Clive's
Susan is cooking while Clive looks through some medical journals. He's despondent at the volume of journals he has to read and absorb. Susan is brooding about Paul - he was so cold to her and she thinks she's blown it. Clive says Susan hasn't done anything to be forgiven for.

Charlene comes in and tells Clive that Madge is on the way home. She wants Clive to ring her up and tell her not to come home. Clive says Madge is probably on the way already. Charlene doesn't know how she's going to face Madge.

(Later)

Clive is explaining that alcohol has a cumulative effect on memory. He says he saw some ugly things while he was working in Casualty.

Shane comes in - apparently Madge couldn't get a flight until the morning. Shane has tried to reason with Madge, but she's coming home anyway. Madge apparently went mental when Shane told her what had happened. Charlene says she wants to disappear. Clive invites Charlene round for dinner.

Ramsays
Charlene comes in. She looks around the house and then gets the tin with the housekeeping money out from the cupboard. She packs a few things in a bag and phones a bus company. She asks them how far she can go for $60.

(Later)

Charlene is just leaving when Daphne happens to call around. Daphne tells Charlene off for never facing up to her problems. She insists that running away isn't the answer. Charlene says that Madge won't listen, but finally sees reason about running away.

Clarkes
Des has cooked dinner and done the darning. Daphne says that she'll do breakfast, but Des won't hear of it!

Ramsays, the following morning
Charlene and Shane are having breakfast. Apparently Daphne has asked Shane to take Madge to the Coffee Shop on the way home so she can have a word with her about the situation. Shane will put a good word in too.

Clarkes
Des and Mike are trying to a cake. The kitchen is left like a bombsite! Daphne is not pleased and also the cake looks quite inedible! She goes to make some scrambled eggs, but they've used them all for the cake. Ditto the milk and butter. They decide to start eating the cake. Daphne says she appreciates the cake because they made it for her, but if they ever come near her kitchen again, she's rearrange Des's face!

Outisde Lassiters
Mrs Mangel is having a go at Shane about Charlene. He politely tells Mrs Mangel to get lost. Shane says all Mrs Mangel wants is the job at Lassiters. He says that a bit of love and understanding goes a long way - Mrs Mangel should try it sometime. He drives off.

The Coffee Shop
Madge and Shane come in. Daphne wants to talk to Madge about Charlene. She and Shane tells Madge that she has to be careful - Charlene nearly ran away because she was so worried about facing Madge. Madge reluctantly agrees to one cup of coffee with Daphne.

Outside the Coffee Shop
Susan tells Clive that he's like the neighbourhood fix-it man. He tells Susan to tell Paul the truth - that she's in love with him. But Susan thinks that it's too soon.

The Coffee Shop
Daphne says that Charlene has been under a lot of pressure with her HSC, but Madge is unmoved - she doesn't approve of alcohol and Charlene knows that. Clive comes in and says it's reverse psychology - lots of kids turn to drink at exam time.

Mrs Mangel comes in at that moment and starts on Madge about Charlene's morals. She says that she hopes Madge has some punishment and mind.

MADGE: Oh, and did you have in mind, Mrs Mangel. Devil's Island, perhaps?

Madge gets up in fury and says she won't have people telling her how to raise her daughter. Then she starts to tell Mrs Mangel that young people are under a great deal of strain at exam time and sometimes make errors of judgement. Daphne and Clive are surprised and delighted to hear Madge suddenly talking like this!

Madge goes off home to talk to Charlene. When she's gone, Clive kisses Mrs Mangel on the cheek.

Ramsays
Madge comes in and tells Charlene she had no choice but to come back - her family always come first and Charlene needed her. Madge hugs Charlene and tells her that she loves her.