Solo

After discovering he has been cheating on her, Gemma ejects boyfriend Danny from her flat, closes her account at the bank where she has been discourteously treated, returns her ""rotten book"" to the insolent librarian, and quits the estate-agent job she hates. Its the beginning of a new life, but what does she want to do with it? Three new jobs later and shes even less sure than before.

When Gemma asks an old friend, Julia, for advice, she suggests that Gemma should consider a marriage of convenience, like her own. Danny (who still has a key to the flat) decides the forceful method is best, and invites himself back to live with Gemma. She is not amused by his presumption but nearly succumbs, until Julia phones with distressing news.

When Gemma locks herself out of her flat in the morning and calls Danny for help, he takes too much for granted. Professing not to have the key, he drives Gemma, still in her bathrobe, to his country cottage. Furious and humiliated, she takes her revenge by contriving to strand Danny there without his clothes.

Its now been six months since Gemma turfed Danny out for good, and shes now 31. She meets a much younger man, Raif (aged 19), who has some transport problems, first with a bicycle, then with a car.

Being a social worker isnt easy. When Gemmas doctor diagnoses stress, he advises her to express her anger and orders her to take a vacation.

With the modest inheritance from her great aunt Cissy, Gemma decides to buy a second-hand car, and Sebastian helps her shop for one. Sebastians latest conquest, Rosie, is proving to be more durable than his previous girlfriends.

Gemmas mother is ""feeling old"" and leaves for the country for a few days, without telling anyone where. Howard tracks her down, bringing with him her reading glasses which she had left behind. Sebastian gives Rosie a ring, and gives up having breakfast with Gemma. Gemma seriously contemplates marriage to Rex.