Recap
Scott offers to give up school so Charlene can do her apprenticeship. She won't hear of it. They decide to try living on love for the next year.
At Mrs Mangel's:
Eileen has arrived to look after Nell, even though Jane and Harold are sitting round doing nowt. Eileen is curious about Amanda returning to Hong Kong so soon but they don't give her any gossip. She brings up gossip of her own instead - Jim Robinson and Dr Marshall. Harold goes out and Nell wastes no time in filling Eileen in on his love life woes too.
At the Ramsays:
Henry lets Harold in and tells him Madge is in the bath. He decides to wait for her, which thrills Madge who walks in with a face mask on. He starts talking about Rob and she asks if he is ordering her not to see Rob again? He replies that he is suggesting it. Very strongly. She reminds him that this is her house and he can just butt out! She is sick of trying to live up to his impossible expectations and from now on she doesn't even intend to try.
At Mrs Mangel's:
Nell and Eileen are still gossiping about Jim when Harold comes in with his tail between his legs, and they remark that Jim Robinson isn't the only one who's relationship is on the rocks.
At the Clarkes:
Charlene is getting all clucky over baby Jamie and Scott tells Des and Daphne they're both looking forward to starting their own family - if he ever finishes school, gets a job and finds them a place of their own. Charlene cheers him up by announcing that when they do get there, she reckons six kids is a good, round number. Scott collapses with shock but is revived by Mike and Henry who want him to go outside and play footie. They rush out, knocking over Jane and Eileen on the way. Mike comments to Jane that she looks really nice today but she's still snappy. Daphne takes her to one side and tells her how Mike stood up for her with her mother. They go back over to Jamie and Charlene tells Daphne she'll have to give up work to take up her apprenticeship. Daphne is pleased for her - and she'll go back to work to fill the gap. Taking Jamie with her.
Outside:
The boys are playing catch while Jane and Charlene discuss Daphne taking Jamie to work. Jane thinks it's great - at least Daphne wants to be with Jamie, not like her mum. Charlene takes Mike's place in the ball game and he sits down for a chat with Jane. She tells him her mum's gone back to Hong Kong and he laughs that that explains why she's dressing properly. She is offended and says she made her own mind up about her clothes. They argue again but Mike stops the fight, saying he wants them to be friends. He tells Jane that Amanda belted him and she smiles, saying she just went up 10 points in her book.
At the Clarkes:
Eileen's patience is being stretched to the limit - how will Daphne run the coffee shop and bring up Jamie? Des agrees. Daphne yells that it's none of her business and there will be plenty of people around to help. Eileen storms out saying she's only the child's grandmother! Des is in complete agreement with his mother but Daphne won't listen. She's bored of sitting round the house day and night and needs some stimulation - and she thinks Jamie does too.
At Mrs Mangel's:
Eileen has come back to share her woes with Nell and Harold. They discuss what a pity it is that all the old traditions are disappearing and Nell pulls out a newspaper cutting on the dying art of tea leaf reading. Eileen is shocked that she can read the leaves and asks her to do a reading for her. Nell agrees and sends Harold off to make a brew. He huffs and puffs his way out of the room and Nell confides to Eileen that his negative dispositions are coming thick and fast, and may distort the reading.
Outside:
Henry and Scott are exhausted by Jane and Charlene and Henry is also starving. He wants a nice greasy hamburger but Charlene and Scott can't, because of their budget. Mike suggests maybe they should have waited before getting married but they skip off to play ball insisting he's wrong.
At Mrs Mangel's:
Eileen's tea leaves suggest imminent change. Harold laughs at her and refuses to have his own tea leaves read. Eileen wants another cup read. This cup suggests music and Eileen declares that only yesterday a man tuned the piano at the senior citizens club! Nell then grabs Harold's cup and is much distressed to see a Griffin in the bottom - a mythical monster that means life is about to deal him a very savage blow. The noise from the kids playing outside gets louder and Nell sends Harold out to calm them down. He returns with his glasses all askew after the ball gets kicked at his head.
The kids are dragged inside for a lecture. They apologise to Harold who is grumpy, and even more so when Eileen runs in with a bloody steak to help his black eye. Mrs Mangel sends everyone home and Eileen points out how the tea leaves where right after all...
At the Clarkes:
Harold has called round to talk to Daphne about her coming back to work. He is worried she'll be wanting him to resign but she insists she'll need him there more than ever now, especially with Jamie. He expresses surprise at her taking Jamie and she gets cross again. She pushes a posy of flowers into Harold's hands for Mrs Mangel and rages that no doubt she'll think she's an unfit mother too!
At The Ramsays:
Charlene dishes up beans on toast for Scott's tea while Madge and Henry tuck into nice juicy chops. Madge is unhappy and tells them she can easily whip them up a couple of extra chops but Charlene won't hear of it. Henry stabs his meat, saying it is pretty tough (when it clearly isn't!). Charlene laughs that they love beaked beans and Harold reckons you can just about live on them (he's right too).
At Mrs Mangel's:
Tea Belly Eileen forces Nell to have yet another go at reading her tea leaves. Nell sighs, then announces "good gracious! I see a man!" The leaves indicate he's a dark eyed man, with a pattern of flowers underneath him. They wonder who it can be, when Harold comes in with the posy of flowers and his black eye gleaming. Eileen stands and whispers to Nell - it must be him!