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.

When a workman named Sparks appears in Gary's shop, he announces that he's there to check on a problem with the time portal that could result it its permanent closure. Forced to finally make a choice between his two lives, Gary decides his his priorities lie in 1945 with Phoebe and his son. He leaves the shop to Ron, who promptly sells the entire stock on credit to a teenager from the future.