No.28
Gaby shows Mark a letter she's received from Jack. Apparently he's sorry for the way he behaved and wants to do the best he can for Zac. Mark doesn't think Gaby should let Jack near Zac.

MARK: Gaby, if you let him step one foot in the door, you'll never be able to get rid of him. We don't need him. We can take care of him without his help, can't we mate, hey?

He kisses Zac.

GABY:(mouths silently) We?
MARK:(to Zac) Isn't that right? Me and mum can take care of you from now on!

No.24
Marlene can't understand what she's done wrong with Cheryl(!) Sam tells her it'll blow over and tells her to drink her tea.

SAM: Look, it'll all work out OK, you'll see.
MARLENE: No. It's ruined, I know it is.

No.22
Danni and Brett are upset with Cheryl for the way she spoke to Marlene. Cheryl points out that Marlene was interfering.

CHERYL: That's what it's called when you enroll someone else's child in a school without telling them. Now, Marlene comes back into my life after all this time and thinks she's got some God- given right to pick up where she never started! Well, she doesn't. Now, this is *our* family. She can be part of it, but she cannot *run* it.

Danni isn't convinced and says Cheryl has a bad attitude. Brett tells her to cool it.

No.24
Annalise is having a cup of tea with Marlene and trying to calm her down. Marlene insists that she wasn't trying to undermine Cheryl's authority.

Just then, Danni comes in through the back door and apologises for what Cheryl said to her.

No.22
Brett thinks that Cheryl was a bit hard on Marlene.

CHERYL: I have a feeling that your grandmother cannot be just a small part of *anything*. She wants to take over, she wants to be Queen Bee, rule the roost, whatever it takes.
BRETT: A bit like somebody else I know(!)

Brett says he supports Cheryl, but she should go easy until she gets over having the baby.

The Office
Mark brings in a load of Zac's stuff. Rick comes in, dressed in a suit.

RICK: Here I am!
GABY: So I see. Why?
RICK: Don't tell me you've forgotten already?
GABY: Remind me.
RICK: Gab, the personal assistant! I'm here to train for the hotel management. Come on, come on, I'm ready to go.

Gaby sends him off to sort the mail and send faxes(!)

Jack comes in unexpectedly.

JACK: Did you get my letter?
GABY: Yes.
JACK: And?
GABY: What do you mean, and?
JACK: And I'd like a response.
GABY: What, right here and now?
JACK: Why not?
GABY: Because this isn't the time or the place, that's why!
JACK: Gaby, I can't go on like this. We have to sort this out either here and now or in court!
MARK: Come on, mate, you heard Gaby. Why don't you butt out?
JACK: No, *you* butt out, this is none of your business!
MARK: I'm making it my business. Now either you leave, or I'll make you leave.
JACK: Well, you just try it, pal...
GABY: You can both leave! That's right, get out! Go and do your macho act somewhere else! *Not* in my office. What do you think Zac is, some dog's bone you can snarl and snap over, get out! Out!

Jack just looks at her.

GABY: OUT!

He leaves.

MARK: Listen, Gaby...

GABY: OUT, NOW!

Mark leaves too.

School
Anne Teschendorff tells the assembled students that the auditions for the school play will be this afternoon. The play hasn't been chosen yet - it will depend on the acting abilities available.

When the assembly breaks up, Butza says that the play is bound to be hers, but Brett thinks his is more likely, with Lata in the lead role! Vikram has apparently agreed for her to take part.

Pub
Jack catches up with Mark in the pub.

JACK: Hey, I want a word with you.
MARK: Forget it.
JACK: What's Gaby to you?
MARK: None of your business!
JACK: It's very much my business, mate, I'm the father of the child. What exactly are you?
MARK: A friend.
JACK: Boyfriend?
MARK: No.
JACK: Got ambitions? Husband, perhaps?
MARK: What?
JACK: Look, this is a private matter between Gaby and me. If you know what's good for you you'll stay right out of it.
MARK: If she needs my help, I'm going to give it to her, mate.
JACK: Oh, she wasn't too keen on your help back there! It's got nothing to do with you. Get your own partner and your own kid and leave me and mine alone, got it?

School
Danni is still sulking about the Cheryl/Marlene situation. Brett says Cheryl will be OK once her hormones calm down(!)

When Danni has stomped off, Lata comes over and says they're lucky to have a mother at all.

Elsewhere, Anna Teschendorff is talking to Sam about handyman work and offers him the job of doing the sets for the play. When she's gone, Squirrel and Butza flirt with Sam(!)

No.30
Gaby has come to apologise to Mark.

GABY: I know you meant well, and I shouldn't have reacted like that. It's just that everybody seems to want to tell me how to run my life! As if because I've given birth I have to be protected all the time. I *can* manage, Mark.
MARK: I'm sorry, Gaby.
GABY: I can even manage people like Jack. Nothing personal, but all I want is a little peace to raise Zack on my own.
MARK: Gotcha.
GABY: Now, I'm not saying you haven't been a help. I've really appreciated having you around, but it's gone too far. Perhaps you ought to examine your motives a bit.
MARK: What do you mean?
GABY: Well, um, perhaps attaching yourself to Zac and me is a way of having a family of your own.
MARK: You reckon?
GABY: Well, think about it. You must be feeling pretty lonely with Dave gone and breaking up with Annalise.
MARK: Yeah...maybe you're right. I never thought of it like that.
GABY: I hope I haven't hurt your feelings, Mark. But I had to say something. Zac and I can't be a substitute for something you're missing. We've got our own lives to lead. You do understand that, don't you?
MARK: Yeah.

School (Auditions)
Brett and Lata are auditioning, they are rather hammy(!) Next Squirrel, then Stonie, then Packo on her violin, then Butza with a very dramatic audition(!) Finally Danni dances and they all clap.

Outside No.24
Marlene is getting the post in when she Cheryl coming out of No.22 with Louise in the pram.

MARLENE:(cheerfully) Hi! Taking my little grand- daughter for a walk? It's a nice afternoon for it.

Cheryl looks at her coldly.

MARLENE: Don't you think we should talk?

Cheryl looks back at her, but then walks down the street.

MARLENE:(to herself) Oh, well, have it your own way, then.

School
The kids are discussing the auditions. Squirrel tries to flirt with Sam and he hastily rushes off.

Lata asks Brett to take her "somewhere exciting" but he tells her she has to go home, or he'll get into trouble.

The Office
Cheryl and Gaby are chatting. Cheryl tells Gaby about Marlene trying to run her life. Gaby tells her she's had similar with Jack and Mark.

GABY: I wish they would get it through their heads that Zac is *my* baby and not theirs.
CHERYL: Yes!

(Er, but he *is* Jack's baby, actually)

Gaby says that Jack has no claim on Zac(!) but Cheryl says she shouldn't be too quick to dismiss him. Gaby is very busy and he could help take some of the load, and also avoid a court case.

GABY: No. I can cope. I just need to sort myself out and get the business on an even keel, and I'll be OK.
CHERYL: Hope so(!)

Rick comes in and Gaby tells him he needs to re- do his filing (in alphabetical order this time(!))

No.30
Annalise pops round to get her mail and asks how Mark is doing.

MARK: Oh, you know...OK.
ANNALISE: Doesn't sound like it.
MARK: What do you want, fireworks and a fanfare? I'm not exactly on top of the world, alright, but I'll live.
ANNALISE: Sorry, Mark, but it hasn't been all roses for me either. Breaking up's never easy.
MARK: I know. And I'm not blaming you...I'm just starting to realise that I'm not very good on my own. I need someone around, someone to share things with. Someone who needs me. I thought I could help Gaby and the baby, but I was wrong there too.
ANNALISE: Why, what's happened?
MARK: It doesn't matter. Let's just say that I out- stayed my welcome. The story of my life!
ANNALISE: Come on, you know that's not true.
MARK: Seems like it lately.
ANNALISE: Do you want me to stay the night?
MARK: Would you?
ANNALISE: Yeah, if you wanted me to.
MARK: No. What's one night going to solve?
ANNALISE: Yeah, you're probably right. You'll see, things will be alright.

He does not look convinced.

The Office
Gaby is just finally leaving work and finds Jack in the outer office.

GABY: Oh no, now what?!

Jack insists that they sort things out.

GABY: Jack, what does it take to get through to you?! I don't want to sort anything out with you! I don't want to have anything to do with you! And that goes for Zac too.

She turns to leave but he grabs her arm.

JACK: How can you speak for him, you've got no right to do that...
GABY: No right?! I'm his mother, for Pete's sake!
JACK: And I'm his father!
GABY: Yes, who hasn't been around for the last nine months!
JACK: That was *your* choice, Gaby! Look, all I've got is the child's best interests at heart.
GABY: Are you sure you don't mean your own?
JACK: I'm not going to let you get away with this, Gaby, I'm prepared to fight you.
GABY: You can do what you like. You can take me through every court in this country, I don't care. I will fight you every inch of the way! I'm never going to let you have Zac, never!

Jack walks out and slams the door behind him.

No.24
Annalise comes in, reading her mail.

One letter catches her attention.

ANNALISE: Oh! I've done it!

She screams in excitement and Sam rushes out of his bedroom.

SAM: What is it, what's going on in here?
ANNALISE: Oh, Sam, I've cracked it, I've hit the big time!
SAM: Cracked what?!
ANNALISE: it's form London, it's about my book of poems, they want to publish it over there!
SAM: Great, congratulations!
ANNALISE: That's not it, that's not it! They want to send me over there, all expenses paid, for the launch! Isn't it fantastic, nothing like this has ever happened to me before!

She hugs Sam in excitement. He kisses her on the cheek. A moment comes between them and they start kissing passionately.