Garden of No.32
Mal and Karl are tidying up the garden for Phil. Karl tells Mal that he'd better start looking for full- time employment. He suggests they set up a proper business being handymen, but Mal says he'll have to think about that.

No.30
Jo tells Sarah to just tell her ex that she doesn't love him anymore, but she thinks it'll be easier if she can show him there's someone else.

Luke comes out dressed in a suit, just as Sarah's ex (Steven) arrives. He gives her some flowers and she introduces them to everyone. She introduces Luke as her fiance(!) and Steven looks surprised, but shakes Luke's hand.

No.24
Brett is on the phone to a company asking why they haven't come to do a cement pour at Erinsborough High tomorrow. But apparently Darren still owe them for the last job. Darren says they'll just use someone else and grabs the Yellow Pages. Brett realises Darren has no money in reerve, but Darren says it's just a cash- flow problem. Brett says Darren can't keep under- quoting Mal and he'd better sort himself out and stop hurting people. Darren goes on a bit of rant that Libby told Brett about the stunt with the car, but Brett doesn't know anything about this and had actually been talking about Malcolm! Brett is shocked to hear that it was Darren who sabotaged Marlene's car.

BRETT: You could have ruined her life! Where do you get off?! This is the girl you're meant to be in love with?!

He walks off in disgust.

No.30
Everyone is having a glass of champagne to celebrate "Sarah and Luke's engagement"(!) Jo mentions that she's going to the Melbourne Cup today with Mal (as friends). In the kitchen, Danni tells Luke that he and Sarah are not fooling Steven.

No.24
Brett asks Darren why he sabotaged the car. Darren says he didn't know, he just wanted to get back at them for going out together, he just saw red and didn't think things through. If Brett wants to pull out of the business Darren will understand, but Brett says there's no need for that. They go off to sweet- talk the concrete pourers.

No.28
Libby is studying while Mal mopes about a bit. Susan asks what's going on and Mal says Karl wants to go into partnership with him. He's not sure he wants to, but doesn't want to hurt Karl's feelings. Susan says Mal could just take Karl on full- time for a while - she thinks it's all a game to Karl at the moment and he'll be looking for something else within two months, hopefully in medicine.

Jo goes off to get ready for the Melbourne Cup, leaving Sarah and Steven on their own. Sarah tells Steven that she was going to tell him about Luke in a letter, but she hadn't got around to it.

STEVEN: Eight bridesmaids. Balenciaga gown. Invitations sent to all points of the globe. Fifty grand down the gurgler. It didn't occur to you that an explanation might be in order?
SARAH: I changed my mind, I'm sorry! I had to take the coward's way out.
STEVEN: When are you going to start telling the truth? It wasn't the marriage you were running out on. I know how you feel about me.
SARAH: Well, then, you don't know as much as you think, because you're so far off the mark...
STEVEN: Am I?

(He laughs)

SARAH: Look, Steven, you shouldn't have come, you're just wasting your time.
STEVEN: I never waste my time.

Luke and Danni come back with nibbles at that point, so the conversation is over for now.

No.24
Darren and Brett are back from sorting things out with the concrete pourer. Mal comes out dressed in a suit and Brett says he needs to talk to him about Darren. He says that he's trying to get Darren back on the straight and narrow, but it may take months and Brett wants to go travelling again. Mal says he won't take Darren back, but Brett just wants Mal to be a mate for now, and maybe sign Darren on again later if he asked Mal. Mal says he can't promise anything - Darren has a lot of ground to make up.

No.30
Mal arrives to pick Jo up for the races. When they've gone, Sarah says she'd better get back to the shop.

SARAH: Danni and I run a boutique together.
STEVEN: You've given up modelling?
SARAH: No, I grew out of it. I've grown out of a lot of things in the past few months. But it was good to see you again...
STEVEN: Au revoir rather than goodbye. I'm here for a few weeks and I'd love to catch up with you and Luke again. And you, Danni, of course. Ciao for now.

He leaves.

SARAH: That was the worst few hours of my life!

Luke and Danni hug each other and Sarah thanks them profusely for helping her out. Danni says Steven wasn't fooled. Luke agrees, Sarah will be seeing more of Steven.

DANNI: And next time...Luke's unavailable.

No.28
Karl is writing down suggestions that might help Mal's business(!) Brett comes around to invite Libby for a coffee. This gives Susan a chance to chat to Karl. She says Mal hasn't taken him on yet, and points out that he's not working *with* Mal, he's working *for* Mal. Karl isn't convinced and breezily says that Mal can say no to going into partnership if he wants to. But then he says he supposes it is a bit unfair and agrees to withdraw his offer.

Coffee Shop
Brett tells Libby that he knows about Darren sabotaging the car.

BRETT: I was wondering if...if there was any hope for me.
LIBBY: Brett, we've tried a relationship once before and it didn't work.
BRETT: I went overseas because I had to. You thought it meant I didn't care enough?
LIBBY: Yeah, I suppose that's what I thought.
BRETT: Well, I'm here now.
LIBBY: For how long?
BRETT: Long- distance relationships have been known to work.
LIBBY: Brett, you are the best friend I've ever had. And I don't want anything to stand in the way of that, ever. Do you understand?
BRETT: Being best friends is the best basis for a relationship. Guess that's what you and Darren hasve to work on. If you're still interested.
LIBBY: He has to be the most difficult man who's ever walked the face of this earth. And I wish I could stop caring about him, but I can't. I'm sorry.
BRETT: No, don't be sorry. It's good. For him, anyway.

No.30
Luke is telling Sarah that he still doesn't get it - Steven seemed like a nice guy that would take a knockback gracefully.

LUKE: Why don't you tell use what's going on.
DANNI: Mmm, you do owe us, after what we've just been through.
SARAH: The fact of the matter is, I owe him. Big time. Thousands upon thousands. I never would have made it if it hadn't been for Steven's generosity. Professional portfolios...designer gear...networking trips to Paris and Milan, you name it. He fancied me and I guess I agreed to the marriage to repay him for what he'd done.
DANNI: So...you realised you couldn't go through with it and you just bolted?
SARAH: One thing he hates is a bad debt. And believe me, he's not quite the pussy- cat he appears to be.
LUKE: So what was I? The protector?
SARAH: I'm sorry.
DANNI: Look, I don't get it. Isn't he going to want revenge even more knowing you're engaged to someone else?
SARAH: I hadn't thought of it like that.
DANNI: You've dug a pretty deep hole for yourself, if you don't mind me saying.

Pub
Mal and Jo are back from the Melbourne Cup. They order a coffee and Jo apologises for being awkward at first - she's not very good with guys. Mal says they're just mates and it was good to get away from fuss at home. Mal isn't sure what to do about Karl. They drink to "uncomplicated friendships".

No.28
Mal tells Karl and Susan that he had a great time. Karl tells Mal that the partnership idea is a stupid one, but Mal says he's actually been thinking about it and he wants to give it a go!

MAL: Shut up for five minutes, you're sounding like my old man! Because if you're coming in with me, there's two things you're going to have to learn how to do.
KARL: I'm listening.
MAL: Firstly, we're talking full- time employee rather than partner, for now.
KARL: Fair enough.
MAL: Secondly, I'm the boss. At least for a while, and maybe down the track we could look at full partnership, OK? What do you reckon?
KARL: Yeah, OK, you've got a deal...boss!

They shake hands.

Lassiter's Lake
Darren comes across Libby studying. He tells her he's been a total jerk lately and apologises for feeling rejected by Libby's study lately.

DARREN: I just feel like you're going to tell me to take a hike sooner or later and this is your easy way out!
LIBBY: That is ridiculous.
DARREN: I know. I'm not the best boyfriend you could have. I've treated you badly, but if you give me another chance, I'll fix it.
LIBBY: There's just so much happening right now...
DARREN: Look, I don't want an answer until after your exams. I just figure that what we've got is too good to throw away, don't you?
LIBBY: ...
DARREN: OK, well, just let me know what you reckon when things have calmed down again. Now back to your books eh? No slacking off.