No. 24
Henry is sitting at the kitchen table, saying he couldn't have had a better party even if he'd organised it himself! Madge hands him a bag and tells him that, as a token of appreciation, he can take out the rubbish! Henry heads outside, leaving Madge alone with Bronwyn, who's working in the kitchen. She tells Madge that she thinks Henry had a really good time this afternoon! There's suddenly a knock on the front door and Madge asks Bronwyn to answer it, as *she's* going to go and have a long soak in a hot bath. Bronwyn goes and opens the door to Sharon - who looks around at the now-empty house and comments that she guesses the party's over! Bronwyn asks her where she's been and she replies wearily that she's been sitting at Elliott Park Oval, watching the most boring game of cricket in the world. Bronwyn remarks:

BRONWYN: Surely Brad doesn't expect you to go to *all* of his silly sports meetings?
SHARON: Oh, I wasn't with Brad; I'm seeing Curt now!
BRONWYN (amused): What happened to Brad?!
SHARON: I gave him the flick! The trouble is Curt's turning out to be just as much of a sports freak as Brad was. Still, he's someone to go out with until someone better comes along!

Bronwyn sighs that if their dad knew what Sharon was up to, he'd die! Sharon asks in horror if Bronwyn's going to tell him. Bronwyn assures her that she won't, but adds:

BRONWYN: I don't know what you're trying to prove by going out with all these different guys.
SHARON: I'm not trying to prove *anything*; I'm just having fun. Remember what *you* were like at my age?!
BRONWYN (incredulously): I was nothing like *you*, that's for sure! You just be careful, OK?
SHARON (sarcastically): Yes, Aunt Edie!

Sharon then tells Bronwyn that she'll have to stop fussing when she goes to New Zealand. Bronwyn, however, explains that she's not going anymore; she's taking the vet job. Henry comes back in and adds that, that way, if things don't work out for *him*, he gets zapped back to Erinsborough and Bronny won't have lost her big chance for nothing. Sharon smiles that that's fantastic!

No. 30
Matt is sitting with Lee in the lounge room, commenting that her parents didn't seem so bad. Lee, however, retorts that *he* doesn't have to live with them and cope with all the fighting; all they're trying to do is con her into going back home again so they can use her. Matt suggests that she should give them a chance; ease up a little. Lee snaps:

LEE: Why should *I* have to ease up? I haven't *done* anything. *They're* the ones dumping on *me*. Do you think I'm making this up?
MATT: No... but the way they came across - to me *and* mum... I mean, I don't know... Are you sure you're doing the right thing? I mean, they seemed pretty together. Maybe they've worked something out, and you're not going to know unless you go back and see?
LEE (tersely): I'm not going back to them - not to *either* of them. Matt, they don't care about *me*; all they care about is winning. And as far as they're concerned, whoever gets me is the winner. It's like some kind of sick game with them, and I'm just this 'thing' caught in the middle of it. Well, I've had enough.
MATT (comments): It sounds pretty rotten.
LEE: So you believe me?
MATT (nods): Sure.

No. 28
The next morning, Des is sitting with Jamie in an armchair. Melanie is in the kitchen area when Mike emerges from his room and stares at her in surprise. He quickly recovers from his shock and asks her what she's cooking. She tells him that it's breakfast! He, Des and Jamie all go and sit at the table. Des says to Mike that he hopes he doesn't mind Melanie staying there for a while. Mike assures him that she's always been good for a laugh! Melanie serves both men with big plates of fried food and Des exclaims:

DES: I'll need a *shovel* to get through all that!
MELANIE: I gave you more because you're taller!

Mike then asks Des if he's got any plans for the day. Des says he's going to go through some of the Lassiter's accounts for Paul. Melanie puts a plate of cereal in front of Jamie and then says she's going out for a minute, but they're not to worry about the dishes - she'll be back soon. She heads out.

No. 30
Matt lies back on the couch in the lounge room as Sharon comes in and says:

SHARON: If your girlfriend doesn't get out of bed soon, she's going to miss out on breakfast altogether!
MATT (sighs): Sharon, a) it's not that late; and b) and quit calling Lee my girlfriend. She *isn't*.

There's suddenly a knock at the front door and Sharon goes to get it. She finds Mike on the step, and, looking surprised to see him, asks him when he got back. He smiles that it was yesterday. She lets him in and they head into the lounge room, where Mike tells Matt that he thought he'd let him know he's resuming swimming training: first thing tomorrow morning. Matt smiles that that's great! He adds that the temporary coach the school brought in wasn't too bad, but he had his own special private trainer in Hilary - and he thought *Mike* was tough! Mike remarks:

MIKE: It's good to see you've kept in line - I thought with your new girlfriend, you would've, well, given up on the training.
MATT (frowns): You mean Lee?
MIKE: Yeah, well, Des said she was staying here for a while.
MATT: Right. No, no, Lee's only a friend; there's no romance involved.
MIKE: Yeah. Well. Whatever. I'll see you seven o'clock tomorrow morning.

With that, Mike heads out. When he's gone, Sharon comments to Matt that it looks like the whole of Ramsay Street thinks he and Lee are an item. Matt retorts that they're wrong. Sharon teases:

SHARON: Come on... she's only staying here 'cos you've got the hots for her!
MATT (snaps): Sharon, just drop it, will you?
SHARON: Matt, what's wrong with admitting you like her?
MATT (sighs): Nothing. I *do* like her, but, well, we're just friends.
SHARON: You mean you're hooked and she's not? Come on... she'll come round - maybe when she's sorted things out with her parents.
MATT: I don't know, Sharon - I can't make sense of *any* of it: her... her parents...
SHARON: You don't think she's lying about it all, do you?
MATT (sighs heavily): I don't know...

No. 28
Des is sitting with Paul at the dining table. They have some papers in front of them and Des tells Paul that things are looking pretty good. Melanie emerges from the bedroom area with the vacuum cleaner and starts clattering around as Paul asks Des if he's done anything about trying to get a new job. Des replies that he's spoken to some mates and they said they'd give him a bell if anything came up. Paul asks:

PAUL: What about the Robinson Corporation until they do? We could use another accountant, Des.
DES: You serious?
PAUL: Of course! It could be part-time - that way, you'd still be able to do other work.

Melanie turns on the vacuum cleaner as Paul tells Des that it would be nice to have somebody who *knows* the place - and he was pretty impressed with the way Des looked after it while he was away. Des smiles:

DES: OK, bait taken - I'll help you out for a few days, anyway!

Melanie turns off the vacuum and dashes over, exclaiming:

MELANIE: Great! Are you coming back?! That'll be fantastic! I thought it was really going to be boring with just me and Paul in the office!
PAUL (darkly): Thanks, Melanie!
MELANIE: Sorry!

No. 24
Henry is trying to pack clothes into an already-over-full suitcase in the lounge room! Bronwyn emerges from their bedroom with his guitar and tells him not to forget it. She then goes to look for the case. Madge starts looking through a pile of comics Henry is planning to take, and a trophy he won when he was nine years old, which he explains he thought he'd take to impress the locals! She tells him tersely:

MADGE: Henry, there is a maximum weight you can take on 'planes to stop them falling out of the sky! Some of this stuff is going to have to stay.

Henry sighs and then says:

HENRY: Mum, you *will* look after her for me, won't you?
MADGE: Yeah, of course I will. Now, you just give everything you've got to that radio job. Bronwyn will be fine.

Henry thanks Madge and gives her a warm hug. Madge then declares:

MADGE: Action stations!

She sits down on the top of Henry's suitcase to try and compress everything while he zips it shut!

No. 30
Matt are Lee are in the lounge room. There's an air of tension between them. There's suddenly a knock on the door and Matt goes and answers it to find Mrs. Maloney on the step. He invites her in, but Lee demands of her angrily:

LEE: What are *you* doing here?
MRS. MALONEY: I was hoping we could talk - just the two of us.

Matt says he's got some stuff he could do. Lee, however, tells him that she wants him to stay. He and Mrs. Maloney sit down and Mrs. Maloney says to Lee:

MRS. MALONEY: I want you to know that I'm only here because I have your best interests at heart.
LEE (dismissively): I've heard that before, mum.
MRS. MALONEY: I know how hard it's been for you with your father and me fighting all the time. No wonder you ran away - we haven't been able to offer you much, have we? But I want to change all that - I want you to have a real home; be a family.
LEE: So you've decided to stay together?
MRS. MALONEY: No. I'm leaving your father and moving back to Perth - and I want you to come with me.
LEE: What about dad?
MRS. MALONEY: You'll still see him - you could visit during school holidays. Oh look, you'll love it, Lee, I promise you. We'll be able to live by the beach - you'd like that, wouldn't you?
LEE (incredulously): Does *dad* know about this?
MRS. MALONEY (tersely): It's not *up* to him - it's *your* decision, Lee. It's important that we're clear about this before we discuss it with your father. Look, you know how difficult he can be: he doesn't understand that a daughter should be with her mother.

Lee looks at Matt, who has an expression of sympathy on his face.

No. 28
Des throws a paper ball at a set of plastic cricket stumps - and hits them! Paul is fielding and Mike is standing at the crease, and he mutters that it was beginner's luck! He takes the ball and Des takes the bat as he smiles that he's actually having fun - he hasn't hung out with the boys for a long time! He adds:

DES: Who needs them?
PAUL: What?
DES: Women. I mean... what are they good for anyway? Yeah, it's the single life for me, mate - that's the way I'm going to stay.
PAUL: I will second that.
MIKE: Yeah! Me too!
DES: No more Mr. Nice Guy!
PAUL: No more having to shave because you give them gravel rash!
MIKE: No more having to pay for dinner!
DES: No more traipsing around, picking them up from work!
PAUL: Yeah! No more giving up my side of the bed, either!

There's a sudden slightly-embarrassed silence. Des then nods that it's the single life for *him*. Paul says:

PAUL: To think I could've been up to my knees in babies' gear now.
MIKE: All those nappies! Yuk!
DES: Sleepless nights!
MIKE: Yeah. No, I'm glad I'm out of it.
PAUL: Me too!

Des looks at the cricket gear and remarks that at least they still know how to have fun!

No. 24
Henry has finished packing and closing his suitcases. Madge joins him in the lounge room and comments that she doesn't suppose he's packed any writing paper in that lot! Henry assures her that it's in there somewhere. Madge then asks in a sad voice:

MADGE: Do you think you might get home for Christmas?
HENRY: Oh... I doubt it, mum - I'll've only just got there.
MADGE: Oh well - I could use a quiet Christmas anyway. I'll send you some cake.
HENRY: I don't think you need to start sending food parcels *yet*!
MADGE: Well... it's important to keep in touch.
HENRY: I'm only down in New Zealand, mum, not the other side of the world.
MADGE (distantly): Might as well be...

Madge then hands Henry a shirt and a pair of jeans and tells him to get them on, otherwise he'll be running late. As Henry looks at them, he says tearfully to Madge:

HENRY: Thanks for everything.
MADGE (sadly): I haven't *done* anything, really - except be a mother. I brought you into the world; I might as well pack you off to Wellington...

Henry throws down the clothes and puts his arms around Madge as she cries:

MADGE: Look what you've done: you've ruined my make-up!
HENRY (sobs): I love you!

Airport
Sometime later, Madge, Bronwyn and Henry are walking through a terminal at the airport, Madge asking Henry if he packed his travel-sick pills. Henry nods that he thinks so, but he bets he still gets sick! They reach the check-in desk and the clerk asks Henry for his ticket and tells him to put his luggage on the scales. Madge, Henry and Bronwyn all pile cases and Henry's guitar onto the scales and the clerk tells them:

CHECK-IN CLERK: That's twenty kilos over. I'm going to have to charge you for excess baggage.
MADGE: Told you!
HENRY (to the clerk): How much?
CHECK-IN CLERK: $80.
HENRY: Oh, what?!

Henry then leans close to the clerk and asks cheekily if there's any chance of just sneaking that stuff on. The clerk says she's sorry! Henry reluctantly takes his guitar - in its case - off the scales and hands it to Bronwyn. She assures him:

BRONWYN: I'll take good care of it for you.

The clerk finishes checking Henry in and tells him that it's flight QF37 to Wellington, departing from gate 4.

No. 28
Melanie is dusting in the lounge room as Des, Mike and Paul - seated on the couch - muse on life, Paul saying:

PAUL: You know, maybe we are just not the sort of guys that *should* settle down, eh?
MIKE: Well *I* don't even think I'm ever going to find the right girl anyway!

Des sighs that he guesses *he's* just a born loser. Mike comments:

MIKE: Join the club! *My* love life...? What am I talking about? I haven't even *got* one! You know, I think I should just give this whole relationship thing *away*.
PAUL: *I* met the perfect partner once. Felicity Morris. She proposed to me. Well, I was only twelve, in the school playground, at the time!
DES: What happened?
PAUL: Oh, her parents moved to Canada. I never saw her again!

Melanie, who's been glancing at the men occasionally, suddenly bursts into mock tears! Des asks her what the matter is, and she laughs:

MELANIE: Oh, Dessy-wessy-wessy, you're a cruel and bitter bloke. And poor old Pauly-wauly, I'm sure Felicity still remembers you, no matter *where* she is!
MIKE (quickly): Don't 'Mikey-wikey' me, OK? I think I got the message!
MELANIE (teases): But it's so *sad*! Look at the three of you!

No. 30
Mrs. Maloney is snapping at Lee that she doesn't know what more she can say to make her see reason. Lee just retorts that her mother hasn't said anything except how stupid she'd be to stay with someone as rotten as her dad. Sharon arrives home, but Matt heads her off in the lounge room doorway. The two of them listen as Mrs. Maloney says tersely:

MRS. MALONEY: I want an answer, Lee.
LEE: Well, what if I *do* decide to stay with him?
MRS. MALONEY: Well, go ahead. If you're trying to hurt me, you're going about it the right way. And when you find out living with your father doesn't work, don't expect me to be waiting for you with open arms.
LEE (leaping up, angrily): Well, that suits me just fine. Just go away.
MRS. MALONEY (retorts): All right. I'm going. I'm sorry. When you're ready to talk, please ring me.

With that, Mrs. Maloney gets up and heads for the door. She turns back, though, and says to Lee:

MRS. MALONEY: No matter how badly you think your father and I behave, we *do* love you.

With that, Matt sees Mrs. Maloney out. When he returns to the lounge room, Lee demands:

LEE: Believe me now? And I'll just have to go through it all again with my father.

Matt says he's sorry: he had no idea.

Airport
Henry takes Bronwyn's left hand and looks at the watch on her wrist. She says:

BRONWYN: Well... I guess this is it.

A soft-rock track starts as tears well up in Bronwyn's eyes. Henry and Madge both become teary as well, as Henry sobs at his mother:

HENRY: Make sure Harold looks after you, all right?

Madge nods at him and then gives him a tight hug. Bronwyn looks on sadly. Madge and Henry pull apart and Henry then says to Bronwyn through his tears:

HENRY: You mean more to me than anything else in the world. I promise we'll be back together soon, OK?

The two of them embrace tightly, tears streaming down both their faces. After several seconds, they separate. Henry reaches down and picks up his carry-on bag. He then heads for the door to the boarding gate. He takes a look back at Bronwyn, though, and goes and hugs her again. He murmurs:

HENRY: I love you.
BRONWYN: I love you too.

With that, he steps through the door at the boarding gate, giving Bronwyn and Madge a final wave. When he's gone, a stricken Bronwyn turns to Madge, who puts her arms round her, comfortingly.

A short time later, Madge and Bronwyn step out onto the public viewing area and watch as Henry's 'plane taxis back from the gate. Bronwyn has tears in her eyes as she thinks back to the day Henry proposed to her and spun her around happily in the kitchen at home when she said yes. Other memories come flooding back, including of the day they were due to get married, and how Henry comforted her in their bedroom after they decided to postpone. She watches as the 'plane takes off and climbs into the sky, and she and Madge then head sadly back towards the terminal building.