The episode opens with Steven (Sam Snedden) calling Sweethearts and booking the ‘girlfriend’ experience. McKenzie/Mack Leigh (Rachel Griffiths) wastes little time bringing him up to speed on Jaz’s (Johanna Cosgrove) and Sweetheart’s strict guidelines. Despite the success right out the gate, the next few minutes reveal that the brothel isn’t doing very well, and the girls aren’t keeping their opinions to themselves. In between the incessant complaining, Mack receives a call from Rob Leigh (Martin Henderson) that she chooses to ignore. Things only progressively get worse when Mack learns that one of her new hotel neighbors, Sharon (Kura Forrester) has filed a petition to get her shut down.
While Tui (Ariana Osborne) learns that Dion (Wesley Dowdell) has been spreading vicious rumors about the brothel, Mack reaches out to an assortment of local businesses, offering everything from the brothel’s services to advertisement opportunities. It appears she doesn’t have any success. Mack maintains the belief that once their KiwiChicks advertisement kicks off they will be a success.
Sometime later while going over financials at the hotel, Mack receives a visit from Jules Varma (Rima Te Wiata). Despite her bright outlook and being extremely supportive, Mack remains sullen and down. Matters only get worse when a call from Noam/Chomskyy Leigh (Angus Stevens) leads to an argument about him being forced to watch his disabled brother, Toby Leigh (Quinn Ashton).
Sweethearts gets its first ‘walk-in’ customer, Marcus (Hamish Parkinson) but Mack completely ruins the opportunity and the man’s experience. First, Mack refuses to let him do a traditional line-up selection, despite the girls being only yards away. In addition, she not only hassles him over his selection but after he does choose Goldie (Carmel McGlone), at her insistence, she tells him that she’s not currently available. This doesn’t do over well with the girls, especially Tui (Aariana Osborne).
Mack’s dispute with the girls is put on hold for the moment thanks to the arrival of KiwiChicks’ representative, Drew (Millen Baird). Unfortunately for Mack, this meeting doesn’t go much better when Drew insists on meeting the girls and getting his own photos, although she’s already done so. While she haggles with him over the photos, Goldie prepares for her first customer by polling her coworkers about how to know what size condom to use. Nearly as soon as Cherry (Gemma-Jayde Naidoo) offers the advice of looking at his ears, Mack storms in to deliver the news that they are no longer advertising with KiwiChicks. This doesn’t go over well with the girls but it is Tui who warns Mack that her ethical bull crap is going to run the business into the ground.
The dispute ends just as quickly as it began thanks to a text from Noam telling Mack that he’s going out and Toby isn’t his responsibility. Tui notices that in Mack’s haste, she has left Sweetheart’s main phone and texts one of the men listed as, ‘Do Not Book.’ Despite Mack’s rushing home, she arrives to find that Toby is being watched by Cassie (Katy Thomas), who claims watching Tobi isn’t a problem at all.
Goldie becomes more and more anxious as the seconds tick away until Marcus’s arrival. She completely loses her nerve and backs out altogether when he finally does show up. Mack attempts to give the client to Tui, but it is revealed at this time that Tui is servicing her own customer, Jerry (Jordan Mooney). At about the same time, Mack discovers Tui’s deception, her encounter with Jerry has gone completely awry, ultimately leading to PC Marie (Donna Brookbanks) and Vincent (Barnie Duncan) being called to the scene. Mack comes to the aid of Tui but when the matter is settled, it is Tui who is steaming mad.
Although things settle down a bit at the hotel once the cops are gone, Tui continues with her philosophical ranting. Mack promises to pay the girls for the week but this doesn’t appear to satisfy Tui and it soon becomes clear she’s in the middle of quitting. Apparently, Goldie is having doubts as well and wants to back it. Mack pleads with Tui, not so much for herself but for help with the girls.
While Tui helps Goldie overcome her fears in a very surprising way, Mack returns home to discover a surprise of her own, a delectable pecan pie from neighbor, Lima (Robbie Magasiva). He also lets her know that he is just a fence away if she ever needs anything. Now that Tui has given Goldie the confidence she needs, they continue to bond on a real level. Much to Goldie’s surprise, Tui tells her that she loves sex work. According to Tui, the bedroom is the one place where she feels complete freedom.
While enjoying her pecan pie, Mack and Drew settle on terms for Sweetheart’s advertisement. Although Mack doesn’t get the better end of the deal, she appears to be in a spirited mood. She isn’t even too harsh on Noam when he returns.
The episode ends with Sharon (Kura Forrester) calling Mack and telling her that she’s gotten the 1200 needed signatures to shut her down. Mack curses her before ending the call.
Madam Review
Not a horrible second episode. Mack and the girls overcame their first hurdle and developed a stronger bond for it. It was nice to see Tui take on a mentor role. After a mere two episodes, one of the things I have come to appreciate about the show is the deep psychology behind why the girls have chosen sex work as a career. I am sure this is merely putting a pretty bow on an ungodly ugly gift, but the psychology does make sense on some level.
I’d give this episode a 5.6 out of 10 and I’m actually looking forward to the next. I just wish the series wasn’t a weekly release because I’d like to know where it’s going. Sharon is obviously going to be a problem and Mack’s personal life is a complete mess but where to go from there?
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