No. 24
Sitting on the couch, Stonie smiles at Annalise that he knows she wanted it to happen just as much as he did. Annalise, however, says she thinks they should keep their feet on the ground. Stonie asks if he said or did something wrong. Annalise, however, tells him that it's Sam. Stonie snaps:

STONIE: Oh, thank you very much: so this whole time you've been with me, you've been thinking of Sam.

Annalise, however, explains that she never imagined there'd be anyone else but him. She goes on that they just slept together, it happened and she let it - and she needs time to think. Stonie says he'd better go. Annalise, however, asks him to stay - just for a while.

Camp Drumbeat
The men are still dancing and chanting around the fire as Karl looks on in bemusement. Sam joins him. Running Rivers tells everyone to take a break and Patrick comments to his son that he should have joined in the dancing: it's very liberating. Sam mutters that he didn't come there to be liberated. Everyone sits down as Running Rivers asks if anyone wants to say what they feel the purpose of the dance was. Lou muses that it wasn't to work off all the food they didn't eat! Running Rivers explains that its purpose was to release their inhibitions; to help them communicate with the earth and the sky, and, just as importantly, with each other. He then says:

RUNNING RIVERS: However, there is one among us who seems unable or unwilling to participate.

He looks at Hermit Crab (Karl) and asks him if he's afraid of expressing his feelings. Karl, however, retorts:

KARL: I'll tell you my feelings: I think this whole weekend is a load of pretentious rubbish.
RUNNING RIVERS (sympathetically): You *are* stressed. Try to relax. If you're angry, *do* something; dance it - but don't waste your valuable time - and ours - by just standing there.

Karl snaps that the only power he feels right now is the power to pick up his bags and go - to hot running water and food. With that, he says he'll see them all later. He makes to walk off. Philip warns him that he'll get lost, but Karl retorts that he'll be tucked up in his bed while they're all still taking their make- up off. He picks up his bag and leaves. Running Rivers comments to those who remain:

RUNNING RIVERS: Sadly, brothers, there's no pleasing some people.
SAM (glancing at Patrick): Ain't that the truth...

Bush
A short time later, Karl is stumbling through the bush, muttering to himself about his feet and complaining about the nonsense of the camp. He has a torch, but stops in his tracks and looks around, trying to work out where he is. He realises that he's lost. He hears a sudden animal noise, but he calls out to the animal that it doesn't scare him: he was born in the country and he'll sleep in it if he has to. He then hears some howling and suddenly looks less certain!

Bush
It's the next morning and the sun is shining. Karl is lying asleep on his sleeping mat, but he comes to, gets up and stretches. He then lets out a happy yell!

Chez Chez
Annalise walks into Chez Chez and tells Cheryl that she has a client this afternoon who's vegetarian, and asks if that's going to be a problem. Cheryl shows her a menu and runs through the vegetarian options. She then says she wonders what the *men* are having for breakfast this morning. Annalise muses that it's probably gum- leaf salad and dried witchetty grubs! She adds that she's afraid she's not cut out to rough it. Cheryl says it's not her style either. Annalise remarks that she and Lou are pretty different. Cheryl nods that they're chalk and cheese - and that's probably what makes it worse. Annalise looks thoughtful and asks if she and Lou love each other. Cheryl nods that they do - in their own way. She adds that she thinks *everybody* has their own way. Annalise remarks:

ANNALISE: Maybe it's not always love.
CHERYL: What - just lust, you mean? I do think that lust is stronger than love.
ANNALISE: Do you?
CHERYL: Absolutely - stronger, but doesn't last as long. The energy's quickly spent, as they say - and then, if there isn't any love to back it up, you're out there searching for someone else, starting all over again.

Annalise sits there looking thoughtful.

No. 24
Marlene is vacuuming when Colin comes in and surprises her from behind! He holds out a red rose and tells her that he has the greatest piece of news she'll ever hope to hear! Marlene asks if he's decided on a church wedding. Colin tells her to sit down. They head to the kitchen table where Colin tells Marlene that he had a 'phone call last night from Beijing, from the curator of the Modern Ceramics exhibition. He goes on that they're off on a world tour and the translator can't make the South American leg, and the curator wants *him* to take the translator's place. Marlene frowns that she doesn't quite understand. Colin smiles:

COLIN: It means we're going off to Argentina! We can have a civil ceremony *here*, then I'll agree to a church wedding in Mar del Plata.

Marlene, however, says tersely that she thinks it's terrible: he *knows* she wants a church wedding. Colin tells her that she can have one in one of the world's most Catholic countries. Marlene snaps that she doesn't want a wedding in Argentina, she wants it *there*; she wants her husband *there*; she wants her family *there*. Colin pleads with her not to let him down now. Marlene, however, says he's a citizen of the world and really she's just a homebody; she really doesn't think she can see this working. Colin sits there, looking taken aback.

Camp Drumbeat
Sam and Patrick are sitting on the banks of the stream. Patrick says:

PATRICK: She's a good woman and she doesn't deserve this.
SAM: If you knew that, then why did you do it?
PATRICK: What can I say? I like women. I like women to like *me*. Sam, I'm truly sorry that I'm such a disappointment, such a failure, but what's done is done; I can't go back and put things right.
SAM: Well, you could go back *part* of the way.
PATRICK: What do you mean?
SAM: See if you can patch things up with mum? She might forgive you.
PATRICK: I can't.
SAM (coolly): You mean you don't *want* to.
PATRICK: I said I *can't*.
SAM (snaps): You don't give a damn.
PATRICK: I can't beg for forgiveness because... because I'll probably do it again.

Elsewhere in the camp, Lou and Philip are sitting together when they suddenly spot Karl approaching, looking tired and dirty, but happy. Patrick and Running Rivers join them as Philip asks Karl if he's been out all night - he must be dead on his feet. Karl, however, smiles that he's never felt better!

No. 24
Annalise opens the door to Stonie, who grins that he comes at her command! Annalise, however, tells him that they need to set some ground rules - and the first one is that she needs time to work things out with Sam; she'll keep seeing Stonie, but there's no commitment. Stonie asks what the *other* rules are. Annalise tells him that he has to keep his big mouth shut about Kerry - and he has to understand that if they do go on seeing each other, there are no strings attached: no future plans... no promises... just take it as it happens. Stonie grins that he thinks he likes the last rule the best! They start kissing.

Chez Chez
Cheryl is saying to her mother in surprise that she'd *love* to go to Argentina - especially with the man she loves. Marlene, however, tells Cheryl that her happiness depends on the *family*. Cheryl tells her that it's only a short trip; she'll be back before they know it. Marlene points out that Colin's just back from China and now he's off to South America; she knew he was into travel and she can't expect the man to change. She sighs softly:

MARLENE: Darling, I had to make a decision and I chose my family.

Camp Drumbeat
Running Rivers is addressing the campers, saying:

RUNNING RIVERS: Brothers, I'm sure it's obvious to all of us that our good friend, Hermit Crab, has had an uplifting experience in the bush overnight, so I've asked him to tell us about it.

He turns to Karl, who says:

KARL: I'm... I'm sure that Running Rivers would like me to endorse the product... to say that Camp Drumbeat is responsible for the changes I feel in myself, and, er, so in a way it was - even if I had to run away from it to find what I was looking for! A warning here: anyone who's looking for scenes reminiscent of The Road to Damascus will be disappointed - it's pretty low- key stuff! What happened when I was lying under the stars there - it's funny what stars will do - was I... well, I just let go; I just truly relaxed. I... I think I realised that I would find solutions for all the things that bother me, and I saw that all these things I stress about... they're not worth a hill of beans. In a way I felt strangely content. Running Rivers - much to my chagrin - is right: I think nature *can* heal. We just have to give a... give *him* the chance.

Running Rivers smiles that they didn't pay for that commercial! He then adds that he hopes that when the camp is over, they all feel the experience has been worthwhile. Sam and Patrick glance at each other.

No. 30
Marlene is at No. 30, telling Colin that she just felt she had to come, to talk. Colin invites her to sit down. Marlene goes on that he left in such a hurry this morning: they were both upset and things were left unsaid. Colin tells her that if she changed her mind, he'd give up the South American job. Marlene, however, comments that they both know that isn't the solution. She starts sobbing as she tells him that she's really sorry: he's made her so happy. Colin insists that he'll do anything to keep her. Marlene sobs that she feels like she's being drawn down the middle: if she goes with him, she has to change, and she simply can't. Colin tells her that if she's frightened of travelling to places far away, he'll always be there beside her. Marlene, however, explains that she just knows it's not for her: she's never seen distant fields as greener, but *he does*, and if he gives up his life, he'll end up regretting it; it'll be a string of 'if onlys', and that only leads to unhappiness. Colin murmurs:

COLIN: I won't go on travelling forever. One day I'll come back for you - you know that, don't you, my dearest.
MARLENE (cries): Well, I've waited a long time... I've waited a long time to find you, so a little bit longer doesn't matter at all.

They hug, tearfully.

Camp Drumbeat
Lou and Philip are using giant cotton bud- type poles to knock each other off raised logs on which they're sitting! Sam and Patrick are standing a short distance away and Sam says coldly:

SAM: You know, I just don't understand people like you.
PATRICK (retorts): People like *me*? What - letches, you mean? Philanderers?
SAM: Well, if the cap fits, wear it.
PATRICK (sighs): So young and so judgemental.
SAM: Look, I may be young, but I understand words like 'faithfulness', and I know that if I found the right girl, I'd stick with her.
PATRICK: Yeah? And who *is* the right one?
SAM: Oh come on, you must've thought mum was when you married her?
PATRICK: Of course I did. That's the mistake we *all* make: we think we won't change. Take my advice, Sam: be careful when you make commitments: they have a way of complicating life.

Running Rivers calls over to Patrick and Sam that they're next on the logs. They climb up and take the poles. They start sparring with each other, Sam gradually delivering heavier blows against his father. As he watches, Lou comments that this is getting serious. Running Rivers, however, just tells him to let them sort it out: it's what they came there to do.

Sam lunges at his father again and snarls:

SAM: You know, Patrick, now that I know what you are, I'm *glad* you're not part of my life. In fact, why don't you just butt out permanently?

With that, he hits his father with the pole again. Patrick falls off the log and rolls onto the ground, where he lies, not moving. Sam stares at him, looking suddenly horrified.