The last we heard, Melinda and Evelyn had ditched Girls’ Night to eavesdrop on the Boys’ Night.
And the besties are proving they’ll go to any length to listen in, with Melinda and Evelyn finding themselves literally ankle deep in manure as they hide in some nearby bushes.
Perhaps stepping in manure was an omen, because things quickly turn to crap when Melinda overhears Harrison calling her relationship “toxic”.
“I just feel like here’s two people that are portraying a certain relationship and it’s really fake,” Harrison tells Layton.
Harrison continues to play fourth expert and tells Layton he is “losing his identity” and is becoming “disconnected”.
Melinda is “offended” and she and Evelyn run back to report to the girls. Of course her choice of timing means she misses Layton telling Harrison he is “wrong”.
“I came in here to find someone I can spend the rest of my life with, and I’m starting to think this is my person,” Layton continues.
When Melinda and Evelyn return to the Girls’ Night, they quiz Bronte to see if she has the same opinion as Harrison. But Bronte is sick of the girls questioning her relationship and storms off yet again.
From here a complicated trail of whispers and rumours ensues.
A frustrated Bronte tells Harrison that Melinda and Evelyn were spying on Boys’ Night.
“I think that’s really despicable behaviour and I think Layton deserves a lot better – and I personally wouldn’t put up with that,” Harrison tells cameras
“I just want to show [Layton] that he can’t trust his wife.”
When Layton learns what Melinda has done, he’s not impressed with his wife and admits he “finds it really disappointing”.
The following morning Melinda wakes up without her usual warm greeting from husband Layton.
“I feel sad because I really needed Layton’s support last night and he cares more about everyone else’ feelings,” she sobs.
And she’s even more upset that Harrison has achieved exactly what he set out to do – to drive a wedge between her and Layton.
Over in Harrison and Bronte’s quarters, Harrison tells his wife not to worry about Melinda and Layton and says that Layton told the boys he doesn’t think he’s in a healthy happy relationship.
But of course if you rewind, that’s not what was said at all and Harrison is beginning to weave his own web of lies.
In an effort to smooth things over, Bronte pulls Melinda aside for a chat and assures her that she is “not being gaslit or love bombed” by Harrison.
“Harrison and I have progressed and he is genuine,” she says.
But Melinda isn’t buying it, and reveals that many of the other brides are also questioning Harrison’s intentions.
Bronte thinks it’s a bit rich for Melinda to be nitpicking her relationship when her husband Layton “literally said he’s not happy” – according to Harrison, that is.
When Bronte relays this information, Melinda is smart enough to know that this must be Harrison’s handiwork.
“My eyes are wide awake now to just how low Harrison is prepared to go to try and bring someone else’s relationship down,” Melinda tells cameras.
Wanting to clear up the misinformation Harrison has spread, Melinda runs to Layton for support.
Just like she expects, Layton assures Melinda that he didn’t say he wasn’t happy. And while the couple don’t disagree about that matter, they do disagree about how they should handle Harrison’s meddling.
Layton thinks the “he-said-she-said roundabout” is pointless while Melinda wants Layton to call Harrison out and tell him to stay away from their relationship.
“I get the feeling Mel feels like I’m not supporting her at the moment but it’s just because I don’t like unnecessary drama,” Layton tells cameras.
But a little while later, Layton changes his tune: “Harrison definitely crossed a line when he put words in my mouth and said something that wasn’t true. Mel’s right, Harrison’s coming for us.”
Farewell Drinks
What is supposed to be a celebration of their last night at The Retreat quickly turns into a free-for-all.
Hugo thinks now is the perfect time to confront Tayla about the revelation that her ex messaged her to sext.
And when he finally works up the courage to get it off his chest, he’s shut down almost immediately.
“This is the biggest crock of s–t,” Tayla snaps back.
“I’m so angry at you for throwing me under the bus again when I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I knew he was going to put on this sad act again and that’s stemming from embarrassment and rejection and that’s not my fault,” Tayla says, ignoring the fact that she’s rejected Hugo for the entirety of the experiment.
“He drives me insane, that bloke honestly, he’s so pathetic. He’s lying,” she tells cameras.
When the other participants try to talk Tayla around, she unleashes on them too.
“I’ve had enough so everyone get get f—ed,” Tayla storms off.
Hugo isn’t the only one with a point to get across. Melinda and Layton want to confront Harrison over his lies.
With Melinda, Layton, Bronte and himself all in the same room, there is nowhere for Harrison to hide.
Harrison is backed into a corner and realises he’s caught out in a lie. Fresh out of excuses, Harrison falls back on this failsafe explanation – memory loss. “I genuinely don’t remember,” Harrison suddenly develops amnesia.
Things come to a head when Melinda loses her cool with Harrison.
“I’m gonna call it how it is, you’re a manipulator! Stay away from our relationship because I’m over it,” she snaps.
Melinda pipes up and says that while she might be the spokesperson for the group, everyone has the same opinion of Bronte and Harrison’s relationship – that it’s not authentic.
In total disbelief, Bronte and Harrison decide to take a group census: “Does anyone think our relationship is fake?”
Most of the group shies away from the confrontation, but Ollie admits he was saying yes in his mind.
Short of an answer, Harrison starts handpicking volunteers from the crowd.
First to the floor is Alyssa who says “there were conversations had,” – but Harrison cuts her off before she gives an answer he doesn’t like.
Next up, Harrison asks Claire who says “yeah” she does think Bronte and Harrison’s relationship is fake.
Just like the auditorium scene from Mean Girls, one by one the participants start to raise their hands and vote against Bronte and Harrison.
“All the girls agreed,” Evelyn pipes up.
Obviously not getting the response he was hoping for, Harrison suggests he and Bronte “should just walk away”.
While the matter is over for the night, Melinda still has her concerns for Bronte.
“Honestly, Bronte is running away from the truth,” she says.
“I feel like she’s drinking from the Harrison cool-aid, I feel like she’s shotting it and it’s working.”
Married At First Sight continues Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
