Charlie is sitting with Isabella in the lounge room at her house,
talking to her about names for puppies. She suggests, "How
about 'Harry' if it's a boy - after the little prince - and 'Anabella'
if it's a girl?" The front door opens suddenly and Alison
and Ginny walk in. Charlie smiles at Alison, "Darling, I'm
so glad you're back. You're here just in time."
Alison asks blankly, "For what?" Charlie tells her,
"Isabella is about to give birth. You can help me
choose the names for her babies!" Ginny chips in, "If
I had a pup I'd call him 'Garfield'." Alison points
out, "Garfield's a cat." Charlie says sharply,"So
is Caroline, come to that. Do you want to hear what she's
been up to while you've been away?" Alison mutters, "Do
I have to?" Charlie just goes on, "She tried
to get her claws into Wayne. She went right off the planet.
It was so bad, Gordon and Wayne had to do something:
they were taking her to hospital when she escaped. Goodness
knows where she is now and what she'll do next." Alison just
murmurs, "Sorry I missed all the excitement." Ginny,
however, says, "Are you kidding? You've had enough
excitement to last a lifetime!" She picks up a fur
jacket that's lying on the couch and starts putting it on. Charlie
looks at her and sighs, "Put that down, Ginny. It's going
into cold storage." Ginny comments, "You should have
loaned it to Alison." Looking at Alison, she adds,
"It would've come in handy while you were locked in the freezer."
Charlie asks in surprise, "What freezer?" Alison
sighs, "It's a long and boring story, Charlie." Ginny,
however, retorts, "Don't you believe it: old ma Hopkins tried
to put her and David in cold storage permanently."
Alison just says, "David set off the alarm and we got out.
End of story." Ginny adds, "It was nearly the end
of her, too: doctors thought she was going to die."
With that, she places the fur coat on the back of the couch -
but no one notices as it slips off onto the floor behind the chair.
Charlie gasps, "Why didn't somebody tell me?"
Alison just retorts, "By the time they thought of it, I was
on the mend." With that, she walks off to her room. Charlie
goes to follow her. Ginny, however, says quickly, "Charlie,
I think you'd better decide on those names quick." She bends
down by a whimpering Isabella. Charlie gasps, "Oh my goodness.
Are you sure?" Ginny tells her, "See for yourself."
Charlie bends down with her pet and cries, "What am I going
to do? The vet's at an all-day conference." Ginny
suggests, "There's plenty of vets in the 'phone book, Charlie."
Charlie, however, cries, "I haven't got time and I wouldn't
know who I'd be getting." She then declares, "Gordon.
He'll know what to do."
Gordon is talking on the 'phone on the bar at Dural, saying,
"Don't worry about it, Janice; I'll try and get Glen's address
from somewhere else. I just wish to God that Wayne had told me
where the cabin was before he dashed off in such a blazing hurry."
The front door bursts open suddenly and Charlie runs in, crying,
"Gordon!" On the 'phone, Gordon tells Janice, "I've
got a visitor. I'll talk to you later." He hangs up as Charlie
pants, "Thank heavens you're here. Come quickly: Isabella's
about to give birth and you said you'd help see us through. You've
lived on a farm. You know about animals giving birth." She
then looks at the 'phone and adds, "I'm not interrupting,
am I?" Gordon explains, "I was just trying to get hold
of Glen's number. I want to warn Susan about the mood Wayne was
in before he dashed off. Still, if the roads are clear, he's almost
there by now, I suppose..."
Wayne is staggering along through some undergrowth, looking dishevelled
and weary. He murmurs to himself, "Just get back to the road..."
In the lounge room at Charlie's, Ginny tells Isabella, "Take
it easy: help's on the way." Alison walks in and starts tidying
up Ginny's bags, muttering, "Do you have to leave
your things lying all over the place?" Ginny retorts, "Charlie
told me to keep an eye on Isabella." Alison mutters, "The
way she's carrying on you'd think no dog had ever given
birth before!" Ginny admits, "She is
going overboard a bit, isn't she?" She then adds, "I
hope she gets back to normal soon: I want to try and
talk her into letting me make Melbourne my permanent base."
Alison comments, "I can't see her doing that."
Ginny, however, insists, "She'll understand when I tell her
about Craig. And I want to try and square things with Debbie,
too. I might ask her if I can take one of Izzy's pups." Alison
asks sarcastically, "As a consolation price?" Ginny
retorts, "It might help." Alison comments,
"You don't really think you can buy back Debbie's
friendship, do you?" Ginny explains, "I just want to
cheer her up. I feel bad about hurting her." Alison remarks,
"Not bad enough to keep your hands off Craig?" Ginny
retorts, "If it hadn't been me, it would've been
some other girl. Anyone could see that she and
Craig weren't meant for each other." Alison muses, "How
perceptive." Ginny tells her, "I'm learning - and I
know how rotten it feels to be dumped. Knocks all the stuffing
out of you, doesn't it?" Alison, turning away, mutters, "I
wouldn't know. I've never let any man get to me."
Ginny tells her, "I was the same until I fell for Craig
- and being me, I had to tell him how I felt, didn't
I? And wear it when he told me it was no-go because of Debbie.
It's bad enough being turned down, but being turned down for someone
else..." Alison stands there, looking thoughtful
momentarily, before saying, "So you just kept throwing yourself
at him until he weakened?" Ginny snaps, "I didn't have
to. When he saw Debbie again, he realised he wanted me and not
her." Alison sighs, "You don't honestly expect me to
believe that? I know the way you operate, Ginny: if you
want something, you'll do anything you can to get it, even if
it means doing the dirty on your best friend. So stop trying to
whitewash yourself."
Andy is standing with Debbie at the entrance to a stud farm.
He hands her a newspaper and, pointing to an item on one of the
pages, says, "Guess who scored your friendship ring."
Debbie looks at the item: there's a large photo of Craig with
his arm around Ginny. Below this is the headline 'Youth Cleared
of Murder Charge'. Debbie stares at it as Andy comments, "Didn't
take Craig too long to forget about you, did
it?" Debbie, looking tearful, thrusts the paper back at him
and storms off.
Gordon is sitting on the couch at Charlie's, feeling Isabella's
stomach. Charlie asks, "Well?" Gordon tells her, "False
alarm - it'll be a while yet." He then asks, "Do you
think you can do without me for a while, if I promise to stay
on call?" Charlie sighs, "I'll try." Ginny
dashes in from the hallway, saying, "She hasn't started yet,
has she?" Charlie tells her, "No - it was a false alarm."
Gordon heads off. Ginny is holding a cardboard box, which she's
lined with a towel. She says, "Come on, Izzy - you can have
your pups in here!" Charlie, however, gasps, "She
wouldn't be seen dead in that old thing." Alison,
walking in through the patio doors, adds, "And her name's
not 'Izzy'." Charlie suggests to Ginny, "If you want
to do something useful, why don't you start designing some sportswear?
That's what I'm paying you for." Ginny mutters bitterly,
"I didn't realise I was in the way. I'll go down
to the gym and soak up some atmosphere, then." As she walks
off, she adds sourly, "Hang in there, Izzy."
When she's gone, Charlie looks at Alison and asks, "What's
put her in a mood?" Alison explains, "She wanted
to stay in Melbourne. She's in love." Charlie comments, "I
thought I noticed a glow. Love does that to
a girl. Nothing like it for the complexion!" Alison remarks,
"You should know!" Charlie asks breezily, "Is it
that obvious?!" Alison tells her, "Only to the trained
eye!" She then goes on, "Gordon's one of the best. You'll
make him a wonderful wife." Charlie explains with a sigh,
"He hasn't actually proposed, yet - but I think
it's only because the year's separation from Barbara isn't up."
Alison comments, "It can't be long." Charlie
replies, "Another 28 days, 5 hours and 10 minutes!"
Alison laughs, "Not that you're counting!" Charlie trills,
"As they say: love makes fools of us all!"
Alison muses, "And I'm the biggest fool
of them all." Charlie asks seriously, "What's the matter,
darling?" Alison tells her, "David." Charlie sighs,
"You two haven't been fighting again?" Alison
replies, "No. When we were locked in that freezer and I thought
we were going to die... later on, in the hospital, I wanted him
to know how I felt - before it was too late - so I told him I
loved him; that I always had and probably always will.
It's like David: let Alison die the happy confessor."
Charlie murmurs, "Darling..." Alison, however, tells
her, "You haven't heard the best bit yet. You see,
it didn't do me any good: he's passed me over for boring Beryl.
Every uncultured middle-class hausfrau should take heart from
that one..." Charlie murmurs, "Don't..."
Alison, though, tells her quietly, "I still love him, Charlie.
There's absolutely nothing I can do about it..."
Janice is working behind the reception desk at the gym, staring
at some paperwork. Someone walks in and without looking up at
them, she pushes a sheet of paper forward and says, "Just
fill this in and I'll be right with you." The person smiles,
"Your wish is my command, Janice." Janice looks up at
the person. It's Doug! An expression of shock crosses Janice's
face and she gasps, "Doug! You're supposed to be in America!"
Doug chuckles, "I quit my job - and you could say
you're pleased to see me." Janice assures him, "I am
- only why do I always have to be the one to break the bad news...?"
Doug tells her, "If it's about Caroline, I know. Glen
called me; that's why I came back." Janice comments, "Never
do anything by halves, do you?" Doug just says, "I should
never have left Caroline in the first place - but I'm going to
make it up to her. I'm going to get her well if it takes every
cent I've got." Janice replies, "I hope you do. It's
sad to see what's happened to her." Doug nods, "So Glen
was saying." He then adds, "Is he around?" The
'phone starts ringing and Janice picks it up as she replies, "He's
gone to see if he can find her." Doug stands there,
looking puzzled as Janice says on the 'phone, "Bumps and
Grinds.... Yes, we do massages... They're all the same price...
No, we don't do house calls..." A look of shock crosses her
face as the call continues: "You want to what?...
You should wash your mouth out with soap and water!... I don't
care what the name made you think... Stop calling me
'madam'!" Doug heads out as Janice slams down the 'phone!
A short time later, Doug goes to knock on the front door at Charlie's
- just as Charlie opens the door and cries, "Get Gordon quickly.
It's happening any minute now." Doug just comments, "Hello,
Doug! Nice to see you, Doug!" Charlie cries, "I'll say
hello when you get back. Isabella is about to give birth!"
She runs back into the house. Doug stares after her and then walks
off.
Gordon opens the front door at Dural to find Alison standing
there. She steps inside as Gordon says, "Hello. The last
report I heard, you were in Melbourne."
Alison tells him, "I just got back. Thought I'd strike a
blow." She then asks, "What's all this I hear about
Charlie putting up the money for Wayne to buy a gym?" Gordon
tells her, "It's a joint venture and they should both do
very well out of it." Alison mutters, "You mean Wayne
should do very well out of it." Gordon insists, "Wayne
would never take Charlie down." Alison, however, retorts,
"He'd rip off his own mother and you know it."
The front door opens suddenly and Doug pushes his way in, saying,
"Sorry to barge in. The door was open and Charlie said it
was urgent." Gordon queries, "Isabella?" Doug nods,
"Any minute." Gordon smiles, "I'm on my way."
He heads out. Left alone with Doug, Alison comments, "Just
like a bad penny, aren't you?" Doug retorts, "It's
no big thrill to see you again, either. Still, let's not waste
an opportunity. Tell me your version of what's been going
on with Caroline."
In the lounge room at Charlie's, Gordon is placing Isabella in
the cardboard box that Ginny prepared, saying, "She really
will be much more comfortable in this." Charlie sighs, "But
it's so grotty." Gordon insists, "Nonsense
- it's perfectly clean and it's practical." Charlie asks,
"What can I do? Buy some water? Get some towels?
Brandy?" Gordon tells her, "A bit of soothing music
might help." Charlie cries, "Of course! I should have
thought of it!" She then adds, "I wish I still
had her favourite record." Gordon asks, "What was that?"
Charlie replies, "How Much Was That Little Doggy in the
Window? Every time it got to the part where the little doggy
barked, she used to bark along with it!" Gordon
rolls his eyes and explains, "I was thinking of something
more along the lines of Beethoven's Sixth: The Pastoral.
Something to evoke the peace and beauty of nature." Charlie,
looking impressed, trills, "Oh yes. How apt."
Out in the bush, Wayne is panting as he sits down weakly, his
back against a tree. He murmurs desperately, "Where's the
road...?"
In the hallway at Dural, Alison takes a sheet of paper out of
her handbag and shows it to Doug. It's the note that Caroline
made up from newspapers and magazines, saying 'You'll never live
to see your child'." She tells him, "Here's a sample
of her handiwork." Doug, looking shocked, murmurs, "I
can't believe it." Alison shrugs, "Don't take
my word for it. Ask anyone. Caroline's criminally
insane. If she hadn't escaped, she'd be in the loony bin right
now - probably for the rest of her life." Doug retorts, "Not
if I've got anything to do with it." Alison muses,
"You can go ahead and waste your money if you like,
but it won't buy a cure." Doug growls, "You'd
know, wouldn't you? Such an expert on mental health". As
they stand there talking, neither of them notices a brown envelope
being slipped under the front door. Alison retorts, "Don't
try and get at me, Doug. It won't work." Doug stares at her
and mutters, "You're right, you know? You're not
worth it." Alison smiles, "I'd start at The Cross, if
I were you. Those strip clubs don't ask their girls any questions."
Doug glares at her and goes to walk out. As he does so, he notices
the envelope on the floor. He picks it up, asking Alison, "Is
this something you dropped?" Alison tells him, "No -
but I recognise Caroline's calling-card when I see it." Doug
takes a sheet of paper out of the envelope. It has several bits
of newspaper and magazines stuck to it. Alison asks what it says.
Doug reads it and then hands it over. Alison reads, "'Pay
me $20,000 for what I suffered in jail or the next victim will
be Susan. No tricks. Send Susan with money. Ten o'clock tonight
at gym.'" Doug stands there, looking shocked.
A few moments later, Doug opens the front door and calls outside,
"Caroline?" There's no one there. He steps back inside
and Alison tells him, "I doubt whether she'd risk bringing
the letter herself." Doug asks, "Let me see
that again." He grabs the note. He looks at it and then comments,
"There's something not quite right here." Alison
mutters, "Loonies aren't noted for their prose." Doug
ignores this and retorts, "It's in the wording: there's something
not... sitting comfortably." Alison remarks, "I doubt
it'll sit too comfortably with Wayne, either; you know
what he's like when someone tries to corner him." Doug asks,
"Where is he?" Alison shrugs, "You tell me.
When he does show up, I've got a bone to pick
with him. God knows what he's tricked Charlie into signing."
Doug says, "If he does front, just say I've gone
down to the gym to wait for him." With that, he heads out.
Janice is standing behind the reception desk at the gym when
she suddenly hears a loud wolfwhistle. She looks up in surprise
- to see Ginny strutting out of the main room, wearing a tight-fitting
set of gym gear. She looks at Janice and smiles, "Hear that?
I reckon we'll sell a million of these." Janice
stares at her and retorts, "Not if I've got any
say in it. Where did you find that disgusting get-up?" Ginny
explains, "I put it together from a few outfits I found in
the storeroom. I think it's great!" Janice growls,
"I think it's pornographic." She steps
out from behind the desk to take the outfit in in full. Ginny
tells her, "Bare is sexy and sexy sells with the singles.
A girl's got to flaunt it - if she's got it..."
Janice snaps, "Rubbish." Ginny goes on, "You got
to get your man somehow, Janice. Worked with Craig."
Janice repeats in surprise, "Craig? Craig wouldn't
look at anyone but Debbie." Ginny retorts, "She
was just his training wheels - and when she wouldn't
give him what he wanted..." Janice growls, "If you're
saying what I think you're saying, you should be ashamed
of yourself." Ginny just tells her, "You don't know
what you're missing out on - and you'll never find out,
if you don't stop trying to look like someone's maiden aunt."
Janice snaps, "I would rather look like a maiden aunt than
a trollop." Ginny stares at her and says, "Trollop?
What's a trollop?" Doug walks in at that moment and says
quickly, "A trollop is a brightly-coloured tropical fish."
Janice stares at him and retorts, "No it's not." Doug
suggests to her quickly, "Why don't you just introduce us?"
Janice sighs, "She's Charlie's latest discovery." Ginny
holds out her hand and explains, "I'm her star designer,
Ginny Doyle." Doug shakes her hand and says, "Doug Fletcher."
Janice adds, "A very close friend of Caroline's." Ginny
comments, "Really? Got yourself a handful with that
one." Doug insists, "She's worth it." He then goes
on at Janice, "You were saying something earlier about Glen
going out to look for her. You don't know where he was headed,
do you?" Janice tells him, "He was driving up to his
cabin on the chance she might be there. Susan was with him, apparently."
Doug asks, "Where is this cabin?" Janice just
shrugs, "Somewhere in the mountains. He said it was a three-hour
drive." Doug remarks, "It's a pity. They've gone on
a wild goose chase. Caroline's in the city." Janice
asks in surprise, "You've seen her?" Doug,
though, reaching into his pocket and taking out the blackmail
note, replies, "No. Just her calling card." Ginny asks,
"What's it say?" Doug hands it to Janice, who reads
it and gasps, "This is dreadful." Ginny says
eagerly, "I reckon it's dynamite. Wayne
will have the place swarming with cops tonight." Janice,
however, retorts, "Wayne won't be here to do anything."
Doug asks, "Why not?" Janice explains, "He's gone
after Susan and Glen." She adds, "I'll have to call
the police for him." Doug says quickly, "I
don't want Caroline hauled off to jail." Janice retorts,
"It's for her own good." Doug insists, "She needs
treatment, not punishment. I'm sure I can talk her into it; all
I need is five minutes alone with her. You can help."
Janice asks in surprise, "What can I do?" Doug
tells her, "Pretend you're Susan." Janice remarks dubiously,
"I think you've got a touch of the Carolines!" Doug,
however, continues, "If Susan isn't here, Caroline won't
come out into the open - but if we make you up to look
like Susan--" Janice interrupts and gasps, "I don't
look anything like Susan!" Ginny, however, chips
in, "I could make you look enough like Susan to get away
with it." Doug asks Janice, "Well? Will you be in it?"
Janice comments, "The whole idea's ridiculous."
Doug pleads, "Come on. It's our only chance. At least give
it a shot. What have we got to lose?" Janice smiles weakly
and says, "You could talk anyone into anything!"
Doug says warmly, "Thanks, Janice - and if there's anything
I can do for you..." Ginny says quickly, "I
don't work for free. It'll cost you fifty bucks." Doug reaches
into his jacket and removes his wallet. He takes out some cash
and hands it over. Janice snaps at Ginny, "Trust you to make
money out of someone else's misfortune." Ginny just shrugs,
"He's getting off cheap. Besides, I like a guy who
sticks by his woman."
At the stud, Debbie is sitting on a fence, stroking a white horse
which has a bandage round one of its legs. She says to it lovingly,
"I know your leg hurts, but we'll get it better." Andy
walks over to her and comments, "I wouldn't waste my time
on that one: I heard the boss say he was going to sell
it." Debbie asks, "Who to?" Andy replies, "The
knackery." Debbie gasps in horror, "He can't.
Sugar's a champion; he's won heaps of races."
Andy nods, "Yeah - but he'll never win another one now, so
he's not worth his keep." Debbie, climbing down from the
fence, cries, "Of course he is. Look at him: he's
beautiful." Andy assures her, "I agree. I only
wish there was something I can do. Wasn't my
idea." Debbie strokes Sugar again, saying sadly, "Don't
worry, Sugar, I won't let them hurt you."
Charlie walks into her lounge room, saying to Isabella, "It
won't be long, darling." She peers into the cardboard box
- to find it empty. She cries in horror, "Gordon! She's gone!"
Gordon, steps in through the patio doors and tells her, "Calm
down. She can't be far." He walks round behind the couch
to where the fur coat is lying and then says, "Over here
- and she's had her puppies. She made the right choice: pure-bred
all the way." Charlie walks over and has a look: Isabella
is lying on the coat with three small puppies lying next to her.
Charlie smiles at them adoringly.
Doug is looking at a magazine on the counter at the gym. A blonde
woman walks in and without looking up at her he asks, "Inquiring
about new membership?" The woman nods, "Yes." Doug
still doesn't look up. Instead, he grabs a form and says, "Just
fill one of those out. The manager's busy at the moment, but I
can help you." The woman tells him, "That won't be necessary."
Doug looks up to find the woman is Janice! She's wearing a long,
blonde wig and fashionable clothes. Doug stares at her and gasps,
"Janice?!" Ginny joins them and asks, "Think
I earnt my money?" Doug nods, "Every cent of it! I can't
believe my... you look fantastic!" He goes on, "You're
a very attractive woman. You just don't do yourself justice with
the clothes you wear." Janice mutters, "There's more
to life than clothes." She then adds curtly, "I'll
be getting on with my work if you need me." She heads off
to the main room. Doug tells Ginny, "You've done a marvellous
job." Ginny muses, "Hope it's good enough to fool Caroline."
Doug murmurs, "You and me both." Ginny suggests, "How
about I give you a call tomorrow to find out what happens?"
Doug takes a card out of his pocket and, writing a number on it,
says, "If you don't find me here, I'll be down at the hotel."
Ginny looks at the card and gasps, "You work in L.A.?"
Doug smiles, "I used to. I just sacked myself." Ginny
asks in shock, "Why?" Doug tells her, "My
boss didn't believe in compassionate leave, and Caroline's much
more important than any job." Ginny comments in
surprise, "Didn't think guys like you existed anymore."
With that, she reaches into her bag, takes out the $50 and, handing
it back to Doug, tells him, "As Janice said: you shouldn't
make money out of the misfortunes of other people." She adds,
"Good luck for tonight." Doug smiles, "Thanks,
Ginny." As Ginny heads off, Doug mouths to himself, "I'll
need it..."
Andy is walking through the grounds at the stud. He approaches
Debbie and tells her, "I've got some good news for you: Sugar's
done a bolt." Debbie asks in surprise, "When?"
Andy smiles, "I don't know. When everyone turned their backs,
I guess." Debbie replies, "That's great. Told
you he was a smart horse." Andy muses, "Must have heard
us talking about him!" Debbie chides, "You can laugh,
Andy, but horses are very sensitive to atmosphere." Andy
comments suddenly, "You know what? I'm getting this itch
every time I'm around them." He starts scratching his chest.
Debbie suggests, "Maybe you should try my granddad's poultice?"
She indicates the contents of the bucket she's holding. Andy asks,
"What's it for?" Debbie explains, "One of the horses
hurt himself." Andy remarks in surprise, "I didn't know
the boss would be interested in home-made remedies."
A horse neighs suddenly in the background. Andy looks at Debbie
and comments, "I thought the horses were out exercising today."
Debbie just stands there sheepishly, and Andy sighs, "Tell
me that is not Sugar." Debbie cries, "I couldn't let
them send him to the knackery." Andy sighs, "Debbie,
you're not going to get away with it. They're going to find him
sooner or later." Debbie retorts, "Yes, but by then
I'll have him fit to race again." Andy cries, "Debbie,
why do you have to be so stubborn?" Debbie just snaps, "If
you had a horse you love, would you stand by
and see it get killed?" With that, she storms off.
Ginny arrives back at Charlie's and, spotting the puppies lying
next to Isabella, smiles, "She's had them!"
Gordon nods, "On Charlie's mink!" Charlie comments,
"I've always said: breeding wins out!" Ginny asks if
she's chosen names yet. Gordon suggests 'Koko', after his father.
A look of horror crosses Charlie's face, so he suggests quickly,
"There's always 'Coco' as in 'Chanel'." Charlie stares
at him and gasps, "Darling, you're a genius!"
She then indicates the three puppies one at a time, naming them,
"'Coco', 'Chanel' and 'No. 5'." Gordon raises his eyebrows
in disbelief!
It's nighttime, and in the darkened reception area at the gym,
Doug murmurs, "My foot's gone to sleep." He and Janice
are crouching behind the desk, and Janice whispers back, "You
might as well get up. She's not going to come now - it's way
after ten." Doug suggests, "Let's give it another half
hour." Janice sighs, "Alright. I think you're getting
your hopes up for nothing." At that moment, they hear footsteps.
Doug whispers, "She's here." Someone walks
into the reception area. They're silhouetted in the light from
outside. As the person looks around, Janice stands up from behind
the reception desk, dashes over and grabs them. Doug switches
on the lights - to find that Janice has grabbed Alison! She snaps,
"What in the hell's going on here?"
A short time later, Alison is marching into the main room as
Janice says, "I'm sorry, but when I saw the blonde hair I
was sure it was Caroline." Alison retorts, "Then
you should have had more brains. Caroline wouldn't set foot
in this place. Wayne put her through a rather nasty experience
here. It was late at night... no one around... I doubt very much
whether she'd risk a repeat performance." Doug asks, "If
she had no intentions of showing up, why bother sending the note?"
Alison snaps, "I don't know and I don't care. I'm just here
to do a quick audit on Wayne's books." Janice tells her curtly,
"Not while I'm managing the place." Alison
insists, "If Wayne's got nothing to hide, where's the harm?
If Caroline was right about that waiver, Wayne could take Charlie
for a fortune." Looking puzzled, Doug asks, "It
was Caroline saying that Wayne was trying to rip Charlie
off?" Janice tells him, "You couldn't shut her up about
it. But Charlie wasn't taken in; it was simply Caroline going
round the bend." Alison adds, "Which took the heat off
Wayne very nicely." Doug comments, "So Wayne set out
to make her look crazy..." Alison nods, "I wouldn't
put it past him." Janice sighs, "You can't drive people
crazy." Alison, however, muses, "Oh, I don't
know... you seem to manage quite well!" Doug takes
the note from his pocket, saying, "This is all starting to
fit together. And I've realised what was bothering me about this
note. Caroline hates Americanisms: she'd never spell 'gaol' 'jail'.
She'd use the English spelling: 'gaol'." Alison asks, "So
you think Wayne sent that note?" Doug replies, "I
think at the very least he arranged it." Janice
mutters, "If you ask me, you're both as twisted
as Caroline." Doug just retorts, "Yeah, well
I'd like to bet my bottom dollar that Caroline's as sane
as you and me." Alison comments, "I agree. This whole
business smacks of vintage Wayne. I don't think it's just a question
of him sending threatening notes, either. My guess is he's the
one behind Caroline's disappearance..."
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