No. 26
Todd and Nick are trying to do their homework at the kitchen table while Beverly attempts to prepare dinner - Jim chastising her about putting things on too high a heat. He adds that she doesn't want to ruin Katie's welcome- home dinner. He goes on that he hopes Hilary hasn't bulled Katie too much - she's not used to children. Nick comments:

NICK: It's going to be a bit crowded, isn't it, with me here as well?

Jim asks him if he minds sharing with Todd. Nick smiles that he doesn't. Todd grins that it feels like Nick's been there for ages and he doesn't even *know* Katie! Nick comments warily that Katie might not *like* him, but Jim assures him that if he's nice to Katie, Katie will be nice to him.

Reception area of the Daniels Corporation
Paul pops open a bottle of champagne and, pouring glasses for Gail and Helen, says:

PAUL: Good riddance to Derek Morris, eh?
GAIL (beams): May he get what he deserves!

Helen proposes a toast to Paul for being reinstated and to Rosemary for having the sense to get back to him. Paul comments that Rosemary doesn't forgive easily. Gail points out that he had too much to do. Paul replies that that's why *she's* the new Administrator of Lassiter's! Helen offers her congratulations and tells Gail that she'll knock them dead. Gail says:

GAIL: I'll be starting as a barmaid at the Waterhole. I want to learn every job in the place, and now Madge will be back on staff, she'll able to teach me.
HELEN: Good for you - and good luck!

Paul proposes a toast:

PAUL: Mrs. Robinson!

No. 24
Harold is lying on the couch as Madge massages his temples. He sighs that they have peace and quiet at last and he thanks heavens for the jazz club. Madge comments that it's nice that Henry and Scott have something in common with Mike. She then moves round to Harold's feet and starts massaging them, telling him it's going to help his headache. Harold starts wincing in pain and he exclaims that Madge is killing him! He's rescued, though, by a knock on the door, and Madge goes and answers it to Gail. She invites her in. Seeing Harold lying on the couch, Gail asks him if he's still feeling bad. Madge explains that she's just giving him a foot massage: it's reflexology - she read about it in a magazine: it helps *everything*. Changing the subject, Gail puts a bottle on the coffee table and tells Madge that it's to say thank you to her and Henry for their support. She then adds that Madge will be working for a new boss. Madge frowns in concern:

MADGE: Oh no... who is it?
GAIL: Me!

Madge lets out a sigh of relief. Gail explains that wants to learn the running of the place by spending a bit of time in each department. Madge smiles that they'll have a bit of a giggle. Gail, however, doesn't look impressed at that idea!

No. 26
Paul is helping Helen with wiping up glasses, as she tells him warily that the Waterhole is Madge's private little kingdom - she's set in her ways. Paul insists that she and Gail will be all right. Jim, Beverly and Katie arrive home at that moment, Jim carrying her cases, and Helen and Paul head through to the lounge room to welcome her. Helen goes to kiss her, but Katie admonishes:

KATIE: Close your mouth, please, gran. Too many germs, Aunt Hilary reckons. Can't be too careful.

Todd and Nick emerge from the bedroom area and Katie asks sharply:

KATIE: Is everybody out of my room? Did you leave it clean?
TODD (surprised): What for? It's only *you* moving back in!
KATIE (mutters): Typical. Just like a man.

Nick chips in and says brightly:

NICK: Hi, Katie!
KATIE: Are you the poor motherless boy?

Nick looks at Todd in surprise. Todd growls at his sister:

TODD: It's Nick. Nick Page.
KATIE: I know. Aunt Hilary said.

Katie then runs her finger along the coffee table and remarks:

KATIE: At least not *everything's* changed round here. The place is still a mess.

She walks off to her room, leaving Helen looking furious. Paul bursts out laughing! Helen remarks to Jim that his cousin really seems to have made an impression on Katie.

No. 24
The next morning, Harold emerges from the bedroom and apologises to Madge - who's sitting at the kitchen table - for keeping her awake all night. He asks her if that's the Waterhole roster she's doing. Madge nods that it is. Harold asks if it's any easier doing it the way Gail suggested last night. Madge, however, mutters that she's got to have the damn thing finished before she goes to work; she doesn't have time to sort out Gail's newfangled ideas. Harold points out that she was only trying to be helpful. Madge retorts:

MADGE: Oh yes, she's full of helpful ideas and she hasn't even started *working* there yet.

Harold says he'd better go and get ready. Madge chastises that he's supposed to be sick. Harold, however, says he's going back to work and there's nothing more to be said.

No. 26
Beverly sits down at the kitchen table with Jim, Helen and Todd, snapping:

BEVERLY: Hilary, Hilary, Hilary. If I hear that name one more time, I'll...

Todd remarks that they should never have let her stay there in the first place. Nick comes in and joins them. Katie follows a few seconds later, complaining:

KATIE: One pair of dirty old socks... a football under the bed - I don't know whose...

She's holding a small painting and asks what it is. Nick says it's his. Katie tells him to put it somewhere else: there's a place for everything and everything in its place. Todd starts to explain that it's one of Nick's paintings, but Nick gives him a kick under the table to shut him up. Katie sits down and says to Nick coolly:

KATIE: I know why you've come here to live: it's because you've got no family and no one to look after you. I can tell by your clothes.

Jim snaps at Katie that that's quite enough. Nick gets up and goes to pack his schoolbag. Todd follows him. Beverly sighs:

BEVERLY: *Whose* idea was it for her to stay with Hilary...?!

Waterhole
Gail is behind the bar when Madge arrives, sighing that Harold was up and down like a yoyo last night, but he insisted on going to work. Gail comments that she *thought* there must be a good reason for Madge being so late. She asks her how she got on with the roster. Madge, however, replies that because of last night and Harold and everything, she didn't get around to doing it the way Gail suggested. Gail looks at her in disappointment. She takes a look at the roster Madge *has* produced and remarks that she's got Henry down for a lot of shifts; she wouldn't want the rest of the staff to think there's any favouritism. Madge retorts:

MADGE: Look, if Henry's got more shifts, it's because the others aren't available.
GAIL: And Henry *is*?
MADGE: It's winter. He hasn't got so much gardening to do.

Gail seems to accept this. She murmurs that they'd better set the bar up - it's getting late.

No. 26
Jim calls to the kids that they're going to be late. Nick is doing the washing- up, and Jim turns to him and apologises for Katie's little act before. Nick muses that if that's what Hilary's like, maybe it's not so bad having no family! Todd comes in with a football, muttering that Katie's still in the bathroom. Nick asks him if they have to wait for Katie before they go to school, but Todd tells him to go on; he'll catch up. Nick heads out. Katie marches into the kitchen snapping that there are too many people with Nick there; she had to wait for the bathroom. Jim sits her down at the kitchen table and says:

JIM: He's part of the family now. Don't forget: he's had a pretty rough time just lately, darling. How would you feel if *your* grandmother died and everything went wrong? There *is* room enough here for everyone.
KATIE: Yeah, but why did you let him sleep in *my* bedroom while I was away?
JIM: It's Lucy's room too, don't forget.
KATIE: Why'd you let him stay here in the first place? Aunty Hilary said-
JIM: Hey - I have heard *enough* of Aunty Hilary.
TODD (chips in): Yeah, we're sick of hearing about her.
KATIE (surprised): I thought you'd be *pleased*.

Jim tells Katie that it's good that she likes Aunty Hilary, but sometimes Hilary hurts people without knowing she's doing it. Todd tells Katie that that painting Nick put in her room was supposed to be a present; he was trying to be nice. Katie retorts that nobody told *her*. Todd mutters that it was meant to be a surprise; Nick got really upset. Jim suggests that they both get off to school.

Waterhole
Madge comments to Gail that she knows how the change works: the regulars leave their money on the counter and when they ask for a refill they take the price out. Gail asks if they shouldn't pay separately every time. Madge retorts in disbelief:

MADGE: In a crowded bar with people everywhere? Come on!

Gail tells her that it's open to too much abuse; she'd like a more efficient system. Madge mutters that she thought Gail was here to watch; to see how they operate. Gail nods:

GAIL: Yes - so we can make things more efficient.
MADGE (growls): Efficient. Not trusting and friendly like they've always been; just efficient. Come on, Gail, you're letting this go to your head. Don't take it all so seriously.
GAIL: It's my job. I want to do it well.
MADGE: Change for the sake of change, eh? You know, you've been niggling at me ever since you got here.
GAIL: I was only making suggestions. I mean, if you weren't being so pig- headed in the fi-
MADGE (exclaims): Pig headed?!
GAIL: I am sorry, but yes.
MADGE (angrily): How long have I been doing this? Nobody has ever said a word before, and then in you waltz and try to tell me how to do my job. All right, if you're the expert, *you* do it - it's all yours.

With that, she hands over some empty bottles she's holding, and walks out.

Coffee Shop
Madge storms into the Coffee Shop and asks Harold for a cup of coffee, adding that she really needs it. Harold asks if she shouldn't be at work. Madge retorts that she quit - she and the boss didn't get along. Harold asks her in surprise if she just walked out. Madge snaps that she certainly did; she wasn't going to be used as a punching bag, friend or no friend. Harold puts his hand to his forehead and Madge tells him sympathetically that he shouldn't be working. Harold explains that Mike's gone to lectures... Sharon's at school... Henry's off working... Madge tells him to sit down and she'll give him a hand, seeing as she's unemployed. Harold groans:

HAROLD: Oh, you and your temper...

Office of the Daniels Corporation
Paul is talking on the 'phone. He hangs up as Gail comes in, and he tells her that the caller was Bob Hughes: they got his medical report back and realised he didn't have a leg to stand on in court. He asks Gail if she wants to break the good news to Madge. Gail, however, murmurs that she doesn't actually know where she is. Paul remarks that she's in the Waterhole; wasn't Gail just with her? Gail tells him sheepishly that that's what she came to talk to him about: she quit. Paul grins:

PAUL: Just like that? Up and quit?!
GAIL: All I did was make a few suggestions. She didn't have to storm out.
PAUL (teases): Gail... first day on the job and already you're telling them what to do!

He then tells her not to worry about Madge: she goes off like a firecracker; give her time to cool down and then get her back. Gail sighs:

GAIL: Never work with friends and relatives, eh? It's too hard.

No. 26
Todd and Nick arrive home for lunch, Todd telling Nick that Katie didn't mean it; she's not *normally* like that. Nick comments that he was looking *forward* to Katie coming home - he never had a sister; he never had *anyone* except his grandma. At that moment, Katie comes in and asks Todd grumpily why he didn't wait for *her*. Todd mutters that he didn't know she was coming home. She says hi to Nick. Katie then tells him that she thinks she likes that painting he left in her room, now. Todd warns her that if she's trying to suck- up, she's not getting off that easy. Katie explains that she was thinking about it this morning in school, about what it was like when their mum and dad didn't want *them* anymore. Nick tells Katie that he wasn't going to push her out or anything; he was quite looking forward to having a little sister - as long as she doesn't rave on about her Aunty Hilary all the time!

Outside the Coffee Shop
Jim is sitting at a table with Beverly, telling her that Katie's given up her Hilary act - for the moment, anyway! Beverly says she's been thinking: why don't they just move out and leave them to fight it out amongst themselves?; there's a house for sale at No. 30 and the auction is on Saturday! Jim remarks:

JIM: I wonder how much they want for it.
BEVERLY: We could go and have a sticky. Be interesting to see who buys it, anyway.
JIM: Yeah. Brave people, moving into Ramsay Street!

They suddenly notice Harold behind them, holding his head. He comes over and asks Jim and Beverly gently if either of them would like a top- up. Beverly declines, but Jim accepts. Harold starts pouring the coffee. As he does so, Jim asks him if he's been hitting the champers, as he looks a little the worse for wear! Harold suddenly looks unwell, though: he doesn't notice that he's over- filled Jim's cup and coffee is overflowing onto the table. All of a sudden, he appears to have a turn and he begins to collapse. Jim grabs him as Madge runs over in horror and Beverly leaps up in concern.