Countryside
Angie thanks Mick for rescuing her - she could've come a real cropper. She adds that she's not used to all this fresh air! Mick asks her if she wants to sit down, but she pants that she's fine. Mick smiles that they'll have to make sure she gets out more often. Angie grins:

ANGIE: I suppose a piggy- back would be out of the question?
MICK: Sure - as long as you reckon you can take my weight!

They walk off, laughing, their arms round each other.

No. 30
Danni is working at the desk in the lounge room when Luke comes in looking for his Medicare card. Danni finds it on the desk. There's a knock on the front door and Luke answers it to Steve George, who asks if Danni's home. Luke tries to put him off, but Danni calls out to him and he walks into the lounge room. Danni kisses Luke goodbye and he heads out. When he's gone, Steve smiles at Danni:

STEVE: So - you look this good for just *anybody*, do you?
DANNI (embarrassed): Steve...

Steve then tells her that he's got great news: the landlord said yes to painting the shop, as well as re- plastering and new moulding. Danni asks if Mal and Darren might be able to do the work. Steve, however, shrugs that the guys *he* has in mind will be in and out in a matter of days. Danni beams that this all seems too good to be true. Steve suggests they head out to sign everything straight away.

Erinsborough High
Libby and Mal are walking through the grounds of the school, Libby asking her brother if he's serious about breaking up his partnership with Darren. Mal replies that she'd know he was serious if she knew all the details. Libby says she rang Darren and he told her everything about the loan shark and borrowing money from the company. She adds that it *is* Darren's money too. Mal retorts that he doesn't *trust* Darren. Libby insists that Darren doesn't always think before he does things, but he always does the right thing; he only borrowed the money to help the business. Mal, however, snaps at her stop it: it's obvious she doesn't know the full story or she wouldn't be trying to defend him.

No. 32
Angie and Mick arrive back at No. 32, Angie telling Mick that they had to leave the country because Toadie got into strife for pushing cows over. Mick smiles that cow- tipping is a pretty normal prank in the country, isn't it? Angie laughs:

ANGIE: Yeah, but Toadie would herd 'em into rows before they went to sleep! They fell like dominoes!

She takes off her coat and sits down on the couch. Mick sits next to her and tells her that he had a real good time today. He goes on:

MICK: Ange, I think you're a really special woman.
ANGIE (nervously): That's enough of that.
MICK: I'm only trying to let you know how I feel.
ANGIE: I know - and I'd really rather you didn't.

Mick then picks up a present from the floor and hands it to her. She unwraps it to reveal a puppet of a possum! She reaches inside the puppet to find a small bottle of perfume. She sighs at Mick that a picnic's one thing, but this is too much. The front door bangs at that moment and Stonie comes in. He looks at Mick in surprise and comments that he thought they'd got *rid* of all the possums. Angie tells Stonie to show a few manners. Stonie offers Mick a beer, which he accepts. Angie goes to get ready for work. Stonie looks at Mick and remarks that it's just the two of them then.

Erinsborough High
Mal is walking through the grounds when Libby catches up with him and asks if they can talk. She goes on that she wants to know exactly what happened. Mal gives in and says:

MAL: All right. Why do you think Darren didn't want me to see the books?
LIBBY: I didn't think he was stopping you from seeing them.
MAL (forcefully): Because he's been skimming the profits to pay off the loan shark from the day we became partners.
LIBBY: Yeah, but some of it must have been *his* money?
MAL: About half of it.
LIBBY: The only reason he's trying to pay off the loan is so you can pay off the business.
MAL (tersely): He took it and bet it on a horse, Libby.
LIBBY (astonished): He wouldn't do something like that...
MAL: He did it. Now, I know the loan is the only reason the business is still ours - but he's still my partner, and partners don't lie to each other. They don't lie to *anyone* for that matter.
LIBBY (murmurs): He didn't tell me *any* of this.
MAL: Surprise surprise. Look, my only advice to you is to get out before you get the same treatment.

No. 30
Danni and Steve walk into No. 30, Danni commenting that it's going to be a big job. The two of them sit down on the couch and Steve asks if Luke's home. Danni shrugs that she guesses not. Steve smiles that he's going to miss out on the celebration then, isn't he! He begins to move towards Danni, smarming as he does so:

STEVE: How do you always manage to look so perfect?

At that moment, Luke walks in and asks if he's interrupting something. Danni leaps up and asks how things went at the clinic. Luke nods that they're fine. He then asks how things went at the shop. Steve tells him that it's really starting to lose the junkyard edge; Danni's got some great ideas - and with a bit of luck, she'll soon be out of there and into something more lavish. Luke points out that what she's got now isn't bad. Steve replies pointedly:

STEVE: No, but it's hardly what she wants to end up with...

Erinsborough High
Mal is sitting against a tree, looking frustrated. Susan walks over to him and asks him if he's ready. Mal, however, asks what he's got to say that's actually going to help anyone. Susan sits down with him and tells him:

SUSAN: You have come a million miles since you left school. You've gone to uni, you've made a very difficult decision to leave - to try and find something else that would make you happy. I'm sure they'll be interested to hear all about that.
MAL (mutters): Great. "Guys, I'm a uni dropout and it's way cool!"

Susan reminds Mal that he is the owner of a growing business; the students will be interested in anything he has to say. She insists that he'll be fine! With that, she leaves him to it. All of a sudden, Shona walks over and says Hi to Mal. He stands up and asks if she isn't supposed to be in the English exam lecture. Shona shrugs that the whole weekend's a waste of time - except she's looking forward to every second of *his* talk...

No. 32
Luke walks in to No. 32, where Stonie has been practicing drumming. He asks Luke what's up, and Luke tells him that Danni is driving him absolutely crazy; he had to get out of the house. He goes on that there's this guy hanging around - Steve George, a slick real- estate guy. Stonie nods that he knows him: he used to play footy with Shane. Luke growls that he's such a sleaze; he just feels like decking him. Stonie tell him that that's exactly what Steve wants - and then he gets all the sympathy and Luke comes off looking second best. Luke asks Stonie what he'd do in his place. Stonie asks what exactly Steve is doing. Luke replies that he's flashing his money around, talking like he's Mr. Super Success Story, and Danni is going along the for ride. Stonie asks if Luke has any hard evidence. Luke says he hasn't. Stonie declares:

STONIE: What you have is what's known as a severe case of jealousy.

While he was talking, Luke has picked up a guitar and started strumming it. Looking suddenly thoughtful, Stone tells him that Jo has suddenly got some clout down at the pub; she wants live music once a week - at the moment, that's him and Scouse, but Scouse is nicking off in a few weeks; if Luke decides to take over his part, he'll give him all the advice he wants to hear.

Erinsborough High
Mal is standing at the front of the hall, telling the assembled students:

MAL: Remember - the one thing you don't have is experience; and sometimes the price you pay to gain that experience is pretty high. Don't blindly trust people because they seem nice to you, trust them because they *earn* your trust; that way, whatever it is you're building has a high chance of success. Thank you.

The group of students clap - except for Libby, who remains cross- armed. Susan thanks him for the speech and asks if there are any questions. No one raises their hand. Susan reads out the details of the next lectures and the students all head out. Susan then sits down with Mal and says:

SUSAN: Care to tell me what experiences you were drawing on for that little chat?
MAL: Not really. Just that having my own business is giving me that education that dad's always been after me to get.
SUSAN: Which means?
MAL: Which means I'm finding out why he's so cynical about people - and that I'm learning the hard way.

With that, he gets up and walks out, leaving Susan looking worried.

No. 32
Luke and Stonie are jamming in the lounge room on guitar and drums. When they finish, Stonie tells Luke that he was really rocking. Luke explains that his mum made him make guitar lessons as a kid, but he gave them up. Changing the subject, he asks Stonie if he never really worries about Catherine. Stonie shrugs that it's not easy being apart, but he'll be seeing her in a week. Luke asks if it's better not knowing if something's going on. Stonie replies that it's better if you *trust* your partner. Luke says:

LUKE: And if I can't?
STONIE: Then you drive yourself crazy with jealousy, man, and you risk driving her away.

Luke sighs that he can't help it: he's really gone on Danni. Stonie beams that all Luke needs is the all- clear from the doc and he's got everything he wants. Luke sighs that he's closer to getting *that* than he is to getting Danni: one more result like he got today and he's all- clear. Stonie beams that that's sensational, and he asks Luke if he's told Danni. Luke murmurs that he hasn't yet. Stonie muses that things *must* be pretty serious then. Luke says he just hopes he can set things right...

Holy Roll
Danni is sitting at a table with Steve as Stonie emerges from the kitchen. Angie asks him to take Danni and Steve some coffees. Stonie does so. As he serves Danni, he asks her if she's spoken to Luke, but Danni says she hasn't been home for a while. Stonie tells her that it was important. Steve, however, comments that it couldn't have been *too* important or he would have rung. Stonie retorts:

STONIE: Well, it *was* important - and I know this might sound strange to *you*, Slick, but not everyone has mobile 'phones.

Steve tells Stonie that he and Danni would like to enjoy their coffees alone. Danni, however, tells Steve that she should be getting home, in case Luke *is* looking for her. Steve glares at Stonie in annoyance.

At that moment, Mick comes into the shop and, joining Angie at the counter, tells her that he knows he said they can just be friends, but he doesn't know if he can settle for that anymore. Angie says she's starting to realise that. Mick goes on:

MICK: That Big Kev of yours must be one heck of a heartbreaker to have a hold on you the way he does. I came to tell you that I won't be coming to see you again.
ANGIE: Why?
MICK: I don't know... I guess I think I've blown it. Too much too soon - you know?
ANGIE: Mick, you haven't blown it. I'm big enough and old enough to make my own decisions - and I know exactly what I'm doing...

No. 24
Luke is holding Lolly as Danni gasps at him:

DANNI: You're *jealous*?
LUKE: He is over you like a rash. How am I not supposed to mind about that?

Danni insists that Steve has done nothing but be charming so far. Luke, however, retorts that he's a sleaze. Danni tells him that it's lucky she's not interested in him then. Luke asks why she can't understand how much this is hurting him. Danni insists that Steve is just helping her get the shop fitted out. She adds:

DANNI: If you really loved me, you'd be *pleased*.
LUKE: And if *you* really loved *me*, you'd understand why I'm *not*.
DANNI: I *do* love you.
LUKE: You've got a funny way of showing it.

Erinsborough High
Mal is walking along in the grounds with Shona, who comments that she really liked his speech: all the other people talked about their job, but he talked about his life; it takes a lot of guts. She adds that, even last year, she knew he was something special. Mal asks how come she never spoke to him then. Shona smiles that she was new and shy, she guesses. Mal tells her that he remembers she came in about halfway through the year from some other school. Shona tells him that her old school kicked her out. Mal asks what for. Shona shrugs:

SHONA: Who knows? They were pretty uptight; but I noticed you the first day. Pity you were seeing Danni.
MAL: Yeah... That was a long time ago.
SHONA: And the things that used to fly around about what you two used to do together...
MAL: Yeah?
SHONE: Like this...

She turns and kisses him. When they pull apart, Mal smiles that she doesn't waste any time! Shona then takes a hip flask of whisky out of her pocket and tells him that she bought it for him; she doesn't like it because it makes her sick. Mal points out that if she gets caught with it, she's history. Shona replies that she *hasn't* been caught. She asks him if he wants a sip or not, but Mal declines. Shona smiles that she thinks he needs a little more encouragement. She starts kissing him again - just as Susan walks over and asks what's going on. Mal insists that it's nothing. Susan notices the hip flask, though, and frowns that it doesn't look like nothing to *her*... Mal and Shona stand there guiltily.