Alison tells Gordon gently, "Come and sit down." She guides him to the couch as he sighs, "What for: scotch and sympathy?" Alison explains, "I want to help." Gordon tells her wearily,"You can't get any more out of me: I've got no job, I've got no money and the next thing you know I'll be asking for handouts." Alison, however, says, "You always gave me everything I wanted; I think it's time I did something for you." Gordon just murmurs, "I don't want anything from you." He then buries his head in his hands and cries, "Oh God, I'm so tired." Alison tells him, "Here: lie back. Close your eyes." Gordon sits back on the couch and Alison starts massaging his shoulders. As she does so, she asks, "Does that feel better?" Gordon smiles, "You haven't lost your touch." Alison remarks, "Brings back a few memories, doesn't it?" She then comments, "It wasn't all bad when we were married, was it?" Gordon, however, grins, "It was a disaster - and you know it!" Alison muses, "It was my fault; I didn't realise what we had until we were divorced." Gordon leans forward as he tells her, "You don't have to pretend you loved me to make me feel better." Alison, however, replies, "I wasn't in love with you then." She goes and sits down next to him as she then adds, "No, that's not right: I did love you, but I didn't know it. I was over the moon when we got divorced - it was like being let out of a cage." Gordon muses, "You're doing wonders for my ego!" Alison continues, "It took a while, but after we split up I realised how I felt about you. I'm not saying it was the sort of passion I felt for David, but it was comfortable, like..." Gordon suggests, "Like a pair of old slippers?!" Alison smiles, "You're getting warm! But you were always there for me when I battled through my dark nights with the soul." Gordon murmurs, "I've had a few dark nights of my own, lately. I don't think I could've made it through this one without you." He then looks at Alison fondly and puts his arm around her.

The next morning, Fiona is talking on the 'phone in her room at the mansion, saying in concern, "His name is Hamilton. Gordon Hamilton. I was just wondering if he'd been admitted as a patient. He does have a heart problem--" She breaks off suddenly as the door to the room opens and Gordon bounds in, smiling at her. He's holding a cardboard box. Fiona tells the person on the 'phone meekly, "It was just a false alarm - he's just walked in the door. I'm so sorry to have troubled you." She hangs up and Gordon explains, "I didn't think you would've missed me yet." Fiona sighs, "Today would be the day when I decided to take you breakfast in bed. I almost had kittens when your bed wasn't used! Where on earth have you been?" Alison walks in suddenly - carrying another cardboard box - and smiles, "He was with me last night!" Gordon tells Fiona, "I should've called, but you know what it's like: you start talking and have a few drinks..." He breaks off as Janice walks into the room suddenly, carrying Madonna. She remarks to Gordon, "You're cutting it fine, aren't you? Beryl will be getting ready to leave any time now." Gordon apologises, "I'm afraid I slept in." Alison tells him, "And so you should've: you needed the rest." Fiona stares at Gordon, open-mouthed. Gordon just says to her, "I'll throw on a change of clothes if you ring a cab. Can you do that for me?" Fiona mutters, "I think I can manage that." She picks up the telephone as Gordon heads off to his bedroom. Janice says to Fiona, "I wish I could come with you. I bet Beryl will be in floods of tears when she walks out." Alison remarks, "She's lucky Gordon managed to get her out." Fiona finds the cab company engaged. She hangs up and then says curtly to Alison, "I didn't think it would suit you for Beryl to be out so soon." Alison replies blankly, "Of course it does. I'd be the last person to want Beryl to suffer. You should know that." Changing the subject, Janice asks Fiona, "Did you manage to find that carry-cot?" Fiona admits, "No, dear, I didn't, but it's probably upstairs in the junk room." Janice tells her, "I'll go and look." She heads out of the room. When she's gone, Fiona says to Alison curtly, "I don't know what you're up to, Alison--" Alison interrupts her and retorts, "I'll do a deal with you, Fiona: I won't ask who the kid's father is if you don't make waves about what went on last night." Gordon emerges from his bedroom suddenly and says, "I'd better put that champagne on ice." He goes to open the box he brought in." Alison, however, tells him, "No, you go and get dressed; I'll do all this." Gordon sighs, "Pushy women!" He heads off back to his room. Alison turns back to Fiona to find a stern look on her face. She tells Alison sharply, "I want you out of here." Alison retorts, "I'm not leaving." Fiona, however, growls, "Oh yes you are. This is Beryl's day and she won't want you here." Alison just shrugs, "Well Gordon does - and as far as I'm concerned, what Gordon wants, Gordon gets..."

Beryl is standing in the grounds of the Bendala Detention Centre handing out some books to other inmates, telling them, "I've read all these, so you might as well have them." She then holds out a packet of biscuits and adds, "And I don't think I'll be needing the biscuits!" Ruth walks up behind her, suddenly, and says coolly, "I'll take the biccies." Beryl just ignores her and hands them to one of the other women. Ruth snaps at her, "You going deaf in your old age?" Beryl just mutters, "I heard." She walks off. Ruth follows her and growls, "Now you're getting out you couldn't care less, huh?" Beryl nods, "That's right. You're going to have to find someone else to heavy." Ruth snarls, "That'll be hard, finding a bigger crawler than you." Beryl snaps, "Shut up." Ruth just taunts, "What's the matter? Can't take a few home-truths?" She then looks at the other women standing around and laughs, "She was a pushover; gave me everything she got. The minute the screws gave out the goodies, she come running. 'Oh Ruth, Ruth, here's those chocolates you wanted. Here, take them, take anything, but please, don't hit me." Beryl glares at her. She then lashes out with her fist. She whacks Ruth on the jaw. Ruth reels back before then lunging back at Beryl and landing a punch of her own. The two of them them start struggling with each other. A warder runs over as they fall to the ground, Ruth snarling as they do, "You want a fight? I'll give you a fight."

Alison is setting out some glasses in Fiona's room at the mansion. Gordon emerges from his bedroom, changed into a suit, and Alison tells him, "Fiona has just gone to see if the cab's arrived." Gordon replies, "Good." He then goes on uncertainly, "Um, I talked a lot of nonsense last night - especially about Beryl. It's not nearly as cut-and-dried as I made out. She had to learn not to show her feelings in prison, and I should have been more understanding." Alison smiles, "Relax! I know you were speaking off-the-record. It won't go any further." Gordon nods, "Thankyou." Fiona walks in and announces, "The cab's here." Caroline is standing with her and Gordon tells her, "Make yourself at home." Caroline smiles, "Thankyou." Gordon then heads out. When he's gone, Caroline says to Alison coolly, "Didn't expect to see you here." Alison just smiles, "You know me: I can't resist turning up where I'm not wanted!" Caroline warns, "If you're here to make trouble..." Alison, however, explains, "I'm here to draw Beryl's fire. Gordon needs a break from the kind of pressure she's been putting on him." Caroline gasps, "Since when are you so concerned about Gordon?" Alison just replies, "It's Janice's fault: all that do-gooding tends to rub off!"

As Fiona and Gordon head out through the front door of the mansion, they bump into Doug. He tells them, "I won't be staying long - I just dropped in for a quick celebration drink with Beryl." Gordon smiles, "Glad you could make it. Caroline's inside. Just go in." He and Fiona head off down the path as Doug heads into the mansion. As he closes the front door, Caroline emerges from Fiona's room and smiles, "I thought I recognised your dulcet tones!" Looking surprised, Doug just says, "Gordon's talking to me again!" Caroline shrugs, "Why shouldn't he? He's far too nice a man to be holding a grudge." Doug looks at her and asks, "What's he been saying to you?" Caroline replies, "We had a long talk about the Wayne business." Doug asks, "And?" Caroline tells him, "He said he could understand your point of view, even though he didn't agree with it in the first place; but now that he's out of a job, I'm sure he wishes he was still involved with the T-shirt business." Doug, looking miles away, murmurs uncomfortably, "Yeah... the Talking T-shirts." Caroline asks in surprise, "Wasn't that what you meant?" Doug says quickly, "Yeah, sure it was!" Andy comes downstairs, suddenly, followed by Janice. He's carrying Madonna in a large wicker basket. Doug whispers to Caroline, "Can't turn your back for five minutes, can you?!" Caroline whispers back, "It can't be theirs..." Janice and Andy walk over to them and Janice says, "Morning! You here for Beryl's party?" Doug and Caroline both nod, "Yes!" Andy mutters, "Have a drink for me, won't you?" Janice just growls at him, "Stop thinking about yourself and worry about Madonna, Andy." With that, they head out, leaving Doug to smile at Caroline, "Must be theirs: he's as hen-pecked as I am!"

A short time later, Janice and Andy are walking up the steps outside the Crisis Centre, Janice now holding the basket containing Madonna. She tells Andy, "You look after Madonna, I'll look through the files." Andy retorts, "I am not babysitting on my day off." Janice, however, tells him curtly, "Don't be so selfish: it'll give me time to try and find the mother." Andy asks, "How do you plan on doing that if you don't even know her name?" Janice tells him, "I know her first name and I know the baby's name. If she's been here, then there'll be a file with her name and address on it." Andy cries, "But that's going to take ages." Janice retorts, "It could be the first one I pull out." Andy mutters, "Sounds like a long-shot to me." Janice just tells him, "I'll give anything a try. Now, are you going to help me or not?" Andy sighs, "As long as I don't have to change any wet nappies, alright?"

A while later, baby Madonna is lying on the desk inside as Andy changes her nappy! Andy mutters at Janice, "You conned me." Janice just shrugs, "I'm doing you a good turn: you'll have children of your own, one day." Andy retorts, "Not if I can help it." He then picks the newly-changed Madonna up and smiles at her, "Nothing against you, kid; I just don't reckon I'm cut out to be a dad!" He starts rocking her gently as he looks at her fondly!

The main gates open at the Bendala Detention Centre and Beryl walks out through them. A taxi pulls up nearby and Gordon climbs out. He smiles at Beryl as he walks towards her and says, "I'm sorry I wasn't here waiting." He then notices a large bruise around Beryl's left eye, and he mouths, "Oh my God..." Beryl tells him coolly, "It's a parting gift from Ruth - because I flattened her. From now on, nobody picks on me and gets away with it. Let's get out of here." With that, she walks over to the taxi, leaving Gordon standing looking concerned.

In Fiona's room at the mansion, Alison is saying to Doug, "Caroline tells me you've cornered the American market with your Talking T-shirts." Doug nods, "That's right." Alison adds, "You should make your fortune." Doug just mutters, "Yeah." He then says, "I think I'll get some air." He heads off outside. When he's gone, Alison comments to Caroline, "I could've got more of a conversation out of one of his Talking T-shirts!" Caroline explains, "As far as Doug's concerned, you're still the woman who sent me broke - which you are - but thanks to your sordid life story, we're in the money again; they say the sequel's going to make a mint." Alison just shrugs, "I'm getting used to being notorious." She then suggests, "What say we call a truce?" Caroline stares at her and retorts, "You've got more nerve than Ned Kelly! But I suppose I do owe you something... well, if it hadn't been for you, Wayne would still be making Susan's life a misery." Alison comments, "Everyone needs a few good deeds stored up for that trip to the pearly gates." Caroline asks, "Want to store up some more treasure in heaven?" Alison remarks, "Don't tell me; let me guess: you want me to bring tidings of great joy to the person I dislike most in the world." Caroline reminds her, "I pulled that job the first time Susan pulled her suicide stunt." Alison asks, "How did Beryl react then?" Caroline admits, "I got my face slapped." Alison murmurs, "No wonder you're so keen for me to do the re-run!" At that moment, the door to the room opens and Doug walks in. He's followed by Beryl, Fiona and Gordon and is telling Beryl, "Raw steak should do the trick! 24 hours and you'll be a new woman!" Beryl steps into the room as Caroline smiles, "Welcome home, Beryl." Alison adds, "We thought we'd break the drought with some bubbly!" Beryl just looks at Gordon and demands, "What's she doing here?" Gordon explains, "I invited her. I thought it was time we all made the effort to get along." Everyone stands around, looking uncomfortable. Alison takes a step over to Caroline and murmurs, "This isn't going to be easy." Caroline murmurs back, "I'll help." She then walks over to Beryl and says, "Can we have a word next door for a minute?" Beryl asks, "What about?" Fiona tells her quickly, "It's a surprise." Beryl, a frown on her face, heads across the room to the bookcase, followed by Caroline and Alison. Doug asks Fiona in surprise, "What's going on?" Fiona just retorts, "Girls' talk." She then smiles, "Well, now, where's my champagne? We've got a lot of celebrating to do!"

A few moments later, in Michael's room, Beryl goes to raise her arm and slap Alison as she snaps, "You bitch!" Caroline puts up her arm to repel Beryl's attack, telling her, "Stop it!" Beryl just snaps at her, "Stay out of it." Caroline sighs, "For goodness' sake be reasonable. How could we tell you that Susan was still alive while you were still in jail? Supposing one of the warders had overheard?" Beryl just growls, "I don't want to hear any excuses." Glaring at Alison, she snarls, "You really enjoyed putting me through this, didn't you?" Turning to Caroline, she adds, "She knows how hard it hit me the first time Susan disappeared." Turning back to Alison, she goes on furiously, "Well I've toughened up a lot since then, you believe me - and don't push me, 'cos I'll take you apart." Caroline says calmly, "If it weren't for Alison, you'd still be rotting in jail." Beryl spits, "She'd never do me any favours." Caroline, however, tells her, "She's the one who figured out where Wayne hid the gun. She also figured out how to get you out of jail without Susan taking your place." Beryl growls at Alison, "I see - and what's in it for you?" Alison replies, "I had the pleasure of knowing Wayne would never get his hands on his child." Caroline adds, "That's why Susan couldn't give herself up: Wayne would get custody and she couldn't handle that." Alison goes on, "As long as he thinks she's dead, Susan and the child are safe from him. Now, I suggest to you that you don't say a word to anyone - not even Gordon." Beryl stares at her and then says coldly, "As far as I'm concerned, Susan is dead." Alison and Caroline stare at her in shock as she heads back through to Fiona's room.

Janice is sitting at the desk at the Crisis Centre, looking through some file index cards. Andy is holding Madonna, soothing, "Come on... one good burp and you'll feel better." He then says to Janice, "What happens if we can't contact her mother?" Janice explains sadly, "We have to hand her over to the authorities." Andy comments, "I'd say it's the best thing." Janice warns, "Andy..." Andy just retorts, "I reckon her mum would have to be the pits, shoving her in a box and dumping her on a doorstep." Janice tells him, "When you're desperate you do desperate things." Andy mutters, "I still reckon she's the pits." Janice snaps, "Do you know what your trouble is? You're narrow-minded." Andy stares at her and gasps, "Me? Narrow-minded? Now I have heard everything!"

Alison, Caroline, Fiona, Doug, Beryl and Gordon are all standing around the table in Fiona's room at the mansion, glasses of champagne in their hands. Doug is saying to everyone, "So when I saw Janice and Andy with the kid, I figured there'd been a shotgun wedding or something!" Everyone bursts out laughing! Beryl comments, "She must have been wearing a bag over her head at the time." Everyone falls into a sudden shocked silence. After a few embarrassing seconds, Alison says to Fiona, "Er, how's Janice going at the Crisis Centre?" Fiona smiles, "The job could've been made for her. She's a born do-gooder. She really does care for those poor souls who 'phone in." Caroline remarks, "It sounds like the perfect job for her." Beryl comments, "It's a pity someone can't find the perfect job for Gordon." Doug tells her, "I did. I offered him a job managing Sanders Air Charter, for a third of the profit, but he wouldn't be in it." Beryl looks at Gordon in surprise and asks, "Why not?" Alison tells her, "He did it for you. The job was Melbourne-based." Beryl remarks to Gordon, "That's exactly what we want." Gordon tells her tersely, "I've made my decision, Beryl." Beryl glares at him and snaps, "Oh great. And what are we going to use for money when we do go back to Melbourne?" Gordon says quietly, "We'll discuss it later, alright?" Beryl retorts, "Yes, we certainly will." Doug smiles at Beryl, "You'll never get him to change his mind, love: wouldn't touch it with a bargepole now he knows Wayne's the backer." Caroline and Fiona both turn and stare at him, looks of shock on their faces. Caroline gasps, "What? How could you even think of doing business with Wayne after the way he's treated me?" Doug blusters quickly, "I only went along with the idea when he said that the money was just going to be a gift, no strings attached. He just wanted to help his dad." Beryl suggests to Gordon, "If Wayne wants to pay us conscience money, I think we should take it." Gordon exclaims in surprise, "You can't be serious!" Beryl retorts, "I am. At least it would be some compensation for what I've been through." Alison, looking at Gordon, chips in, "If it wasn't Wayne putting up the investment, would you still be interested in the job?" Gordon replies, "Yes, of course - but I'm not taking money from Wayne." Alison asks, "You'll take mine?" Gordon asks in surprise, "You serious?" Alison replies, "Try me." Gordon pauses before then turning to Doug and saying, "Sober up: you've got a sales pitch to do!" Beryl stands there looking less than happy...

A while later, everyone is standing or sitting around the table as Gordon and Alison look at a sheath of papers. Doug is saying, "I'm the salesman: I help develop new markets. Bill buys the 'plane and flies it and Gordon looks after the management side of things." Alison snaps, "And I put up the capital for a measly 12% interest on the loan. I could do better at a bank." Gordon nods at Doug, "You can't expect her to go for a deal like that; you have to offer her at least a quarter of the profits." Alison agrees, "Yes, that sounds better." Doug muses, "I guess Bill will go for that..." Gordon suggests, "Then it looks as though we have a deal." Beryl chips in suddenly, "Gordon, I don't want you going into partnership with Alison." Gordon remarks in surprise, "A moment ago, you were all in favour of it." Beryl retorts, "That was before she got into the act." Gordon sighs, "Alison has very kindly gone out of her way to help us, and I'm very grateful to her. As you pointed out, we are broke - and I need a job." Beryl says coolly, "I thought you had too much pride to live off a two-faced bitch." Gordon stares at her and retorts, "I think you've said enough, Beryl." Beryl growls, "I'm entitled to have my--" Gordon interrupts and snaps, "I said 'enough'." Beryl glares at him. She then turns away. Gordon looks at Alison and asks, "Do we have a deal?" Alison nods, "We certainly do." Doug exclaims, "Ha!" Looking at Caroline, he adds, "We're back in the big-time! This calls for a toast!" He pours himself another glass of champagne. Fiona walks over to where Beryl is standing across the room and puts her arm around her. Beryl murmurs sadly, "Some homecoming..." Fiona replies gently, "You know, you might have been able to talk him out of it if you'd taken him aside and had a quiet little chat." Beryl tells her, "I believe in speaking my mind." Fiona asks, "Even if it embarrasses your husband in front of all his friends? Look, why don't you try and make the best of it - for Gordon's sake? It isn't the end of the world, you know: Alison will be up here in Sydney and you and Gordon will be down in Melbourne - and with such a large investment, I can't see her wanting to stir-up an awful lot of trouble; she's got too much to lose. So why don't you just go with the flow?" Beryl looks at her. Doug walks over suddenly and refills their glasses. He then turns to Gordon and says, "You want to propose a toast?" Gordon stands up from the table and, raising his glass to Alison, smiles, "To our new partnership: long may it prosper!" Everyone says, "Hear hear!" Alison looks at Beryl, who's glaring back at her...

Janice is talking on the 'phone at the Crisis Centre, saying sadly, "No, Mrs. Myers, the child's mother hasn't been in touch... Yes, I couldn't agree more. I'll take care of it. Bye bye." She hangs up and then tells Andy, "Mrs. Myers thinks Madonna will be better off at home with Fiona looking after her." Andy asks in surprise, "Why's that? She won't have the time with the party and all that." Janice just shrugs, "She'll manage. You'll have to stop off on the way and get some nappies." Andy asks, "Aren't you coming with me?" Janice retorts, "How can I? I have to work." Andy sighs, "I can't carry that by myself." He indicates the basket. Janice, however, snaps, "Mothers do it every day of the week - and people like you won't even stand up on the bus for them." She then hands him a piece of paper and says, "I'm shouting you a ride home." Andy picks up the basket and heads out, wearily. Janice stands there, a smile on her face.

A short time later, Andy is sitting on the step outside, waiting for the taxi. He's fussing over Madonna, telling her, "Cover your tootsies - we don't want them getting cold!" He moves the blanket covering Madonna so that it's over her feet. He spots a cab approaching, suddenly, and he calls, "Taxi!" The taxi comes to a halt and Andy goes and places Madonna's basket on the back seat. He then climbs into the front. The driver asks him, "Where to?" Andy replies, "Elizabeth Bay, please." He adds, "You take these dockets?" He shows the driver the piece of paper that Janice gave him. The driver replies, "Wrong company, mate." He brings the taxi to a halt and Andy climbs out, slamming the door as he does so. The driver snaps, "Can't you read, mate? It says 'Don't slam the door'." He then roars off - leaving Andy to cry, "Hey! You've got me baby!" He starts chasing after the cab, furiously!

In Fiona's room at the mansion, Beryl walks over to Gordon and says quietly, "Gordon, can we talk?" Gordon nods, "Yes, of course." Beryl then tells him, "I still don't agree with the deal, but I shouldn't've had it out with you in front of everybody. I'm sorry. I suppose it was a knee-jerk reaction - that's the way you think in jail. I'm mentally still there." Gordon assures her softly, "I know." Doug, who's standing across the room with the 'phone to his ear, lets out a whoop of delight and hangs up. He then announces, "Bill's all for the deal!" Gordon asks, "How long before the contracts can be drawn up?" Doug tells him, "It shouldn't take too long at all." Caroline then walks over to Beryl and says, "I'm afraid I have to dash: I'm being taken out to lunch by some journos." Beryl smiles, "Thanks for coming. I'm sorry things got off to such a bad start." Caroline gives her a hug as she replies, "Forget it; I have." She turns to Doug and says coolly, "Come on, you snake in the grass: we're leaving." Doug heads for the door. Beryl follows him and Caroline and tells them, "I'll see you out." Gordon remains in the room with Alison, smiling, "We should call them 'The Fighting Fletchers'!" Alison, however, shrugs, "Oh, no, they like a good scrap. Makes life more interesting for them!" Gordon muses, "I prefer the quiet life." Alison, however, comments, "You're not having much luck, are you...?" Gordon insists, "Beryl's fine. It was just a storm in teacup."

A short time later, Beryl is closing the front door in the hallway as Alison emerges from Fiona's room and says to her, "Thankyou for a lovely party." Beryl remarks, "It turned out to be quite expensive for you." Alison shrugs, "It was money well spent." Beryl comments, "Only you could go to such lengths to spite me." Alison, however, tells her, "You had nothing to do with that decision; Gordon needed that job - and not just for the money." Beryl asks suspiciously, "And how long have you been concerned about what Gordon needs?" Alison retorts, "Since I realised he was about to fall apart." Beryl snaps at her, "Don't be silly: he's as solid as a rock; he always has been." Alison tells her tersely, "Even men like Gordon have their limits. If you hadn't been so wrapped-up in yourself, you might've noticed he'd just about reached his." Beryl retorts, "If Gordon was on the verge of falling apart, he's doing a wonderful job of concealing it." Alison just shrugs, "One night with someone who cares can make a hell of a difference to a man..." Beryl glares at her and demands, "What are you talking about?" Alison mutters, "Figure it out for yourself." She goes to walk out. Beryl grabs her arm, however, and says coldly, "I asked you a question." Alison looks at her and explains, "Gordon was with me last night." Beryl snaps, "You're lying." Alison, however, shrugs, "Don't take my word for it. Ask Gordon." With that, she heads out, leaving Beryl standing there looking worried.

Inside Fiona's room, Gordon is saying to Fiona - who's clearing things away - "I must say, I find the thought of being involved in an airline rather bizarre!" Fiona smiles, "You always were a bit of a high-flyer under the surface!" She then adds, "Seriously, darling, I'm very happy for you: it's just what you need." Gordon nods, "Yes, it is - and that, combined with the fact that Beryl's coming home again... life's beginning to look normal." Fiona remarks, "Beryl is looking a little strained, isn't she?" Gordon points out, "That's to be expected. I think it'll take her a few weeks to settle down again." He breaks off as the door opens and Beryl walks back in. Gordon smiles at her, "There you are! We were just talking about the contract: I can't wait to sign it tomorrow." Beryl smiles, "Yes - and I suppose now that you have Alison's help there'll be nothing to stop you..." Fiona says quickly, "The main thing is that Doug wanted Gordon for his experience." Beryl 'assures' her, "I wasn't suggesting anything else." Gordon looks at his wife and says, "I know - and I know how you feel about Alison, but I couldn't let the opportunity pass. It's been a long time finding a job." Beryl stands there, a weak smile on her face, as she murmurs, "Yes, it has."