The House that Jack Built

Unsure of how to fulfil the responsibility thrust onto her in Elena's letter but determined to do as her friend asked, Laura delivers a steady stream of casseroles, chutneys and jams to Max. This apparently amuses Max and Laura suddenly finds herself the recipient of bizarre and totally inappropriate gifts from him - a cheese grater, a butter curler, fridge magnets...

Laura visits Jack who is making a start to the house he's building in Port Deakin, and there's a strong hint the hurt between these two is beginning to heal. Jack's keen for Laura to rethink their relationship but Laura's still haunted by the memory of his affair with Trudi.

Bob's concern over the decline in his usually vigorous sex life with Heather leads him to succumb to marriage counselling under the guidance of Barry Boston. Bob finds it hard going - not only is he taking marriage advice from a gay man but the sessions are highlighting Bob's shortcomings on sensitivity and intimacy.

The town is being terrorised by monster crabs, let loose in suspicious circumstances from a crate being stored at Max's brother, Squid's, place. Crabs start to appear everywhere - from the caravan park to the courthouse to the police station, and while Kevin and Squid try to round them up, Sergeant Grey tries to figure out how they escaped.

The crabs were on consignment for Paula McVeigh, an old flame of Max's, and when she arrives to collect them Max finds himself comforted by her presence. An evening of reminiscing is interrupted by a couple of heavies and Max finds himself the victim of an assault and is embarrassed by revelations in court of his pathetic attempts to defend himself. But even harder for Max to take is the realisation that Paula - ex-hippy, idealist and champion of worthy causes - has become involved in the drug world.

When Sergeant Grey discovers the loose crabs have ingested drugs planted in the crates they were travelling in, he's quick to take them off the menu at the Tropical Star. But some are unaccounted for ... such as those Heather and Bob are feasting upon. Whether it's the counselling or the crabs, Heather and Bob head back to the bedroom.

Laura prepares herself to forgive Trudi - to clear the way for the possibility that she and Jack might start again. But Jack is forced to confess he's just discovered Trudi is pregnant - with his child. Laura is devastated. She wants Jack out of her life forever, and vents her anger on an unsuspecting Max. In a raw, honest moment Max and Laura comfort each other over casseroles, chutneys and jams....