In 1999, a depressed Gary moves in with Ron after Yvonne kicks him out of their penthouse flat. Ron, who has problems of his own, has lied to his new girlfriend and claimed that he's incredibly rich. Things aren't going much better in 1945 either, Phoebe has become convinced that Gary is having an affair with another woman after he accidentally calls her Yvonne.

Both of Gary's wives have their hearts set on starting new lives in California, but Gary knows he can't live that far from the time portal and must find a way to dissuade Phoebe and Yvonne from such drastic life changes. Meanwhile, in 1945, Reg is forced into retirement from the police force and is extremely disheartened when nobody turns up for his leaving party.

In 1945, Phoebe and Gary are offered parts in Noël Coward's new film, Brief Encounter. However, worried that he might be recognised in the 1990s, he immediately backs out, which greatly angers Phoebe. Meanwhile, in 1999, Yvonne's shady business partner has done a deal behind her back and is attempting a hostile takeover of Nature Boy.