audrey is concerned to find archie sitting on the bench outside the salon looking unwell. audrey worries about archie's health and suggests he's working too hard. archie still doesn't look well. audrey arranges to go round and cook him a meal. archie hatches a plan to surprise audrey on her birthday. mike baldwin (johnny briggs) invites audrey to delphines for her birthday. archie persuades mike to cancel as he's already secretly booked a table. mike tells audrey that archie is waiting for her at delphines. audrey arrives late, but archie is delighted to see her. after supper, he amazes her by proposing. audrey gives him a definite maybe. fred is shocked and jealous when archie tells him that he's proposed to audrey. audrey seeks gail's advice about archie. gail admits that life is always easier with a good man beside you. archie is left distraught when audrey tells him that she can't marry him. he confides in deirdre that he doesn't think he'll ever get over it. audrey is upset at the thought of hurting archie and is horrified when deirdre tells her that she thinks archie has gone for good. in july 2003, archie leaves the street.