Wayne and Patricia are watching television, but Wayne gets up
to turn it off. John comes in and Wayne announces that he's going
to bed. He kisses Patricia goodnight. John says he'll go up as
well, but Patricia asks him to stay for a chat. She tells John
that she'd like to go out tomorrow, as she's lost touch with what's
been going on. She then asks John what he's been doing,
and John tells her about Jill moving down, and about how he found
a flat for her. Patricia suddenly asks what movie it was that
Wayne was just watching, but John has to say he doesn't know.
He goes on to say that he's going to help Jill fix her place up.
Patricia says she'd like to do something with the South Yarra
house, and adds that it's too big for just her. John yawns, and
he and Patricia both get up to go to bed. Patricia says, "That
was a nice little chat, wasn't it?" John
looks concerned.
The next morning, at the Palmer house, Kevin notices that Lynn
is hiding something behind her back. She tries to pretend there's
nothing there, but then comes clean, and shows her husband a set
of photos, of which she has to choose one for her composite. Doug
comes in, sees the photos and says they're jolly good. He adds
that he hopes Lynn got a good deal on them, and Lynn assures him
that she did. Kevin tells Lynn that she looks like a professional.
Doug then tells Kevin that he saw Vic outside, and he had the
application forms for the bank. Kevin reluctantly admits that
he doesn't have much choice left. To cheer him up, Lynn suggests
that the two of them could go and watch a cricket match tomorrow.
Kevin agrees, but adds that it has to be just the two of them.
He goes out to see Vic, leaving Doug to say to Lynn that there's
nothing like a good game of cricket. He recalls that John was
good at it when he was young, but sadly adds that he probably
doesn't bother now.
Susan tells John that she's given Patricia her pills. John says
he doesn't know where he is with his mother, as one minute she's
OK, and the next, she's like she is now. Susan agrees that she
thought Patricia was getting better, but now she's gone the other
way. John asks why it's happened. Susan says Patricia was the
best she's been after she saw Margaret, but now she just sits
looking at old photos. John asks what the photos are of, and Susan
replies that they seem to be family pictures. She goes on to say
that there's one picture which upsets her particularly, which
is of a man in uniform. She offers to go and get it for John to
look at, assuring him that Patricia's asleep, and won't know a
thing. A short while later, John is looking at the photo, and
Susan remarks that, whoever it is, Patricia doesn't like him.
John asks her how she knows, and Susan says she asked Patricia
about it, and what she could understand of Patricia's mumbling
wasn't very flattering. She asks John for the photo so she can
put it back, but John says he wants to keep it. He assures Susan
that Patricia has been so forgetful lately that she probably won't
even notice it's gone. Susan asks John if there's something going
on that she doesn't know about. John says it's hard to explain,
but it is important - honest.
David asks Kevin if he and Lynn are off to cricket, and Kevin
replies that they will be as soon as Lynn is off the 'phone. Beryl
tells her husband that John is dropping by at lunchtime to see
him. She then tells Kevin that she thinks it's good that he and
Lynn are having a day out. Kevin just says, "Yeah."
Lynn comes in, and says the caller was Drew Stafford, the photographer,
and he's invited her to a barbecue this lunchtime, and she'd like
to go, as it would provide some good contacts. Kevin says he'll
go to the cricket by himself, but Lynn tells him that he's invited
as well. Kevin says he probably won't enjoy it, but Lynn says
she wants him there. He agrees to go. Beryl tells her
son that he's doing the right thing.
Rosie has prepared a tray of canapes, which she shows to Gordon
and Paul, who are sitting at the main table in the lounge at Dural.
She asks the men if they think having the meeting there will help,
and Paul replies that it should make the board members more relaxed.
Rosie then gives Gordon a present from Barbara, which is a gift
to say she thinks he'll romp it in. She adds that Barbara will
be coming over later with a quote for redoing the walls. Gordon
explains to Paul that he wants a change, as the current colour
scheme has been in place for ten years. The present is a packet
of tobacco. Deciding to stop worrying about the meeting, Gordon
says, "What the hell - I'll romp it in!"
Susan asks Wayne how long he'll be staying in Sydney, and Wayne
replies that he should be back tomorrow. Patricia comes down and
asks Susan if she's been rearranging her room, as she's lost something.
Looking slightly guilty, Susan asks Patricia what she's
lost. Patricia replies that it's an old photo, of a man in an
airforce uniform. Wayne asks Patricia who she knows who was in
the airforce, but Patricia just says it's an old friend, and it's
not important - she just doesn't know what happened to it. Wayne
says he has to go. Patricia says she's sure she hasn't left it
lying around. Susan says they'll probably find it.
John shows the photo to David. David says the face rings a bell,
but he doesn 't know who it is. John tells David that he'll leave
the photo with him, as it might come to him if he looks at it
some more. David says he'll try. John says he has to go, and he
leaves. Beryl asks David if he's sure he doesn't know
who it is. David snaps that he said he didn't, and he
meant it. He then suddenly changes his mind, and tells
Beryl that the man is Martin Healy, and they were at the same
school, although Martin was a few years ahead. He goes on to explain
that Martin moved out of the area, and only came back for the
odd dance. He saw Martin and Patricia arguing one night, after
he and Patricia had been going out for a few weeks. Martin
Healy left, and it wasn't long after this that Patricia told him
about her and David. He tells Beryl that it could be the bloke
in the photo, but he doesn't want John to go charging around trying
to find him, without any proof. Beryl tells David to be honest:
he's worried about losing John to this other man. She adds that
only David's conscience can tell him what to do.
Doug is walking down the road, carrying Davey in his strap-on
carrier, when Kevin and Lynn arrive home after the barbecue. Lynn
remarks that Doug looks like a real pro! Doug tells her that Davey
is a good chap. Kevin suggests his grandfather should take up
babysitting as a part-time job! Doug asks how the barbecue was,
and Kevin replies that the food was good. Lynn goes inside, and
Kevin then admits to Doug that he didn't enjoy it, because he
realised what he was missing out on, as there were a lot of journos
and photographers there. Doug says Kevin will probably like the
bank more than he thinks. He hands Davey over, and Kevin says
thanks. Doug asks what for, and Kevin replies, "Oh, you know..."
Inside, Beryl tells Lynn that it sounds as if she had a good
time. Lynn says she's got another offer for a job, and it's going
to pay good money, but she can see it causing problems, and she
doesn't know whether she should do it. Beryl asks why, and Lynn
replies that it's in Sydney, for two weeks. She adds that it's
wonderful to be asked, and it's good money, but she doesn't want
to leave Kevin, and she's worried about taking Davey away from
everything he's used to. Beryl suggests Lynn leave Davey behind,
but Lynn says she couldn't. Beryl then suggests that Lynn should
talk to Kevin about it. Lynn says that, even if Kevin agrees,
there's still Davey. Beryl suddenly suggests that Lynn could stay
with Fiona, who could also act as babysitter during the day. Lynn
says it's great idea, and Beryl says she's sure Fiona will help.
She asks when the job is, and Lynn replies that it's the day after
tomorrow. Beryl tells Lynn that she needs to do some fast talking.
Rosie hands round the nibbles at Dural, as the Ramberg board
members gather. She remarks to Gordon on how everyone seems relaxed.
The doorbell rings, and when it's answered, Wayne comes in. Gordon
curtly asks him what he's doing there, and Wayne replies that
he's there on Patricia's behalf, as her proxy. He shows his father
the signed paper. Gordon tells his son that they're only there
to clarify the Ramberg situation, but Wayne says that maybe the
problems start at the top. Fiona then arrives, and, out
in the hall, Paul tells her that they have problems, as Wayne
has arrived with Patricia's proxy and it looks as if he's up to
something. Fiona says Wayne can be a lot worse than Patricia,
so they'll just have to make sure they don't give him the chance.
Everyone goes into the lounge, and Rosie closes the double doors.
She stands and looks worried.
Lynn tells Kevin that she got an offer while they were at the
barbecue: two weeks in Sydney, with everything arranged by the
agency. She goes on to explain about her and Davey staying with
Fiona, saying she doesn't like taking him, and leaving Kevin,
but the job's worth a lot. She tells Kevin it's up to him, and
she'll do whatever he think's best. Kevin laughs as he asks his
wife what she thought he'd say. Lynn tells Kevin she
loves him!
Wayne stands and addresses the board. He tells them that Patricia
is well aware that Gordon inherited a lot of problems when he
became MD, but in the time since then, it doesn't look as if a
lot has been happening to resolve them. He brings up the subject
of the Queensland branch of the company going down, and this brings
murmurs of agreement from some members of the board. Paul calls
order. Wayne says Patricia left it to him to decide whether
to support Gordon or Richard Coleman, but he would like to hear
what Gordon has to say about the downhill slide in the company's
fortunes. He sits down. Paul then stands, and asks Gordon to address
the board. Gordon stands, and tells the board that they're not
there to discuss his position, but to hold a vote of confidence.
He goes on to say that, when he took over, he made it clear that
there would be more problems before the good times came along,
due to some hasty decisions made prior to his appointment. At
the time, everyone supported him in what he planned to do, but
now everyone is making hasty decisions about his handling of the
situation, and he's fed up of panic calls at all hours, about
trivial little things. Everyone knew that the Queensland branch
of the organisation was sick, but his strategies to help it recover
might have worked if everyone hadn't panicked. There is more murmuring.
Gordon says he takes full responsibility for the loss of the company.
He then tells the board members that he has already put into effect
plans which have led to an increase in orders of 18%, and the
shareprice has risen by 2c this morning. He tells the board that
he wants to continue in his position, but he'll only proceed if
there is no more interference, and he has the unequivocal support
of the whole board. He says it's not about whether Richard Coleman
takes his chair - he just wants a vote of confidence, but if it's
not unanimous, then the board can consider his resignation tendered.
He sits down, and a worried Fiona tells him that he's given Wayne
exactly what he needs to get rid of him. Gordon replies that he
needs unanimity. Paul stands up and proposes a motion declaring
confidence in Ramberg's MD. Fiona seconds the proposal, and Paul
then says, "Gentlemen?" He looks round the table. The
first board member nods his head, as does the second. Fiona then
nods her head, and Gordon smiles at her. Paul looks at the board
member next to him, who also nods. All eyes are then on Wayne.
Gordon stares at him. Wayne pauses, and then says, "You have
my vote." Paul announces, "The motion is carried."
Gordon looks relieved.
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