No. 30
Matthew tells Sharon:

MATT: It's been driving me crazy... just kind of eating me up inside. It's got to come out sooner or later, so it might as well come out now.
SHARON (presses): Yeah, let it out!
MATT: Yeah, well, if it wasn't so embarrassing...
HILARY (grimly): Thank you very much!
MATT: All right, Sharon, how do you handle it when some older woman falls madly in love with you?
HILARY (exclaims in astonishment): What?!

Matt tells Hilary that he thinks Sharon can be trusted! He then turns to Sharon and 'explains' that he used to do a delivery run for a local chemist, and one of the women on his run started taking advantage of him, so he quit his job. He adds that *some* guys might think it was a dream come true, but his parents wanted him to get away and Hilary was kind enough to help. Sharon asks what happened to the older woman. Matt replies that, when he left, she had a nervous breakdown. Looking somewhat concerned, Hilary tells Matt quickly that he's gone into quite enough detail. Apologising for sounding nosy, Sharon picks up her bag and heads off to school. When she's gone, Matt remarks to Hilary:

MATT: You looked a bit nervous for a second there!
HILARY (primly): You certainly were enjoying yourself...
MATT: Yeah, I'm sorry - but it's *our* secret and I was just trying to make sure it stayed that way.

Hilary asks Matt if he thinks Sharon believed him. Matt smiles that she's a romantic, and he thinks the story is just crazy enough! Changing the subject, Hilary then tells Matt that she found something she wants him to have. She picks up a piece of sheet music and adds that Matt's father wrote it for her; she can't play it - not anymore, because it has too many memories - but it's all she can give him. Matt smiles at her, gratefully.

No. 28
Mike is opening his birthday presents with Des and Kerry. Kerry has bought him some gear for his bike and Des has bought him a tweed jacket! Mike smiles that they're both great! Des then asks him if he'll be ready for dinner at about 7pm. Mike, however, replies that he's going to be teaching the athletics team after school, so he might be home late. Des insists that they'll wait and Kerry adds that she cancelled a meditation session to have dinner with him tonight! Mike gives in and says he'll be there - but he still might be a bit late. With that, he heads off to his room, leaving Des to tell Kerry that he'll go and set up the marquee out the back.

Lassiter's complex
Madge and Harold are walking over the bridge at the Lassiter's complex, Madge muttering as they do so that she isn't looking forward to tonight one little bit. Harold, however, suggests that Des had a point: it would be a pity to spoil Mike's birthday. He suggests they ignore the Robinsons, even though the Robinsons will probably try and provoke them. Having reached the other side of the bridge, Harold heads towards the Coffee Shop while Madge walks towards the Waterhole, passing Joe and Henry sitting at a table outside the Coffee Shop. Joe is complaining to Henry about the fact that there's no work to be done now that Paul has cut their gardening account in half. Henry sighs that they'd better pick up something regular soon. Bronwyn emerges from the Coffee Shop and joins the two men, remarking tersely that Paul doesn't pay them to sit around and drink coffee all day.

HENRY: Huh! Paul hardly pays us anything at *all*!
BRONWYN: And the schoolkids will be here soon: we need the table space.
JOE (sighs): You really know when you're scraping the barrel when you've got to make way for the milkshake kids!

Bronwyn walks off. Henry says to Joe suddenly:

HENRY: Do you want a milkshake?
JOE: Yeah!

No. 26
Helen is in the kitchen when Todd comes in through the back door. She offers him something to eat, but he declines. Helen then comments that she knows Todd said nothing was bothering him, but what is it? Todd sighs that he met this girl. Helen asks what her name is. Todd replies that it's Alison Ryder, and he explains about how he met her on the bus, rang her up and found he was speaking to her aunt, and made a total fool out of himself. Helen tells him that it isn't the end of the world. Todd cries that he'll never *see* her again, but Helen points out that he won't if he doesn't try and ring her again. Todd insists that he can't do that: she probably thinks he's a total dag. Helen suggests that there's only one way to find out. She indicates the 'phone and Todd reluctantly goes and dials. When the call is answered, he says:

TODD: Hello, can I please speak to Alison?

He waits a few seconds before then saying:

TODD: Hi, it's me - Todd Landers ... I'm great! Yeah, how's things? ... That's fantastic!

Helen stands there, a smile on her face!

No. 30
Sharon, Nick and Matt arrive home, Sharon laughing about a teacher's desk having been glued shut! Hilary joins them and asks how school was. Sharon mutters that it was a living death. Hilary remarks that that's not a very productive state of mind in which to commence their homework. Sharon says they'll do it later, when their minds are relaxed. Hilary, however, retorts that she suggests they should get on with it now, otherwise they'll miss the party. She walks off again, leaving Nick to smile that it seems like Sharon and Matt are under the thumb! He then mutters:

NICK: Who wants to go to this stupid party anyway? We're talking about a guy who rips-off skateboards.

Sharon points out that at least Mike didn't dob them in when they tried to get it back. Nick mutters that if Mike starts playing the saxophone tonight, he's leaving. Matt remarks in surprise:

MIKE: The Maths teacher plays sax?!
SHARON: Matt, Ramsay Street is full of mysteries - like *yours*, for example!
MATT: Keep talking...
SHARON: Well... you're a skateboard whizz, and Nick's a brilliant pianist; no one knew *that*, did they?!
MATT: And what's *your* hidden talent?

Before Sharon can answer, Nick laughs that she can talk under forty feet of cement! Changing the subject, Matt then asks Nick if he can play the sheet music he's holding. Nick asks what it is. Matt replies that it's kind of an heirloom, but he's never heard it. Nick takes the music and sits down at the piano. He starts playing. Hilary is working out in the garden, and as she hears the tune through the open window, she looks up in astonishment. Tears begin to well-up in her eyes.

No. 28
It's evening-time and Mike pulls up outside No. 28 on his motorbike. Des is looking out for him in the house, and he tells Kerry quickly to hide the banner she's working on. He then heads to the door of the laundry and whispers to several people hidden inside:

DES: He's here. Shh!

He closes the door again and he and Kerry both go and sit down on the couch, nonchalantly. Mike comes in and says he could do with a shower. He asks if the towels are still in the laundry. Des says quickly that he was just going to get one, and he'll get one for Mike too! Mike accepts the offer and heads off to shower. When he's gone, Des goes and reopens the door to the laundry and lots of Ramsay Street residents pile out!

No. 30
Hilary is sitting at the piano, looking thoughtful. Matt joins her and tells her that they're a bit late. Hilary, however, says she doesn't think she'll go. Matt asks her if she heard Nick playing his dad's song this afternoon. Hilary nods that she did.

MATT: And you weren't angry?
HILARY: Well if I hadn't *wanted* it played, I could've kept it to myself, couldn't I.
MATT: I really liked it.
HILARY: A little old-fashioned for you, I would've thought. Musical tastes change so quickly.
MATT: Oh yeah, but it was a lovely ballad. Did he write much of that stuff, my dad?
HILARY: Don't ask me about him, Matthew. I didn't know your father long enough to tell you *anything*. I only knew him long enough to fall in love - and I'm sorry if that sounds like a contradiction. I also have to ask you... make sure that song isn't played here again - please?

Matt nods. He then pleads with Hilary to come to the party, adding that it's better than sitting around the house thinking.

No. 28
The Ramsay Street residents are all standing in No. 20 waiting quietly for Mike. Des is keeping an eye out for Mike to emerge from the bathroom. When he does so, Des signals to Kerry, who turns off the main lights. The door to the bedroom area opens suddenly and Mike emerges, wearing just a couple of towels! Finding the place in darkness, he calls Des's name in surprise. The lights come on suddenly and the residents let off party poppers and shout collectively:

RAMSAY STREET RESIDENTS: Surprise!!!!!!

Des smiles at Mike that one day he'll thank them for this! Everyone approaches Mike and wishes him Happy Birthday. Jane tells him that they'd've have got him a symphony orchestra if they could!

Back yard of No. 28
A short time later, the party is in full swing and Joe and Henry order two beers from a barman in the marquee outside. Henry warns Joe to take it easy, as they have a big sales pitch tomorrow with J.M. Cohen. Joe, however, tells him that he couldn't get through to the guy. Henry mutters that he was looking forward to this party; why did Joe have to tell him something so depressing? Nick is walking around with a camera, taking photos of the guests. Sharon spots Hilary and gets Nick to take a photo of the two of them together! As they watch, Joe says to Henry:

JOE: I tell ya, you're going to kill yourself when you see this video, mate: it's Ramsay Street warts and all. Fair dinkum, they're ripping the stuffing out of each other!

He adds that he was supposed to send it to his mum tomorrow, but he just happened to bring it along tonight so everyone can have a gander! With that, Joe heads off to the house and Todd joins Henry, who comments that the boy is looking brighter than the last time he saw him. Todd explains that it's cool: he rang Alison back at lunchtime, sorted the whole thing out and they're going out on a date!

HENRY: Groovy! Ultra cool!

Todd's face then drops as he tells Henry that Alison doesn't reckon she's going to stay as long as she thought, as she's not getting on well with her aunt.

HENRY: Well there you go, then, Mr. Smooth: the perfect opportunity: invite her to stay at *your* place!

Todd, however, comments that it's a bit tense at home. Joe's voice rises above everyone else's suddenly, yelling that it's video time! Henry remarks to Todd grimly that this could start a riot...

No. 28
The Robinsons and Ramsays and a few other residents are watching Joe's video of the 'Good neighbours, good friends' fiasco. Joe laughs that it's the sort of stuff that makes John McEnroe look like a choir boy! Helen looks at Jim and murmurs in horror:

HELEN: Did we really carry on like this?
JIM (sighs): It's embarrassing, isn't it.

Madge says to Harold, squirming as she does so:

MADGE: I'd give anything to be somewhere else.
HAROLD: Thank heavens Reverend Sampson isn't here.

Joe chuckles at the video and he starts rewinding bits, laughing as he does so that it's the blueprint for making a mountain out of a molehill!

No. 28
Sometime later, Jim is addressing the room, saying:

JIM: I reckon I know when I've made a fool of myself, and I'd like to cut my losses, Harold.

He holds out his hand and Harold shakes it, nodding that they're *his* sentiments exactly. Madge asks Helen if she can forgive her. Helen replies that she thinks they should just forgive each other and call it quits. Madge mutters that she hopes they can stop Joe sending the tape to Mrs. Mangel. Des calls for quiet suddenly. Everyone has piled back into the house and listens as Des says:

DES: I want to thank you all for coming. When you invite Ramsay Street to a party, it's a bit of a raffle! This one seems to have turned up trumps! We're here to congratulate a young man on reaching his majority - that's his 21st! - and we're here because we're his friends; so I'd like you to raise your glasses to Mike.

Everyone joins in the toast and starts singing 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow'. Mike interrupts them, though, and says:

MIKE: You all sprung this on me - which was pretty obvious! Good friends are everything, I guess, and I've certainly got my fair share. To be quite honest, the day didn't really mean anything to me 'til now. I'd just like to say something about *this* fella. [He walks over to Des] He's always been there whenever I needed someone, seen me through thick and thin and, well, he's the one bloke I can always trust no matter what. I just hope that Jamie realises what a great dad he's got.

Des pats Mike's shoulder, looking embarrassed! The party resumes and Henry starts drinking a yard of ale! Mike grabs Jane's arm and asks her to come outside. They head out through the front door and, standing on the path, Mike indicates the watch he's wearing and thanks Jane for it, saying it's great. Jane smiles that she's glad he likes it. Mike tells her that every time he looks at it, he'll think of her. Jane then says she heard about Mike's mum and she's sorry she couldn't stay for the party.

MIKE: You know, it's funny, isn't it? You joke around about turning 21 and growing up and stuff... Just tonight, I've realised who cares about *me* and who *I* care about.

A look of nervousness crosses Jane's face. Mike goes on:

MIKE: You know, if you were allowed to make one wish on your birthday, I know what *mine* would be.
JANE (flatly): Well you *are* - so what is it?
MIKE: I wish we'd never broken up.
JANE (awkwardly): I wish things could've worked out differently, but-
MIKE: They still *can*, Jane.

Mike leans in and kisses Jane gently on the cheek. He then hugs her and says:

MIKE: I've really missed this.

Jane stands there looking worried.

Back yard of No. 28
In the marquee, Todd is asking Jim and Beverly to let Alison stay, but Beverly points out that they don't even *know* the girl. Todd insists that it'll just be for a while. Elsewhere, Hilary is telling Harold that the sale of her house is being finalised tomorrow morning. She adds that she's certainly burnt her bridges in Adelaide now. Matt joins them and tells Hilary that she owes him a dance! Hilary, looking embarrassed, tells him not to be ridiculous, but Harold insists that she'll enjoy it!

No. 28
Inside the house, music is playing loudly. Jane and Mike are dancing together awkwardly. Henry's bopping around like a madman! Helen says to Madge that she hopes they didn't have too much trouble cleaning up the pool. Madge replies that they sent Henry down in his wetsuit! She then asks where Harold is, as she fancies a dance! Henry bops over to Joe and laughs that an hour ago it was World War III and Joe changed that: it was the power of the media!

HENRY: That video of yours was more powerful than a light sabre! You can change the *world* with that thing!
JOE: And people's minds, too.
HENRY: Absolutely: look at Helen and mum.
JOE: Look at J.M. Cohen.
HENRY: Look at J.M. Cohen...

Henry breaks off, clearly not having a clue what Joe is talking about! Joe, however, clarifies:

JOE: The power of the media, mate: 'Mangel and Ramsay' in action on video. He's impressed...
HENRY and JOE: We're in work!