No. 28
Daphne is sitting at the dining table knitting for her unborn baby with purple wool when Mike appears commenting on the lairy colour. Defending herself, Daphne tells him it is the leftover wool from a scarf and should look quite sweet. Mike, while checking what's cooking in the pot on the stove, asks where Des is as he wants a small advance on his wages. He wants to go to the film festival again and take Jane so she can meet his friends. Daphne, not too keen as Des gave Mike money only yesterday, takes $20 out of her purse.

The door bell goes. It is Madge wanting to see Daphne. Madge apologises about Charlene jumping to conclusions. They sit down together and Daph picks up her knitting again but soon stops when Madge begins to tell her about Charlene wanting to move out of home. Daphne is shocked. Madge asks Daphne if she put her up to it but soon realises this is not the case.

MADGE: "Typical of me, barging in without thinking. Like mother like daughter. I'm sorry Daphne".

Madge hasn't got a clue how to stop her daughter but Daphne thinks it would do her good to cope in the outside world and that she'll probably want to come home in the end. Madge is understandably worried.

No. 32
Mrs Mangel and Harold are enjoying cups of tea and biscuits in the living room of no.32. Mrs Mangel questions Harold on his thoughts of running the garage he has just invested into on a day to day basis. Mrs Mangel suggests that Harold should keep his hands clean and leave the real work to the likes of Mr Lewis. But Harold is sure he can extend the business far beyond what Rob could by himself.

Jane appears in the brightest yellow dress asking if she looks alright as she is a bit nervous as to what Mike's friends will think of her.

HAROLD: "They will think that you're absolutely enchanting my dear, and if I may say so, I think you're dressed very appropriately for an evening of culture".

Jane heads off and Harold excuses himself too as he is going to see Madge explaining to Mrs Mangel that she has been having problems with Charlene. When asked, Harold won't discuss what it is, stating it is a family matter.

Harold leaves just as Mike arrives to take Jane to the film festival. Mike notices the portrait of Mrs Mangel is missing and when told Paul has it, asks why. Mrs Mangel doesn't know the reason other than the pleasant prospect of the portrait increase in value. Mrs Mangel tells Jane and Mike that she said yes to Paul because she didn't want to sound churlish.

No. 26
Helen is relaxing with her feet up on the sofa reading a magazine. Jim and Paul arrive back from the gym. Paul dobs his Dad in and tells Helen that Jim has also been having a beer with Des and 'Len' (unsure of name) Scott met some school friends down at the gym so isn't back yet. Paul also bumped into an old school friend; Mark Gibson. Helen recalls him and asks how he is. Paul proceeds to tell his Grandmother that this Mark Gibson is working for the McArthur foundation on the selection committee for the McArthur Award for Art. Paul suggests that Helen submit a painting but she is not at all impressed by the idea. Jim reappears from the kitchen and tells Helen it is crazy to let one person's opinion shatter her confidence. Helen doesn't want to discuss it and that's that. Paul and Jim head to the kitchen to fetch their dinner out of the oven. Jim warns Paul that his Gran will be furious when she finds out what he is up to but Paul is confident the committee will like the painting.

No.24
Harold is sat with Madge at the table drinking more tea. Harold demands that Charlene is ordered to come out of her room right now and be told very firmly that she is not leaving home. Madge doesn't want Charlene to resent her any more than she already does. Harold thinks she needs more discipline and it's better late than never. She is far too young and immature to make adult decisions. Madge doesn't agree, telling Harold he has been wrong about her daughter and they should have accepted that Charlene could make her own decisions on who she goes out with. (Go Madge!) Harold, banging his finger on the table, states that Charlene is not leaving this house. Madge announces that she has already decided she is going to let her go. She would rather her walk out an open front door than climb out a window at night.

HAROLD: "If you've made up your mind I won't try to dissuade you. I just hope you know what you're doing, that's all".
MADGE: "That's the trouble, I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing; I just know I have to do it".

Paul's Office
It is a new day in Erinsborough and Helen and Jane arrive for work at Paul's office. Paul picks up on Jane yawning. She apologises, telling Paul she went to a film festival with Mike. She reveals that afterwards, when they went for coffee, she couldn't follow the conversation so just kept quiet.

JANE: "I think they must have thought I was a bit thick".
PAUL: "Jane, nobody could ever think that of you, unless of course they are a bit thick themselves".

Paul can imagine the pretentious first year students having a deep and meaningless conversation about a film. Helen remembers Paul being like that in his first days at uni and also that he soon grew out of it. She also apologises for being so defensive about the McArthur Award last night. Helen doesn't feel she is ready to face that kind of challenge again. Paul promises not to push her anymore making her believe it is her decision and she is old enough to make it.

No. 24
Madge is rushing about cleaning up the kitchen and when Harold arrives through the back door she tells him he can't stay long as she has to get to work. When Madge hears it is Charlene that Harold wants to talk about, she takes a huge sigh and insists that she doesn't want to discuss it any further. Harold agrees. After he left there last night he has done a lot of thinking about the situation and his attitude towards Charlene.

HAROLD: "I've been acting like an over-bearing father and if I was honest I did exactly the same with my own children. It didn't work then either. Sorry Madge".

Harold mentions his two children, David and Kerry. Harold forced David into accountancy and is now lucky if he rings at Christmas and the only time Kerry is in contact is when she runs out of money. At least Madge knows that whatever trouble she has had with Henry and Charlene, they genuinely love her. Still wearing her pink rubber gloves, Madge wraps her arms around Harold telling him how lucky she is to have him; to have someone who really cares about her kids. After all that Harold carries on questioning how Charlene is going to cope with the bond, electricity etc and asking if it is wise for her to share as she may get in with the wrong sort. Harold says it is very wise that Madge is going to help Charlene out financially, as this means she can still have some control over her daughter. Madge is adamant that any help she gives to Charlene from now on will have no strings attached. Harold is prepared to back Madge all the way.

Paul's Office
Gail pops her head around the door of Paul's office, just checking he is alone. Paul is pleased to hear that Gail isn't busy as this means she will be free to show Mr Udugawa around. His flight should be touching down very soon. Gail remembers he is the Japanese business man who is going to be staying at Lassiters. Paul has already arranged for him to be met at the airport. Gail thinks she will enjoy being Mr Udugawa's hostess and showing him the sites. Madge knocks and comes straight in and then apologises as she hadn't realised Paul had company. Gail is just leaving anyway to check with Mrs Mangel that Mr Udugawa's suite is ready. Madge sits down and tells Paul about Charlene's decision to leave home and asks if any of his properties are vacant. The only place that comes to Paul's mind is Lassiters caravan but Madge, remembering Shane hadn't liked it ther,e doesn't think much to the suggestion.

MADGE: "It may be alright for a boy but I don't fancy my daughter camping out like a Nomad".

Madge thinks it would be best to find Charlene a bed-sit. Paul wishes her luck as there aren't too many in Erinsborough.

No. 32
Rob pays a visit to no.32 so as Harold can read the contract through for the garage. Rob assures that it is all in order but even so, Harold wants to be sure of what he is signing. Rob says they are pretty busy at the garage when Harold asks for a look around to see the set up. Rob is very surprised to hear that Harold hasn't made his final decision yet and won't commit any money until he is sure everything is in working order.

Paul's Office
Mike turns up at Paul's office to see if Jane had a nice time the evening before and to ask if she would like to go again sometime this week. In return Jane wants to take Mike out to lunch but he has classes until 12.30pm. They agree to meet at the coffee shop half an hour later. Paul arrives at the office with Gail and the very important Mr Udugawa. Jane gets rid of Mike from the office quickly as Paul is looking rather annoyed by him being there. Mr Udugawa bows to Jane when introduced to her and comments that she is a beautiful young woman. He is next introduced to Helen. He has heard of her as she is Rosemary Daniels' daughter and also can't believe she is old enough to be grandmother to Paul. Mr Udugawa is impressed that so many in one family are involved in business after learning that Jim has his own engineering company. As they all walk through to the other office, Paul and Gail give each other a very pleased and excited glance.

Garage
Rob is working under a car at the garage when Jim turns up. He has been on the phone to the solicitor but Harold hadn't yet been there. Rob tells Jim that Harold has been at the garage getting under his feet and had even told him the work shop was too dirty. Jim wants to make sure nothing has been said to upset Harold just yet and once he has signed they can get him out of their hair.

ROB: "I've bit my tongue so often it needs stitches."

Harold races into the garage rather concerned by the way the cars are being cleaned. He asks Jim to come and take a look. He is a bit worried that the work is too heavy for Charlene and maybe something in the office would be more suitable for her.

ROB: "I didn't hire her to type. I hired her to clean cars and while she works for me that's what she's gonna do. Get it?"

Jim, rolling his eyes, reminds Rob and Harold that if they don't get leaving they will be late and they can sort out who works where later.

Paul's Office
Mr Udugawa is feeling a bit jet-lagged, so Gail, feeling he can probably do with a rest, hasn't got anything planned for him until after dinner. Paul and Gail are confident they are impressing Mr Udugawa whilst Helen thinks he is absolutely charming. Mrs Mangel pops into the office with the weekend's roster for Paul and, mispronouncing his name, to ask if Mr Udugawa has any special culinary considerations, as she has heard he is a very important gentleman. Her examples are seaweed, raw fish or soy sauce!

PAUL: "Mr U-du-gawa assures me, when in Rome do as the Romans".

Mrs Mangel also asks Paul when she can have back the item he borrowed. Paul can't say too much as Helen is in the room but assures her he will be finished with it soon. Helen asks Paul what on earth he would want to borrow from Nell Mangel. Paul quick on his feet tells Helen it is just the master key as he needed to get another one cut. Gail seems a little confused asking why he didn't get someone else to do it.

Coffee Shop
Jane is waiting for Mike at the coffee shop with her head in a book on Film Theory and Appreciation. Mike apologises for being late. He tells here shouldn't be reading that book as it is passé and suggests a book on a French philosopher who they had all been talking about at the lecture that morning. Daphne is pleased to see Mike as she needs someone to put out the garbage bin for her. Jane tells Daphne that since Mike has started uni,she can't keep up with him. Daphne thinks that Mike is just excited because it is all new to him. Jane is worried because they don't seem to have much in common anymore. Daph uses her and Des as an example that it doesn't matter what you do during the daytime as she doesn't have any interest in banking, but that doesn't stop them loving each other. Daphne thinks Jane is overreacting.

The Waterhole
Rob, Jim and Harold are celebrating the fact that all the contracts for the garage are signed. Harold tells Madge, who is serving, that everything is now official and finalised. Rob comments how Harold and Jim will be sitting back and watching the money roll in while he is busy at the garage. Harold is quick to inform Rob that he won't be sitting back. Rob laughs, asking him if he wants to be taken on as an apprentice. But his face soon drops when Harold announces he will be opening up an office there, so as the garage can make good use of his managerial skills. They cannot believe he is serious. Rob had assumed Harold would be a silent partner but he has no intention of this at all. Harold has already seen a number of things that need changing and he intends to make sure they are taken care of.