No 32
Byron is sitting on the patio, reading Vic's letter intently. Nicolette comes out to join him, in tears; she's thrilled to learn that Vic's cancer is in remission, but also very upset that he appears to have gone. Byron seems less surprised by the news, and folds his letter in half calmly.

BYRON: Have you read the whole thing?
NICOLETTE (reading): I hope you'll both forgive me for setting expectations that I can't meet. But please believe I always had yours and Byron's best interests at heart. I don't... what does that mean?
BYRON: Come on, Nic, you know what he's doing.
NICOLETTE: No, surely he hasn't pulled out of the Yorokobi deal?
BYRON: Of course he has.
NICOLETTE: Why would he do that?
BYRON: Because now he knows he's not dying, okay, and he needs the money for himself.
NICOLETTE: You are wrong!
BYRON (scoffs): He's too gutless to even tell us to our faces, so he just bailed.
NICOLETTE: He wouldn't do that to us.

She goes to call Vic, but his phone's not even ringing.

BYRON: Come on, Nic. He's gone.

The Waterhole
Terese and Toadie are looking at the food menu.

TERESE: I might go for the swordfish!
TOADIE: Oh, you are too cute.

They're inches away from more pashing, but we pan out to see that Andrew and Wendy are also at the table.

ANDREW: Oh, looks like someone got up on the right side of the bed.
TOADIE: I could've stayed there all day.
TERESE: Oh, stop it.
WENDY (exhausted): Yeah, well, I should be in bed too... oh, no, no, not for this reason.

Leo comes in, looking chipper, and reports to them that things have been on the up business- wise since Dr Bowman got charged with the poisonings, and with Vic deciding to buy into the vineyard; while Wendy reports that his gin is selling well in the Waterhole again. They all congratulate him. As Leo takes some stock into the storeroom, Jane appears and mentions the investment too, telling him about the celebration breakfast.

LEO: Yeah, I think we're gonna create something pretty special.

Jane gets a phone call, so Leo leaves her to it. It's Mike, and Jane looks conflicted, before eventually declining the call. She then goes over to join Wendy, Andrew, Terese and Toadie. Jane explains to Terese that she's had an idea about the 'errant teen situation' at Eirini Rising, and wants to run it past her and Susan at a meeting later. Elaborating, Jane suggests the students could meet the residents they stole from.

ANDREW: Oh, like a victim/offender mediation?
JANE: Yeah. But less structured, more casual.
TERESE: I mean, look, the plan was always to have integrated activities between the residents and the students. But I don't know - I mean, is it too soon? Should we wait for the dust to settle?
ANDREW: Well, it could be good for them to interact in a positive way. Can't hurt.

Terese suggests Jane prepare a plan, then they can meet up to discuss it later.

Lassiter's Park
Remi and Cara are ordering juices from Melanie at the Drinks Divas van. When Logan appears, Remi greets him as if they're acquainted - then when he doesn't react, asks if they've met. Logan says not, but Remi is convinced they know one another from somewhere.

LOGAN: I actually get that a lot. I think I've just got one of those faces.
REMI: Oh. That's weird - I'm really, really good at remembering people.

But Logan says he's only been in town a couple of days, having lived up the coast before that. Remi seems to accept this, but Logan looks worried as she walks off.

Eirini Rising
In the office, Toadie is sniffing around Terese while she's working, asking when she plans to finish tonight. Toadie says he'll have dinner ready for her, and they start pashing again, just as Susan and Karl come in. We hear that the residents' representative election is tomorrow, and Moira Tohu has been giving Karl an earful about stolen pot plants as part of her campaign.

A familiar face appears at the office entrance - Sky Mangel, Harold's granddaughter! She looks worried as she hears Terese saying that the plants can't have been stolen, as the thieves have now been apprehended. But Susan says all the residents are unnerved by it.

At this point, Sky decides to make her entrance properly, and Toadie, Karl and Susan all rush over to give her a hug. She says she's come to make an impromptu visit to Harold, but he's not in his apartment or answering his phone. Susan explains he's gone to see an exhibition at a gallery in the city, but will be back later.

Terese says Sky's more than welcome to wait, so her Ramsay Street friends get her a seat and ask her for all her news, and how Lana and the kids are doing. Sky says they're amazing.

No 24
Byron and Nicolette are showing Jane their letters from Vic. She looks disappointed but not surprised.

NICOLETTE: He did leave us both 20 grand.
BYRON: Oh, because that makes everything fine (!)
NICOLETTE: That's not nothing.
BYRON: Stop protecting him, Nic. He's the one that went on about family legacy. And he goes and does this - I mean, what a joke.
NICOLETTE: Mum, you know he had every intention of buying into the vineyard.
JANE: Your father likes to promise the world, and then cuts and runs when it all gets too hard.
NICOLETTE (tearful): But why would this be too hard for him? He must know that we don't care about the money! And him being in remission is really great news, so why wouldn't he want to share that with us?
JANE: I don't know. I should never have allowed him to get close to us again. I am so, so sorry.
BYRON: Mum, don't, okay? This is all on Vic. He's the one that screwed us over.

Eirini Rising
Sky is still chatting to the gang. Susan can't believe that Sky's daughter Kerry is now in Year 12. Karl asks if Sky's still enjoying her police work; she replies that it's certainly never boring. Toadie has to leave, but suggests to Sky that they could catch up later if she has time. She says she'd like to and will be around for a day or two. Toadie leaves.

SKY: Hey, guys, I feel I need to be honest. I'm not really here on a random visit - I'm worried about Grandad (...) He told me his tuba was stolen, and belongings had gone missing - not to mention the credit card fraud. I'm sorry, that's really concerning.
SUSAN: Sky, I can assure you that we have got it under control. They've caught the culprits and the police are dealing with them.
TERESE: You really don't have anything to worry about.
SKY: Oh, I'm not sure that's true. Especially as you were talking about another theft just as I turned up.
TERESE: Oh, we don't know what happened there. It could be nothing.
SKY: Could be? I'm concerned that this situation is a lot worse than you're letting on.

The Waterhole
Wendy is still tired and hungover from having been out partying the night before.

ANDREW: The old grey mare isn't what she used to be, eh?
WENDY (scoffs): Are you calling me old?!
ANDREW: ... Oh, no, no. I meant, all the other kids at uni - they wouldn't be hungover. They'd be out roller- skating, rock- climbing... I just think it's great that they invited you into their group. It means they're not ageist, or, umm...

Wendy is not amused, but Aaron saves Andrew from digging himself even deeper into the hole he's in by bringing him a bourbon and Coke. Wendy looks at him askance.

ANDREW: What? It's my day off! You sure you don't want one?

He holds it under her nose, but this is the last straw for Wendy and she rushes off to the toilets to vomit.

At another table, Cara is getting frustrated with her laptop. She's trying to set up a thermostat for the cool room, she explains to Andrew and Aaron, but 'the programme makes no sense'.

CARA: Half the job is computers, but the tech keeps changing. I can't keep up.
AARON: Hey, why don't you do one of those IT courses? You could probably even get Lassiter's to pay for it.
ANDREW: Yeah, I think they run those at Eden Hills Uni. You should ask Wendy when she comes back... although, yeah, maybe today's not a good idea to ask her anything serious.

Cara laughs, then looks thoughtful.

No 32
Sadie is hanging out with a dejected Byron in the garden; she can't believe Vic has done this to him.

BYRON: I thought it was gonna be different this time. No more lies. No more messing about. I fell for it - so stupid.
SADIE: You're not stupid. I mean, you just wanted to believe the best of him.
BYRON: Nic thinks it's a kneejerk reaction - that he's actually coming back.
SADIE: I guess she just wants to think the best of him, too.
BYRON: No. No, she needs to face the facts that he's the most selfish person in this world, and a complete coward.
SADIE: He left you money, though. I guess on some level, he felt bad for what he'd done.
BYRON: That's the worst part of it! We don't care about the money. He's just trying to buy us off. For him, it's... it's always been about the money. As soon as he figured out he's got more time, he's not gonna spend it on me, Nic or Leo.

Byron realises that Vic probably won't have told Leo that he's pulling out of the deal.

Lassiter's Park
Logan is lowkey flirting with Aaron as he prepares a juice for him, while Melanie laughs along. Leo turns up, still looking chipper, and gushes on about how business is going better; he's shortly on his way to meet Byron at the vineyard for their first business meeting. But Logan appears to have recognised Leo, and turns away to chop some fruit, glancing around furtively, seemingly to make sure Leo hasn't clocked him.

However, Melanie now takes the opportunity to introduce Leo to Logan. Leo doesn't appear to recognise him, and shakes his hand; Aaron says Leo's his brother- in- law, but we sense Logan already knew this. He smiles along with the conversation before going back to his fruit- chopping, seemingly keen not to prolong the introduction unnecessarily.

Eirini Rising
Karl, Susan and Terese are doing their best to reassure Sky that they're doing all they can to avoid further incidents. Terese tells Sky about the idea Jane had to arrange a get- together between the students and the residents.

SKY: I appreciate what you're trying to do here. But having the residents so close to the school, it just doesn't feel like it's working.
SUSAN: That's because it's unprecedented. It means there were always gonna be teething problems. That's all this is.

Sky looks unconvinced. Karl receives word that Moira has found her missing pot plants; they were in the shower from when she put them there to water them.

SUSAN: You see? Nothing to worry about.
SKY: Yeah, I don't know.
TERESE: Listen, if you're still unsure, why don't you come and listen to Jane's pitch? It might put your mind at rest.
KARL: Yeah. We'd hate for you to worry about Harold unnecessarily.
SKY: Okay. Yeah, sure. I'll come along.

The Waterhole
Sadie is updating Wendy and Andrew on Vic's sudden departure following news of his remission. Wendy can't understand why he wouldn't want to stay and be with his family after the news.

ANDREW: Maybe they only really mattered to him when he thought he was gonna die.
SADIE: That's what makes it so awful.
WENDY: Does Leo know? Cos we saw him earlier and he was really positive about the whole deal.
SADIE: Byron and Nic are telling him now... Are you drinking bourbon?

Andrew reiterates that it's his day off. But Wendy decides she can't be around the smell of alcohol anymore, and goes to sit with Cara instead!

SADIE: Why is Mum acting so weird?
ANDREW: I think you need to ask her that.

Cara has been looking up IT courses on the Eden University website, but when Wendy asks her what she's up to, she lies and says she was looking for manuals to fix the thermostat.

Yorokobi
Nicolette and Byron arrive at the vineyard, dreading their meeting with Leo. Nicolette suggests they could wait till tomorrow in case Vic has a change of heart, but Byron says it won't happen.

NICOLETTE: Leo's gonna be devastated.
BYRON: Which is why we need to tell him in person, as soon as possible. Treat him with the respect that Vic couldn't show us.

Leo turns up, still in chipper mode, telling him he's set up a 'really nice spot' with an 'awesome view' for their first business meeting! Byron and Nicolette follow him reluctantly...

Harold's Café
Melanie and Logan arrive with a large box of fruit, while Aaron is at the counter getting a coffee. Logan throws a lemon in Aaron's direction and coincides it with a terrible pun, 'sour you doing?', which somewhat loses its charm when he's forced to explain it. Once Aaron has gone, Melanie accuses Logan of having 'a thing' for Aaron.

MELANIE: Because lately, every time you see him, you're full of flirty bad puns.
LOGAN: Well, you have to admit, he's pretty hot.
MELANIE: Yeah, but you do know that he's not on the market, right?
LOGAN: Okay, Mel, it's just a bit of fun. We're friends.
MELANIE: Yeah, well, I really love that you are getting along so well. But don't forget that Aaron is still grieving David.
LOGAN: Oh, I'm not planning on proposing!
MELANIE: Still, take my advice. You don't want to make Aaron feel uncomfortable.
LOGAN: ... Okay. Yeah, you're right, no flirting. I'll keep it in the friend- zone.

Yorokobi
Leo can't believe what Byron and Nicolette have told him about Vic bailing on their deal and skipping town.

LEO: I just started hiring all my staff! How am I gonna pay them?!
BYRON and NICOLETTE: ...
LEO: So, what, he knows I'm desperate, so he lowballs me on his offer - and then he, what, backs out?
BYRON: Vic's always been ruthless with money. I guess he just rethought his situation here.
LEO: You know, I trusted him because we talked about creating a family legacy. Building something to leave to the girls. Why would he mess with their future like this? Isla's his granddaughter!
BYRON: He sold us all on this idea of a family business. The fact is that Victor Stone only cares about Victor Stone.
NICOLETTE: We don't know that he's definitely out yet, because we haven't talked to him.
BYRON: Are you seriously still defending him?
NICOLETTE: I'm just saying that we don't have all the facts.
BYRON: The fact that he left is everything. Look, Leo, is there any chance to keep the business afloat without Dad's money?
LEO: Honestly? No. This could actually send me bankrupt.

No 32
Nicolette is still trying to get hold of Vic on the phone, while Sadie and Byron talk about the meeting with Leo. Nic comes to join them, having had no success. Sadie tells both of them not to blame themselves for Vic's behaviour or to feel guilty. Sadie has to go to uni, but promises to see Byron later.

NICOLETTE: Thanks for taking the lead with Leo.
BYRON: No, it's all good. I guess I'm just not having as much trouble accepting Dad's behaviour.
NICOLETTE: I don't know how to feel. On the one hand, it's like... I'm happy that Dad's in remission. It means that we're not gonna lose him. And then on the other hand... how could he do this?
BYRON: It's just... it's really, really crap, Nic. And I get that you and Dad are closer, so it's probably hitting different for you.
NICOLETTE: It's not just that, though. I was kind of excited to work with you.
BYRON (laughs): Yeah. Yeah, me too, it would've been good. Well, unless one of us wins the lottery, it's not really looking that likely.
NICOLETTE: Combined 40K doesn't cut it.
BYRON: No... You know, there might be another way to get a version of what we wanted.

The Waterhole
Sky, Terese and Susan arrive for the meeting with Jane. Sky is still fretting over Eirini Rising's proximity to the school, but Susan says this is partly why the residents wanted to live there, and Terese says they've learned from their initial mistakes.

They sit down at a table, assuming Jane isn't here yet - when in fact she's at another table by the bar, looking rather drunk after two large red wines, having seemingly been drowning her sorrows over Vic's behaviour. Aaron serves her another wine, and says he's sorry this has happened. Jane empties the dregs of her last two glasses into the third, and starts drinking from it.

AARON: You know, I actually thought Vic was quite a nice guy.
JANE: Yeah. Everybody thinks that when they first meet him.

At this point, Jane spots Terese and wobbles over to tell her she needs to postpone their meeting, explaining about Vic having taken off. She doesn't even notice Sky until she suggests Jane sit down.

JANE: Oh, my... oh, my goodness me! Sky!
SKY: Hi, cous.

They share a hug. Terese begins to explain about Jane's plan to unite the Eirini residents and the school pupils, but Jane's too drunk to think about that right now. She grabs her wine glass and drags a stool over noisily, then carries on loudly complaining about Vic. Susan looks worried; Jane's drunkenness isn't helping them sell Eirini Rising to Sky!

Ramsay Street
Melanie and Logan leave No 28, discussing work plans for tomorrow. They run into Remi and Cara - Remi says she's realised where she and Logan have met before.

REMI: Medical conference, Burleigh Heads, two years ago. We talked about new cardiovascular treatments because that was your specialty area of study.
MELANIE: Why didn't you tell me that you were a doctor?
LOGAN (strained smile): Because I'm not!
REMI: No, I'm... I'm sure you were there.
LOGAN: Err... come to think of it, yes. Yes, I was at a medical conference eight years ago, but that's because I was on the catering staff. I work a lot of hospo gigs, so we could have talked then?
CARA: That makes sense!
LOGAN: I'm definitely not a doctor.
REMI: No, no... that's odd. I'm sure we talked about your specialty.
LOGAN: Nope.
CARA: Even my genius wife gets it wrong. Sometimes!

Remi and Cara go on their way. Logan shrugs, but Melanie looks a little suspicious.

The Waterhole
Jane is still drinking, and still moaning to Susan, Terese and Sky about Vic's behaviour. Susan diplomatically suggests that they should perhaps continue this another time. Jane concedes that she has been talking everyone's ear off, and Aaron seizes the opportunity to snatch her wine glass away! Jane stumbles towards the door to head home.

SUSAN: She'll be raring to go after a good night's sleep.
TERESE: Look, she's usually very reliable.
SUSAN: Yes.
SKY: Ladies, I understand you're both working very hard to create something unique at Eirini Rising. The facilities are fantastic, really (...) But the reality is, things aren't as seamless and safe as I'd like. I know you're both very competent, as is Jane. But she is clearly going through some personal issues right now.
TERESE: No, that's just a temporary situation.
SKY: Nevertheless, Grandad's wellbeing has to come first. I don't want his twilight years upset by thefts and harassment! I'm sorry, but I'm taking him back to Port Douglas.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Leo's cousin Kiri is back in town, and arrives at the vineyard with a smile
- Harold reminds Sky that they've talked about this; she understood why he wanted to come back here
- Sky tells Harold she's not convinced it's safe
- Jane, Susan, Karl and Terese meet to concoct a plan to stop Sky whisking Harold away