No.30
Lauren has come looking for Brad.

LAUREN: He *always* comes running to you.
BETH: I thought it was the other way around. Look, I haven't seen him since this morning.
LAUREN: Yeah, when he paid you back for my earrings.
BETH: That's right.
LAUREN: Well, don't expect me to thank you.
BETH: Oh, believe me I don't, you're not big on gratitute, much less friendship.
LAUREN: Oh, don't pull that "we're only friends" thing on me again. I don't believe it. And you weren't helping Brad.
BETH: Oh, really? Well, he thought I was.
LAUREN: Did it ever to occur to you that he has a problem? His gambling is way out of control and your bailing him out just makes it worse.
BETH: And since when have you been so worried about what's right and wrong?
LAUREN: What's that supposed to mean?!
BETH: Brad was engaged to me, remember? Didn't stop you going after him.
LAUREN: And now you're trying to get him back?
BETH: (exasperated) Oh! For your information, I've got a date with someone else tonight.
LAUREN: So?
BETH: So, if you're over your little jealousy fit, I'd like to get ready!

She shows Lauren out.

No.28
Doug is on the phone to Constructacon, telling them that he doesn't want to sell. Pam rolls her eyes at the loss of "all that lovely money", but Doug says he likes to work, and doesn't want to be a lackey for "shonky Constructacon" and tells Pam she's married to a poor, but honest builder!

The phone rings again and it's the tax department - Willis Construction is being audited.

Coffee Shop
Wayne is just leaving when Gaby comes in. They greet each other awkwardly, then Gaby sits down with a bloke who then asks her to dinner. Brad comes in and answers the phone for Annalise - it's Harvey. He tells Brad about a job as barman on the cruise ship, and says he'll ring Annalise tonight.

Gaby explains to her companion that she's sort of on and off with Wayne, but agrees to go on a date with him.

No.28
Doug is very stressed about the tax audit, but Pam says it's all fine - she's got the receipts for the last seven years in the wardrobe.

Lauren pops round looking for Brad. Pam suggests she tries the race-track, or the TAB! She tells Pam she was right about Brad's gambling - she doesn't know how to make him stop. Pam says it's a bit like drugs or alcohol - until Brad admit he's got a problem, he can't be helped.

Office
Brad tells Gaby about Lauren pinching his wallet. Gaby tells Brad that he's lost the plot - anything that caused him to leave home, quarrel with his family and fall out with his girlfriend has to be bad. Brad agrees.

No.28
Doug is still incredibly stressed, but Pam tells him that everything is in perfect order. Doug thinks that someone has reported him to the tax department.

There's a knock at the door and Doug turns paler - but it's only Ned.

DOUG: Sorry about the reception! We thought you were a blood-sucking suit from the taxation department!
NED: I am. Only we prefer the term, auditor. Records all up to scratch, are they?

No.24
BRAD: Hey...how's it going.
LAUREN: Lousy, thanks.
BRAD: Hey, I'm really sorry.
LAUREN: Sorry you got sprung. And you had the nerve to have a go at me for taking your wallet?!
BRAD: Yeah, well you shouldn't have.
LAUREN: I can't trust you!
BRAD: Yeah you can.
LAUREN: I ask you to lay off the gambling. You say you will, but you don't. It's not like I care about the money, I earn my own. I was just worried for you. I shouldn't have bothered.
BRAD: You were right about the gambling.
LAUREN: You could have asked me for the earrings. You paid for them! But no, you have to go behind my back.
BRAD: I'm really sorry about that...
LAUREN: And then, I find out you have gone running to Beth. Sweet, perfect, Beth.
BRAD:(getting angry) Just forget Beth, alright?!
LAUREN: Don't you dare yell at me! What kind of relationship is this?
BRAD: Pretty ordinary.
LAUREN: Yeah, well it's your fault.
BRAD: Yeah, right. So what do you want to do about it?! You want to finish it? Do you want me to leave?
LAUREN: Well if that's the way you're going to be, fine. Just go. And don't you come back until you have your head straight.

He goes into the bedroom to pack.

No.28
Doug moans to Pam that Ned is like a ferret, looking for errors. Pam blames herself for bickering with him before. But Doug says when they were out on the dive, he jovially told Ned that he could use a man good with numbers to help him dodge the tax man. Pam rolls her eyes.

Ned suddenly looks up and says, "Well, well. Fancy that!"

Office
Wayne comes in and apologises to Gaby for the card night incident. He invites her to dinner at his place tonight as they need to talk and get back on track. Gaby tells Wayne she did have something on, but she'll change it.

No.28
Ned and Doug are talking about sub- contracting. Doug can't find the paperwork at the moment, and Ned says Doug will have to produced it by tomorrow. Pam and Doug start looking through folders of receipts.

No.26
Annalise tells Wayne that he should just give up on Gaby as they have nothing in common and she didn't even support him when he was up on a murder charge(!)

Just then, Gaby arrives and Annalise heads off, kissing Wayne on the cheek as she goes!

No.24
Brad has packed all his stuff and phoned a his mate.

LAUREN: All packed?
BRAD: Yep.
LAUREN: Look, about before, I am really, really sorry. I shouldn't have taken your wallet, and I shouldn't have gone off at you like that.
BRAD: OK.
LAUREN: I love you.
BRAD: Yeah, me too.

They kiss.

BRAD: What you said before though, got me thinking. I know I've got a gambling problem, and I've got to sort it out.
LAUREN: I'll help you. I'll be your support, like with AA. When you want to bet, I'll listen. We'll do things to distract...
BRAD: I'm not going to be here. I think I need to get away for a while, until I can get things together. I was talking to Harvey, his cruise ship's in. There's a barman job going and he's put in a good word for me. I leave in the morning.

Lauren is stunned.

No.28
Doug is increasingly stressed, desperately looking for exemption certificates.

Brad comes in.

BRAD: I've been a total moron.
PAM: Tell me something I don't know!
BRAD: I've come to apologise.
PAM: I don't want apologies, Brad, I want you to stop gambling.
BRAD: I'm going to.
PAM: Mmm, yes, well, you said that before. Why should I believe you now?
BRAD: No reason I guess, but I mean it this time - I'm going to do something about it.
DOUG: Such as?
BRAD: I think the only way to stop is go cold turkey.
PAM: Yes, well, it's not as easy as it sounds. Especially with Lauren working in the racing game and Lou being the mad punter that he is.
BRAD: That's why I'm leaving.
PAM: Pardon?
BRAD: I've got a job on a cruise ship. Barman. No horses, no form guides, no TAB...I'll be gone four weeks. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll try Gamblers Anonymous or something.
PAM: So...you really are serious?
BRAD: Yeah.
PAM: Good on you, mate.
PAM:(hugging him) Oh, I'm so proud of you!

Doug tells Brad he can't find his exemption certificates, and Brad casually tells him that they're clipped together and under the television. Doug delightedly pounces on them!

DOUG: Up your nose, Ned!

No.26
Wayne and Gaby have had a candlelight dinner and are now talking in the living room. They agree that they've missed each other, and also that they are pretty different people. But they don't care.

Just then, Annalise and some mates come in and interrupt!

Ramsay Street, the following morning
The Willises, Annalise and Lauren are seeing Brad off. Lauren and Brad kiss goodbye and agree to write to each other. As he hugs her, he sees Beth across the street. Then he gets in the van and leaves. His last look is for Beth.

No.28
Pam tells Ned off for making unfounded accusations against them. Doug says that he's answered all Ned's questions. But Ned says there are a couple of anaomalies - some of the exemption certificates are invalid. Doug says there's no way he could have known otherwise, but Ned just says that Doug owes the government $70,000!