No 32
Holly, Mackenzie and Haz sit around glumly, as they consider the likelihood that Leo will now lose his business and the sharehouse will be sold. Holly has come clean to them about her role in it all.

HOLLY: I'm officially the worst person in the world.
MACKENZIE and HAZ: ...
HOLLY: This is the part where you guys chime in and tell me that I'm not that bad.
MACKENZIE: Oh, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about how much I don't want to leave this place.
HOLLY: Again, all because of me. Is there anything that I haven't taken a wrecking ball to?
HAZ: Hey, it's not all on you, Hol.
MACKENZIE: But you didn't help.
HOLLY: I know. There has to be some way that I can sort this.
HAZ: Isn't that how we got here in the first place?
HOLLY: No, I mean, like, really fix it this time. I can't go back to the podcast; I need a new plan.
MACKENZIE: The plan is to find a rich person who will buy the house and let us live here.
HAZ: Krista's got bank.
MACKENZIE: Yeah, but she's our friend, and Leo's girlfriend.
HAZ: I guess it would be kind of weird living with our landlord. And who knows, maybe Leo will turn things around. It's not panic stations yet.
MACKENZIE: It's getting close.

Erinsborough Hospital
Dex is very pleased when Nell drops in for a visit, saying he's been going nuts being stuck in hospital. She's brought him a manga book to read. She's keen to know if JJ will be coming in, and looks disappointed when Dex says he was here earlier. But she's brought her sketchbook, so suggests they work on her Dex- Truction character - she wants Dex to pose for facial expressions so she can replicate them.

Dex is more than happy to oblige, offering up his 'tough guy' and 'nuclear- overload angry' expressions - then looks a little like he's falling in love...

Meanwhile, Cara and Remi are just arriving in the corridor. Cara asks when they'll be able to bring Dex home, but Remi says it's tricky - he's not acute anymore, but still not well enough yet. Cara wishes the doctors knew what the poison was so they could treat it.

When they turn the corner into reception, they find Dr Bowman, and he's reading Dex's patient file. Furious, Remi snatches it off him. He claims he just wanted to check the enzyme markers in his blood test results, as he's had a new thought about what the poison might be.

REMI (angry): You are not his doctor anymore.
DR BOWMAN: I'm aware of that.
REMI: And yet, you were still helping yourself to confidential patient information.
DR BOWMAN: I thought it was in his best interests.
REMI: Our son is off- limits. Do we understand each other?

Bowman smirks and nods.

DR BOWMAN: I just think it's a shame. We could have all been friends. Maybe good friends.

As he says this, he looks Cara up and down pointedly, and winks at her.

CARA: We're not your friends, mate.

Bowman walks off. Cara tells Remi she has to go to HR about this. Remi nods, shaken.

The Waterhole
Leo is moping, while Krista tries to encourage him to eat something. He says he won't be able to stomach it. Krista gets a message from Holly, apologising again.

LEO: She can say sorry till the cows come home, but it's not gonna change the mess that I'm in.
KRISTA: Yep, those were some pretty stupid decisions.
LEO: Yeah. You know, I almost wish it was a cop who leaked that stuff about the bottle. At least it wouldn't have been a friend stabbing me in the back.
KRISTA: It probably doesn't help, but you know she didn't mean to hurt you.
LEO: What does it matter when it doesn't change the end result?

Leo says he's spoken to Terese, who agrees that he should liquidate assets to cover the lost cashflow, including selling No 32.

LEO: I'm sorry. I know this affects you, but if I had any other cards I could play, I'd play them.
KRISTA: No, I get it. You need to free up money for the business (...) Hey, do you think Aaron might still be interested?
LEO: Without David, I doubt it.
KRISTA: Well, maybe you should check in, just in case.
LEO: Yeah. Yeah, I will.

Erinsborough Police Station
Andrew is coming in with a tray of coffees and doughnuts when Holly marches up to him.

HOLLY: You need to do something about the Crimesborough podcast.
ANDREW: Good morning, Holly (!)
HOLLY: Sorry. Hi. They're spreading misinformation, even though they know that what they're saying isn't true, and it's really damaging Leo's business.
ANDREW: And how are you across all this?
HOLLY: I'm Illegally_Blonde_07.
ANDREW: Are you serious?!
HOLLY: I wish I wasn't. It's killing me, which is why I'm here (...) But Liv Bellen is making it worse every time she puts out a new episode of her podcast (...) It's slander. Surely you can get what she's saying taken down?
ANDREW: Is she directly accusing Leo?
HOLLY: It's all 'supposedly' this and 'allegedly' that.
ANDREW: As long as she's just theorising, then she's not breaking any laws.
HOLLY: So you're not gonna do anything?
ANDREW: Holly, I can't just make up charges. I'm sorry.

He walks off, leaving Holly looking dismayed.

Erinsborough Hospital
Remi and Cara have just finished seeing Dex, but Remi wants a word with Stevie Hart before she leaves, who's at the reception desk. It appears she in some kind of position of authority within the department.

REMI: I caught Gavin Bowman helping himself to Dex's medical records.
DR HART: That's not on.
REMI: Exactly what I said.
DR HART: I'll have a word with him, and I'll make it very clear that Dex is out of bounds.
REMI: Thank you. I mean, you're probably aware, but there's context to this.

As they talk, Dr Bowman appears at a door and lingers in the background, listening but unseen by the others.

DR HART: HR told me about Karl's complaint.
REMI: Yeah, one of many complaints against Gavin, apparently. So any interaction with him feels very... personal.
CARA: We're just getting a vibe from him, and it feels off.
DR HART: Noted. Leave it with me.

Cara and Remi leave, reassured that at least now, Stevie is watching Dr Bowman too.

Lassiter's Complex
Leo finishes up a frustrating call with the real estate agent, and tells Krista...

LEO: Apparently the market's softened.

But he says that nonetheless, he doesn't have a choice but to sell No 32 now, if he wants to keep the lights on at Yorokobi until the poisoning saga blows over.

Erinsborough Hospital
JJ is hanging out with Dex in his room, when Nell comes in again. She has a finished drawing to show Dex, who explains to JJ that they've been working on the manga together.

DEX: I was her model.
JJ: You must have been desperate.
DEX: Yeah, funny. It's Dex- Truction - based on me.
JJ: So, what is he? Like, half- truck, half- suck?
DEX: You know, that's actually pretty clever for someone with your low IQ. It's 'Dex' and 'destruction' put together.
JJ: I kinda figured.
DEX: Yeah, well, there's never any guarantee of that!
NELL: If you guys want to arm- wrestle or something, I can come back another time!

But Dex asks her to stay, and she shows him her latest design.

DEX: Woah. This is really cool. I love his boots. And his hair.
JJ: This is *really* good.
NELL: It's okay.
JJ: No, Nell, I mean it - that's amazing!
DEX: I'm definitely hanging this up when I get home.

Nell smiles at the compliments, but possibly more at JJ's than Dex's!

No 32
Mackenzie, Haz and Holly are on the patio when Krista arrives. She tells them she thinks they should prepare for the worst as regards the house being sold.

MACKENZIE: I knew it. Everything was just going too well.
KRISTA: Leo said he's really sorry, but it's the only way for him to keep the business solvent.

When Krista goes back inside again, Haz suggests to the others that they perhaps should sound Krista out about buying the place. But Mackenzie's worried about Krista feeling pressured, so Haz suggests they look for somewhere new nearby instead.

Erinsborough Hospital
Remi is now at work, and is accosted in the corridor by Dr Bowman, who's in a combative mood.

DR BOWMAN: Thanks for going above my head.
REMI: Just stay away from Dex.

She tries to move past him, but he blocks her.

DR BOWMAN: Why are you making this so difficult?
REMI: Let me pass.
DR BOWMAN: All because I paid you and your wife a few compliments?
REMI: They weren't compliments. They were inappropriate comments. And you've said more than that to a lot of women around here.
DR BOWMAN: You've turned this into a smear campaign.
REMI: I wasn't the one who first reported you.
DR BOWMAN: No, that was your friend and neighbour, Dr Kennedy, being your mouthpiece.
REMI: If your record was clean, none of this would be happening.
DR BOWMAN: Why do you women always look for something to be offended about so you can play the victim card?
REMI: I have a consultation. Move.

Dr Bowman smiles at her dangerously, but then goes on his way. Remi looks shaken.

No 32
Haz, Mackenzie and Holly are looking at alternative rental properties, but are struggling to find something suitable in Haz and Mack's price range. Holly apologises again for her role in their having to move, but Mackenzie reminds her that everyone makes mistakes, and Haz says they know she didn't mean any harm. Mackenzie and Haz decide to talk to Krista after all, but before they can prepare, she walks into the room.

Krista offers everyone a cuppa but Mack and Haz are too busy silently gesturing each other to delegate the role of broaching the house purchase, that they don't respond. Eventually, Mack makes her move.

MACKENZIE (awkwardly): Hey, girly pop!
KRISTA (bemused): Hey...!
MACKENZIE: So, like, you really like living in Erinsborough, don't you?
KRISTA: Yeah! Yeah, I've got Leo, and I've got you guys.
MACKENZIE: Yeah. Hmm.

Haz keeps silently gesturing, finding Mackenzie's failure to grasp the nettle amusing.

MACKENZIE: So, you don't have any plans to, like, move to America? (...)
KRISTA: No. Why?
MACKENZIE: Because, like, you have options. But it's really cool that you're living with us. Like, it is *so* cool.

Krista can clearly see there's something going on.

KRISTA: You guys don't want me living with you when we move, right?
MACKENZIE: No, we love living with you! Oh, I'm really making a mess of this.
HAZ: Okay. We were hoping that maybe you would buy this house, and save us from rental hell.

Lassiter's Complex
We cut to Krista running the idea by Leo; she could buy No 32 if her sister Reece gave her access to her trust fund, and then the other tenants wouldn't have to move and Yorokobi would get the cashflow it needs.

LEO: You can't buy the house (...) It would still be a handout.
KRISTA: Look, Leo, I know you're really proud of the fact that you've made Yorokobi what it is today. No, I get it. But at some point, everyone has to accept help in their lives.
LEO: Yeah, but you buying the house wouldn't be help. It would be charity.
KRISTA: But I wouldn't be doing it for you. I'd be doing it for my friends.
LEO: (...) We only just found our way back to each other, okay? I don't want anything to mess that up.
KRISTA: But how would it?
LEO: You bailing me out would make me feel like I always owed you something. And this isn't stubborn pride, okay? Us being equals is important to me.

Krista argues it would be a good investment for her, but Leo points out that she wouldn't even be thinking of buying a house if he didn't need a bailout.

LEO: Look, I appreciate the offer, okay? I really do. But I need to stand on my own two feet.

Erinsborough Hospital
Dex, JJ, Cara and Nell are playing cards, and Cara is winning despite the boys' attempts to cheat! Remi comes in, and Dex yawns, so she suggests they let him get some rest. Dex is disappointed, but Nell says she has to go to karate anyway. Cara notices something is amiss with Remi and asks if she's okay - but Remi doesn't want to talk about her encounter with Dr Bowman in front of the kids, so says she'll explain later.

Before JJ can leave with Nell, Cara tells him they need to have a chat about his new job.

JJ: Uh, because...?
CARA: Because I'm your mum, and I like being all up in your business.

Before she goes, Nell gives Dex the drawing of Dex- Truction, and he's thrilled with it. JJ then walks Nell to the end of the ward, unable to walk home with her because of Cara wanting a chat.

NELL: All good. Saves us from entering the no- chaperone zone.
JJ: Well, I know how much you love to follow the rules.
NELL: I prefer to think of it as being selective. And right now, I'm colouring inside the lines.
JJ: Lulling them into a false sense of security.
NELL: Your words, not mine!
JJ: Yeah, look at her. Sweet Nell Rebecchi.
NELL: That's me!

They smile at one another fondly, until eventually forced to go their separate ways.

Harold's Café
Krista comes in to update an apprehensive Haz, Mackenzie and Holly on her chat with Leo.

KRISTA: It was a big fat no. I love that man, but he's being really stubborn at the moment and it's driving me crazy.
HOLLY: It was such a good solution.
MACKENZIE: I hope we didn't cause any issues for you two?
KRISTA: No, this is bigger than me buying the house. He won't accept help from anyone - not me or my family, or even Paul.
HOLLY: (...) I can't stand this. I'm gonna fix it. I'm gonna find the poisoner myself.

Everyone looks incredulous, but Holly is deadly serious.

HOLLY: I'm not gonna stop until I solve this.

Erinsborough Hospital
Remi is telling a sympathetic Stevie Hart about her latest encounter with Dr Bowman.

REMI: I know you can't speak for HR, but... how does he still have a job?
DR HART: He's clever. Whenever he makes his sleazy remarks, or he gives his little looks, there's nobody around.
REMI: You too?
DR HART: Nothing overt, but yes.
REMI: Why is the hospital turning a blind eye?
DR HART: It's an explanation, not an excuse, but I'm still cleaning up the mess my predecessor left. But trust me - everything's being documented now, and there will be consequences. I'm endeavouring to ensure this hospital is a safe place to work. Please let me know if anything else happens.

Remi thanks her, but Stevie has more to say about Dr Bowman.

DR HART: I'm in two minds about whether to tell you this, but I think you'd want to know. When I reprimanded Gavin about Dex's chart, he filled me in on his new poison theory. And I must say, it has some merit.
REMI: You think I should listen to him?
DR HART: I would never put you in a position that you're not comfortable with, and I'm happy to act as a go- between. But his theory - it has legs. I just thought you should know.

Remi looks conflicted.

No 30
Remi is telling Cara about her conversation with Stevie. Cara is fuming that Dr Bowman accused them of a 'smear campaign'. But Remi then tells her that Dr Bowman has a credible new theory about what the poison might be.

REMI: I just can't decide whether we should explore it or not.
CARA: Seriously?
REMI: Unfortunately, yes.
CARA: After everything else that's happened?
REMI: It's his area of expertise. And if he has the answer, then this could change everything for Dex.

They both now look conflicted.

Erinsborough Police Station
Andrew is working at his desk when Leo turns up, having been summoned for an update on the case.

LEO: So, what's going on? Please tell me Shannon finally confessed.
ANDREW: No. But there has been a new development, and I wanted you to hear it from me first. There's been another poisoning.

Leo is shocked.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Nell asks Terese how to 'get out of the friend zone' with JJ; Terese is surprised she wants to go there
- Nell seemingly eyeing up JJ as he bends down to retrieve something
- Krista asks Leo what's wrong; 'literally everything', he replies
- Andrew warns Holly to leave the policing to the police
- Krista tells Shannon she doesn't need her hanging around in the complex, but Shannon isn't cooperative