Beach
As Mal struggles to stay afloat, Sonny lies on his surf board and paddles out to him. Libby watches from the beach, fretfully. Sonny eventually reaches Mal and manages to pull him onto his board. A look of relief crosses Libby's face.

No. 24
Sam is working under the kitchen sink, telling Marlene as he does so that Annalise is deserting him; she's a different person. Marlene suggests that it could be the time of the year - she's feeling a bit moody *herself*. Sam looks up at her and asks what the problem is. Marlene tells him that she's missing Colin - more than she thought possible. Sam murmurs that he had no idea. Marlene sighs that she just wishes she'd got on that 'plane. She goes on that the decision she made is the right one, but just at the moment she feels like she's under a great big black cloud. Sam murmurs:

SAM: Maybe Annalise does too.

Marlene suggests that he talk to her about it.

Chez Chez
Annalise is sitting alone when Stonie comes in. She asks him if he's got his blood test results back yet and he tells her that they're all clear: he doesn't have the kissing disease after all. Annalise sighs in relief, saying she couldn't afford to be ill for weeks, trying to start the new business - let alone what Sam would've done if he'd found out. With that, she gets up and walks out. Stonie calls after her in astonishment at her attitude, but she's gone.

No. 28
Mal is lying on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, and Susan is fussing over him, telling him to lie there and get his strength back. She comments:

SUSAN: To think that *Libby* was the one I was worried about.

Chez Chez
Patrick is asking Lou surreptitiously who makes money out of the Melbourne Cup: the Chez Chez customers or the bookies? Lou frowns at him and tells him to go on. Patrick suggests:

PATRICK: Our own SP - a tiny little operation, purely for the Chez Chez patrons. The patrons feel they're being taken care of, *we* clean up, everybody wins.

Lou points out that he's Mayor - and they could lose their liquor licence. Patrick, however, insists that *he'll* take the bets, set the prices and pay out the winnings; Lou provides the premises and half the stake and then sits back and rakes it in for doing diddly squat.

No. 24
Marlene is snapping at Sam because she's lost her form guide for the Melbourne Cup. Sam comments that he thought the Cup was for mug punters. Marlene replies that it is - but it's a bit of fun, and there hasn't been much of *that* there, lately. As she goes to head out, Annalise bursts in and says a cheery hello. She sits down next to Sam on the couch and asks him happily how he is. Sam comments coolly:

SAM: I don't get it, Annalise: you've been the Ice Maiden lately. What's brought *this* on?
ANNALISE (smiles): The Ice Maiden has melted.

She kisses him. As a grin of relief crosses his face, he comments that she's a real mystery!

No. 28
Stonie rocks up to No. 28, where Mal is sitting at the table with a blanket round him. Stonie asks him if he's got the same virus as him, but Mal explains that he got caught in a rip today - and he looked like a total bozo because Sonny pulled him out; plus he lost his board. He goes on that he bets he loses his job at Sonny's surf shop. Stonie comments bitterly:

STONIE: That's how it is these days, mate: people stab you in the back quick as look at you. Don't I know it...

No. 24
Sam and Annalise are kissing passionately on the lounge room floor. When they pull apart, Sam asks if he's allowed to know what's going on: first it's like he's got the plague, then suddenly it's the Kama Sutra or something! Annalise tells him that she's been flat chat with the Melbourne Cup celebrations. Sam, however, retorts that it's not work: she's been moody and angry; even his nan's noticed it. Annalise pauses before murmuring that if she tells him the truth, she doesn't know if he'd like it. Sam assures her that he can handle it. She hesitates again before saying:

ANNALISE: It's your dad.
SAM (surprised): My *dad*?
ANNALISE: Yeah. I mean, I've tried, but there's just things about him that turn me off.
SAM: What - his cheating on mum, you mean?
ANNALISE: Yeah, stuff like that.
SAM (smiles): Honesty really means a lot to you, doesn't it?

He then tells Annalise that Patrick is his dad and he loves him, but he can't handle his cheating on his mum - he *hates* that kind of thing. Marlene arrives home suddenly and Sam and Annalise quickly pull apart! Marlene tells them eagerly that she's just been playing with Colonel Parker in the shop and she thought what a marvellous little mate he'd be to have there in their home!

Outside Chez Chez
It's evening- time and Patrick is sitting outside Chez Chez, sketching a picture of the place. Lou joins him and asks him if he could do half a dozen pictures with a Melbourne Cup theme! Patrick muses that it'll give him something to do while he's hiding out from Sam: he's still nagging him to ring Sarah. Lou asks why he doesn't call her and Patrick explains that he'd end up with a whole other set of problems...

Mark and Stonie emerge from the pub suddenly and Mark tells Lou that he happened to mention to Stonie about a particular Cup Day event he's got going on. Lou looks at Mark angrily, but Patrick asks Stonie which horse he wants to back. Stonie says he's got a list - for Shane and a few mates in E Division! Lou stares at him and then looks at Patrick in concern before giving in. He tells Stonie that Shane mustn't know who they're betting with.

No. 28
Mal and Susan are playing carpet bowls when Libby and Sonny come in. Libby starts laughing at her brother! Mal tells her quickly that it was his mum's idea to pass the time - and there's no television. Susan insists that it's fun! Libby and Sonny go off to Libby's room to sort out some tapes. Mal quickly tells Susan that he's got things to do as well, and he walks off!

No. 24
It's the next morning and Marlene is carrying Colonel Parker into No. 24 in his travelling cage. Sam is in the kitchen and Marlene asks where everybody is. Sam tells her that Annalise is asleep, *he's* got a job on at Chez Chez and, funnily enough, his father nicked off early. Marlene asks why 'funnily enough' and Sam explains that his mother took a bit of convincing and has finally agreed to discuss the future, but his dad won't make the effort. Marlene comments to Sam that he cares. Sam mutters:

SAM: I don't know why. Dad spent his life tap dancing around his responsibilities. Doesn't care about anyone but himself.

Marlene remarks that she had no idea Sam felt as strongly as this. Sam retorts that his dad has been cheating on his mum for years; it's time for a bit of honesty. Marlene muses that it's time for a talk between Patrick and herself...

No. 24
A while later, Annalise emerges from her room as Marlene prepares some food down for Colonel Parker, commenting to the cat that at least he appreciates what he's got - not like *some* people. Annalise asks if she's done something she shouldn't have. Marlene, however, explains that it's about Patrick: he's upset Sam, and anyone who upsets Sam upsets *her*. She goes on that Patrick has always waltzed through life, taking what he wants - even his bit on the side. Annalise looks away shiftily. Marlene smiles at her that she and Sam are back on track and nothing could make her happier. With that, she opens Colonel Parker's cage door - and he runs straight up onto the kitchen counter and out through the open window, just as a storm starts rumbling outside!

Chez Chez
Sam is putting up picture hooks ready for Lou to hang pictures of former Kings of the Turf. Stonie comes into the bar and tells Lou that he's been talking to his dad last night and he kinds of likes the odds Lou is offering. Lou, however, says there are no more bets: he told Patrick to close the books. He walks off, leaving Stonie to ask Sam if he and Annalise have got any plans for the Cup. Sam replies that Annalise will be flat out helping Mark and Lou - but later on they'll be having a romantic quiet dinner. Stonie murmurs that it sounds cool. Sam tells him that he and Annalise had a heart- to- heart and things are back on track. Stonie tells him reluctantly that he's happy for him...

No. 28
Marlene is at No. 28, but neither Susan, Mal or Libby have seen Colonel Parker. Susan and Marlene head out to the back yard to check anyway, leaving Libby to asks Mal if he has a few minutes for a quick game of carpet bowls! She adds mischievously that Mal has so much style: Sonny was so impressed! Mal sighs:

MAL: What is it with him? Am I jinxed or something? Every time he's around, I act like a total dork.

There's suddenly a knock on the front door and Libby opens it to Sonny! He comes in and comments to Mal that he looks pretty good, considering. He then asks him if he's still coming to the shop to help out this arvo. Mal, however, tells Sony sharply that if he's got things to say, say them there. He asks if he's bombed out or not. Sonny, however, tells him that he's good at shaping boards - and he fits in, which not everyone does, so he'll see him this arvo. He then adds that a couple of dudes found his board. Mal stands there looking relieved.

No. 24
Annalise opens the front door to Stonie, who asks her if she's got a minute. He goes on:

STONIE: I just saw Sam at the pub and he said things were great with you two.
ANNALISE: Yeah, they are.
STONIE: So where's that leave *us*?
ANNALISE (sighs): Stonie, *nowhere*. You *know* that. Look, I'm sorry, but I'm with Sam and I love him and I want to make it work.

Stonie asks if what happened between them meant nothing at all. Annalise shrugs that she doesn't know why she did it - maybe she had some kind of death wish; she's sorry. Stonie growls at her that she made him feel things and then she got out her big boots and stomped all over him. He mutters:

STONIE: Thanks a lot, Annalise.

With that, he turns and storms off. Annalise sighs heavily.

By Lassiter's Lake
Patrick is sitting under the pagoda, doing some more sketching, when he hears Marlene nearby, calling for Colonel Parker. She joins her son, who tells her that Colonel Parker would have more sense than to stay out in the rain. Marlene ignores this and says to him:

MARLENE: What about you and Sarah, then?
PATRICK (sighs): Look, what *is* this thing with everyone? Sarah and I can solve our *own* problems.
MARLENE (sharply): When?
PATRICK: It's no one else's business, mum.
MARLENE: Don't give me that. You've already hurt Sarah, you've hurt me, more importantly you've hurt Sam - yet again.
PATRICK (shrugs): He's a grown man - he'll get over it.
MARLENE: You know what I see when I look at you, Pat? I see your father.
PATRICK (retorts): I'm nothing *like* him.
MARLENE: Oh, it's amazing to me you don't remember what his philandering did to our family. It split us right down the middle. I don't know what I've done that you should turn out just like him.
PATRICK (weakly): All this over a 'phone call, mum?
MARLENE: Yes - and the sooner you make it, the better - otherwise get out of my house and go and find free board somewhere else.