Mark's parents' place
MARK: What sort of cancer, Dad?
MARK'S DAD: Spinal. I'm sorry.
MARK: ...Wh...? How long have you known?!
MARK'S DAD: We've known for around six months.
MARK: ...Why wasn't I told? Why didn't anyone tell me?!
MARK'S DAD: It wouldn't have changed anything. She didn't want any of you worried.
MARK: And what about the others? Stephen and Dipi, do they know?
MARK'S DAD: Well, they came as soon as they got your mother's letter.
MARK: And Annalise. Why didn't she call me, I would have come straight away.
MARK'S DAD: We asked her not to. Sally only wanted you here if you wanted to be here, no other reason.
MARK: And if I hadn't come?! When would you have told me?
MARK'S DAD: Well, I would have let you know before the funeral.

Mark is speechless.

MARK: ...Can I see her now?
MARK'S DAD: Yes, she'd be pleased to see you.

Mark goes into his mother's room, sits on her bed and holds her hand.

MARK'S MUM: Oh! Cosmic. Oh, how lovely.
MARK: Sorry I didn't get here earlier, mum.
MARK'S MUM: You're here now, that's all that matters. Are you alright? You look a bit stressed out.
MARK: I'm OK, Mum. It's you I'm worried about.
MARK'S MUM: No point worrying about me, I'm a lost cause.
MARK: Oh, Mum, don't say that.
MARK'S MUM: Why not? It's true. Mark, I'm fine. I know where I'm going. I'm ready for my next journey.
MARK: Mum, no, please.
MARK'S MUM: Don't do this to me! You know I hate to see any of you sad. Such a waste of energy.

She winces in pain.

MARK'S MUM: It won't change anything.
MARK: Mum, is there anything I can do? Is there anything I can get you?
MARK'S MUM: You know me, always wanting something. Right now, I just want you to be happy.

She winces harder.

MARK: Mum? What is it, what's the matter?!
MARK'S MUM: Could you call Dave, love? I think it's time for my injection.
MARK: Injection?
MARK'S MUM: For the pain. It gets a bit much sometimes. Such a hassle for him. He's being so brave.

Mark hurries off to get his father.

No.28, the following morning
Macca admires Doug's labels, which are now on the bottles. Pam tells them that she's entering a competition at the bike club.

Mark's parents' place
DAVE: Breakfast?
MARK: There must be something we can do, Dad.

Dave is silent.

MARK: You have got a second opinion on the treatment, haven't you? How can you just accept it? You haven't been relying on this alternative rubbish to cure her?
DAVE: Just because we're different, doesn't mean we're irresponsible. You know I'd do anything I could to help your mother, anything!
MARK: I know. I'm sorry. It's just I can't believe it. I can't believe that Mum's actually going to die! I wish I'd known sooner.
DAVE: You would have, if you'd come as soon as you'd got your Mum's letter.
MARK: And do you blame me? The only time I hear from you is when you want something?
DAVE: I don't believe that any more than you do.
MARK: Well, it's true.
DAVE: Isn't it the truth that you're ashamed of us? Embarrassed by the way we live? You do everything you can to avoid coming here, even lie to yourself.
MARK: That's crap!
DAVE: And now you're feeling guilty about it.
MARK: If that's what you want to belive, I can't stop you.
DAVE: Look, it doesn't matter! It's not going to help anyone, us getting at each other.
MARK:(crying) I love you both, Dad. Very much.

They hug.

DAVE: Yeah, I know. And that's all that matters to us.

Mark sobs.

No.24
Doug, Lou and Macca are admiring the beer. Lou's not sure about the name "Doug's Draft" though - Cheryl will soon catch on otherwise. They decide to put the beer into the competition under two different names! They make a fifty dollar bet on which one will win - payable in lottery tickets!

No.28
Pam is polishing her bike. Gaby reminds her about the antenatal appointment, but Pam says she's busy tonight - Cody or Doug will have to go.

Pub
Rick is setting up for the evening's event when Lou and Doug arrive. Lou tells Rick that he'll take over from now, so Rick heads off. Doug, Lou and Macca get on with disguising the beers. Lou's label is going to be "Copper Drop" and Doug's is going to be "Funnel Web"

No.30
Annalise tells Rick that she had to pretend to be angrier with Mark than she was, to get him to go to his parents' place. Rick thinks she did the right thing.

ANNALISE: I didn't get to say goodbye to my Mum. I'd do anything to stop him feeling that bad.

Rick assures her that she did the right thing.

Pub
Gaby is surprised to find Doug behind the bar. She asks him to come to her antenatal class with her. He says he can't make it because of the Beer and Pretzel night - he has to be there. Gaby is not happy and storms off.

Mark's parents' place
Mark and his mum are sitting outside the house. She has a case of "memories" and takes out a flute. She gives it to Mark, saying it belonged to her father. He isn't sure he's the right person as he isn't musical.

MARK'S MUM: Don't you want it?
MUM: Oh, Mum, of course I do. It reminds me of all the times I used to listen to you and Dad practise. And I remember that long white skirt you used to wear, the one with all the bells and scarfs hanging off it? I always thought the flute suited it somehow. You looked so beautiful. Thanks, Mum. I'll treasure it.

He leans over to kiss her, but she holds up a hand.

MARK'S MUM: I don't want you to treasure it. I want you to *play* it.
DAVE: Try it.

Mark picks it up and tries to blow into it. They all laugh at his lack of success, but he does finally manage to sound a note.

MARK'S MUM: See!

Mark smiles.

Pub
Cheryl introduces the Beer and Pretzel night. Rick is trying to chat up a girl who ends up slapping him.

No.28
Kris has called in to see Gaby. He asks why she's not at her antenatal lecture and offers to go with her.

KRIS: What's the problem?
GABY: Well, it is sort of intimate, isn't it?
KRIS: Well, so's moving in together.
GABY: Kris, I really don't think...
KRIS: Gaby, what is the problem? I've been to antenatal calsses before, you know, come on.
GABY: OK. But just as a stand- in.
KRIS: Give it time.

Pub
Everyone has filled in their voting sheets for the best beer. Cheryl reads out the winner - it's Number 16! Doug starts dancing around the room - he's the winner! Cheryl is not happy and says that the whole point of the evening is to promote beers she sells on the premises!

Mark's parents' place
Dave is already discussing the funeral with Mark.

MARK: I don't believe this conversation.
DAVE: What's the problem?
MARK: Making funeral arrangements now.
DAVE: Well, I can't think of a better time. This way we can do it the way Sally wants. You know that clump of trees down the hill? That's where she wants to be buried. Be good to have her close by the house.
MARK: Can we change the subject?! You're going on about her as if she's already gone!
DAVE: There's no point in hiding our heads in the sand. She'll be leaving us soon.
MARK: Can't you at least wait? Who elected you to be God, anyway? You don't know for sure she won't get better, Dad!
DAVE: I know her. It'll only be a few days at the most.

Pub
Cheryl is handing out pretzels and glowering at Lou. Bert comes over to Lou, Doug and Macca and asks if he can buy some of Doug's beer(!) Cheryl is not happy. They cover, saying Bert was just talking about taking up bowling(!) and Cheryl ends up arranging a bowling competition with him - Lassiter's against his team from the butcher's(!)

Gaby and Kris come in. Doug excitedly tells her about his win on the home brew and apologises again for not coming to the lecture. Gaby says she has to get used to doing things without her family.

No.30
Annalise is on the phone to Mark, and says she'll get there as soon as she can.

She sits down for a cuppa with Rick. They chat, and he tells her he's just having some fun. She advises him to not let things get out of control.

No.28
Doug is driving off in his ute and ends up crashing into Pam's bike.

Mark's parents' place
Mark's mother, Sally, is having a lie down.

SALLY: Hey, that's not the face I remember. Come on, give me one of those Cosmic smiles.
MARK:(tearful) I'm sorry, Mum.
SALLY: For what?
MARK: For not seeing more of you over the last year. Not being here for you.
SALLY: You're here now.

Dave comes in too.

SALLY: Don't be so guilty, son, please. I never wanted you to be just like us. It's OK to be different. All we want is for you to be happy. Please.
MARK: I will, Mum.

Sally's eyes close and at that moment she passes away in Dave's arms. Mark sobs.