The Car
Libby tells Rupert and Tom the news. Tom comments that this wouldn't have happened in his day - they'd have picked on someone who could afford it. Rupert goes to call the police.

We cut to the Kennedy kitchen where Mal is complaining. Yep, you've guessed it, it's one of those fantastic cross purposes scenes. Mal's merely complaining about the fact that he and Stonie weren't out on the test run. Karl points out that it was Tom who got the car working. Stonie tries to cheer Mal up by saying that they'll soon have the car all to themselves to check out babes which prompts Susan to warn them that a car isn't a toy. Karl interjects by saying they'll use it to drive around in circles and look "cool". Mal corrects him by saying they'll be using it to drive to uni.

KARL: I'm sorry, I stand corrected. (to Susan) They'll be using it to drive to uni...trying to look "cool".

Mal discusses Deb with Stonie. Stonie points out that this must mean Mal's not interested in Cath. He mentions she had a couple of boyfriends but nothing serious and she had an eating disorder a while back but he thinks she's got over it - in Stonie's opinion, Debbie's perfect for Mal. Mal comments that Stonie means she's not Cath to which Stonie agrees. Stonie teases Mal by saying Mal must've noticed how big the back seat is in the car and that's why he wants it back.

The phone rings and Susan answers - the news about the car being stolen has filtered through. They all leave to pick up the car.

When they arrive back, Mal's spewing. Libby says it's just bad luck and Tom blames himself. Karl says that most people like to protect the things they've worked on with burgular alarms, Tom's method of parking next to a more expensive car so the thieves will take that hasn't exactly caught on yet.

Mal confesses that he didn't get any insurance and Susan says they ought to just hope.

Martins (pt 1)
Over in 26, Hannah and Debbie are winding each other up over Mal. Phil enters and wants to know if he knows the guy [Mal hasn't been mentioned by name yet, Phil's not that daft and good god, they're eating again!]. Hannah doesn't tell Phil his name to Debbie's relief. She comments that Hannah's finally showing some maturity and then Hannah blurts out that all she can say is that he's Billy's older brother.

They discuss Luna Park [Phil wants to know whether it's changed much since they were last down there...ummm, yep, all those frequent visits you've had there since you've lived in Erinsborough, eh Phil?] and he comments how it's nice to see them all having some fun. Then he makes a truly terrible crack about how that's why it's called a "fun" park...to which no-one laughs. Quite rightly so. He then says how it's nice Debbie feels she can come back and regroup when she needs to - it makes him still feel needed. Hannah points out that of course he's needed - who else would tell all the bad jokes?

Marlene, Lou, Stonie and the radio
Marlene and Lou are in 24 plotting their section on the radio station when they hear music coming from 32. They decide to chat to Angie about ringing Stonie up tomorrow morning to get him out of bed as revenge.

The next morning, Lou and Marlene moan about the party on the radio. They talk about how good their neighbours usually are but Lou comments that now he knows how those people who live under the new Sydney flypath must feel. They give Stonie a wake up call as revenge - in agreement with Angie - and he staggers out of the bedroom and answers it rather grumpily. Lou and Marlene take great delight in the fact they've woken him up and he's live on the radio.

Whilst Marlene and Lou are doing their show, they notice a call waiting - it's urgent. It's someone who tells Marlene that her shop's on fire. Lou tells her to go - he'll ring the fire brigade and make sure they're going. Marlene's devastated.

Later in the day, Stonie's working in the Coffee Shop. Phil comments that it sounds like a declaration of war. Stonie agrees - he's after revenge and he won't tell Phil what he's going to do but he does tell Phil that when it happens, Phil ought to take notes because it's going to be a killer.

Mal and Debbie
Rupert says the party is just the thing to get over the car, to which Mal moans even more. Stonie wonders where Debbie is and it transpires that neither Mal nor Stonie invited her over both thinking the other one invited her. Mal gets annoyed and Stonie tells him to get over to 26 and get her.

At 26, Hannah answers the door to Mal and he invites her over to the 'boring' party but Debbie's babysitting for Hannah. [Where's Phil gone?!] Hannah keeps winding Debbie up and Mal says Billy and Libby are the same. Debbie invites Mal to stay for a drink but Hannah continues to hang around them so they don't get a chance to talk.

Mal takes Deb back to 32 and Mal comments on how much of a pain Hannah was. The pary is still pretty boring but Stonie reckons something outrageous is going to happen very soon. I don't think he was planning on having Lou barge in wearing only his dressing gown, complaining about the noise level. Seems like the end of the party is nigh.

Mal appears at 26 again the following morning and Deb jokes that everytime she opens the door, Mal's there. He comments on how dire the party was and Deb says she thought Lou was funny. Hannah and Phil are out and Mal takes the opportunity to ask Debbie if she wanted to hang out in the day. Debbie said she's going to stay in the house for the morning at least - she's got stuff to be doing. Mal takes this as meaning Debbie wants him to leave but she says she didn't think he'd want to watch her doing her laundry. He points out it's the conversation he's interested in, not the laundry.

Martins (pt 2)
In the Coffee Shop, Hannah comments to Phil that if she was Marlene and Lou, she'd be worried and keeping well out of Stonie's way. Phil changes tack and comments that he doesn't need anyone else's help being funny and he does have a good sense of humour. Hannah walks off without answering.

Back in 26 Hannah comments that she was right about Mal. Phil tells Hannah that Deb's private life isn't for Hannah's entertainment and she should leave Debbie alone. Debbie tells Hannah that she and Mal discussed Danni and Joel. Hannah's a cynic and thinks they'll end up going out.

Debbie: We're able to talk. And just talk - not because he wants to jump into bed with me.

Phil: DEB!

Debbie points out that Hannah seems to think that men and women can't be friends. They get into a discussion about Hannah and the issue and the girls completely gang up on Phil [awww]. Debbie mentions that sometimes men and women end up just being friends even when they're attracted to each other, it's just the way it works [and I love how this spans into the comment about married women...Susan, Susan, Susan...ahem]. He comments that Hannah will see that men and women can be just friends when she's a bit more mature which prompts her to ask Phil how many - non married - female "just" friends, he has. He can't answer this [I'm wondering why...ok, Cody's just died but I love how he doesn't class Cheryl, Helen or Marlene as a friend...even if he just uses them as a get out clause...maybe he's too caught up on Susan :P] and says they weren't talking about him and they should just drop the whole conversation. This gives the girls the giggles which makes him protest that it wasn't meant to be a funny comment. They start tickling and grabbing him and he starts moaning that they should leave him alone [like extreme awww, poor thing].

Karl and Tom
Tom's awake early and Karl staggers out of the bedroom. Karl comments on how the party seemed to end abruptly - thankfully. Tom says they could've used a big night to let off steam after the business with the car. Karl disagrees and says that the music of Tom's day had beautiful melodies, in his day it had a message but today, you might as well swing a cat [does anyone else get that expression? That was a bit bizarre to moi...] Tom asks if Karl ever listens to any of Mal's tapes [tapes? Ahhhhhh, 96] and Karl says only when it's inflicted on him, he tries to block it out. Tom says he ought to - he'd learn about the problems the kids have and how they're blaming them on the adults. Karl says that most radicals become conservatives as they age, so what happened to Tom? He replies that he became a conservative radical. Karl jokingly comments that he made a compromise but Tom's still serious and points out that you need radicals to get things done in the world.

Karl says they ought to get together and have a 'do' for Tom before he leaves. Tom says he'd prefer it if just he and Karl could get together - that's why he came to Erinsborough. Karl corrects him and says that he came down to mind the kids for him and Susan. Tom says it was an excuse to get here and asks if they can have lunch that day. Karl agrees and says they'll have it where Tom likes it - at the local. Tom wants it in 28 - what he's got to say to Karl is rather private.

Later, in 28, Karl and Tom discuss food. Tom comments that Karl's good at turning around and manipulating a point.

KARL: I got it from you.
TOM: No, I don't think so.

Karl asks him what's up. Tom asks him if he's a truthful man. Karl says he'd like to think so and Tom says he's like that but it isn't always easy. Susan takes a hint and departs. Karl asks what this is all about - it's obviously more than a meal together.

Tom tells Karl that he and Karl's mother tried for kids for a long time before Karl was born - they wanted kids so badly. Tom says the odds were stacked against him. Karl comments that medicine isn't an exact science. Tom tells Karl that his mum came home one night and told him that she'd had an affair.

KARL: What are you saying, dad?
TOM:She had the affair so she could conceive a child. You Karl. You were the child.

Karl is stunned.