Ramsay Street
Bertha has broken down so Jim offers Gemma a lift to school instead while Matt struggles to fix her. Melanie comes along as Gemma and Jim drive off.

MELANIE: Short and sweet?
MATT: Yes...yes she is!

Melanie asks Matt how he is - he says it's a bit empty with Joe and Toby away. Melanie tells him that she likes her flat, but she doesn't seem too enthusiastic. Matt offers to come over to Melanie's place with Gemma tonight, but she says she'd rather cook for him at No.32.

Coffee Shop
HAROLD: I didn't think I was capable of such hatred.

He's shocked to his core and Madge, Des and Eddie are trying to comfort him. Harold is so glad that Des was there to stop him. Eddie suggests that Harold takes the rest of the day off and everyone agrees. Madge takes him off. Harold is very shaken.

No.22
Paul and Isabella get up and Caroline, Christina and Melanie are shocked that Paul isn't even dressed. But he says he's taking the day off. Caroline is horrified - they've got a big meeting, but Paul wants to take Isabella shopping(!)

Adam pops in to ask Caroline if they're still on for tonight. She isn't sure - she may be working late and will give him a ring later. Caroline leaves for work, rolling her eyes at Paul.

Coffee Shop
The police have dropped all charges against Eddie because he grassed Trevor up. Eddie is sort of relieved - at least his shot at permanent residency isn't affected. Christina comes in and Matt asks her if anyone has actually been to Melanie's flat - she's been a bit funny about it. Christina agrees and says that Melanie does seem to be hanging around Ramsay Street a lot. Maybe she's just lonely.

Outside the Brasserie
Paul, Jim and Isabella are having lunch. Caroline comes up with some urgent news about a contract she's negotiating. He distractedly says that he'll pop into the office shortly.

When Paul and Isabella have departed, Jim invites Caroline to join him for a drink.

CAROLINE: Have you heard from Beverly?
JIM: Only so she could tell me how I can reach her. We don't have much to say to each other these days.(pause) I miss you.
CAROLINE: Jim...
JIM: You know, I really regret the way things finished up between you and me.
CAROLINE: You did what you had to do.
JIM: At the time. But times change. I would like to try again.
CAROLINE: Don't forget how certain people reacted, we weren't exactly the most popular couple in town.
JIM: YOu mean Helen and Paul? Well, their objections were mostly centred around my marriage. Which is not a problem any more.
CAROLINE: But there are others. I've been seeing Adam Willis lately.
JIM: Yes, I know that about that. Is it serious?
CAROLINE: I don't know yet. It's a bit too early to tell.
JIM: Then there's no reason why we can't have dinner together. How about tomorrow night? Go on, it's just dinner.
CAROLINE: I don't know...
JIM: Oh, you don't want to.
CAROLINE: It's not that.
JIM: Oh, you do want to! I'll pick you up at 8 o'clock!
CAROLINE: OK.
JIM: Great!

No.32
Melanie is cooking for Matt and Gemma and says there isn't a lot of room to cook in the flat, and anyway, it's no fun cooking for one. Matt and Gemma observe how much Melanie has been in Ramsay Street lately but Melanie changes the subject. Matt suggests to Gemma that they drive up to the mountains one weekend. Melanie decides to take Bouncer for a walk to give Matt and Gemma some privacy.

No.28
Caroline has come over to tell Adam that she's having dinner with a business colleague tonight. She invites him along, but he isn't keen. Caroline offers to pay and eventually talks him around.

A road
Melanie is walking Bouncer and sees Isabella in a phone box. She waves to her and Isabella waves back. Then she gets off the phone and comes to greet Melanie. Melanie asks if Paul's phone is out of order and Isabella explains that she was calling her mother in Buenos Aires and didn't want to take advantage of Paul's phone bill.

No.24
Harold is still very quiet and shaken. He goes off to the garden. Des comes in to see how Harold is and Eddie and Madge says he isn't too good. Des thinks Joe had the best idea - taking a break for a while.

No.32
Melanie, Matt and Gemma are eating dinner. Matt tells Melanie that he and Gemma should come around to see her. She isn't keen and Matt finally asks her if there's a problem with her flat. Melanie gets up and says she'd better go.

MELANIE: I'll see you guys whenever. Bye.

Matt and Gemma wonder what to do - there clearly something up with Melanie.

MATT: Come on, let's go.
GEMMA: Where?
MATT: We'll follow her home. I mean, if she doesn't want to talk about it it's obviously something serious.

No.28
Caroline and Adam come in rather silently. Adam hasn't had a good night as the business partner was very boring. Caroline didn't find it boring at all. They bicker and Caroline accuses Adam of not making an effort. She ends up storming out.

A road
Melanie is walking nervously towards her flat and Matt and Gemma are stalking her. Melanie paces outside a building and then finally sits down on a wall. She looks anxiously up at a window.

GEMMA: What is she doing just sitting there? Why doesn't she go inside?

No.24
Madge brings Harold a cup of tea and suggests that they go away for a break. Harold rejects this point blank.

MADGE: But love, saying here with the memories so immediate, it's not helping.
EDDIE: She does have a point there, mate.
HAROLD: I've got too many responsibilities. There's Sky.
MADGE: We'll take Sky with us.
HAROLD: The shop...
EDDIE: I'll cover for you.
HAROLD: And I promised Reverend Richards I'd do more work for the Church.
MADGE: He will understand. Please.
HAROLD: No.

He says he's got to do the TV interview - Kerry's story has to be told and he's the only one who can do it.

No.22
Isabella and Paul are showing the twins their shopping. Christina is not impressed and Caroline just hopes that Paul will be in work tomorrow! Paul and Isabella go off to bed.

CHRISTINA: I can't believe the money he is throwing away on her!
CAROLINE: He's gone completely overboard. I don't know why she puts up with it.
CHRISTINA: Pardon?
CAROLINE: It's another form of male domination, isn't it? He dresses her up like a doll, shows her off. She's no better than a toy.
CHRISTINA: I guess.
CAROLINE: Chris, Paul is like a big kid at the moment. Any day now he's going to get bored playing this game. Isabella will go back to Argentina and he won't give her another though.
CHRISTINA: You think so?
CAROLINE: Yes, I do. I feel sorry for her in a way.
CHRISTINA: Yeah, maybe. He does treat her like a doormat. And she never, ever argues with him.
CAROLINE: Which he just loves, typical male creep which he is.

Christina perceives that Caroline has had a fight with Adam but Caroline says it was just a misunderstanding!

Road outside Melanie's flat
Melanie is still sitting on the wall and looking anxiously up at a window from time to time. Matt and Gemma watch from a distance. Finally, the light in the window goes off and Melanie nervously creeps into the building.

MATT: I don't like it Gemma, let's go in.
GEMMA: We can't do that. Then she'd know that we follwed her.
MATT: We *did* follow her!
GEMMA: Yeah, but it was only to see if she was OK.
MATT: We don't know if she is yet, do we?!
GEMMA: No, but...can we just leave it for now? She's home, and that's the main thing.
MATT: I don't feel right about it. Not at all...she's in some kind of trouble.