Ernie tells Annie that he and Emily are going to Budleigh Salterton and will miss the wedding. Nobody believes Alf when he claims that he thought Ron's drinking problem was an open secret. Annie lets Bet away for an hour to buy a dress for the wedding but the barmaid takes most of the day. Maggie tells Gordon that Ron hasn't touched alcohol in two years. Gordon doesn't think it changes anything as Les had dry spells as well. The soldiers return to the Rovers to find out if Betty is Martin Downes's mother. Ron can't promise Gordon that he won't fall off the wagon but assures him that he's looking for a wife, not someone to look after him on the bad days. Gordon believes that he loves Maggie and gives the marriage his blessing. Martin is afraid to talk to Betty so Steve Baker does so and finds out that her maiden name was Preston, meaning she isn't Martin's mother.