No 24
Kiri is still looking at the dossier Nicolette has been compiling on Aaron.

KIRI: This is so wrong! You've got dates, witnesses, and emotional impact for all of Aaron's 'incidents'...
NICOLETTE: Yeah, I had to keep track of what was happening.
KIRI: Okay, five minutes ago I thought you wanted to be a family with him, and now...
NICOLETTE: Hey, I do! I really do.
KIRI: How can you say that? Are you piling this up for a custody battle?
NICOLETTE: No, it was a contingency. In case he never got out of that really dark place he was in.
KIRI: But your priority while he was *in* that dark place was, what, protecting your own self- interest, and not looking after him?
NICOLETTE: That is not how it was.
KIRI (laughs): Okay, I can't believe you thought my faith would get in between us. Any time we have a problem it's because you do something ruthless like this.

Aaron comes in, and asks them if Isla is still up. Nic thinks she is. Aaron wants to talk to Isla about 'bring your own stuffie day' at kindergarten, which Isla had seemed worried about. Nicolette agrees that Aaron should go and work his 'daddy magic'. But after he's left the room, Kiri prepares to leave the house.

KIRI: Daddy magic? That wasn't in the notes.
NICOLETTE: You have to let me explain the whole story.
KIRI: I just need some space to think.
NICOLETTE: No, babe, you can't go! (...) Are you gonna tell Aaron?
KIRI: That's what I need to think about.

Nicolette looks worried as Kiri leaves.

No 30
The next morning, Dex and JJ are getting ready for school. JJ is telling Dex about how he's been randomly added to some classmates' group chat who had never had anything to do with him before he got in trouble. They've invited him to an indie horror at the movies tonight.

DEX: Well, if it's horror you're after, I was thinking of asking you to help me with my biology assignment. I am running way behind.
JJ: Wow, an encore screening to Year 10 bio (!) Once was enough - no offence, Dex.

But at this point, Nell comes in. She too is having trouble with the biology assignment, but when she asks JJ for help, he agrees to oblige. Annoyed, Dex declines when Nell asks if he wants to join them. JJ looks a bit guilty as Nell smiles at him.

The Waterhole
Wendy is working when Quinn calls in and asks how she's doing. She admits she's freaking out about the start of her mentorship, but when she starts talking about it, Quinn drifts off, distracted. Wendy asks him what's wrong...

No 32
Sadie comes round to find a treasure trail of pink boxes, each containing a gift for her. Byron comes in and kisses her, revealing they're from him. We learn he was delayed in flying back from Queensland last night, and couldn't stop thinking about her, hence the gifts.

As they reacquaint themselves with one another, Sadie asks how the trip was. He says Queensland has been really good for Jane, who's still there relaxing with Scott and Charlene. Meanwhile, Byron himself has been concocting a plan to win back Leo's trust at the vineyard, which Sadie thinks is awesome.

BYRON: It is. You know, I could stay here and just keep telling you how much I missed you, but I feel like maybe showing you might be more fun.

They fall into a pash and (presumably) head to the bedroom.

Ramsay Street
Kiri is moaning to Cara about Nicolette's behaviour towards Aaron when Remi arrives home from a work shift. Remi asks exactly what's happened; Kiri doesn't want to go into the full detail as she knows Cara and Remi are close to Aaron, but makes it clear there's been a breach of trust. Cara says it all sounds 'pretty on brand' for Nicolette, and Kiri agrees.

KIRI: She blew up our relationship, and now she wants to blow up her relationship with Aaron.
REMI: So where does this leave you?
KIRI: Debating whether or not to tell him everything I know. It could make it worse.
REMI: (...) Does the issue directly impact Isla?
KIRI: Not right now, but it could.
REMI: I mean, for my money, I'd want to make sure the family unit is secure. Just put Isla first.

Kiri gets a message from Nicolette. She wants to talk before their meeting with Leo, but...

KIRI: I just don't want to look at her right now.

The Waterhole
Quinn is telling Wendy about his extended family having come to visit. He admits that it's 'kind of intense' when they're here, as he doesn't speak great Mandarin, so has to concentrate really hard to keep up with them. Wendy sympathises, saying that would be stressful.

QUINN: Yeah. And they ask lots of questions about the way I am. It's like they're picking up on all of our differences, and... it makes me feel like I'm being judged for being too western.
WENDY: And now you feel like you're caught between two worlds?
QUINN: Exactly. And everyone I interact with has different expectations of how I should be. I never quite meet them.
WENDY: I'm sorry, Quinn. That sounds tough.

Quinn thanks Wendy for listening, and apologises for distracting her at work with this. Wendy touches his hand and tells him not to be sorry, saying she's 'all ears'.

Erinsborough High School
Dex is taking JJ to task about how he refused to help Dex with his biology work, but then completely changed his tune when Nell asked. JJ points out that Dex could have opted to join the session with Nell, but he said no.

DEX: As if you want me there.
JJ: What?
DEX: You just want more one- on- one time with Nell. So much for our deal to just be friends with her.
JJ: Okay - dude, stop fixating on what I'm doing, and just ask Nell out.
DEX: ... Really?
JJ: Yeah. Alright, we can't keep going on like this. Just ask her out if that's what you want.
DEX: You'd be okay with that?
JJ: If she agrees, I'll be happy for you. Alright?

JJ walks off leaving Dex looking happier. But around the corner, JJ looks worried at the prospect of Dex asking Nell out...

The Waterhole
Wendy is still with Quinn when a phone call comes through from one of her staff members who's ill and can't work their shift. Wendy decides to try some of the 'casuals' to see if they can cover, but Quinn suggests that he could help out - he's done lots of bar work in the past, and it would be a good excuse to have some time out from his family. Wendy agrees, and throws him an apron.

Erinsborough High School
Dex and Nell are finishing up a science class when he goes over to her, wanting to ask her something.

DEX: I was wondering if you wanted to go somewhere with me?
NELL: ... Where?
DEX: Uh, anywhere. Wherever you want. Whenever.
NELL: What for?
DEX: Have fun. We could see a movie, or get some food? I'm up for anything.
NELL: Are you asking me out on... on a date?
DEX: Trying to.
NELL: You're an amazing person, Dex. Hanging out with you is always fun and easy. You're one of my best friends.
DEX: Same.
NELL: ... but I don't want to date you. Sorry.

Nell asks Dex if he's okay, and he says yes, but looks heartbroken as she walks away.

The Waterhole
Wendy and Quinn are working together behind the bar. He's talking about his family visiting again; they are here for a couple of weeks.

QUINN: I am glad that they're here; I know I probably made it sound like I'm not (...) They have, like, this history that I can't tap into. I dunno. Have you ever dealt with this kind of thing?
WENDY: Not really. I mean, I'm fourth- generation, and only part- Chinese. But even so, I was made to feel like some foreign entity my whole childhood.
QUINN: That sucks.
WENDY: Yeah. Used to have people always asking me, 'Excuse me, where do you come from?'
QUINN: Sometimes I get, 'How long have you been here?'
WENDY: Oh yeah, I get heaps of that too.
QUINN: Well, given you experienced all that as a kid, it must be extra disappointing that you're going through it again at uni.
WENDY: I mean, maybe that's why I feel so much pressure to do well in my mentorship (...) I keep on thinking, if I stuff up, it'll add fuel to the rumour that I was given some handout.
QUINN: Remember what you said last week - 'why not you?' You don't owe anyone anything, okay?
WENDY: Thanks, Quinn.
QUINN: Any time. And back at you.

Remi comes in, and asks Wendy if she got her text 'about the cake'. Wendy says yes, and that it's 'no stress' and would be 'my pleasure'. Remi thanks her and rushes off again.

Harold's Café
As they enter, Byron is telling Sadie about some online tutorials he's been doing on digital marketing, and she's looking at some of the work he's been doing as a result. She's impressed with an ad he's created for the vineyard using AI. He says this will enable them to simply feed in Nicolette and Kiri's ideas and convert them into promotional material, to enable them to focus on running the venue.

Haz spots Byron and enthusiastically welcomes him home - but Leo, who is on the other side of the counter, seems less enthused to see Byron. Sadie goes over to Leo, ostensibly to show him a video she thinks Abigail might like, while Byron tries to run his AI work past Haz - but Haz isn't keen to get involved, given his history with AI. Sitting down with Leo, Sadie admits there's no video after all.

SADIE: I just thought you should know that Byron's still committed to the vineyard.
LEO: Fine, as long as he stays a silent partner.
SADIE: But Byron's been doing some amazing marketing work while he's been away. You should have a look.

But Leo isn't interested, telling Sadie that nothing has changed between him and Byron.

Lassiter's Complex
Nicolette and Aaron are busy trying to reassure Isla about taking her stuffed toy, Pinky, to the 'bring your own stuffies' day at kindergarten. But Isla seems to be worried about Pinky getting lost, and wants to take her home.

Leo comes out of the café, keen to get started on his meeting with Nicolette and Kiri, who turns up from the other direction. Aaron tells the three of them to get on with the meeting, while he deals with Isla and Pinky.

AARON: Did you know that if you take Pinky to kinder, Pinky's gonna make friends with all the other stuffies? Doesn't that sound fun?
ISLA: No.

Nicolette tells Leo and Kiri that she can't leave Isla like this, but offers to send them through the marketing stuff she's done so they can get started without her. Leo agrees, but Kiri looks annoyed, perhaps because Nicolette isn't trusting Aaron to take care of Isla on his own.

The Waterhole
Quinn and Wendy are joking around at work when Sadie comes in, and she looks concerned to see them having fun together. Sadie's after a bottle of wine for her evening with Byron, and Quinn goes out the back to get one. While he's gone...

SADIE: Does he work here now or something?
WENDY: Oh, no, it's just a one- off thing for today... hey, Sade? Quick question. Have you ever felt different from your pack, like you didn't really fit in with the Aussie culture thing?
SADIE: Where is this coming from?
WENDY: Oh, I just realised that you never mentioned a time when someone or something made you feel, you know, different. But that must've happened, right?
SADIE: ... Honestly, nothing comes to mind.
WENDY: Really? ... Well, that's a good thing.

But Wendy looks a bit troubled by what Sadie's said, as Quinn returns with the wine.

No 30
JJ is regaling Nell with tales about the evolution of the human eyelid, and Nell gives him a fond, lingering glance that feels like more than enthusiasm about the subject matter! Dex arrives, and looks upset to find Nell and JJ together. JJ invites Dex to join them, but he awkwardly declines. JJ encourages him to reconsider, but a clearly troubled Dex just heads to his room. JJ looks worried.

Lassiter's Complex
Kiri and Leo are chatting about vineyard business as they leave the hotel. Remi turns up and asks Kiri if she's still okay to help with Cara's surprise party for her 40th birthday. Kiri is, and Leo volunteers to organise some wine for the occasion.

At this point, Cara herself shows up, and Remi pretends she was talking about taking Cara out to lunch today. Cara thinks this sounds good, and she and Remi head off together.

Nicolette shows up to reconvene with Kiri and Leo, apologising for having taken a while, but explaining that Isla wouldn't go to kindergarten without her. Leo tells her not to worry, as the marketing materials she sent through were 'really good'.

Nic offers to do a rollout plan and a budget too, but Leo looks a bit perplexed at this, as she's already sent him a 'strategic document' that covers those bases. Nicolette claims that she forgot she sent that, but Kiri watches her suspiciously - it seems there's something else going on. Oblivious, Leo rushes off, promising to catch up with them later.

KIRI: I'm ready to talk if you are.
NICOLETTE: I want you to know that I tried everything I could to help Aaron with his grief. And I tried to hold it together for him and for Isla... even when my own heart was breaking. And nothing I tried worked. I was at my wits' end when I started that list.
KIRI: Okay. Is there anything else you need to tell me?
NICOLETTE: A while ago, David, Aaron and I made a parenting agreement. It was a video, and I... I sent it to a lawyer, to see if it carried any weight, and if it would hold up in court.
KIRI: Nicolette!
NICOLETTE: I know, I shouldn't have done it.
KIRI: These panics are so destructive. I can't deal with that kind of chaos!
NICOLETTE: Let me call the lawyer, and cancel the report. Please! Please, give me another chance.
KIRI: Me coming back here, and us trying again, it was a big decision for me.
NICOLETTE: I know.
KIRI: Last night, I thought I would... I thought about ending things. But I talked to Remi and Cara, and they reminded me that I need to think about Isla.
NICOLETTE: How much did you tell them?
KIRI: I didn't go into detail. But it helped.
NICOLETTE: It did?
KIRI: I want to make this work - I do. But another one of your intense panics, and I'm done.
NICOLETTE: Yeah, no more. I promise. Thank you.

To prove she means it, Nicolette deletes the file she's kept of Aaron's misdemeanours, and then calls her lawyer, presumably to cancel the report she'd asked for.

No 32
Byron is chatting to Sadie as she prepares dinner for them. He admits that he gave the marketing material he prepared to Nicolette to pitch to Leo as her own (explaining why Nic didn't seem aware in the previous scene of all the documents she'd sent Leo), but hasn't heard anything back about how they've gone down, and wonders whether he should call Nic.

Sadie admits she may have put her foot in it with Leo, by telling him that Byron had been preparing marketing materials, not knowing that Nicolette would be pitching it as her own work.

SADIE: Sorry. I just... I wanted Leo to know about the great work that you were doing.
BYRON: No, it's... it's fine. I appreciate it.

Byron gets a message from Leo.

BYRON: He wants to talk, first thing. I guess we'll know where I stand soon enough.

The Waterhole
Wendy thanks Quinn for stepping in to help out, and in turn, he thanks her for letting him rant about his family, saying he can't do that with everyone.

WENDY: Our chats, they just brought up a lot of thoughts and memories for me.
QUINN: In a good way, I hope?
WENDY: Yeah, definitely. I mean, sometimes I don't feel fully in sync with my own family, because our experiences are so different.
QUINN: Yeah, you can't fully understand that stuff if you haven't felt it.
WENDY: Mm. I think they'd be surprised at some of the things they don't see.
QUINN: Like?
WENDY: Like, sometimes I play 'Kooky Wendy' to keep the peace. You know, when I'm feeling singled out?
QUINN: Yeah. You shouldn't have to grin and bear that kind of stuff.
WENDY: Yeah, I know. But sometimes it's hard to overcome people's baked- in assumptions of me.
QUINN: I see the effort that you put into being tolerant of other people. It takes real patience and grace to navigate the world like you do. And that stands out, to me.

She smiles at him for a while, but then seems to realise that a line has been crossed, and looks awkward.

WENDY: Umm, you know what? I can finish this off.
QUINN: You sure? I'm... I'm in no rush.
WENDY: No, no - you've done enough, thanks.

He hands his apron back to her, and bids her goodnight. Wendy continues to look concerned.

Coming up on Neighbours
- JJ asks Nell if something has happened between her and Dex today
- Cara tells Nicolette that she thinks what she's doing to Aaron is 'appalling'; Nic purses her lips!
- Counsellor Rhonda asks Toadie how exactly he and Terese 'worked through it'; Toadie asks why she's asking