Original subtitles

WOMAN: I feel like I'm a dream.

SARA: He's perfect.

NARRATOR: Four weeks ago, singles across Australia...

She's gorgeous. 'Deec'!

..married at first sight.

LUCINDA: This is the beginning of something super exciting.

MICHAEL: Seems like he's literally made for me.

And Michael got his second chance at true love.

Why am I bored?

Nothing is going on and that's the problem.

But a lack of romance between Cassandra and Tristan

saw expert John intervene to get the couple back on track.

JOHN: She's an amazing woman and she wants touch from you.

TRISTAN: Yeah. Not from anybody else.

Before...

MADELEINE: I love you, guys.

(COW MOOS) I'm sorry.

..newlyweds Madeleine and Ash's honeymoon...

It's hard, because they all want to talk.

Everyone wants to talk to you.

..ended with an unexpected psychic reading.

Weirdo. No. It's annoying.

ASH: What the...

But the experiment reached breaking point at the third dinner party...

Did you say it or did you not say it?

I did not say I wasn't attracted... So, he's lying?

..when damning accusations were made about Jack...

Apparently Jack said

if there is a couple-swap situation within the experiment,

the boys have permission to be with his wife because he doesn't want to.

..leading to the comment...

Shut your mouth.

Oh!

..that shocked the table...

Muzzle your woman!

(JEERING)

..and left Lauren searching for back-up from husband Jonathan.

You just sat back and said nothing.

I'm so pissed off with Johnno for not having my back.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Tonight... I'm mad about her.

OTHERS: Aw! That is so cute! (LAUGHS)

..it's the third commitment ceremony of the experiment.

RIDGE: She's everything that I've wanted in a partner.

She has it all.

And love is in the air...

You're giggling like a little girl.

Oh, because... (LAUGHS)

..as some of our couples reveal their extraordinary progress.

We've actually been messing around a little bit more.

Flirty jokes and fun

has been kind of creeping into our conversations.

I get it and I don't need advice from you.

But for others...

Why are you throwing me under the bus?

I just heard Alessandra.

What's happening for you right now, Timothy?

I'm frustrated.

Shock revelations...

(CRIES) Sorry, Cass.

I can see that that really hurt.

..will leave their marriage in turmoil...

I felt disrespected. I felt like my bubble burst.

..before...

He said, "Put a muzzle on your woman."

..the experts call out bad behaviour.

I've never heard a man talk to woman like that.

If someone said that to me about my wife, I would not back down.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

It's the morning of the third commitment ceremony,

where tonight each of our couples will make the difficult decision

of whether to stay or leave the experiment.

Good morning, princess.

Nice dress. Thank you.

And as our original couples reach the halfway point...

# Late December... # (LAUGHS)

# Back in '63... #

Your feet are freezing, hey? They're not.

Tonight, our three newest couples

will be facing the experts for the first time.

STEPHEN: Cute. Let's do one more, actually.

(LAUGHS)

RIDGE: Thanks for the tea, darling.

After last night, I feel blessed. (LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS) Cheers.

(BOTH LAUGH)

I just feel like I have it really easy with Ridge

and it's been real easy from the start.

Made me realise we do not have any issues.

We don't, do we?

Jade's got everything that I've ever asked for in a partner.

She's very, like, genuine, she's very caring,

so I'm just going with how it feels.

At the moment, it's really good.

I don't see where our issues are gonna come from.

None of them are you and none of the boys are me, so...

It's been a while since I've had the potential to fall for a girl.

It's scary but it's really nice.

(LAUGHS)

Give me a kiss. Alright.

By far the biggest talking point this morning among all of the couples

is Jack.

I didn't like "Why don't you muzzle your woman?"

That was, like... That was awful.

(SIGHS) You don't say that.

It was just, like, derogatory, defamatory.

You lost the argument at that point. Mmm.

RICHARD: What a misogynistic, horrible thing to say. (LAUGHS)

That was a bit distressing and disappointing.

It's just inappropriate on any level in any circumstance.

Jack should be ashamed.

So, yeah, I told him, like, "Put a muzzle on it"

and it felt good saying it and I'm glad I said it.

She was revving me up, so the time was right.

I'm disappointed with Johnno. He started all of this.

Johnno told Lauren that I'm not attracted to my wife

and it's all out of context, so it doesn't question my character.

It's questioning, like, Lauren and Johnno's character.

And this is the heartbreak of it all.

It's Tori's birthday today...

That's really cute.

..and I wanted her to have a good night, go home, spoil it...

and I feel like this might've dampened that.

The message is clear.

If someone's gonna come for us, our relationship,

I'm gonna protect that at all costs

and Johnno and Lauren should just goddamn know better.

While Jack is staunchly defensive of both his wife and marriage...

it's a different feeling for Lauren,

who felt abandoned by her husband last night,

so much so she slept in a different room.

LAUREN: Last night, Johnno left me.

I stayed out alone.

Someone says to you, "Put a muzzle on your woman,"

what I do need is my husband to defend me and stand up for me.

But what really hurts me in this situation

is when he feeds me information, that Jack is not attracted to Tori

and then in a group situation he let me look like I'm making things up.

He really did hang me out to dry.

Did I say I'm not attracted to Tori?

JONATHAN: You've always said that you find her really attractive, yes.

Yep.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JONATHAN: I definitely didn't want it to go down like that.

It was not my intention to upset her.

Things were going really well

and then this has just put us right back to square one

and so, I feel absolutely horrible.

I think tonight Johnno really has to show me that he's got my back

and that he's here for me

and he's not here for his friendship with Jack

and that he is a man and not a little boy.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JOHN: Greetings, gents.

Hello. MEL: Hi, guys.

RICHARD: Good evening.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Hello, ladies.

ALESSANDRA: Hi. MEL: Hello, ladies.

Welcome.

JACK: I've been waiting for you.

TORI: Hey, doll.

(BLOWS KISSES)

ALESSANDRA: We can see from last night

that some of you have taken steps back,

some of you have moved forward,

some of you have plateaued.

We have a lot to unpack here tonight

so that we can really get into the nitty-gritty of your relationships

and help move them forward.

We're gonna ask our first couple to the couch.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Lucinda and Timothy.

(APPLAUSE) Wow.

LUCINDA: Hi, guys. How are you? MEL: Hello.

Hi. Good to see you all.

Hey, guys.

(EXHALES)

I would like for you to bring us up to date.

What's been happening since we last saw you?

So, we have been very much focused on fun, adventure,

having a bit of nonsense, including ending up at the strippers' bar.

'Moneybags' here throwing me money

and me having all sorts of tits and arse in my face, having...

(LAUGHTER)

..a randy old time, I've got to say.

Yeah, we've been actually getting out and going to a couple of shows

and, you know, going to the markets.

We've got some stuff planned for the end of the week...

So... Yeah.

Yeah.

So it sounds like a really nice friendship.

Yeah. Spot-on.

Romantically, chemistry-wise, there's not much there from me.

Um...

Like, I don't feel too desired or whatever.

(TENSE MUSIC)

And I feel like our focus has been around fun and friendship,

you know, so we're doing that well.

I'm just giving lots of spaciousness.

I'm curious about you, Timothy.

There seems to be absolutely no progress

in terms of an actual connection,

romantically or thinking about partnership.

Well, you know, there was...

Although they're small steps,

we're still sort of moving forward, you know.

There is still...

Moving forward to a good friendship

or moving forward to falling in love with Lucinda?

Do you see that potential or do you not?

I... I see... I see some potential.

We... We had a great time for the past three days and so, yeah...

Were you once inclined to grab her and kiss her?

To get close?

To hold her hand?

Well, what I've done...

No, I wasn't.

Let's go to the decision. Mm-hm.

Lucinda. Yeah.

Well, you know, I'm here to... I'm staying...

(APPLAUSE) ..you know.

I'm...

You know, I'm down for any suggestions.

Anything you guys can give or share, I'd be delighted.

Yeah. OK.

Timothy.

Like you said, we've had a good three days.

We've got other stuff planned for this week.

So, in saying that...

mine was 'stay'.

(APPLAUSE) OK.

It's very confusing why you would write 'stay'

in this particular experiment that is about falling in love...

Mmm. ..when five weeks in, clearly...

Mmm.

..there is no speck thus far...

Mmm.

..of that being a possibility.

Do you believe it's possible to fall in love with Lucinda, Timothy?

I believe... It really doesn't sound like it.

I don't get any kind of vibe. Yeah, I'm not convinced.

Why are you throwing me under the bus?

You're actually throwing me under the bus.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Well...

And you kind of did it before we started.

I just heard Alessandra saying, you know... Yeah.

I do feel the bus has been driven a little bit here.

What do you mean?

Like, we had a good three days but according to you, it's not there,

so, yeah, I'm also wondering...

I have been enjoying... I have been enjoying the time...

Yeah. ..and, yeah, I just, you know...

I hear the words, "Is there potential" and could...

Yeah.

Mm-hm.

(TENSE MUSIC)

What's happening for you right now, Timothy?

You seem upset. I'm frustrated.

You're frustrated? Yeah.

Why? I don't know...

'Cause I sort of get two messages here.

But it's like, you know, are you inspired to hold my hand?

Are you leading or moving things forward with me?

Or do you just want to be in your man-cave

and having fun adventures with me?

You know, what's truly in your heart?

Like, what am I waiting for?

Yeah, Tim, you've got to remember, bro, at the end of the day,

this is a marriage experiment, not a friendship experiment, man.

Yeah, I get it and I don't need advice from you.

Comparing our marriages, bro, you do.

I actually... I actually don't.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

We've said that we'll move forward and I thought we were moving forward

but I'm actually questioning why I wrote it now.

(TENSE MUSIC)

I'm actually questioning why I wrote 'stay'.

Look, I'm gonna cut to the chase. LUCINDA: Yeah.

I don't want to hear this anymore. Mmm.

OK?

You guys have been stuck in first gear for five weeks.

Agree.

What I'm interested in is what you're gonna do in the next seven days.

Mmm.

If you do nothing different, frankly, I'd prefer you to leave...

'cause you're wasting everybody's time.

Yep. Yeah.

But I'm gonna take you on your word.

Both of you have said you've got potential...

Mmm. ..for romance.

Now, I know that you, Timothy, have had tough times in the past...

but you're chained to it

and you've got to give yourself seven days to at least say,

"I'm gonna park that, focus on her and get out of first gear."

Thanks, guys. Off to you.

Let's see a different couple next week.

(APPLAUSE) ALESSANDRA: Have a great week.

TIMOTHY: What the (BLEEP)!

(EXHALES)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Lucinda completely blindsided me and was very happy to do it.

I'm so pissed off I wrote 'stay'.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Timothy, now,

I know you might have heard some things on the couch tonight

that have infuriated you.

If you stonewall her or if you hold grudges about tonight,

it's dead in the water.

I've got great hopes for you but you've got to break old patterns.

It's gonna be an interesting week, guys. (LAUGHS)

The next couple up, Jayden and Eden.

(APPLAUSE)

MEL: Hello.

(LAUGHS) Alright.

Where are you at right now,

because previously you've kept a very tight boundary.

So, I'm super stoked about being paired with Jayden.

He's always making me laugh. I'm always smiling.

I just can't get enough of him, I honestly can't. He's the best.

Aw! (LAUGHS)

Jayden, how do you feel about Eden?

I'm mad about her.

I think everyone in this room knows that.

Have you ever felt this way about a partner before?

No. No. And I...

Aw!

He's so cute! (LAUGHS)

Has there been progress in terms of intimacy?

It is a part of the relationship and we have gone there.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

And the crowd loves it.

(LAUGHS)

Let's go to the decision, shall we?

It's a pretty obvious one.

We're staying. Yeah.

WOMAN: Whoo! (APPLAUSE)

Stay. With three love hearts this week.

Three. (APPLAUSE)

Staying with the champ.

MEL: Our next couple the couch, Sara and Tim.

(APPLAUSE)

Hello. Hello.

Hey, guys. Hiya.

JOHN: Hey, you two.

Oh... (LAUGHS)

MEL: So, where have you two landed this week?

Definitely a lot better than last week.

(LAUGHS) What's changed?

I know that I can be quite an outspoken, quite expressive Latina.

That's who I am.

And, you know, I've kind of been emphasising it, like,

"I'm not trying to yell at you or snap at you.

"This is just me expressing myself." Yeah.

And how did that land for you?

Yeah, I appreciated that a lot, actually.

You know, throughout this last week, we've actually been, you know,

just, like, messing around a little bit more,

like a little bit of flirty jokes

and just, like, fun has been kind of creeping into our conversations...

Great. ..which I really like.

(LAUGHS)

And now we can try to get to know each other a bit more.

It's fantastic progress. Yeah.

Sara, you're giggling like a little girl.

Oh, because... (LAUGHS)

We haven't seen this before. (LAUGHS)

It's lovely.

Why don't we go to the decision? Sure.

Sara, you.

Well, I am going to stay.

Oh! Wonderful. (APPLAUSE)

Good stuff. Tim?

I'm gonna stay as well.

Good stuff. (APPLAUSE)

Well, guys, you've made some fantastic progress this week.

JOHN: Well done, guys. MEL: Well done.

Let's get our next couple up.

Jade and Ridge.

Yay. Let's go.

After you, darling.

It's good to have you at the commitment ceremony.

Thanks for having us.

Eh? Let's get right into it.

Jade, you kick it off.

Me first? (LAUGHS) Yeah.

Um...

It's kind of started off a bit awkward

'cause I'm very shy and reserved

but I feel like Ridge really put me at ease.

Lovely.

I really need someone who's really affectionate

and I have never met anyone more affectionate than Ridge.

So, you're liking what you're... Yes.

..seeing right now? I'm very happy at the moment.

You seem to be smiling very happily over there.

What about you, Ridge? What do you think of it all?

We talked about our values. Ours matched up straight away.

She's everything that I've wanted in a partner.

She has it all. WOMAN: Aw!

LAUREN: I love that!

You know, obviously it's only been a week but...

JOHN: Well, you seem like you're all over each other.

And we're pretty sure about this decision, but let's go to it anyway.

Stay or leave? Go with you first, Ridge.

So, I said this from the start.

Jade makes me as happy as a pig in shit.

(LAUGHTER)

So, stay.

Right. Right.

Jade, what have you got for us? Stay or leave?

Guys, I think mine's obvious.

Mmm. (APPLAUSE)

Good luck this week and we'll see you next time.

Thank you. Thank you.

Well done, guys. (APPLAUSE)

Our next couple tonight, Tristan and Cassandra.

(APPLAUSE)

Hello, you two. COUPLE: Hello.

How are you both going?

CASSANDRA: Um...

Maybe Tristan can start.

I'm not doing good.

It was a really emotional week.

So, I woke up this morning and he was just distant

and I don't know what happened.

OK.

Tristan, can you just be clear,

because I know you met with John and things were going really well,

so what are the issues?

If you want my honest opinion...

I'm a bit nervous that maybe we're just a bit more friends, you know,

and that's where we're gonna stop, is just friends.

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

The fact is that even though I'm making little steps forwards,

every time I make a couple of steps,

then we get into some sort of an argument

and then it's back, back, back

and now I'm just a bit freaked out that...

Cassandra... That's why I'm lost.

..how does it feel to hear him say that?

That's sad and scary 'cause... You don't need to be sad.

I know, but I think he's, like,

everything I would love in a husband.

So I'm just, like, I don't know.

Cassandra, from your perspective,

do you think there's potential in this relationship?

I do. I really do.

And I did exactly what John said and have been validating him

and he's hugging me before we go to bed or in the mornings

or when he's leaving.

This is all progress. This is great.

So, I don't understand.

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

Alright. Well, we're gonna go to the decision.

(EXHALES) Cassandra, we'll go to you first.

Yeah. Well, I just...

I put 'stay'. 'Slay'.

(APPLAUSE)

OK. And to you, Tristan.

Cass, you need to understand this decision moving forward.

You're not only enough.

It's really nothing that you've done.

It's more that fricken I've been struggling

and I don't want to waste any more of your time.

But I have to be, like, honest

because Cass deserves the bloody world, you know,

and if I can't 100% give it just yet,

I want the next dude to be ten times better than me.

So, sadly, today I reckon... I have written 'leave'.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(CRIES)

I don't want to waste any more of your time

but sadly, today, I reckon... I have written 'leave'.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(CRIES)

Sorry, Cass.

I'm sorry.

Oh, well, we're doing well.

(CRIES)

(CRIES)

(CRIES)

I can see that that really hurt.

What is it that upsets you the most right now?

It's just he has every right to feel that way

and if it's meant to be like that, then that's fine.

(EXHALES)

He's wonderful, so it's OK. (CRIES)

I mean, it's completely understandable

for you to be feeling pretty deflated at the moment,

not just about what Tristan has said to you but also that he said 'leave'.

I mean, that hurts.

Yeah. (CRIES) I get that.

Tristan, she has bared her soul here. She has.

Is there a possibility that this is you getting in your own head

and doubting yourself?

Do you believe that Cassandra is attracted to you?

Some days, yes. Some days, no.

Cassandra, are you attracted to him? I am.

Tristan, I told you I love so much about you

and I came here for a husband

and a magnificent person inside and out

and that's what he is.

I think he's amazing.

Yep.

Tristan, do you hear that?

Yes, I do.

She's showing you she really likes you.

I know.

Sometimes you get stuck in your own head.

You're a fabulous guy.

Believe that you deserve this woman.

I feel like a tool. And I'm sorry.

Don't feel that way.

We should've had this chat this morning

and then we would've avoided all of this.

I know I wrote 'leave', but can you give me one more shot?

Like, if that's OK. Of course.

I will grovel. (LAUGHS)

I will grovel.

My sense is this week...is about you doing the work, Tristan.

Yes, boss. 100%.

She's been validating you this week.

You need to validate her as well.

I'm sorry about the spin-around, honey.

You know I live in my head, you know. I'm sorry.

Look how sexy she looks now. I know! (LAUGHS)

But I can't kiss her on the couch, you know.

It's too embarrassing, you know. You really can.

You really can. MAN: Oh!

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Alright. Thank you, guys. We'll see you next week.

TRISTAN: I regret writing 'leave'.

I was in a completely negative headspace, completely spiralled

and I feel terrible about it because, Cass, she was really hurt.

I need to really focus on getting out of my head.

She's here, she's 100% in.

She doesn't want to be friends,

she wants to commit to being with a husband in a relationship

and I have to believe that.

LAUREN: You fumbled, mate. I did.

Maybe change the card, like, you know.

JOHN: Let's get our next couple up.

(TENSE MUSIC)

Michael and Stephen.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

(WOLF WHISTLE)

Hi. Hi.

Welcome. I heard the whistles.

Thanks, guys. (LAUGHTER)

Let's get straight into it, shall we?

What would you say is the state of your relationship -

and I know it's early on - thus far?

I would like to say that we're off to a good start.

Like, Stephen and I actually have really strong communication.

We talk about everything.

But there's walls that we have to work through.

More Stephen's walls.

OK. Well, let's go with you, Stephen.

What's your take on the relationship?

Look, I knew that I was pretty guarded coming into this

but I do think

that finding out that Michael had a match before me

definitely has planted a seed of doubt.

Seed of doubt? So, do you feel like you're in some way a second choice?

Yeah.

Yeah, look, I have been thinking, like, you know, you sitting here

hoping that...

you're wishing that it was someone else.

Let's be very, very clear.

When Michael's initial match cut and run...

I personally gave him the worst news

but I also told him that we'll do everything we can

to find someone better.

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

Michael, are you attracted to Stephen?

I'm madly attracted to Stephen, yeah.

I think he's gorgeous.

Stephen, what about you?

Yeah, definitely, I feel like I get this real genuine connection

and our values line up, like, perfectly.

Stephen, jump out of the head, have some fun.

You need to know this is not second-best.

This is actually a match that has real potential, OK?

Let's go to the decision.

Michael.

Yes.

I wrote 'stay'.

What about you, Stephen?

Yeah, look, I know you have been very patient and awesome,

so, yeah, I wrote 'stay'.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Go back to the group and we'll see you next week.

Thanks, guys.

(APPLAUSE)

Let's bring up our next couple...

(TENSE MUSIC)

Ellie and Ben.

(APPLAUSE)

MEL: Hi, guys.

ELLIE: Hi. We're back.

(LAUGHS) We are.

JOHN: Alright, let's jump right into it.

Last night at the dinner party, you seemed very quiet.

What's been going on?

I am actually very nervous to be up here tonight.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

I feel that I'm not getting the authentic Ben.

I just feel like there's a bit of a facade with Ben and I.

I feel like you're trying to control the narrative

and in turn you're kind of controlling me.

SARA: (WHISPERS) Shit. TIM: (WHISPERS) Yeah.

I feel like I'm losing my voice. I feel like I'm not really being me.

I've come into this experiment looking for stability

and I feel like I actually don't have that with you.

Ben, that's a lot to take in.

How does that feel - after five weeks in the experiment,

she's turning to you, going, "All of this is a sham."

It hurts.

That really hurts.

To say it's a facade, I'm being fake...

Like, I don't know how that could be.

Like...

Well, she spelt it out to you.

What she's saying is

all of this is just, you know, a narrative to save face.

Is that true?

Like, I think in most social situations,

you do the best you can, you know.

And certain situations will bring out certain types of behaviours...

or being comfortable...

Like, I'm a bit of an ambivert.

I've got feelings and...

I don't understand any of this.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Is it true?

No.

Why not?

I'm me. And I've been trying to communicate the best I can.

I'm... I'm not feeling that.

Alright. Let's go to the decision.

Ben, we're going with you first. Stay or leave?

Well...

(TENSE MUSIC)

..my decision is...

I've really been enjoying our time...

but, yeah, basically, it is to stay.

Alright. Well, what about you, Ellie?

(TENSE MUSIC)

I came here looking for the most genuine experience

and I'm halfway through and I haven't got that yet...

so I'm really sorry but I wrote 'leave'.

(GASPS)

Ben, that is you being put on notice.

Ellie is drifting away from you.

She's had enough. Yeah.

You absolutely have a chance here to turn it around.

We've seen it happen in this experiment many times.

But the controlling of how you come across, all of that stops now.

If you've got one week to turn it around.

Go back to the group. Thank you.

Thanks. Thanks.

(APPLAUSE)

MEL: Our next couple on the couch...

(TENSE MUSIC)

Andrea and Richard.

Oooh. OK.

Hello, you two. Hello.

Well, we watched the two of you last night and you were a little quiet.

I think last time on the couch with Richie,

the way Richie talked about us

and the words he used,

I think that really sort of affected me emotionally

and it just made me, like, "Whoa."

OK. Yeah.

What specifically made you feel that way?

I know that he's very open

but Richard talking about how many times a day

we may or may not have sex

and words...

I really don't want to say it again.

But, like, just sort of "We gazed and... (BLEEP), licking..."

Yeah.

I think I sort of...

I felt disrespected.

I felt like my bubble burst.

NARRATOR: Still to come...

He said, "Put a muzzle on your woman."

..the experts grill Jonathan.

What's the inference when you say to a man "Put a muzzle on that woman"?

A dog.

If someone said that to me about my wife, I would not back down.

And they hold Jack to account for that comment.

JOHN: I've heard some things that have repulsed me.

That was one of the worst things I've heard.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

I felt disrespected.

I felt like my bubble burst.

I think I've sort of put a bit of a block in...

and we haven't got back where we were yet.

I don't know how to push past that barrier that I seem to have put up.

What's this like for you, Richard?

Our marriage started off with lots of passion and fireworks and sparks

and then came to abrupt end because of what I said to her.

I've owned that. I took that on board.

But she's got a wall and it's not the same...

and we've lost what we had

and, yeah, I'm a bit gutted about that, to be honest.

Yeah, for me, like, you know, it's sort of unrequited love, you know.

Andi, do you want to be as connected with Richard as you were previously?

Of course. Of course I do. OK.

Yes.

So it's really important... Yeah.

..that you're able to identify what is stopping you.

Yeah. Yeah.

You know, you mentioned feeling a doubt around his respect for you.

Is that something you've felt before in previous relationships?

Yeah.

That's... I think that was my trigger.

Right.

I know Richie's not like that, yet I'm still feeling...

Yes. ..this anxiety...

Absolutely, no, he's not like that. Yeah.

I think this might be the key here. Yeah.

You need to rise out of that unconscious voice

that tells you this is the same pattern.

"Richie's like all the other guys." Yeah.

"He's gonna hurt me."

How is Richard different from your previous partners?

(LAUGHS) Ridiculously different.

Richie's the kindest, most good human.

Like, he's a good man.

And...

You are.

(WHISPERS) Oh, my god.

He hates hearing that.

Aw.

He's such a good man. Yes, he is.

And that's what I wanted. I wanted a kind man.

Mmm. So...

Richie, why does that make you emotional?

Because not a lot of people say that about me.

And so, when Andi says that, that's ultimate validation for me.

Andi, this part's on you.

The groundwork is here... Yeah.

..because you've started talking about it.

We like each other. (LAUGHS) You do.

Yeah. So let's get you back there.

Yep. Yep.

Alright. We're gonna go to a decision, you guys.

What you got? We'll go to you first, Richie.

You won't like to hear this. (BOTH LAUGH)

I'm a big fat 'stay', of course. Of course you're gonna stay.

(BLEEP)! I'm not going anywhere, man.

(APPLAUSE) Lovely.

This week, as Sam Smith says, # Oh, won't you stay with me... #

(LAUGHS) (APPLAUSE)

Thanks, guys. COUPLE: Thank you.

Well done, you two.

Our next couple tonight, Madeleine and Ash.

JACK: Hey! Good luck, guys. (APPLAUSE)

Good luck, mate.

Hello. Hello.

Welcome to the experiment. Thank you.

Why don't we kick it off with you, Ash? How are things going?

ASH: I'm really frustrated.

Last day of the honeymoon... Mm-hm.

..was probably our best day. Yeah.

We had a nice lunch, we were connecting,

we were discussing things on a much deeper level

and then it just went off the tracks.

So, what happened there?

We went and had a look at the cows in the paddock

and then Madeleine started crying because she ate meat.

And then she said she doesn't want to meat anymore.

I don't know how you can go from eating meat one night

to crying the next morning.

But I was, like, "Wow, OK."

Like...

And then we were having dinner and then she had a vision,

then she started hearing voices.

And I was kind of taken aback by that.

I was, like, "OK..."

Like, it was a lot for me to process, right?

And maybe I didn't articulate it straight away and that's on me

but...I can't connect with you.

Like, I'm not here to have...

No, neither am I. Neither am I.

I'm here to find love. So am I.

So am I. OK. Good.

That's the point. Good.

I'm getting a sense here tonight that Ash needs some reassurance from you.

Is there anything that you could say to him at this point

that would help him feel more comfortable?

I've been really honest, I've been really open from the get-go.

This whole experiment has showed me

that I actually do really, really, really, really deeply want

a loving, supportive, amazing person in my life.

It's good to hear.

I wanted to marry someone that wanted to find love.

OK.

Well, look, I think we're gonna go to the decision for the two of you.

We'll start with you, Ash.

I said 'stay'.

Madeleine?

OK. I'm gonna leave.

So...

This is what I've been experiencing.

Madeleine, are you here now looking for love?

Yes, I am. Yes, I am.

So we're confused about why you want to leave.

Help us understand. Let us in.

The thing is, is this. It's, like...

Life is weird. It is. It's weird.

And I think the universe pulls us to do things.

OK.

So, Ash, do you, right now, hold out hope

that things could change in the next week?

Slight hope, yeah.

I want to get to know her.

Like, on a deeper level, I want to connect.

Madeleine, do you feel that you're open to allowing him

to get to know you for another week?

Yeah, I'm gonna try to stay open as much as I can.

Great.

I think it's really important that you can draw a line in the sand here.

We're gonna let that stuff go and we're gonna start afresh.

Have a good week.

Better than the last one.

Thank you.

It can't be any worse.

(APPLAUSE)

LUCINDA: Good work, guys. It's tough up there.

Good work.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JOHN: Our next couple up on the couch, Jonathan and Lauren.

(APPLAUSE)

(TENSE MUSIC)

MEL: Hello. LAUREN: Hello.

JOHN: Hey, guys.

Hi.

Well, I'm gonna get straight to it...

'cause I saw a dinner party last night that I didn't like...

and I'm gonna get to the bottom of it

and I'm gonna hold people accountable.

Now, Johnno, you made a pact with Lauren

that you were going to call out bad behaviour,

particularly from Jack.

Correct?

Uh... Yeah. I said I'd have her back.

Do you think you had her back?

No. No, I didn't.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

This is your chance to explain yourself to Lauren tonight.

So, I did tell Lauren all the things that she said to Jack...

and I think,

yeah, there's a miscommunication between myself and Jack...

and I apologise.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

I really love you guys. You're amazing.

And happy birthday.

I hope this didn't ruin it.

SARA: What?

But...

What's the (BLEEP)!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JONATHAN: And I apologise.

I really love you guys. You're amazing.

And happy birthday. I hope this didn't ruin it.

Um...

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

But...

What the (BLEEP)! (LAUGHS)

(TENSE MUSIC)

Johnno, this is unacceptable.

(SIGHS)

What did you apologise to Jack for?

Jack and Tori had a really rough night and I felt responsible that,

you know, they came under the... under fire.

Lauren has always been very forthright.

She took information I gave her...

and she brought it up.

But I didn't realise it was gonna get brought up in the way did.

What?

So I just wanted to say, "Look, I'm sorry for my part in that."

(TENSE MUSIC)

I feel like you were apologising for your woman getting loud...

I was not!

I know I've got a big, loud voice and I say things and I'm very direct

and, yeah, sometimes that gets me in trouble

but I feel like last night I was in the right.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Lauren, I still have never said I don't find Tori attractive.

I said you said that to Johnno.

I know, Lauren, but I didn't say that to Johnno.

Did he say that? "Not your type."

"Not..." Johnno...

Yes, which is not attracted.

Yes.

(BLEEP) me. Yes.

You said me those words verbatim.

Johnno, who's more important to you, Lauren or Jack?

Lauren is.

And I didn't... Well, I don't buy that for a second.

It's not what I'm seeing tonight on the couch

and it's not what I saw last night.

OK.

I heard something last night that was appalling.

It came from Jack. It was directed to Lauren...

Yep. What was it?

Uh... My memory's a bit hazy of last night...

I think you can remember.

Something about muzzle...

What did he say, Lauren?

He said "Put a muzzle on your woman."

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

MEL: Yes, he did.

Let's just sit with that.

Yeah.

What's the inference when say to a man "Put a muzzle on that woman"?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

A dog. A what?

A dog. Yep.

Lauren, those particular words that Jack said to you...

Mmm.

..to your face...

(LAUGHS) Yeah.

..how did that land for you?

What did it do to you?

I just thought it was pretty degrading, to be honest.

I mean, I have been in situations in the past where I'm vocal,

it gets me in trouble, I'm not afraid to say what I think

and I've had men come up against me and say degrading things

and they go straight for the sexist kind of comments

because it's, like, a way if you can't...

It's easy. It's easy.

I feel like last night I needed to be backed.

I did feel like you didn't... Yeah.

..back me and you had your chance.

As a woman, you want your dude to step up and step in and, like, say

"Do not speak to her like that."

But, like, in that moment, you chose

that your friendship with Jack was more important than me.

I feel like I got hung out to dry.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Johnno, she spoke up.

She was called a dog.

Yeah.

But you weren't upset by it.

I thought I was.

I thought I did say, "Mate, that's not acceptable."

Come on. I definitely...

Sara, did you hear me defend her at one stage?

Johnno, let me stop you.

You might have thought you did but it was simply not good enough.

I didn't...

And she is your wife.

I've gotta tell you, if someone said that to me about my wife...

I would not back down.

JONATHAN: Yeah.

I would come out full throttle, all guns blazing.

Anyone comes for her, it doesn't matter whether you feel uncomfortable

about speaking up or not.

She's number one.

That's the one single message that she would get from you.

"When the going gets tough, the pressure comes on, he's got my back."

When the pressure came on last night, you folded.

And you weren't the only one.

Can I just ask the men here tonight,

why did you generally stay silent after that comment?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Can I just ask the men here tonight,

why did you generally stay silent after that comment?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

I did hear it but I didn't hear the context, what happened prior.

ALESSANDRA: Ben, do you need context for a comment like that?

No, like... WOMAN: It's not appropriate.

Like, the volume, literally the decibels of the conversation...

Ben, do you need context for a comment like that?

I just didn't hear the entire conversation...

Do you really need context? Well, I understand it now.

Do you really need context

when you hear something like that spoken about a woman?

Because we were at the very end of the table.

We heard, like, half of the conversation...with the decibels.

JOHN: I think we can all agree that that's not good enough

and that if you're in that position ever again,

I want you to speak up

because it is your responsibility to actually call out bad behaviour,

otherwise you're complicit in it all.

Now, for you new couples that are sitting here tonight,

I hope you get the message -

if we hear or see anything which is outrageously unacceptable,

we are going to hold your feet to the fire.

You're hearing this, aren't you, Jack?

(TENSE MUSIC)

So, what is going on in your relationship right now?

Why did this happen?

Um...

I honestly don't know why it happened last night.

Things were going... Yeah.

..really good. They were going good, actually.

I was quite happy. Yeah.

And I really feel like I stuffed it up.

Has it changed anything for you, Lauren, in your relationship?

I mean, I'm not gonna lie. Yes, it has changed.

I expected a bit more. Yeah.

That's why I was a little bit shocked.

Do you regret any of your actions last night, Johnno?

Absolutely.

What?

I regret not sticking up for Lauren.

I feel horrible because I feel like I did just leave Lauren out to dry.

I feel horrible for what I did.

Yes, I regret it deeply.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Let's go to the decision.

Let's go with you first, Johnno.

So, I'd like the opportunity to make it up to you.

I really would.

I'd like to stay.

Lauren?

Stay or leave? Big decision. Yeah, it is a big decision.

I know that Johnno's a great person

and up until last night,

he's treated me with nothing but respect and kindness

and I'm willing to move past this and I'm gonna stay.

(APPLAUSE)

Well, we had to air it, we had to get it out on the table

and really unpack it.

We've done that.

Johnno, you have some heavy lifting to do this week.

You've broken her trust. She doesn't think you have her back.

Is that the way you want her to feel?

So, you better change fast.

I'm not gonna tell you how to do it because you're a smart guy.

You can figure that out.

Thank you. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

MEL: And our next couple on the couch...

Tori and Jack.

(CLEARS THROAT) (APPLAUSE)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JOHN: Well, I'm gonna get straight to it.

I heard something last night I was disgusted by.

"Put a muzzle on that woman."

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Let's just sit with that.

I've heard some things in these experiments that have repulsed me.

That was one of the worst things I've heard.

So, Jack, when you made the comment about muzzling your wife,

what do you think that said about you?

(EXHALES)

Oh, nothing... Nothing nice.

Um...

Yeah, I'm ashamed.

Yeah, I've lost sleep over it.

Why do you think it is that in that moment, under that pressure,

you went straight to a comment that was degrading to women?

I just... Yeah.

I obviously broke and I snapped at the expense of Lauren.

So, I'm not questioning the snapping.

Yeah. That happens. We all do that.

I'm questioning the type of comment that you made.

I've never said 'muzzle' before to a woman in my life.

My family would be appalled. My sisters would be appalled.

Everyone here, I apologise. I do sincerely apologise.

It's... It's hitting home and I'm really ashamed.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

I guess what's important here

is the one person we haven't heard from, is you, Tori.

So, for you, sitting there at the table,

you hear Jack make this comment...

My concern is

he's showing you a portion of who he is as a man.

He's showing you how he behaves under extreme pressure

and he's showing you what happens

in terms of his relationship toward women

and his attitude toward women.

I don't agree with that.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

MEL: Tori, my concern here

is he's showing you who he is as a man...

he's showing you how he behaves under extreme pressure...

and he's showing you what happens

in terms of his relationship toward women and his attitude toward women.

I don't agree with that.

So, help me understand how it landed for you,

'cause I'm really struggling.

Um... I think...

when you're in a heightened state of anger or emotion,

you say whatever is at the top of your head.

Is that an excuse?

It's just what happened. Um...

I'm not dismissing or discounting the comment.

Like, it was disgusting.

But it doesn't come natural for Jack to talk like that.

Oh, no. It seemed very natural. In fact, it seemed like a reflex.

OK.

(TENSE MUSIC)

What if he'd said it to you?

I would've snapped. Yeah.

How does it feel knowing that he's been out talking to other people

and saying that he's not attracted to you?

I haven't said that. (GROANS)

He's never said that he's not attracted to me.

We're going back there. (LAUGHS) I haven't said it.

LAUREN: It had come up multiple times.

You said that you weren't attracted to Tori

and that's why you weren't sleeping together.

This is the circle. This is where this could not get resolved.

I'm not gonna look over there,

but Lauren was saying to me that she keeps hearing

that I've said I'm not attracted to Tori.

That, I own, I've never, ever said.

You're saying you never said that you're not attracted to Tori?

I've never said that, yes.

See, now I'm confused. So am I.

Because didn't, Johnno, you just say to Lauren on the couch,

yes, he did say that to me in the gym?

JONATHAN: Yeah.

I've heard him say, "Oh..."

You do say she has a beautiful face

"but not my type, not attracted, no sexual spark."

I've said no sexual spark. We've covered that.

But I've said she's got a beautiful face, breasts, bum, body.

Never said I'm not attracted to her.

That's... That's the point. That's the kicker right there.

So, is this about being physically attracted but not sexually attracted?

I don't know, you've really lost me. (SIGHS)

What do you want to know?

Are you attracted to your wife?

100%.

Are you...

I tell her every day. ..sexually attracted to Tori?

I think I've grown and built that sexual connection.

ALESSANDRA: To be quite honest, for me,

it just feels like you're playing with words.

It's very confusing.

If you're physically attracted to her,

you will want to be with her intimately.

The one difference between being good friends

and being in a relationship

is that you want to have sex with one person,

therefore they're boyfriend, girlfriend, marriage material,

or you don't

and then you're really good friends.

If you're attracted to them,

that implies that you want to go somewhere physically,

sexually with them.

That's what I'm trying to relate to you.

OK. I'll answer it again. So, please be clear.

I can't speak for you but I'm probably there.

I probably am. Probably?

Well...

You're thinking about it? Really? Yeah, but, like...

You say you're being clear but you're not being clear.

MEL: Jack, you made a different comment in the gym,

something about couple swap, right?

What was it?

The context to it, um...

We have banter like this and Tori's...

Sorry, just what exactly did you say?

It was more so a joke.

Um...

If we do partner-swap, Tori might get to sleep with Johnno.

And I went into that joke...

It's disgusting talking about it in this setting.

I thought I was in a safe space... Or in any setting, really.

I know there's no excuse.

Um... And...

I mean, it feels like you're offering up your wife on a platter.

Absolutely not.

I mean... I know.

..seriously? Yeah.

No, not seriously.

But I see the point.

Let's just go back to you, Tori.

I mean, how do you feel right now, given this whole conversation?

TORI: Look, I guess hearing you say it...

Jack is right, we have pretty dark humour.

Do you find this idea of him offering you up to other men a joke?

Is this part of your dark humour that you talk about?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

When you put it like that...

it actually makes me feel physically sick.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Do you find this idea of him offering you up to other men a joke?

Is that part of your dark humour that you talk about?

When you put it like that...

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

..it actually makes me feel physically sick.

In the context that we were joking about it,

I guess I wasn't in that headspace.

So you're really just seeing it through Jack's eyes at that point?

I wasn't really seeing...

I wasn't really looking into it. I wasn't reading into it.

I could add to that, literally that day I made that comment,

I come home and told her and we laughed.

But now she's got a different perspective on it

and it makes her feel physically sick.

Yeah, which...

ALESSANDRA: Which is what happened to me last night.

Mmm.

Yeah, I'm just, like,

"Shit, like, I've never really thought about it like that."

Yeah, well, I think... Tori...

And after last night, like...

Yeah. ..it's a lot.

It is a lot.

And I get that you've got a lot to process now...

'cause my sense is, at the moment,

you've been hearing Jack's perspective

but you haven't had that opportunity to kind of look at it objectively

and go, "Well, how do I actually feel about this?

"What does this mean for me?"

OK. Well, I think we're gonna go to the decision.

Let's start with you, Jack.

Um...

Clearly, I wrote 'stay'.

(LAUGHS)

And to you, Tori.

Um...

I wrote 'stay'.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JOHN: Now, just before you go, Jack, I need you to hear this.

Your sense of humour is clearly not funny to a lot of people.

You do not want to be speaking out of house about your partner

in a funny way that puts them down

or makes others around you think this isn't gonna last.

Alright, go back to the group.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC) (APPLAUSE)

Mel was, like, "You're offering your wife up on a platter."

I was, like, "Oh, (BLEEP)."

Like, I literally never thought of it like that.

Learn from what you've heard, put it into practice

and we will see you next time.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JACK:

TORI:

Hmm?

TORI:

JACK:

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

TORI:

Happy birthday to me!

NARRATOR: Next time...

Morning. (LAUGHS)

JOHN: We have seen this week make or break some of our couples.

..the next exciting phase of the experiment.

TRISTAN: Completely caught me off guard.

(LAUGHS)

It's family and friends week...

We're, like, doing really well at the moment.

Tim said he was counting the days. He is. Blink twice.

..where over two nights...

Andi's not into me at all anymore.

..our couples will seek much-needed guidance from loved ones.

Try to work on the good things and focus on the good things.

ANDREA: Yeah.

And as some bonds deepen...

JADE: Oh!

MAN: So, are you falling in love, Jayden, or what?

(LAUGHS) Um...

..Tori's friend Leah will not hold back.

LEAH: Put a muzzle on it? I mean, it's not the 1950s.

Sex is important. TORI: Mmm.

What's that like?

This guy's hiding something.

Plus...

Just walk in the bloody door.

..Lucinda and Timothy reach breaking point.

MAN: Whoa!

But this unforgettable father of the bride...

Well, you're getting down too low here. Whoa!

..will give Timothy...

He's a bit repetitive, I think, and a bit boring.

..a no-nonsense reality check.

"It's a hard one..." (MIMICS COMPLAINING)

You know, it's boring.

LUCINDA'S DAD:

Well, he should.

Captioned by AI-Media ai-media.tv