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Karl tells Harold that he doesn't believe that, and Harold says that all he's ever asked for is to have more time with Madge, and says God turned his back on him. Karl reassures him he has family and friends, and Harold tells him that Madge is his family, and his best friend. He goes in to check on her, and Karl leaves.

At Lou's Place, Lou tells Steph how his chef has just walked out on him, and that he has to come up with a five star lunch menu. Steph suggests steak and salad, and Lou says the judge for the pub competition is a vegetarian. Steph asks how Madge is, and Lou tells her she's poorly, but a fighter. He then has a brainwave to use Madge's cookbook, which has vegetarian recipes in it.

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Over at the coffee shop, Tad and Paul are sitting at a table when Jess walks in. Jess approaches and asks how Madge is, and they say there's no change. Jess gloats how Susan's been suspended. Paul starts laying into her because he knows Susan never hit her, and Jess protests otherwise. He tells her to sit somewhere else, so she gets up and sits at the next table. Tad tells Paul off for being so nasty, and Paul says that if he's so concerned, he should go talk to her. He then adds that he has more important things to worry about, and Tad tells him to stop lashing out at everyone. Paul asks him to go and talk to Jess again, so he goes over. Tad approaches Jess and says they need to talk about her and Susan.

Steph goes to leave the pub and bumps into Matt. Lou asks him to go and get the supplies for a recipe he found in Madge's cookbook. Steph's co-worker Steve arrives, and says how the office said she was here, and that she wanted to see him. He says he'd rather talk here, and Steph goes to get some drinks.

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Harold enters Madge's room and brings her a flower and strawberry ice cream. Madge confesses to not craving them like this since having her tonsils removed as a child. When she decides she doesn't want any of the strawberries, she begins to cry, because Harold had gone to so much trouble, and feels guilty for answering his "You have to eat something" with a defeatest "Why'" He tells her not to be so silly, and says it's nothing in comparison to what she's done for him over the years. He gets out an old photo album. He kisses her, and they look at some pictures of happier times. Madge worries over what to do about the business, and Harold tells her not to worry. Madge notices she's in all the photos, and Harold says that's because she's the only constant wonderful thing in his life.

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Steph and Steve talk at the pub, and Steph talks about how the company were trying to cut down on costs. Steve interrupts and says he's been offered another job with the opposition, and says how they came to him and everything. He said he needed the extra money and apologises. Steph says it's great news, and that he'll be missed. He gets up to leave, and asks what she wanted to talk to him about, she said it was because she couldn't get the extra hours, and Lou asks how it went. Steph said he finishes at the end of the week.

Back at the coffee shop, Jess asks Tad why he's blaming her, and Tad says that if she's doing it for the sake of it, she's "stuffing up" her career. Jess says she'll get another job, and Tad asks why she always wants to hurt people. Jess storms out.

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Susan arrives home at 28, and Drew takes her box of files. Libby says hello and hugs her. Darcy and Drew go to make lunch, and Susan tells Libby the staff were supported. Karl said Susan can relax and take a break from teaching. Karl continues to dig himself deeper, and then says he's only trying to put a positive light on an aspect of their lives, what with Madge being so ill and everything. Libby suggests that Susan should take her leave, and should go to London for Mal's wedding. Karl says if there's one thing they've learned from Madge, it's to get their priorities right.

At the pub, Lou finishes preparing the meal, and Matt asks why he chose that particular recipe. Lou said it was because all the others were Harold's, and that he trusts Madge's taste.

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At 24, Harold puts some flowers in a vase and Karl enters and asks him not to shut the door. He says the flowers were from Libby and Drew. Harold asks Karl to hang around, and Tad and Paul arrive. Harold tells the boys that the end is close. He lets Tad go in on his own.

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Tad enters and Madge says hello and Tad tells her not to die, because he'll go looking for her if she does. He says there's loads he wants to do this year, and wants Madge there to see it. He says he's going to try and study too, and then says he loves her and kisses her. He leaves to get Paul.

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At Lou's Place, Brian Curtis, the pub inspector, finishes his meal, and compliments the food. He gives the man a copy of the cookbook, and he says Lou should make Spag Madge a permanent fixture on the menu. He then says the pub is on the short list. Lou then leaves to go and see Madge.

In Madge's bedroom, Paul says he can't call her mum, as it sounds stupid now. But he says she's the best mother he could ever have. She clutches his hand, and says how she'll be watching over him, and says she loves him, and tells him to hang onto his dreams. Harold and Lou are at the door, and Lou jokes around with Madge. He tells her how her cookbook saved his bacon, and asks to rename "Spaghetti Madge" to "Spaghetti Lou", which she finds funny.

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At Libby and Drew's flat, Steph tells Libby how she told her boss that she sacked Steve, and Drew says how what the boss doesn't know won't hurt him. Steph says she's glad she's off the hook. When Libby asks about Woody, Steph asks why her life has to be so complicated, and says how she invited him to stay at her place without asking her parents. Drew finishes hanging up Dione's painting, and Libby says how ugly it is. Libby said that Susan will call if there's any news.

Madge thanks Lou for his letter he wrote her, back at 24. Lou says he's never been too flash at telling people how he feels, but that he had to tell her. Lou kisses her, and Karl watches over in the doorway. They both leave the room, and Harold, Tad and Paul enter. Susan hugs Karl for comfort, and Lou sits by himself on the chair.

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In the bedroom, the boys watch at either side of the bed, while Harold lays next to Madge, saying how much he loves her. She says how she loves him, and asks him to still go to Paris for her. He smiles and begins to list all the plans they had, holding her hand as he does. Suddenly he trails off, realising that Madge has passed away whilst he was talking. As it dawns on him what happened, he breaks down in tears by her side as the boys look on.

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Notes: Writer John Hanlon (a pen-name for Shane Porteous) won an Australian Writers' Guild (Awgie) award for his script for this episode.