It’s the last day on The Block and the apartments are just a few hours away from being finished for auction.
The teams are tackling their terraces and one previous room, as chosen by the judges, that was a vomitous disaster of crimes against decor.
Whitney and Andrew have few pennies left in the kitty – only enough to pay a tradesman for four hours, in which time he has to build Rome.
The balconies are under construction, with built-in bars, and look to be the perfect spot for an evening wine.
Suzi orders a margarita from a tradie. Bottoms up!
Looking like he’s had a cocktail or three is foreman Keith. No wonder – he is about to get rid of a bunch of whinging amateurs.
He and foreboy Dan do the rounds, congratulating the couples on surviving and reaching the end.
“When you first rocked up, did you know anything about building?” Dan asks Gold Coast bombshells Suzi and Vonni.
“Now you know what a stud is.”
No, Dan, these girls – favourites of the tradies – definitely already knew a stud is.
There is a brief interruption so Kingi and Caro can spruik their single plasterer Marcus.
“Girls, Tinder him if you are around,” Caro says.
Nice of them do that, given he wouldn’t have had a night out to mingle in three months because he has been chained to the wheel at The Block.
Hail and fierce gales are sweeping through as the clock ticks down, causing havoc on the freshly-styled balconies.
But Suzi sees category five storms as nature’s own sexy wind machine.
“I am in a Beyonce video clip,” she coos at the camerman. She’s Queen’s B – for Block. Somewhere inside, Vonni is slaving away.
Tools down!
The judges arrive and Shaynna is raising a glass to Kingi and Caro’s outdoor kitchen.
“Magnificent … loving it” she says, and pretends to knock one back. C’mon producers, let her have a cheeky sav blanc during filming. It’ll make things interesting.
Whitney and Andrew pulled off a Steven Bradbury last week, wining the dining room and hallway reveal after only one other team finished.
This week, they’ve installed a birdbath with goldfish. And a wine fridge. Wouldn’t want to get the two mixed up after a few too many.
It’s Suzi and Vonni’s turn – sex bomb montage please, producers.
And a reminder of the time they recreated Rose Porteous’ boudoir in the spare toot, which made judge Darren Palmer scrunch up his face like’s he’d smelt one of Foreman Keith’s unwashed work socks.
The judges have come to expect that touch of Jupiters Casino bling-bling from the girls, but stilettos lined up at the barbecue is a new level of ‘what the?’
“The weirdest styling in The Block history,” Shaynna says, but they quickly release that Suzi didn’t leave them there after a big night out – it’s because they stuffed up the height of their BBQ.
But up on the penthouse balcony, Neale is feeling things.
“This is giving me the emotion I have wanted to feel all day.”
Neale needs a little private time.
And his special feelings help Shay and Dean snag a win, collecting $10,000 in cash. The moolah will be kept in a safe in their penthouse apartment, and handed to the lucky buyer on auction day.
But the couples can’t nick to the pub just yet, with a challenge apartment and roof-top communal area yet to complete.
Can’t wait.