Peter asks Lucy what she is on about. Lucy tells him that he’s holding her up and she doesn’t want to be late for her. He tells her not to mess with him it’s sick! She says she is not. He says that their mum is dead. .Lucy says that is what they were always told. Peter says there is no way would their dad lie about something like that. Lucy tells him to believe what he wants, but she knows she is alive. Peter tells her he’s coming with her. Lucy tells him no that their mum wants to see her first. She’s sure she wants to get to know him eventually. Peter looks devastated as Lucy walks out.

A drunken Phil tells Ronnie that the good thing about owning a pub is free drinks anytime you want. Ronnie turns and grabs the vodka bottle. Roxy walks in, and he asks if she’s going to hit him over the head again. She asks him what he wants. A double, a triple? She pours him a drink and hands it to him. Roxy tells him to go on and drink up. He takes a large swig of the drink as Peggy claps. Roxy tells him to have one for the road. He finishes the drink and walks out.

Denise asks Kevin: “You mean to tell me that all the while I’m sitting at the station convinced this was all a mistake, you already knew it weren’t!?” Kevin tells her that is not even the worst part. He tells her that he burnt the evidence as well. She asks him what kind of idiot he is. One lie to cover another? That is ingenious that is. She reminds him that he said it was day what the last time he tried to talk himself out of the last mess. He says their wedding day. Libby walks in to get her books. She says she needs to get out of there. Denise hands them to her and Libby heads off to the library. Kevin tells her he was terrified of losing her. Denise replies and Deano and Chelsea are facing god knows how many years anyway? So long as Sean Slater doesn’t get to them first. She asks Kevin if he has a death wish or something. Does he think Sean is just going to accept a sorry and forget about all of this? No! She tells Kevin “Good result babe.”

Phil is downstairs in the bar drinking. He asks Peggy if he’s showing her up. He tells Peggy we’ll do what we are best at. You keep up appearances, and I’ll keep on drinking. Ronnie tells Peggy just to give her the word, and she’ll get him to move on. Peggy says he’s pushing his luck. Phil slams the glass down and asks what he has to do to get a barmaid around here. Sean walks in, and the bar goes quiet. He says that the place looks like time stood still. Phil pipes up with “look it’s your favorite barman.” Sean asks if anyone is sitting next to him and takes a seat.

Peter walks into the cafe and asks if Jane has seen Lucy. Jane tells him, no, but she better get there in time for the family get-together later. Peter says he doesn’t think she’s coming. Jane asks why not. He says that he thinks he’s not supposed to tell her. She’s up to something, and it’s going to sound really weird. Jane says “try me. have you forgotten what happened to your sister last week?” Peter tells Jane that he tried to follow her. Jane asks him where he was following her. He says to see who she was really meeting. He tells Jane that he better wait for Dad. Ian walks in, and Jane tells him that Lucy is up to something and he needs to get Peter to talk. Ian sits down and asks what is going on. Peter says that she was meeting Mum, our mum. Jane says “Cindy?” Peter says that Lucy reckons she’s still alive.

Lucy is sitting on a park bench. She looks a photo of her mum, Cindy, Steven, Lucy, and Peter. She glances around the park. Back in the cafe, Ian tells Peter it’s not funny. Peter tells his dad that he is not lying. Peter says she’s not dead! That Lucy says, she talks to her. Ian says this is why he went and had it out with her. All these stupid games! Flowers, wreaths, animal hearts and now Cindy’s come back to life? Jane tells Ian not to take it out on Peter. Jay is at the counter and asks if there is any chance of a jam doughnut. No one pays him any mind. Ian wonders what Gina hopes to get out of this! He asks Peter where she is, where is Lucy? Peter says he doesn’t know, she didn’t say. Ian heads out to go look for Lucy. Peter asks Jane “If it is her, why wouldn’t she want to see me?” Jane tells him that Lucy is not meeting their mum.

Roxy thinks they should have kept that beast (Sean) in prison and chucked Phil in with him for good measure. Ronnie says it’s only a matter of time. Peggy offers Sean another drink. Sean says not right now, as he’s still enjoying the one he has. He asks Peggy about coming back to work. She tells him it’s difficult now that she has her nieces staying with her. Sean replies that he wouldn’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable. She says she will try but isn’t promising anything. Phil watches on in his drunken stupor. Shirley brings the glasses she’s collected up to the bar by Jase. She tells him that Sean came back this morning. Jase says the paper says he was wrongly accused. Shirley insinuates that it doesn’t make him sane.

Down at the other end of the bar, Sean looks at Phil and asks when he fell off the wagon? Phil asks him who he is “ex-con or pub police?” Sean tells him that right now he’s just a pub patron. Phil says that can always change to which Sean replies “but being an alcoholic never does!” Ronnie tells Sean to back off for his own sake. Sean looks at Ronnie and says “I don’t think much of your minder, Phil!” Roxy walks up and tells Sean that he’s been told… Sean says “well then again I suppose it does take two to keep you from falling over.” Phil punches back with, “and it only takes a couple of kids to set you up.” Peggy walks up and says it’s time to find somewhere else to drink. Sean tells Phil that she means him. Phil replies that she does love her stray dogs. Roxy says “at least we’re house trained.” Sean says he can smell them marking all over Phil’s territory. Phil stands up, and Peggy orders him to leave it. Phil walks out and slams a glass on the floor on his way out. Sean jumps up and says he’ll get that for Peggy. Just then Patrick is walking in. Ronnie apologizes for the mess and says she’ll find him a quiet table on the other side. Patrick sees Sean and says he’s sorry, but he’s changed his mind. Sean looks defeated.

Ian is walking along the market traders asking if anyone has seen Lucy. Jase sees Libby and spies her new bike. He walks up and speaks then gets on her bike. He asks if it was her birthday. She says no it was a present from her mum. Jase assumes then it must be a bribe to keep up her grades. She says she doesn’t need a bribe. Jase asks her if it comes naturally to her. Libby says she guesses. She nervously asks him if he could please get off her bike. He agrees. Jase asks if she couldn’t do him a favor. Libby looks nervous.

Chelsea asks Kevin when Denise will be back. He doesn’t know. Chelsea cries that she can’t get through this without her mum. She can’t go to prison she cries, she just can’t. Kevin tells her it’s a bit late for that now, isn’t it? Chelsea cries that she’s sorry, alright! Dean walks in and asks if everything is alright. Chelsea tells him yes, it’s just a bad dream and to go back to sleep. Kevin tells Dean that Chelsea told Denise that he was involved. He yells at Chelsea that they promised they wouldn’t. None of them are aware that the window is open and that Sean is standing just outside. Inside Kevin says Chelsea’s just gone and dropped him in it. Dean yells why couldn’t she just keep her mouth shut. Kevin says it’s easier to blame someone else. Dean tells Chelsea that Denise is going to give Kevin hell over this. Chelsea yells back that she is not, because she’s taking it all out on her. Kevin says they’ll be lucky if she talks to any of them again. Chelsea says that thanks to Carly that might not even be a problem. Kevin asks what she means. Chelsea says that Sean is going to want his revenge somehow. Kevin suggests that neither of them steps foot outside that door then. Not unless they want to come face to face with him. Sean turns around and walks the way he came.

Shirley is outside collecting glasses when Ian walks up and asks if she’s seen his daughter. She says no. Denise walks up on Shirley as she’s got legal advice for Dean and Chelsea. Shirley asks if Kevin’s told her then. Denise replies that she should have known she was involved as she always messes things up. Shirley takes a dig and replies that she’s told Kevin it’s not right he keeps running to her when Denise is not about. Denise spits back “Did ya?” Shirley says she can’t put her finger on it could be their history or it might be that she’s just a barmaid and he finds talking to her easier. Denise tells her that it might be that they screw things up like they always do together. Shirley taunts Denise with “there is something between us. It ain’t just about this kids.” Denise puts her in her place by telling her “No it’s not just about the kids. Because your son’s facing prison and your daughter’s cleared off, and all you’re worried about is scoring points off me.” Shirley tells Denise it was her Chelsea that got Dean in trouble. Denise replies that she will take care of them both like she always does.

Jay comes out of the cafe and tosses his garbage on the ground. Libby walks up and tells him that he dropped something. He says “so.” Libby asks him to pick it up and put it in the bin. He does so and asks her if she is happy now. Libby tells him “sloppy habits; sloppy brain!” Jay wonders what it has to do with her. She asks him if they teach him about nutrition in school? He says it was a jam doughnut filled with fruit. Libby says he’ll flag halfway through his homework. She’ll be money on it. He wonders what sort of geek she is. She tells him a major one. He has her if she wants to make some bosh, then comes with him.

Patrick is putting papers outside the store when he drops one. Sean leans down to pick it up and hands it to him. Patrick says “it’s a shame you’re not always so helpful! Man, you left me for dead!” Sean tells him that he freaked out. Patrick replies “so you think that makes you any less guilty?” Sean says that he knew what people would think. Did think. Patrick tells him that they certainly see what he’s capable of now. Sean holds his hand out to Patrick and tells him that he’s sorry. Patrick turns and walks away. Stacey watches from her store as Sean seems disappointed and truly sorry.

Ian is in the park and calls Lucy on her mobile. He hears her phone ring and sees her on the bench. He hangs up and walks towards her. He calls out her name and sits down on the bench with her. He tells her that he knows he hasn’t handled things well lately. In fact, he thinks he’s been an expert in getting things wrong. Lucy doesn’t look at him. He says “you lashing out it’s not going to get us anywhere? Is it?” She tells him that she is not lashing out, she’s just sitting there. Ian says it’s not fair on any of us. He tells her that they were worried. She wonders why? He tells her that she has a short memory. She looks at him and says that was different. He says “this time you’re talking about meeting your mum.” She replies that Peter has a big mouth. Ian thinks that she used him because she knew he’d tell them. She asks if he’d rather she lied? She asks him to go away, please. She tells him that she and her mum want to be alone.

Jane walks into the house to find the door unlocked. She accuses Peter of keeping the door unlocked. He says it was not him. Jane looks worried and goes into the living area and calls out of Ian, or Lucy. Meanwhile, in the park, Ian tells Lucy he’s had enough. He tells her that all these pranks are going to stop. She asks like what? He tells her the flowers, the wreath, the animal heart. It’s all got to stop he tells her. Lucy says “oh yeah mum told me about that! I thought it was funny.” Ian stands up and accuses Lucy of sending those things. Lucy says that she didn’t. Her mum did. Ian says “well it is the sort of cruel thing…” Lucy finishes “that she would have done? That’s because she did.” Ian forcefully tells her that her mum is dead. Lucy says not the last time that she spoke to him.

In the house, Jane is looking in the kitchen. Peter calls out “mum” Jane shushes him, and he notices keys on the floor. He shows Jane and surmises that must be how she got in. Jane grabs an umbrella and heads up the stairs. She tells Peter to wait there. Jane goes up the stairs and calls out “hello” She looks in Lucy’s room and sees her closet ajar. She opens it but nothing. She notices a bundled up shirt on the shoes when the phone rings, and she nearly jumps out of her skin. She hears Ian say he’s found, Lucy. She asks if she’s alright and if anyone is with her. He tells her no, nobody. He says he will be home as soon as it’s settled. Lucy says she doesn’t know what any of this has to do with Jane. Ian wonders if this is what it is all about? She thinks he’s replaced her mum? She tells him it wouldn’t be the first time, would it? He replies “Lucy I know that you were little when you lost your mum. Maybe it’s all starting to come out.” She tells him that she has been through all of this with her. He tells her perhaps she still needs to come to terms with it. He tells her that he had a hard time when he lost his mum. He struggled. Just going into the cafe seeing her name, it makes him shudder. He would love to be able to talk to her and tell her about Ben, Lucy, Peter, and Bobby. Sometimes he still feels like he can. He tells her that she must feel connected to her in some way. Lucy reminds him that it was her mum that reached out not her. Ian asks her how. Lucy tells him through the internet of course.

Jane is reading the words that Lucy and Cindy exchanged. Lucy wrote that “Jane is replacement wife number three is the worst yet. She could be pretty if she lost a stack of weight. She’s not exactly big, but not nice and slim like I remember you, Mum. It’s sickening when tried to be my friend. I let Jane think that we’re close but only when I want something.” Peter overhears and says that is awful.

Shirley is walking up to the stairs of her flat. She asks Phil if he’s looking for her. He gets up and asks her if Ben is back in the Vic yet. She says she didn’t see him. He wonders if they’ve told him not to tell him. He wants to know if Ben is safe. She tells him of course he is. Peggy wouldn’t have it any other way. Phil says he wonders. He asks Shirley if she is finished for the day. She asks him what if she is. He wonders if she’d like to go get a drink. She tells him he’s capable of getting ratted on his own. He wants to know if Ben is where they say he’s at. She says all she knows is he is at some aunt’s house. He says then that is where he is going. She asks him if that is a good idea. He tells her that he’ll let Peggy know how helpful she’s been. She tells him “one drink.” He turns around, and she reminds him just one.

In the park, Ian and Lucy are talking about “Cindy.” He asks when she got in touch. Lucy said a couple of months ago. He wonders why all the secrecy? She tells him it’s because she knew he would overreact. Just then Lucy yells out “MUM!” and chases after a blonde lady walking by. Ian says “It can’t be!” He gets up as well. The lady turns around, and it is not Cindy. Ian smiles and asks Lucy what time she’s supposed to be meeting her? Lucy says “you’re laughing at me!” He tells her that he’s not laughing at her. Well not like the person who has had her sat there all afternoon probably has. She yells “You ruin everything!” He replies yes maybe but I’m here, and she’s not.

Shirley tells Phil he’s out of luck. He asks for what? She replies that she’s not much for conversation. He tells her he wasn’t expecting any. He tells her if she has things to do then go ahead. She tells him if he’s trying to get a topper on his drink then go ahead. He pours a strong drink, and she tells him to slow down as she gets by on barmaids wages. He says “well people like me, and you can always find money for a drink, eh?” She tells him he will be replacing the bottle tomorrow. He pours himself another. She asks him if he even thought about it, having that first drink. He tells her that he thought about it. She says “but you did it anyway? And now everyone is worried about leaving you alone with your own son.” he tells her he thought they weren’t having any conversation. She says that she thought she was a fun drunk, but they set her straight as only kids can. He says “I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let Ben see me like this.” She tells him whatever he’s done she can top him three times over. He tells her “So you stick around and settle for the consolation prize? Making Kevin’s life miserable.” She smiles. He offers her another drink. She tells him that she’s going to have some ice with hers. She asks him if he wants some. He tells her it’s a waste of water. She gets up and gets the ice out. She pours her drink into a container and fills her glass with water.

Ian and Lucy are walking back home. He asks her for her password. She says she’s just changed it. She says it’s CindyB. He says “alright… so what’s she look like then? Did she get a house? Job? Were you going to live with her? Change schools?” Lucy says they were going to sort it all that today. She tells him she didn’t come because he was there today. She doesn’t like him. He says he knows as he has the bullet wound to prove it. He asks what she likes now? Is she married? Got herself a fellow? She can’t go long without one of those. Lucy tells him to stop humoring her. He tells her that he’s not going through anything like that Craig situation again. He tells her that yes she has been talking to someone, but it’s not her mum. She tells him to think what he likes. Someone watches them through the bushes.

Libby is helping Jay with his homework. She helps him figure it out. He asks her what the answer is and she tells him to tell him. He answers correctly. The keys jingle in the lock. Jay tells him not to tell him about this as he tried to help but he couldn’t. She keeps her end of the promise. Jay says she needed his help. She says yes with nutrition. Jase tells them to carry on, but Jay stops him and offers to make them both a cup of tea. He’s a lot more confident now as he leaves the room. Jase hurries to thank Libby and pays her. He makes sure that Jay didn’t suspect a thing. She says he didn’t and she’s not supposed to let him know she helped either.

Kevin brings in two plates of food for Chelsea and Dean. Denise comes in and tosses the legal aid documents at them. Denise tells them that starting tomorrow everything changes. The yare not to step one foot outside of the house. Not even to work. Everything that happens gets run by her first. No secrets, no lies, no protecting anyone from the truth. She tells them they have a tough time ahead and they are in it together. She stops Kevin and tells him one more thing. Running to Shirley never solved anything. If he does it again, they are finished.

Shirley says “so much for one drink.” He said “one bottle.” She says when it’s done she’s calling time. He puts on “Come on Eileen,” and she tells him it’s not a party. She says they are supposed to be drowning his sorrows. He tells her she wouldn’t want to hear them. She replies that he’s right. If she wanted to hear some drunk go on, she would have gone back to work. Phil says that maybe they could find something better to do. He makes a pass at Shirley. She pulls back and asks him “what’s this” He reminds her she was up for it on his stag night. She says “fine let’s go for it. But just when Ben thinks he’s gotten rid of one wicked stepmom he finds me. Listen if what you want is revenge you’re not going to get it on Stella now. All your doing is dragging yourself further down and dragging ben with you. I blew it with her own kids when she came back. You Phil you are Ben’s number one. you’ve got to get it together before he starts to blame himself for his dad being a drunk.” Phil is passed out.

Jane says she thought she and Lucy were getting to know one another. Ian says “I know,” Jane says she obviously hates her. She says that there is something not right about all of this. Ian says that whoever it is obviously known all about them. Jane says she doesn’t know if it’s connected, but today when she and Peter came home, the door was wide open. Ian says he locked up this morning. Lucy comes in and says it was her mum. She must have come here instead. She looks at Jane and says “I didn’t say she could read my messages” Jane tells her that she’s already seen what she wrote today. Lucy wants to know how. Jane shows her the passwords. Lucy tells Jane that what goes on between her and her mum is none of her business. Jane replies that what goes on between her and her dad is none of her business. Ian says alright we’ll leave, but I’m taking this laptop with me. Lucy tells him that is ok she and her mum will find another way to get in touch. He tells Lucy she’s starting to sound crazy. She asks him how can explain the keys getting back inside the house. He tells her he can’t, but the one thing he knows for certain is that it ain’t her mum.

A man enters a kitchen and walks through the rooms. He goes into a room where someone is sleeping, and the tv is on. He picks up a phone and changes the alarm time. He kneels down, and it’s Sean. He brushes Chelsea’s hair away from her face.