Recap
Josh lets slip to Lucy about Glen.
No.26
LUCY: Well? What was he talking about?
There is a bit of a pause.
JIM: ...it's a bit difficult, darling. I was...I was planning to tell you, I just wanted to pick my time.
LUCY: Why? What's the big deal? Why did Josh use the word "brother"?
JIM: Look...I have told you a little bit about the time I spent in Vietnam. But I didn't tell yo umuch about what it felt like. It's very difficult to describe how war feels. Especially to your family.
LUCY: I know it wasn't any fun.
JIM: No, it was more than that, darling, it was the most incredible feeling of lonliness, of isolation. And the only people that you could share it with were the people who were out there with you, like the soldiers. And the support staff. And the nurses...
LUCY: The nurses?
JIM: Yeah. One of them was Glen's mother.
LUCY:(getting upset) And this was when you were married to Mum and everything? How did it happen, Dad? I think you have to tell me, I can't just go "Fine, by the way what's for dinner?" It's just too big, you know?
JIM: Yeah, I know, darling. It's a long story, can you bear with me?
LUCY: I've got plenty of time.
No.24
Gemma has made Madge and Harold dinner as they are home late from a council meeting. Harold observes that Madge's voice is huskier than usual and thinks she should go to the doctor. Madge protests, but Harold insists she should. They chat about Gemma and think she's a bit down after the departures of Aiden, Matt and Ryan.
No.26
Jim is finishing up the story of Glen.
JIM: And when I finally accepted who Glen was, I invited him to come and live with us. It took him a while to warm to me, but well...here he is.
LUCY: Here he is.
JIM: Lucy, whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, none of it, *none of it* is Glen's fault. The fact is, he's my son. And I can't...I don't want to change that.
LUCY: I wouldn't expect you to.
JIM: I talked it over with your Gran, and we both felt that since his mother's dead, we should offer him a home. Anyway, I like him. And I hope you will too.
Lucy is rather silent.
JIM: Lucy, if you won't talk to me, how am I supposed to know how you feel?
LUCY: You always told me Mum was just about perfect.
JIM: She was.
LUCY: Which means for you to do what you did, that means you're not, and I don't know how to deal with it!
JIM: Oh, Lucy. I'm only human. Being your Dad doesn't make me any more.
LUCY: But you see, I thought you were. I didn't think you'd ever do anything wrong. Not really. And I've had this picture in my head about the sort of person you are. And none of what you've told me fits that picture, Dad. I'm confused. I think it's a bit soon to know what I really think. If it's OK, I'm going to go out for a while.
She leaves.
No.22
Caroline is shouting at Christina to hurry up, when Adam calls around to ask Caroline out tonight. She accepts. They chat about the building work and Adam says it's going OK.
Coffee Shop
Harold is congratulating Gemma for throwing herself into her work at the Coffee Shop, but says she should start to think about a career.
Caroline and Christina come in and sit at a table, saying they'll put the bill on Paul's tab as punishment for him being away. Caroline suggests a girls' night on the town tonight - she'll put Adam off, and it'll be fine because they've got an open relationship again. Gemma reluctantly agrees, saying her mood is a bit dull.
No.26
Helen has arrived home, using a walking stick. Jim sits her down on the sofa and tells her the latest on Todd and Lucy. Before he can elaborate on Lucy's reaction to Glen, Dorothy comes in to say hello. Jim politely asks her to come back this afternoon.
When Dorothy has gone, Jim tells Helen that he's not sure where he stands with Lucy now.
Coffee Shop
Gemma tells Madge that her voice is dreadfully hoarse, but she reckons it's just laryingitis. Gemma tells her that her voice has been husky for ages and Harold comes over and tells her that she really must go to the doctor. Madge relents and tells them she'll make an appointment.
Garden of No.26
Helen comes into the garden to see Lucy. They hug and go on to talk about Lucy being kicked out of school - she says she just got bored and homesick. They also talk about Glen.
HELEN: You feel disappointed? Let down? THat's the way I felt when he told me.
LUCY: You too.
HELEN: After all, your mother was my daughter. I felt that he'd betrayed both of us. So I went away and thought, and I calmed down.
LUCY: I wish I could.
HELEN: I thought, alright Jim, I wish you hadn't made that mistake in Vietnam, I really wish you hadn't. But you were a very good husband to Ann and a wonderful father to my grandchildren. Those were my thoughts, how do they sound to you?
LUCY: He was the best Dad ever.
HELEN: He's still the same, he hasn't changed. Either of us, we cannot punish him for things that happened so many years ago.
LUCY: I don't know. I'm really trying, Gran, I am, but I just don't know if it's that simple.
Coffee Shop
Caroline comes in for a coffee and Adam pops in too. Caroline tells him that she can't make it tonight and says that something has come up "for work". Gemma looks at her strangely, but doesn't say anything. When Adam has gone, she pipes up:
GEMMA: I thought you were going to tell him the truth.
CAROLINE: So did I.
Driveway of No.26
Jim is working on Bertha when Lucy comes to talk to him.
JIM: Lucy, I can't tell you how sorry I am about this happening. You're very important to me, you always have been. You'd be the last person in the world I'd want to hurt.
LUCY: It's OK.
JIM: No, it's not. It's not OK, but it's done, and I can't undo it. If you could forgive me, well, I'd appreciate it. If you can't, I'll try to understand.
LUCY: Try to understand, yes. I'll try. Although I can't pretend that I do, Dad.
They hug.
LUCY: Oh, Dad, I've missed you so much.
JIM: You too, sweetheart. You too.
No.24
Madge and Helen are having a cup of tea and chatting about Lucy. She's going to go to Erinsborough High, providing they can square it with Dorothy. Harold comes back and asks Madge what the doctor said. Apparently her voice will get better on it's own, but from her face, it's more than that.
Waterhole, evening
The twins and Gemma are dressed up and having a drink, spying on the talent. Caroline quite fancies a guy standing at the bar (who is Joe Scully in a previous life!) She goes over to the bar and introduces herself to the bloke by "accidentally" spilling a drink over him. He recognises her as Caroline Alessi - he saw her photo in the hotel brochure.
PHIL: You're um...even more beautiful in the flesh.
CAROLINE: That's very nice of you.
PHIL: Phil Hoffman.
CAROLINE: Hi.
They shakes hands, and he buys her another drink.
CAROLINE: Sure, if you want to.
PHIL: I want to.
No.30
Jim brings Lucy around to see Dorothy and leaves them alone to chat. They chat about Lucy's problems at Arlingwood and Lucy admits that she was chucked out. But it was more a mutual agreement. Dorothy observes that she can't have been a useless student if she won a scholarship, so she should do well. Dorothy tells her that discipline is high at Erinsborough High - she's no pushover.
Waterhole
Phil has been having a drink with the twins and Gemma and they're very impressed with him. When he's at the bar, Gemma thinks he's a bit too cool for her, so Caroline says she'll go for it with him! Phil comes back and tells Caroline that he has to leave.
PHIL: I hope we meet again. Soon.
No.24
Madge is sitting up alone in the night, thinking, and having a bit of a cry. Harold comes out and asks her what's going on.
MADGE: I wasn't realy honest with you about my trip to see Neil Dawson. I was hoping he'd say it was just laryingitis, give me a few pills and that would make it better, but he didn't.
HAROLD: What did he say?
MADGE: He's not sure what it is, he's referred me to a specialist.
HAROLD: Well, that doesn't mean anything. Just a precautionary measure.
MADGE: No, it's not, I know it. He was trying to sound optimistic, but he was just covering. Harold, there's something very wrong with me, I'm terribly scared.
She sobs in his arms.