Wiltons/Des/Billy
Pathetic Derek gets Des to believe that his window has been smashed.
When Des looks up, Derek shrills "April Fool ha! ha! haaa!"
Billy comes into the Kabin and starts talking about the allotment
(being a male "Betty" he is not allowed to have any
story-lines of his own and just has to hover on the sidelines
of more interesting characters.) Mavis is jealous of Billy's allotment
"status", but while she is out of the Kabin, Rita takes
a message from a Mr Hedges who says he will meet the Wiltons at
the allotment and arrange to give them a plot.
But Derek smells a rat, and decides that it is a joke by Des.
Wilton hysteria can only turn into misguided complacency as The
Mave and Derek turn up at the allotment, and smugly tell Mr Hedges
that he is an imposter and they are too clever for Des.
Later in the Rovers there is more back-slapping, nobody knows
what they are talking about until Billy announces that Mr Hedges
is a real person and not a paid stooge. Crush!
The Mike Baldwin Business Empire
The race to buy the garage hots up as Josie and Don prepare to
mortgage their houses. Josie is being particularly sneaky, listening
in to Mike's phone calls and reading his letters to find out how
much he wants to sell the garage for.
Mike calls to see Sally and puts pressure on her to talk to Kevin
about the garage. It is becoming obvious that he is desperate
to sell, and Josie and Don plan to take advantage of this. What
an old schemer she turned out to be - it'll be bromide
in Don's caseroles next at this rate.
Maureen
Mr Firman calls to see Curly and tells him that Reg has resigned
from Bettabuys. Maud wants to follow Maud to Lowestoft, but Curly
persuades her to stay at home, and he goes instead. He meets Maureen
and they read the letter together.
"Since our separation, an unbearable weight has caused me
to care for nothing, not even our relationship, I am not the man
that I once was...etc"
Maureen is inconsolable and says she will search for Reg and tell
him she loves him.
But Mr Firman tells Curly that Reg ran off with a heiress-secretary.
Curly has a dilemma...
Awards:
Best non-appearance of story-line: The McDonalds kept their disgraceful
selves out of this episode thank goodness, and it was all the
better for it.
Best interchange:
Best props: Mike is turning his factory into a 1984-style dystopia.
A tv monitor allows him to spy on visitors, and a tannoy lets
him summon Dry-Hair and Ida to his office whenever he wants to.
(I'm going on my Easter Holidays for two weeks now, so this
is my last update for a while. However, the "moral voice"
of ratucs, Mike Plowman has offered to understudy for me during
this period. Enjoy!)
The mighty Sir Paul of Baker is off on his holidays for
a while and has kindly allowed me to understudy him - Mike Plowman
Don/Josie/Mike/Alma/Kevin/Sally/Bill
Don and Josie are discussing what offer to put in on the garage
over breakfast. Josie tells Don to wear a suit when he goes to
visit Baldwin and remarks that he'll have to wear a suit when
he owns the garage. Don tells Josie that he will be a boss who
isn't afraid of getting his hands dirty, the workers will drink
with me etc. (I wouldn't put money on that if I was Don!)
Meanwhile, Kevin and Sally are outside the Kabin discussing finding
the £4000 they need for the deposit on the garage. Sally
urges to Kev to ask Rita for a loan but the ever cautious Kev
isn't keen on doing so. Sally then slags Bill off for a) borrowing
the money off them b) only paying it back in dribs and drabs.
Who should then pop his head out of the upstairs Kabin window
but Bill, who is repairing the flashings for Rita. Kev says that
he hopes Bill didn't hear her, to which Sally retorts 'I don't
care if he did!' (Sally is getting a bit feisty of late!)
Lunchtime in the Rovers and Josie and Don are still trying to
decide on what offer to make. Enter Alma who after ordering a
drink and lunch discovers that she has left her bag in the cafe.
Josie offers to settle up for her and says that she'll get the
money off Mike at work that afternoon. Josie asks Mike for the
£3.75 later but he says he's not got any money on him and
he's just going out. Josie says that Don was going to be popping
him to see him. Mike suddenly discovers that he has money on him
and says that he will 'hang on for a bit' to see Don. Don arrives
and makes an offer of £38,000 on the garage. Mike tells
him he could easily get over £50,000 for it and to rethink
his offer.
In the cafe later, Mike tells Alma that the letter that Josie
read on his desk about the garage price was left there by him
intentionally. He calls in at No 13 to see Kevin and Sally and
tells them that he has had an offer of £40,000 and that
if they match the offer they can have it, but if the other prospective
buyer ups his offer he will sell it to them. He doesn't reveal
that it is Don and Josie after the business. When Mike has left
Sally urges Kevin to hurry up and start getting things moving,
this is their big chance etc. Kevin realising that time is of
the essence immediately breaks into another session of umming
and arring. Sally's patience is beginning to get as thin as Emily's
storylines and she snaps at Kevin, 'What do you want out of life?'.
Kev replies, 'What do you mean?'. With her lip curled in disgust,
Sally snarls,'That says it all!'. I sense marital disharmony in
the near future!
Curly/Raquel/Maureen/Maud/Reg/
Maureen and Curly are still in Lowestoft with Maureen convinced
that Reg is suffering from depression at their enforced seperation.
Curly knows, of course, that he has run off with some slip of
a thing who has come into money. Meanwhile back at the shop, Maude
is busy telling Diedre and Raquel that she supects that Reg was
up to no good. "Any man who can go missing in Lowestoft is
up to something fishy", is her comment. Curly urges Maureen
to return to Weatherfield but she decides to go out and have a
final look for Reg before they return. Raquel phones and asks
him if they have found Reg yet. Curly tells her what Reg has been
up to. Raquel tells Curly that he must tell Maureen as
soon as she comes back. He agrees to do so and is about to when
Maureen furiously flies to the defence of her beloved Reg when
Curly starts to discuss his misgivings, so he does not tell her.
When they reach home she comes into Curly's for a coffee, Curly
goes upstairs and Raquel, under the misconception that Curly has
told Maureen, tells Maureen that she knows how she feels, it's
happened to her etc. Maureen is puzzled and says that Raquel can't
compare Reg to Des, as Des was playing around. The penny drops
and Raquel lambasts Curly for not telling Maureen. 'Telling me
what?' asks Maureen and the whole sorry truth is revealed to her.
She collapses sobbing into Raquel's arms but pauses when the realisation
hits her of the suffering that is yet to come and she exclaims,
'Oh God! That means that mother was right!' Cue 49 days and nights
of gloating and much use of the word 'Pillock' from the be-hatted
harridan!
Derek/Mavis/Des/Rita
Following their faux pas with the Allotments Officer, the Wilton's
are a bit miffed. They bump into Des in the Kabin and he congratulates
them on being the only people he has ever heard of managing to
April Fool themselves. He and Rita snigger. He offers to have
another word with Tim Hedges in order to help them get an allotment,
but Derek refuses his offer haughtily. 'Please yourself', he replies,
'Allotment Owners Weekly please, Rita'. He and Rita disolve in
giggles. Derek and Mavis make an rapid exit.
Derek meets Mavis in the Rovers at lunchtime and tells her he
has managed to get an appointment with Mr Hedges for 3pm. When
they arrive at the council offices the surly receptionist tells
them that there is no appointment in Mr Hedges diary for a Mr
Wilton at 3pm. Derek insists and she tells him the appointment
is listed as being for an April Fool! They get in to see Mr Hedges.
Derek and Mavis fawn to him in an attempt to be re-instated on
the allotment waiting list. Derek tries to make a joke about Mr
Hedges name, to zero effect. After forcing them to crawl for a
bit, Mr Hedges tells them that the allotment they were going to
get has been let but they can have another one that has been 'let
go a bit'. They are overjoyed and promise to buy Des several drinks
as a result.
Mr Hedges then says that before they take posession of the plot,
he must draw their attention to some of the councils allotment
rules and bylaws. 'Of course, of course' they witter excitedly.
He then proceeds to read out rules about gnomes
and the Wiltons are forced to laugh ingratiatingly and utter that
Des is such a wag etc through tightly gritted teeth.
Awards:
Best line: Tim Hedges to Derek on Dereks comment on his name being
unusual. 'Ave a look in the phone book Mr Wilton, there's hedges
down every street!'
Best non appearance: Again, a thankfully McDonald-free episode
though they were pipped at the post by Sir Royston of Cropper
who was mentioned by Deirdre. ('I was woken up by Roy Cropper.
He reckoned he'd heard a cuckoo. I didn't have the heart to say
it was probably him!) Well done Mr M [scriptwriter] for getting
Royston a mention!
Best update writer (individual episode category): Paul Baker
Kevin/Sally.Rita/ Mike/Don/Josie
Kevin and Sally are still bickereing about buying the garage from
Mike. Sally desperately wants to become Weatherfields Alexis Colby,
but Kevin tells her that he knows better than anyone that the
business isn't really that safe and a lot of investment in new
equipment is needed. Sally says she intends to invite Rita round
for tea to broach the subject of borrowing the deposit. Kevin
has a rant and slams out saying he's going to watch County. (God,
he must be desperate!) [They won away 2-1 in reality - Graham]
Sally invites Rita round for tea (liver & onions - yum!).
'Any special reason?' asks Rita. 'No', lies Sally, 'Just that
it'll be nice to have you'.
Later that day, Mike drops in the Kabin for a packet 'of his paticulars'
and tells Rita that Kevin is interested in the garage. Rita then
realises why she has been invited to tea.
Rita is round at Sally and Kevin's . Kev comes in ranting about
County going down 4-0 etc. Rita spikes Sally's guns by asking
Kev if he wants to dicsuss buying the garage with her, Kevin tells
her firmly that he does not want the garage because he knows that
it needs a lot more investment than just the purchase price.
Later, in the pub, Kevin tells Mike that he doesn't want to buy
the business. Mike immediately makes a bee-line for Don and Josie
who are sat at a nearby table and tells them that he wants them
to up their offer to £45,000. After a bit of to and fro-ing
they settle on £43,000 and the deal is done. We are left
with the image of Don grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Obviously
delighted at stitching himself up.
Curly/Raquel/Maureen/Maude
Maureen has stayed the night at the Watts's, after learning the
truth about Reg, rather than return home to Maud and her gloating.
During a heart to heart with Raquel she reveals that she has made
up her mind never to have Reg back if he ever reappears. After
this, she decides that she has to return home to face Maude.
Far from gloating at her vindication, Maude is very upset for
her daughter and does her best to lift her spirits. In quite a
touching scene, she tries to impress upon Maureen that life goes
on and cites herself being confined to a wheelchair as an example.
She persuades Maureen that they should go and open up the shop
and to Maureen's surprise, she finds that she feels a little better
after doing so.
Derek/Mavis
Mavis is twittering in her inimitable manner to Rita about the
joys of allotment tenancy and that many people grow their own
produce. To which Rita retorts, 'Then why are there two greengrocers
on Rosamund St?'. Oblivious to any criticism, Mavis continues
to twitter and gets the afternoon off to go and test the soil
ph with Derek.
As Derek and Mavis approach the allotment, Derek waxes lyrical
about approaching the 'promised land' etc. While testing the soil
they are approached by a chap who tells them that the soil is
very acidic on that plot due to the old chemical factory which
was directly downwind from their patch. He introduces himself
as Wilf Gaskill, the secretary of the Allotment Association. Derek
introduces himself. Wilf inquires if Mavis is his wife, as he
doesn't like to assume with 'you younger folk'!!!!!??? There follows
a conversation where Wilf explains that having an allotment is
a lot like marriage and Moses, he then goes off to get his folder
so he can read the Ten Commandments of Allotment Tenancy to the
Wilton's. No 1, 'Thou shalt tend thy allotment'!
Tricia/Percy/Ken/
Tricia enters the pub and asks Kevin and Tony if it's true that
there is no National Lottery this weekend as it's Easter as Percy
has told her there isn't. Tony tells her that there is. She moans
about not having a job. Kevin tells her that Baldwin is taking
on staff but Tricia just laughs and says that he'd never take
her on. (In, fact Baldwin is seen earlier in the Kabin, bemoaning
the fact that there are not many skilled machinists around and
that he will have to emploty unskilled staff and train them so
who knows?) Enter Percy. Tricia lambasts him for telling her that
the lottery was off. Percy then proceeds to tell Tricia that she
should not be playing the lottery while she is on benefits etc
and that if she is spending money on lottery tickets then she
must be going without something else and that she would be better
spending the money on something more appropriate like R Jamie.
Tricia pauses for a moment and says "You know, Mr Sugden,
you are right. I've been such a fool" Actually, she doesn't,
she tells him to mind his own bloody business etc and rushes off
to spend her welfare on lottery tickets.
At the bar, Percy asks Ken if he agrees with him. Ken says "Well,
yes but I've never quite had the nerve to go round giving lectures
to people about it". He then tells Percy that the lottery
makes a mockery of every political belief and gives various examples
of how greed corrupts etc. At the end of which Percy enquires,
"What do you mean, go round giving lectures?!"
Awards:
Best line - Tricia to Maureen, Maude and Emily in the shop. "Well,
aren't you going to tell me I shouldn't be buying oven chips while
I'm on benefits!!?"
Best non-appearance - The lady who used to work at the Mission
and never thought twice about telling someone eactly what she
thought, as mentioned by Emily.
Best update writer - That man Baker
Maureen/Maude
Maureen is still extremely upset over Reg. Maude finds her crying
in the storeroom after she finds a note Reg had written some time
ago. Maureen tells Maude that she doesn't want anyone to know
about Reg and makes Maude promise not to tell anyone. Later, when
Maureen is pretending to Vera that Reg is working all over the
weekend, to cover up for her not going to Lowestoft, Maude announces
in the middle of the pub that Reg has run off with another woman,
telling Maureen that the sooner it is out in the open, the sooner
she can get on with the rest of her life.
Andy/Anne/Liz/Deidrie
Des tells Andy that he will be away for a few days so he will
have the house to himself. Andy immediately phones Anne to arrange
for her to come round for a meal, with a view to getting her to
stay the night!
That evening, Liz and Deidrie are in the pub. Liz has just found
out that she has got the job she applied for at The Hourglass.
Andy enters, Liz tells him her news but he is unimpressed and
chooses to sit on his own to wait for Anne. Anne arrives. As Liz
and Deidrie leave, Deidre shoots him a look of pure venom.
Anne asks Andy why, he tells her that he is sick that his mum
is getting on with her 'new' life while Jim is banged up. Anne
says that in her opinion, Jim has gotten what he deserved. They
begin, rather predictably, to argue with Anne vehemently attacking
Jim. She tells Andy that if he thinks that she's going to stay
the night he's got another think coming. Oh dear, another night
with Onan for Andy!
Derek/Mavis
Derek and Mavis are off to the allotment. Derek has his camcorder
with him to record the 'ongoing transformation from wilderness
to Eden'. He and Mavis later bore Emily into a coma with their
footage as she is forced to squint down Derek's viewfinder in
the Rovers. Still, that's as near to an action scene as Emily's
likely to get, poor dear.
A Day At The Races - Alf, Bill, Billy, Martin, Don, Fred, Gary,
Jack & Roy
It's the day of the coach trip to the races and the lads are loading
up the coach with beer. On the way, Roy explains to Bill that
he had devoloped an algebraic formula for predicting the winners
in the race and that there is only one horse that he is considering
backing. "Cos your formula predicts it will win?" asks
Bill. "No", replies Roy, "I just liked the name!".
What a wag!
The horse is 'Betty's Hot Shot' and is a 50:1 shot in a Sellers
handicap. The lads all chip a fiver in and put it on the horse.
Amazingly, it wins, so they have won £2000. Rather the worse
for drink by this time, they have the brainwave of bidding for
the horse. They are all keen, with the exception of Roy, who declines
and is the only one who hasn't had a drink as he's on antibiotics
due to an ear infection.
They eventually pay £2400 for the horse, which leaves them
with about £50 each to find. They are, of course, unaware
of the telephone conversation between the trainer and owner where
it came to light that the horse had never really shown any potential
and that it had only won because the first and second favourites
had fallen.
The trainer cleverly persuades them that it would be unwise to
move the horse from her stables as it might upset him and that
wouldn't be wise as 'he's just hit form'. So they arrange to keep
him stabled where he is currently.
On the way home, Don reveals to Jack that he and Josie are taking
over MVB Motors while Roy begins to point out that buying the
horse is only beginning, that they will have stabling, racing,jockey,food
and vet's bills on top. Jack poo-poohs Roy's comments, asking
him how he knows anything about keeping a horse. Turns out Roy
got chatting to a retired jockey and was told that keeping a race
horse costs a minimum of £10,000 a year. It seems obvious
that while Roy comes out £400 plus to the better, the other
8 will be seriously out of pocket at some point in the future,
but swept along an a wave of euphoria and best bitter they are
blissfully uncaring as the coach wends it's way home to Weatherfield.
Awards:
Best appearance: I know it's predictable but it has to be Roy.
He is still head and shoulders above all others, even more so
with large plugs of cotton wool in his ear.
Best line: Anne Malone after tearing Andy's head off and spitting
in the hole, 'And don't think you can get round me by plying me
with red wine! Alcohol will just make me aggressive!'' ??????
[I think Mike forgot this one - Graham :-)] Best Hat: Despite
fearce opposition from most of the Street's menfolk (special mention
for Don's ratting hat and Billy's Mad Hatter impersonation), Maud
again walks off with 'Best Hat' for a Cartlandesque creation resembling
mauve meringue on a doily - the Queen Mum would have been proud
of it.
Don/Josie/Kevin/Sally
Mike tells Kevin & Tony that the garage is almost sold to
Don & Josie, which leaves Kev & Tony pondering on what
changes they might be facing. Sally is convinced that they are
buying the garage because they can see that it is a good investment
and wates no time in telling Kevin that he has missed out on a
golden opportunity and reminds him that for all he knows he could
be out of a job by the end of the month.
Maureen/Maude
Maureen still has the ultra-miseries over the Reg business and
is convinced that everyone who comes in the shop is doing so just
to gawp at her. Bill Webster tells her that it will be difficult
but that she will come through it, citing himself as an example.
Derek & Mavis
The Wilton's are on cloud nine over their allotment and Mavis
goes into wittering overdrive to Rita telling her that the allotment
will change her and Derek's lives, her arms full of allotment
magazines. Enter Derek with the an armful of library books on
the subject. He tells mave that by going to bed earlier at night
they will be able to read all the books in a short time indeed.
The horseowners
It's the morning after and one or two members of the consortium
are regretting their alcohol fuelled excesses of the previous
day. Kevin is extremely miffed at hearing that Bill spent his
winnings on the horse instead of paying off some of his debt to
Kev and Sally. He rips into Bill in no uncertain manner. Fred,
on the other hand, is cock-a-hoop at being a horse owner, telling
Jack that it does no harm at all in impressing the ladies. Upon
hearing that Bill is regretting his part in the purchase, Fred
quickly buys Bills share for £250 and later buys Martin's
share for £200. Sean and Des are in the pub and Sean convinces
Fred, Jack and Gary that they should race the horse as often as
possible, but only to get them to spend more in the bookies. Jack
later has a phone call from the trainer, Hilary Forrest, who demands
advance payment of stabling and training fees to the tune of £640
to be paid the next day. It's going to end in tears, I fear.
Andy/Steve/Vicky/Anne
Anne calls in to the Rovers to aplogise to Andy for their falling
out the previous night and offers to cook him a meal that night
if he has the place to himself. Vicky has to more or less force
Steve to visit Jim in Strangeways and while talking about it afterwards
at the flat, there is a knock at the door. Who has come to call
but Grandad, Alec Gilroy. Vicky is delighted, Steve seems less
so.
Awards:
Best appearance: Fred. I warm to this character more and more
and he turned in two Leghornisms to boot. His scene where he was
trying to sell horseshit to Mavis was a hoot!
Most welcome appearance: Josie's trim. Much needed but sadly,
too little too late.
Kevin/Don/Josie/Bill/Mike/Alma
Having sold his share in Betty's Hotshot to Fred, Bill gives the
money from the sale to Kevin and utters his weekly mantra of "I'm
sorry etc, I'll pay you back just as soon as I can." Mike
is complaining to Alma that his solicitor is taking too long finalising
the garage sale but the sale is completed that afternoon. Mike
wishes Don all the best for the future. Don & Josie pay Kevin
a visit and tell him that his and Tony's jobs are safe and that
they are surprised that he didn't consider buying the place himself.
He tells them that he was given first refusal but didn't want
to burden himself with £40,000 of debt. Given that Don and
Josie paid £43,000, they look unamused to hear this. Mike
later tells Alma that he had deliberately left a letter stating
that the garage was worth £50,000 lying around in the office
so that Josie would read it.
Vicky/Steve/Alec
Following his unexpected return, Alec spends the night on Vicky
and Steve's sofa-bed. Steve is fuming at Alec's arrival and tells
Vicky that she had better find out exactly why he's back and quickly.
Alec tells them that he is heading Sunline Travel's northern operation
but when Vicki tries to contact him on the number he gave her,
she finds it is the travel agent on Rosamund St. She goes round
there and finds Alec being shown how to use the computer. He is
obviously very embarassed by her visit and tries to make out that
he is in charge but it doesn't look that way. Later that evening,
after Alec has congratulated the Duckworths on getting the Rovers,
Steve quizzes Alec about his future plans. Alec waffles about
his position in Sunline and when pushed about where he is going
to be staying he says he will sort something out. Vicky says he
can stay as long as he wants, but Steve says angrily that he has
until Monday to go, or he will. Sounds like too good an
offer to refuse!
The horse syndicate
Sarah Lou overhears Jack and Rita in the Kabin talking about Fred
buying up the shares in the horse. Jack jokes about Fred wanting
sell the meat in his shop. She is very upset about this and in
an acting display worthy of her big brother, accuses Martin of
selling his share to "the big fat butcher" so he can
kill it. Martin tries to convince her that it was not the case
but with limited succsess. Hilary Forrest turns up in the Rovers
and collars Alf, Fred and Jack for her payment of £640,
which the syndicate is reluctant to part with. She reveals that
the horse is outside and that they will have to find alternative
arrangements. Everyone pours outside and sure enough, she is unloading
the beast from the horsebox. Martin & Bill, having sold their
shares the day before find it all very amusing. Eventually Fred
and Alf write cheques for half the amount each intending to settle
matters with the other members. Hilary is very pleased and tells
them that the horse is showing very good form. Later, Fred and
Jack enquire of Sean Skinner if he thinks he thinks they have
made a good buy. Sean, who is only interested in them putting
bets on at his bookies, tells them that they have, and they should
get him in a race as soon as possible.
Awards:
Worst performance: Sarah Louise. I thought this young lady was
showing a lot of promise but she turned in a very stilted and
inadequate performance in her scenes with Gail and Martin. Producers
please take note, if the kids aren't up to it. let them just eat
their tea.
Best line: Vera on hearing Jack boasting that Hilary had said
that Betty's Hotshot looked had looked very good over the gallops.
"Any horse will look fast running past trees!"
Poorest decor: Steve and Vicky's bathroom. Bright blue! Yuk!!
Alec/Vicky/Steve
Having been given an ultimatum to move out by Steve, Alec tells
Vicky that Sunline wanted him to stay in a 5 star hotel but that
he had preferred to spend some time with her. He later spins her
a tale that he has bumped into an old client from his theatrical
agent days who now runs a private hotel and that he is going to
stay there as he prefers somewhere friendly to the five star hotel.
Surprisingly, his nose remains a constant length during this speech!
Kelly/Ashley
Ashley just 'happens' to be walking down Coronation St on his
way to work as Kelley is heading for Ken's. Kelley seems to have
set her sights on Ashley (perhaps the thought of all those pies
at Uncle Fred's) and tells him that if he's walking back that
way at 6, they could go for a drink in the Rovers. Ashley is extremely
enthusiastic. Later, when they meet in the Rovers, Ashley is eager
to leave before his Uncle Fred comes in. They decide to go for
a pizza, Kelley exclaiming 'I'm famished!'. Thousands of CS fans
rush out to buy shares in Pizza-Hut!
Jack/Fred/Gary/Judy
Judy is fuming after learning that Gary has used their holiday
money to pay his shares of the horse training fees. While Gary
is talking horse with Jack and Fred, Judy storms into the pub
and tells Gary, in time honoured northern housewife style, that
his dinner is on the table and will be on his head if he's not
home immediately. (What a woman!) Fred, seeing a chance to increase
his share in the nag, offers to buy Gary's share but is turned
down. Fred tells Jack that he wants to go watch the horse train
in the morning and he wants him to come. Jack says that Vera might
be difficult to persuade to let him go but in a display of reverse
psychology worthy of Freud himself, Jack gets Vera to force Jack
to go watch it train. Fred and Jack decide not to tell Gary about
the trip as they fear more abuse form Judy. However, he overhears
Vera talking about it and is only too keen to skive off work to
accompany them.
Jamie/Tricia/Percy/Josie
R Jamie is at a loose end, it being a schoolday, and is wondering
down the back ginnel kicking a can. He is chastised by Percy and
told that he should be grateful that he is not his grandson. 'I
am!' retorts the young blade. Moments later, Percy having gone
back in, a young girl enters the ginnel and begins to try all
the back gates. Finding Don & Josie's gate open she steals
Josie's bike. Having witnessed this, Jamie sets of in pursuit
of the culprit. He catches her up, a tussle ensues and he gets
the bike off her. In the meantime, Don has discovered that the
bike has been stolen and asks the customers in the Rovers if they
have seen anything. Percy tells him that he had seen Jamie hanging
around at the back. Jamie arrives back in the Street and finds
Josie, he tells her about the theft and gives her the bike back
and asks her for a reward. she is about to hand over a tenner,
when Don arrives and accuses Jamie of operating a scam like he
did with the punctures. Jamie protests his innocence but Don and
Josie will not believe him. Josie goes round to see Tricia and
threatens to call the police if she sees him near her house again.
They have a furious row and Tricia screams at Josie to get out.
Josie doesn't utter the expected 'I'll get you for this, my pretty,
and your little dog too!', but leaves. Tricia tries to get the
truth out of Jamie. He sticks to his story and she eventually
believes him.
Don/Josie/Kevin/Tony
Don has a wander round the garage on his way to work.. Telling
Kevin and Tony that he just wants to 'cast an eye over the empire'
and that he will be a better boss than Baldwin cos he'll invest
profits in the business rather than spending it on a flash car!
He and Josie discuss renaming the business as MVB Motors is not
suitable. After close of business, Kevin arrives at the house
and tells them that the compressor has packed in and that it was
clapped out when Baldwin bought. They should be able to pick one
up for about 5 grand!! There is a pause and two thuds as Don &
Josie's jaws hit the floor. Don moans that that's a brilliant
start and hopes that nothing else wears out. Kevin points out
that most of the kit was picked up second hand and wasn't very
good condition when they got it. We are left with a shot of Don,
a four letter word flying through his head, as the credits roll.
Awards:
Best line: Tricia to Jamie when Jamie called Derek 'Wilton'. 'Ey!
It's 'Mr' Wilton to you......... Dozy Derek, d'you mean?'
Best acting for a young 'un: R Jamie. The boy done good!
Jack/Fred/Gary/Vera/JudyJoyce//Kelley/Ashley
Jack, Fred and Gary are off bright and early to the stables to
watch Batty's Hot Shot being put through it's paces. Meanwhile
Vera has overslept and the pub is in a mess as none of last nights
empties have been cleared away. Joyce tells Vera that she should
get another barmaid in and tells her that Judy would be good.
Vera, obviously, isn't that keen and tells Joyce she'll think
about it.
Ashley calls on Kelly at Ken's but she is reluctant to let him
in so arranges to meet him in the park at lunchtime. He gives
her a kiss but their snatched moment of tenderness is broken by
the sound of Uncle Fred, arriving back with Jack and Gary, extolling
the virtues of horse ownership at high volume. Ashley is on his
bike and away in seconds without being seen by Fred. The horseowners
good humour is shattered by the appearance on the pub doorstep
of our Vera in a hairnet and curlers telling Jack, at an even
higher volume than Fred, that he better get in and help get the
pub ready. Gary and Fred exit at high speed!
Later that night, Vera is again at full stretch and asks Joyce
to help out collecting and washing glasses.
Kelly and Ashley are chatting in the corner when the quiet is
shattered by the arrival of Fred, who immediately embarasses Ashley
by asking Kelly's name and breaking into a tuneless but loud rendition
of 'Where's our Kelly' and pinching Ashley's cheeks as if he were
a two year old.
Steve/Vicky
Vicky receives a visit from two CID officers who quiz her aggressively
about Malcolm and Brenda Fox. Vicky is convinced that they know
about the bribe and are out to get her for conspiracy to pervert
the course of justice. Steve convinces Vicky that Fox will not
admit to receiving the bribe as he'd be charged too.
Maureen/Maude/Deidrie/Audrey/Liz/Alma
Maureen is still miserable and Maude is desperate to get Maureen
out on an attempt to cheer her up. When she asks Deidrie to take
her out that evening, Maureen overhears and refuses vehenently.
However, Maude sees Liz in the Rovers and asks her to sort something
out so Liz organises a girls night in at her house and invites
Maureen. Over several glasses of wine the girls reminisce about
their loves past and present. Doesn't seem to cheer our Maureen
up much though!
Kevin/Don/Josie
While having a lunchtime beer, Kevin is surprised to hear Jack
tell him that he'll "drop the car in later". Kev asks
him what he's on about and Jack tells him that Don said that he
can have it serviced that afternoon. Kev tells Jack that he'll
have to book it in like everyone else and that they are busy.
Jack later complains to Don who, after moaning about having to
buy a new compressor, rows with Kevin telling him that he's the
boss and that they'd better service Jack's car straight away.
He then runs home, well, limps home to Josie and tells her that
the horrible boys are ganging up on him and he wishes they'd never
bought the business. Josie jollies him along and tells him it's
early days etc, but looks equally worried.
Awards:
Worst appearance: Vera in hairnet and curlers. Worsened by the
natural outdoor lighting, I can only deplore the absence of any
warning for the faint hearted before the programme. Be afraid,
be very afraid!
Maudes hat: Bantam Returns! (Not a typing error!) :-)
Best appearance: Fred showing up Ashley, a wonderful scene. John
Savident is really getting into his stride with this character.
Every scene a joy!
