Gail encourages Brian to get a bank loan to buy Ron Sykes out. The Faircloughs visit Sharon in Sheffield on her eighteenth birthday. Fred shows Maureen Slater the Rovers, telling her that he's the pub's manager. Mrs. Lowther calls on Hilda, she is out so Stan - in his string vest - invites the Lowthers to wait. Stan and Mr. Lowther discover they were in the Western Desert together. The bank agrees to give Brian a loan. Ron toasts the future with him. Hilda is horrified to find the Lowthers waiting in No.13 as it looks a tip. Maureen gets Fred to drive her back to Warrington where she refuses to let him into her flat. The car runs out of petrol and he is stuck.