Cleo?
I told you to do those dishes. Last night.
I'm sorry, Dad. I'll get around to it.
Get around to it?
I slept in, and I'm running late for school.
I'm meant to be meeting Rikki and Emma.
What's going on?
The dishes aren't done and Dad's going crazy.
- I'm not your slave. - Of course not. I pay you.
Yeah, but I can't be bothered anymore.
Sorry. I quit.
Hey.
Uh, we need to sort a few things out about Emma, Rikki and Cleo.
Like?
Well, they don't want to have anything to do with me anymore.
So, I don't want anything to do with them either.
Oh. Charlotte, don't you think you're overreacting a little?
No. They told me to my face.
Really? That doesn't sound like them.
You'd be surprised how mean they can be, Lewis.
I mean, they completely shut me out for no reason.
What have I done that's so bad?
- Well? - I don't know.
Yeah, exactly.
Look, they used to be friends of yours, but things have to change.
What do you mean?
If I'm not friends with them anymore, then you can't be either.
You are kidding, right?
Tell me you're kidding.
I'm just asking you to show me a little bit of loyalty.
Stay clear of them, especially Cleo.
For me?
We are so late for class. I've never been this late in my life.
What's the worst that can happen?
We could be asked to stay after school,
we could be given extra homework, anything.
Em, chill.
Hey, guys, I'm so sorry I'm late. Thank you for waiting. Can we have a talk?
Can't it wait? Class has started.
It's about this whole Charlotte thing.
- I know we agreed not to talk to her— - Cleo, do not go weak on us now.
Charlotte doesn't deserve to be our friend.
End of story.
- Lewis is still our friend. - Not if he's with her.
He's made his bed. Let him lie in it.
Cleo, Rikki's right. Sorry. We all agreed on this.
You're home. Good.
The dishes.
Oh, right.
Sure. Can I just get changed first?
Cleo, we share the chores. You should have done them this morning when I asked.
I'm sorry.
Look, I'll do them soon.
- Now, Cleo! - Okay.
I'm just getting changed first.
Lewis!
Cleo.
Look, um, I can't really talk.
You've been avoiding me all day at school.
Are you ignoring me?
Um… Well, the thing is, Charlotte's…
uh, she's uncomfortable with me talking to you.
- What? - I know, I know.
Uh, but it's only temporary.
Is that what you want, or Charlotte?
It's complicated. I gotta go. Bye-bye.
Where do you think you're going?
The dishes?
You say you're getting changed. Then you don't.
Now you're sneaking off. What's going on, Cleo?
Kim, can I talk to you for a minute?
Cleo, these dishes are your responsibility, not Kim's.
Do them!
Where are the gloves?
You don't need gloves. Just do your chores.
Neither of us are going anywhere until they're done, Cleo.
Cleo?
She is such a loser.
- Well, look who it is. - Did you tell Lewis not to talk to me?
Of course not.
If Lewis isn't talking to you, it must be because he's outgrown you.
You know Lewis.
He's too nice to say it to your face, so I'll say it for him.
The only reason he ever helped you was because he felt sorry for you.
I don't believe you.
Don't you get it?
Lewis doesn't even want to know you anymore.
Do you really think you can beat me?
Look at you.
You call yourself a mermaid.
You're pathetic.
You don't deserve this.
It was my grandmother's.
Now it's mine. Just like it always should have been.
All fixed.
I don't get it. Cleo just gave you this?
Hmm, I was surprised, too.
That locket's very important to Cleo.
I guess she just realized it was more important to me.
Here, why don't you put it on me?
It suits me, don't you think?
Hey, you've called Lewis. Please leave me a message.
Lewis,
you really let me down.
I always thought that you were on my side and I was on yours.
I thought deep down that you…
um…
still cared for me.
I guess I was wrong.
- It's late. Are we nearly done? - Just one more question.
That'll be Ash.
Hello?
Oh! Hi, Mr. Sertori.
Here?
No, Cleo's not here.
No, she's not with Rikki either. Rikki's with me.
Okay, I'll make a few calls and let you know if we find anything.
- What's going on? - It's Cleo. She's missing.
Oh, I hoped it was Cleo.
She's not back?
No.
We've looked everywhere. We've asked everyone we know.
- No one's seen her. - She's never stayed out this long.
Where would she be?
I've called Lewis. He's not answering.
I wouldn't be counting on Lewis at the moment.
We haven't exactly been on speaking terms lately.
She didn't say anything to you?
I know she tells you two everything.
I'm calling the police.
Where could she have gone?
Cleo?
- I'm really worried, Rikki. - Yeah. I was sure we could find her.
It's like she doesn't want to talk to us.
Look, I know I've been against this,
but there is one person she wanted to talk to.
Any luck? - No.
It's weird. I'm sure I had my phone on me yesterday.
So, you haven't spoken to Cleo today?
No.
- What was that for? - No reason.
- I'll get us some juices. - Yeah?
My treat.
Lewis, you really let me down.
I always thought that you were on my side and I was on yours.
I thought deep down that you…
Um…
- What's up? - It's Cleo. She's missing.
Lewis?
She didn't come home last night, and if you know Cleo,
you know that's really unusual.
Emma and Rikki have looked everywhere for her.
You're the only one who could help, Max.
Me? How?
Look, I should have listened to you.
When you told me to hold on to her, I understand now.
Please, I need to find her.
- Have you got any ideas? - Oh, Lewis.
It's a big ocean out there.
She could be anywhere.
She's been finding it hard to be both a mermaid and a normal girl.
Just like Gracie.
She grew unhappy with being a mermaid.
It's not easy to find a balance between the two worlds.
For some, it's impossible.
Where did Gracie go when she didn't want
to be found?
Out near Drayton's Reef, off the north of Mako Island.
Drayton's Reef?
That's a shark breeding ground.
Yeah, but she mightn't be there.
What if she is?
She could be in trouble.
If she's weak, the sharks can sense that.
- I'd better go. - Hold on.
There you are. Uh, where are you going?
Cleo is missing. I'm going to find her.
We had an agreement.
You weren't going to talk them anymore.
Why did you steal my phone?
I found it in your bag.
I didn't steal it, I just kept it from you so that you wouldn't be distracted.
Did she really just give you that? Be honest with me.
Of course not.
I made her.
What's that supposed to mean?
It means she lost, Lewis. In more ways than one.
Don't do this, Lewis. If you leave, that's it. Understand?
You can't have it both ways, Lewis.
You're going to have to choose. It's her or me.
There really is no choice, Charlotte. I never want to see you again.
What? So you're dumping me?
Absolutely.
Why'd you come after me, Lewis?
Why do you think?
I made a big mistake.
I never should have agreed to not seeing you.
You mean everything to me.
What about Charlotte?
I broke up with her.
We broke up.
That was never going to work.
No?
No.
Took you long enough to realize.
Sometimes I'm a little slow.
But I realized that you were right.
In your message. I let you down, and I am so sorry.
I never want to do that again.
It's just us.
You and me.
If you want it.
You mean as friends?
I mean a lot more than friends.
If Cleo's still missing when the 24 hours are passed,
the police will need photos.
She looks really pretty in this one.
Hi, everyone.
Cleo!
I'm sorry for running away, Dad.
- You're safe? - Yes, I'm safe.
You can thank Lewis for that.
Thank you so much, Lewis.
It's my pleasure.
This means everything to me.
- Where did you— - Cleo, are you alright?
- Yeah, I'm fine… now. - Oh, you had us going crazy.
I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.
We're sorry, too. We should have been there for you.
Lewis, I don't know how you did it, but you're a hero.
I'm not— Yeah, actually, I am. I am a hero.
Cleo, I don't say this often enough,
but if you ever need to tell me anything, any time,
you can always talk to me.
- Alright, sweetheart? - Yes, Dad.
I mean it.
I understand, Dad.
JS