Coffee Shop
Caitlin and Mandi are enthusing with Billy about the Sydney swim meet when Anne comes in. Anne wait until Caitlin and Mandi have gone, and then tells Billy that she knows he has been lying to her about being interested in Caitlin. Billy says Toadie has got it all wrong.

No.28
Billy is still insisting that Toadie has given Anne the wrong idea. Toadie says that Anne jumped to her own conclusion, although Billy really does have the hots for Caitlin(!) Billy is not impressed with Toadie, who tells them to sort it out for themselves. Anne is very angry and tells Billy he should just have the guts to admit it.

No.26
Hannah is glued to the internet, on her own phone line this time. Phil thinks that Hannah should develop some other interests!

Phil and Ruth go into the kitchen for a cup of coffee and a bit of a chat.

RUTH: You're the best thing to happened to me for ages.
PHIL: Well, I'm glad you think that. There's something I've been meaning to ask you. Something I've been meaning to ask for quite a while, actually.
RUTH: Really?
PHIL: You mean a lot to me, Ruth. You're my best friend. You're kind, you're intelligent, you're beautiful. You're someone I can trust and rely upon.
RUTH: You mean a lot to me, too.
PHIL: I hope so. I want to share the rest of my life with you. I was wondering if... you'd move in with me. Well, not just you of course, Anne and Lance as well.

Ruth's face falls.

RUTH: Move in with you?
PHIL: I want us to be all part of the same family. What do you think?

No.24
Paul is watching television when Harold comes to talk to him. He tells him that Madge is a bit concerned about him - she doesn't think she and Paul are getting along very well.

HAROLD: What's wrong, don't you like her?
PAUL: Course I do, she's real nice.
HAROLD: Well, then, why don't you tell her that?! I mean, at the moment, you won't even give her the time of day! Come on, Paul, you can be honest with me. That's what I'm here for.
PAUL: Probably sounds dumb, but I can't like her. Even though I do.
HAROLD: What do you mean, you can't like her?
PAUL: Well, she reminds me of my mum. Only older.
HAROLD: Well, surely that's a good thing, I mean you loved your mother, didn't you?
PAUL: Yeah, heaps! I miss her all the time.
HAROLD: Of course you do! Then why should that stop you from liking Madge?
PAUL: I don't know. I just don't think I should like someone as much as my mum. Kinda think she'd be hurt if I did.
HAROLD: Oh....oh Paul. Madge isn't trying to compete with your mother. Noone can do that. She's just trying to be your friend.
PAUL: I guess so.
HAROLD: I know so. I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that your mother would like you to have a friend, too. And Madge is a pretty good friend to have.

Just then, Madge herself comes home. She's popped into the music store to get Paul a pair of headphones for his guitar - now he can play whenever he likes.

PAUL: Thanks, Mrs Bishop.

He hugs her. Madge looks surprised, but very pleased.

No.26
RUTH: Please don't think I'm totally against the idea because I'm not - you've just taken me by surprise, that's all.

Phil says he's been thinking about it for a while and Ruth counters that she hasn't had the same time to think. It's a big step because the kids are involved too. Phil doesn't see this as a problem. Hannah overhears the tail end of the conversation a bit. Phil says there are advantages of living together, like living expenses. Ruth thinks it does make sense, but she needs time to think.

PHIL: You do love me, don't you?
RUTH: Yeah, of course I do. Just, don't push me on this. I need to work things out for myself.

No.28
Billy is still not impressed with Toadie for letting slip to Anne. Toadie says Billy isn't being fair by Anne - who knows what could happen in Sydney with Caitlin?

TOADIE: Anne is the best chick you'll ever have.
BILLY: Yes! That's why I'm going out with her!

He insists that he's only going to Sydney to swim - it's the only thing he's any good at and he can't help it if Caitlin's going to be there. Toadie suggests that he sorts things out with Anne before it's too late.

No.32
Hannah tells Anne and Lance that she's overheard Phil and Ruth talking about them all moving in together. Lance thinks it'll be fine and so does Anne.

Billy comes around to see Anne and Lance drags Hannah off to the kitchen.

BILLY: I'm going to be completely honest with you, alright? Yes, I did tell Toadie I liked Caitlin, but I also told him that you're the only one I want to be with.
ANNE: Give me one good reason why I should believe you.
BILLY: Because it's true! Toadie's blown things right out of proportion. Alright fine. If you don't believe me, I'll go and prove it to you.

He's going to pull out of the Sydney trip.

No.30
Billy tells Caitlin that he can't go to Sydney because "something's come up". She wants to know what's happened and Billy is forced to admit that Anne is worried about him and Caitlin. Caitlin thinks Billy is stupid for throwing his big chance away, and he's letting the coach down.

No.26
Ruth and Phil are having a kiss when Hannah comes in.

HANNAH: Don't you two ever stop?!
PHIL: Don't you have some manners?!
HANNAH: Yeah, but not when old people are kissing!

When Ruth has gone, Hannah tells Phil that she has good news - she's been to see Anne and Lance and they all think that merging the families and living together is a great idea. Phil is stunned.

PHIL: How do you know about that?!
HANNAH:(casually) Oh, I overheard you talking to Ruth.

Phil is not impressed - Ruth hasn't made up her own mind yet. But he sees Hannah's point that if all the kids are cool with it, Ruth will definitely agree!

No.32
Billy comes around to see Anne who is on her own in the house. He tells her that he's not going to Sydney. Anne starts to cry and tells Billy it's not about Sydney - she just wanted him to be honest with her. Billy protests that he hasn't done anything wrong but Anne is more concerned about the lies - Billy told her loads of times that he didn't feel anything for Caitlin. He's really hurt her and she wants him to go. Billy slinks off, dejectedly.

No.26
Phil is making lasagne while Hannah and Lance help out. Hannah talks enthusiastically about how much she loves big families and how boring it gets just having Phil to talk to(!)

LANCE: Don't worry, Phil, I'll talk to you. Living with two females can be so draining!

Hannah hints that they should all come over for dinner every night and Ruth starts to look! suspicious. Phil sends them off to watch TV.

When the kids have gone, Phil tells Ruth about Hannah overhearing their conversation. Ruth says that even though the kids are OK with it, she still needs time to think. Phil looks disappointed.

No.26, the following morning
Hannah opens the door and is stunned to see that it's her friend Mike off the Internet! Apparently he's taken the bus from Perth to see her as a surprise! Hannah invites him in and is surprised to hear he's on his own and not with his parents. She's even more surprised to hear that he's expecting to stay with her!

Swimming Pool
Caitlin begs Billy not to pull out of the Sydney trip - at least, he should take another couple of days to think it over. Billy agrees, but says he won't change his mind.

No.26
Hannah doesn't think Phil will allow Mike to say, so he suggests he pretends to be a relative of a friend. Hannah says he could pretend to be a cousin of Toadie's. Before they can ask him, though, Phil comes home early from work. Hannah introduces Mike as "Mark" - a cousin of Toadie's from Colac. Phil sees straight through this and says he looks remarkably like Hannah's internet friend, Mike! He's seen a photo of him.

PHIL: I want to know what's going on here. And I want to know now.