Despite the rumours to the contrary Harry Woolf, Phyllis’s errant husband, is still alive and returns to Ormston where Phyllis, against her better judgement, agrees to give him another chance. Unfortunately the pub is still also in his name and, before he departs again, he has bet it as stakes in a poker game with Arthur, only narrowly avoiding disaster. Deborah’s cousin Pearl comes to stay, to give birth to a baby which she claims she does not want. This builds up the Cosgroves’ hopes of adoption – but these are dashed when Pearl changes her mind having seen the child.