Episode 3 opens with Jaz (Johanna Cosgrove) preparing for Eddie’s (Mike Minogue) arrival. Despite the impressive assortment of sex toys, things immediately turn awkward when she realizes she doesn’t have one with the girth to satisfy his needs. Not wanting to miss out on the money, she is forced to improvise.
McKenzie /Mack Leigh (Rachel Griffiths) separately meets with several of the girls to discuss the guidelines they can set for their clients. Much to their surprise, Mack practically gives them complete authority. Lolly’s (Florence Hartigan) meeting goes awry when she realizes that she’s not getting repeat customers. Lucky for Mack, Tui (Ariana Osborne) just happens to be nearby to offer just what Lolly needs to hear.
After checking her now hemorrhaged bank account, Mack realizes Lolly’s fears were just the start of her problems. It is Jules Varma (Rim Te Wiata) not only offers her some words of encouragement but financial assistance as well. While turning down her offer, Mack receives a call from Sharon (Kura Forrester), who just happens to be staring at her from across the parking lot. Mack ignores the call and rushes off to remind the girls of the upcoming Farmer’s convention, Agrifest.
Just as Mack and the girls begin strategizing for the convention, a frenzied Jaz interrupts with the news of getting a speaker stuck in Eddie’s bum. Things only get worse when Jules shows up with the news that the council is shutting them down. This leads to Mack realizing that she overlooked a local council bylaw, stating that brothels operating outside an urban center must have consenting neighbors. The prospect of closing down sends the girls into complete hysteria.
After Eddie refuses to go to the emergency room because his brother works there, Mack recruits the assistance of Cherry (Gmma-Jayde Naidoo) and Amethyst (Moana Johnson). Cherry has nursing experience while Amethyst knows a local dealer who can supply anything from MDMA to marijuana. Not wanting to miss out on the convention, Mack and the girls take extra precautions to sneak their clients in under the watchful eye of Sharon. Goldie’s (Carmel McGlone) newfound popularity doesn’t just draw the attention of the farmers but Sharon’s as well. At the same time, Lolly discovers she has more in common with Ruben (Mark Mitchinson) than she would have ever expected.
When Sharon’s frustration reaches a tipping point, she barges over to the hotel just as Mack is sending Jules to pick up the drugs from Amethyst’s dealer. Much to Sharon’s surprise, she does discover anything more than the girls in skimpy attire, debating financial alternatives. Sharon simply stomps away in frustration.
Mack is in the middle of a verbal argument with Toby (Quinn Ashton) and Noam Leigh (Angus Stevens) about a $200 pair of shoes when Jules returns. It’s a good thing to because Sharon’s persistence has paid off and a council member is now waiting at the front desk. When Tui announces the council lady as Greta (Shoshana McCallum), Jules suspects that she knows her from her cousin’s pickleball collective.
Jules’ suspicions are confirmed when she sees Greta, but she appears just as persistent as Sharon and insists on inspecting the property. After a bit of stalling, Jules learns that Greta not only normally works as a drainage inspector but has a bit of a passion for it. Although the hotel’s sewage problem provides a temporary reprieve, Greta suspects that it will require major repairs. If not tended to, there will be even more fines and stiff penalties.
Despite Eddie now being completely out of his mind on drugs, Jaz is unable to Cherry and appears to be in the middle of a panic attack, with fears of going to prison. Tui steps in with some deep breathing techniques that not only calm Jaz down but cause Eddie’s rectum to release the speaker. Greta just happens to walk in at the same time. After some confusion and awkwardness, Mack realizes that Sweethearts meets the requirements to legally declare itself as an escort agency. Doing so also allows them to surpass the consent of neighbors.
Jules and the girls waste little time celebrating the win but with the discovery of the faulty septic system, Mack is in no mood. It only makes matters worse when she realizes that Sandy (Danny Mulheron) included a clause in the lease that named the tenants responsible for repairs. This ultimately leaves her no other option but to accept Jules’ money, making her a co-owner.
The episode ends with Mack returning home to another delectable dish from Lima (Robbie Magasiva) while Tui drives to a nearby lake and falls asleep in her car.
Madam Review
I am not entirely sure what to make of the ending. I’m not sure if the intent was to establish Tui as homeless or what. From the contents of her vehicle, it sure appeared that way. Either way, I am not sure why this would be such a shocking revelation. On top of that, I am sure Mack and Jules would arrange something for her to stay at the motel. I enjoyed the episode and liked how the focus was on the girls and the business. That said, if the series continues in the fashion that it has for the past 3 episodes, they are eventually going to run out of obstacles. I’d give the episode a 5.6 out of 10.
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