Season 2, Episode 17: "Revelations" (original air date: April 17, 2002)

We find that Cliff and Nicky are very much an item. While she's disconcerted at the way he can reel off lists of old girlfriends, she's also in the unaccustomed position of feeling happy.

Not even an unnecessary call on her pager from William can burst the bubble. The "emergency" turns out to be a distraught Diane, in despair over her pregnant daughter, Biddy. She is suffering from hyper-emesis, but more from her mother's over-attention. But Diane has a deeper reason for her fears - she had an intellectually handicapped baby at 15 and worries that Biddy's symptoms mean something is wrong with the child. Diane has no idea what happened to her child, and when Nicky offers to make some initial enquiries about the institution it went to, Diane seizes on this.

The search for Diane's records leads to old Bassett Hospital, where Nicky and Cliff discover the Marie Celeste of hospitals. They also find that Diane's child was discharged, not to an institution but to parents. This is curious. The trail then leads to Matron, who has strong views on the benefits of adoption. Diane finds that her child was adopted and renamed - and when she goes to look for her finds she was not Downs Syndrome as claimed. Nicky begins to suspect a conspiracy, particularly when she discovers that there were other unmarried mothers on the same ward, and that many of them were given valium. She also discovers something that gives her pause for thought. But when she and Cliff look for the other arch-conspirators, they are frustrated. And indomitable Matron finally dies in her sleep - leaving behind Gil and her expensive porcelain collection, which now takes on more sinister hue - a pay-off for baby farming.

At the end of their leads, Nicky is forced to reveal there is someone who might know the truth. William. When she confronts him, he is evasive. But she also suspects she knows the reason he kept silent. Alistair is his adopted son.

Dana brings Ken home from hospital - determined to help him. When he starts to tell her about the Cornel incident, she is all the more aggrieved on his behalf. Ken also learns that she has left Todd. But everyone who is worried about Ken's state of mind has a surprise in store - his outlook on life has improved. Dana is shocked to find that Ken is grateful to Cornel. He faced the chaos, and is the better for it. Ken ends up helping Dana realise what she fears about being with Todd.

Alistair finds he is the last to know about Cliff and Nicky. Nicky is aware this is awkward, but sees no reason why this should change their friendship. Alistair is chagrined when William says that he understands how Alistair feels and is offering comfort. He also finds that Ken is comfortable with the awful news. Alistair decides he can't leave this to fate and goes to express his feelings for Nicky. But at the last minute, he gets scared and chooses not to. Nicky is at pains to make it clear she will be there for him when he finds out the bad news, but Alistair doesn't want to be around her anymore.