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Ruth deduces that Peggy is the source of the rumours. Caught between defending Mark and her inability to tell the truth, Ruth is devastated by Peggy's malicious attack on both of them as contagious. She is thrown out of The Vic.

Peggy warns David not to eat an apple he has bought from Mark and David throws it away. Ruth tells Pauline, who goes to The Vic.

Ruth tries to cheer up a scared Mark, who is convinced the stall is being boycotted. and that the traders are ignoring him. Pauline goes to the Vic and enters into a full blown row with Peggy.

Peggy accuses Mark of having swum in the sewer. This is too much for Pauline, who lost for words and slaps Peggy in the face. Mark enters, bewildered by the scene that greets him. Peggy bars them all from The Vic. Mark is now desperate, believing that everything is now over for him, despite Ruth's attempts to console him.

They are appalled to see the graffiti "AIDS SCUM", daubed on their wall.