Erinsborough High
Toadie joins Billy outside the school, holding a pile of catalogues he's pinched! He spots a pair of headphones he wants, saying they'll blow your head off and no one will hear a sound! Billy suggests that they could get a mic and stick it in Mal's room so that they can find out what he and Shona get up to! Toadie suggests they should go to the place and buy a voice distorter: they could make their own tapes and no one would know it was them!

No. 24
Cheryl hangs up the 'phone and snaps at Marlene that now *she* has to get a new lawyer because Lou is being represented by the *old* one. Marlene warns her not to get upset in front of Louise, but Cheryl insists that her daughter doesn't understand. The front door opens and Danni and Steve come in, Steve asking Cheryl if she's all set for the auction. He adds that they'll have No. 22 sold quicker than she thought possible - and he's going to use Danni as their dummy bidder. Danni stares at him in surprise, but he assures her that everybody does it. The two of them head through to the kitchen, leaving Marlene to tell Cheryl to try not to worry.

No. 26
Hannah is with Philip in the kitchen, asking why they can't visit Helen this *morning*. Philip points out that he promised they'd visit after school - and Hannah only saw Helen last night; she doesn't want to tire her out. He then suggests that maybe Hannah could make something to take into Helen so she'll have it even when Hannah's not there. Hannah smiles that that's a good idea: she's got Art today and she'll see if she can make something special.

No. 28
Shona is with Malcolm in his bedroom, and he's asking her if she's sure she wants to spend the day with him. Shona insists that she's sure! She then asks Mal about the auction they're going to see. Mal explains that the house has got a bedroom upstairs and a living room downstairs - and it's also got a spa. Shona smiles:

SHONA: Now we're talking. Spas are cool!

She adds that they're sexy: all those bubbles on your bare skin.... She goes on teasingly:

SHONA: I've got an idea: how about afterwards we sneak back and I can show you just how sexy a spa can *be*...?
MAL: You wouldn't be the *first* to try it: if that spa could talk, it would probably be able to blackmail half of Ramsay Street!

Shona then says she's got another idea: how about when they go to see the auction, they pretend they're married and in the market for their first home - so they'll have to go and check out the upstairs bedrooms! She adds that living in the same street as his parents could be a bit of a bummer, though!

Ramsay Street
Steve, Cheryl and another woman walk down the driveway of No. 22 onto the street, where several people are gathered. Steve starts his spiel, saying that if he didn't already have a house of his own, he'd be bidding there himself! He adds that the house *will* be sold today, and he asks for an opening bid. He suddenly pretends to catch someone's eye and says:

STEVE: Right at the back, thank you, sir: $150,000.

Shona and Mal look behind them, but there's no one there! Nevertheless, bidding commences and gradually rises to $210,000. A man offers $215,000. Mal murmurs to Shona that he wonders who he is.

Electrical Store
Toadie and Billy are in the shop the catalogue came from, Toadie looking around excitedly! He starts playing on the keys of a piano keyboard. Billy suggests wearily they get the stuff they wanted and get out of there, but Toadie tells him not to rush it; this is *his* money and he wants to make sure they get everything they need.

Ramsay Street
Heavy rain is pouring as the auction continues. There are no further bids, and Steve is trying to talk the property up. The mystery man has first call... then second call... but before Steve declares the house sold, he announces that he's going to have to consult with the vendor.

Garage of No. 22
A short time later, Cheryl is muttering at Steve:

CHERYL: You said auction was the only way to go. "Leave it all to me," you said. That last bid was $5,000 less than what Karl offered and $15,000 less than my reserve.

Steve assures her that he's as surprised as she is, and the only explanation he can give her is that it's a depressed market. He suggests that they see if the vendor's willing to raise the offer. Cheryl hesitates and then sighs reluctantly:

CHERYL: Get me the extra $5,000 and I'll sell.

Steve tells her to consider it done.

Ramsay Street
Back on the street, Steve announces to those gathered that they'll be passing- in the property if there are no further bids. He adds that the owner has expressed a willingness to negotiate with the final bidder. No one else makes a move, so Steve invites the mystery man to come into the house.

Erinsborough High
Sitting back outside the school with a number of gadgets, Billy asks Toadie where he got the money. Toadie replies that it was Big Kev. Billy asks if they're going to do the taping at his place or Toadie's. Toadie replies:

TOADIE: We'll do it at yours. You guys have got better food.
BILLY: Straight after school?
TOADIE (mockingly): No, I was thinking we should do our homework first!

No. 26
Philip is showing Mal and Darren around No. 26 and indicating where adjustments will need to be made for Helen. He adds that he wants the work finished by the time Helen comes home. Mal asks when that will be and Philip replies that it could be a couple of weeks. Darren says he'll go and work out some plans - unless Philip's got some floorplans *there* he can borrow. Philip says he thinks he has. He goes to get them, leaving Darren to remark to Mal:

DARREN: Looks like the business is taking off - partner!

No. 24
Marlene, Cheryl, Danni and Steve walk into No. 24, Steve telling Cheryl that he doesn't think she should be too upset; whoever that guy was representing was obviously willing to offer the best price she had prior to auction. Cheryl, however, sighs:

CHERYL: Yes, but now I have to pay your fees out of the money. Before, I got to keep it all myself.
STEVE: No, you would've had to pay us anyway - you had a contract.
MARLENE (points out): And before, you would've been selling to Karl Kennedy.
CHERYL (shudders): Oh, what a thought!

Danni tells her mother that she should be pleased it's over and done with. Cheryl, however, says she's not: she's depressed about having to sell her lovely home for a bargain price. She heads to her room, leaving Danni to comment to her nan that No. 22 holds a lot of memories for her mum. Marlene sighs:

MARLENE: And now it's owned by someone else.

Ramsay Street
Steve is sticking a 'sticker on the board outside the front of No. 22, and Danni comments that that's it, then, huh? Steve nods that putting the 'Sold' sign up makes it all seem worthwhile. Danni comments that the place has a lot of memories for her, too, and now someone else is going to be living in there; there was her and Brett... her mum and Lou... Steve smiles:

STEVE: I'm sure the next house you buy will bring you even *greater* memories to hold on to.
DANNI: Life goes on, eh...?

No. 26
Philip is doing some washing- up in the kitchen when Hannah arrives home and groans that he said he'd be ready to go when she got back from school. She picks up a box of photos and says she's going to put photos of the whole family in an album she made and then whenever Helen's feeling lonely she can just open up and they'll all be there!

No. 28
Libby is sitting working on the computer when Billy and Darren come in. Without looking round, Libby asks Billy if he has to have that idiot friend of his there alone; she doesn't need him sneaking around and being stupid. Billy says he'll go and tell him to behave himself! He makes to head back out the front door, but instead he closes it and creeps towards the kitchen. Meanwhile, Darren has snuck up on Libby and he kisses her on the head! Libby jumps and then exclaims:

LIBBY: Oh! I thought you were Toadie!
DARREN: Sorry! We should do something to help you recognise my lips a bit better!
LIBBY: You're not forgetting what we talked about?
DARREN: No. I just thought we should reward ourselves for being so good up to now.
LIBBY (grins): Oh, you *did*, did you?!
DARREN: Yes! Where's your mum and dad?
LIBBY: Out!
DARREN: Billy told me that. When are they due back?
LIBBY (beams): Not for ages!

Unknown to either of them, Toadie and Billy are crouching behind the kitchen cabinets, recording the conversation. Libby and Darren start kissing as Toadie turns off the tape gleefully and then starts replaying the conversation. He and Billy burst out laughing as Libby and Darren glare at them. Libby mutters that she'll find somewhere else to study and leave the two little losers to record themselves.

Holy Roll
A short time later, Darren and Libby are sitting at a table at the coffee shop, Libby sighing that she should be studying. Darren tells her that she can't keep this pace up forever. Libby replies that she doesn't intend to: once she finishes Year 12, she's going to settle down and relax; but right now, school has given them some time off to study and that's exactly what she's going to do. Darren points out that *Shona's* not studying. Libby retorts:

LIBBY: Shona thinks it's a holiday!
DARREN: Maybe it *is*? A chance to relax.
LIBBY: No - there's a time to relax and that's at the end of the year, not before.

Darren suggests that maybe she could study all week and on Saturday they could go and see a band as a kind of reward. Libby just says sympathetically that this must be driving him crazy - but he knows how important this year is to her.

No. 28
Toadie and Billy are listening to a voice- distorted tape recording. As Toadie turns off the tape, Billy tells him that they'd better record over that earlier stuff so that no one plays it by mistake; if his mum and dad heard him saying stuff like that, he'd be grounded forever! Toadie shrugs:

TOADIE: Why? You were playing the part of a dirty old man, and for the first time in my entire life, you made me laugh!

He goes on that their talent is wasted in this living room. Billy points out that they fired Marlene from the radio show because they told her they wanted someone a little bit younger in the mornings. Toadie declares that what they need is a demo tape: something to show the people at the station that Erinsborough needs them in the morning. He then suggests that they could use that stuff they taped of Libby and Darren. Billy, however, exclaims:

BILLY: No way! If dad heard that on the radio, he'd freak!
TOADIE: Well, not *that*; stuff *like* it.
BILLY: Vox pops?
TOADIE: Yeah - candid vox pops and crazy stuff like your dirty old man impression.
BILLY: I am *not* going to let people hear me saying stuff like that!
TOADIE: Well, why not? We'll just clean it up and keep it funny. It'll be a winner.
BILLY: No way! Forget it!
TOADIE: All right - then I guess the Doc will be hearing *this*!

He holds up the tape and starts running round the room. Billy tries to grab it and tells Toadie to give it to him. Toadie retorts:

TOADIE: Only if you promise to do a clean version of your dirty old man.

Billy tries to resist - but he eventually gives in and Toadie hands over the tape.

Record Store
Darren is looking through some CDs in a shop. Another guy is standing next to him, doing the same, but Darren doesn't notice as the guy slips some CDs into his coat pocket...

No. 24
Cheryl walks into No. 24 and tells Marlene that they're almost there: she has a meeting with Steve later to finalise everything. Marlene asks her if she's found out who the buyer is yet, but Cheryl replies that the person who did the bidding represents somebody who wants the sale kept as quiet as possible. She then murmurs:

CHERYL: I wonder if I'm going to feel any different.
MARLENE: When?
CHERYL: Once I sign the house over. It's been a long time since I haven't owned my own home.
MARLENE: You still own your own *pub*.
CHERYL (mutters): *Some* of it.

The 'phone rings suddenly and Marlene answers it. She listens and then hands the 'phone to Cheryl, who says:

CHERYL: Hello. Oh Hello. Everything's all right with Lolly, isn't it? ... Oh, thank goodness for that; you had me half- scared to death.

She listens further and then says:

CHERYL: Behavioural problems? What does *that* mean? ... Oh, that's ridiculous ... No, I'll come in if you really think it'll help...

She makes some arrangements and then hangs up before telling Marlene that that was the Director of Lolly's crèche: they've detected behavioural problems with Lolly and would like her to go in and discuss it with them. She adds wearily that she had to agree to go in and see them because if Lou got wind of it he could use it against her for custody.

Record Store
The guy who stole the CDs goes to walk out of the shop at the same time as Darren, who's just paid for his purchases. As they both pass through the security barriers, an alarm sounds. The guy quickly pushes the stolen CDs into Darren's hands and runs off. A shop assistant marches over to Darren who says quickly:

DARREN: I didn't take these.
SHOP ASSISTANT (firmly): Step inside the shop, please.
DARREN: No no, you don't understand.
SHOP ASSISTANT (repeats more sternly): Please step inside the shop.
DARREN: That kid just shoved them in—

A security man joins them and grabs Darren's arm. Darren tries to get away as he snaps that the CDs aren't *his*. The security man retorts:

SECURITY MAN: I know. That's why you're in trouble, mate.

Darren stands there, an expression of disbelief on his face.