It's the day of Ron Dixon's bail hearing, and his family (well, most of them) gather at the Dixon abode. Anthea is phaffing about getting ready, whilst Jacqui gazes sadly out the front window through the nets at Max Farnham getting out of his car. Anthea reminds her that they have to hurry. Ron's new solicitor is meeting them at the courts. Mike Dixon enters the room, slowly and labouriously (like his acting) walking on crutches. Anthea asks him if he doesn't think it better that he use the wheelchair today, as he hasn't been long on crutches; but Mike insists that he wants his dad to see him walking. They are ready to go and as Anthea assists Mike with his jacket, Jacqui announces she has to make a last-minute bolt to the loo.
Outside, Anthea struggles to help Mike enter the back seat of the car and Max comes over to offer help. Mike declines. Max wishes them luck and asks to be remembered to Ron, for which Anthea thanks him. Just as he sees Jacqui leave the house, he turns and walks away. Anthea asks if Jacqui's all right going with her, but Jacqui sadly says she'll follow in her car.
Sitcom time, but it's not so jolly today. Blessed Mother is doing some ironing, when Marty Murray enters the room. Blessed Mother is very worried. She hands Marty another wicked, evil piece of paper. It's a letter from the bank, saying that the Murrays are £197.00 over their overdraft limit. Oh dear. What are they going to do. Marty remarks that he works all hours of the day and there is still no money in this house. (Er, actually Marty, you don't). In fact, all his money is gone the moment he gets paid. Blessed Mother suggests that he visit the bank and ask if the bank will extend their overdraft facility for the next few months. Boy, she'd better get pregnant after all of this; still, she says, at least they were due that £100.00 from Plank.
She reminds Marty that he has to be home at 2:30 for the damned, infernal injection we're so sick of. Marty must be sick of it too, because he asks her how long they have to continue with this. Blessed Mother says the last one occurs next week. Then she hurries him from the house because she wants to have a chat with Antony about his bullying situation at school.
At the Johnson abode, Mick enters the house, with his habitual scowl on his face. But his face takes on a hue of thunder when he sees Tim lounging on the couch, reading a magazine and eating a plate of toast. Mick sarcastically asks if Tim's not working today, to which Tim, immediately apprehensive, replies that he's due in later. So Mick takes the opportunity to ask Tim what arrangements he's made so far about replacing the £2000 telly that was destroyed the night of their 'wedding reception'. Tim evasively replies that he's 'working on it'. Turning toward the stairs, Mick remarks that he'd better be working on it, because he has until the end of next week to replace the telly or reimburse Mick the cost, or else he and Emily are out on their ears.
Just at that moment, Emily, clad in her bathrobe and with her hair swathed in a towel, having just had its weekly bleach, bumps into Mick on the stairs. This puts Mick in an even fouler mood. He remarks sourly that he supposes there's no hot water left - and just when he wanted a shower. Emily avoids his gaze and weakly remarks that there MAY be some hot water left. Mick makes sure that the pair of them know that his lecky bills have gone through the roof since Tim and Em came to stay.
When he goes upstairs, Tim worriedly informs Em that Mick's been badgering him for the telly money again. They have until the end of next week to produce the money or the goods or they're out. Emily emphatically states that there's no way she's going to go crawling back to her Nan. Couldn't they just rent him a telly or buy it on HP or even through installments? Tim reminds her that they have a police record for credit card fraud. There is no way anyone will let them have anything on HP. (Er, so how do they hope to set up a household eventually? Emily, like TWB and Katie, resides in an area vaguely reminiscent of Cloud Koo-Koo Land).
There's only one thing to do, decides Tim, morosely. He'll just have to go on the rob for the money. Emily is horrified and forbids him to do it. He'll surely get caught and go back to prison, and they'll be separated yet again. Emily assures him that together they'll think of some way of getting the money.
Plank and TWB are walking along the Parade. TWB tells Plank that something astonishing has happened. All of a sudden, she's got an idea. (Humour her, she's never had one before). She wants to discuss it with him at lunch. He wants to know what it is, but she says it's a surprise (meaning she has to try to think of a way of articulating it.) However, she's been to the Jacqui Dixon School of Management and passed with flying colours, because she's got to pop into the creche to see how the girls are getting on. (Jacqui's management technique of let the business run itself is also a philosophy of TWB's. And by the way, when does Plank work?)
Back at the Murrays', the Blessed Mother is supervising Antony as he packs his school bag. She asks him about the bullying situation and Ant informs her that it's stopped. She looks hopeful. Did he finally tell his headmaster the bullies' identities? Well, no, he didn't. But the head spoke to the whole school about bullying and it stopped. Blessed Mother still looks worried. She just wishes Ant would tell her the names of the boys who did this. There's no point, says Ant. The whole thing's over and anyway, he's forgiven them, like a good Catholic. Blessed Mum makes him promise that if it happens again, he'll tell her the names.
Meanwhile, the Dixons wait apprehensively at the court. Neither Ron nor his solicitor have arrived. Mike is doubting the solicitor's worth, but Anthea says she come highly recommended. Mike scoffs and remembers how useless Ron's original solicitor was. He's anxious and so is Jacqui, but for a different reason. Anthea notices this and suggests that Mike take a hobble down the hall to see if he could ascertain the reason behind the delay.
When he leaves, Anthea speaks to Jacqui. She witnessed Max's reaction to Jacqui's appearance and she's concerned. Jacqui says that Max is denying there was anything special behind the kiss they shared. Anthea says that Jacqui must accept that, for him, there may not have been. But Jacqui is certain that he's in denial about his feelings for her. He couldn't have kissed her that way and felt nothing. Anthea gently suggests to Jacqui that perhaps she's on the wrong track with Max. She mentions the age difference again, but Jacqui emphatically states that the age difference means nothing to Jacqui. She's falling in love with Max, and it's only natural that Harry's parents be together.
At that moment, Mike reappears with news that the police van in which Ron is travelling has broken down on the motorway. They should be here in about an hour.
Back at the Johnsons', Emily is now occupying the sofa, magazine in hand, when Mick the miserable appears again to remind her of the obligation she and Tim have to replace the television and the time limit thereof. Emily hastily promises Mick that he'll have his reparation, when Nikki appears and offers tea. Mick refuses, saying he has to leave, but asks Nikki if she plans on being around for most of the day. Nikki says she doesn't have to be at the bar for awhile and Mick tells her that the window cleaner is due that day. Could she pay him and would she also ask him to clean the gutters. Nikki agrees, and Mick pulls out his wallet to get her the necessary funds. As he does so, Emily spies his credit cards. Mick leaves the wallet on the Welsh dresser as he follows Nikki into the kitchen to put the money there for her. While he is out of the room, Emily sneaks over to the Welsh dresser and removes his credit card, placing it in the pocket of her jeans before he returns to the room. Mick pockets his wallet and leaves, just as Jerome comes down the stairs.
Jerome is not at all pleased. He's overslept and is due at uni. He asks Nikk i why she didn't wake him. Nikki said she planned to do him breakfast and figured that he needed some sleep as he'd passed a restless night, tossing and turning. Besides, she thought they might spend some time talking about their engagement party. First of all, they had to decide where to hold it.
Emily pipes up, suggesting Bev's. After all, Nikki works there. Perhaps Bev would give her a discount. Nikki agrees, but Jerome is annoyed. Why should they have an engagement party at all? They didn't even have a ring. Why not wait until then to throw a bash? Nikki thinks that they should have an engagement party to make their commitment public, but Jerome reiterates that their engagement is about them and no one else, but Nikki is adamant. Jerome tells her to do what she wants, as he's late, and leaves.
After he leaves, she seats herself on the couch beside Emily. She asks Emily what Mick meant by querying her about a money matter. Emily lies that she and Tim were just a bit behind with the rent this week and changes the subject by suggesting that she help Nikki compose a guest list for her engagement party.
TWB and Plank meet for lunch at Bev's in order that TWB might tell Plank her idea. She's accepted the fact that the pair of them might not be ready for an engagement, but she's come up with the next-best idea. How about living together?
Plank isn't sure he understands what she means. Does she mean living together, as in no one bothering him to pay his room and board? (Yes, but they've both forgotten that they'd still have to pay room and board - commonly known as 'rent' or a 'mortgage'). And, Plank wants to know if living together means that he could have sex on offer at anytime. Yes, that's what living together means. And does it also mean that TWB would have his tea ready when he came home from work? Well, TWB says, it might not go that far. But she wants to live with him.
Plank thinks that's a wonderful idea. In fact, he has a mate on his football team, who's moving out of a little flat on Manor Park Avenue that would be just perfect for them ... Hang on a minute, says TWB. She has no intention of living in a pokey little flat on boring Manor Park Avenue. She has bigger ideas. She wants nothing less that a dockside condo at the Alber Dock development. She's even visited an estate agent and got a brochure. It's like a Hollywood star's place - more suited to them than a stuffy little place around Manor Park.
The Dixons still wait at the court. It's been hours since they heard that Ron's van had broken down. Mike wonders how long it takes to fix such a breakdown and if it will be too late for Ron to have his hearing today. Anthea is certain that the hearing will proceed. They couldn't just take Ron back only to bring him back another day. Jacqui eyes her watch and announces that it will soon be time for her to collect Harry and Emma from nursery. Anthea asks if she's arranged to do that and Jacqui confesses that she's been doing that regularly for the past few weeks. Max hadn't mentioned otherwise, so she was sure he was expecting her to pick them up today. Anthea says if Jacqui feels she has to go, but Jacqui says she wants to see her father.
At that moment, there is a clatter up the stairs and Ron arrives, escorted by and handcuffed to a police officer. He only has time to briefly greet his family before he's whisked off down the corridor.
Marty Murray has arrived at a curiously empty salon to collect the Blessed Mother. It's time to go home for lunch and their daily injection. However, Marty - who works all hours at the school - has found time that morning to visit his bank manager. The Blessed Mother wants to know if he's managed to get the overdraft extended. Marty sadly advises her that the bank manager absolutely refused any extension thereof. He didn't know what they were going to do for money. Blessed Mum shakes her head and wonders. She certainly hopes that she gets pregnant from this course of IVF. If not, the next attempt will cost them £1000. (Sorry, wait a minute here ... Here's a family who's SERIOUSLY skint, indulging in an expensive, yet unnecessary treatment that - if successful - would not alleviate, but would exacerbate their financial predicament. If they are that seriously in debt, they've got no sane reason to have another child. The selfish bitch should realise this and pull out of the treatment forthwith. Yet she's contemplating MORE treatments!)
Marty reminds her that they still owe Brigid £3000. He hopes she gets pregnant too. At this rate, he says, it's cheaper to have a baby. He wonders if he should have asked Plank for more than £100, but Blessed Mother says that indeed he shouldn't have.
Interlude: Antony Murray comes home to an empty house for lunch. He walks slowly and gingerly. As he sits down, he twists his body to lift his school shirt, revealing bruises and abrasions on his back.
Mick returns to the Johnson house in a concerned mood. He asks Nikki if she's seen his credit card lying about. He went to pay for petrol at the garage, but couldn't find his card. He last used it Saturday, so it couldn't be lost. Emily looks uncomfortable, while Nikki suggests he may have left it in the car. She remember Greg used to leave his in the van all the time, must to the chagrin of the formidable Margi. Or in the back of his jeans, suggests Emily. Greg used to do that too. Mick feels for his back pocket. Nikki reminisces about the time Margi washed Greg's trousers with his credit card inside.
As Mick struggles to remember where he may have left the card, Emily mugs for the camera and suggest to Mick that she could have a search around the house for the card, an offer which Mick gratefully accepts. She mugs for the camera some more as she begins her search down the back of the sofa.
At the bar, Plank is now sitting with Jerome and the two share a beer. Jerome asks Plank how things are going with the TWB and Plank asks the same question of Jerome re Nikki. Plank explains that he and TWB are planning on getting their own place. Jerome asks about their engagement, but Plank explains that he managed to get out of that situation. He supposed that living together was the next best solution, but at least they weren't engaged.
Jerome wants Plank to tell him how to get out of his own situation. He managed to get sucked into an engagement with Nikki, much against his will. Now things are going along at about 1000 mph and he wants to get off. They can't even afford a ring and she's talking about engagement parties and the like. Plank empathises with him.
Mike and Jacqui sit alone at the court, wondering what will transpire next, as Anthea has suddenly been called to the judge's chambers. Almost immediately, Anthea returns with Ron, who's been freed on bail. Ron hugs his children. Anthea informs them that she's arranged for Darren to give Ron a physical and then it's straight home for them, as they hurry down the stairs.
The Murrays arrive home for lunch and the daily injection. This time, apparently, the act is to occur in the kitchen. Are they kinky or what? Don't this lot have a loo? But the front door opens and Marty goes through the pantomime of hiding the boxed syringe inside his jacket. Blessed Mother is flippant - for goodness sakes, she says, realising that the arrival is Plank, they could do this upstairs. Quite.
Plank enters and Marty is quick to remind him of the £100 owed. Plank smirks and says he hasn't forgotten; but after another week or so, he may not have to pay that. The parents exchange glances. Plank announces that he's moving in with TWB.
Blessed Mother gives a dutiful smile and asks if he's moving into Geoff's house. Plank says no, they're getting their own flat. Marty, his lips pursed in disapproval, asks where. Plank smirks again and tells him that TWB's got her eye on a riverside condo at the Albert Docks. 'Oh and I suppose Daddy Geoff is paying for this, is he?' Asks Marty sarcastically.
Plank goes defensive and says that isn't the case at all. The pair of them are paying their way. 'OK,' says Marty calmly. 'So what happens when Trona wants - say - some curtains or new furniture, which she will? What if you can't afford it? Then good old Geoff will reach into his deep pockets again, just to help out.'
Marty continues by saying that TWB is manipulating Plank and he can't even see it. Blessed Mother makes shushing noises, desperately, in the background; but Plank gets his 2p worth in.
Just what does Marty have against Geoff exactly? Marty replies that Geoff's taken a lad he knew and liked and turned him into something unspeakable. Plank sarcastically says he can't leave quick enough. He'd have the money for them this afternoon, but Marty, equally sarcastic, tells him that he wouldn't want to see Plank stretched and he could stuff his money. Plank agrees and storms off.
Tim returns home and is romantically greeted by Emily, who tells him she's 'sussed their problem with Mick'. Tim is curious and wants to know how. Deftly, Emily removes Mick's credit card from her pocket. Tim is horrified. She can't be serious. Emily pleads. It's only to get the television. Then they can dump it. Mick will think it's lost or stolen. Tim takes the card, looks at it, and asks Emily how she's going to get a shop to take a credit card payment from her when the card says 'Mr M Johnson'. Emily wordlessly looks at Tim, who shakes his head violently. He's not about to do that. He can't believe Emily. Just that morning she was forbidding him to rob the necessary money. Now she comes up with this scheme!
The Dixons stand outside their home, Ron looking at it nervously. He remarks that it feels like a lifetime since he was here. Anthea moves forward and unlocks the door, telling Ron he should have a cup of tea and then relax. Tentatively Ron enters and starts to open the door to the lounge before he collapses in tears in Anthea's arms, saying that he can't live here any longer.
Nikki has started her shift and sits down with Jerome, who's still at his table. She shows him her guest list and asks him to OK it. Jerome gives it a disinterested glance and says it looks OK. She asks him if there's any of his uni mates he wants to invite, but Jerome demurs. Then she asks if it's OK to invite Nisha. A funny look comes over Jerome's face as Nikki continues to witter - she knows Jerome doesn't like Nisha (he loves her). But Jerome remarks that Nisha is Nikki's friend; if she wants to invite her, she should.
The Murrays have finished their kinky injection in the kitchen, but Marty is still angry with Plank. He calls him a greedy little git and says he regrets not asking him for more money. Blessed Mum says they can't force him to give them his money. He IS an adult, and anyway, Marty told him to stuff his money. Marty agrees. He doesn't know how they are going to cope, but they'll have to do it without Plank's contribution.
Jacqui enters the Farnham house to find Harry and Emma playing on the floor and Max struggling to iron one of Emma's tops (possibly the one Emily had borrowed to wear the other day). Jacqui tells Max that she'd called at the nursery for the kids, but TWB had told her that Max had picked them up. Max feebly excuses himself by saying that he thought Jacqui might be tied up at court. Jacqui tells him that Ron's been given bail, which Max thinks is wonderful. Jacqui explains the conditions of Ron's bail - that he surrender his passport and that he agree not to go anywhere near the Moffatts. As if he would, ventures Max, moving away from Jacqui.
Jacqui follows him, relentlessly, asking why he's treating her like this. When he saw her this morning, he blanked her. Max at first denies this, saying that they seemed in a hurry and he didn't want to detain them. Jacqui tells him they have to talk about their feelings for each other, they kissed passionately. Max reminds her that she asked him to kiss her and he did so. Jacqui reminds him that they have Harry.
Max is desperate that Jacqui consider the matter closed. He doesn't want to spoil their special friendship. Jacqui is adamant that a relationship would only enhance their special friendship - after all, they are Harry's parents. She has feelings for Max and she wants a relationship with him. In fact, she confesses, she's falling in love with him. Max turns to face her with the look on his face of a cornered rabbit caught in headlights.