Ramsay Street
The next morning, Des is standing in Ramsay Street, looking around, when Shane runs up behind him and claps him on the back, startling him! He beams:

SHANE: Well, mate, this is it: the happiest day of your life, eh?
DES: Yeah...

Des looks across at No. 28 and Shane asks in concern if he's thinking of popping over and seeing the bride, as they say it's bad luck.

DES: No, no, I'm just going for a walk. I know it's stupid; I've just got this feeling in my guts - I'm sure something's going to go wrong.
SHANE: Like what?
DES (shrugs): Don't know.
SHANE: It's just pre-wedding nerves, mate - and the fact that your previous attempts at marriage haven't exactly been successful!
DEL: You can say *that* again...
SHANE: No, I'll tell you what, Des: if I was in your shoes, I'd be over the moon. I don't think you realise how lucky you are, mate: Daphne's a great girl.
DES (nods): Sure is.

There's silence. Des then says:

DES: Shane, why didn't you ask her to marry *you*? I mean, you went out with her for the best part of a year, and you both seemed pretty keen on each other.
SHANE: I don't really know, Des - but I'll be honest with you, mate: if we could turn back the clock, I would: I'd be standing in your shoes today. But I had my chance and I blew it. I've come to terms with that; believe me: I've seen what living in the past can do to people.
DES: So there's no hard feelings?
SHANE (smiles): Course not. I'm happy for you; *both* of you. Besides, you two are *made* for each other!
DES: Thanks, mate.

With that, Shane muses that he'd better get on with his jog. He adds that he'll see Des at the church. As he runs off, he calls back:

SHANE: Don't be late, mate: she'll kill you!

No. 26
The front door opens and Des heads inside. He joins Lucy, Paul, Jim and Helen in the kitchen and Helen tells him that she's going to give him a good breakfast: they can't have him getting married on an empty stomach. As Des sits down, Lucy remarks:

LUCY: Des, a few months ago, you said you were going to get married to *me*.
DES (teases): Hang on - you knocked me back, remember?!

Lucy then says:

LUCY: You know, Des, I hope you'll be nice to Daphne, 'cos otherwise she might run out on you like Terry did to Paul.

Paul drops his knife and fork angrily and snaps:

PAUL: Thanks, Lucy. Thanks a lot.

He storms out. Lucy cries after him:

LUCY: I didn't mean it, Paul; I just forgot.

Helen comments that Paul is still so terribly hurt. Jim, however, asks angrily how much longer they have to carry on pretending nothing ever happened; Paul has got to learn to talk about it. Des says *he* might go and have a word with Paul, and he heads out the back.

Back garden of No. 26
Paul lies down on the trampoline in the back garden. Des walks over to him and comments:

DES: Lucy's pretty tactful sometimes, eh?!

Paul smiles and says:

PAUL: Sorry, mate. I know I'm being a bit selfish, but all this talk about weddings is bringing back pretty awful memories, you know?
DES: Yeah, well, *I'm* the one who's being selfish. When I asked you to be best man, I didn't think what I'd be putting you through. Paul, if you don't want to do it, I'll understand - really.

Paul, however, sits up and insists:

PAUL: And miss out on doing that brilliant speech I've prepared? No way!
DES: You sure?
PAUL: *Sure* I'm sure. Anyway, I'd rather be thinking of you and Daphne than me and Terry at the moment.
DES (smiles): Good on ya.
PAUL: Anyway - *somebody's* got to hold your hand: I know what an old woman you are!

Des gives Paul a good-natured shove!

No. 28
Daphne is talking on the 'phone, telling Shane that she'll see him at 11:30. She hangs up and goes and sits down on the couch. Zoe, who's sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast, says she hopes nothing goes wrong at the Coffee Shop while Daphne's away, as she's never done anything like that. Daphne insists that she'll be fine. She adds:

DAPHNE: There are three golden rules: don't cash cheques; don't give credit; and always keep an eye on the door. Some people would rob you blind!

As she talks, she glances out the window and spots Des and Paul in the street. Zoe dashes over to her and orders her away from the window!

DAPHNE: I thought it was only bad luck if *he* saw *me*.
ZOE: There's no point in tempting fate, is there?
DAPHNE: Oh Zoe, you and your superstitions! What next: something old, something new, something borrowed...

With that, Zoe pulls open the lower part of her dressing gown to reveal a blue garter at the top of her left leg! She beams:

ZOE: You guessed it!

No. 24
Shane is ironing a shirt when Max comes in from work. Shane mutters at him to get a move on, as they haven't got much time. Max asks where Madge is. Shane shrugs that he doesn't know: some bloke rang for her and she grabbed her purse and shot off. Max heads off to have a bath as Danny joins Shane and asks if he's seen his razor blades. Shane retorts that they're on the top shelf, where they always are. Max rejoins Shane and ask him to iron a shirt for *him*!

No. 26
There's a knock on the front door and Helen answers it to find Eileen on the step. She invites her in and tells her that she looks lovely. Eileen thanks her and asks how Desmond is.

HELEN: Fine!
EILEEN: I thought I'd just pop over and have a few words with him before he 'takes the plunge', so to speak!

Helen calls to Des, who joins them in the lounge room, doing up his shirt as he does so. Eileen looks at Helen and says distantly:

EILEEN: You know, Helen, sometimes he looks just like his father...

Helen leaves Eileen and Des to it. Eileen sits down on one of the couches and Des sits next to her. Eileen then starts to say hesitantly:

EILEEN: Desmond, I... I do know how you feel.
DES (looking surprised): Do you?
EILEEN: Yes. I know you've been let down and stood up more times than I care to remember. But I know that Daphne is different - so this time it's going to be all right, isn't it?

Des stands up and Eileen does likewise, Des saying:

DES: Actually, I *was* feeling quite relaxed!
EILEEN: Oh, well don't relax *too* much! I mean, stand up straight, take your hands out of your pockets, don't slouch, remember your shoulders in front of all those people.
DES: Yes mum!

Tears start to well-up in Eileen's eyes and she sniffs:

EILEEN: I do hope you can be happy, Desmond.

Helen rejoins them and suggests to Des that he'd better finish getting dressed. Eileen says quickly that she'll just pop over and see Daphne. She gives Des a warm kiss.

No. 28
There are four wedding dresses laid out on the couch, and Zoe exclaims to Daphne that she's never known anything like it!

DAPHNE: Don't blame *me*! It's the woman in the boutique near the Coffee Shop: *she's* the one who said 'take them all home and try them in your own time'!

The front door opens and Eileen calls:

EILEEN: Ooo-oo! It's only me!

She walks in and looks horrified to see that Daphne isn't dressed. She asks what's going on. Zoe explains that they're trying to decide which dress Daphne should wear. Eileen sighs that when *she* was a girl, these decisions would have been made *weeks* ago! Shane suddenly calls from the front door and asks if he can come in. He does so. Daphne says immediately:

DAPHNE: Shane! *You* decide!
SHANE (taken aback): Decide what?
EILEEN (aghast): Daphne, he's a *man*!
DAPHNE: Exactly. Well, it's a man I'm getting dressed up for.

Daphne then indicates the four dresses set out on the couch and asks Shane which he thinks she should wear. Shane looks at them all in turn and picks one. He then says:

SHANE: That one's nice, but I guess the final decision's yours, Daphne.

He then adds that the car's waiting outside and Max is finishing his bath.

SHANE: This is one wedding I can promise you where the bride won't be late!

No. 24
Max is still in the bathroom, and he yells to Danny, who's in the kitchen:

MAX: What did you *do* in that bathroom? Fall asleep?!

The front door opens suddenly and Clive comes in. Danny warns him quickly to keep it down. He then asks Clive what he can do for him.

CLIVE: How would you like to make yourself a quick fifty bucks?
DANNY: Doing what?
CLIVE: One of my regulars has let me down and I need you to do a gorillagram this arvo.
DANNY: I *can't* this arvo; I've got to go to Des's wedding.
CLIVE: You can go to a wedding *any* time, but it's not every day fifty bucks drops into your lap.
DANNY (insists): I can't mate; it wouldn't be right.
CLIVE: All right: seventy, owing to short notice.
DANNY: It's not the money. You don't understand.
CLIVE: What about this girl you're so fond of? Didn't she say she'd do anything for the guy who could take her up to Surfers Paradise?
DANNY: Yeah, but-
CLIVE: No buts, Danny. I am going to give you eighty dollars - and remember: this is going to get you anything-

Clive breaks off as Max emerges from the bathroom. He snaps at Clive:

MAX: Strewth! I turn me back five minutes-

Danny interrupts and says quickly that Clive is just visiting - for sugar! Max seems to accept this, and he heads off to his room to get dressed. Left alone with Danny again, Clive says:

CLIVE: A hundred bucks. That's my final offer.
DANNY: No, it is out of the question; it--; how much did you say?!
CLIVE: One hundred big ones.
DANNY: Right. You're on! Look out Surfers!

Danny suddenly notices Shane standing by the back entrance, glaring at him...

Ramsay Street
A while later, Shane is standing by his company limousine, which is decked with ribbons, looking at his watch. The door to No. 22 opens suddenly and Clive and Danny emerge, Clive wearing a chicken costume and Danny dressed in the gorilla outfit, both without the heads. Shane turns to them and calls curtly:

SHANE: If you miss Des's wedding, Danny, I'll *kill* you.
CLIVE (insists): He'll be there; don't worry.
DANNY: We've got it all worked out: Clive will drop me off, I'll do my gorilla bit, he'll do his chicken bit-
CLIVE: Then I'll pick up Danny, he can get changed in the back of the car and I'll drop him off at the church.
DANNY: Perfect!
SHANE (grimly): It'd *better* be.

With that, Clive and Danny climb into Clive's car and Danny ducks down out of sight. They drive off as Max marches down the driveway of No. 24 and joins Shane. He's dressed in his suit and he asks Shane how he looks.

SHANE: Gorgeous!

Max then asks where Danny is.

SHANE: Oh, er... he went on ahead.

Max tells him they've got to pick up the bride.

No. 28
Zoe is standing in the lounge room at No. 28, staring at a posy of flowers, looking half happy and half sad. Max and Shane come in and Shane smiles at Zoe that she looks great!

ZOE: You wait 'til you see the *bride*!

At that moment, Daphne emerges from her room and says:

DAPHNE: Well, boys, what do you think?

She's dressed in a long white dress with a waist-length veil. Max beams:

MAX: Not bad! Not bad at all, eh?
DAPHNE (softly): Shane?
SHANE (nods): Fantastic!

Daphne then asks how they're doing for time. Max looks at his watch and replies:

MAX: Fine, fine. Reckon we ought to get a move on, but. That's if you've got nothing better to do, like!
ZOE (smiles): You haven't got anything more important to do, have you, Daph?
DAPHNE (laughs): No, I don't think so, Zoe!
ZOE: Let's go, then!

Church
Eileen is standing with Helen, Jim and Lucy outside the church, asking in concern if they're sure Desmond is all right.

HELEN (insists): Yes!
EILEEN: I think he's just putting on a brave face.
HELEN (chuckles): Eileen, it's a wedding, not a funeral!
EILEEN (agitatedly): I don't like it: he should've been *here* by now.
JIM: Oh no he shouldn't - they've still got a few minutes before they're due here; and don't worry: Paul will get him here on time.

Eileen then says:

EILEEN: She *is* the right girl for him, isn't she?
JIM: Yes, of course she is.
EILEEN: 'Cos if *anybody* deserves happiness, it's my Desmond.
JIM: I'm sure he'll be happy. They love each other, and Daphne's a wonderful girl.
EILEEN: Yes. Yes. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Inside the limousine
Shane is driving the limousine with Zoe, Daphne and Max seated in the back. As the vehicle's windscreen wipers swipe from side to side, Daphne sighs that it *would* have to rain. As they head along the road, Max is making everyone laugh with a story about a mate who split his suit! All of a sudden, Shane groans:

SHANE: Oh no... I *knew* something like this'd happen.
MAX: What's the matter?
SHANE: Danny Ramsay: *that's* what's the matter.

Shane has spotted Danny - still wearing the gorilla costume, head and all - running along the side of the road. Shane hoots the car's horn and calls to Danny to get in. Max looks on blankly. As Danny climbs into the front seat, Shane adds that he thought Clive was going to drive Danny to the church.

MAX (looking puzzled):*Clive*? I *knew* yous two were up to something.
DAPHNE (giggles): I hope you don't think you're coming to my wedding dressed like *that*, Danny!

Danny yells suddenly:

DANNY: Shut up!
SHANE (looking surprised): Danny...

It becomes clear, however, that the guy dressed in the gorilla outfit *isn't* Danny. He pulls out a gun and snarls:

GORILLA: Look, I don't know what you lot are on about, but if you don't shut up I'll blow your brains out.

Inside the limousine
A few moments later, Max snaps at the gorilla that if this is some sort of joke, it isn't very funny. Daphne tells Shane to just drive; they're going to be late.

GORILLA (angrily): How many times do I have to tell you? This is NO JOKE.
MAX (curtly): Look, we're on our way to a wedding. She's [he indicates Daphne] the bride.
ZOE: You don't want us to be late, do you?
SHANE: What do you want with us, anyway?
GORILLA (snaps): Belt-up, will you? I've got enough on me plate without worrying about *you* rattling on. *Drive*!
DAPHNE: No!
SHANE: Look, be reasonable: just tell me what you want.

The guy in the gorilla costume just points the gun at Shane and yells:

GORILLA: You heard me: DRIVE!

With that, Shane pulls away from the side of the road.

Church
Des is standing outside the church and Eileen is fussing around him, combing his hair and making sure there are no specks on his shirt! She's telling him:

EILEEN: Remember, Desmond: when you say 'I do', speak up loudly and clearly.

Jim calls across wickedly from a few yards away:

JIM: Yes, Des, that's very important!
DES (mutters): Thanks, Jim, I knew I could rely on you, mate!

Eileen then says sincerely:

EILEEN: I love you, Desmond. Good luck.
DES (genuinely): Thanks for everything, mum.

Limousine
The limousine pulls to a stop on a muddy track and the gunman opens the door. Pointing the gun at everyone inside, he orders them out of the vehicle.

ZOE (aghast): You can't just *leave* us here.
SHANE: How are we supposed to get home?
DAPHNE: And what about my wedding?
GORILLA (snarls): Think yourself lucky, lady: I might be doing you a big favour.
SHANE (warns): If I ever see you again, pal...
GORILLA: You won't recognise me, will you?

With that, the gunman climbs back into the car and drives off. Shane, Zoe, Daphne and Max stand there, stranded. Daphne sighs:

DAPHNE: What are we going to do *now*?
MAX: What *can* we do, love? Start walking.

With the sun now shining down on them, Daphne muses:

DAPHNE: At least it's not raining.

Church
There's a clap of thunder over the church! Jim heads outside to look for the bridal party, but there's no sign of them. He turns to the church and walks back inside.

A street
As the bridal party trudges along, Daphne sighs:

DAPHNE: This is probably going to give Des a heart attack. I wish there was some way we could let him know.

Zoe muses:

ZOE: At least we've discovered *one* thing today.
DAPHNE: What?
ZOE: It *is* bad luck to see the groom before the wedding.

All of a sudden, a small blue car appears behind them. The four of them turn and run towards it, and Max yanks the passenger door open. The driver, looking astonished, asks what's going on.

MAX: We need a lift to the city. Emergency.
MAN: But I'm not *going* to the city.
MAX: You are now, mate.

With that, everyone climbs in, Daphne taking the front passenger seat. The driver stares at her and says:

MAN: G'day!

Church
The guests are all standing outside the church, the sun shining down on them. The blue car suddenly roars up, the horn beeping loudly! It comes to a halt and Daphne climbs out quickly, calling:

DAPHNE: OK, everyone, you can relax: I'm here!
PAUL: What the hell happened?
MAX: Oh mate, you wouldn't believe it in a month of Sundays! I haven't got time to tell you now. Later, eh?

As Shane emerges from the car, he insists;

SHANE: Before you start, mate, it wasn't my fault.

Daphne stands in front of Paul and stares at him. Looking bemused, she smiles:

DAPHNE: Well cheer up, Paul: I'm *here*!

Paul doesn't respond. Daphne presses:

DAPHNE: Paul?

Paul, however, replies glumly:

PAUL: I'm sorry, Daph: he's *gone*. I'm sorry.

Daphne stands there looking devastated.