No.22
Lou is silent for several seconds.

LOU: Are you saying...are you saying that you were raped? Because the moment we heard the news, I mean, the hijacking and everything, that...well, it went through *my* mind, I mean, because these things *do* happen don't they, you read about them in the papers, and every night I used to wake up in a cold sweat...now, is that the way it was?
CHERYL: No! No, that's not the way it was! There wasn't any force...there wasn't any coercion, it just happened, now, I don't know how it happened, and I'm not certain of *why*, it just *did* because there was nothing, nothing...it wasn't *like* home here. It wasn't like any other experience that I've ever had. It was another world! Everything was out of kilter...!
LOU: And *that's* your explanation?! That it was 'out of kilter'?!
CHERYL: I...
LOU: ...so you had an affair with some...TOURIST?!
CHERYL:(downcast) You had to know, and now you do.

Lou stands for several seconds not knowing what to do or say. Finally, he walks out, past Marlene, without another word.

No.28
Libby comes in moaning about the lack of content in the library. Susan tells her the paper has rung to ask if she'll cover the kindergarten fayre tomorrow. Libby moans about that too. Karl suggests she packs it in and concentrate on her school work. Libby insists she's carrying on with the paper.

No.22
MARLENE: How can you sit there calmly drinking tea?!
CHERYL: What *should* I be doing?! It's not as if the world has ended.
MARLENE: Lou may not agree with that. Have you any idea what you've done, Cheryl?! I mean, do you think your behaviour can just be forgiven and forgotten?!
CHERYL: Of course I don't. Lou and I are going to have to talk. We're going to try to solve these things.
MARLENE: I don't think you're going to find it very easy. You know, when you were in Ecuador with your life in danger, as we thought, Lou was pulling his hair out!
CHERYL: I imagine that he was.
MARLENE: You imagine?! He didn't sleep, Cheryl. Every waking moment he was badgering Foreign Affairs, or dealing with the media, or doing everything in his power to secure your release. While you were...! And you come home, you treat him as though he's got the plague! You don't even seem sorry!
CHERYL: Oh, of course I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt him *or* embarrass him, I would never deliberately do that. Now, I have to go to the crèche and pick up Lolly. Was there something in particular you came to see me about?
MARLENE: Oh, just to tell you that the shop had been burgled, but hardly seems worth a mention now.
CHERYL: Mum, please. Please don't make me out to be some Jezebel. You'd never understand what it was like over there, none of you could ever imagine it.
MARLENE: No, no, that's quite true. We couldn't imagine it. And I don't think it matters! Because nothing you say can justify your disloyalty.
CHERYL: Oh, god!

She walks out.

Pub
Phil is surprised to see Lou in the pub. He is distracted, but doesn't tell Phil about his conversation with Cheryl. He just tells him that the magazine interview went OK.

PHIL: So, how is Cheryl settling in, you and her getting back to the old routines, are you?
LOU: That might take a bit of time, Phil.
PHIL: Early days, yet. Quite an ordeal she's been through.
LOU: Yes, terrible(!)
PHIL: Still, our Cheryl's a survivor. She'll be OK, mate.
LOU: There's no doubt about that Phil. None at all.

Lou tells Phil he'll take over at the pub and thanks him for all his support.

No.22 (evening)
Lou gets home from the pub to find Cheryl in the living room. Things are very frosty between them. She awkwardly tries to talk to him about Lolly having a good time at the crè.

LOU: I think I'll go to bed.
CHERYL: Lou, please. We can't go on like this, we *have* to talk.
LOU: Really? Don't you think you've said enough for one day?
CHERYL: I can understand how you feel.
LOU: Can you?
CHERYL: I know that you're hurting. It was a shock, I shouldn't have said what I did. I mean, just like that, out of the blue. Of course I was going to tell you...I couldn't have lived with myself if I hadn't. Just...my timing...
LOU: Cheryl, I'm not really interested. If you want to unburden yourself, go to confession. I'm going to bed.
CHERYL: Please, don't do this...I'll come to bed too. We'll talk...
LOU: You're not listening are you? I'm not interested. If you want a bed, there's Danni's room, or Brett's...or you could try sleeping on the floor, you're used to roughing it, aren't you?

Ouch.

(The following morning)

Cheryl is having breakfast with Lolly when Danni comes down. She picks up on Cheryl's mood and asks why she didn't show much concern over the robbery at the bric- a- brac shop.

Lou comes down. He kisses Lolly, then tersely says he'll get his breakfast at the pub. Danni is rather takenaback.

DANNI: Mum? What the hell is going on around here?!

No.28
Karl is cooking Libby breakfast (crumpets with honey). He does have an ulterior motive however - he wants to apologise to Libby for suggesting she gives up her job at the Erinsborough News. He just wants to make sure that her end of year results are not affected. She assures him that everything will be fine, but she's still going to carry on at the paper.

Oh dear, the crumpets are now burnt!

No.22
Danni is very shocked to hear about Cheryl's affair in Ecuador. Cheryl explains about their states of mind in a hostage situation - she was completely alone and turned to someone. His name was Charles and was apparently gentle, kind and made Cheryl laugh. They helped each other to cope and to be brave.

CHERYL: It was like another world. Not like anything I'd even known or ever dreamt of.
DANNI: The trouble is, Mum, you're back in our world now and I don't think you even realise it yet.

Pub
Lou is opening up when Marlene pops in. She's come to cook Lou breakfast. He tells her there's no need, as he's not hungry.

LOU: Marlene, I appreciate the offer, but there's really no need to take sides.
MARLENE: Well, it's a bit late for that. Look, Cheryl's my daughter and I'll love her whatever she does, but it doesn't mean that I have to accept her behaviour. Infidelity is a very old- fashioned word these days, Lou, but I've seen what it can do to a relationship. I lived with it for a long time. And I could never forgive it.
LOU: I'm not sure if I can either, Marlene.
MARLENE: Mmmm. I'll get that sandwich.

Coffee Shop
Libby is sitting at a table looking thoughtful. Jeff comes in and she says she's about to drop off the story about the kindergarten fete. She asks him for a decent story every now and then. He joins her at the table and explains that she's very young, and she needs to start off on the more boring assignments. But he would like her to investigate Cheryl again - the big story isn't what happened in Ecuador, but what's happening to the family now. He wants her to dig up some dirt on the Starks.

Bric-a-brac Shop
Danni is clearing up the aftermath of the burglary when Libby come in. She asks Danni about Lou and Cheryl. Danni jumps to the conclusion that Libby knows about yesterday's happenings already. She doesn't, but now Libby knows that something is wrong.

Pub
DANNI: Hi.
LOU: Hi, can I get you something, love?
DANNI: Well, actually, I was wondering if I could have a word?
LOU: Sure, fire away.
DANNI: It's not easy. It's about Mum.
LOU: Oh, well, let's leave it...
DANNI: No, I can't leave it, OK? If you were just Mum's boyfriend, then...but you're not, you know, you're family! You're Louise's dad. Um...the last couple of years you've really helped me through a lot of tough times.
LOU: That's OK, love.
DANNI: No...please, can you just let me say this? Look, I really hope that you and Mum sort all this out, OK? But whatever happens, I want you to know that you'll always be really special to me. I guess what I'm trying to say is just - thanks.
LOU: I, um...I appreciate that very much. Thank you.

They hug.

No.22
Cheryl is sorting through some CDs when Lou comes in. He decides to go out for a walk and tells Cheryl he'd prefer to be alone.

CHERYL: Lou...
LOU: What?
CHERYL: Are we ever going to sit and discuss this?
LOU: Do you think I want to know the sordid details? Do you think I'm going to say, 'There, there, never mind, what's done is done' just to make you feel better? Is that what you expect?
CHERYL: No, I don't expect anything. I just want a chance to explain.
LOU: Well, I want a bit of space, and if necessary, I will move out to get it! Because quite frankly, Cheryl, I can't stand to be under the same roof as you.
CHERYL: How can you act as if the past doesn't exist?! As though Lolly doesn't exist? Can't you see this is no solution?
LOU: Maybe not. But it's the only way I can cope.

He walks off.

Pub
Libby comes in and finds Jeff and his mate sitting at a table. She tells him she can't do the Stark story - she thinks they've been through enough. Jeff is not pleased and tells her to get on with it.

JEFF: There's no place on a newspaper for prissy schoolgirls, Libby. So either get out there and do the job, or find another career.