No. 26 - Lounge
Ruth does some physio on Helen's arm while Casper looks on. He's hanging out while he waits for Hannah to show up.

CASPER: Why are you doing that to her arm?
RUTH: To help ease the muscle tension.
CASPER: What's that?
RUTH: It's a little like spasm.
CASPER: (pauses for thought) Her arm's spastic?!

Ruth sidesteps the embarrassment by reminding him he should be at school, but Casper replies that his dad let him have the day off.

Hannah comes through the front door and asks Casper to go outside with her. He tells her to grab her skateboard but she says she doesn't have it anymore, because of "this guy". Helen reminds Hannah that she has to go back to school this afternoon. Hannah and Casper go outside for a talk. Helen asks Ruth why she's looking depressed. Ruth tells her that someone broke into her car the previous night. Helen is concerned for her and asks why she didn't reschedule their physio appointment. Ruth insists that she's fine, but her anxious face says otherwise.

No. 24 - Lounge
Marlene is worrying about Libby, stuck out in the bush with a broken car. Darren, reading a comic book, doesn't see what all the fuss is about. Marlene informs him that today is the day of Libby's English exam, and if she doesn't get the requisite marks she can forget about getting onto a journalism degree! Darren, shocked out of his complacency, is appalled at the idea of Libby and Brett driving around the bush on a day like this. Marlene explains that Brett thought it would relax her. Darren jumps out his chair, cursing his brother's idiocy, and makes for the door, pausing only to get the directions from Marlene. She reminds him that the car is in the garage.

DARREN: (put on the spot) yeah ... ahh ... hopefully they haven't started yet.

Exit Darren.

No. 26
Ruth and Helen have finished their session and Ruth is doing the paperwork as Phil bursts in, accompanied by the sound of Darren's screeching tyres. He's just seen the damage to Ruth's car and he asks her what happened. She tells him about the break-in and explains that nothing was stolen. She doesn't seem to want to discuss it in detail. Phil suggests vandalism, then wonders if her ex-husband, Bill, could be responsible. At the mention of Bill's name, Ruth's anxiety visibly doubles. She says she's sure it wasn't him. Helen tries to convince her to contact the police, but Ruth insists that she's fine and it isn't necessary.

No. 24
Marlene sits where Darren left her, surrounded by boxes of Cheryl's clothes. As she lets out a sigh, Lou knocks on the front door and comes in. He invites her to have dinner with him but she doesn't commit. They reminisce about how great Cheryl looked in one of the dresses. Marlene tells Lou that she's planning on giving the clothes to charity, but she's saved a cashmere shawl for Lolly.

MARLENE: poor little darling ... she'll never know her mother now. You know, sometimes, I just can't believe this is happening.

Lou puts his arm around her and comforts her.

Outside No. 26
Hannah is sitting on the steps watching Casper skate. He commiserates with her about her mugging. She asks him why he doesn't come around as often as he used to. First he tells her that things are complicated with his father, then he breaks the news ... his Dad has a new job in Queensland and they're moving in the morning. Hannah is speechless.

Somewhere in the Bush
Libby and Brett trudge along a dirt track. Libby is furious at their predicament.

LIBBY: This must be the most isolated road on the planet!

Brett tries to reassure her that they'll make it back in time for the exam, but she says that even if they get a lift now they'll be pushed to make it. Brett suggests Special Consideration, but Libby acidly points out that stupidity is not a special consideration. Brett hears a car, and when they turn around they realize that it's Darren. Brett starts to explain about the exam but Darren already knows. They drive away.

Salvation Army Shop - Interior
Marlene walks into the shop and is greeted by a Salvo unpacking bric-a-brac. (Hang on a minute: that man bears a startling resemblance to Harold Bishop, beloved husband of Madge, missing - presumed dead!)

SALVO: (jovially) Hello! How are you?

Marlene confesses that she's been better, but goes on to say that she has some clothes to donate. The Salvo, growing visibly more jovial by the second, agrees to collect them from her house and offers to give her a lift in his van, if she's willing to wait half an hour. (Stop the presses! If this man isn't Harold Bishop he's his long lost twin brother! Alas, our heroine Marlene, who came to Ramsay Street in a Post-Harold era, is oblivious to her new friend's true identity). Marlene readily agrees, and as she browses through the bric-a-brac she comes across some items that she really admires. She offers to price them up for SalvoHarold, telling him that she used to own a bric-a-brac shop.

SALVOHAROLD: Ahh, but I'd hate to impose (jowls quivering)
MARLENE: Oh, nonsense. Look - you get on with what you're doing and I'll have these priced before you know it!
SALVOHAROLD: (beaming from ear to ear) Ahh! Huh-huh!

No. 26
As Ruth packs up her work satchel, Helen is still trying to persuade her to call the police; but Ruth doesn't want to upset Bill in case he does something even worse. She feels like the whole thing's getting out of hand. Helen asks what else has happened, but Ruth says that it's her problem and she won't let it interfere with work. As Ruth prepares to leave, Helen asks to be allowed to help her. Ruth appears torn by indecision.

Outside No. 26
Hannah tells Casper he has to write to her, then begs him to stay. He can't do that, but before he leaves he gives her his skateboard. As Casper walks away, leaving Hannah looking crestfallen.

Darren, Libby and Brett arrive back in Ramsay Street. Libby jumps out of the car and dashes off to get what she needs for the exam. Brett follows her, muttering that he'd like to kill the person who stole the car leads. He doesn't see the stark expression of guilt on Darren's face.

Salvo Shop
Marlene has finished pricing the bric-a-brac and offers to help SalvoHarold with some clothes. He thanks her warmly for her generosity and introduces himself.

SALVOHAROLD: My name's Ted.

SalvoHarold ... sorry, 'Ted', confesses that it's his first week and he still feels like a stranger around here. Marlene asks where he was before. Ted, suddenly looking a little distracted, replies "Tasmania". Marlene asks if that's where he's from originally and Ted grunts in the affirmative, as if he's not really listening, then changes the subject. He suggests that they leave the rest of the clothes to his colleague and set off for Marlene's house.

No. 26 - Kitchen / Dining Room
Helen is stirring something in a saucepan while Phil reads his newspaper at the table, with his back to her. She leads him into a discussion of No. 32 and suggests Ruth as a tenant. A trace of a wry smile crosses Phil's lips and he murmurs a vague "Oh".

HELEN: I thought you two had resolved your differences.
PHILIP: (turning to face her) We have ... at least Ruth and I have. I assume Lance will be moving in with her.
HELEN: Of course!
PHILIP: Well he's not a very good influence on Hannah, is he?
HELEN: Oh I don't know about that; but she's having such a terrible time with Bill lately, and it would be very comforting for me to know she's living in the same street.
PHILIP: Let me think about it.
HELEN: I'll give her a call, shall I?
PHILIP: Helen!
PHILIP: (wearily) Alright ... let me know when you've made up your mind. And keep an eye on that sauce.

Ramsay Street
Ted and Marlene get out of the van. Brett is washing Marlene's car outside No. 22. Marlene goes over to him and asks him if Libby made it to the exam. Brett confirms that she did, and as they talk, Ted slowly walks around the van, staring about him as if he had a serious case of déjà vu. Brett tells Marlene that he can't figure out how Darren knew where they were, then he explains to Marlene that her car was missing its spark plug leads, and Darren replaced them on the way back. Brett asks Marlene who her friend is. Ted is now standing in the middle of the road, intensely staring at the scene around him. Marlene hesitantly explains to Brett that Ted has come to take Cheryl's clothes. She asks if this is alright. Brett, despite his obvious discomfort at the idea, tells her that if Lou says okay, it's fine by him. Someone else might as well get some use out of them. Marlene calls to Ted and he snaps out of his trance.

No. 24
Lou sits on the couch, holding one of Cheryl's blouses, a stony look of utter desolation on his face. He lifts the garment to his face and inhales. Marlene enters and carefully approaches him. She tells him that they can keep some of the clothes if he likes, but Lou puts on a brave face and tells her to go ahead. He decides to leave her to it. (Don't go now, Lou! If you don't get a look at Ted, his real identity will never be revealed by the end of the episode!) Ted knocks on the door and Marlene welcomes him in, explaining that he's just missed Lou, her son-in-law (sort of). Ted isn't listening - he's too busy staring about him with a mixture of fear and wonder on his face. When he asks Marlene to repeat herself she tells him that Lou doesn't want to see anyone right now; her whole family is struggling to cope: the clothes belong to her daughter who died a few weeks ago.

MARLENE: Fortunately we're all here for each other.
TED: Yes, a family must be a wonderful thing, eh?

Marlene asks him if he has any children. He says no, with the same tight-lipped manner as when she asked about Tasmania. Marlene offers Ted a cup of tea and his jovial mood returns momentarily; but as she goes off to the kitchen he once more begins to glance around the room.

No. 26 - Lounge
Hannah comes home from school. Phil shouts his greeting from the dining room then comes into the lounge to join her. He tells her that he's about to meet a potential tenant. Hannah asks him what they're like. He gives her a vague, non-committal answer and leaves. Hannah takes Holly to the kitchen for some food. Someone knocks on the back door and walks in: it's Lance. He knows they're not supposed to see each other but he felt bad about her skateboard. He tries to give her some money towards a new one but she shows him the board that Casper gave her. Hannah explains that it was a present from her boyfriend. Putting the money back in his pocket, Lance manfully hides his disappointment ... then Hannah tells him that the boyfriend is going back to Queensland. Lance manfully hides his glee. Suddenly, Phil is back in the house muttering something about forgetting the spare keys. He comes into the dining room and finds Lance and Hannah together. Lance explains that his grounding is over and he just came for a chat, but Phil isn't satisfied.

PHILIP: I think it's time your Mother and I had a little chat.

No. 26 (Later)
Phil and Ruth return from the viewing. Ruth is delighted with the house and offers to move in straight away. Phil agrees with obvious reluctance.

RUTH: (with irony) You don't seem to be jumping at the chance of signing me up as a tenant!

She gets him to admit that he has a problem with Lance. Phil explains that Hannah is at a difficult age. Ruth tries to reassure him that Lance is not a bad boy out to lead Hannah astray. She offers to read Lance the riot act if that will allay Phil's fears. With a look of defeated acceptance, Phil declines the offer and tells her the terms of her new tenancy. Ruth leaves to take Helen over to Marlene's, promising to return to do the paperwork. Phil looks as if he's preparing for a bumpy ride.

No. 24
Marlene is packing the last box of clothes. Ted returns from the van and takes the box. Marlene thanks him for the nice chat. Just as Ted is leaving the house, Ruth and Helen are entering it. Ted and Helen pause for a moment in the doorway, looking into each other's eyes. Ted hurries on to the van but Helen is dumbstruck. Marlene shows Helen and Ruth in.

HELEN: Marlene ... that man?!
MARLENE: Yes, nice isn't he?
HELEN: What's his name?
MARLENE: Oh, Ted - something or other. Why do you ask?
HELEN: (almost to herself) But he looks so much like Harold Bishop!
MARLENE: Who's he?
HELEN: Oh just ... someone I knew once.
MARLENE: Well uh, Ted comes from Tasmania, actually.

Ruth asks Helen if she is okay. Helen says she's fine. But she doesn't look fine. She looks like she's seen a ghost.

Ramsay Street
Ted puts the last box in the van. He notices Brett, who is still washing the car.

TED: Excuse me ... what's the name of this street?
BRETT: Ramsay Street.
TED: (to himself) Ramsay Street

Ted thanks Brett and says goodbye. He looks around him once more, this time with a smile of recognition on his face.

TED: Ramsay Street

A patio behind one of the houses - possibly No. 32?

Lance is sitting on a chair underneath a wooden awning, Ruth takes a seat also. Lance complains that Phil is uptight. He protests the innocence of his motives in going to see Hannah. Ruth reminds him that he wasn't supposed to go round there. Ruth explains the difficulty of their position: she's already working for Helen, and Phil will be their landlord soon; she doesn't want to complicate things. Lance asks if this means she doesn't want him to see Hannah anymore. Ruth says that he can see her, but hanging out and dating is off limits as she has to reassure Phil. Lance asks if he can be the one to break the news to Hannah. Ruth agrees but makes him promise to stay out of the way of Phil.

No. 24
Marlene tells Darren that she's going out shopping. she opens the door to find a jubilant Libby on the other side. Marlene asks how her exam went. Libby explains that the adrenaline helped her to sail through it. Marlene jokes that she should patent it as 'Last Minute Panic Attack'. Libby, suddenly looking bashful, goes on to say that all would have been lost if Darren hadn't showed up. Marlene leaves her to thank him on her own. Shutting the door behind her, Libby thanks Darren and wonders what she would have done without him. Given that things haven't been great between them, she doesn't know how to thank him. Growing visibly more uncomfortable, he tells her she doesn't have to. She insists that he's a hero and it's a miracle that he found them.

DARREN: Well maybe I knew where you were all along.
LIBBY: As if?!
DARREN: I ... followed you out there this morning
LIBBY: (frostily) You what?
DARREN: Look - I was just so angry I had to do something. I know it was a STUPID thing to do and I didn't have any idea you had an exam on this afternoon.
LIBBY: What about the car?
DARREN: (pleading) If I'd known I never would have done anything!
LIBBY: (furious) You nearly ruined my exam!
DARREN: It's only because I care about you; If I didn't care I wouldn't give a damn where you were!
LIBBY: Care about me? You must hate me!
DARREN: No I DON'T!
LIBBY: Look - you need help!

Libby storms out.

No. 26
Hannah wrestles playfully with Holly. Someone knocks on the front door. It's Lance. Hannah invites him in but he declines. Hannah apologises for her dad's outburst and says he's usually not that big a jerk. Lance ruefully asks if he saves it all up for him. Hannah thinks they should give it some time to blow over, but Lance doesn't see the point: If their parents don't want them to see each other, it's not the end of the world. Hannah looks confused and upset.

HANNAH: I thought you wanted to?

LANCE: Look - I've got my friends and you've got yours. We probably wouldn't have seen that much of each other anyway. I'd better go before your dad chucks another mental ... have a nice life, okay?

He walks away leaving Hannah looking hurt and even more confused. She's been rejected twice in one day.