No. 28
Daphne asks Des in concern what it is. Des just murmurs that he doesn't know how he's going to tell him... At that moment, Mike comes in with Bouncer and starts telling Des cheerfully not to expect him to turn into a guard- dog overnight, as he hasn't even taught him to catch a ball yet! He stops what he's saying as he notices the looks on Des and Daphne's faces. He asks Des what's wrong. Des replies slowly:

DES: Look, mate, I...
MIKE: What is it?
DES: Look, your mother called. I don't know how I'm going to tell you this, but... your father died this morning.

Mike looks down at the ground and murmurs in shock:

MIKE: Dad...

Daphne stares at him and tells him gently that she's *so* sorry. She gives him a hug.

No. 26
Helen is sitting at the kitchen table, which is strewn with sheets of paper with sketches on them. Jim comes in through the back door and asks what's going on, and she explains that she has an exhibition next month and it slipped her mind completely. Jim remarks that that's hardly surprising considering all the hoo- ha that's been going on. Helen adds that she's got stuff in the garage which needs sorting and framing that she doesn't know how she's going to manage. Jim tells her that he'll give her a hand this afternoon - and they can rope Scott in. Helen, however, says it's too late for that, as he's helping Des and Mike move Clive into the flat behind the surgery. Jim shrugs that it'll just have to be the two of them!

No. 28
Mike is sitting on the couch, looking upset. Daphne hands him a cup of tea as Des asks him gently if he's all right. Mike murmurs:

MIKE: I should be crying or something...
DES: Who says?
MIKE: I don't know - I just *should*.
DES: There's no rules, mate - you just do as you feel.
MIKE: I don't *know* how I feel, Des.
DAPHNE: Don't force it.
MIKE: I should be really upset - he was my father; I should be devastated. All I sort of feel is relieved. Is that wrong?
DAPHNE: Of *course* it's not wrong. For heaven's sake, Mike, he used to *bash* you.
MIKE: He's still my father...
DES: Yeah, but not a very good one, though.
MIKE (to Des): Why didn't mum tell me herself?
DES (shrugs): I don't know.
MIKE: She shouldn't've left it up to you.
DES: Yeah, maybe - but I guess she wasn't feeling up to it.
MIKE: Did she say how he died?
DES: Yeah - it was a heart attack.
MIKE: Is that all she said?
DES (nods): I guess she didn't want to talk over the 'phone.

Mike stands up and says he'd better go and see her. Daphne asks if he wants her and Des to come with him, but he declines. He adds:

MIKE: There's a lot of things that haven't been said between me and mum. Now that he's gone, maybe we can say them...

Des tells Mike that he and Daphne are both sorry - and they'll be there when he gets back if he wants to talk about it. Mike murmurs:

MIKE: If I could only cry, then I'd... then I'd know that I loved him.

With that, he heads out. When he's gone, Des says to Daphne that he'd better give Clive a ring and let him know that he and Mike won't be able to give him a hand with the move. He adds in concern that he hopes Mike's all right. Daphne assures him softly:

DAPHNE: He'll cope. *We're* his family now, so we'll make sure he *does*.

No. 24
Shane is sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the newspaper, when Henry runs in through the back door, having been for a jog. He smiles:

HENRY: Don't think I'll *ever* get out of the prison routine.
SHANE (mutters): Not the way *you're* going.

Henry glares at him and tells him that Madge explained where that $60 came from. Madge, who's preparing breakfast, says she thinks regular morning exercise is a very good thing. She tells Shane that he should take Henry jogging tomorrow and show him that track through the park. Shane retorts darkly:

SHANE: I might - for a hundred bucks.
HENRY (tersely): I didn't *take* your money - and *you've* got $60 that belongs to *me*.

Shane replies curtly that he thinks he'll hang onto it just in case. Madge sighs at the two of them not to start again. She then changes the subject and tells the boys that Harold went to church with her this morning - and as he's decided to settle in Erinsborough, he's looking for a place. Shane muses that that'll suit *her*, having Harold nice and handy! Madge admits that the thought isn't unappealing! Henry says:

HENRY: He's a good old bloke, Harold. I think it's *great* that he's staying around.
MADGE (muses): Well, finding a place isn't going to be easy. It'll have to be perfect to meet his standards.

Shane looks at his watch suddenly and says he's running late, as he promised he'd help Clive shift. Henry says *he's* got nothing on this afternoon and wouldn't mind giving Clive a hand. Shane, however, retorts that they've got more than enough helpers as it is: Henry would only be in the way. He walks off, leaving Madge to tell Henry that she's sorry - Shane isn't ready to be convinced that he didn't take his money. Henry points out that they've never agreed on anything - and it looks like they never *will*. Madge heads through to the laundry and takes some washing out of the machine. The first item she picks up is Shane's overalls - and she finds something in one of the pockets. She yells pointedly:

MADGE: Shane - you come here immediately. I want to talk to *you*.

Back yard of the Young house
Mrs. Young is sitting in the back garden, crying, when Mike arrives. He stares at her and then sits down next to her. She cries:

MRS. YOUNG: Oh Mike...

Mike says softly:

MIKE: Tell me about dad.
MRS. YOUNG (sadly): We were having an argument - about money, as always. He was calling me names - as always; and all of a sudden he stopped in mid- sentence. He just stopped as though he couldn't breathe anymore. And then he crumpled and fell over. He just collapsed right in front of me. It was awful... By the time they got him to the hospital, he was dead.

Mike tells his mother gently to come back inside and he'll make her a cup of tea. Mrs. Young, however, sobs that she doesn't *want* to go back inside; she doesn't want to see the place where he... She breaks off. Mike tells her that she doesn't have to if she's not feeling up to it. Mrs. Young, however, cries:

MRS. YOUNG: What am I going to do? There's the notice for the paper; and the funeral... all those things that have to be done...
MIKE: I'll take care of all that.
MRS. YOUNG (murmurs): I didn't know if you'd come. I could scarcely have blamed you if you hadn't.
MIKE: None of that matters anymore. Look, no matter what happens, we'll get through it.

Mrs. Young throws her arms round Mike and cries:

MRS. YOUNG: Oh Mike... whatever would I do without you?

No. 24
Shane is standing with Madge and Henry in the kitchen as Madge counts out $100 that she found in the pocket of Shane's overalls. She suggests to Shane curtly that perhaps *he* should count it, just to make sure, but he sighs that it's all there. She adds:

MADGE: This would seem to be the money that you accused *Henry* of stealing.
SHANE: Look, I'm *sorry*.

Henry tells Shane not to worry about it - there's no harm done; just give him back his $60 and they won't say another word about it. Shane counts out $60 of the sodden money and holds it out to Henry, who quips:

HENRY: Uh- uh - I can't accept *this* money: it's been laundered!

Shane retorts that it'll dry - but Henry insists that he wants *his* money back; the money he had in the first place. Shane takes out his wallet, counts out $60 and hands it over.

No. 26
Jim is in the kitchen, drinking a cup of tea at the counter, when Helen comes in. Jim comments to her that he wonders how Rosemary's getting on with the finances of 'Disclosure' magazine. Helen says she hopes she can sort something out - for *all* their sakes. Jim remarks that she'd better, or the Daniels Corporation could be in real trouble. Helen nods:

HELEN: Yes... and I have one or two purely selfish reasons for wanting things to run smoothly at the moment.
JIM: Yeah?
HELEN: I've told Paul that I need to spend more time at home painting.
JIM: And what was his reaction to *that*?!
HELEN: He understood.
JIM (looking surprised): He must be mellowing in his old age!
HELEN: Well, Jane's very good at her job. Now she's familiar with all the procedures, she can take care of all the bookings for Home James if I'm not there.

Lucy walks up to Helen suddenly and puts her arms round her. Helen asks in surprise what all this is for. Lucy says:

LUCY: Won't you be *lonely* at home?
HELEN (smiles): I think I'll manage!
LUCY: But you won't even have *me* to talk to when I get home from school. You'll have to wait until Scott and dad get home. I'll be a long way away.
JIM: Don't you *want* to go to France, Luce?
LUCY: Yes...
JIM: All of a sudden, you don't sound too sure.
LUCY: I want to be here *too*...
HELEN: What if we promise to write to you every day and tell you everything that happens. Will *that* help?
LUCY: Yeah, a bit...

Jim then suggests to Lucy that she keep her mind off having to leave them by helping him and Helen clean out the garage. Lucy, however, replies quickly that she can't, as she has to finish her packing!

Back yard of the Young house
Mike emerges from the house with a tray of tea things and Mrs. Young tells him gratefully that she doesn't know what she'd do without him. Mike replies that she doesn't *have* to do without him - he told her that he'd take care of everything, so there's nothing to worry about. Mrs. Young says:

MRS. YOUNG: Except... you know your father wasn't very good with money... I don't mean to say he didn't take care of me - he always did: provided me with a nice house and all that - but things weren't going too well: he had to borrow, and *that* didn't work, so he borrowed some more; and to cut a long story short, he's left debts - a *lot* of debts. I just don't know how I'm going to pay them all. All I'm going to have is the pension.

Mike exclaims at his mother that she and his dad had *plenty* of money. Mrs. Young insists that it's gone - and she doesn't know how she's going to cope. She adds that she knows she can't ask *him* for help because of his studies. Mike tells her that he *will* help; they'll manage somehow. Mrs. Young says:

MRS. YOUNG: What about your university?
MIKE: I'll have to put that off for a while - I'll get a full- time job or something.
MRS. YOUNG: Oh, Mike, I can't let you do that.
MIKE: Don't argue - we have no choice.

Mrs. Young tells Mike that she's always tried to do the right thing by him; she tried so hard, but there were times when her loyalty just had to go to the man she married. Mike murmurs:

MIKE: I suppose...
MRS. YOUNG (cries): You *must* believe me, Mike: I did everything I possibly could.
MIKE (gently): Yeah, I know you did - and now it's *my* turn.

With that, Mike pours the tea. Mrs. Young says sadly:

MRS. YOUNG: Oh Mike, you're so good to me... *So* good...

Mike sits there looking worried.

No. 24
Shane is ironing his damp bills in the kitchen! Madge comes in through the back door and remarks that she thought he was going to help Clive shift house today. Henry follows Madge in as Shane tells her that he's been thinking that he might move out for a while. Madge says:

MADGE: Into Clive's new place, you mean?
SHANE: No, it's got nothing to do with him.
HENRY (bluntly): It's because of *me*, isn't it.

Madge tells Shane that she won't have it: this is his house as much as hers and she won't have him feeling he's been pushed out. Shane insists:

SHANE: I don't - honest. It's just that, well, Paul said I could use the caravan as Lassiter's any time I wanted to and I might as well take advantage of the offer.
MADGE: But this is your *home*.
SHANE: Yeah, I know, and I'll be back - but I want to be by myself for a while. Don't take it personally, but, well, I hate sharing my room - with *anyone*. I want to spread out a bit; make as much mess as I like.

Henry smiles and says:

HENRY: OK - but remember: it's your room, your house - not mine.

Shane tells Henry that the room's all his while he's away - and he couldn't think of better hands to leave it in. He then holds out his hand and says:

SHANE: Friends?
HENRY (smiles): Friends!

The two men shake. Shane then says to Madge that if Clive rings, tell him he'll be there soon: he's got to go and see Helen and see if he can pick up a spare set of keys for the van. With that, he heads out, leaving Madge looking taken aback. Henry puts his arm around her and says he's sorry - but he didn't think Shane wanted to be talked out of it.

Garage of No. 26
Helen's paintings are spread out around the garage. She and Jim are sorting through them when Shane rocks up and asks Helen if she's still got a spare set of keys to the caravan at Lassiter's. Helen nods that she thinks so, inside. Shane asks if he could borrow them, as Paul said he could use it any time he wanted to. Jim asks Shane in surprise if he's moving out. Shane replies awkwardly:

SHANE: For a while. It's, um... a bit crowded in there at the moment.

No. 32
Jane opens the front door of No. 32 to find Mike standing on the step. She smiles at him - but then notices the expression on his face and asks if something's wrong. Mike asks her hesitantly if her grandmother's home, but Jane replies that she's gone out shopping. Mike steps inside and murmurs:

MIKE: Good. No offence, but she's the *last* person I could handle right now.

He then cries that he needed to talk to someone and he asks Jane if she minds. Jane replies that of course she doesn't. The two of them head through to the lounge room and Jane asks what's wrong. Mike tells her:

MIKE: My father died.

A look of shock crosses Jane's face and she replies sympathetically that she's sorry. She asks Mike if he's OK and he nods that he thinks so. She then asks how his mother's coping. Mike admits that she's not the best: he's going to have to move in with her. Jane exclaims:

JANE: And leave Ramsay Street?
MIKE (sadly): I don't have much choice, do I?
JANE: You've been so *happy* here...
MIKE (shrugs): What else can I do?
JANE: Des and Daphne will be upset that you're leaving.
MIKE: Yeah, well, they don't know yet. Jane, do you think you could come *with* me? I don't think I could face them on my own.

Jane nods that she will. She then gives Mike a loving hug.

Garage of No. 26
Mrs. Mangel is in the garage with Jim, looking around and commenting that it feels good to have a thorough clean- out. Jim replies that he's been meaning to do it for months. Mrs. Mangel nods that she can see that. A look crosses Jim's face! Mrs. Mangel then asks him what in particular he's throwing out. Jim indicates a pile of items across the way and Mrs. Mangel goes and has a look through them. She then says:

MRS. MANGEL: You wouldn't happen to be getting rid of any paintings...?
JIM: Oh, I think that Helen intends to paint over any she doesn't like.

Mrs. Mangel picks up a painting and remarks that she can see that there are a lot Helen wouldn't want to be seen! Helen and Shane come in at that moment, Shane thanking Helen for the key and saying he'll give Paul a buzz and see how much he wants for the rent. Mrs. Mangel asks Shane what he's referring to and he explains that it's the caravan at Lassiter's. Mrs. Mangel raises an eyebrow and comments:

MRS. MANGEL: Oh... then you're moving out of home?
SHANE: Yeah.
MRS. MANGEL: Well, I must say: this is one occasion when you have my undivided sympathies. Not even a *saint* could put up with living in the same house with the likes of that young hoodlum.
SHANE: You mean Henry?
MRS. MANGEL: Mmm.
SHANE (pointedly): No, no, no, Mrs. Mangel - Henry's a, um, a great bloke. I'm moving out because of the neighbours.

Mrs. Mangel gives Shane a look! He walks off, leaving Helen to ask her if there's anything she wanted to see her about. Mrs. Mangel replies that she was wondering if Helen and Jim would mind if she took a few clippings from their front garden. Helen tells her to help herself. Mrs. Mangel thanks them. As she goes to head off, she adds:

MRS. MANGEL: I must say, you'll have plenty of canvasses, won't you, with all your discards!

With that, she walks down the driveway, leaving Helen frowning at her back! As Mrs. Mangel heads towards the street, she bumps into Henry coming towards her. He beams:

HENRY: Steady on, Mrs. M.!
MRS. MANGEL (snaps): It's Mrs. *Mangel* to you, young man - and I can't abide people like you who sneak up on respectable folk without warning.

She marches off across the street, leaving Henry shaking his head. He joins Helen and Jim in the garage and mutters:

HENRY: Why does that old biddy always give me the feeling that she doesn't want me living round here?

Jim tells him not to worry about her: if she had *her* way, she'd stick barbed wire across the end of Ramsay Street and not let *anybody* in! Henry sighs that she's not the *only* one who's not keen on ex- crims: he doesn't reckon he'll have much fun trying to get a job. He then asks Jim if *he's* heard of any odd jobs going. Jim, though, replies that he hasn't - although there's a shed at work that needs cleaning out. Henry tells Jim that he's on; he'll do *anything*! He adds:

HENRY: Listen - do you need a hand here this afternoon: not for money or anything - just for the fun of it?

Jim admits that he *could* use a bit of help. Henry beams and asks where they start!

No. 28
Mike is sitting at the table as Jane rubs his back, fondly. Des sits down and asks Mike:

DES: Would it help if I gave your mother some financial advice?
MIKE (nods): It sure would. I don't understand half the things she's going on about.

He then says:

MIKE: There's something else. I don't know how to tell you and Daphne - you've both been so terrific - but, um...

Jane takes over and says:

JANE: Mike feels he should go and stay with his mother.

Daphne, who's over at the kitchen counter, pruning a bonsai tree, says:

DAPHNE: Of course. You can't leave her alone at a time like *this*.
DES: Yeah, take your time - the room will be always there when you want to come back.
MIKE: That's just it: I *won't* be coming back.

Daphne stares at Mike in shock. She exclaims:

DAPHNE: You mean *never*?

Jane says it's not that Mike *wants* to go; it's just that he hasn't any choice. Mike adds that it'll be cheaper, and he and his mum will need every cent they can get. Des points out to Mike that he can't go to university and support his mother as well. Mike nods:

MIKE: I know, I know. I'm going to defer.

A look of shock crosses Jane's face and she gasps:

JANE: Mike, you *can't*!
DAPHNE: Mike, it's your whole future!
MIKE: I can study later. Right now, my mum needs me - and maybe this will be our chance to get together as a family.

Daphne murmurs:

DAPHNE: I thought *we* were your family.

Mike tells her sadly:

MIKE: It's not the same, Daphne. It's just not the same.