Park
Mike and Bronwyn pull apart and Mike smiles:

MIKE: Whoops! I got a little bit carried away there. I'm sorry.
BRONWYN (warmly): *I'm* not!

The two of them stand up Bronwyn smiles at Mike that she's been wanting that to happen for yonks. Mike replies that he did too - only he didn't realise it. Jamie starts grizzling suddenly and Bronwyn comments that it's time they took him home. As she starts pushing the pram, Mike just stands there and watches her. After a few seconds, Bronwyn turns to him and calls:

BRONWYN: Coming?!
MIKE: Oh! Yeah!

Mike walks over to Bronwyn and takes her hand in his. Bronwyn looks at him happily.

Outside the Coffee Shop
Todd is sitting with one of his school friends, Gary, at a table outside the Coffee Shop, talking about the school sports today. Sharon emerges from the shop and asks the two boys for their order. Todd asks for a milkshake. Gary asks Sharon if *she's* coming to the sports day, and Sharon nods that she is, but she's coming back to the Coffee Shop at lunchtime for the ice- cream- eating competition. Todd tells her that everyone's talking about it, so there should be heaps of contestants. Sharon exclaims:

SHARON: Great! And how about you two?

Gary says *he's* entering, but Todd's too chicken! Todd points out to Gary that he has all his races in the morning; *he's* in the long jump, and that's not until after lunch. As Sharon goes to head back into the shop, she turns back and asks Todd how Nick is, as she hasn't seen him around today. Todd tells her:

TODD: He's pretty depressed at the moment. Haven't you heard?
SHARON (frowns): Heard *what*?

Coffee Shop
Henry and Des are working inside the shop, Henry trying to sort out some decorations to put up for the competition, and Des tells him that he's been a lifesaver. Henry shrugs:

HENRY: Not a problem - I could do with the extra work now I've been given the flick from the Waterhole. It's a pity about Harold, though.
DES: Yeah, well, from what he said over the 'phone, it's not too serious - just a couple of days in bed to keep his blood pressure down. Actually, it was he who suggested I ask you to take over.
HENRY: Ha ha! Anything to keep the pay packet in the family, huh?!

Des muses that it must be a bit of a worry with both Madge and Henry out of work. Henry just shrugs that they'll be right. He then says in concern:

HENRY: You didn't say anything to him about the competition tomorrow, did you?
DES: I knew it wouldn't exactly bring on a speedy recovery!
HENRY: Grubby little schoolkids guzzling ice- cream: not the big guy's thing at all!
DES: Yeah. *My* blood pressure's going to soar through the roof if I can't think about who to judge it.
HENRY: Not a problem. Who do we all know who's held in high esteem by the community, has a very responsible job, is honest and fair- minded...?
DES (warily): Yeah... thanks mate!

Henry explains quickly that he was thinking of Paul - but he does have plenty of problems of his own, so he was going to suggest Des instead. Des nods:

DES: Why not?!

Sharon comes in at that moment, looking glum, and Henry asks her to hang some decorations up for him. Sharon just retorts that he's got arms, hasn't he? Henry tells her that he's not much good at decorations. Sharon mutters that she's got customers waiting. Des asks in concern what's up. Sharon explains that she just got some bad news about a friend - but she apologises for taking it out on *them*.

No. 32
Bronwyn is sitting on the couch with Mike as Mrs. Mangel stands folds some washing. She listens with a look of concern on her face as Bronwyn and Mike talk about going on a bike ride and camping overnight. Mrs. Mangel turns to Bronwyn and warns her to be careful, adding that she used to have dreadful visions of *Jane* breaking her neck whenever she went off with Mike on the back of that wretched motorcycle. Mike stands up and says he has to go home. Bronwyn heads to the door with him, where the two of them go to kiss - but just as they do so, the front door opens and Sharon comes in! She grins at them and asks what the two of them were doing standing behind the door - as if she didn't know! Mike just tells Bronwyn that he'll see her soon, and he heads out, leaving Sharon laughing! When Mike's gone, Bronwyn hisses at her sister:

BRONWYN: You're late. Mrs. Mangel's not too thrilled.
SHARON (retorts): Too bad. Nick's grandmother died and I called in to see him.
BRONWYN: Is he OK?
SHARON: What do *you* reckon?

Sharon then asks Bronwyn how long it's been on with her and Mike. Bronwyn retorts that they're just mates. Sharon, however, points out:

SHARON: You're just mates with Henry, too, but you don't go kissing *him* behind doors!
BRONWYN: OK - but don't start whinging again about me muscling in on your potential boyfriends. With Mike and me it just happened; I didn't realise how much I liked him until today.
SHARON: *I* did. Face it, Bronwyn: when it comes to guys, you're a real rip- off merchant - but you can have Mike; I don't care.
BRONWYN (looking surprised): You're not upset?
SHARON: Oh, I've got my eye on this spunk in Year 12!
BRONWYN: Couldn't be spunkier than Mike!
SHARON (mocks): Oh, listen to you - I mean, how mushy it *that*? You've *really* got the hots for him, haven't you!

No. 28
Des emerges from the bedroom area and Mike asks if Jamie's asleep. Des nods that taking him for walks does seem to relax him. As he joins Mike at the dinner table, he adds:

DES: You too, actually.
MIKE: Me too, what?
DES: Well... you and Bronwyn seemed pretty relaxed when you got back with Jamie. Seemed like the walk did you *all* good.
MIKE: Yeah, it was fun!

Des sighs and asks Mike what's going on between him and Bronwyn. Mike, however, asks why there should be anything going on. Des tells him:

DES: You take Jamie to the park. When you get back, Bronwyn suddenly gets all shy. Then you mutter something about taking her home... you get back an *hour* later! Don't tell me nothing's going on!
MIKE: Would you mind if there *was*?
DES: No, I'd be rapt! She's a top girl.

Des then asks Mike if he and Bronwyn are an item or *not*. Mike tells him that they've agreed to hang around each other for a while and see how things work out. Des comments that he can think of someone who *won't* be too happy about it. Mike says he can think of *two* people who won't be too happy about it: Jane and Mrs. Mangel. Des tells him that Jane will be all right - and Mrs. Mangel will be glad that he's not chasing around after her precious granddaughter anymore! He goes on that it was *Henry* he was thinking about: he thought he was pretty keen on Bronwyn when he first met her. Mike muses:

MIKE: Des, Henry's pretty keen on *every* girl when he first meets them!
DES: Yeah... yeah, that's true!
MIKE: No, he'll be right. He's never wanted to get serious about a girl in his *life*, I don't think.

No. 24
Henry is in the kitchen with Scott, as Scott prepares supper for Harold and Madge. Henry, however, throws a dishcloth down into the sink and says wearily:

HENRY: I'm a nice guy... good- looking... charming... polite... You'd reckon the chicks would be queuing up outside the door!

Scott tells Henry that the trouble is he doesn't give the impression that he wants a serious relationship with anybody. Henry insists:

HENRY: Mate...! Behind this light- hearted, fun- loving exterior lies a quiet, shy bloke who lives for the day he'll meet the right girl and be able to settle down.

Scott suggests to Henry that maybe he needs a change of image. Henry muses that it couldn't hurt to give it a try. After a moment's thought, he adds:

HENRY: Yes, why not? Look, no more clowning around. Time to let the world see what I'm really made of!

No. 32
The next morning, Bronwyn is dusting in the lounge room as Sharon sits on the couch, putting on some make- up. Bronwyn says to her sister:

BRONWYN: So, what's this heart- throb's name, anyway?
SHARON: Ian or Eric... something like that.
BRONWYN: You're keen on a guy and you don't even know his name?!
SHARON: I didn't stop to get all the details - it was love at first sight!
BRONWYN: I hope he feels the same way!
SHARON: He will!

Mrs. Mangel comes in at that moment and comments to Sharon tersely that she didn't think the local school *allowed* make- up. Sharon replies that it's sports day - no one will notice; and besides, she's got to make a good impression on someone. With that, she stands up, tells Bronwyn that she'll see her at the Coffee Shop for the competition, and heads out. When she's gone, Mrs. Mangel asks Bronwyn what that was about a competition. Bronwyn explains that it's just Henry's idea to drum up some business: an ice- cream- eating competition, using chopsticks. She adds that it sounds like fun! Mrs. Mangel, however, remarks coolly:

MRS. MANGEL: It sounds positively *disgusting*. Mr. Bishop would never approve. Obviously Henry is taking full advantage of his illness.
BRONWYN: Well, it's Des's Coffee Shop and *he's* judging it.
MRS. MANGEL (firmly): Then I shall have to speak to Mr. Clarke about it. There's no need for a horde of grubby little urchins rampaging through Lassiter's.

With that, she heads out. Jane comes into the room as she does so and asks Bronwyn where her nan's off to in such a hurry. Bronwyn tells her that she's gone to make Des's life a misery over the ice cream competition! She then changes the subject and says:

BRONWYN: I guess Shaz told you about Mike and me, did she?
JANE (distantly): Yeah, she did.
BRONWYN: Are you angry?
JANE: Why should I be angry? Mike and I have broken up. He's entitled to go out with someone else if he wants to.
BRONWYN: But you *are* angry...?
JANE (admits): I can't help but feel *something*: envy... regret... I don't know. Oh look, as long as you're both happy, so am I.
BRONWYN (smiles): Thanks, Jane!

No. 28
Des emerges from the bedroom area wearing a new suit, and he asks Mike if it looks all right. Mike tells him that it's very nice, and he asks what the occasion is. Des explains that he needed a new one, and he's got an appointment with the State Manager, Mr. Hemmings, this arvo, and Hemmings is always having a go at him about the way he dresses, so he thought he'd give him a surprise. The doorbell rings suddenly and Des opens it to find Mrs. Mangel standing on the step. She heads inside and comments to Des in surprise that he looks very smart. Mike tells her:

MIKE: He's judging a very important competition today, Mrs. Mangel.
MRS. MANGEL (tersely): Yes, I heard - and I'm here to protest most strongly.
DES (warily): About people eating ice cream...?
MRS. MANGEL: We have *enough* problems at Lassiter's at the moment with Mr. Robinson off work. We simply can't afford to antagonise Mr. Morris any further.
DES (snaps): I've already told Mr. Flamin' Morris that it is *my* Coffee Shop and I'll run it as I see fit.
MRS. MANGEL: This competition will attract all the local riff- raff, not to mention the schoolchildren.
DES: And their parents. It'll be good for business.
MRS. MANGEL: Then you're determined to go ahead with this tomfoolery?
DES (coolly): I don't care what *anyone* says. The contest is on at lunchtime today, Mrs. Mangel.

Mrs. Mangel stands there looking less than impressed.

Coffee Shop
It's lunchtime, and Todd, Gary and some other schoolchildren are sitting at a long table set up outside the Coffee Shop. Sharon takes the entrants' names - Todd's there and Gary tells Sharon that he's Gary Lim. Scott and Bronwyn approach, Scott pushing Jamie in his pram. Sharon walks over to them as Henry scoops ice cream into the bowls in front of Todd, Gary and the other kids. Bronwyn asks her sister:

BRONWYN: Is Ian here? Point him out to me!
SHARON: Shhh! That's him over there! [She indicates a guy sitting at the table] Spunky, isn't he - and he's definitely interested!
BRONWYN: You hope!

Mike emerges from the Coffee Shop and Bronwyn asks how business is. Mike remarks that it's pretty quiet at the moment. Scott says he would've thought there would be more contestants, and Sharon nods that they *could* use a few more. Sharon suggests to Bronwyn that *she* could take part. Bronwyn says quickly that she's on duty, but Mike tells her that *he* can take care of Jamie for a couple of minutes. Bronwyn sighs:

BRONWYN: Thanks a lot!

Scott tells her to be a good sport. Bronwyn retorts that she'll be in it if *he* will! With that, she drags him over to the table and the two of them sit down! Des arrives at that moment and apologise for being late. Henry tells him that the contestants are beginning to get savage, so it's time to get the show on the road. Des steps hesitantly in front of the table and says:

DES: G'day, everyone! Er, you probably know the rules, but I'll run 'em by you again! Now, the idea is to eat as much ice cream as you can using the chopsticks provided. The winner gets free ice cream from this coffee shop for one month. Er... may the best guzzling win!

Des laughs at his joke - but no one else does! Des then starts the competition and the entrants get tucked in!

Reception area at the Daniels Corporation
Jane is working at her desk when Mrs. Mangel comes in and says in an urgent tone:

MRS. MANGEL: Oh Jane, the most *dreadful* thing.
JANE (looking concerned): Nan? What's wrong?
MRS. MANGEL: My sister - your Great Aunt Isobel - she's had a stroke. The hospital 'phoned me not ten minutes ago.
JANE: Did they say how bad it was?
MRS. MANGEL: Oh, quite serious, apparently. I *must* go to her at once.
JANE: She lives way up north somewhere, doesn't she? How are you going to get there?
MRS. MANGEL: I've already booked a ticket on the train, but there's so little time... I have to go home, pack my things, and there's nothing for your dinner...

Jane tells her nan to just go home and pack. Mrs. Mangel, however, says she just wants to talk to Mr. Morris. Jane stops her, and suggests that *she* clear it with Gail and Gail can clear it with Mr. Morris. Mrs. Mangel accepts this. She then exclaims:

MRS. MANGEL: The Davies girls! I can't leave *them*. I promised Mrs. Chubb that I'd-
JANE: Nan, will you just go? *I'll* look after the girls!

With that, she pushes her nan gently out through the door. She then closes it, leans against it and sighs heavily!

Outside the Coffee Shop
The ice- cream- eating competition is in full flow! Henry is giving encouragement to Gary! Bronwyn tries to stand up, but Sharon dumps more ice cream into her bowl! Bronwyn, however, says she couldn't face another bowl of ice cream as long as she lives! She walks over to where Des and Mike are standing and Mike asks her what happened. Bronwyn replies:

BRONWYN: Forgive the pun, but I know when I'm licked!

With that, she heads inside to wash. Mike goes with her. Over at the table, Scott wolfs down more ice cream and Henry tells him that he's going great guns! Scott mutters that he feels like a blow- up mattress: queen size! More ice cream is dumped in his bowl, causing him to look sick!

Coffee Shop
Mike hands some customers their change and then heads into the kitchen, where he stands behind Bronwyn and puts his arms around her. Bronwyn muses:

BRONWYN: Whatever you do, don't squeeze me!

She then asks how he could stand by and let her little sister rope her into such an awful contest. Mike grins:

MIKE: Sorry - the *devil* made me do it!

Bronwyn turns round and the two of them kiss. Mike then tells Bronwyn that Des keep saying how pleased he is that the two of them have got together. Bronwyn tells him that she thinks it's put Sharon's nose out of joint a little, but *Jane* was terrific. Looking surprised, Mike asks what she said. Bronwyn replies:

BRONWYN: Nothing much - only that she wanted you to be happy.
MIKE: Well! Now we've been given the green light by everyone who matters, I think we should make the most of it, don't you think?

With that, the two of them start kissing passionately.

Outside the Coffee Shop
Sharon dumps more ice cream into Gary's bowl, telling him that it's his 8th bowl! Scott is dribbling more ice cream onto the table than he's actually eating! Henry and Des look on as Scott stands up and murmurs:

SCOTT: Get me a stretcher, mate, get me a stretcher!

Gary and Todd are still eating. Todd puts his bowl to his lips and starts drinking down his ice cream. Gary, however, warns him darkly that that's cheating. He grabs some liquid ice cream in his hand and throws it in Todd's face! The two of them start throwing ice cream at each other - and the ice cream begins to go everywhere, including over Sharon's school uniform! A full- scale ice cream fight quickly ensues! Henry tells Des that he's in charge, so he should do something. Des takes a step forward and starts to say:

DES: All right, you lot. Any more ice cream-

Before he can get any further, though, some ice cream hits him right in the face! He's temporarily blinded, and he falls forward onto the ice- cream- covered table. He slowly stands up again to find all the schoolkids staring at him. He says to them coolly:

DES: You're all disqualified.

Henry stands there grinning at Des, who looks down in despair at his ice- cream- covered brand new suit. He then turns and glares at Henry, looking less than impressed!