Recap
- Paul tells Jim he's dropping out of University. Jim is not pleased. Paul says he'll do it anyway.
- Des doesn't get the promotion in Canberra.
- Jim tells Nick off for filling Paul's head with rubbish.
- Maria introduces Danny to Nick.
Ramsays
Nick explains that Maria and he knew each other in school, but now he's an airline pilot. Danny is quite interested in this. He talks easily to Nick and tells him about his recent escapades with Scott. Danny invites Nick to stay for tea. Shane isn't pleased to hear this and says he's going out.
Robinsons
Paul is making a cup of coffee. Julie comes to talk to him. She says that Jim is very upset about Paul's decision and thinks that Paul is being selfish. Paul says it's his life and he wants something more. Julie says that Jim was happy when Paul was going to follow in his footsteps. She says that Jim has worked hard for the family and has no life of his own since Anne died. Julie thinks that they owe it to Jim to make him happy. Paul says she should have thought about that before she screwed things up between Jim and Anna.
Paul apologises for his last remark, but tells Julie that they're not kids anymore, and she doesn't realise how small their lives really are. He doesn't want to hurt Jim, but he also wants to live his own life.
Julie takes this on board. She tells Paul that they don't always get along, but she would miss Paul if he moved out.
Ramsays
Danny is enjoying hearing stories about Nick's travels. He tells them about the business with Paul wanting to become an airline steward. He says that Jim is going mad, but thinks Jim should be more broad-minded.
Danny says that at least Jim came up to the farm to look for him - it's more than Max did. Maria tells him not to talk about Max in front of Nick.
Max's bedsit
Shane calls round to see Max. His place is looking quite clean - there's a new cleaner. Max asks Shane why he keeps coming round - he must have better things to do. Shane says he hasn't.
Max enquires after the rest of the family. Shane says they're having dinner with Nick Berman, but he didn't want to stay. He asks Max if it bothers him that Nick is hanging around Maria. Max says he's sure there's nothing to worry about.
Ramsays, the following morning
Danny is not looking forward to going back to school. Shane has forgotten to put the rubbish out for the second week in a row.
Maria tells both boys off for hinting about Nick. She doesn't like being separated from Max, but that's the way things are. Shane says if she feels like that, she shouldn't have let Max go - he would never be living in that dump of his by choice.
The Bank
Des wants to talk to Mr Arnold about the Canberra job - he wants to know why he missed out. He also wants to know if his living arrangements had anything to do with it. Mr Arnold basically says that yes, it did. He says that Des's living arrangements are affecting his work, such as the debacle with the credit analysis. Des protests that it was entirely Greg's fault, but Mr Arnold won't hear a word against his son. He tells Des off for not being professional. Des says that Mr Arnold is completely ignoring the fact that his son is incapable.
MR ARNOLD: Change your attitude, or change your place of employment!
Ramsay Street
Max is sorting out the rubbish bags outside the Ramsay house. Jim comes to talk to him and offers him any help he can.
Ramsays
Max storms into the house calling to Maria. He slows down when he sees her and asks her politely about the mess. Maria says she's in the middle of cleaning it up and taking it to the tip. Max asks if there's any messages for him and she points to the telephone notepad.
When she's gone outside, Max quietly looks around his former house. He looks very sad.
Just then Danny comes out. He approaches Max. Max greets him politely and asks Danny rather stiffly how he is. Danny heads off to school.
MAX: We must have a talk, some time.
DANNY: Sure. Bye, Dad.
Max watches him go down the drive.
The Bank
Des is telling Paul at the counter that he's had a row with Mr Arnold. Greg has made yet another mistake that Des has to clean up.
Julie tells Paul that Des didn't get the job because of Daphne. She seems quite pleased about it(!)
Max's bedsit
Shane and Max are having a chat. He hasn't found anyone to work with him yet. Max says he's missing out on a bit of work. Shane wants Max to come home and sort things out with Maria. Max says he can't go back - not yet. He'll stay in the bedsit.
Shane suggests sharing a place - it would be cheaper and more comfortable. He suggests that he could be the flatmate - he quite likes the idea of getting out. He is not getting on very well with either Danny or Maria at the moment. Also, he doesn't trust Nick.
Max says that Maria needs Shane at home. But he agrees to think about it.
Danny's bedroom
Shane comes in all smiles and says he's been to see Max. He says that Danny should go over to see him and have a talk. Shane tells Danny that Max is living in a dump, and says that he has asked Max if they could get a flat together. Danny can't believe Shane would want to live with Max(!)
Shane says that Danny should give Max a break. Danny says he just wants Max to be proud of something he does, just once. Shane says that Max *is* proud, he just doesn't show it very well. Danny says he's not a mind-reader. Shane says they have a lot to thank Max for - everything he's ever done has been for them, even if he is a bit hard to get along with.
Robinsons
Jim comes in to find Nick waiting for him. He greets him frostily. Nick has come to apologise. Jim says maybe he should apologise too. He says he wants Paul to have a solid career - maybe if Nick had kids he's understand. Nick says he got a real kick out of Paul coming to him for advice. Jim says he feels like a stick-in-the-mud. He doesn't necessarily want Paul to follow in his footsteps, but it frightens him to think that Paul might follow in Nick's footsteps! Jim doesn't want Paul to spend his life with people feeling sorry for him. Jim admits that he does feel a bit sorry for Nick.
Nick admits that his life isn't all that wonderful - he's done a lot of things, but he's done them alone. He wishes Maria had married him instead of Max, all those years ago. He's never met anyone like her since. He's been out with women, but no-one has ever matched up.
NICK: You're right. My life's lonely. I've envied you and Max for twenty years.
Max's bedsit
Danny has come to visit Max. Max shows him in rather awkwardly. Danny looks round the dingy room. Max asks Danny if there was something he wanted but Danny says he's just come to visit. He tells Max that it was a bit of a shock to find out about the separation. He asks Max what happened. Max says it's just one of those things. Danny asks if the separation was because of him.