No.30
Dorothy is stunned and tells Colin that she doesn't know him very well! John says that they don't have to get married straightaway - they could have a long engagement. He just wants to make things official. Dorothy is relieved when Helen interrupts the conversation. John heads off, asking Dorothy to think carefully about what he just said.

Beach house
Rory, Caroline, Christina, Adam, Melanie and Paul have arrived at the beach house. They admire the house while Melanie unpacks all her beach equipment(!) Rory suggests that he shows Christina the master bedroom's double bed but she says he'll have to find someone else to share it! Meanwhile, Melanie starts hula- hooping!

Coffee Shop
Gemma and Matt come in and tell Madge and Harold that Gemma's finished her exams. Madge invites them over for a late lunch. Also, Tom has called and wants Gemma to ring him.

No.30
Dorothy and Helen are back from shopping. Helen probes Dorothy for details about what's going on between her and John Bryce. Dorothy is forced to admit that John has proposed. Helen thinks it's marvellous - Dorothy is very fond of him.

DOROTHY: The truth is, I'm not ready for marriage with *anyone*
HELEN: Oh. Is it because of your husband? Dorothy, if it *is* because of him...well, it must be a long time since he died.
DOROTHY: I lost him twelve years ago.
HELEN: He'd understand. I know how hard it is for you. It look me a long time to get over Bill dying. But then eventually I realised that I just had to get on with it.
DOROTHY: I know that, Helen...
HELEN: You don't want to spend the rest of your life alone, do you?
DOROTHY: No!
HELEN: Then let go of the past. And keep your memories - you should - but don't let them stop you from having a future. You mustn't!

Beach house
Christina is giving Rory a shoulder massage. Paul rolls his eyes and decides to go for a walk while Melanie gets the twins to do hula- hooping. Rory tells Adam that Melanie is a lot of fun - he thinks Christina is only playing games, so he might as well have Melanie as a backup!

Coffee Shop
Harold is closing up when Dorothy knocks on the door. She buys a couple of quiches for Ryan and Harold asks her opinion about Gemma's living arrangements. He asks Dorothy if she thinks that Gemma is behaving immorally at living with Matt. Dorothy says it's a different world now, and anyway, she's an original 60s flower child so she's not bothered at all!

DOROTHY: To hell with convention! It's far too good a time to miss. So remember when dealing with Gemma, we're young for such a desperatly short time.

Harold looks rather takenaback!

No.24
Madge, Harold, Gemma and Matt are just finishing their dinner. Gemma goes off to ring Tom. He tells her he's determined to come down from Queensland to "talk some sense into her" next week. She is not pleased.

No.30
John comes to see Dorothy. He tells her he thinks he's beena bit pushy in trying to rush her into marriage. He suggests they could live together for a while but Dorothy tells him she can't - she doesn't want him to get his hopes up and expect marriage at the end of it. But they can still go on seeing each other. John looks rather disappointed.

Beach house
Rory is flirting with Melanie again and she looks a bit uncomfortable. She goes into the kitchen and asks Christina about it.

CHRISTINA: Well, if you want him, Mel, why don't you go for it? He's a bit of a spunk, isn't he?! I'd probably be interested myself if I weren't so hung up on Paul.

Melanie is pleased and they giggle together.

No.24
Gemma is moaning about Tom coming down next week. Matt says he's got a little surprise for her to cheer her up. He says he'll go and get it.

Outside No.24
Matt has bought Gemma a motorbike! Gemma is delighted, but Madge and Harold don't look too chuffed! Gemma excitedly runs down the steps to look at the bike while Matt assures Madge and Harold that he'll teach Gemma how to ride it properly. It'll make Gemma's life a lot easier to have her own transport.

No.30
Matt and Gemma are babysitting Sky. Gemma is worried that Tom will complain about the bike as well as everything else.

Beach house
Rory is playing his guitar and flirting with Melanie again. He tells her quietly that they could go for a long walk along the beach after dinner and Melanie agrees. Caroline glares at Rory.

No.26
Helen and Dorothy are having a drink and talking about John.

DOROTHY: He's looking for some kind of commitment and I can't give it to him.
HELEN: Why? Because you feel disloyal?
DOROTHY: Not exactly, no.
HELEN: Then why? You've told me how fond you are of him.
DOROTHY: Because I just can't, that's all.
HELEN: Oh, honestly, Dorothy, don't you think you're being rather silly about all this?
DOROTHY: No, not at all!
HELEN: But if you like the man as much as you say you do, why don't you just go ahead with it?
DOROTHY: Becuase I'm still married. That's why.
HELEN: What?
DOROTHY: You heard.
HELEN: But we were all under the impression that you were a widow.
DOROTHY: Yes, it seemed easier to let you believe that. And really, I don't want to discuss it any further if you don't mind.

Beach house
It's evening now and the guys and gals have just finished their evening meal. Caroline tells Melanie that Rory is trouble - he's been trying to crack on to her too: in fact, he's been trying to crack on to all three of them! They decide that they'll teach him a lesson he'll never forget!