Sons and Daughters logo
    Written by: Ian Coughlan   Produced by: Posie Jacobs   Directed by: Mark Piper

Alison is talking on the 'phone at Charlie's, arranging to have the painting valued. She hangs up and turns to look at the portrait, which is standing in the middle of the room. Glen comes in and says to her that he wondered if Charlie wanted the citrus trees in the side yard pruned. Alison turns to look at him and says suggestively, "She's upstairs, changing..." Glen asks, "You mean we've actually got a few minutes to ourselves?" Alison tells him, "It looks like it..." With that, they lean in and start kissing passionately. When they pull apart, Glen asks, "Charlie always take a long time getting changed?" Alison smiles, "I can almost guarantee it." Glen tells her, "That's what I was hoping!" Alison, though, smiles, "Good things come to those who wait..."

It's nighttime and Janice is sitting with Fiona and Wayne in the manager's room at the mansion. She looks at her watch and exclaims that she should be in bed! She thanks Wayne for a lovely evening and heads off. Wayne invites Fiona to stay and have a nightcap. She accepts. Wayne goes and pours some drinks. As he does so, Fiona muses, "Who would have thought that you and I could spend an evening enjoying each other's company? Must be Janice's influence! She'd better watch out: she could turn you into a human being!" Wayne laughs, "Anything's possible!" He hands Fiona her drink and, sitting down, goes on, "I should probably admit I did have a reason for asking you along tonight. I need your help." Fiona says quickly, "I think I might just pass-up on the nightcap." Wayne, though, pleads, "Wait a minute; listen to what I've got to say. It's more for Gordon than for me. I'm fighting Alison and I'm not sure if I can do it by myself. The thing is, Barbara's gone overseas - she decided it was best for everyone until Gordon remembers she's his wife." Looking surprised, Fiona suggests, "When he does remember that, surely it's better that she was here?" Wayne explains, "I think the strain was just too much for her." He then goes on, "Anyway, the thing is, she left a letter explaining everything - but it's disappeared. I can't prove it, but I think Alison's taken it." Fiona muses, "And you've tricked her with the painting?" Wayne nods, "When she finds out she's been had, she'll probably want her pound of flesh - probably through dad." Fiona tells him, "If it looks like she's going to hurt Gordon, I'll do everything in my power to stop it - but I'm not going to be part of your dirty tricks, Wayne. Just so long as you understand that."

The next morning, Susan and Craig are having breakfast in the kitchen at Beryl's. Craig asks Susan, "You down here for a holiday?" Susan, though, explains, "Not exactly. I left the hospital I was working at." Craig asks in surprise, "You're not giving up nursing, are you? It seems to me like you're too good at it!" Susan sighs, "I haven't decided what I'm going to do - I haven't had much chance to think about it, lately." Craig suggests, "It must be hard finding a job in such a small town." Susan, though, tells him, "I'm not going to try. I'm not going back." Craig comments in surprise, "What about your husband? He's still in jail, isn't he?" Susan glares at him and snaps, "If you don't mind, I'd rather not talk about it." She then adds, "How do you know so much, anyway?" Craig tells her quickly, "Your mother must have mentioned it in Sydney." Susan, though, asks incredulously, "Why would she tell a complete stranger personal things like that?" Craig sighs heavily and then says, "I wanted to find out about you. The thing is, Beryl won't admit it, but I--" He's interrupted by a sudden knock at the front door. Susan exclaims that it must be Ted, and she goes to let him in. After a few seconds, the two of them come back into the kitchen and Susan introduces Ted to Craig. She then suggests to Ted that they'd better get a move on. She turns to Craig and tells him that it was good of Caroline to organise for him to meet the personnel manager; they don't want to keep her waiting. Craig insists that he can find his own way over. Ted, however, assures him that he and Susan can drop him off. Susan says she'll just get her things.

A short while later, Craig is squashed into the back seat of Ted's car. Ted apologises for the lack of room. Craig squirms around, trying to get comfortable. He suddenly finds a kid's book on the floor. He opens it and reads in childish writing 'Natalie Dawson'. Looking at Ted in surprise, he asks, "What did you say your second name was again?" Ted replies, "'Dawson'. Why?" Craig says quickly, "Nothing. Just wondering."

Tim is clearing away the breakfast things in the kitchen at the country house, telling Craig as he does so that Caroline had to be at work early, so he'll be running Craig over in the ute. Craig just mutters, "Yeah, sure." Tim goes on that it's good to see Susan getting out a bit; the weekend away should do her the world of good. Craig growls, "I reckon her husband wouldn't think so - running around behind his back while he's still stuck in jail." Tim glares at him and snaps, "You want to get your facts straight: she stood by Bill all the way - more than anyone would have expected. And he thanked her by divorcing her - so it's high time she started thinking of herself again." Looking taken aback, Craig murmurs, "I didn't know that." He then says more tersely, "Still, I can't see why she wants to go out with somebody who's married." Tim comments in surprise, "Ted's not married." Craig retorts, "Yeah? Well, I found a kid's book stuck down the back of his car with his name in it." Tim frowns in concern, "It mightn't mean anything. He could be divorced. Maybe he's got a young sister?" He walks over to the 'phone book, though, and, as he starts looking through it, mutters, "I'll tell you what, mate: if it turns out he's married and Susan doesn't know, I'll knock his teeth in."

Sometime later, Tim is driving himself and Craig along a country road. Craig asks if they can't go any faster. Tim, ignoring this, snaps, "We should have called his wife - found out what's really going on this weekend." Craig growls, "Just put your foot down, will you?" Tim, though, retorts "Stop hassling me - I'm trying to remember the address." Craig demands, "Are you sure you ever knew it?" Tim snaps, "I told you: Susan showed me a photo of the weekender and it had it on the back. It'll come to me in a minute."

Ted and Susan have arrived at Ted's place in the country and, as Susan takes it in, she exclaims that it's glorious. Ted suggests that they get their things inside. Susan, though, quickly counters, "How about we have a picnic lunch? I've got one packed; we can have it out here." Ted suggests, "Better still, there's a little creek not far away." Susan smiles, "Sounds perfect." Ted tells her, "That's exactly what these two days are going to be..."

Craig and Tim are sitting on the bonnet of Tim's ute, Craig muttering as they do so that they're lost. Tim snaps, "Is it my fault you can't read a map?" Craig, though, retorts, "I can read a map. There's no Cascade Road." Tim insists, "I'm sure that was the name on the back of the photo. Or was it 'Waterfall'?" Craig snaps, "There's nothing to do with water. Now think or we're going to be too late."

Alison is sitting out by Charlie's pool, reading, when Glen appears by the gate and tells her that she has a visitor: a Mr. Goldman. Alison, standing up, explains that she asked him over to appraise the painting for her. She walks over to the gate and then tells Glen, "I'm going to be spending the rest of the day with Gordon. If you've got a minute, why don't you stop over for a drink?" Glen smiles, "I'll see you later."

Goldman is examining one of the ornaments in Charlie's lounge room when Alison walks in. She thanks him for coming over so promptly. She then indicates across the room and tells him, "The painting's over here - not that I'm concerned about the value, of course; I simply need to know for insurance." She walks over to the painting - which is covered by a sheet - and Goldman suggests that they take a look. Alison removes the sheet and Goldman bends down and stares at the signature. He then exclaims, "Amazing." Alison asks quickly, "Really? How much would you say?" Goldman, though, tells her, "I mean it's amazing anyone could produce such a bad imitation!" Alison, looking shocked, repeats, "Imitation? It couldn't be - I paid $5000 for it." Goldman tells her, "I'm afraid someone has taken you down. It really is quite worthless."

Wayne is walking down the driveway at Dural when he spots Alison approaching him, carrying the painting and looking furious. He smiles at her and says cheerily, "Hello, there. If you're thinking of giving that to Gordon, I don't think he'd accept it. After all--" Alison, though, interrupts him and growls, "You little crook. I want that money back - every cent." Wayne smiles, "I thought you liked it?" Alison snaps, "It's not worth a cracker and you know it. Give that money back or I'll have you up for fraud." Wayne, however, laughs, "How can that be? I told you it was a fake. It's not my fault if you didn't believe me. Still, I'm sure Fiona would be very flattered that you thought it was worth so much." Alison snaps furiously, "What's she got--?" She breaks off as she stares again at the painting and then breathes, "My God... I thought it looked familiar." Wayne tells her, "I understand it was painted by an ex-client. Personally, I think it shows a certain talent - but then what would I know about art?" He turns away from her and asks breezily, "You decided where you're going to hang it?" Alison glares at him and then smiles, "Yes, I have..." With that, she lifts the painting up and brings the canvas down over his head! She storms off.

Sometime later, Alison walks into the lounge room at Dural. Wayne is standing in there, and he snaps, "You're wasting your time, you know? If you think I'm going to sit back and let you move in on Gordon, you can think again." He goes to head across to the study, but Alison says quickly, "Don't go in there: he's just dropped off to sleep." Wayne mutters, "That's hardly surprising: you've been with him for the last twenty minutes; that would bore anybody into a stupor." He goes on, "You're so damn smug, aren't you? You might be doing alright now, but that's only because he's sick. Once he's back to normal, you won't last ten minutes. As a woman, you're not even in Barbara's league - and you know it." Alison says lightly, "I don't think I have much to fear from Barbara." Wayne snaps, "Is that why you took the letter she left for Gordy?" Alison asks, "Why confuse the issue with silly letters?" Wayne retorts, "It hardly matters. When the time comes, I'll be around to explain why she went." Alison tells him, "You can try..." Wayne growls, "There's no doubt about you: for someone who's just thrown away $5000 on a worthless painting--" Alison interrupts and snaps, "I took a calculated risk and it didn't pay off. Sometimes they don't. But I win a lot more often than I lose, so you'd better make the most of that five thousand - because that is the last time you ever put one over me." With that, she walks off. Wayne immediately goes to the telephone index on the bar, looks up a number and then dials it on the 'phone. When it's answered, he says, "Yes, hello. My name's 'Hamilton'. I'd like to hire one of your people on a semi-permanent basis."

A while later, Wayne marches into the manager's office at the mansion. Fiona follows him and Wayne snaps at her, "Gordon would be a lot better off if Alison would leave him alone. She's over there all the time, smarming her way into his good books." Fiona asks, "Can't you tell her to go? He needs his rest." Wayne tuts, "Huh! That's the excuse she's using to keep me away from him." He then adds, "But I've got a little plan that should get her out of our hair." Fiona asks suspiciously, "Like what?" Wayne replies, "You really don't want to know." Fiona warns him, "If you want my support, it is better that you tell me what's on your mind." Wayne just replies lightly, "I just figure she needs something to occupy her time; something to keep her away from Gordon and the business." Fiona asks suspiciously, "What sort of something?" Wayne repeats, "You really don't want to know." He then adds that he's got to go, and he heads off.

Alison is driving along a street. She passes a man at the side of the road who appears to be working on his broken-down car.

Sometime later, Alison is back at Dural. There's suddenly a knock on the front door and she answers it to find an attractive-looking young man standing there. He looks at her and immediately smarms, "It must be true what they say about every cloud having a silver lining!" He steps inside and Alison asks disinterestedly, "Sorry?" The man tells her, "I don't know why, but I just wasn't expecting anyone so attractive." Alison shrugs, "I could say the same about you." She then asks him, "What can I do for you?" He replies, "You've already brightened my day by answering the door. But I actually wondered if I could use your 'phone - I had a flat tyre just down the road and I don't have a spare." Alison asks, "What if I told you I was all alone in the house? Think I'd be wise to trust you?" The man smarms, "Probably not wise... but it could certainly be interesting." Alison walks towards him and says flirtatiously, "Tell you what might be even more interesting..." The man asks, "What?" Alison snaps, "To know why you deliberately let the air out of your tyre." The man says, "I'm not sure I know what you mean." Alison, though, retorts, "Yes you do. I went out a few minutes ago to get some groceries. I saw you on the way back." The man tells her, "I was checking the pressure. The steering felt a bit sloppy and I got out to check it." Alison, though, snarls, "Just how stupid do you think I am? You had a portable pump - which means if you accidentally let the air out of your tyre, you can just as easily pump it back in. It was an excuse to get inside the house, wasn't it? What I want to know is why. And if you don't tell me, you might want to explain it to the police." The man quickly tells her, "It was nothing like that. You've got it wrong." Alison asks, "Have I?" The man insists, "I'm not a burglar or anything; I'm just doing like Mr. Hamilton said." Realisation dawning, Alison asks, "You mean Wayne Hamilton?" The man nods, "Yeah. He said he was a friend of yours. Isn't he?" Alison retorts, "Not exactly." She then tells the man, "I think you and I should go for a little walk - and while you're fixing your tyre, perhaps you'd like to explain to me what it was he wanted you to do." They head out.

A short time later, the man climbs into his car and it speeds off. Glen suddenly approaches Alison and, indicating the car, asks, "What's his problem?" Alison replies, "He was sent here to try and con me - and he discovered he was out of his league." Glen asks, "How?" Alison, though, tells him, "It's a long story. Don't worry about it." Glen sighs, "How am I not supposed to worry about it? You're a sitting duck for a conman." Alison stares at him and asks, "Why would you say that?" Glen replies, "Because you're so honest. You trust anybody. You think everybody's the same as you." Alison, looking surprised, smiles, "Yes, you're right... It's lucky I realised what he was after. Still, he won't be bothering me any more." She then suggests, "Why don't we go and have that drink? I could do with it."

A few minutes later, Alison pours glasses of scotch for herself and Glen at the bar at Dural. As she hands Glen his drink, he carries on telling her, "I was what they call the Junior Executive. I got the job mainly because my father pulled a few strings. Dad only make it to middle management but he wanted me to do better - so once I graduated from Business Admin. and Economics, he got me in through the old-boy network." Alison comments, "Your pride didn't like that at all, I can tell." Glen, however, replies, "Nothing to do with pride - I just thought it was wrong that I should have got the job that way." He adds, "The main thing was I just wasn't cut out for it: I wasn't ruthless and competitive, and in big business you have to be both." Alison suggests, "Possibly to make it to the very top, but surely you could have made a comfortable living without compromising your principles?" Glen, standing up and heading over to the bar, replies, "Oh no. If you knew the sort of people I had to work with... you wouldn't believe it." He pours some water into his scotch as he continues, "I couldn't stand them - the woman particularly: power-hungry, career-obsessed harpies who'd trample over anything and anyone to get where they were going." Alison asks him why he's scratching around the place, doing odd jobs. Glen explains, "Have to make a living somehow." Alison points out, "Yes, but you're educated, you're extremely amiable and very good looking. There must be a job out there that could use your talents." Glen insists, "I enjoy what I'm doing." Alison, though, tells him, "You may as well be on a beach somewhere, collecting the dole. It would be far less effort and just as must satisfaction." Glen however, retorts, "I enjoy the open air and the hard physical work and I make enough money to live on. And by and large, I like the people I meet - some more than others, of course..." Alison suggests, "You can't go on planning to do that for the rest of your life." Glen agrees, "No, but for the time being it suits me - 'til I work out what I really want to do." Alison asks, "You've no idea what that will be?" Glen replies, "No - but I'll tell you one thing: it certainly won't be back in the cut-throat set. I've had enough of people like that to do me the rest of my life." A vague look of worry crosses Alison's face.

A while later, Alison sees Glen out. As he walks off, she spots Wayne's car approaching the house. He pulls up next to Glen and, climbing out, smiles, "Hi - you must be from the agency." Glen nods, "I use the agency as an answering service, yes." Wayne tells him, "You certainly look like the right person for the job. Made any progress?" Glen replies, "Yes, it's been easier than I thought. I actually feel guilty taking the money." Wayne, however, assures him, "Don't be - you're worth every cent of it to me." He then takes some money out of his pocket and adds, "Why not have this: $100 on account?" Glen insists, "You don't have to do that; Mrs--" Wayne interrupts him, though, and tells him, "Take it - a sign of good faith." Alison watches from the doorway at Dural as Wayne tells Glen, "It's been good to meet you." Glen walks off. Alison approaches Wayne, a grin on her face, and tells him, "For that sort of money, Charlie's citrus trees should get the best pruning they've ever had." Wayne says quickly, "It wasn't my money; I just saw him drop it. I just picked it up and gave it back to him." He adds 'innocently', "Who was he, anyway?" Alison tells him, "Not who you thought he was! Charlie's gardener. If you keep throwing your money away like that, that $5000 you stole from me will be gone before you know it." With that, she walks off, triumphantly.

A few moments later, Wayne and Alison head into the lounge room inside and Wayne asks, "What did you mean: 'he wasn't who I thought'?" Alison retorts, "You know perfectly well: I meant he wasn't your hired stud." She goes on, "You never cease to amaze me with your childish little schemes. Did you honestly believe I'd find that smooth-talking plastic robot attractive - let alone to the point of having him influence my business decisions?" Wayne mutters, "I don't know what you're talking about." Alison, however, snaps, "Come on. I spotted him in two seconds flat. All I had to do was mention the police and he turned to jelly and admitted the whole inane plot. Then, to see you hand over $100 to a complete stranger...! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd never have believed anyone could be so stupid. All I can say, Wayne, is with enemies like you, who needs friends?!"

Tim's ute is parked at the side of a road and Tim is staring into space. Craig snaps at him, "What are we sitting here for? If you can't remember the address, then let's drive down every road until we find their car." Tim suddenly murmurs, "Fountain... Fountain Road, that's it. I knew it had something to do with water!" He starts the ute's engine again and orders Craig to find it on the map.

A short time later, the ute roars up behind Ted Dawson's car and screeches to a halt. Tim and Craig climb out and run over to the holiday home. Craig knocks on the door but there's no answer, and he comments that it doesn't seem like they're there. He mutters, "Come on - let's find them," and he walks off again. Tim follows him.

At the picnic spot, Ted is massaging Susan's shoulders as she murmurs, "Maybe it's the wine, but this place is looking even nicer than when we first arrived." Ted reminds her, "I told you: it's magic." Susan goes on, "I'm really glad I decided to come with you - I haven't had so much fun in ages." Ted smiles, "That's good to hear." He then charms, "Maybe it's the wine, but are you even nicer than when we arrived?!" Susan bursts out laughing and tells him, "Definitely the wine!" She leans towards him and kisses him. Craig and Tim suddenly spot them and start running towards them. As they reach the couple, Craig grabs Ted and snaps, "OK - you've gone far enough." Susan, looking shocked, cries at the two young men, "What are you doing here?" Ted snaps at Craig, "You'd better have a damn good explanation for this." Susan demands, "What's going on?" Tim tells her, "He's married, Susan - with two kids. We just thought you ought to know before--" Susan turns and stares at Ted, looking devastated.

Sometime later, back at Beryl's, Susan is sitting with Craig at the living room table. He points out, "Better to have found out before the weekend really got going." Susan murmurs, "Yes." Craig goes on, "You obviously liked him." Susan cries, "Of course I liked him. What really hurts is that he didn't feel the same way about me. I was just a bit on the side." She then asks Craig, "Why did you do it? It's not as though we know each other, or anything." Craig replies, "Same reason why you fixed me up, I suppose. You could have called the cops - after all, I had broken into the house. I reckon we just trust each other." Susan smiles, "Whatever it is, I'm glad after today." There's suddenly a knock on the front door and Susan comments, "I wonder who that is." She goes to answer it and finds Beryl standing on the step, holding Robert. She immediately smiles in delight, "Mum!" and she starts fussing over her baby brother. Craig, sitting at the living room table, starts looking worried and uncomfortable. He stands up as Beryl, Susan and Robert come in. Beryl notices him immediately and demands, "What are you doing here?" Susan explains, "Craig's been bailing me out of a rather sticky situation." Beryl, though, snaps, "I don't care what he's been doing." Looking back at the boy, she continues, "I'm going to put Robert to bed and if you're not out of this house and gone by the time I get back, there's going to be trouble." Susan looks at Craig in surprise.

 

    Links:  Episode 738    Episode Index    Main Index    Episode 740