Previously on Neighbours
- Sheila catches Paul using the hookup app, Ziva
- Terese decides she won't drop the charges against Paige for trashing Harold's
- When Sheila comes home unexpectedly, Naomi flings a naked Josh into the back garden
No 26
In the garden, a still starkers Josh is trying to prevent Bossy from licking his feet. Indoors, Sheila decides to go out and bring in the washing, but a panicky Naomi tells her that she'll do it instead. But Sheila ignores her and begins to walk outside. Josh rushes into the shed to hide, and watches while Sheila begins sorting the washing - but Naomi comes out and again insists she'll do it. Sheila is surprised at Naomi's sudden helpfulness, but goes inside.
Naomi tries to convince Josh to make a dash for it into the street, but he's hardly keen on that idea. Their frantic conversation is punctuated by Sheila popping her head out of the door periodically and asking if Naomi wants something to eat/drink. Naomi insists that Josh make a break for it, so he grabs the nearest item to cover his modesty - one of Sheila's garden gnomes - then makes a dash out of the yard!
Ramsay Street
Josh is running towards his house when Paige and Lauren appear outside No 32, talking about Bailey's recent success at the story slam. Josh watches, hidden behind a vehicle, as Brad appears outside No 22, and greets the ladies from across the road. Brad opens a birthday card from Piper, his and Terese's younger daughter, and smiles, before going back in the house. The coast now clear, Josh makes a dash for it, still clutching the gnome in front of his privates.
No 22
In the back garden, Imogen is bringing the rubbish out, when she runs straight into naked Josh! Amidst their surprise, he drops the gnome and it smashes, leaving him entirely exposed to Imogen (albeit not the viewer!) Imogen screams and turns away.
IMOGEN: I'm scarred for life!
The Waterhole
Paul is just finishing up a date with a woman called Penny, who's keen to meet up again. Paul doesn't really respond, but bids her goodbye. Sheila, who has been watching, comes over and asks Paul if it was a date.
PAUL: I do have female business associates, you know.
SHEILA: Oh, come on, don't play coy with me. We've been wrapped in plastic together - there's no secrets here!
PAUL: Well, if it looked like a date, and smelled like a date, then...
SHEILA: It certainly smelled like something! She was wearing ten litres of cheap perfume.
Paul admits he wasn't that interested in Penny, and says he won't be seeing her again. Sheila remarks that he won't find the next Mrs Robinson with that attitude, and accuses Paul of simply using the Ziva app for 'tawdry hook-ups'.
PAUL: Well, tawdry hook-ups are a lot better than tawdry dreams!
SHEILA: I thought I made it perfectly clear we weren't going to speak about that again.
Paul tells Sheila the app is just a means of meeting people, and slinks away to meet his next date!
Harold's Store
Terese orders a cake from Lauren for Brad's birthday - Lauren remembers that it's tomorrow, but Terese says the family is celebrating tonight. Terese seems a bit displeased that Lauren remembered when Brad's birthday was, and goes to leave after placing the order. But Lauren stops her, wanting to talk about the altercation earlier involving Amber and Imogen.
Lauren says she's troubled that Terese automatically blamed Paige for the fight, and Terese admits she was wrong. However, she draws the line when Lauren asks her to wipe the slate clean as regards her attitude to Paige, saying she's concerned that Lauren keeps overlooking Paige's faults.
LAUREN: Well come on, wouldn't you do the same thing in my position?
TERESE: I dunno. I'm too emotionally involved to know anything right now. So that's why I have to let the law handle it.
The Waterhole
Paul is on his second date, this time with a woman called Phoebe. Once she's left, Sheila remarks that Paul's behaviour is disgraceful, accusing him of only looking for one thing. Paul doesn't deny this, saying he's been upfront about it, but Sheila reminds him of how he told her he was looking for love, when they were trapped in the cool room together. Paul responds that he's enjoying himself.
He turns the tables on Sheila, telling her to stop lurking on Ziva and to contact a potential date. Reminding her of her own cool room assertion, that she wanted to move forward, he tells her that she's going to have to start taking risks in order to make it happen.
No 22
Imogen follows Josh into the garden, amused since he's told her about his fling with Naomi.
IMOGEN: Wow! The whole Cougar Town thing isn't something I'd have thought you'd do!
JOSH: Can you not say that please?
IMOGEN: What?
JOSH: Cougar! Naomi's young!
IMOGEN: Yeah, but she's a lot older than you!
JOSH: Oh, that's rich, coming from Little Miss Insane Crush on Mark Brennan.
Imogen admits her crush on Mark was insane, but remarks that Amber must have really screwed Josh up by cheating on him for him to act like this. Josh says he likes and has fun with Naomi, but Imogen's convinced it's a rebound.
JOSH: Wish I'd never told you.
IMOGEN: Well, I would've loved to see you try and come up with another excuse for that garden gnome.
Josh swears Imogen to secrecy, but she can't understand why Josh can't just be open about being with Naomi if he likes her so much. Imogen wonders aloud whether it's because he doesn't want Amber to know, so that she still might take him back. Josh denies it, and tells Imogen to stop psychoanalysing him.
JOSH: It's kind of weird that you're so invested in your brother's love-life.
IMOGEN: Okay, this is coming from the guy who thinks I have a crush on Daniel.
The twins agree a deal - they won't spend any more time thinking about each other's romantic endeavours.
IMOGEN: I've already had a *little* too much information for one day (!)
Harold's Store
Lauren is boxing up Brad's cake, and explains to Paige how Terese ordered it for Brad's birthday celebration. Paige had no idea it was Brad's birthday tomorrow, and wonders if they could organise something for him, to celebrate.
Lauren isn't keen at first, pointing out how strained things are with Terese; but when Paige expresses regret that she's never been around for her real parents' birthdays, Lauren replies that they've missed all hers too. She regrets not being there for Paige as she grew up, and this leads to a change of heart. Lauren promises to talk to Brad about involving Paige in his birthday.
No 22
In the garden, Imogen is researching university courses, while Josh looks sadly at photos of him and Amber. Terese arrives, and informs the twins of her plans for them to celebrate Brad's birthday tonight at the Waterhole, with dinner and then the cake.
TERESE: That's your cue to be excited.
But the kids are unenthusiastic, Imogen and Josh pointing out how a family dinner will highlight the weirdness between them all lately - especially that involving Paige. But Terese insists they have to go ahead with the birthday plans. Once she's gone inside, Josh asks Imogen if she thinks they should invite Paige.
IMOGEN: Do you want to suggest that to Mum?!
Josh sighs.
Harold's Store
Paige awards Brad a free birthday coffee, badgering him about why he didn't tell her earlier. Lauren sends Paige into the back on an errand, while she asks Brad if he would consider doing something with Paige for her birthday, as it would mean a lot to her. Brad agrees to see Paige for coffee after his dinner with Terese, Josh and Imogen. Lauren says the family's invited too. Brad agrees, but looks worried once Lauren goes away.
The Waterhole
Sheila asks Naomi what she thinks about online dating, admitting she's signed up with Ziva. Naomi says that while Sheila can never replace her dad with another man, there's nothing wrong with putting herself out there and looking for someone new.
NAOMI: Just promise me one thing.
SHEILA: I know. Always meet in a public place, and don't give out too much personal information.
NAOMI: No. Play it safe. I read women your age are picking up STIs like crazy these days!
SHEILA: Oh, that is the end of this conversation!
NAOMI: Just saying!
Later, the Willises are gathered at a table for Brad's birthday dinner. Imogen is whingeing about her spat with Amber over the ownership of Hermione the car, while Josh is avidly texting on his mobile. Terese thinks Imogen should try fixing things with Amber. Imogen admits Paige said the same. Josh gets a text from Naomi saying 'House to myself. Come over.' Terese tells him to put the phone away. Brad opens his present - a pair of pyjamas - while Terese asks Sheila to bring the cake over.
At the bar, Sheila lights the candles on Brad's cake, while asking Paul if he's got himself another date on Ziva. He says 'possibly', and Sheila admits she's contacted someone on the app too - 'a local gentleman who sounds very promising.'
PAUL: Good for you.
SHEILA: And if it all turns out to be an absolute disaster, I'm gonna hold you personally responsible.
PAUL: And if it doesn't, I can cut you a deal with a discount on a hotel room.
Sheila looks uncomfortable, and rushes the cake over to the Willises' table. Brad makes a wish - that next year there'll be no mobile phones at the dinner table - and blows out his candles, saying he couldn't wish for more than having his family around him on his birthday.
JOSH: But not the whole family.
Everyone looks awkward, and the kids quickly make excuses to leave, both kissing Brad on the way out. Brad kisses Terese, thanking her for organising the evening - but suddenly announces he's thinking of going down to the Men's Shed, as a bit of an extra birthday celebration, and asks her to come with him. Unsurprisingly, Terese is perplexed by this vague proposal, but oddly uses it as an excuse to leap down his throat without the slightest provocation.
TERESE: And what? Sit around with your mates? Watching you try not to talk about Paige? Honestly, I don't think I could handle that!
Terese apologises, realising she's crossed the line, but Brad says it's okay, and leaves. Terese is left alone with the uneaten cake.
The Men's Shed
Lauren and Paige have decorated the shed with fairy lights and have made Brad a cake of their own. Lauren explains to Paige the rationale behind the Shed - it's a place for the men of Erinsborough to talk and support each other. Brad comes in, and is thrilled with all the effort Lauren and Paige have gone to.
Paige has a surprise for Brad; an album of photos of her growing up, which Ethan dropped off. Lauren gets all misty-eyed, and Brad particularly likes one of Paige standing in the sea. He recounts his surfing encounter with the shark for the nine-thousandth occasion, showing her the board with the bite on it that used to hang in what is now Harold's Store.
The Waterhole
Terese is doing some paperwork, when Paul and Sheila wander over. Paul asks if Sheila's meeting her date tonight, and Sheila admits to Terese that she's signed up for the dating app.
TERESE: Oh, I think that's great!
PAUL: See?!
Paul wanders off, and Sheila admits to Terese that she's made it clear on the app that she's only interested in companionship. Terese says it could still turn into something else. Meanwhile, Sheila surmises from Terese being left alone in the bar that Terese and Brad must have had a fight. Terese admits there's been some tension due to Paige, and Sheila tells her she needs to get past her issues about Brad's daughter. Terese admits her behaviour is making things worse, and decides to go in search of Brad in the hope of fixing things.
The Men's Shed
Brad blows out the candles on the cake Paige and Lauren have made, and they wish him happy birthday. Paige admits she often dreamed of doing this sort of thing, saying that birthdays in her adoptive family were always stuffy restaurant affairs. Brad says he's glad Paige is here.
The three of them get back to talking about Brad's surfing, and are all having a good time. Terese then turns up outside the shed. Unseen, she watches them sadly, as they raise a toast to Brad's birthday.
Monday on Neighbours
- Terese interrogates Brad about why he was at the Men's Shed until so late last night
- Imogen accuses Amber and Paige of stealing Hermione, and tells them they're going down for it
- Terese once again tries to convince Matt of the importance of protecting their families