No. 28
Des, Bradley and Andrea walk into No. 28, Bradley raving about the speedway. Andrea sighs that that's enough - she wants him to brush his teeth and go to bed. Bradley pouts that he wants a drink. Andrea tells him that he's been drinking all day. She turns to Des, who tells Bradley that they can't take him out on these special outings, like the speedway, if he doesn't do what he's told. Bradley reluctantly heads off to his room, leaving Andrea to tell Des that he's certainly got the knack with Bradley. She adds:

ANDREA: It's funny: sometimes I can't help wondering, you know, how things might have turned out.
DES: What, with you and me?
ANDREA: Hm - in Perth - if your mother hadn't've said her piece...
DES: I reckon we would have gone great guns: I would have proposed, you might have accepted... then we would have been hit by a natural catastrophe - something like an earthquake!

Andrea laughs that he's a nutcase! She then adds that any girl would be lucky to marry him. Des murmurs that it's a pity no one told Daphne: she's the most perfect woman in the world and he shot through. He goes on that every morning he stands in front of the mirror and shaves... and every morning he just kicks himself.

No. 26
Zoe has turned up at No. 26 and she asks Helen if she can talk to Jim. Helen leaves them to it. Zoe heads through to the kitchen where Jim asks what the major catastrophe is! Zoe tells him that there's this friend with a problem: she works for a company who's about to do something that might hurt *another* friend, and this friend doesn't know who to be loyal to. Jim listens before suggesting:

JIM: Why don't we talk in plain English? What's Paul up to?
ZOE: Who said it's anything to do with Paul?

Jim tells her that he's quite prepared to help her, but he needs to know the full facts. Zoe, however, just says she'll go and sleep on it - she's sorry to disturb him. Jim then invites her for dinner tomorrow at 7pm. Zoe kisses him and accepts.

No. 28
The next morning, Zoe and Andrea are preparing breakfast and Zoe comments that she always meant to ask Andrea how she and Des met in Perth. Andrea laughs that she spilt a drink on him - accidentally! They ended up having this mad teenage romance, but then Eileen came into it: she didn't think she was good enough for her 'Desmond'; but her parents finally moved out of town and that was that. Zoe then asks Andrea how she met Bradley's father. Andrea murmurs:

ANDREA: That's not something I talk about very often. I suppose I was just young and not too streetwise.

Zoe looks at her watch and realises the time. She dashes off to her room to do her hair, just as Des emerges from his room and finds breakfast on the table. He smiles at Andrea that she's spoiling him and he likes it! Andrea asks him if he's sure he doesn't mind babysitting Bradley tonight. Des assures her that it's fine. Andrea goes on that she thinks Paul wants to take her somewhere ritzy, but she'd rather it was a pizza, as she hasn't got anything to wear. Des takes a note out of his wallet and tells her to splash out on a new dress. Andrea tries to resist, but Des presses it on her. She smiles at him:

ANDREA: I told Zoe you were one in a million.

Driveway of No. 24
Clive and Shane are loading up Bertha as Daphne stands watching. Zoe walks towards them and Shane asks her for her opinion on the poster for the Coffee Shop. Shane asks her if she think it'll bring new customers to the shop. Zoe just shrugs that she doesn't see why not. Daphne smiles that that's all she needs to know: if she can prove she can attract more customers, they'll *have* to renew her lease; it wouldn't be fair *not* to. Zoe just says flatly that she'd better hurry - they know what Paul's like when she's late. She heads off down the street, leaving Daphne and Clive looking worried.

Office of the Daniels Corporation
Helen has turned up at the office. Paul smiles in delight and invites her in. Helen looks around and remarks that the place is very impressive. Paul nods that it's a start; if it was too flash, the clients would think he was ripping them off! Helen sits down and Paul asks how things are at home. Helen replies that they haven't been quite the same since he moved out... Paul gives her a look. Helen goes on that she was wondering if he'd like a home- cooked meal sometime this week - perhaps tonight? Paul, however, tells her that he's already got a dinner- date with Andrea Townsend. Helen suggests they make it some other time, then. Changing the subject, Paul says:

PAUL: So how's your little empire going?
HELEN: You mean Home James? In a word, 'quiet'. In two words, 'deathly quiet'.

Paul offers his sympathy - but he then reaches into his desk, takes out some business cards and tells Helen that the guys listed may need a limo; it'll get the ball rolling. Helen thanks him, gratefully. Zoe comes in at that moment and Paul mutters that it's about time. He orders her to put on some coffee. Paul thanks Helen for dropping by and she heads out. Zoe tells Paul that she thinks a talk would be a good idea. Paul, however, retorts:

PAUL: Look, if it concerns what you accidentally stumbled across yesterday, forget it.
ZOE: But I can't just stand by-
PAUL (sternly): Zoe, I said forget it. Now, go and do some work.

Building site at Lassiter's
Clive is busy talking to Jack Lassiter while Shane gets on with some heavy lifting. After a few moments, Shane walks over to them and asks tersely for a word with his silent partner. Jack leaves them to it. Shane tells Clive that Jack isn't some country bumpkin - he can smell a con merchant a mile off; Clive's time would be better spent on some hard yakka. He hands him a shovel!

Coffee Shop
Helen is sitting with Jim, commenting that she's grateful to Paul for the business cards; she thinks she might contact the people by letter. She adds that Paul seemed to be very pleased to help her. Jim just grunts. Helen tells him not to be so cynical: Paul's still feeling his way, and he enjoys wielding some authority. Jim muses:

JIM: So Zoe tells me.
HELEN (laughs): Yes, he *can* be a bit of a taskmaster.
JIM (coolly): I think the word you're searching for is 'tyrant'.
HELEN: I thought we were calling for a temporary truce.
JIM: Sorry! I'm sorry.

Daphne comes over with their order and then hands them tickets to enter the Great Pancake Competition. Jim tells her that Helen's pancakes are special. Daphne smiles that Helen can only enter if her name is drawn from a barrel - the competition seems to be attracting a lot of attention. She adds that Zoe even said she's going to plait her hair so she's got *everything* crossed! Jim asks her if she's *seen* Zoe today. Daphne nods that she saw her this morning, but didn't talk to her much as she seemed a little flustered.

Building site at Lassiter's
Shane is still working hard when Paul walks over and offers to shout him and Clive lunch. Shane, however, says they'll have to take a raincheck - they can't work on full stomach and they're behind schedule anyway. Paul walks off, leaving Clive to grumble at Shane that it wouldn't have killed them to have had lunch. Shane just reminds him that they have an agreement. Clive bends down to help Shane move a wheelbarrow - but as Shane lifts the barrow, Clive catches his hand under it and yells out in pain. Shane says quickly that he's sorry. Jack runs over and, taking a quick look, comments that there are no bones broken. Clive mutters that he'll never operate again. Shane points out that he's given up medicine anyway! Clive says he's going to sue for worker's comp. Shane reminds him that he's self- employed. Clive retorts:

CLIVE: Yeah? Then I order myself one hour rest and recreation, starting now. Carry on!

No. 28
Bradley is building a pyramid of glasses when Des arrives home. He sees what Bradley's doing and says to him nervously that they're his only expensive champagne glasses, so why doesn't he put them down? Andrea emerges from her room and shows off her new dress. Des smiles that she looks pretty snazzy. Andrea says she hopes *Paul* thinks so. Des tells her not to go overboard - it *is* just dinner. Andrea, however, reminds him that they agreed to live their own lives. With that, Des asks Bradley if he wants to go outside and kick the footy around before it gets dark. As the two of them go to head out, Des says to Andrea:

DES: Oh, if mum calls, tell her to call me back soon. Apparently she tried to call today, but I was out at lunch.
ANDREA (warily): She rang from Perth?
DES: Yeah, she told Danny she was cutting short her holiday and coming home. Oh - and apparently she made a point of saying g'day to you and she's looking forward to seeing you again.

With that, he and Bradley head outside, leaving Andrea looking worried.

Office of the Daniels Corporation
Paul is giving dictation to Zoe:

PAUL: And it seems reasonable to expect that once the lease on the Coffee Shop expires, we'll be able to acquire the property without undue problems. Um... All tenants have been notified and we expect no trouble there. Trusting this is satisfactory, I remain yours truly, etc. etc.

He asks Zoe to get that off to Rosemary as soon as possible. Zoe mutters that she'll type it in the morning; she might get home on *time* tonight. Paul smiles that he's busy *himself* - he's looking forward to quite a pleasant evening. Zoe glares at him and growls:

ZOE: So much for a conscience.
PAUL (blankly): What?
ZOE: Well, it beats me how you can do this to Daphne and be so... so cold- blooded about it. She's supposed to be a *friend*.
PAUL: Yes, but this is *business*. If there was any other way-
ZOE (dismissively): Oh, sure, sure, sure.
PAUL: I'm telling the truth - I *do* like Daphne - but this is what Rosemary wants, and what Rosemary wants, Rosemary gets.
ZOE (coldly): You're always bragging about how you call the shots around here, but you're not your own boss at *all*.
PAUL (snaps): Look, we all have to answer to *someone*, and the sooner you come to terms with that, the better off we'll both me.

With that, he storms out, leaving Zoe to mutter:

ZOE: What about friendship, hm?

No. 28
Andrea is making a 'phone call. When it's answered, she says:

ANDREA: Hello, mum, it's me - Andrea. I was wondering how you were - we haven't talked for a while. ... OK, I wanted to know if Eileen Clarke has been in touch. ... She *has*? You didn't tell her anything, did you? ... Thanks.

She looks relieved.

No. 22
Daphne is looking after Clive, who has his left hand wrapped in a bandage. He tells Shane that it's a good job he doesn't bear grudges. Shane retorts that it was an accident - and he doesn't reckon there's too much *wrong* with his hand. Clive shrugs that in two days... maybe three... he'll be right as rain. Shane glares at him and snaps:

SHANE: Listen, 'mate', if you're not interested in helping with this job at Lassiter's then neither am I.

He gets up and goes to walk out, warning Clive as he does so that if his hand isn't better in two days, he can find another partner. Daphne interrupts suddenly and asks what the note she's holding in her hand is all about. Shane tells her that Zoe was there before - she wanted to talk to her.

No. 28
Bradley is making a model as Des comments to Zoe - who's looking out of the window - that first Andrea is all keyed up for this date with Paul, then she runs to her room, complaining of a migraine. Zoe asks in surprise if Andrea's going out with *Paul*. At that moment, she spots Paul coming up the driveway. She tells Des that she'll talk to him. There's a knock on the door and Zoe opens it. She steps outside, where Paul asks if Andrea's in. Zoe tells him that if they go in, there's something she has to get off her chest. Paul mutters that if it's about work, he's not interested. Zoe snaps:

ZOE: Well tough. Look, some things are important to me, Paul - like friends.
PAUL: Zoe...
ZOE: And you can't fire me because I resign. Look, I think it's only fair of me to tell you that I can't-
PAUL: What?
ZOE: Look, I can't let Daphne go to the wall without trying to warn her. I don't care *what* you think - I'm going to tell her *now*.

With that, Zoe walks off. Paul watches her go, looking annoyed.