was meant to be watching him. Nell objects that Hugo just lost his balance, but Toadie (completely unreasonably) shouts at her that that's not good enough, eliciting a warning from Terese to calm down. Toadie then gives Hugo's grazed elbow a cursory glance, and tells him he'll be fine.
Perhaps unimpressed at his treatment of his kids, Terese decides to leave them to it. Toadie looks annoyed.
Harold's Café
Melanie is at a table looking glum, when Paul comes to join her, asking why the long face. He doesn't understand why Melanie isn't feeling 'pretty pleased' with herself right now. She shakes her head, disgusted at him.
PAUL: Come on, you knew what you wanted, and you went for it.
MELANIE: I never wanted it to come out like this. We are very different people.
PAUL: No, not from where I'm sitting. You're a fighter. I can see that now. So, what's your next move? How are you gonna fight for him?
MELANIE: I'm not. He doesn't want me.
PAUL: Rubbish. Men like Toadie don't cheat on their wives without cause. Come on, you'd be a fool to back off now.
MELANIE: I know what you're doing. We've had this conversation before. If Toadie and Terese break up, it's a win for you.
PAUL: I've never denied my feelings for Terese. And if it's meant to be, it'll happen. But only when she's ready. But you, hey- hey - this is a crucial moment in time. Don't let it pass you by.
Paul gets up and leaves. Melanie looks conflicted.
Lassiter's Hotel
Terese is in the lobby looking at Josh's plaque, when Paul comes in. He asks if she met up with Toadie; she confirms that she did, but that she didn't really get any clarity.
TERESE: Even if I could move past the betrayal, how can I know that it's me that he wants to be with? This really is the true meaning of irony!
PAUL: What do you mean?
TERESE: Well, I mean, you played a part in Melanie leaving Toadie, he's now gone back to her, and it's you that I'm confiding in!
PAUL: Yeah, except I also set you free, because I didn't want you tied up in the whole saga. You do know that my intentions were honourable, don't you?
TERESE: Yeah. I know that now. I'm glad we're friends. Despite everything.
PAUL: Yeah, me too. You know, all I ever really care about is your happiness.
TERESE (tearful): I can't even remember what happiness feels like. There's just so much noise.
Paul suggests she could consider getting away for a while - heading to Adelaide to see her daughter Piper and her boyfriend Tyler, for example. Terese admits it's been a while, recalling that Piper didn't come to her wedding to Toadie because she thought they were rushing things, so she's expecting an 'I told you so'. Paul tells her Piper loves her and will be there for her.
PAUL: You need some space from Toadie. I mean, how can you possibly make a decision for yourself if he is right there in front of you, hmm?
No 22
Toadie is looking pensive on the patio. When Nell comes in, he asks how Hugo's doing, and she replies that he's fine.
TOADIE: I'm sorry for snapping. That wasn't about you.
NELL: It's okay. How did it go with Terese?
TOADIE: Uh, yeah. Might've made some progress. It's quite hard to tell; she's keeping her cards close to her chest.
Toadie gets a text from Terese, telling him she's going to Adelaide. Nell can't see how they will work things out if she leaves. Toadie's minded to give her some space.
NELL: No, Dad, you can't let her go. Who knows how long it'll be until she comes back? You have to convince her to stay.
The Pavilion
Haz and Mackenzie are having a picnic, with fancy bread and 'all the jams', including gooseberry, which Mackenzie is sure she'll love despite it being a new one on her. But we begin the scene from the perspective of watching them at a distance from the bushes; and as if feeling a presence, Mackenzie turns around to check if someone's there.
HAZ: Are you cold?
MACKENZIE: No, I just had this really weird feeling that someone was watching us.
But she can't see anyone, so quickly shakes off the feeling. She apologises if the award nomination was too much, saying she should have considered his feelings beforehand.
HAZ: I thought we agreed that the awards were a good thing.
MACKENZIE: Yeah, but I should've checked before making such a big gesture.
HAZ: An application wouldn't have been an easy process. That took effort.
MACKENZIE: Well, it's not an effort when you're doing it for someone you lo...
She stops herself saying the word, but Haz smiles.
MACKENZIE: This is the first time I've felt this way about someone in a long time.
HAZ: Are you saying that maybe I have something in common with gooseberry jam?
MACKENZIE: You mean that sweet and slightly weird thing I just said that I loved?
HAZ: I love sweet, weird things too. In case you didn't get it, I was talking about you. That was me, saying that you're sweet and weird, as my way of saying that I love you.
MACKENZIE (simultaneous): I love you too.
They kiss.
No 22
Terese has come back to pack some clothes for her trip to Adelaide. Nell comes in and asks if she's really going. Terese says she just needs some time. But Nell shows her a letter that Toadie's written for her, that had fallen on the floor. Nell leaves Terese to read it alone, and we hear Toadie's voice as she reads the words.
TOADIE (voiceover): Remember our camping trip? The night I first kissed you? That was when I knew that you were my future. I'm going back to that spot. I'd love if you could cancel your flight and meet me there. There's so much that we need to talk about, and maybe if we can get away from all the noise, we can. I'll be waiting, with hope in my heart.
Terese looks deeply conflicted.
Harold's Café
Melanie comes in, and sees Nell looking anxious on a sofa, so goes over to join her and ask if she's okay. Nell doesn't reply.
MELANIE: You have every right to be angry at me. What I did, as you said, was beyond forgivable. But Nell... I am always gonna love you and your little brother. And I'm still here if you need to talk.
NELL: Terese has booked a flight to Adelaide. But I want her to stay; she needs to sort things out with Dad. Dad's asked her to meet him at the camping spot at Lennon's Lookout, as a last- ditch attempt to fix things. If Terese doesn't go, that could be it. We could lose her.
Melanie puts a hand on Nell's arm and says she hopes Terese makes it to the camping spot.
NELL: Do you really?
MELANIE: I do. Your dad made it clear that what happened between me and him was a mistake. If that's how he sees it... I hope him and Terese can find a way back to each other.
NELL: And you're okay with that?
MELANIE: ... It's what Toadie wants. I've accepted it.
The Waterhole
Paul is deep in thought while Krista tries to get his attention; she's keen for his feedback on the report she's prepared. He snaps out of it, and tells Krista she's done a fantastic job.
KRISTA: Thanks. Are you alright?
PAUL: Oh, I'm better than alright. You see, Terese said something that I've never heard her say before now (...) Well, it certainly felt significant. See, she's finally realised that I've always had her best interests at heart.
No 22
Terese is packing a suitcase. She reads Toadie's letter again.
Lennon's Lookout
Toadie is carefully preparing the tent for Terese's potential arrival. He has his famous red trackie bottoms on, and has Terese's matching ones ready and waiting for her.
No 22
Terese continues to read the letter, then folds it, and looks conflicted.
Lennon's Lookout
His preparations all made, Toadie stands, hands on hips, and waits for Terese to show...
Coming up on Neighbours
- Mackenzie is in the courtyard and hears Haz shout 'no!' from Harold's
- Someone has trashed the café; Mackenzie hopes it wasn't personal, but Nicolette says it looks like it was
- Melanie reminds Holly she's been warning her to stay away from Toadie for weeks
- But Holly now thinks she was wrong, and says Toadie must still have major feelings for Melanie
- At the camping spot, Toadie hears a noise behind him and smiles, turning around