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Episode Summaries > 1986 > Episode 209
Written by Peter Connah, Directed by Andrew Friedman, Produced by John Holmes

At the Ramsay house, Shane is dressed up ready for him and Helen to go car hunting for Home James when Max arrives home and tells him and Madge he’s been to see Dr. Carter. Madge cuts Max short when he tries to tell them what has happened and tells him she’ll do anything for him. Seeing an opportunity he tells her he’d like to own No.24 completely so he can pass it on to his sons after his death – Will Madge be fooled?

At the Robinson house, Jim is depressed at thinking about Max’s ailing health and tells Paul he’ll give Max the watch he won at Cross Country when he beat Max running. Paul tells Jim it is Max’s own fault he is ill, their family have already done enough to help out the Ramsay’s and that Helen is crazy to go into business with a drop-out like Shane. Paul also mentions how he dislikes Jim seeing Zoe before Shane arrives and he tells him how he doesn’t want Shane to go into business with Helen. Helen agitated by her grandson tells him to go off to work. Shane tells Jim and Helen that Max has been told by Dr. Carter his health is worse than expected.

At number 22, Nikki, Mike and Scott are studying for their school tests but Scott cannot concentrate and tells them he’ll never pass the exam due to the pressure. Nikki has little sympathy and tells her cousin it is the system and he has to just accept it. Scott calls it unfair.

Back at the Ramsay house, Zoe brings the dress she wants Madge to alter before Paul abruptly pulls her away to start her new job as his secretary. Zoe tells Madge about her dinner date with Jim to which Madge is visibly jealous. Zoe leaves as Max arrives. Madge tells him she has decided to sign over her share of No.24 to him.

At the Daniels Corporation office, Paul and Zoe arrive and Zoe begins to talk about Bradley. Paul stops her and tells her to not talk about Bradley or her man friends. Zoe is puzzled why Paul mentioned her men friends when she made no mention of them at all.

At the Robinson house, Madge brings Jim a cake she has baked and stays for coffee. She tells him that she’s glad Helen & Shane is trying Home James and then starts to cry over Max. Jim comforts her and tells her he’ll be there for her if she needs him.

At a car lot, Shane and Helen arrive to view second hand cars with car lot owner Mr.Walters. They are both shocked when Mr. Walters appears to believe they are in a relationship with each other and Shane is out for a new car in exchange for being her toy boy. They both decide to continue with the deception.

In the schoolyard, Scott is cramming in study before the test when Nikki and her friend Margo arrive. They start to talk to Mike who notices Scott is losing patience – Scott loses his temper and storms off telling them he can’t study with all the noise. Mike follows after him. Margo tells Nikki she likes Mike but Nikki warns her "Hands off. He’s mine."

At number 24, Max refuses to eat nothing but fried food despite Madge’s pleas. Jim comes in and tells Max he wants him to have the cross-country medal as a token of their friendship. Max is overwhelmed but feels guilty at accepting the present under false pretences.

Back at the car lot, Helen and Shane drive the Mercedes car around and laugh at Mr. Walters assumptions about their motives. Back at the car lot, Helen tells him his prices are too high. Mr. Walters agrees he could lower the price.

At the Ramsay house, Jim fixes a light in Max’s pantry for Madge and she tells him how her estranged husband was a handyman too. She mentions how stupid Fred looked with a younger girl after he left her – Jim calls it Fred’s loss. Madge smiles affectionately at him.

In the exam hall, Scott and Mike sit as the examiner prepares the class to start. As they start, Scott looks at the exam paper panicking when nothing seems to come clear to him.

Back at the car lot, Helen and Shane buy the Mercedes car and as Helen drives off Mr. Walters tells Shane he’s ‘’onto a winner’’. Shane plays along telling him he just can’t resist older women.

Back in the exam, Scott can’t concentrate on the paper. Worried, the examiner asks if he’s not well but Scott shouts out he can’t do the exam and runs out of the hall. The class are shocked by his actions and Mike can’t believe how stupid his friend has been.

Summary by Paul