Claire and her friend Oliver, both upset by parents fighting at home, decide to run away.

As Bob takes Lionel Thompson to the police station he breaks free. Bob visits his mother in their bed-sit and tells her about the pills. The pills are coming from his mother Diane, and Lionel sold them to get money for food. Sarah and Rhonda wake up with terrible hangovers but a newfound friendship. Paul is amazed at how much money Rhonda spent on drink and worries about Sarah’s influence on her. George finds that Frank is wanted for stolen goods but is worried about his state of health. He calls for Elly to examine him. George wants Frank committed but Elly doesn’t agree. However when Newbridge agree that Frank should be committed Elly signs the forms and he is taken away. Diane takes an overdose when she can see no way out of her situation. Lionel finds her dead.

Chris is annoyed when he is overlooked for the lifeguard job, by Colin, someone who evidentially can’t swim and who the boss has a vested interest in. Lisa advises Colin to talk to Sarah about the unhealthy advances from his boss. When Colin steps down, Chris is given the job. Bob is interviewed by Jackie, a sociology student. He takes a phonecall from a young mother who is threatening to kill both herself and the baby after she has been evicted by her landlord. With the help of Jackie, Bob and George find her in time. Bob walks Jackie home and there is clearly and attraction between them. Paul and Rhonda have their hopes dashed when they attend an auction. They discuss whether moving out of the city is a better option for them.

Lisa is still staying at the pub and doing everything she can to avoid going home and seeing Margaret. Bob is concerned when a homeless pregnant teen turns up at the rectory and runs off before he can find her some accommodation. Bob later finds her and delivers her baby. David plans to take Claire away for the weekend with Miki. Martha encourages Elly to meet Miki before the weekend. Elly invites David and Miki to dinner and spends time planning the perfect meal. Chris goes on strike causing tension between he and Ernie. Lisa tells them they are like a second family to her and she wishes they would stop arguing and appreciate eachother. David and Miki have dinner with Elly and Claire. The evening goes well however the tension is evident. David shows little awareness of how Elly feels and tells her he thinks Miki is the one for him. Claire tells Elly that she doesn’t like Miki.

George tells Lisa that her dog Tipsy has been biting people and will be out down if she’s not looked after better. Lisa visits Margaret and asks her to look after Tipsy but Margaret says she can’t. Lisa takes Tipsy to the police station and is devastated as she hands Tipsy over. Later on Ernie tells Lisa that Tipsy can stay at the pub. Claire doesn’t want to go away with David and Miki for the weekend. Elly calls on David for help and he tries to persuade Claire to change her mind. David tells Miki he is going to cancel their weekend and will be spending the weekend with Claire by himself. Elly intervenes and tells Claire she has to go and tells David they can’t keep allowing Claire to run their love lives. Bob and Sarah help open a homeless shelter. Martha arrives at Elly’s with a pizza, a bottle of wine and a deck of cards to stop her from feeling lonely.