John knocks on the door, but there's just silence. He knocks
again, and he then hears a woman inside impatiently say, "I'm
coming." She opens the door, and John introduces
himself. He asks the woman if she's Margaret Dunne, and when she
confirms that she is, he tells her, "I'm your sister's
son - Patricia's." Margaret looks somewhat taken aback as
John goes on to explain that Patricia is sick, and he'd like her
to see her. Margaret says she hasn't seen Patricia in years, and
so John tells her about Patricia having a breakdown. He asks Margaret
if Patricia's parents are around, but is told that they died three
years ago. Margaret tells John that he's wasting his time, as
she doesn't want to see Patricia. She adds that she hasn't seen
her in twenty years, and doesn't care what happens to her. John
starts trying to persuade her, but Margaret tells him that if
he doesn't go away, she'll call the police.
At Jill's, John tells Jill that he made a mistake. Jill points
out to him that it must have been quite a shock for Margaret to
be confronted by him telling her that the sister she hasn't seen
for twenty years has had a breakdown. John admits that it was
stupid to mention the breakdown. Jill tries to change the subject
by asking what they're going to do tonight, and she suggests the
movies. John agrees that it sounds like a good idea. Jill tells
him to sit down and relax - she'll make dinner, and they should
still be able to catch the late show. John jokes, "Bossy,
aren't you!"
Patricia is sitting on the settee at the South Yarra house when
Susan comes in with some flowers. Patricia asks if they're from
John, and, after a minor pause, Susan says they are.
Patricia says it's nice of him, and adds that he's very good to
her. Susan suggests to Patricia that she go back to bed, but Patricia
says she brought some papers and photos down from Sydney, and
now she can't find them. Susan offers to help her look later.
Patricia decides to go upstairs. The 'phone rings, and Susan answers
it. The caller is Beryl, who comments that she hasn't heard from
her daughter in a while. Susan replies that she's been busy. Beryl
asks if Patricia could be putting it on, but Susan assures her
that it's for real, adding that Patricia is right off the planet,
although that's partly the effect of the pills. Beryl asks what
symptoms there are, and Susan replies that Patricia is vague,
and she keeps forgetting things - for example, she received
some flowers from Bill, but Patricia kept asking if they were
from John, so she eventually just said they were. Beryl
asks Susan if she can make sense of anything Patricia is saying,
but Susan says she can't. She adds, though, that John seems keen
to work it out. She tells Beryl that she'll have to call back
later, as Patricia needs settling. The call ends. Upstairs, Patricia
is sitting on her bed, looking through some papers when Susan
comes in. The papers are the ones she was searching for. Susan
tells Patricia to get into bed, but Patricia says she doesn't
want to, yet. Susan leaves her to it. Patricia continues going
through the papers until she suddenly comes across a photo. It's
a black and white shot of a man in an RAF uniform.
A truck reverses into the depot, and David gets out. One of
the depot workers comes over to him and tells him that the new
rosters are on the noticeboard. He also tells David that there's
a message for him: he's to call in at Jill's for breakfast if
he gets back in time. He adds that it's important.
At Jill's, John tells David that he wanted to hear it from him,
not from Patricia. David says he doesn't want to be dragged into
it. John says he hopes David doesn't mind him looking for his
real father. David just says it's tough knowing that he's not
John's father anymore, but he knows that they're mates now, and
that won't change whoever the other bloke is. Jill tells
David that John was the only person at the movies who wasn't laughing
last night. She then says she has an interview, and she goes off
to get ready. David says he can understand why Margaret was like
she was. He tells John that, before he and Angela were born, Patricia
and Margaret were very close. He used to tell Patricia that she
should get in touch with her sister, but she always refused, so
he can understand if Margaret's bitter after twenty years.
Plan C is lying on one of the armchairs in the Palmer house.
Beryl hears David tooting the horn in his truck as he pulls up
outside, and she goes to the front door. He comes in and tells
Beryl about the talk he's just had at Jill's. Beryl asks David
how he feels, but David just says he'll have to go along with
it. He goes to sit down, and Beryl hurriedly stops him squashing
Plan C! She tells David that she missed him, and they hug.
Rosie tells Gordon that it's none of her business, but he could
have stopped Wayne going. Gordon tells Rosie that she's right
- it is none of her business. He quickly apologises,
but Rosie says she wishes he'd apologise to Wayne, too. She adds
that he'll always be her favourite - except for Gayle. She also
points out to Gordon that Wayne was right about him and Paul.
Gordon admits that it's a terrible thing for a father to say,
but Paul is the perfect son he never had. He tells Rosie that
he doesn't even like Wayne, let alone love him.
Rosie says she hopes that, wherever Nancy may be, she doesn't
hear Gordon saying that.
Wayne stands and looks upwards. He then picks up his bags and
walks towards the front door of the South Yarra house.
A short time later, Wayne is sitting at Patricia's bedside,
and he tells her that, seeing as he's not wanted up there, he
thought he'd come down and help her out. He adds that he'll be
able to help her with all her business problems, although he's
sure that Ramberg's the last thing on her mind at the moment.
Patricia suddenly realises that John and Wayne don't get on, and
she pleads with Wayne not to upset her son, as she doesn't want
him leaving. Wayne assures her that he and John get on like a
house on fire, now. Downstairs, John is just coming in, and he
thanks Susan for calling him. Susan says that, from what she's
heard, Wayne isn't the sort of person they want around. John is
just about to go upstairs when Wayne comes down, saying he thought
he heard John's voice. John asks Wayne what he's doing there,
and Wayne replies that he was booted out of the house in Sydney
and he thought he'd come down to help. John tells Wayne that Patricia
doesn't need his help. Wayne, though, says Patricia likes
him being there, and he tells John that there's nothing he can
do about it. He adds that he's going to unpack, and then get some
sleep. As he walks off, he snidely tells John that it's good to
see him again.
Jill is at the Palmer house, cuddling Plan C. Beryl asks her
if she's had any luck with the caretaker, but Jill says she hasn't.
Beryl assures her that Plan C is happy where she is, and she adds
that it gives Doug something else to moan about besides them!
Jill says Rosie used to complain about Plan C when she
went to Woombai, but she grew to like her in the end. Beryl remarks
that Rosie and Doug make a good pair! Jill announces that she
has to go, as John's coming over. Beryl says John will be glad
that she's got the job, and adds that it's just a pity the two
of them will be in opposition. Jill wonders who'd have thought
that she and Beryl would be working across the road from each
other!
John is at Jill's, and he has written a note, which he leaves
on the table: 'Don't be mad. Am going to have another go at Margaret
Dunne. Would've been lovely company anyway. Love, John xx'. He
stands, looks at the note for a few seconds, and sighs.
Wayne 'phones Dural, and Rosie answers. When she hears who it
is, she tells Wayne that she was worried about him. Wayne explains
about staying with Patricia. Although she doesn't like it, Rosie
comments that at least he has a roof over his head. Wayne then
asks Rosie for a favour: can she tell Gordon to forward his pay,
as he didn't stop to collect it before he came down. Rosie agrees
to do this. The call ends, and Susan remarks to Wayne that she
thought he was getting some sleep. Wayne replies that he had a
few loose ends to tie up first.
John knocks at Margaret Dunne's front door, and takes a few
steps back down the path. Margaret suddenly comes round the corner,
and sees John standing there. John hurriedly says he doesn't want
to make trouble - he just wants to talk. Margaret tells him that
she's thought about things a lot since yesterday, and she agrees
to talk to him.
Patricia is sitting on the settee. Susan remarks that she thought
she was in bed, but Patricia says she wasn't tired, although she's
beginning to feel it now. Susan notices the photo on
the coffee table, and remarks on the good looking man in it. Patricia
gets up to go to bed, and tells Susan to throw the photos and
papers out. An astonished Susan says she'll put them back where
she found them.
John and Margaret pull up outside the South Yarra house and
get out of the car. Margaret comments, "She has
done well for herself, hasn't she." They go inside,
and John says he'll look for Susan. He leaves Margaret to glance
around the house, but she then hears raised voices as Susan accuses
John of wanting to upset his mother. They are still rowing when
they walk into the lounge, and John quickly cools things by introducing
Susan and Margaret to each other. Margaret remarks on Susan being
concerned, and Susan replies that she doesn't want Patricia upset.
John tells Margaret that he'll take her upstairs, but Margaret
says she'd like to see Patricia alone. John agrees, and gives
her directions to Patricia's room. Margaret goes upstairs. Susan
asks John how he found her, and John replies that it was through
David. Susan asks when Patricia last saw her sister, and John
says it was 21 years ago. He assures Susan that he wouldn't have
done any of this if it wasn't necessary.
Margaret stands, looking at Patricia, who is asleep. She turns
over and opens her eyes. She does a double take as she sees her
visitor, and she finally whispers, "Oh, Margaret." Margaret
tells Patricia that her son tracked her down, as he's very concerned
about her. Patricia says she hasn't been well. Margaret says John
pestered her to come and pay at least one visit. Patricia says
she wouldn't blame Margaret if she didn't care. She adds that
she's often thought of getting in touch, but Margaret looks disbelieving.
Patricia asks, "Mummy and Daddy?" Margaret replies,
"They're dead." Patricia asks if her parents ever spoke
of her, but Margaret shakes her head. She then tells Patricia
that the main reason she came is because John has been asking
her for information about his real father, and she wants to know
if she should tell him anything. Patricia becomes alarmed, and
snaps about him finding out. Margaret says John just knows David
isn't his father. Patricia tells her sister that she mustn't say
anything, as John mustn't find out about Martin. She adds that
if John sees him, he'll find out about that night, and what she
planned to do. She hysterically tells Margaret that she doesn't
want to lose her children. Margaret promises that she won't say
anything about Martin. Patricia asks, "Or about
the dance?" Margaret assures her, "Or about the dance."
Patricia thanks her. Margaret says that's all she came for. Patricia
starts to say, "I thought...", but Margaret points out
to her that it's been 21 years... Patricia asks Margaret again
to promise not to say anything to John. Margaret says, "If
John finds his father, it won't be though me - I promise."
She goes, leaving Patricia sitting in bed, looking upset.
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