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Guest Character Profiles > Charlie Slater Gary Down

Charlie Slater 1985
Marital Status: Emily
Children: Gloria

When Paul Robinson started dating Gloria Slater, one of the fellow trainees on his air steward course, his father Jim was furious when he found out that her father was Charlie Slater. Jim and Charlie had gone to college together, and Charlie had stolen one of Jim's ideas for a suspension bridge and was now very rich because of it. Paul was unaware of this, and was enjoying Gloria's company, and also happy to meet her parents when he dropped her home after dinner with the Robinsons. Charlie and his wife, Emily, seemed like very nice people, but the following night, after another dinner date, Paul and Gloria returned to her place to find Emily sitting outside in her dressing gown, in tears. It became clear that a drunken Charlie had thrown her out, and it wasn't the first time this had happened. Paul tried to talk to Charlie, but found himself thrown out of the house, so he took Gloria and Emily back to the Robinson house for the night. Though embarrassed, Emily was grateful for the help and, the next morning, Charlie arrived at the house. At first apologetic, he soon turned on her, and Jim had to step in, warning Charlie that he wouldn't tolerate that sort of behaviour. Emily told Charlie that she'd had enough, and would be seeking a divorce, and, a few days later, Paul passed on the news that Gloria and Emily had moved to Adelaide to make a fresh start. Jim quickly realised that, although Charlie had made a lot of money, his family life wasn't quite so enviable.