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.

When Gary travels the wrong way from the 1940s he finds himself in Victorian London, where Jack the Ripper is on the loose, and discovers the prolific murderer has been using the backyard of his shop to hide from the police.