No. 24
Annalise comments to Lou that marriage will really get up her mum's nose - and she'll be 18 in a few weeks, so she can do what she wants. She smiles:

ANNALISE: So - do you want to make an honest woman out of me? Please?

With that, she gives a still- surprised Lou a hug.

No. 30
Dorothy, Toby, Stephen and Tom are playing a board game as Phoebe looks on, holding Hope. She asks Tom if he *has* to take the transfer, and Tom says he's afraid so. Toby suggests that he could get another job in Erinsborough, but Dorothy points out that good jobs are hard to come by. Tom assures Dorothy that he'll phone every day. Dorothy, however, sighs that long- distance relationships do have a tendency to fizzle. Tom insists that that won't happen to *them*.

No. 24
The next morning, Lou is doing some stretching exercises. Beth offers him bacon and eggs, but he tells her that he'll have muesli and toast after his morning dip - he's got to keep his body in shape! He then asks Beth if she's seen Annalise this morning. Beth replies that she's still in bed, and she asks Lou if she was upset when he said he wanted to call it quits. Lou muses that she took it better than he expected, actually! There's suddenly a knock on the front door and Beth goes and opens it to Brad! She throws her arms round him and beams that it's so good to see him - she didn't think he was coming back 'til tomorrow! Brad grins that he was missing her heaps and decided to catch an earlier flight. He hands Beth a pressie - a sarong - and he gives Lou some board shorts! Lou says he'll christen them straight away, and he heads out to the pool. Beth offers Brad some breakfast. He sits down at the table and Beth joins him to fill him in on the Ramsay Street gossip. Brad asks what the latest is with Lou and Annalise. Beth tells him:

BETH: It was getting pretty heavy until Lou found out Annalise is only 17.

Brad lets out a whistle through his teeth. Beth adds:

BETH: From here on in, I reckon Lou will stick to women his *own* age.

No. 32
In the kitchen, Michael is preparing a smoothie in the blender, and he tells Julie that it's for her - he knows how much she likes fresh fruit for breakfast. Philip comes in suddenly and as Julie goes to do up his shirt cuff buttons for him, she realises one is missing. She tells him it won't take a minute to fix. They leave the kitchen - and Michael immediately goes to the cupboard, takes out a bottle of vodka and pours some into the blender. He then takes a pill out of his trouser pocket and drops it in as well, murmuring to himself as he does o:

MICHAEL: Some special ingredients...

In the lounge room, Julie comments to Philip that Michael really is making a big effort to be civil. Philip says he only hopes he makes as big an effort to do well at Erinsborough High this year. Michael suddenly calls out that breakfast is ready, and Julie and Philip head into the kitchen and sit down at the table. Julie tastes the smoothie and smiles that it's delicious! Michael offers his father some, but Philip declines, saying he's a coffee and toast man this morning. Michael smiles at Julie:

MICHAEL: All the more for us, eh, mum...?

No. 24
Annalise is sitting at the kitchen table with Beth, looking at her sarong and commenting that she wouldn't mind that kind of material for her wedding dress. Brad tells her that when she finds the right guy, it'll give her the perfect excuse to hit Bali again! Annalise starts to say:

ANNALISE: But I *have* met the right guy. Hasn't Lou told you?
BETH: Told us what?

Lou comes in from the pool at that moment and, after kissing Annalise, she asks him why he didn't tell Beth and Brad that they're engaged. Brad and Beth burst out laughing! Annalise, however, insists that it's for real. Beth asks in surprise when this happened. Lou replies:

LOU: Last night. Basically, she made me an offer I couldn't refuse!
ANNALISE: Well? Aren't you going to congratulate us?

Brad and Beth sit there looking as if they don't know what to say.

Ramsay Street
Toby is with Tom, looking at Tom's motorbike. Benito joins them and asks if they've got problems. Tom sighs that the poor old girl is getting a bit old in the teeth. Cathy calls over suddenly and tells Ben that she'll be late for the hairdresser's. Tom and Toby bend back down to look at the motorbike and Tom sighs that he's going to need her more than ever at his new job: country people cover more ground than city slickers. Toby says to him:

TOBY: Mim's really going to miss you, you know?
TOM: Yeah, well, I'm gonna miss her, too.
TOBY: You won't forget about her, will you?
TOM: Maybe it would be better if I *did* - then maybe she'd be free to find someone else.
TOBY: She won't find *anyone* she likes as much as you. She hasn't had anyone for *ages*.
TOM: Yes, well, I'm not likely to meet anyone like her, either, Tobe. No one gets this lucky twice in a lifetime.

No. 32
Julie is clearly tipsy as she does the washing up, and she smiles at Michael that she does most of her daydreaming over the kitchen sink! She turns and blows suds towards him! Philip calls out suddenly to ask her what she's done with his shirt. Julie gasps at Michael that she forgot all about it! She heads through to the lounge room, leaving Michael to walk over to the sink and turn the tap on...

In the lounge room, Philip mutters at Julie that if he'd known it was going to take this long he'd have done it himself. Julie giggles:

JULIE: I'll have it done before you can say Jack Robin—... *Jim* Robinson!

Philip asks her suspiciously if she's all right, as she sounds a bit strange. Julie insists that she's fine. She starts struggling to thread a needle and she comments that the light's better in the kitchen. The two of them head through there, and Philip notices in horror that she left the tap running. He turns it off as Michael comes in from outside. Julie, looking puzzled, says she's *sure* she turned the tap off. Philip asks her in concern if she's ill. Julie nods that she might be - she feels a bit dizzy. Philip suggests that she go to bed. She totters out of the room, leaving Philip to say to Michael:

PHILIP: If I didn't know better, I'd say she's been drinking.
MICHAEL: This early in the morning? No... she wouldn't do that, dad. I mean, wine's about the only drink she ever touches. Well, at least, it was until she got drunk at Stephen and Phoebe's wedding.
PHILIP (looking worried): I'd better make sure she's all right.

With that, Philip heads off to check on Julie, leaving Michael standing with a sly grin on his face.

Shopping Mall
In a music- backed montage, Annalise and Lou are shopping for engagement rings. Lou is trying to find something reasonably cheap while Annalise only wants to try on the expensive jewellery! Lou eventually gives in and buys a diamond ring that costs $2,000.

No. 32
Julie is sitting on the couch, looking in her handbag for headache pills. Michael comes in with a drink for her, saying it might help - plenty of vitamin C. Philip comes in through the front door and Julie comments that he's early; don't say he's getting this awful virus too? Philip smiles that he was worried about her so he decided to call it a day. He adds that he thinks she'd be better off in bed. Julie stands up - and almost falls onto the coffee table. Philip helps her to their room. When they've gone, Michael delves into Julie's handbag and takes out her lipstick. He smears it on his own lips then heads into the kitchen, picks up a glass, pours a small amount of vodka into it and drinks it, leaving a nice lipstick mark behind on the glass...

Carpenter's Cars
Lou is talking on the 'phone, telling the person on the other end that he only wrote that cheque this morning. He looks annoyed as he writes on a pad '1445.53 DR'. He tells the caller that he'll make sure he covers that today. He then hangs up and murmurs to himself:

LOU: Somehow...

Benito joins him and says coolly:

BENITO: I suppose congratulations are in order.
LOU: Eh?
BENITO: You and Annalise. The child bride? So now you've got a legitimate excuse to carry on with a girl young enough to be your granddaughter.
LOU (tersely): I am *not* 'carrying on', Benito. This is the real thing.
BENITO: A bloke your age should have more sense.

Lou snaps at Benito to get off his back. He goes to head into the office. Benito calls after him and holds up some cash: $1,500 from a deposit on a Volvo. He asks Lou to take it to the bank while *he* deals with a test drive. Lou takes the money happily.

No. 30
Dorothy is telling Phoebe that she and Stephen needn't be in a rush to find another place. Phoebe sighs that *she's* not, but Stephen... Dorothy nods that it's important that they have their own space at this stage in their relationship. Phoebe tells Dorothy that she just wishes she wasn't going to be on her own. Dorothy, however, tells her not to worry about her. Phoebe, looking suddenly suspicious, asks what's going on. Dorothy, however, insists:

DOROTHY: Nothing!

No. 32
Michael comes in quietly through the back door with some empty alcohol bottles, which he hides in the cupboard under the sink. Just as he's done, Philip comes in and Michael asks how Julie is. Philip replies that she's asleep. Michael comments that that's the 'flu for you. Philip sighs:

PHILIP: If it *is* the 'flu. I saw these particular symptoms once too often in your mother to forget what they mean.
MICHAEL: But Julie's a strictly wine- with- dinner- only person, and she knows how much it would upset you if you started drinking in a big way.
PHILIP: Well, if she has, the evidence will be around here somewhere. Maybe in the bedroom. I'll check that.

He suddenly notices the lipstick- covered glass on the counter, though, and he picks it up and sniffs the contents. He then sighs:

PHILIP: Here it is. Look.
MICHAEL: Maybe she just had the one for medicinal purposes?
PHILIP: You reckon?
MICHAEL: I'm sure.

Michael takes the glass and says he'll wash it up. He goes to the cupboard under the sink - and 'finds' several empty bottles in there. Philip sighs heavily, picks up three bottles and murmurs:

PHILIP: Just the one, eh...?

No. 24
Annalise is showing Brad and Beth her engagement ring and Lou comments that it's nothing but the best for the future Mrs. Carpenter. Annalise beams that they're going to have the greatest wedding ever: Rolls Royces, designer wedding dress, 500 guests... Beth comments that she didn't know Annalise's mother was so well off. Annalise replies:

ANNALISE: Oh, well, she's not. Lou and I have already agreed to pay for everything ourselves.
LOU (nervously): Ah, yes, but I thought we decided on something small and chea—; er, er, intimate!
ANNALISE: Well, you're always saying 'think big'. No, I want this wedding to be the biggest thing since Andrew and Fergie.
BETH: Hmm... look how *they* ended up!

Lou comments to Beth that he's getting bad vibes from her. Brad chips in that they just think he and Annalise should cool it a bit and get to know each other better. Annalise smiles:

ANNALISE: I've been waiting for a guy like Louie all my life, and he's not going to get away from me now! And we owe it all to *you* Beth.
BETH (exclaims): Me?!
LOU: Yes - you introduced us.
ANNALISE: And that makes you the best friend I've ever had. You *will* be my bridesmaid, won't you?

Beth just smiles awkwardly.

No. 32
Julie is sitting at the kitchen table, facing Philip and snapping that she hasn't got a *clue* where the bottles came from; he *knows* she doesn't touch spirits. Philip demands to know who's responsible for the bottles, then: Debbie? - or Hannah? Julie suggests coolly that he ask Michael; it wouldn't be the *first* time. Philip calls to his son, who comes in. Philip tells him curtly:

PHILIP: Julie says you've been drinking again.
JULIE (mutters): That's not what I said.
MICHAEL (indignantly to Julie): Hey. That's a rotten thing to say.
JULIE: Well, what else am I*supposed* to think?
MICHAEL: I *told* you I'd given up. I'm making a huge effort to try and fit into this family now. I thought you *knew* that.
JULIE: Yeah, well, I thought so, but—
MICHAEL: I even stood up for you to dad. I lied for you. I knew you'd been hitting the grog.
JULIE (horrified): Michael!
MICHAEL: Well, let's face it: you're hungover, you can't get two words out straight and you want to sleep all day. Come on - you've got a problem.

Julie sits there in disbelief. Philip looks at her, upset.

No. 24
Annalise is showing Lou a magazine with outfits that she wants for bridesmaids. Lou calls over to Beth, who has a look and remarks that it looks like the material alone will cost $200. Sensing an argument brewing, Brad quickly suggests to her that they go back to his place to look at his Bali photos. He drags Beth out, leaving Lou to comment to Annalise that Beth's not too rapt in this wedding bit. Annalise warns him:

ANNALISE: You know, you're going to have to get used to people disapproving, Louie. Older man... younger girl... some might think you're just after my body!

The two of them start kissing - but things move any further, Lou pulls back and says he thinks they should wait until after the wedding. Annalise sighs that he *is* worried about what people think. Lou admits that he is a tad, but it would be nice to prove them wrong.

No. 30
Stephen hands round a tray of drinks and Dorothy proposes a toast to Tom, saying it's been too short but very, very sweet. The 'phone suddenly starts ringing and Dorothy says it's probably for her; she'll take it in her bedroom. She leaves the room and Toby tells Tom to remember his promise to ring Dorothy every day. A few moments later, Dorothy emerges from her room again and says to everyone:

DOROTHY: I hope you've all got something left in your glasses... good... because I'm going to propose another toast. Thanks to my incredible ingenuity and Tom's helpful friend in the Education Department, I have just been given a new post - and by happy coincidence, Tom, it's at your town.

She turns to Toby and adds:

DOROTHY: In fact, I'll be teaching at your school.
TOBY (ecstatic): Neat!

Tom asks Dorothy if that means she's coming with him. Dorothy smiles that she can't get rid of him - she's been working on her dastardly plan for quite a while! She then turns to Stephen and Phoebe and tells them that as she won't be requiring No. 30, she's going to need trustworthy tenants. Phoebe thanks her, happily. Tom hugs Dorothy and says this is just fantastic!

No. 32
Philip is searching the lounge room for bottles as Michael looks on. He suggests to his father that now that he's onto Julie, she'll stop drinking. Philip says he wishes he could believe that - but the problem is that with his job, he can't keep an eye on her 24 hours a day, and he can't let her come into the office in her condition. Michael tells his father that *he* can keep an eye on her at home - at least until school starts. Philip warns him:

PHILIP: You won't be able to let her out of your sight.
MICHAEL (slyly): I won't - I promise. I'll take *very* good care of her...