Main article: Pool Party
Gilbert House[]
Bath running
Emma looks at the water apprehensively before stripping down
Later, she is in the bath, staring at her tail
Cleo’s Bedroom[]
Cleo is trying to clean her fishtank
Water gets over the top of her washing up glove
Cleo: No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Knock on the door
Kim: Cleo!
Cleo grabs a towel and tries to dry off
Kim knocks again
Kim: Cleo!
Cleo transforms and falls
Kim: Cleo! (knocks again) Dad says you have to hurry up if you want a lift to school!
Cleo is lying on her bed with her tail
Cleo: It's okay, Kim. I'll walk.
Gilbert Kitchen[]
Phone rings
Lisa: Em, your phone!
She picks up the phone and opens it
The text is just a picture of a clownfish
She looks mildly confused
Beach[]
Rikki’s phone beeps with the same text, but she doesn’t see it because she’s swimming on the reef
Swimming with dolphins
Rikki looks pleased
Cleo’s Room[]
Emma and Rikki on Cleo's bed, Cleo walking out of her en suite
Cleo: This is a catastrophe of the highest order. Moisturiser is mainly water.
Rikki: If dolphins can swim for miles, so can we.
Cleo: We can't moisturise ever again.
Rikki: We could swim all the way to Fiji. Could you imagine that?
Cleo: Our skin will be dry and wrinkly. We'll be geriatrics by the time we're 21.
Emma: I missed training today. The first time in six years.
Cleo: See? See how bad this is? We have to tell somebody. Our parents? A doctor?
Rikki: And end up a mermaid in a strait-jacket with moisturised skin? Forget it.
Emma: Rikki's right, Cleo. We can't tell anyone.
Cleo: Not even Mum?
Emma: No. No parents.
Cleo: But I tell Mum everything
Emma: Well, not this time. It's too dangerous. People just won't understand. We could be locked up.
Cleo: Why would we be locked up?
Emma: Because we're different? Because we can do things that other girls can't do? Because they're scared of us?
Cleo: Fine. I won't tell anyone. Except Lewis.
Rikki: No, Cleo. Not Lewis. Not anyone.
Cleo: Okay, okay. Don't worry, I'm really good at keeping secrets.
She grins
Emma and Rikki look at each other
School[]
Bell rings
Miriam is walking along, handing out invitations
Emma, Cleo and Rikki are standing by the lockers
Miriam: Now's party time, people. No excuses. In honour of our very own surfing god, the beautiful Byron, for winning his special prize.
Cleo: What prize?
Miriam: Whatever it is they give out for surfing.
Emma: The Coast Surf Classic. He won by a mile.
Miriam: I was having a spray tan, but I'm sure he was amazing. (she notices Rikki) Rikki… I'm sure, I might have a blank.
Rikki: Sorry. I'll be flossing my teeth that night.
Miriam walks away
Lewis walks up
Lewis: Hey, Cleo.
Cleo: Oh, hi, Lewis. Nothing much has been happening with me. Nothing much at all, just the same old thing.
Lewis: Cleo, uh, are you going to Miriam's party?
Cleo: Of course I'm going.
Lewis: Oh.
Miriam circles back round
Miriam: Now, don't forget, girls, bring your best bikinis. It's a pool party.
Lewis: Right, uh, well, seeing as you're going-
Cleo: (sadly) I've changed my mind. I'm not going.
Walking[]
Cleo: It's so uncool to miss one of Miriam's parties. She won't ask us ever again.
Rikki: So? That's a plus.
Cleo: It's a pool party. I know it's dangerous, but maybe if I told Lewis about us, he could look out for us?
Rikki: No. You did the right thing, Cleo. None of us are going.
Emma: No, wait. I think we should go. For Byron. Not for Miriam. Surfing's just like swimming. It takes a lot of hard work and training. You need to know everyone's supporting you.
Rikki: You like Byron, don't you?
Emma: Huh. No way.
Rikki: Well, you sound like an ad for breakfast cereal.
Emma: Well, if we learn more about what's happening to us, we might be able to control it enough to go to the party.
Cleo: Really?
Rikki: What's to learn? We touch water and ten seconds later we grow tails.
Emma: Maybe it's about developing some discipline. Exercising some control.
Cleo: That'd be perfect. That's great. Control. Then we can go to the party. I'll text Lewis.
She pulls out her phone
Rikki: You do realise you're gonna have to swim to test this theory?
Cleo: What? No way. Forget it.
Beach[]
Cleo is sitting with her head on her knees
Rikki: Come on, it's not even deep here.
Cleo: No.
Rikki: Please, Cleo?
Cleo: No.
Rikki and Emma look at each other
Cleo: No!
Emma: Fine. Come on, Rikki.
Rikki and Emma walk into the water
Emma: Control and discipline start with the mind. So concentrate. No tail. No tail.
Emma and Rikki: No tail. No tail. No tail.
They transform
Emma and Rikki: (desperately) No tail!
Lewis walks up with his fishing rod and bucket
Emma and Rikki hide behind a rock
Lewis: Who leaked the information? This is my secret, highly classified fishing spot. Someone must have blabbed.
Cleo: Sorry.
Lewis: It's fine. Hey, I got your message about going to the party.
Cleo: Oh, yeah, that was an old message. I'm not going anymore. Too much homework.
Lewis: Fine. Well, I might just join you all for a swim then.
Rikki: We're naked, Lewis.
Lewis: Just a quick dip, then?
Emma: Goodbye, Lewis.
Lewis: The offer was there.
Gilbert Kitchen[]
Cleo: We're never going to be invited anywhere cool ever again, and why? Because we've got tails.
Emma: My swimming career is over.
Cleo gets some water from a cooler
Cleo: I just have one question. Why me? I didn't ask for any of this to happen.
She uses her powers to lift a bubble of water into her mouth
Emma: You think you've got problems? I've been training to be a swimmer since I was six months old.
She freezes the glass of orange juice onto a lolly stick
Cleo: Well, say goodbye to that dream, 'cause we're mer-freaks now.
Rikki: You two are unbelievable. Look at yourselves. You're drinking water from mid-air, and Emma, you just made an instant Icy Pole. Anybody else would love to be able to do that. You've both got these amazing powers, and all you do is whinge, whinge, whinge. I don't even have a power. Do you hear me complaining?
Cleo shrugs
Rikki: No. Well, I've had enough. I don't wanna hang around with whingers.
She leaves
Cleo: I know how she feels. Sometimes I don't even wanna hang around with me.
JuiceNet Café[]
Cleo: Lewis? What do you think of Rikki?
Lewis: You know those stonefish that kind of look like a rock yet could shoot enough poison to kill an entire football team in half a second? She kind of reminds me of one of those.
Byron enters and everyone breaks into applause
Byron: Thanks, guys. Relax.
Cleo: Congratulations, Byron. What's your ranking now? You must be getting up there.
Zane: Control yourself.
Lewis: Hey, Zane. You're dry. That must feel different.
Zane leans over Lewis threateningly
Zane: Look, Lewis, I don't know what happened with that fire hydrant, but if you so much as mention it again, I'll remove your head from your shoulders.
Zane starts to walk away, but Lewis stands up, grabbing his shoulder in rage
Cleo: Let it go, Lewis.
Byron: She's right. He's not worth it, mate. Will it change him? No.
Wilfred comes over to lead Zane away
Cleo sits back down with Lewis
Cleo: Byron is such a nice guy. Emma's right, we should go to Miriam's party to show some support for him. I mean, what a hero.
Lewis: Great. So go.
Cleo: You think?
Lewis: Yeah. Whatever blows your hair back. Cleo, I don't get you. One minute you're going, and then you're not, and now you're going again.
He gets up and leaves
Gilbert Kitchen[]
Emma eating breakfast
Lisa and Neil arrive home and spot her
Lisa: Are you sure you can afford to miss training again?
Neil: Aren't the regionals coming up?
Lisa: You trained when you had the flu. Even when you broke your wrist you swam with one arm.
Neil: If she's that bad, maybe she should see a doctor.
Emma: I don't need a doctor.
Lisa: Sweetheart, you have been spending an awful lot of time in your bedroom lately, and locked up in the bathroom. Is there anything we need to talk about?
Emma: It's nothing.
Lisa: It's all right to feel moody. Yeah? You're at an age where you're going through a lot of changes.
Emma: Exactly, Mum. You got it in one.
She gets up from the bench and heads into the living room
Cleo’s Bathroom[]
Cleo is dressed in a wetsuit with a shower cap on, standing in the bathtub
Cleo: (into the phone) Hi, Miriam. I was just calling to let you know that I'll definitely be at your party. Probably. Well, I just thought I'd let you know. What will I be wearing?
Zoom out to see her outfit
Cleo: Something appropriate.
She hangs up and picks up a bucket
She looks over at a stop clock
Cleo: Go.
She pours the bucket of water over her head then jumps out of the bath and starts to dry herself off with a towel
Cleo: Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one…
She transforms
Cleo: Ugh.
JuiceNet Café[]
Rikki alone at a booth
Lewis comes up
Lewis: Rikki. Can I sit?
Rikki: I certainly hope so. Just not with me.
He sits
Lewis: I know we've had our differences. Um...
Wilfred delivers a drink to the table
Lewis: (to Wilfred) Thanks. (To Rikki) But I wanna know what's wrong with Cleo.
Rikki: What makes you think there's anything wrong?
Lewis: I've asked her to go to Miriam's party like a hundred times, and every time she changes her mind.
Rikki: Maybe she doesn't like you. Did you think about that?
Lewis: Yes, actually, it did cross my mind. (pause) But then I thought, oh no no, she hangs around with you, her standards must be pretty low.
Rikki: Goodbye, Lewis.
Lewis: No, no. Can you tell me what's wrong or not?
Rikki is drumming her hands on the table next to Lewis’ drink
Rikki: Not.
Lewis: Please? I know there is.
Rikki: Look, I'm not even speaking to her at the moment, okay? (her hand curls into a fist) I'm just trying to be alone right now, so if you could just-
The drink boils and starts to steam
Lewis: What the-? (Lewis touches the glass) Ow! It's hot! Is this somebody's idea of a joke?
Rikki looks shocked and then she looks at her hand, smiling
Beach[]
Rikki walking along
She spots a rock pool and grins
She uses her power on the water and it evaporates
By the river[]
Emma walking towards Rikki
Emma: I'm glad you called. I'm sorry I was talking about all that negative stuff before. I'm not normally like that. It's just that I was-
Rikki: Em, it's cool. I need to show you something.
Beach[]
Girls sitting on rocks as mermaids
Emma: Okay, I'm officially curious. What do you wanna show me?
Lewis walking up with his fishing gear
Lewis: Is that you guys?
They hide away
Lewis: Are you naked again?
Rikki: Um… We're having a bit of a girl talk, Lewis.
Lewis: Yes, but are you naked?
Emma: Go, Lewis!
Lewis: No, no. I'm here to fish. I'm having withdrawals, I need the relaxation. If anyone's going, it's you guys.
Rikki: Don't push it, Lewis.
Emma: Yeah. Shouldn't you be following Cleo around?
Lewis: No. No way, I'm totally over that, trust me. I don't know what's going on with Cleo lately, she just can't make up her mind.
His phone beeps, he checks it
Lewis: You see what I mean? It's Cleo. She's going to the party. Again! I give up.
Emma: Lewis, you've got to do us a favour. Make sure Cleo doesn't go to the party on her own. Call her back.
Lewis: No, I'm here to fish.
Rikki: Lewis, this is important. She could be in trouble.
Lewis: (pulling out his phone and dialling) I am not some lackey. I am not some all-purpose servant. Do you really think you can tell me what to do and I'll jump? Her phone's off.
Rikki: She could be in big trouble, Lewis. You like her, don't you?
Lewis: Well, in a "friendship" kind of way.
Rikki: Well?
He rolls his eyes, picks back up his tackle box, and walks away
Miriam’s House[]
Miriam opens the door and Cleo is standing there in a thick winter coat and a box of tissues
Miriam: It's a pool party, remember?
Cleo: I remembered. It's just I've got this terrible cold, so I won't be swimming. At all. So, where's Byron?
Miriam: I'm sure he'll be here any minute. You're really keeping that on?
Cleo: Oh, yeah. You can't be too careful with a cold.
She pulls out a tissue and pretends to sneeze
Miriam: Ew.
Tiffany: Gross.
Miriam: Cleo, I don't think it's a good idea that you're here. Sick people make me feel… sick.
Tiffany: You should go.
Cleo: No, I'm fine. Really, it's nothing. I can still party.
Miriam: Whatever. Just go outside. And don't touch anything.
Cleo: Okay.
Miriam: And don't try any drinks.
Cleo: Fine.
Miriam: Better yet, just stay away from everybody.
Cleo: You got it.
She walks into the house past the girls.
Miriam rolls her eyes
Miriam: Loser.
Cleo walks out into the back garden
She looks at the water anxiously
Zane and Nate are standing talking and Nate points Cleo out
Zane: Look who's here. Just when we wanted a bit of fun.
Cleo: No, get back.
The boys are backing her up towards the pool
Zane: Don't be like that, Cleo. You had a good laugh when I got soaked last week. Now it's your turn.
Cleo: I have a cold. I can't go in the water. It's the flu, actually. And it's catching.
Zane: Come on. Swim time. You're going in.
Cleo: It could even be pneumonia.
Zane: Cleo… Cleo…
Boys: Cleo… Cleo…
Lewis arrives at the party with his fishing gear
Miriam: Lewis? I didn't think you were coming.
Lewis: Oh, no. I was just cruising by, I thought I'd drop in.
Miriam: What's with the fishing gear?
Lewis: I never leave home without it. Oh, have you seen Cleo?
Miriam: She's around by the pool, spreading disease.
Zane and Nate are holding Cleo above the pool
Cleo: No! Please! Stop! Please!
Zane: What d'you reckon, Nate?
Nate: On three?
Cleo: No!
Boys: (swinging Cleo) One... two... three...
Lewis rounds the corner
Lewis: Let her go, Zane.
Zane: If you insist.
The boys drop Cleo into the water
Lewis: Do you even have a brain?
Zane: You told me to let her go. I let her go.
Boys laugh
Zane: Let's grab a drink, boys. C'mon, everyone.
The boys start to leave
Lewis comes to crouch down beside the pool to talk to Cleo
Lewis: I'm so sorry about this.
Cleo: There's something you should know.
Lewis: No, no, you don't have to say anything.
Cleo: (the transformation is already starting) No, I really do. You know I have been acting strange, don't freak out, but-
She transforms
Lewis looks on in horror
Cleo: Lewis? You have to help me.
He staggers back fearfully
Cleo: Don't leave me. I really need your help.
She holds out her hand
Lewis shakes his head fearfully
Cleo: Lewis, please.
He stands up and takes her hand
Emma and Rikki run in
Rikki: Where is everyone?
Lewis: They're inside.
Emma and Rikki run round the building
Emma uses her power to freeze the lock
They return to the back
Lewis: Can you give me a hand? She weighs a ton.
Emma: We can't.
Rikki: If we get wet, we'll grow tails too. Is that what you want?
Lewis: Both of you? All of you? Seriously?
Cleo nods
He starts to pull her out
Zane tries the patio door
Zane: Who's locked the door?
Miriam: It's not locked.
Miriam struggles with the door
Lewis has managed to get Cleo out
Lewis: I should've joined the gym.
Cleo: What are we going to do?
Rikki: Get back, Lewis.
She walks up and crouches down
She holds out her hand and starts to evaporate the water from Cleo’s scales
Cleo: Ow! That stings.
Lewis looks on in confusion
Cleo transforms back
Rikki: There you go. Steam dried.
Cleo: You found your power.
Lewis: Guys, what is going on?
Emma: We'll explain later, Lewis.
They start to run away
Rikki turns back to the pool
Emma comes back to join her
Emma: Rikki. Come on.
Rikki grins and uses her powers to evaporate the water in the pool
Rikki: Never liked pool parties anyway.
They run off
The other teenagers come out into the garden
Miriam: What is going on?
Zane: You should really check your heating system.
Grass[]
The girls and Lewis are walking along
They spot Byron running towards the sea with his surfboard
Lewis: Hey, Byron!
Byron: Hey, guys.
Emma: Why aren't you at the party?
Byron: Huh?
Cleo: The pool party? The one Miriam's putting on for you?
Byron: Miriam? She's the blond one, right? Parties aren't really my thing. See you, guys.
He runs off
Emma: Nice board.
Cleo: Nice pecs.
Rikki: Nice attitude.
Beach[]
Rikki: This probably goes without saying, but if you tell, we maim you.
Lewis: I'm not that stupid. If anybody found out, you'd end up as science experiments.
Emma: I quit the swim team today.
Cleo: Oh, Emma. I know how much that means to you.
Emma: Still, what could I do?
Cleo: This whole thing is just out of control. It's just… too big.
Lewis: Let me get this straight. (pointing to Emma) You freeze things. (pointing to Cleo) You explode things, (pointing to Rikki) and you boil things. And you all grow tails. It's just too bizarre.
Emma: Bizarre, yep. Still, sometimes it's good. Then sometimes it's not so good.
Cleo: It's… It’s… I don't have a word for it.
Rikki: I do. Three of them. Totally, absolutely awesome.
Lewis and Rikki grin, Cleo looks grumpy