No. 22
It's Helen who's in No. 22 and she quickly puts a sheet over a painting she's been working on. She says a cheery hello to Gail. Paul says to his wife curtly:

PAUL: Well, you may as well know the awful truth: gran is the other woman.
GAIL (surprised): I thought you were-
PAUL: It's pretty obvious what you *thought*, Gail.

Helen explains to Gail that it's a portrait of Paul that she's been hurrying to finish. Paul adds that it was a surprise for Gail's birthday tomorrow. Gail murmurs that she feels like an idiot. Paul grins:

PAUL: Oh Gail, Gail, Gail, I am so deeply disappointed in you! I mean, don't you trust me any more than that?

Gail admits that she jumped to a very large conclusion, and she apologises to Helen for thinking of her as the scarlet woman. She then asks if she can see the painting. Paul adds that he'd like to see it too. Helen, however, insists that nobody sees it until it's finished; she doesn't want Paul's ego interfering with her interpretation. Paul says he'd better get back to work.

No. 28
Katie is playing with the kittens in a box on the floor as Bronwyn talks on the 'phone to Mike, telling him that she'll see him at 7:30. When she hangs up, Katie teases her about going out with Mike. Bronwyn, however, says they're not really going out; she's just meeting some of Mike's uni mates at Henry's. Katie changes the subject and asks if she can name the kittens. Bronwyn tells her to go ahead. Katie picks up one kitten at a time and names them Pixie, Trixie and Dixie! Bronwyn comments that it won't be long until they go to their new homes. Katie asks who's going to take them, and she *asks* if she can have one. Bronwyn replies that it's fine by her - but Katie had better ask her aunt and uncle first. Katie smiles that she knows they'll say yes!

Lassiter's Complex
Paul and Gail leave the office and start walking across the bridge, Paul asking Gail if she's sure she doesn't want to keep an eye on him while he has a shower, just in case he has a couple of strange ladies tucked away somewhere! Gail tells him seriously that she only got so crazy because she loves him. She adds:

GAIL: You know what Jeremy was like: he didn't know what the word 'trust' meant.
PAUL: Gail, I am not Jeremy. Besides, I love you too much to even *consider* looking at another woman.
GAIL: You sure?
PAUL: Absolutely. Mind you, I wouldn't mind another apology; you do it so nicely!
GAIL: I promise never ever to suspect you of seeing another woman again.

She then offers to shout Paul dinner tonight. Paul grins that that's good, but it's not going to let her off the hook entirely!

No. 26
Helen and Beverly are in the kitchen, Beverly commenting that Gail knows about the portrait now. Helen grins that Paul will be taking the mickey out of her for the next few weeks! Jim arrives home at that moment, exclaiming that he is bushed; Rob has had him taking the engine out of an old Fairlane all day; it's a very delicate operation. Beverly muses:

BEVERLY: At least *your* patients *survive*.

She then apologises, saying she just wishes she knew Mrs. Brownley's actual cause of death. Katie runs in at that moment, asking if she can have a kitten. Beverly, however, retorts that she has enough to worry about without a kitten. She heads off to look at some books she brought home to help her with the Brownley case. Katie exclaims that it's not fair. Jim tells her gently that she chose a very bad time to ask for a favour; give Aunty Bev a few days to calm down and she'll say yes. Katie snaps:

KATIE: I don't *want* to wait. Somebody *else* will get Trixie.
JIM: I don't think you've got much choice.

No. 28
Des is ironing a shirt as Mike prepares for his evening with his uni mates. Des tells him that No. 28 is Mike's home; he should be able to bring friends there whenever he wants to. Mike, however, insists that it's cool - and besides, Henry's got a better stereo! He then changes the subject and comments that Des is going to an awful lot of trouble for someone he couldn't stand the sight of three days ago! Des shrugs:

DES: Oh, she's all right, I guess.
MIKE: She's pretty, too!
DES: It's got nothing to do with it. She's a business associate.
MIKE: That's what *I* reckon!
DES: Yep! We'll be talking about debentures and interest rates... that sort of thing.
MIKE: Sounds stimulating!
DES: Swapping business contacts... It's called networking.
MIKE: *I* call it a *date*!
DES: It is not!
MIKE: Yeah, well, call it what you like. Just take a word of advice, OK? Don't offer her a cigar with the port!

Waterhole
Paul is sitting at a table with Gail, commenting that it's a good job Miranda's not working tonight; now *there's* a woman that Gail could really, really worry about! At that moment, Penny comes in with Des and Paul comments to Gail that that should answer any questions about his lunchtime date. Gail looks at Penny and asks Paul who she is. Paul explains:

PAUL: Trainee Bank Manager.
GAIL: With looks like *that*?
PAUL (grins): Gail, those green eyes are showing again!

Paul calls Des and Penny over and Des introduces Penny to Gail. Gail suggests to Penny that she and Des join them. Des pulls out a chair for Penny and manages to hit her on the leg with it! He asks her if she's all right and she smiles that it's nothing that a drink won't fix. Des looks at the barman and asks for two beers! Penny gives him a look and Des asks her quickly what she'd like. She asks for a mango daiquiri. Des looks back at the barman and asks for a mango daiquiri and a beer! He then sits down with the others as Penny says to Gail:

PENNY: Des tells me you manage the hotel.
PAUL: Yes - when she's not playing Mata Hari!

Gail kicks him under the table! She then asks Penny if she'll be in Erinsborough for long. Penny replies that she'll be there as long as it takes for Des to show her the ropes. Paul smiles at Des:

PAUL: Starting with the nightlife, are you, mate?!

Des explains quickly that Pen was going to eat alone and he thought he'd do the right thing. Paul and Gail invite him and Penny to join them in the Lassiter's restaurant.

No. 32
Katie is sitting on the lounge room floor, trying to work out which kitten she wants, when Bronwyn comes in, wearing a flowery top and matching skirt. Katie smiles at her that she looks terrific; heaps better than in her jeans! Bronwyn says she hopes it's OK; she doesn't know what girls wear to university and she doesn't want Mike's mates to think she's a dag. Katie says:

KATIE: Aunty Bev went to university and *she* turned out OK - most of the time, anyway...

The doorbell rings suddenly and Bronwyn goes and answers it to Mike. He looks at her outfit in surprise and then smiles that she'll knock them out. They head into the lounge room, where Bronwyn tells Katie that she'll walk her home after she's put the kittens away. Katie, however, says *she'll* do that; nothing's going to happen to her crossing the street. Bronwyn thanks her and then comments to Mike that she's as ready as she'll ever be. Mike tells her to lighten up; it's just a few friends from uni; she'll have a great time. With that, she and Mike head out, leaving Katie alone, a kitten in her arms.

No. 26
Sitting on the couch, Beverly says to Jim that she knows Katie's timing was lousy, but she shouldn't have been so hard on her. Jim says he had a word with her and he's sure she understands. Helen joins them and tells them that Jamie is out like a light; he should sleep through until Des gets home. Beverly tells Jim that *he* should have settled Jamie down; it would be good practice! Changing the subject, she comments that she's glad Nick's settling down; the last few weeks must have been hard for him. Jim points out that he's still got the court case over the graffiti. Helen says:

HELEN: I've been thinking about that. You know, if it will influence the court in his favour, I might offer to stand as his guardian.
JIM: Does he need one at 16?
HELEN: I don't know - but if it'll keep him out of the boys' home, I think I should-

At that moment, Katie comes in through the back door, something clearly hidden in her crossed arms. Beverly offers her a cup of cocoa, but she declines, saying she's going straight to bed. She heads to her room. When she's gone, Beverly sighs:

BEVERLY: Oh dear, she's still sulking.
JIM: Oh look, don't let her fool you. If I know anything about little girls, she's forgotten all about that kitten already.

No. 24
Henry is telling Mike's uni mates about his latest project: gnomes! One of the guys - Brad - asks Henry if he has his own factory. Henry says quickly that they're still in the development stage! Another friend of Mike's turns up and Mike introduces her to Bronwyn. The girl, Jackie, says to Bronwyn:

JACKIE: I've been keen to meet you. Mike's been keeping you such a deep, dark secret. The curiosity was getting to all of us.

Mike goes to get some more drinks. Jackie sits down and remarks to Bronwyn that Mike said she was into nursing or childcare... Bronwyn explains that she's a nanny. Jackie says snobbishly:

JACKIE: Oh. How sweet. Personally, I'm not into all that domestic stuff.
BRONWYN: Oh? What *are* you into?
JACKIE: I'm doing Media and Marketing.
HENRY (smiles): Ever considered marketing gnomes?!
JACKIE: I'll give *anything* a go if there's a dollar in it! I intend to be very rich someday.
BRONWYN: Nannies don't get rich, but I enjoy the work.

Jackie comments that all that home- and- heart stuff is a bit prehistoric. Bronwyn, however, says she thinks bringing up healthy, happy children is one of the most important jobs in the world. Jackie just remarks cattily:

JACKIE: A generation of women's movement down the gurgler in once sentence...

Brad asks Bronwyn if the nanny thing is permanent. Bronwyn replies that she loves doing it, but she'd like to be a vet someday. Jackie remarks that she'll be at uni with *them* next year, then. Bronwyn, however, explains awkwardly:

BRONWYN: Well, no. I've got to get my HSC first. I quit school after Year 10.
JACKIE (exclaims): Boy, are *you* slow off the mark. Education's key to *everything*.
BRONWYN: Yes, but the family at the time, they-
JACKIE: It's just not on. Gotta show a bit of ambition - unless you like being a doormat.
HENRY (warns): Hey, just wait a minute, sweetheart.
BRONWYN (to Jackie): Look, at the time, my family needed me more than I needed school.

Mike returns with drinks at that moment and tells Jackie:

MIKE: Back off, Jackie, will you? Bronwyn is just a nice, sweet country girl and that's the way I want her to stay.

Bronwyn sits there looking very unhappy.

No. 22
Penny and Des are having liqueurs with Paul and Gail, and Penny thanks them for saving her from another boring evening. She then comments to Des that he tells great jokes - but she doesn't believe that one about his mother: nobody could be like that! Paul says to Des:

PAUL: What's the story with her, mate? I thought she would've been back by now.
DES: She won't be back for a while. She met this bloke in London; seems pretty keen.

Gail remarks that she bets Eileen misses Jamie. That leads Des to stand up, saying he'd better go and collect the little bloke. Penny asks Des if she minds if he comes and gets Jamie with him - he's gorgeous. Des smiles:

DES: He's at his best this time of night - he's asleep!

Paul sneezes suddenly and Gail comments that she hopes he's not going down with something. The two of them see Des and Penny out. When they've gone, Paul grins at Gail that he can see that matchmaking mind of hers ticking over! Gail replies:

GAIL: Well, it was obvious they liked each other. She was positively glowing and I haven't seen Des that happy in ages.
PAUL: Yeah, it's about time, I guess.
GAIL: *Past* time, if you ask me. A man can't grieve forever.

No. 24
Bronwyn is in the kitchen with Henry, helping prepare some food. Henry tells her to go and sit with the others, but Bronwyn retorts bitterly:

BRONWYN: It's what us domestic types do best, remember?

Henry tells her not to let Lady Muck out there get to her. Bronwyn remarks that if that's the way they act at uni, she's well out of it. She asks what makes them think they're so good; she feels like such a drongo. She adds that even Mike's doing it - but at least she and Henry have got each other. She smiles:

BRONWYN: Two cross- breeds in a mob of merinos!
HENRY: Two... two milk goats in a flock of angoras!
BRONWYN: Two galahs in a cage of cockatoos!

Mike joins them and asks what's going on, as they sound like they're having more fun than they were in the lounge. Bronwyn and Henry just burst out laughing!

No. 28
Penny is looking at a photo of Des and Daphne when Des emerges from Jamie's room, smiling that he didn't even stir. Penny remarks:

PENNY: It's a bit unusual for the father to bring up the baby. Usually when there's a divorce-
DES: I'm not divorced. My wife died some time ago.
PENNY: I'm sorry - I didn't know.

She adds that she didn't mean to stir up unhappy memories. Des murmurs:

DES: All my memories of Daph are *happy* ones. Guess that's why it's taken me so long to pick up the pieces. I'm *getting* there. Tonight helped.
PENNY (smiles): I'm glad.
DES: Yeah. I don't usually go out. Well, in fact, I haven't at all. You're the first.
PENNY: I'm very flattered!
DES: I was scared witless!
PENNY: I didn't think I was *that* much of a dragon!
DES: No, no, no, you were great!

Penny smiles that she had a terrific time; she hopes they can do it again. With that, she kisses Des on the cheek and heads off.

No. 26
Helen and Katie emerge from the bedroom area, Helen holding a kitten and asking Katie what it was doing in her bedroom. Beverly and Jim join them from the kitchen and Beverly tells Katie coolly that she told her no kitten and Katie deliberately disobeyed her. Katie explains that she was going to keep Trixie in her room until Beverly felt better. Beverly snaps:

BEVERLY: I feel perfectly well - and when I tell you something, I expect to be obeyed. Do you understand me?

She adds that kitten will have to go back to Bronwyn. The 'phone starts ringing and Beverly answers it. The call is for her: it's Mr. Brownley. She says to him:

BEVERLY: Mr. Brownley, I'm very sorry. ... *Please* let me explain. ... But I only did-

She listens for a few moments longer before hanging up, looking upset. Jim asks:

JIM: What is it?
BEVERLY: That was Margaret Brownley's son. He's suing me for malpractice.