Good evening, welcome to tonight's update. The Platts continue to take centre stage this evening.
As ever thanks go to ITV for the opportunity to provide the world with this update of a Coronation Street episode sponsored by Cadbury's Miniature Heroes.
Written by Catherine Hayes Directed by David Kester
Alma has had a long bath before coming downstairs to face Audrey. Bob Bradshaw has come between them and Alma is determined to move out - when it suits her. Audrey warns her again about the two faced womaniser but she is not listening.
Gail has decided to take Sarah Louise to Canada for the birth and she is mentioned as being 14 years old. Canada is a reasonable excuse. Martin is to tell the world that the baby is his and Gail's. Martin does not think it is a good idea - there are too many holes in the story. Audrey turns up to complain about Alma and makes several remarks about how SL will be attractive to the boys. Gail tells her to lay off.
Linda is preparing for her sales presentation - although Mike tries to distract her. Linda makes it clear that she is taking a professional approach.
Vik is stocktaking but he and Dev are not seeing eye to eye over new recruits. Vik is refusing to look at the older applicants. Dev suggest he phones the job centre - anyone who takes 3.60 an hour (the minimum wage) will be acceptable. A little later Gwen arrives and offers her part time services. Vik goes to great lengths to discourage her but Dev hires her on the spot. Vik is sent to take his lunch.
At the Rovers Ken is reading various messages concerning the murder he is investigating. Blanche is less than complimentary. Dreary takes Blanche off to the Trafford Centre (this out of town shopping monstrosity is how Blanche envisages it). Ken is off to see the local Historical Society archivist this afternoon.
Audreh is chatting to Crusher (who is steadily turning softer) about Bob and Alma. Duggie reckons that bob is soon going to get his comeuppance but will only hint at the problems Bob faces. He initially refuses to let on.
At the B&B Norris is eating whilst Tyrone is studying for his test. Tyrone tells Norris about his inability to read and write. Essentially Tyrone was lazy and the teachers cannot take action - if they had hit him, his mother would have demanded compensation. Tyrone is getting very nervous.
Martin is still against the trip to Canada. Running away from the place is not good. Gail reminds Martin of her own single parent childhood as not being very nice. Should the father be told? What impact would it have on the other children in the class. Martin wants to look to the future and act as an adult - Gail wants to treat her as a child - with the parents taking care of things. {Personal thought - neither of them seem to consider what their daughter wants}.
At the Rovers Ken asks for a take away bottle of wine. Geena goes to get a bottle of something old and French.
Audrey is still wheedling away with Duggie and he eventually concedes that Bob has a nickname. "Bankroll Bob" is not such a nice nickname as Alf's (Mr Millennium) and Duggie suggests she consult some of her colleagues about Mr Bradshaw.
Mike arrives home to find Linda still hard at preparing her presentation. She is not the little woman sitting at home. Mike finds it easier to talk to male buyers. He finds "Helen" the buyer he has asked Linda to handle is far too difficult - only interested in figures. And anyway perhaps Linda could do something useful - like make a cup of tea?
Sarah Lou comes downstairs and asks why Martin and Gail did not tell Audrey about her condition? When will Audrey be told? The Canadian family will know - but Audrey might open her mouth. Can they tell David? What about Martin's parents - Gail suggests lying to them - does it matter says Gail? Gail says they can work something out. Martin points out the realities - it is not the only way - and they cannot lie to the baby - that would last a lifetime.
Gwen catches Jim returning home from the Rovers and invites him for a drink. Gwen tells him about the new job and the money that is coming in. She wants to thank him for his help. She is working evenings and weekends at the shop. Jim tries to tell her about being tired and not wasting the extra earnings - but they still set off for the Rovers.
Blanche and Dreary arrive home. Blanche spent nothing but she really loves the marble. Ken has also had a great time. Bernard Cartwright, the murderer appears to have no descendant - but in fact both sons died early with no issue. There was one daughter - Amelia - who married one William Elliott and she had a long life. There was one son - Frederick Handel Elliott - butcher of this parish.
Audrey returns home to brief Alma on her findings amongst her colleagues. Bob is in the middle of a scandal - he is taking backhanders - the press would be keen to get their hands on the story. Audrey then lays into Alma - the latter comes up smelling of roses even though losing her husband has had no effect. They row and part.
Martin, Gail and Sarah Lou are discussing who has to be told and when. SL is trying not to tell anyone. So people have to be told - she is due back at school - Martin reckons they need to know in case of an accident. SL cuddles Gail and cries - she is distraught and the camera closes in on her.
As they say to be continued on Monday ...
Well has Linda got the wherewithal to make it in sales? I reckon she is also trying to prove to Mike how much it all means to her - let us hope that past indiscretions do not come back to haunt her.
We can hardly blame Alma for not listening to Audrey, sadly the evidence implies that she deserves a hearing. How many others beside Bob and the recent masseur have appeared in both CS and EastEnders?
I still think the young actress playing Sarah Louise is doing a very good job - what a story line - even if no-one can work out how old she is - 12 or 13 or 14?
Not a great episode However Norris did not annoy me - he seemed concerned about Tyrone. No doubt Ken is going to enjoy a small joke at Fred's expense, so the stories are moving along.
Be back this time next week, K Richard Whitbread
Once again the main players tonight are the Platt family. Martin makes an appointment to see Sarah-Louise's head teacher at lunchtime. SL says she can't face it, but Martin assures her she doesn't have to go to school that morning. She is adamant that she won't tell anyone who the boy is, despite Martin's urging that he should not get away with it; he bears some responsibility too. When they get to school it is lunch break, so the playground is full of kids. Sarah-Lou suddenly says 'Oh no, I don't believe it - it's him!' Gail is visibly shocked that the young-looking, scruffy lad kicking a football up against the wall, is The One! Martin gets the lad's name, Neil Fearns, from some other boys, and is about to confront him when Gail screeches after him as if Martin were her pet dog about to worry a flock of spring lambs. 'Martin! - Come Away! I've changed my mind - we're going home. Now!'
Once back in the family home, SL is understandably confused and upset. Gail decrees that there is more thinking to be done. It degenerates into a row, during which SL is rude to Martin and he bitterly reminds her that it is _her_ best interests they are trying to safeguard. SL storms off to her room. Gail despairs that the family will be at daggers drawn before she's due. [Uh? it's hardly happy families at the moment is it?] Gail states that everything is changed now they have seen the boy. He's only a child himself and won't be able to give any support to SL and the baby. Martin and Gail had both imagined he would be a bit older, and would have taken advantage of their little girl. Having seen him, they admit it may not be quite like that. They debate whether telling him - and his parents - would be any benefit to anyone. Gail says they must reconsider whether to take SL to Canada. It degenerates into another shouting match as Martin is against the idea. Gail is determined that the plan would work - they can convince everyone the baby is hers and Martins. He can only look defeated as Gail announces her mind is made up. She is taking SL away before anybody finds out.
Linda is nervous but determined prior to setting off for her appointment with the formidable Ms Cooper. She gets into her stride when presenting her merchandise, though, and convinces Helen Cooper that quality control has improved lately at Underworld. She commits them to supplying a range of larger sizes, and to a tight delivery schedule in order to impress Helen Cooper. Before she leaves, Helen tells Linda that Mike always used to try it on with her whenever he called, and that was one reason he never got an order. Back in Coronation Street, Mike is telling Dreary that Linda has no chance of getting the order, but he is being cruel to be kind and will show Linda that her place is at a machine, not as a sales rep. Linda returns triumphant, with an order worth £33,000. Mike is gobsmacked, especially when he sees the delivery dates, and the fact they will go up to a size 18. Dreary is amused when he has to agree that they will meet the order, and that in fact Linda has done rather well.
Ken and Dreary tell Blanche that the Cartwright murderer was in fact Fred Elliot's grandfather. Blanche tells Roy, who later warns Ken that Blanche is spreading the news. Ken is furious, since he wanted to inform Fred himself, tactfully. Ken confronts Blanche, saying she should not have told anyone. She, rightly, points out that he didn't tell her it was supposed to be a secret. Ken sighs in exasperation. Blanche later asks Ashley what it feels like to have a murderer in the family? She says he should steer clear of Fred. Ashley has a wicked little gleam in his eye as he agrees that it might run in the family - and that the murderer was his great-grandfather, wasn't he? Blanche makes a hasty exit to Ashley's amusement.
Tyrone is nervous about taking his driving theory test, but he passes. Sally whinges to Danny, Geena and anyone else who will listen about how cold it is standing on the market all day. Audrey moans to Fred about Alma; he approaches Alma in the pub to buy her a drink but she cuts him off coldly. Geena flirts with Duggie. Duggie tells Audrey that Bob has been arrested on corruption charges.
In Roy's Rolls, the workman, Stuart, flirts with Hayley. They have a short conversation about football, until Toyah interrupts them. Toyah teases Hayley about her admirer and makes her blush. Roy concentrates on his pots and pans in the background.
Helen Johns
Episode writer: Phil Woods Directed by: David Kester
Episode 4782 - sponsored by Cadbury's Miniature Heroes
A request from me: Would anyone volunteer to fill the vacant daily update slots? It's not really arduous, and need not be very time consuming. Even a short synopsis of the episode would be a benefit to the recipients of the mail list, and ratucs readers, as was proved last Wednesday when, due to football, the Street was pushed back by 45 minutes. Go on.... you know you want to .....
Thanks to Cadbury's Miniature Heroes for sponsoring tonight's episode of ITV Television's Coronation Street. As with most recent episodes the meltdown in the Platt household continues whilst the dead body on the new development continues to be the second string story.
Written by Catherine Hayes Directed by Tim Dowd
Chez Platts David is repeating the talk of the school yard - is SarahLou really pregnant. As ever Martin and Gail descend into a shouting match within seconds. The news is spreading like wildfire. Gail lets Martin tell David the truth - she is pregnant and the fight was for nothing. A little later Gail talks quietly to Sarah Lou to find out how the world knows. SL admits that she told Candice whom Gail threatens to kill. SL lets slip that they were going to Canada which David overhears. The Canada trip is unravelling in front of them but Gail refuses to accept the inevitable.
Duggie is being kept off his building site by the police. There will be no work for a few days. Vinny is invited to the station to give a statement - they go off. Duggie asks them to hurry up.
At the Rovers Fred is defending his family as his leg is extended by Alma, Janice, Gwen and Audrey. Ken wanders in and denies that it is his responsibility. Fred pulls Audreh to one side. It turns out that Bankroll Bob has been released on bail and that neither Alma or Audrey ever want to see him again. On the other side of the bar Ken is talking to Dreary about the book. With a discovered body and a murder story Ken should be able to afford to finance the book himself - although he will not make much money out of it, but he will sell more copies with a good story.
Martin has finally seen that the entire world now knows the position. The story will be all around the Comp (Comprehensive school) because Candice will have spread the word. If she has told her cousin in the juniors then it will spread around the junior school so Rursie and Surphie will know and will therefore tell Sally. By 9am the next morning the entire locality will know and it will be shouted back and forth across the Red Rec. The paper boys will tell Rita. Ken will hear from former colleagues. Everyone knows. Later Sarah Lou comes downstairs and joins Gail and Martin who are in a quieter mood. SL does not want her friends talking behind her back. SL was both naive and unlucky but she will have a bad reputation now. She has realised the essential lie behind the Canadian excursion. As Martin points out they have to tell Audrey - they will tell her in the morning.
Vinny returns to the Rovers with no news. The body is still in Victoria Street. Fred keeps denying family involvement despite leg pulls from Les. As Fred points out it will not help Ken's book if it is an unrelated death. At the site there is nothing to report. The post mortem will take place on Saturday and that will define how the inquiry will proceed. No building work will take place until at least the Monday - and maybe later. The body is removed from the site.
At the minimarket Vik is leaving and Gwen is serving Roy who agrees with a hungover Audrey that Gail would appreciate some flowers given the current family circumstances (Gail had told Roy that there was some family problems in Canada). Gwen and Audrey fall to discussing why Gail has phoned twice this morning and come to the conclusion that Martin's continual smile is the result of connubial activity and the patter of tiny feet is on the agenda.
At the Rovers the policeman is telling Duggie and Steve that there can be no work on the site. The post mortem has been put back to the afternoon and the current belief is that it is not simply a drunk who fell into a hole but that there are suspicious circumstances and that until the investigation is complete no building work can take place anywhere on the site. Duggie and Steve (Pat has vanished from our screens) cannot get him to change his mind.
Audrey high on the "excitement" of another grandchild arrives at the Platts. She has been busy at work and she reveals that she "knows". She asks SL if she is thrilled. SL is not thrilled. Well says Audrey - you should be - it proves your mother is not too old and Martin is no age at all. {Audrey has really launched in both feet first - wonderful, typical Audreh}. Her joy is short lived as Gail finally conveys that it is a great grand child which will be along very shortly. Audrey immediately turns on SL telling her she has ruined her life. She tells Gail she is a poor mother not knowing what her daughter is doing - had she realised - why did she not take her to the doctor - could they fix it anyway (no it is too late) and she refuses to speak to Martin who no doubt has been saying that SL is a wonderful daughter. Audrey is screaming at everyone. Audrey calls SL a silly girl and gives her a good shaking. She wants to slap SL. Gail says no-one will hit her children. Well you should do says Audrey my father used to slap me and it did no harm.
Gwen is starving when Vik returns. He has failed to go to the cash and carry so he is off there now. He refuses her request for a break, even though she has been on duty for some hours. He tells her to clean the floor with the mop and bucket. Gwen is clearly unamused.
At the Rovers Les is thirsty and Geena is clearly in another world daydreaming. She even has to be told which beer to give Les. Vinny points out that Geena is sometimes psychic and Les does not believe it. After some banter Geena comes us with "Grey", "four" and "one" which Les relates to a horse running at Plumpton the following day - there is a horse called "Silver Sixpence", number 14 - Les will put a few bob on.
Gail tells Audrey that she should understand - she was in the same position at 16. Audrey retorts that she was not sleeping around at the age of 13 (which SL has not been doing after all). It is not like holding hands or catching a cold. Audrey gives them all a piece of her mind. Gail identifies that Audrey is worried about the Council. Audrey admits that she knows the identity of both Stephen's and Gail's father, although as Gail points out they have never been told. Eventually Gail tells Audrey to get out. Audrey has managed to upset everyone, patching this up is going to take forever.
Martin and Gail seek to re-assure Sarah Louise. Gail says that as a family they stick together no matter what. Martin in the closing shot says a very brief "yeh".
Nicely woven together this evening. Two new stories - Gwen's mistreatment (will Jim stay out of this one or will he jump in like last time - I bet he stays out and yet he would be more justified this time around). Perhaps Gwen will devise her own revenge. Plus Geena's "vibes" - will Les win a fortune?
The body has yet to be unveiled. I have not been trailing ahead with the Kabin etc so do not know - my personal guess is that Tony, Natalie's son will need identifying. (Don't tell me if I am wrong).
And as my wife said what will Gail do to Martin when reality finally arrives?
Nice mixture of comedy at Fred's expense as well as drama, much of it coming from the characters themselves. I suppose I am in a minority of one but I feel the Street is running well at the moment. I assume we are seeing Jane MacNaught's developments at work and a good job is being done by all concerned.
K Richard Whitbread
Audrey shares the news about Sarah-Louise with Alma, who is stunned but supportive now that the two are friends again. Audrey feels guilty that she was horrible to the family, and Alma suggests she try to make up with them. She later calls round at Gails and apologises and gives SL a hug.
Gail, Martin and SL have a meeting with Mrs Paton, the headmistress. They agree that SL should go back to school for the meantime. The other teachers must be told, though Mrs Paton assures Sarah-Lou that they will treat the news in the strictest confidence. At the later stages of the pregnancy SL may have to go to a special unit, or be tutored at home. Once the baby is born, SL can return to school. On the way out, it is lunch break, so the family walk through a whole corridor full of children. There are a lot of looks, and one girl comments. Once she was back at home, SL was upset at the way her so-called friends had 'blanked' her.
The Victoria Street development has been closed indefinitely. Steve warns Duggie that unless the lads are paid they will find work elsewhere and may not come back. Duggie slides the problem back to Steve, saying they are Steve's subcontractors. As Steve gathers the men round him, we clearly see the sign over Nuttall's Brewery in the background. [I never realised the brewery was that close!] DS Weston later told Duggie that the body was that of a male who died within the last 12 months from head injuries. Duggie surmises that the police have a murder enquiry on their hands.
Linda is disgruntled at having to work hard at the machine to cover the order that she brought to the factory. She moans at Mike for not hiring a replacement for her, and says the other girls think she is being taken for a ride. Mike distracts her from her sales rep ambitions by saying they can to prove to everyone that he is serious about her by setting a date for the wedding. He promises that she can have whatever she wants - of course, Linda wants the whole works. They decide that it will take a few months to organise it, and the date should be in September. Linda is thrilled, and Mike says he is happy to leave all the organisation to her.
Fred is worried that the discovery of the corpse and the family links with the Cartwright murder will harm business. In fact, customers are interested to hear about it, and with a little talk, and the flamboyant use of his meat cleaver, he manages to boost takings to an unprecedented level.
Sally, (with her severely short bog-brush haircut) and Danny are in the cafe having lunch. He seems in a funny mood, and pays little attention to her plans for a kitchenware shop in the new units. He says that he's got a lot on his plate at the moment but does not elaborate.
Les horse didn't come in, but Vinny continues the joke by pointing out details about the horse which _did_ win that fitted in with Geena's predictions. Les is convinced that he is just misinterpreting the mystic information.
Episode written by Peter Mills Directed by Tim Dowd Episode 4786 - sponsored by Cadbury's Miniature Heroes. Brought to you by ITV
Update written by Helen Johns
ITV were on a roll tonight. First Corrie Street, then they had "Seeing Red" starring Sarah Lancashire as Coral Atkins the star of another ITV soap - "Family at War". Two and a half solid hours all worth watching (even though I doubt that Ms Atkins' real story was half as sweet as the one we saw.
Anyway over in Weatherfield thanks go to ITV for another half hour on which to provide an update and to Cadburys for their Miniature Heroes.
Linda is giving Mike a hard time (which is what he would like to be giving her no doubt) over being treated as the little woman playing at weddings whilst the big boys go out to work. She wants to be out selling not doing menial work. She does not want to be the doormat or the sexy trophy wife. Mike is not seeing it her way and is off to play golf.
Gail and Martin are discussing his new job - more money, more responsibilities - Gail suggests that he can fix the shifts to be at home for family events sometimes. He reckons he will have to do more coverage for shortage of staff numbers.
Duggie is walking down the street talking on his mobile trying to get staff to work at time and a half. Natalie asks if he knows more about the murder - he did not ask. Janice reckons it was a drunk - rumour from a policeman chatting up Leanne. Gary is walking the twins - he has found a nursery place for them and hopes to restart the window cleaning - Natalie tells him the Rovers should be on his list.
Candice and Sarah Louise are leaving the former's house when her mother (Mrs Stowe) appears and tells Candice she should not see SL any more. SL runs off and Candice is ordered indoors.
Martin is now at work and is threatening to fix Rebecca's shifts so that she is permanently available on nights. He is thinking of the impact when he leaves Gail - how he will support the family - but it is merely a matter of time.
SL returns home to Gail and tells her of the events at Candice's. Gail takes exception to the events at Candice's as she blames the girl for the state of affairs. Gail puts on her coat and storms out.
Jim (I've had a haircut so I have) McD and Gary are discussing the former's problems with Gwen. Gary points out that one day Gwen is flavour of the month and the next she's not. How long have then been going out - three months? Jim still reckons she is a good girl - Gary tells him to use the right words and a bottle of wine and sort it out.
On the other side of the Rovers Blanche is having a drink with Dreary and complains as Duggie's mobile goes off - "They should be banned - this is a day of rest". Alison and Kevin wander in for a drink. Blanche says she has heard that Gail is pregnant - after all Alison saw her at the ant-natal clinic. Rita, Dreary and Blanche all conclude that Gail is pregnant but as Blanche says out loud "A baby at her age is un- natural". Audrey walks in at this point and hears the comment and says "Oh no - how did you find out". They all blame each other. Audrey then lets the moggy loose as she says "Well you have probably all been lucky and got away with it - do not get too judgemental - Sarah Lou has just been unlucky. Chins hit the floor and Audrey realises what she said as Alison says "We thought it was Gail".
There are some very silly adverts at the moment - does anyone know what petspyjamas.com is actually advertising because I have not got the faintest idea.
Audrey arrives chez Platts looking to contain the released tiger. Only SL is at home and Audrey can hardly explain to her. As SL explains she is at Candices.
The mothers meet at Candices and Candice's mother gives Gail a piece of her mind. They exchange views and Candice is told to leave SL alone. On the whole the point of this scene missed me completely.
Danny and Sally are in the Rovers. {Sadly her period in panto has left Sally with yet another appalling haircut, can this girl find either a decent hairdresser or a good wigmaker? Overall I cannot recall in the last couple of years when she was not having a bad hair day}. Danny was not able to make the appointment with the man from the bank but he has been thinking it through. He has always dealt in cash and does not want books and people watching him. Sally leaves to get the gurls - she will try it on her own. Danny can't say anything.
Mike is telling Dreary about his woes with Linda. Dreary reminds him that Linda is still young and they behave that way - he has lost and should acknowledge that and move on.
Janice comes in and is told the gossip - sadly Rita confirms the truth of SL's pregnancy. At least the Platt's will not be able to lord it over the Battersbys any more. Leanne and Toyah more sense.
Gwen arrives at Jim and he offers her a drink. She asks what is going on? Jim answers that a man told him that he should put up or shut up over Gwen. So actions speak louder than words - clean table, choice of wine or beer, curry in the oven. So as Gwen says where is the action? They kiss. Gwen congratulates Jim on the effort he has taken. Gwen has been thinking she can work on getting out of trouble
Danny arrives at Sally. He has been thinking. Yes there are a lot of books to be kept. But he would need to work closely with Sally - it was wrong earlier. He has been thinking out her as well. They sit down. Sally uses the commitment word. Danny needs to think about growing up, running a business together - it is like being married. Then he realised that it was just what he wanted. But there is a hidden agenda - he wants to be part of whatever Sally wants - something more permanent. Sally suggests they live together. The kids like him and Sally likes him too. They cuddle.
Mike and Linda are in the Rovers. Mike is sending her to Wakefield in the morning to follow up a sales lead. Surprise, surprise they kiss and make up observed by Blanche and Dreary. The Platts walk in and Blanche says "Say nought".
Blanche says "We have just heard, ohh its dreadful - you could bet money on one of the Battersbys lasses - not yours". Blanche's tongue continues out of control. Everyone knows. As Blanche observes if they are in the pub, drinking the night away they cannot be at home looking after the children. Audrey arrives and Gail guesses that he released the pussy from the bar (oh no that was Sarah Lou). As Martin observes he knows what everyone is going to say and thanks them all for being so supportive.
Well it had to come out and it was always going to be Audrey that gave the game away. Given the frequency of such events I would have expected much greater support but perhaps the initial reactions are bound to be adverse. I believe we are lucky that we have daughters of 16, 17 and 19 and we are not aware of any pregnancy events yet given the frequency of teenage births. We have tried to bring our children up properly but it is impossible, especially once they are 16, to be aware of what they are doing and where they are going as to put it simply they do not tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Anyway balancing news elsewhere in the Street as Gwen and Jim look like becoming permanent and the same with Danny and Sally.
Be back this time next week, K Richard Whitbread
Danny is still reticent about the shop idea, despite Sally's good-humoured teasing. She is overjoyed at how perfect her life is - in contrast to how she thinks Gail and Sarah-Louise's must be at the moment. Danny and Sally agree to tell the girls that night about Danny moving in. Sally tells Kevin at lunchtime in the pub. He seems genuinely pleased for them; he admits to liking Danny despite everything. Later at the house, Danny is waiting to tell the children when they come downstairs arguing about how old you have to be to have a baby. Sally is flustered as they ask her to confirm that Sarah-Louise is pregnant - which proves, says Rursie, you don't have to be married to have a baby! Danny decides that now is not the right moment to break the news.
Linda sets off in a taxi heading for the train to take her to a client in Yorkshire. Not before she has taken some smart remarks from Janice about being the only sales rep not able to drive. Mark introduces the new machinist to the other girls at the factory. She is called Bobbi Lewis and will begin on Wednesday, and in the meantime is shown round by Alison. It seems that she will fit in with the work and her colleagues and agrees to go to the pub for lunch with them. Gwen remarks to Janice that she is going to bingo that evening, but hurriedly puts her off when Janice wonders whether to go with her. As everyone leaves for the Rovers, Gwen tells them she will catch them up - she is going to the loo. In the meantime, Linda has phoned Mike. Apparently she has not had any success with the deal, and now the trains are delayed. Mark is quick to volunteer to drive over to collect her. Once the factory is empty, Gwen emerges and uses the office phone to make a call to an instant loans advertisement she has seen in the paper.
Gail tells Roy the truth about what has happened. He promises not to say anything, and Gail manages to raise a wry smile as she says it doesn't matter, because everyone else is talking about it. Sally comes in to see her and they converse quietly in the background as we concentrate on Natalie and Duggie. They talk about Debs; Duggie still feels guilty it seems. Natalie encourages him to have some fun. Later, it seems as if Duggie has taken Natalie's advice as he invites Debs out for a meal on Wednesday - much to her surprise as she tells Natalie.
Gail tells Sally she feels she has let Sarah-Louise down by not spotting the signs earlier. Everyone must think she's a bad parent. Sally is quite supportive. The situation, however, is providing plenty of ammunition for the chattering residents; Rita, Jim, Emily and Natalie all have their say. Most are sympathetic to the situation that SL and the baby will find themselves in. Gary has put his babies into day-care and resumed his window-cleaning round.
In Yorkshire, when Mark collects Linda he finds her feeling upset about losing the deal and thinking that Mike will be annoyed with her. He suggests going for a drink before they return home. Over a beer, Mark reassures Linda that she should not feel bad, but proud of her efforts. She supposes they had better start for home, but he asks her to talk a bit longer. He says he cannot be without her, despite his efforts, and despite being scared of his Dad finding out. Linda is not exactly discouraging him at this point, and when he wants to get a hotel room for the afternoon she grins wickedly and promises him 'just an hour'.
Curly reads a leaflet about the Weatherfield Singles Diners Club, but quickly hides it from view when Jim approaches him. Later Curly completes a form and puts it into an envelope.
When Linda and Mark return to the flat, Mike is nice to Linda. He says he knows why they were late back and didn't go to the factory; he's not stupid: he wishes Linda more success with her sales pitch next time. Mike offers to cook the meal while Linda has a relaxing bath, and he doesn't want his son's presence for the rest of the evening. Mark smiles feebly as he bids them goodnight.
Gwen bursts into Jim's with the news that she has had a win on the bingo. £2000! She can give up working in the shop and clear her debts. Jim is delighted and they embrace. Over his shoulder, Gwen's eyes betray her .....
Writer: Stephen Bennett Director: Brian Mills Episode 4790
Update written by Helen Johns
I'm off next week for a jaunt North of the Border. Look out Edinburgh - Here I come! Nevertheless, I haven't forgotten my updaterly duties, and my place will be taken by Rose Harrington. Thanks again, Rose, for volunteering. I'll be back in April!
As the Friday night episode ended with a police office asking for identification of a ring found on the body on the building society so tonight's episode commences...
Written by Stephen Bennett Directed by John Anderson
On Friday evening Natalie is trying to find reasons why the body is not her son Tony. She has identified the ring and in tears she answers the questions the policeman makes (DI Reynolds). The ring is not a definitive identity but can she think of any other marks. The body is unrecognisable - it has been buried for over a year in Victoria Street. Can Natalie recall a doctor or dentist he might have used? Vinny asks for time to think about it - the policeman suggests a hospital who might have records. The policeman refers to Tony as scum (which is unusual) before departing. Natalie tells Vinny she is convinced that it cannot be Tony. Once he had the cheque he vanished from the are rapidly and had no reason to return.
In the Rovers bar Leanne is off for the evening with Mark. In a booth Gwen is desperate for money - any chance of some overtime before Easter? Janice reckons no chance. Men do not use it as an excuse to buy fancy underwear for their other halves.
Candice is listening to the baby inside Sarah Lou. Candice and Sarah Lou are going to school on the following day (Saturday) to prepare for their parts in the forthcoming drama production. Sarah Lou pats her stomach and acknowledges she will not get a part.
Curly has given the dark haired Collette Graham a lift home. Despite the original meeting between the two in the Freshco's car park, the 'singles' meal has thawed the atmosphere and they are now on speaking terms. She is at least smiling at it being "a funny old world". They agree to be friends and shake hands and admit there is no mutual attraction. She gives him a peck on the cheek and he wishes her a good evening, hoping to see each other again before too long. Disturbingly the camera pulls back as she enters her small modern terraced house to show a smoking thickset man behind barbed wire who watches Collette enter her house.
At the mini-mart Vik is complaining to Nita about Dev's absence. Dev has had troubles at another shop and has a broken window to mend. He has to return so Vik is out of luck over getting in a final pint. Nita departs to get her own drink and Vik is stuck behind the counter.
Gwen is leaving Jim's so she is - no clean clothes for the next day. Jim tells her to bring some clothes and to leave them but she does not accept the offer. The subtext is that she is still unwilling to commit herself just yet (and having just borrowed 2k on top of everything else do you blame her?).
Curly arrives back at the Rovers and tells Rita about the evening - not perhaps a romantic success but at least he had a pleasant time and managed to establish that the rest of the participants in these events were not complete deviants, but were actually normal civilised people! Rita gets a drink out of Curly. Curly will try again and Rita will tell no-one!! Curly still feels funny about it.
Vinny is trying to console Natalie. Debs comes in and is brought up to date. Debs is aware how important the ring was. Natalie continues to deny that the body is Tony.
On Saturday morning Curly is in the Kabin reflecting on how things change with women. Jim admits he does not understand them either - Gwen won't move in, despite having been asked several times. Curly, aware of how things may develop, tells Jim to keep asking until she says yes. Candice and Sarah Lou arrive in the shop on their way to drama at school - they are going to do Grease.
Natalie is searching old papers - which she has been doing most of the night. She is hoping to find an old record concerning Tony. Eventually she recalls the braces Tony wore at Secondary School - they were done at the dental hospital - it should prove possible to trace those records. Leanne enters and is told of the events. Later Debs tries to console Natalie but with little benefit - Natalie cannot come to terms with the body being Tony.
Over at the salon Janice is having her hair combed by Maxine who drops her comb and on leaning down to pick it up she screams and then alleges she has seen a mouse. No says Audrey they are hair clippings blowing about. "With four legs and a long tail?" retorts Maxine. Janice leaps out of the chair and makes for the exit. However re-assured she sits down and allows the treatment to continue.
At School the headmistress (Mrs Paton) greets Candice and Sarah Lou. Candice asks the head why she is there. The Head replies "Well it is so busy with all of you children that sometimes I have to camp out". Candice swallows the explanation although SL susses the joke!. The head wants a work with SL. The drama teacher wants SL involved in the production - there is a lot of work to do behind the scenes and it is important that she takes a full part in something she enjoys. SL is sent to sort out the scripts.
Janice is leaving the salon - and no-one has touched her hair! Debs, Maxine and Audrey start looking for the mouse and moving a piece of furniture the rodent appears and the girls scream. And as Max observes there is bound to be an infestation. Later Fred arrives in response to the urgent demands and he tells them to call in pest control. Audrey refuses to call them out. Audrey does not want to set traps. Fred suggests that Bella the cat owned by Max should move to the salon to solve the problem. Max is not keen.
SL is approached by Neil Fearns (the "father"). He comes to say Hiya and then he says he sorry and he asks if she is allright. It is not an illness says SL. Then he asks if it is because of what they did. Candice arrives and tells the creep to get lost.
At the Rovers Vik asks Gwen if she wants her job back - she says no. Jim asks her again to move in - not as a charity matter but for the right reasons. She still says no. Nita tells Vik to stop whining about his job. She got out - so can he.
Vinny is trying to tell Natalie to rest but she refuses to leave the bar. She retires to the back room and is drinking a glass of wine when DI Reynolds returns with his non-speaking sidekick to confirm that the body is indeed Tony. The pathologist has found massive damage to the head, probably involving a baseball bat. A formal murder investigation will start - can she be interviewed in the morning. But can Mrs Barnes give any names of people who might have wanted to arrange for Tony to die.
Bit weak having women screaming at mice - I thought that only happened in Tom & Jerry cartoons!
Is one of the storylines in Grease about an unrealised pregnancy? Bit close that one!
For those in the know is Collette being stalked? If so does Curly save her and true romance blossom?
Anyway nicely moved along this evening. Two and half out of five.
See you all next week, K Richard Whitbread
Rose Harrington volunteered to write tonight's update and sadly she says:
"You are probably going to have a heart attack when I tell you that although I volunteered to write the update for Monday's episode, we had no power here at all, no phones, electricity or trains all last night and most of today, so I'm afraid I missed last night's episode.
I am really sorry about this but I had no means of even asking anyone else to tape it for me!!! Apparently there was a small landslide near the railway track and it brought down all sorts of power lines etc."
Rose - please try again!! As I received this power has presumably been reinstated!
For those who missed Monday evening a brief coverage of events as far as I can recall.
1. At the Rovers Natalie is beside herself and is mourning both Tony and Des. She goes out and returns to her house where she last saw Tony and where Des was attacked. The policeman is still trying to extract from Natalie just who might be responsible for Tony's death. She says they both know who - the people who killed Des. Sadly names and proof are lacking.
2. Pat is setting traps at the salon for the mouse (mice?). He is charging £5 a mouse captured. Audrey is reluctant to cough up but Max insists.
3. Curly finds a note on his car warning him to keep away (from Colette), although the source of the note and its meaning are lost on him - at the moment he does not associate it with Colette.
4. Linda is keeping her eye on the new recruit who is showing an interest in Mark. Linda is now permanently removed from machine work. How can Mike afford himself, Mark, Linda and Dreary as managers?
5. Vik has decided that he will share the small house he shares with Nita as he wants to start up a minicab operation from which he can make some real money. Nita says he cannot sell her half of the house and implies that she lives in the house. Now excuse me but I thought she was living in the flat over the corner shop - when did she move home?
6. Martin is away on his course (and is therefore unseen). Rebecca is in the street and phones him on her mobile. They have a friendly chat and she is invited to join him that evening as she is not on duty until the following day. Walking up the road behind her is Gail. The call ends and then Rebecca calls him back and says "Hallo Martin", just as Gail says Hallo to her. She cuts the call but Martin phones back and we are all surprised that Gail does not recognise the voice!! Gail invites Rebecca round to tea but the latter declines saying she has to meet someone.
7. Candice and Sarah Lou are settling down to relatively normal behaviour. SL does not seem quite so depressed about having to be stage management.
Apologies for the brevity - hopefully Rose will have a go later this week.
K Richard Whitbread
Hallo, good evening, and welcome to the new Wed updates. I'm going to give this a try and see how we get on. I'll normally be posting these on Fri lunchtimes.
So, here we go...
In the Rovers backroom, Natalie is getting increasingly narked as the other 3 fuss round her. Betty offers toast. Vinnie says she should lie down. Natalie just gets cross and says it's her fault that Tony turned out the way he did.
Audrey and Max are peering through the door of the salon when Pat arrives. He offers to collect all the mice in his humane traps at £5 a shot. Audrey tries to bargain but as Max says, there's only one, so that's just a fiver.
Curly sees Gary outside and asks him to clean his windows. Then DI Reynolds arrives to quiz Gary. Didn't Tony kill his mother-in-law? He wants to get a picture of how he was seen in the community. Gary says Tony was seen as a complete toerag and got what was coming to him, but he didn't kill him.
At the factory, Janice notes that Gwen has been dead miserable since she won the money. Linda tries to join in and talk about financial management, but Janice cuts her out by changing the talk to bedroom skills. Sally arrives to collect her usual load of seconds, most of them supplied by Bobbi this week. Linda is hanging around and Mike says if she's got nothing to do she should get back on the machine.
Pat has caught 10 mice in the salon so wants £50 from Audrey. She refuses to pay, as she can't believe there were that many. So Pat lets them out again. They moved quite slowly and had lovely patterns, so were clearly domestic.
Dev teases Vik about his new minicab idea. As Nita has turned him down about selling the house, Vik is his usual grumpy self and has another rant about being a skivvy. However, Dev admires him for his plan and suggests he has a word with Nita on Vik's behalf.
In the café, there are more arguments about mice. We see Debs and Duggie talking about how Tony could have gone so wrong. Duggie gives a philosophical speech about doing the best you can for them. Audrey challenges Debs about why she hasn't been to work and hears the news, along with Max.
Linda has had a thought at the factory and asks Mike why they don't sell the seconds themselves. She offers to do a cost-benefit analysis for a couple of the girls working in the market one day a week. Mike notes that Sally won't like that.
Gary goes to meet Natalie. She asks if he drank a lot when Judy died. Could Gary imagine wanting Billy to be dead? She wanted that for Tony. Vinny arrives, suggests she stops drinking, but is dispatched with a look for another bottle of brandy.
Back at the café, Audrey is comforting Max and doesn't bat an eyelid when Pat returnshaving caught all the mice again and gives him £50. A stranger arrives to talk to Gail. He's Neil Fearn's father. He's been strange recently and says he's got her daughter pregnant. Is it true?
Interval
Tyrone challenges Pat about the mouse trick. He knows all about it as his dad used to do it. Pat buys him breakfast to keep quiet.
Gail and Mr. Fearn discuss the pregnancy. He wants to do what's right. Gail says they were just 2 daft kids. While her daughter doesn't have a choice, Neil can carry on with his childhood. It would be better for all concerned if they left it as it was. Mr. Fearn is clearly a decent man and wants to do what's right, but is happy to leave it like this if that's what Gail wants. He leaves her his card.
The factory girls arrive at the Rovers and Janice starts getting a round in, saying Gwen will pay. Gwen says she won't and storms off. Collette arrives in a another strop to challenge Curly, waving a note at him. But it's not Curly's writing, and when he compares it with the note he got the other day, it's the same. Could she know who it is, an old boyfriend perhaps? Collette goes quiet, then says it's just a misunderstanding and leaves.
At the Platts, Gail tells SL about her meeting with Mr. Fearn and how they sorted it out. SL is glad as she has enough interfering relatives of her own.
Debs and Duggie are at the bar. Debs feels useless and Duggie tenderly touches her hair in comfort. Natalie appears. The staff suggests she should stay in the back, but she says that everyone wants her to hide away while they gossip about her. Betty says they're just offering sympathy, but Natalie says that's a laugh and disappears.
The debt collector has arrived at Gwen's to get some money. Not today I'm afraid, she says. See you next week. No she won't, as his firm has sold the debt on to someone who thinks they can get the money. He warns her not to get funny with them, as they will collect it one way or another.
Sally and Gina are talking about horoscopes when Natalie appears again and says it's all rubbish. Betty comments that Nat really wants to pick a fight tonight. We switch to Audrey and Gail talking about birth certificates. Audrey advises to just put the mother's name on, and Gail has a dig as this is what Audrey did with hers.
Rita says how sorry she is as Natalie serves her. Natalie says Tony got what was coming to him and was the scum of the earth. Everyone thinks that but won't say it to her face. She doesn't want their comfort or sympathy and storms into the back.
Kathy Brown
