2005
Wednesday 2 November

Written by: Debbie Oates
Directed by: David Kester

Oh-oh. Eileen is wafting bacon smells in the general direction of Jason's bedroom. This is because it is her fond belief that he has spent the night with Violet, and she's so pleased they're back together she's cooked them a nice brekkie. Sean is similarly pleased, and neither of them can wait till the lovely couple get up. So Sean says he'll text Violet. Eileen says he should put 'Welcome Home' (or should that be WLKM HM in text-speak?) – 'I can't wait to see her face!' says Eileen. She doesn't have to wait long: the doorbell rings, and there is Violet herself, asking if Jason's in. Eileen says he's at work, but Violet is suspicious when she hears a door banging upstairs. Eileen says it's someone Sean met the previous night, and Sean says he'll go and check how he is. Eileen tells Violet she'll tell Jason she called round, but Violet says not to – she wants to save face. Violet goes, and Sean and Eileen just look at each other, horrified.

Les is singing a Status Quo song, and Cilla makes it clear she's sick of hearing it and she's still not best pleased about Les's efforts with the wedding presents. To make things worse, Tracy comes round with her bill for the flowers.

Eileen is waiting to have a word with Jason once he's got rid of his 'little mistake.' But when she sees it's Sarah, she changes that to 'disaster.' Jason ushers Sarah out of the back door, and Eileen says, 'When you've seen her out of the door of shame, come back cos I want to talk to you.'

In the back alley, Jason asks Sarah what she's going to tell Scooter. Sarah is worried what Eileen will say to Scooter, but Jason, who knows his mother well, says Eileen wouldn't do that, as if Scooter dumped Sarah she'd then be free for Jason. Seems like Sarah wouldn't mind that, but Jason says it would be a disaster, considering the history between their two families. They share a quick awkward kiss and Sarah goes home.

The Platt family, including Martin and Scooter but without Sarah, are discussing who's taking David to the dentist (Gail, but Martin will meet up with him later). Martin gets a call from Robyn and goes out to take it just as Sarah comes back in. She says she stayed at Candice's and only just woke up. Gail doesn't believe her, and says that Scooter has been up all night because Bethany wasn't well. He texted Sarah about it, apparently. Bethany is okay now and Gail is taking her to school.

Robyn has turned up with a van – she's moving house.

Janice, Fiz and Kelly are coming out of t'Rovers, and Lloyd stops in his car to ask Kelly if she wants a drink with him before he goes to his darts match. The others are sarcastic about his 'hobby' but Kelly agrees to meet him. Lloyd drives off. The other two tell Kelly she should sort Lloyd out, but she says she's in control because she knows Lloyd has another woman, and he doesn't know she knows. 'I know that for a fact, which makes me in control,' she says.

Scooter and Sarah are now out and about and they bump into Candice. Sarah says pointedly that she's sorry she left Candice's flat in a mess that morning but she was in a hurry to get back to Beth. Candice goes along with it, and Scooter obviously believes the story. Candice tells them about 'some old boy band' offering her a hairdressing job, but she thinks it was a wind-up because they haven't contacted her. Sarah sends Scooter to the shop to get her some headache tablets, and Candice asks Sarah who she stayed with. Sarah says it's no-one she knows. Audrey is cross with Candice that she took the Status Quo job and also hasn't been in to work all morning. Candice says she's changed her mind anyway, and Sarah easily persuades Audrey to take her back.

Sarah's ears must be burning, because she's the hot topic at the cab office, where Eileen is working and Sean is speculating. Eileen says she's trying to pretend it didn't happen, and Sean wonders what he'll say to Violet. Jason comes in and Sean calls him a 'hussy.' They tell Jason that Violet was looking for him at the wedding, and once that percolates into the small space he calls a brain, he looks like he sincerely regrets getting together with Sarah at all.

Martin is with Robyn in the beautiful, glorious city of Liverpool, helping her to move in. He's forgotten he's meant to be meeting David, and David rings him up in a foul mood.

Jason's also in a foul mood – he's at home with Eileen, first blaming her for not telling him that Violet was looking for him. 'What if I've blown it, mam?' he says, reasoning that if he tells Violet about Sarah she'll hate him, and if she finds out from someone else it'll be worse. Eileen says he'll have to tell Violet how he feels about her before she changes her mind.

It's bad news for Les – Cilla is proposing to take Yana on her honeymoon instead of him! 'And I want this place spotless when I get back,' she orders him, 'Or that sham marriage we had will be the nearest you get to having me as your wife!' She leaves.

Sean and Violet are in t'Rovers, and she's telling him that she thinks Jason no longer cares about her, and was probably staying away from her at the wedding to get even with her.

Candice is in the pub with Audrey and Gail, ranting about how Status Quo can't keep their promises. Gail asks her what time she and Sarah got to bed the night before, but Candice is saved from replying when Adam comes in, wanting to know if it's true that Candice is going to be a hairdresser to the stars (Candice and Adam are looking like a couple – when did that happen? Did I nod off at some point?). Candice says she wouldn't just up and leave Adam – she's not that selfish. Audrey and Gail find that very amusing.

Jason comes in, and Violet reluctantly comes over to serve him. He says he's sorry he missed her at the wedding, and she tries to make light of it. He says he wants them to get back together and start again, and that he loves her. They kiss.

The factory girls have hatched a plot to keep Lloyd from going off to 'play darts.' They've lined up 4 pints – something no man can resist, apparently – after which he'll be useless for driving or much else. Kelly thinks it's a daft idea. When he arrives, Janice tells him the pints were all bought for him by mistake and they wonder if he's the kind of bloke who'd let a pint go flat. He says he's driving, and Kelly says the others think he prefers darts to her. He tells them they're solid, together yet individual, two yet one. He says he's got his darts and Kelly's got her… (searches for something he can call a hobby of Kelly's) shopping. Then he goes.

Violet and Jason are back at his house, and she's all for going straight upstairs, but he wants her to sit down in the front room for a while first. Jason mentions the incident with Charlie, and Violet says he has to believe that she could never have done anything more than kiss Charlie, or anyone, because she loves Jason. She says he has to trust her like she trusts him. She wants them to start again, and wants to get reacquainted with his bedroom, which she bets is a tip and missing a woman's touch (!). He looks a bit unhappy/guilty, but says nothing.

The only thing left in the removal van in Liverpool is a mattress, and Robyn pulls an exhausted Martin down onto it. It's dark and it's been a long day moving furniture. He says he can't face the drive home – both of them already hate the M62, but Martin says the 30 mile journey is something they'll have to get used to if they want to stay together. Robyn suggests that he moves in with her. He says it's a mad idea, but a good one – and agrees.

Sue Haasler





Friday 4 November

Its the opening scene and Robyn is round at Martin's flat. Martin is worried about having to tell Gail and the kids about moving to that far away place called Liverpool. Robyn, who has clearly taken leave of her senses, thinks that being able to wake up with Martin every morning will make it all worth it!

Violet and Jason are snogging in Eileen's house much to the delight of Eileen and Sean. Sean tries to avert his eyes away from the courting couple by admiring the patterns on Eileen's dinner plates. Eileen is much relieved that she wont have to sit opposite Sarah Louise every morning at breakfast.

Over at Gail's house, Sarah Louise is fast loosing her patience with the lazy Scooter. The house is a tip and all Scooter can do is explain the cost of water to an amused David.

Steve and Ronnie are leaving the cab office. They are deciding on their romantic plans for the evening and they finally settle on a curry. Ronnie doesn't want to go down Rusholme though as Jimmy frequents the curry mile quite often. Steve isn't scared, oh no he thinks that they have heard the last of Mr Clayton. Fool!

Violet and Jason are snogging in the street and Sarah Louise, who is just leaving the house spots them. She approaches them and an unsuspecting Violet gloats about how they have seen the error of their ways etc. Sarah Louise who is green with envy comments that she and Scooter and having problems.

In the Cafe, Audrey and Gail are lunching. In walks the 'Big Yin' and they exchange awkward pleasantries. Audrey is convinced that the 'Big Yin' still fancies Gail. Aah, a Mothers love!

Over at the pub, Dev is boasting about his new house to anyone who will listen. Sunita is pretending to be embarrassed but confesses to Shelly that she too is excited about it. Kelly and Janice are having a drink in the Rovers and Lloyd comes in to cancel their date. He makes up some lame excuse involving his imaginary darts team and offers to have a quick drink with her after work that evening. As Violet is deciding to move back in with Jason, he receives another text message off stalker Sarah Louise and is momentarily distracted by this.

In the cab office, Ronnie explains that her last fare turned out to be the owner of a restaurant she used to frequent. The owner recognised Ronnie and expressed his interest in setting up an account with Streetcars. This is clearly going to be a set up involving her estranged husband.

Over at Gail's house, Martin tells Gail and Sarah Louise that he is moving to Liverpool with his bird. Gail is shocked!

Back to the Rovers where Lloyd meets Kelly for the drink that he promised her. Kelly is plying Lloyd with ale, spiked with a s**t load of laxatives. Lloyd takes a turn for the worse and Bev phones for an ambulance. There is a very funny scene where Lloyd is being wheeled down the corridor of Weatherfield General in a hospital bed, Kelly trotting beside him. When the Dr suggests operating on Lloyd, Kelly confesses her crime.

The end.



Sunday 6 November

We open in the Platt residence. Gail is bustling about, picking up Scooter's stuff and moaning to Sarah about his untidiness. "This can't go on, Sarah," she scolds. Sarah seems distracted. "Yeah, I know," she murmurs.

Just then David comes in with Martin, talking about the evening's Guy Fawkes celebrations. He asks his dad if his 'bird' is coming and Gail reminds him that her name is Robyn. David says he doesn't mind, after all his dad is only going to get weekends with her from now on. Martin looks uncomfortable, and after David's gone out Gail scolds him too, (ooh she's cheerful today!) and accuses him of being a chicken, telling him he's got to tell David soon that he's moving to Liverpool with Robyn.

In the taxi office, Lloyd is recovering from his overdose of laxatives, but Eileen is very unsympathetic. Just then Kelly comes in bearing chocolates. "Guilt offering?" enquires Lloyd. Eileen listens in amazement as Kelly apologises and tells him it was only a joke, she only meant to give him the runs. "Laxative poisoning," growls Lloyd, "poisoning!" Kelly tries to justify what she did, "You were supposed to take me out, weren't you," she says. "Blimey," says Eileen, "what do you do to a fella who's dumped you?" Lloyd says they're about to find out, but he doesn't fancy winding up in a shallow grave.

Back at the Platt's, Scooter has bought Sarah a large, gift-wrapped present. He's bought it to cheer her up. However, when she opens it she finds a large fish, mounted on a board. "What do you think?" he asks, hopefully. (Has this guy really no idea of the female psyche?) Sarah seems seriously underwhelmed. "It's a dead fish," she says, staring at it with distaste. "It's a stuffed halibut," says Scooter, "I knew you'd love it." Sarah decides not to beat about the bush. "But I don't, I hate it," she tells him, "I hate all fish." Scooter tells her she's changed, and they decide that it's best he leaves, there's nothing more to say, he's not sure he wants to go out with someone who hates fish.

David is building his bonfire in the back garden, watched by Martin, who starts to say that it's not been too bad for them all since he and Gail split up. (Err…has he got amnesia? There was Richard Hillman who tried to murder them and Katy Harris who nearly got him sent to gaol.) But David is a bright boy and he catches on quickly. "What are you trying to say, Dad?" he asks, "you're moving in with her, aren't you, you're moving to Liverpool." Martin confesses that he is, but tells him it's not that far away. Martin assures him that leaving him will be the hardest part, but he feels he needs a fresh start after everything that's happened. He tells his son that there's a spare bedroom and he can come and visit. "Permanently?" asks David, sulkily. Martin tells him that would mean changing schools and leaving all his friends. "But if I wanted to?" asks David, and Martin concedes that they'll talk about it.

Molly comes into the pub, done up to the nines. She's been to a new pet shop and come back with dog treats. She tells Kirk she thought they could try them out, and leads him off to a table, much to Fiz's disgust.

Gail arrives home and finds Scooter moving out. "What's going on?" she asks, "you don't have to leave." Scooter looks at Sarah who is standing, stony faced, and assures Gail that he does. He gives Bethany a hug and departs.

Back in the Rovers, Kirk is sampling all the dog biscuits, and giving his verdict. Molly leans over to Kirk and assures him and Fiz that if they really love their dogs they wouldn't give them anything they wouldn't eat themselves. Fiz wants to know why she isn't trying them, and Molly assures her that Kirk is the expert, she's just the apprentice.

Kelly rushes in and drags Fiz off to one side. She wails that Lloyd is about to dump her after what she did, what should she do? Fiz tells her she should say good riddance to the slimy git, he was the one who was playing away, and now has managed to make her feel guilty. She tells Kelly not to fall for it, "Where's your self-respect?" she asks. Kelly suddenly wakes up, "You're right," she says, "it should be him, apologising to me, not the other way around!" She decides to go and have it out with the lousy sleazeball.

The fireworks are in full swing as Robyn and Martin cross the street towards Gail's house. Robyn confesses that she's feeling nervous. They go into the back garden where the bonfire party is well underway. Keith and Craig are there, and Keith tells Audrey that he's put the pigs into the house so they wouldn't be frightened by the fireworks. The Webster family are in attendance, and Sophie approaches Robyn. "So you're a teacher are you?" she asks, "you don't look like a teacher." Martin quips that she's got a cane in the car, but Sophie is not amused. "Banned yonks ago," she says, and wanders off. Robyn goes up to David, beside the fire and tries to make conversation with him, but David doesn't seem impressed. Over by the house, Rosie, who says she didn't want to come, is making her protest about fireworks and how many animals are frightened and maimed by the every year. Rosie then mutters to Craig about the fact that Audrey is wearing a dead animal on her head. (She has a fur hat!)

Out in the street, Emily is just getting into Lloyd's taxi when Kelly comes running up. "I want a word with you," she says, and jumps in as he tries to drive away. "What are you doing you mad cow?" he says, but Kelly is not going to be dissuaded from her purpose, and tells him she knows exactly what he's been doing with the other woman. Emily decides to get the bus instead and gets out of the car.

Back at the bonfire party, Audrey puts her fur hat onto Bethany's head, and tells Keith it's mink. He's convinced she was ripped off and it's actually rabbit. Martin meanwhile, is trying to have a talk with Craig, but Craig isn't feeling very charitable. "What you did will stay with us both for the rest of our lives," he tells Martin. Over by the fire, Rosie is trying to persuade Bethany to throw the fur hat into the fire, and when she won't, Rosie does it herself. Audrey is horrified. "That's my hat!" she cries. "Kill the hat!" shouts Sophie. An embarrassed Sally hustles them away.

Out in the taxi, Kelly tells Lloyd that she knows The Junction pub doesn't have a darts team, and she saw him snogging the other woman on the doorstep. "You followed me?" he's shocked. "What kind of relationship is that, where you don't even trust me?" Realising he's cornered, Lloyd's excuse is that this woman had some money so he could buy into the cab firm, and when he wanted to break it off she threatened to tell her bruiser of a husband. "So you're bedding her out of necessity?" queries Kelly. "Yeah," says Lloyd, "it's a sort of financial arrangement." He says he doesn't enjoy doing it. "You're forced into it then?" says Kelly. "Yeah," he agrees. "Ah, you poor thing," says Kelly, sympathetically. She then tells him that of all the rubbish, cowardly excuses she's ever heard, this one beats the lot. She gets out of the car and starts to walk away. Lloyd starts to go after her, but she turns and tells him, "Get lost Lloyd, you're more pathetic than I ever thought you were, and I deserve better!"

Gail sits down in the garden for a heart to heart with David. She tells him that she'll always be there for him, but David turns on her and, venting his anger, says he doesn't want to stay there with her, Sarah and Beth. She tries to keep everyone there because she's terrified of being on her own, and how everybody hates her and so does he. He blames her for kicking his dad out and for not letting him go with him. He then tells her that this time she can't stop him, this time he is going, his dad said he could!

Inside, in the kitchen, Keith, Robyn and Martin are looking at the stuffed fish. Gail brings David in and demands to know if what he's said is true. Martin says he didn't say it, but David shouts that he did. Martin hedges and said that he told David they would talk about it if he wanted to. Robyn looks uncomfortable at this point and David rushes off upstairs. "You don't want him, do you," says Gail, absolutely seething. "You don't want your responsibilities tagging along and messing up your plans." She and Martin then have a huge row, over Robyn's head.

Over in the taxi office they are all discussing Kelly's dumping of Lloyd when a car alarm starts going off. They rush outside as a car roars off round the corner and they see the windscreen of one of their taxis smashed. "I told you he wouldn't give up," says Ronnie.

The end. Anne Logan





Monday 7 November

First part of tonight

At Streetcars Lloyd is putting the blame for the windscreen being smashed on Ronnie. Lloyd finds out that the contract for Charlie Fellow's restaurant has been poached off Jimmy's firm. She says, "It's great business for us" Lloyd replies, "Yeah, until your flamin' husband throws a petrol bomb through the door. You want to rub his nose in it yeah? But you don't care what happens to anybody else" Eileen agrees and Ronnie walks out. Lloyd and Steve come to an agreement that Ronnie and Claire are not to drive for now.

Battersby's Flat Janice is telling Leanne how glad she is back and says she was lonely without her. Leanne replies, "I am too without Jamie, even when I am with people. And yes, I know it's my fault, you don't have to tell me. I know I've got no chance of getting him back" Janice replies, "You've got about as much chance as I have of winning the lottery. The thing is though, people 'do' win the lottery, don't they? And when it comes to Jamie it could be yooo-hoo"

At another Flat, Steve tells Ronnie that he and Lloyd have decided that she and Claire are not going to drive. He says "You can help Eileen out on the switch" Ronnie replies, "It's just giving in to Jimmy, and I don't like it" Steve replies, "I couldn't give a monkey's whether you like it or not! Just do it! Alright?" Ronnie looks at him and fixes him and says, "For a second there I could hear Jimmy talking"

Martin's Flat he and Robyn are getting ready to go to Liverpool. Robyn asks Martin if he is going to try and catch David before he goes to school. He tells her he will probably go round that evening maybe. She replies, "You might not thank me for saying this but in my opinion you were far too indulgent with him last night" Martin says he has had a few bad years. She's not sympathetic and says, "I see loads of kids who get upset when a parent moves away. They get over it"

Outside Kirk and Molly are going to the kennels. Fiz rushes after Kirk with sandwiches for him and tells him she feels happier knowing he has something for his lunch. Molly asks, "Aw, you're like a mum to him aren't you? Do make sure he never goes out without a clean hankie too?" Fiz tells Kirk she'd would like a word with him in private. Molly says, "See you at the kennels Kirky" Fiz angrily says, "Kirky? I'm the only allowed to call him that" Molly smirks back, "Oh, sorry. See you at the kennels Mr Sutherland" Fiz tells him that Molly is trying to come between them and is after him. He says she's not and they are just work mates. Fiz says, "Yes, and she won't be happy till you are bedmates" Kirk says, "You've really hurt me Fiz. I've never done anything I shouldn't have and you should know that"

In the Platt household Martin has come round and tells David they seem to have got their wires crossed last night, "I never said I wanted you to move to Liverpool with me and Robyn. What I meant was.." David cuts him up and says, "Well it doesn't matter now does it, because I always come last" Martin tells him, "That's not true and you know it. I care about you both. Okay, I love Robyn but that doesn't stop me loving you and I never will" David says, "I suppose it's 'her' that doesn't want me living with you" Martin tells him, "No. Look, I would never ask you to move away from you mum, this house, the rest of your family because it would mean you leaving 'them', not to mention school and all of your pals. You wouldn't really want that, would you?" David replies, "No, I suppose not but I just wish you weren't going anywhere" Martin sighs, "It's Liverpool, not Timbuktu. It's an hour down the motorway. And I want you to come and stop with us, holidays, weekends, that sort of thing. If you want to that is. I hope you do" David replies, "It'll be alright" Martin replies, "I'm your dad. And you are the only son I will ever have and I don't want to lose you, not ever. And that's the truth"

Streetcars again and Ronnie's angry about not being allowed to drive. She tells Claire that Steve and Lloyd are over reacting. They get a call from Charlie Fellows who wants a taxi from his farm to the restaurant. Claire on the phone says, "Ronnie? No, I'm afraid Ronnie's not working today. It will be one of the other drivers" Ronnie butts in, "Blow that. Charlie's 'my' customer. Tell him I'm on my way" she walks out despite Claire telling her not to go. Claire sighs and tells Mr Fellows that Ronnie is on her way.

Over at the Corner shop Jason enters for some mints and Sarah starts flirting with him and tells him she has dumped Scooter. Jason asks why and she smiles, "Well, he was boring compared to...other people" He tells her, "You didn't tell him about the.... after the wedding, you know" Sarah pauses then replies, "No" He cries, "But that isn't why you dumped him is it?" Sarah smiles and says, "Let's just say it helped me make my mind up" He replies, "See you around" Sarah replies, "You will. You just can't help bumping into people round here?"

Streetcar's office a girl arrives and asks if Ronnie is there. Eileen tells her she's out on a job, "Are you a mate of hers?" The girl replies, "No I am not! I've no time for the hard faced cow! It's Nick I'm worried about" Claire says, "Do you mind telling us who you are, and what you want?" she replies, "I'm Julie, Nick Clayton' girlfriend. He's going to end up in jail the way things are going. He does whatever his dad tells him and Jimmy's totally lost it since she walked out on him he's got some plan to lure her out to a farm on a taxi job. He's going to be waiting for her. Look, I don't care what happens to Ronnie, I just want to keep Nick out of trouble. Keep me out of it but give her a warning, alright?"

Outside Ronnie pulls up at Fellow's farm out at Weatherfield Edge, beeps her horn and waits for him to come.

Rovers and Candice is feeling down over her career as stylist to Status Quo. Vera assumes she was taken advantage of and tells her, "Musicians eh? Randy, the lot of 'em. And them tight trousers make it worse! They'll say 'owt to get you do what they want. I had a musical friend one. Lester his name was, Lester Fontayne. Could he tinkle the ivories. Moon River, that was our song. First time I saw him play that, he never took his eyes off me. Didn't look at his hands once. Ten minutes later he had me on the snooker table!" Fiz is mad about Molly fancying Kirk but that he just can't see it. Janice tells her, "Happen he does but he just makes out to you that he doesn't" Jack tells Candice, "Now our Vera's in the loo I don't mind telling you, I don't blame you for pulling those rockers" Candice protests that it wasn't like that. "Well they pulled you then, it doesn't matter which way round. What I'm saying is that I know what it's like. When I was singing in the clubs women used to throw themselves at me left right and centre" She say's again it was not like. They just offered her a job. Jack says, "Ah, great days. Only don't tell our Vera. It'd break her heart" Jamie walks in and Janice and Fiz tell Leanne to go talk to him. She walks up to the bar and asks him hesitantly, "Er... Hi Jay.... can I buy you a drink?" He replies, "No" and walks out.

Street cars Eileen tries to get Ronnie over the radio but gets no reply. She tells Claire, "I don't like this. I'm going to get on to Lloyd and Steve" She calls Steve on the radio but gets no reply.

Steve is helping someone with her shopping. He opens the car door to find Eileen asking him to answer. He tells her, "I was helping a customer with her shopping. What's the problem?" His blood runs cold as she replies, "I think Ronnie might be in trouble. In fact I'm sure of it"

Back to Ronnie and she has got out the cab and is knocking on the door to let the customer know she is there. They don't answer, she decides to go round to the back of the house. Her husband secretly follows her holding a double-barrelled shotgun.

Outside Kirk tells Molly he can't understand what happened to his sandwich's Fiz made him, "One minute they were there. The next they were gone" She replies, "One of the dogs must have had 'em. Still chips are better, eh?" He tells her how Fiz thinks there is something going on between them and won't believe him there isn't. She tells him that's terrible and, spiking his guns before Fiz can get to him, tells him how jealous women want control over their men and don't allow them to have friendships with other girls, "I bet you she is going to get you to give me the sack" He assures her she wouldn't do that. Molly replies, "I bet you"

Steve races to the farm in his taxi. Eileen tells him that she still can't get an answer from Ronnie and that Lloyd is on his way too.

Back to the Farm Ronnie still has not got an answer from the back of the house, she walks back to the front of the house and looks through the window. She tunes to go back to the taxi and gets a shock as she sees Nick Clayton. She races to the taxi as a gun shot rings out and the back tyre. She reaches for the drivers door, thinking she can still get away, but a second shot rings out and the front tyre is flattened. He looks at her and tells her, "I warned you Ronnie, 'nobody' walks out on me"

Steve is speeding down a narrow country lane.

Ronnie tries to make a run for it but is easily stopped by Nick. Jimmy reloads both barrels and tells her, "No use in trying to run Ronnie. You've been asking for it girl, and now you're going to get it" Steve's taxi races through the farm gate and Nick drags Ronnie out of its path. Jimmy takes aim and fires at the car, the shot hits the wheel arch. He fire's a second shot taking out the front tyre. Steve tries to brake and runs straight into the back of Ronnie's cab, his head banging hard against the steering wheel. He looks up he sees Nick gripping Ronnie tightly and Jimmy stood in front of the car. He loads another two cartridges into the barrels of the gun and smiles menacingly, "Well well, it's lover boy. Two for the price of one"

Amanda Souter

Episode 2.

Steve finds himself trapped in his crashed car with a shotgun wielding psychopath on the outside. He ducks down onto the seat and screams into the mic, 'Eileen,! Eileen!' but drops the mic as a bang sounds above him.

He looks up in horror as his windscreen cracks to see Clayton stood on the bonnet, looking like a man possessed, hammering at the windscreen with the butt of the rifle. Panic stricken, he reaches over and opens the passenger door and crawls out as fast as he can. He scrambles to his feet and turns round to find himself staring down the barrels of the hastily reloaded shotgun. Ronnie races and throws herself in front of Steve, screaming, 'No! Jimmy, please, no! When's it going to end? A life sentence? Who wins? Nobody!' He snarls, 'Maybe you should have thought of that!' She screams, 'Stop please before it goes too far!' He replies, 'It's your call!'

She snorts, 'Says the man with a gun in his hand!' He tells her, 'It's up to you.' She replies softly, 'Let's talk, just me and you,' and moves towards him with her arm outstretched towards the gun, but Nick grabs her from behind and drags her backwards. Steve leaps to her defence but finds himself elbowed in the stomach and pushed against the wall. As Nick raises his fist ready to pound Steve the shotgun fires again. Jimmy yells, 'Nick!' and calls his snickering dolt of a son off.

Eileen raises Lloyd on the radio and tells him to turn back, 'The police are on their way. They don't want us getting in the way,' but Lloyd shouts back, 'I'm only two minutes away!' and floors the accelerator.

Ronnie cries, 'Beating up blokes, intimidating drivers. A young girl with her kid? Smashing up cars? It's low-life madness! And what will you have at the end of it?' Clayton replies, 'You!' She tells him, 'You've had my home, my job, my friends....' Nick, Muttley to his dad's Dick Dastardly, snickers, 'Her fella,' no doubt in the hope he will get another medal pinned on him. Ronnie continues, 'My fella. A royal flush. Nice one.'

Jimmy tells her, 'I want you back. Back where you belong. I love you.' Ronnie answers, 'Back? So you can keep on punishing me? This isn't love. You just don't like losing!' Jimmy replies, 'Losing I can stand. Losing you......?' Steve moves to Ronnie's side and bravely asks, 'But what if she doesn't love you?'

Back in Coronation Street, Gail and Sally look on as a police car pulls up outside Streetcars. Sally jokes, 'Two minutes late with their butties and they send a search party out!' Gail's mobile rings and she answers. She looks astonished as she replies, 'Yes, this is she......... David?..... David Platt? Year ten?...... Yes, but..... well it's just not like him..... Yes, yes I'll be there straight away.' She hangs up and turns to Sally, 'That was Mr Lewis's secretary. They've just found David on the school playing field..... drunk as a skunk!'

Meanwhile, back at the farm, Clayton tells Steve that he has only known Ronnie five minutes, 'Why would she choose you over her own husband?' Steve snarls back, 'I think she's choose any decent bloke over a violent jealous maniac!' Young Muttley grabs hold of him again but Ronnie screams at him to let Steve go, 'It's got nothing to do with him. I've had enough of fighting! I want to go home!' Steve looks on in horror as she asks Jimmy, 'I have still 'got' a home?' Steve moves towards Ronnie and Nick grabs him again but Jimmy growls at him, 'Go start the car.'

Steve tells her, 'He's twisted. You don't have to do this. As soon as he gets you on your own he'll turn. He'll batter you, shoot you, anything.' She sobs, 'He's never raised a hand to me.' Steve replies, 'You've never humiliated him like this before.' She tells Steve tearfully, 'I thought he didn't care.'

Jimmy tells her, 'Come on love. Let's go home,' and Steve can only watch in disbelief as he leads her to the car, seemingly unaware that she has just sacrificed herself to save his life. As they begin to walk to the car, Jimmy looks up as the sound of an engine is heard and looks up. It's Lloyd. With his foot to the floor he races through the gateway to the farm.

Jimmy shoves Ronnie roughly to one side and takes aim at the windscreen with the shotgun. As Lloyd races towards him he pulls on the trigger and in true soap tradition....... the gun jams! Phew indeed!

Lloyd clips Clayton with the corner of the car and sends him spinning to the ground, the shotgun tumbling from his grip, as Lloyd executes a handbrake turn across the farmyard. The gun is quickly picked up by Steve who, as Nick races to his father's side to help him to his feet, takes aim and warns the pair, 'I do know how to use this you know!'

Clayton smirks, 'I don't care if you can or can't. You've just put your prints all over it. Cheers!' Lloyd screeches to a halt and shouts, 'Come on! Gerrin!'

Steve and Ronnie race over and jump into the car. Lloyd buries the accelerator and the car wheel spins then lurches towards the Claytons. They leap out of the way and as Lloyd's taxi streaks through the gate, Nick races over to his father's car and starts it up. Jimmy limps painfully over to it and climbs in.

As they race away from the farm, Steve asks Lloyd, 'Where did you learn to drive like that?' Lloyd replies, 'What? The handbrake turn? Sign of a misspent youth mate.' He glances in his rear view mirror and cries out, 'God, that's his car, isn't it?'

Sure enough, Nicks is at the wheel and closing on them fast. Ronnie screams, 'Put your foot down Lloyd!' Lloyd, a note of panic in his voice, screams, 'It's on the floor already!' Steve grabs the mic and screams, 'Eileen! Eileen! Where the hell are the police? I thought you said you'd called them?'

He hears Eileen cry, 'I have! They should be there!' and the car suddenly lurches forward as Nick rams them from behind. As Ronnie screams in terror, Steve cries, 'Tell 'em to hurry up. They are trying to run us off the road!'

Nick pulls out and floors his accelerator, coming alongside Lloyd's taxi. Viciously yanking the steering wheel to the left, he slams the car into the side of it. Lloyd fights to keep control and stay on the road.

As the cars hurtle neck and neck down the narrow country road, Steve screams, 'Brake! Slow down! Corner! Corner!!!' Lloyd holds his line and as they round the corner they find themselves confronted by a police car, siren wailing and lights flashing, heading straight for them. Nick swerves to avoid the head on collision that would ensue and smashes through a fence, and comes to a juddering halt after bursting through the front of a conveniently placed barn.

Later, we see that an ambulance has arrived and the paramedics carry Jimmy Clayton out of the barn on a stretcher as Nick walks alongside, looking very anxious. Steve hugs Ronnie to him and tells her, 'It's all right. It's over. It's all over now.' But is it?

Meanwhile, back in the street, Candice is thrilled when a fax arrives for her at the salon. She brandishes it and cries, 'You all said he was a liar and a letch! See? You were wrong!' Audrey asks her what she is on about and Candice exclaims excitedly, 'Barney! He is picking me up at three! I am joining the tour. I can't believe it. Me! Candice Marie Stowe. I am going to be the stylist for Status Quo! Do you need my resignation in writing? I've so much to do, money, passport, packing...' Audrey and Maria are convinced it is a joke but Candice insists, 'He will be here at three. You just wait and see.'

Gail is sitting in the headmaster's office, and gets a very unsympathetic reception from Mr Lewis as she tells him that David is going through a very tough time, 'He is very close to his father and he's moving to Liverpool with a new partner.' She adds ingratiatingly, 'She's a teacher as well.' Lewis snorts, 'Really? Enough to drive anyone to drink. David, I am suspending you for two days.' An inebriated David claps his hands and laughs, 'Yes! Result!' Lewis snaps, 'Make that the end of the week.' Gail drags her drink sodden offspring out of the office but not before delivering her trademark snack around the head to him on the way out.

Maria tells Candice she is stupid for walking out on Audrey, 'You had a good little job there.' Candice snorts, 'Little being the operative word! I want a career, not a job!' Maria snipes, 'No, you want an easy life. Looks like you've got one. Check your watch. It's quarter past three! Still, not to worry. I think the job centre is open till five.' Candice replies nonchalantly, 'Have you never heard of a traffic jam?'

Just then, Gail arrives home in a taxi with David. Craig has cadged a lift and, as Gail hauls David into the house, he hands Martin a newspaper which has been folded up into a cone and tells him, 'Here you are. Your turn. It's just as well the driver had this copy of the Evening News. We've had the window open since The Parkway!' Martin takes it, looks gingerly at the contents and grimaces.

Sarah, having had a text from Candice, turns up to say goodbye to her pal. Candice presents her with her hairdressing comb, 'It's a Benson Hi-Tech 250. I used it on Francis Rossi,' and tells her Audrey will be looking for a new trainee stylist. Maria butts in and tells her, 'Audrey does the hiring and she might have other plans.' Candice replies, 'It's good karma. I am just spreading the luck around.' Maria tells Sarah not to get too attached to it, 'She'll probably need it when she's sweeping up at Crazy Cuts.'

Inside the Platt house, Gail and Martin rip into David and ask him what he thinks he's playing at but get little coherent response other than he wasn't on his own, 'I'm not 'that' sad.' Gail snaps, 'Well you were on your own in front of the head!' She turns to Craig, 'And why are you cold sober? I could understand it if it was you.' Craig replies, 'I'm more of a bourbon guy myself.' David gets up to go upstairs and Gail tells him, 'Your dad will only be an hour away!' Craig snorts, 'So is my mum. It's great, having to book an appointment for a hug.'

As Craig leaves, Martin braces himself for the obligatory tirade from Gail and tells her, 'Go on. Kick me now why don't you?' but gets an unexpected reaction from the normally eager to blame anyone within a ten mile radius one as she replies, 'You'll get no argument from me. He's got to learn!' and she cries loud enough for David to hear upstairs, 'He's had you at his beck and call for fifteen years! I never even knew my father!' Across the road, Audrey looks out through the salon blinds and sees Candice pacing backwards and forwards looking at her watch. There's no sign of Barney and she is looking increasingly desperate.

Inside the Rover's Return, Fiz and Craig are having a heart to heart, but just as Molly predicted, Fiz tells Kirk, 'I do trust you babycakes, it's that Molly we have got to watch. I wish she'd take a running jump but she's that type. Hide like a rhino, can't take a hint. You are going to have to spell it out for her!' Kirk, puzzled, asks, 'Spell what out to her?' Fiz replies flatly, 'P45!' She gets a shock however, when Kirk refuses to sack Molly. He tells her, "The dogs love her, the cats love her and I……like the way she grafts. End of!"

Just then, Steve, Ronnie and Lloyd arrive back at The Rovers, ashen faced and still in shock. Lloyd orders three large brandies. Ronnie declines and says she just wants to go home and get out of the clothes she is wearing. She puts her hand on Lloyd's arm in thanks and heads for the door. Steve tells him he thinks he'll go home too. Lloyd half smiles, 'Don't worry mate, I'm drinking for three anyway.' Steve tells him, 'Listen, thanks mate. Seriously. I don't know what we'd have done without you.' Lloyd offers his hand and, as Steve takes it, replies, 'All in a day's work mate. All in a day's work.'

Audrey comes out into the street and hands Candice a tissue. 'Come to gloat have you?' sobs Candice. Audrey turns to go and Candice cries, 'No Audrey, I'm sorry. It's just...... I was wrong and you were right.' Audrey tells her, 'It was a very cruel trick.' Candice wails. 'I feel like such an idiot. I mean, I can't help being a tall poppy but it just seems like everybody wants to cut me down. Our society is here to dream so why are people making jokes about mine then?'

Audrey tells her, 'You know, I had a dream once. I dreamed that one day I would have my own salon and be my own boss. And that very salon you look down on because most of our customers are over thirty and we don't do colonics. So you see, if you want me to respect your aspirations you should respect mine back.' Candice wails, 'I am sorry Audrey. I really deserved this break though.' Audrey asks why and she wails, 'Because I wanted it so much! Joss Stone had a best selling album at sixteen. I'm already nineteen. Life is passing me by.' Audrey looks at the cranially challenged one and mutters sarcastically, 'Kill me now.'

However, she looks up in amazement as a breakdown recovery truck appears round the corner from Viaduct Street with a limo hooked up behind it. Audrey gasps, 'Candice! Look!'

Barney gets out of the truck and Candice rushes over and hugs him. He smiles, 'Sorry doll, five miles round the ring road and she gave up the ghost. Schedule's gone totally to pot. Rick's pulling his hair out.' She laughs, 'He better not be. Not on my watch.' Sarah spots the truck and rushes down the street and hugs her mate. Candice tells her she will send her a postcard from every place she visits.

She turns to her former boss, 'Audrey, what can I say?' Audrey smiles, 'Say nothing. Just reach for the stars, kid.' Candice smiles, 'You too. You will get there one day. Audrey, you've been more like a mum to me than my real one ever has,' and they embrace tightly. She asks Audrey if she will do one more favour for her and hands her an envelope, 'Will you give this to Adam? Let him down gently for me?'

Audrey gasps, 'You haven't even told him? Your own boyfriend?' Candice tells her, 'I know heartbreak and I just can't do it to him. Anyway, think of the kudos for him. His ex-girlfriend is a stylist to the stars.'

Barney opens the door and Candice climbs into the back of the recovery truck. It would seem, where other characters get to leave in the now traditional black cab almost as a mark of respect, Candice's departure method is going to be a little less auspicious

But then, after a word in Barney's ear, she steps out of the truck and with a wave to the friends she is leaving behind, walks towards the limo and climbs into the back.

As Maria cries, 'You go girl!', Audrey laughs, 'Now that's what I call style!' Her smiles fades slightly though as Sarah enthuses, 'Hey, you're going to need a new stylist now aren't you? Talk about a silver lining! We are going to have a blast!'

And with that Candice, head in the clouds and feet not far behind as always, leaves Coronation Street for the last time bound for life on the road with The Quo and all those exotic locations like Finland and Denmark.

The end.

Anne Logan






Wednesday 9 November

Written by: Mark Burt
Directed by: John Anderson

A poignant smile plays across the face of Martin Platt, as he walks down the street, gazes at the facade of the house that was once his home, and walks away again.

Inside the house that was once Martin's home, we find the woman who was once his wife Gail, the boy who was once his son David and in fact still is, and Sarah-love, who I think was technically the child of Brian Tilsley. David is experiencing his first ever hangover, and Sarah wants to stay to watch, but Gail reminds her it's her first day at the salon and she needs to leave. Gail sits down with David, and tells him she's lost for words but despite this deficiency the best way to sort out problems is to talk about them. David points out that all she ever does is talk and it hasn't made her any happier.

'You look dog-rough,' Ronnie greets Steve as he sizzles bacon for her. She's not looking much better herself, wearing a dressing gown made of pink curtains, and her hair pointlessly half pinned-up. A power struggle ensues in which she succeeds in wrestling the bacon-frying task from him but he tells her she mustn't go to work.

Martin's in his flat packing, and looking like his CD's are bringing back memories. Robyn suggests that maybe he's been too hasty in agreeing to move away – it's a bigger decision than just moving up the road, he's leaving his home and his family. She doesn't want him to blame her if things go wrong between them. He explains that David thinks he's changed since he met Robyn, but he hasn't. 'This is the real me,' he says, 'And I'm leaving because I can't go back.' No, I didn't understand it either, but Robyn seems satisfied. She says he has to explain it again to David though.

Lloyd is talking to Kevin about getting the damaged cars back on the road. Kelly totters across the cobbles in a bright purple outfit and gives Lloyd an ultimatum: 'Me or her.' 'You want an answer right now?' he asks her – which is all the answer she needs, really, and she walks off.

Eileen is in the corner shop looking at photos of Sunita and Dev's new house. Dev is over there having a survey done, apparently. Sunita is looking properly pregnant. She gets a phone call to say that one of the staff of the other shops has been taken into hospital.

Martin has taken David to t'canal for a father-to-son chat, but it doesn't go very well (and frankly to me that canal just brings back awful memories of Samir getting fatally mugged on his way to donate his kidney to Tracy). Martin explains that David will always be the most important person in his life, but he can't stay in Weatherfield any longer. David says there's no such word as can't, and it seems to him that Martin just doesn't care any more. 'I love you,' Martin says, but David just walks off back across the bridge.

Martin is leaving! Robyn's waiting by the car, and Sally, Kevin, Audrey, Sarah, Bethany and Gail are all assembled to say goodbye. David is looking out of his bedroom window. Everyone is emotional. 'There'll always be a home for you here, Martin,' Gail tells him, 'That'll never change.' They hug, and Martin's about to get in the car when David comes out. He and Martin hug, and Martin says, 'See you later, mate.' 'Take care of my dad,' David tells Robyn. Martin gets in the car and they drive away. Audrey tells Gail that Martin will be fine – 'But will you?' she says. Gail has a quick think, and nods, smiling in that introspective way she has.

Dev arrives home to find his household has acquired a teenager. The ill staff member is apparently having her appendix out, so Sunita has offered to look after her daughter Amber. Dev doesn't seem best pleased that the aforementioned Amber is wearing one of his shirts, and is sitting with her feet up on his best sofa reading a magazine and listening to her iPod. Teenagers, eh?

Lloyd is in t'Rovers, and Ronnie and Steve come in. Ronnie thanks Lloyd for his heroic rescue. Kelly comes in with the twins, but she doesn't want to stand at the bar with Lloyd and goes to sit down. Lloyd leaves the pub.

Another person who doesn't want to sit next to a person (how's this shaping up for a seamless link?) is Jamie, who is irritated when Leanne sits next to him in the pub. He gets up and goes to sit with Kelly and the twins. A rebuffed Leanne goes to sit with Janice.

Next into Weatherfield's finest hostelry is the lovely Tracy, who has come in for the express purpose of taunting Steve (it's more satisfying than hotpot). Ronnie says maybe she should leave them to it. 'Oh, would you?' smiles Tracy. 'I don't suppose you'd leave the country while you're at it.' Ronnie goes (not from the country, just to a banquette by the wall), and Tracy tells Steve she doesn't want Amy anywhere near Ronnie. Steve says that Amy is in no danger: Jimmy's in hospital and will be going to prison after that. Tracy says Steve doesn't know anything about Ronnie, but he says at least he knows she's not 'a lying, conniving little cow.' Who can he mean? Tracy knows. 'Oh,' she says, 'Well at least nobody's tried to kill me. Apart from your ex-wife. Come to think of it, you've got a funny taste in women, haven't you, babe?' He tells her to stay out of his life, and she says she will if he stays out of Amy's. She says that the courts would be interested to hear about his exciting lifestyle, and it's about time he got his priorities straight.

Now to the Italian restaurant that people go to when they can't afford The Clock, for dinner a deux with Phoot Phumbling Phil and the lovely Gail. Phil wants to know where he stands, and Gail says she's feeling envious of Martin because he's actually managed to move on with his life. She says David's harsh words that morning helped her realise she only has herself to blame for her miserable life. Phil, sensing opportunity in the air, pours her another glass of wine.

Dev and Sunita are playing Monopoly with Amber, and she turns out to be a bit lippy. 'Have you never heard of respecting your elders?' Dev complains. 'Sorry, gramps,' she says. She's very good at Monopoly, because she and her mum play it all the time. Sunita reassures her that her mum will be fine, and then Dev cheers her up by landing on her Mayfair. 'Loser!' she gloats.

Gail and Phil are getting all flirtatious over the tiramisu. He has a bit on his lip, she says, and – euuugghhhh!!!! – kisses it off for him. I may never be able to face tiramisu again.

Back at t'Rovers, Ronnie tells Steve she doesn't want to stay at his place – it's her way of dealing with things. 'I'm scared,' she admits. 'That man who tried to kill us was my ex-husband. I lived with him, I shared his bed. What you saw was just part of it – that's how I lived.' She says she has to act hard, because it's the way she protects herself. He says he understands now she's told him, and that makes her smile a bit but she tells him to quit while he's ahead. You can tell by his face that he won't give up on her, though.

Jamie asks one of the twins out. Leanne sees this and tells Janice that Jamie is only doing it to make her jealous. She does get very jealous, though, when she sees the twin giving Jamie a quick kiss (this is to demonstrate that what one twin experiences, the other feels. Apparently). Leanne has to leave the pub.

Gail and Phil are coming home. She asks him if he'd like a coffee, but he says it keeps him awake. 'Then have it in the morning,' says Gail, taking his hand. The hussy!

Sue Haasler





Friday 11 November

Its the morning after the night before and Gail and the 'Big Yin' are sneaking down the stairs like a couple of teenagers. It was all very embarrassing. 'I will call you' the 'Big Yin' spells out with his hands before leaving.

Over at Underworld, Joanne (the thin twin) is wondering what to wear for her date with Jamie Baldwin. Hayles thinks that Joanne would really suit a poncho! There is tension In the office when Danny puts the mockers on a marketing idea of Adam's.

At Gail's house, she is trying to get David back to School. As a last resort, Gail suggests that by drinking a litre bottle of Thunderbolt, David will have earned the respect of his school pals. This strange approach at chastising her boozing teenage Son is clearly down to her getting laid (for the first time in god knows how long) the night before.

Back at Underworld, Adam is still reeling over Danny. He tells Janice that Mike is Danny's real Father knowing that she will promptly spread it round the factory, which she does.

At the shop, Sunita, Man and Amber are leafing through a trashy celeb magazine, slagging off some unspecified celebrity. This is winding Dev up immensely as for reasons which will be explained this week, he is very uncomfortable having Amber around.

Lloyd's bit on the side, Tina, turns up looking to move in with Lloyd. Lloyd turns her down so she wants her money back, the money she lent him to buy Dev's share of Streetcars. Lloyd threatens to tell her Husband about their affair and she flounces off.

All the factory staff are discussing the latest gossip involving the Baldwins. Fizz wishes someone would tell her that Cilla isn't her real Mum. Janice tells Danny that they all know about the Mike saga as Adam told them all about it earlier. Danny goes for Adam and Sean and Mike have to break them up. Adam looks quite gleeful.

It's just Amber and Dev now at the shop, who is showing Dev up in front of his customers. Amber thinks Dev stinks and should use some deodorant much to the delight of his customers, Vera and Leanne.

Sarah Louise spots Jason coming out of the chippy and sees this as her opportunity to stalk him some more. There was this really cringing moment where Sarah Louise wipes sauce off Jason's chin and licks it of her fingers in a suggestive manner. Yuck!

Joanne's date with Jamie is not going very well at all. She is wearing a strange hot pink top/jacket thingy that is making her sweat. For something to say, she compliments Jamie on his new hairdo and he goes mental. Later when they are walking home, he spots Leanne walking past so snoggs the face off Joanne to make Leanne jealous.

Leanne was actually on her way to the Rovers to meet Janice who was having a drink with the girls (where do they all get their money from). Lloyd comes in to tell Kelly that he has dumped Tina but she isn't interested or at least pretends she isn't and throws her pint over him.

At Eileen's (whose house always looks like such a fun place to be) Sean is organising a game for them to play and Jason is being grumpy. Sean remarks that Jason has been acting weird since he got back from the chippy. Violet orders him out of his mood and they end up giggling on the armchair.

Jamie arrives home from his date with Joanne and Frankie gets them a drink of wine. Jason breaks down though and cries on the shoulder of Frankie. God I hope the rumours that them two get together are not true. That would be disgusting!

The End.





Sunday 13 November

Here's the update for Sunday 13th November.

It's morning when we open in Gail's house, where David is trying to reach Martin on the phone, but is put off by the answering machine because it has Robyn's voice on it. Gail presses him to leave a message, but when he does, he puts the phone down saying, "He won't phone back, he's probably stood there screening his calls thinking, oh no not him again!" Gail tells him not to be so silly and to go and get dressed.

She then moans at Sarah about Beth's toys all over the floor and tells her to get them picked up. Sarah, who seems to have inherited Scooter's idleness, mutters, 'Pick up your toys Beth, there's good girl.' Gail then moans, 'Not that we have anywhere to put them." She thinks they should get some shelves made for the cupboard under the stairs. "What do you think?" she asks. Sarah mumbles something and Gail squawks, 'Are you going laze around all day? Haven't you got work?' Sarah squawks back, 'What? On a Saturday?' (Did she start working for Audrey when Candice left? If so wouldn't Saturday be the busiest day in a hairdressers?)

Over at the Baldwin residence, Frankie is not pleased to hear that Carol is on her way up to visit Jamie as he tells her, "She phoned from the bus station an hour ago." Frankie rages, "That woman has got no consideration for people who have to work. She swans up here breathing her fumes over everyone and making a total idiot of herself!" Jamie replies, "She sounded pretty together on the phone actually." Frankie points out that it's only ten o'clock. Jamie tells her, 'I know, but she'd usually be on her second bottle by now.' He can't see why Frankie should have a problem with his mother visiting, but Frankie snaps, 'I don't know if you've noticed or not but when your mother starts shooting her mouth off there tends to be a lot of collateral damage.' Just then his phone beeps and he reads, 'Arriving 12.45. Meet me in the pub.' Frankie tells him, "See, she's not even here and she's already planning her next drink."

David gets the phone call from his dad that he wanted, but hangs up glumly, 'It's just like I said. He doesn't want us anymore.' Gail asks what he said and David replies, "He said he's too wrapped up with her to be bothered." She sighs, 'Right. And what did he really say?' He moans, "It amounts to the same thing." Gail tells him, "They have only just moved in. I am sure he just wanted to get things sorted so he can spend proper time with you." (He only moved a couple of days ago – did David see him all that often when he lived across the road?)

David carries on moaning. He reckons his dad could come there, or they could even arrange to meet halfway, even if it was just for half an hour. Gail tries to pacify him and says they'll have to make sure he has a lovely weekend with them, and suggests a shopping trip for the football he's wanted for ages. David grins and says that actually he'd prefer a skateboard but the one he wants is pretty expensive. Gail says they'll see when they get there. Sarah, prostrate on the sofa, pricks up her ears. "But you promised to look after Beth this afternoon!" she wails. Gail tells her that was until she realised that all Sarah was going to do was lie on her back, but eventually concedes that Beth can go with them, although it'll only be for a couple of hours. Sarah perks up immediately, and then tells her mum that she thinks shelves for the cupboard would be a good idea. Gail says she'll get Charlie over to quote for the job and Sarah says she'll go over and ask, she might as well make herself useful.

At Dev and Sunita's, there's another stroppy teenager. Dev has made Amber toast and jam (though why he didn't ask her beforehand beats me) and she says she doesn't like toast and jam, she wants peanut butter, and it has to be smooth. He says she ate toast and jam yesterday, he saw her, but she tells him that Sunita made her pancakes. "Well wicked, they were," she says. He tells her she won't succeed in pitching Sunita against him. She scowls at him and tells him he's got a 'right gob' on him. She asks what he's on. He tells her this is just the start, she can decide. Just then Sunita comes in and wants to know why the tv remote control was in the wardrobe. "You said you lost it down the sofa!" accuses Amber. Dev tries to say that too much tv is bad, but Sunita reminds him that it never did him any harm. Then he says that Amber will get her sticky fingers all over it (I thought she was 15 not 5) and Sunita tells him that when the twins come he will have to learn to share. (Personally I think Dev is the infant here!) Dev then yells that they will have to obey the rules of his house, the hi-fi is for the use of adults and the tv remote remains the property of a grown up at all times. He turns to Amber, "And you, miss, will eat what you're given!" (I'm sure he thinks she's 5). Amber asks Sunita if her gran is coming to look after her today, because she thinks Dev is mental. Dev says he's picking her grandmother up at the airport at 3.00 o'clock. "I can't wait," says Amber. "Neither can I," says Dev.

Sarah turns up at Charlie's yard, and finds Jason there. He tells her she has got to stop following him around and sending him texts. She acts all innocent and says she doesn't know what he's on about. "Is this the effect I have on you then?" she asks, all flirty. Jason is very uncomfortable and tells her that Violet could walk in at any time. Sarah tells him she's there on business, her mum wants some shelves putting up and wants him to go round and give them a quote. Just then, Violet does arrive, and asks Sarah what she's doing there. Sarah tells her that she was just asking Jason about some work they need doing. She tells him there'll be someone at home between 1pm and 3pm, and goes. (Where I live you don't tell tradesmen when to arrive, they give you a 12 hour slot when they might turn up!)

Over at the cafe, a customer congratulates Roy on the breakfast he has just eaten, "Superb. Amazing. The best I have ever eaten. The baked beans for example. Perfectly al dente. One spoonful and you can see how the west was won!" Roy tells him he uses Freshco Value because they are the best. The customer praises the fried bread, "It had a depth of flavour I have not encountered before." Roy tells him, "Well, the bread must be stale of course, and when possible, I like to fry it in rendered down bacon fat." (Not exactly a healthy option is it?) He makes a note on a pad. He tells Roy, "I hope you don't mind me making a note or two. I am merely interested in an exchange of ideas. I would not plagiarise one of your creations." Roy laughs that he's not heard his fried bread called that before.

The customer replies, 'It undoubtedly is. It belongs in the pantheon of great breakfast dishes. You would think it would be the easiest thing in the world, well in England, to find a good English breakfast but I have scoured Lancashire to be greeted by poor ingredients indifferently thrown together. Not today. Today I have found what I have been looking for.' He introduces himself, 'I am Paul Riley by the way. Chef Proprietere of Quelle Surprise in Chorlton Cum Hardy!' Roy shakes his hand, 'Roy Cropper... er, Chef Proprietere of Roy's Rolls, Weatherfield!'

Sarah phones Jason and tells him, "I meant what I said about the shelves. We're desperate for them. In fact if we don't get them done the house might fall down. And I'm here all on my own. This big house, all to myself. No mum, no Beth, no David." Jason is clearly wavering and tells her, "I'll see if I can pop round later." She purrs, "I'd really love it if you did."

Jamie orders himself a beer in the pub and as he takes his first sip a familiar voice cries, "Oh, have I just missed a round?" He grimaces and turns round to find his mother stood there looking, well, if not a million dollars, certainly more than the usual three pounds fifty. He tells her she looks fantastic and she throws her arms round him and cries, "I feel fantastic. I'm on the wagon Jamie. I haven't had a drink in nine days!" He is taken aback and asks why she wanted to meet in a pub then and she smiles, "So that you, and anyone else who happened to be around, can hear me do this." She looks over at Shelley and cries, "An orange juice please love."

He tells her he is so proud of her and asks what made her stop. She tells him, "I woke up in the gutter with three broken ribs." He cries, "Mum? For God's sake, anything could have happened." She tells him, "I know, and for a while there I wished it had. I wished I'd fallen under a bus or been stabbed or something. I'd love to tell you that's when I saw the light, that thinking of you made me stop, but even then, all I could think about was getting another drink. I could just about make out a pub and the only thought on my mind was if it was still open."

Over at the cafe, Roy tells Mr Riley, that he's never heard of his restaurant. "I'm not much of a gourmet," he says, "We don't really eat in fancy restaurants." Riley replies, "Nor should you. They are overpriced and the food is rubbish!" Roy smiles, and says he's sure he doesn't include his own in that summary. Mr. Riley tells him that he has gained something of a reputation as an enfant terrible in the North West and his financial backers insisted he give the Chardonnay swilling snobs of Cheshire something to boast about, so he came up with quail's eggs stuffed with pop corn and vindaloo ice cream. Roy tells him he tends to keep things simple and he replies, "And long may you do so. A place like this is a haven for someone like me."

He goes on to talk about 'good honest fare' and 'convivial surroundings'. Roy suddenly realises that he has heard of the restaurant. It was in the papers the other day. "You have just won an award," he says. Riley nods, "Yes, the American tourists will come flocking in no doubt. Which reminds me, I have some truffles to grate. How much do I owe you?" Roy refuses payment and tells him it's on the house. As he leaves, Vera snorts, "And if you'll believe that load of baloney you'll believe anything! He wanted a free breakfast and you fell for it."

Over in the Rovers, Jamie asks Carol what happened next and she smiles, and tells him that she actually did fall under a bus as she was staggering towards the pub. "It wasn't moving very fast," she says, "but the driver insisted on taking me to hospital. It was bad enough that they kept me in a couple of days. That was the longest I have been without a drink in five years. It was quite a wake up call." He asks, "And you've not had a drink since?" She tells him that he might not have been able to make her stop, but the thought of him seeing her sober like this that kept her going.

Jason arrives at the Platt house, and is stunned to find Sarah done up to the nines. He gasps, "Wow!" and she smiles, "I wasn't sure if you would come." He tells her, "I wasn't sure there was a real job." She shows him the cupboard and explains what they want doing but they can't take their eyes off each other. He coughs, "Well, I better do some measuring up then," but can't quite seem to move. Sarah asks, "Do you want me to make you a coffee?" He mumbles, "Yes please, white with one," but Sarah also seems rooted to the spot and it's several seconds before she can tear her eyes away and head for the kettle.

Jamie takes his mum to see Frankie. She is stunned to see how good Carol looks. She comments, "Blimey. You been on Trinny and Susannah?" Carol smiles, "I'm on the wagon. Stone cold sober! I haven't had a drink in weeks." (Nine days is weeks?)

She looks at Frankie's wine glass and mutters, "Maybe I'm not the only one with a problem." Frankie snaps, "A couple of glasses of wine does not make me an alky" Jamie smiles, "I dunno. This is the middle of the day, and you are on your own. And you had the best part of a bottle last night as well 'cos I saw you. How long has this been going on Frankie?" Carol plonks herself on the sofa and tells Frankie earnestly, "I know you've had your fair share of heartache recently but you won't find the answer in a bottle. I know that more than anyone." Frankie mutters in disbelief, "I don't believe this is happening."

Sunita has taken Amber home to wait for her grandmother. She arrives at Ravinder's flat with Amber and gets a call from Dev, apparently her grandmother's flight has been delayed for a couple of hours. She says she'll stay with her til they get there, and asks if it's all right if she makes myself a coffee. Amber tells her to help herself.

Sunita fills the kettle in the kitchen but as she does so something catches her eye. She walks over to the pin board on the other side of the kitchen and takes down a photograph. She stares at it in disbelief, it's Dev with Ravinder, obviously taken a very long time ago, as they both look quite a few years younger.

Back at Roy's Rolls, Roy tells Hayley about Paul Riley and that, after Vera's aspersions, he rang the restaurant, 'He answered the phone himself. We had a very nice chat as one Chef Proprietere to another.' Hayley asks if he offered them a free meal in his restaurant in return but Roy replies no. She tells him she's always wanted to go to a fancy French restaurant. Roy grimaces, 'I'm not sure I'd like vindaloo ice cream. That's his signature dish apparently.' Hayley laughs, 'No wonder he liked your breakfast. He's probably not had a decent meal in ages.' Roy tells her he has to confess he is absolutely thrilled to have been praised by an award winning chef.

Meanwhile, in the somewhat cramped understairs cupboard, (which seems remarkably empty and clutter-free) Jason tries to explain the various options to Sarah but with her less than an inch away is finding it rather hard to concentrate as he tells her, "Your walls are sound but....er.... your electrics are shot. You'll...um.... need .... er.... a new light fitting." Suddenly she kisses him passionately, but he pulls away and cries, "I've got to go! Charlie will be wondering where I am!" She cries, "Jason!" but he rushes to the door blustering, "Er.... I'll drop some figures through the door later, all right? Bye!" and is gone.

The End.





Monday 14 November


First part of tonight

At Dev and Sunita's flat, she questions him over the photo she has taken from Ravinder's house. She says it was taken before she started working for him. Dev tells her that he knew her a wee bit. He then tells her to put the photo back and tells her he is away to the wholesalers. She says it's not open at this time and he's avoiding this conversation. He tells her to stop worrying about that and worry about something more useful like decoration their new house.

Grimshaw's and when Jason comes in with a rip in his top Eileen tells him to take pride in him self and not go to work like that. When Violet comes in he does not say good bye to her and goes. Eileen asks if they have had an argument, she says no.

Outside the Webster's house Sophie is not happy with her trainers. Rosie says they are minging. She also says they are probably tested on animals too. Kevin tells her they don't test trainers on animals. Sally comes out and says she's not getting new ones and that it. Just along the road at the Baldwin's household, Jamie tells Frankie how well Carol is doing at giving up drinking. Frankie tells him not to get his hopes up. Jamie sees Joanne and asks her out on a date again.

Back room of the Rovers and Sunita tells Shelley about the photo. Shelley agrees that it is weird of Ravinder having a photo of Dev on the kitchen wall and says she would not have one of Fred. Sunita thinks men do go off with other woman when their wives are pregnant and are fat. Shelley tells her Dev would never do that.

Cafe and Roy is giving a demonstration to Paul Riley of how to poached an egg. Paul says it's his attention to detail that sets his breakfasts apart. Roy tells him he always thought of this kitchen as his own personal bushel. Paul replies saying that's a mistake and in his opinion, bushels do not and should not have any place in a kitchen.

At the yard Sarah has come round to tell Charlie that Jason only did half a job yesterday. As Jason appears Charlie smirks and tells him that Sarah said he barely got his tape measure out yesterday. Jason says he was out of time. Charlie tells him to go now but he says he's on his break, but will come round later. Sarah looks more than pleased and goes. Charlie tells Jason what she still fancies him.

Cafe again and Jack tires to get a free meal buy complementing Roy's food. Roy knows he's only saying it to get free food. Paul tells Roy that he would like to write about Roy and his methods in a publication and wants to call it Victuals and Vortexes. Vera knows that explains the freebies. Jack says he was going to writing about teacakes. Roy explains he has always been against establishments giving free meals in exchange for publicity. If he had known that was Paul's intent he would have charged him. Paul then offers to pay but Roy refuses his offer.

Hospital and Sunita has come to see Ravinder, who confronts her about taking the picture. Amber quickly tells Sunita she didn't say she took the photo, just said it wasn't there. Sunita just wanted to show Dev and says she was going to return it. Ravinder tells her she's got a picture of her boss when he was young and asks what's wrong with that. Ravinder's mother walks in and tells Amber she is going to take her to get something to eat. Amber wants a burger and chips and her gran says that's all kids want these days. Amber asks to be dropped off at school so she does not have to listen to her gran. They both go. Sunita gives Ravinder the photo and says she was going to give it back and goes. Ravinder sighs at the photo. In the corridor, Amber tells Sunita she never said she nicked anything and that she blames her for everything. Her grandmother chastises her. Amber's gran takes cash out of her purse and hands it to Sunita telling her that's to pay for the expenses of looking after Amber. Telling Sunita she was going to give it to her husband this morning but he was in the car and away before she could catch him. Sunita shocked asks if Dev was here. She is told yes and that Dev needs to drive slower.

Back at the Cafe Roy is telling Hayley about Paul's article and how he refused to let him do it. Hayley is disappointed and says he wouldn't shy away from things but he tells her his experiences with articles written about him have not been pleasant ones. Hayley asks if he's on about his grandfather's contraption. He corrects her and says Invention. Carol enters asks if Frankie is around. Hayley tells her it's her day off. Carol replies that she was really looking for Jamie and says that her flat in Birmingham has been broken into. Hayley asks if she's called the police. Carol tells says they have been and goes but she didn't want to stay in the flat. Hayley tells her to sit down while she gets her a cup of tea.

Corner shop and Dev enters to be asked if it was worth setting off so early to the wholesalers by Sunita. He tells her yes as he missed the traffic. She says they can't have been open when he got there and asked what did he do? He tells her he sat in the car and listened to the radio. She quickly asks what station and what song was on. Frankie laughs and says she was like that when she was pregnant. Telling them you get something stuck in your head and off you go. She tells Sunita eating cake will take her mind off things and goes. Sunita tells him she went to see Ravinder. He asks how she is and Sunita's says he should go and see her and he replies saying he will when he gets time. Dev says he only came in to get some money and for her not to ask what it's for as it's a surprise.

Outside the garage Kevin shows Sally the trainers he has bought Sophie. Sally tells him that he shouldn't have. He says she was upset, and that he has bought them now. Sally says Sophie knows that getting upset is an easy way of making him put his hand in his pocket and tells him to take them back.

Charlie knocks on the Platt's door. Sarah's looks disappointed when she sees him. He asks if she would rather have Jason. She says its not that. He says Jason can come round on Wednesday or he can start now. Sarah tells him it can wait. Charlie smiles and says he thought she would say that.

Outside the Cafe Hayley tries to sell Roy on the idea of letting Paul write the review. He says when something is in print it gives it the impression of it being true and says its not always the case. Hayley tells him that Paul doesn't sound the sort of man who would do that. She tells him to let Paul do the review. Carol calls Jamie and tells him about the break in. He tells her he is not far from Birmingham and will be with her as soon as he can. She tells him she's not there she's at his. They agree to meet in the Rovers when he gets back. Janice sees Carol and asks if she has a disaster, then tells her it makes a change from her creating them. Carol tells her she created a disaster, Leanne. Janice smiles and tells her she's not Leanne's real mum and it's a bit like her Jamie. Leanne was brought up by someone better.

Back room of the Rovers Sunita tells Shelley that Dev lied right in her face. Shelley tells her that this isn't doing her any good. Sunita slams a folder on the table tell her it's a book for the Eccles shop. She wanted to see how long Ravinder she has been working for Dev. There isn't a single rent payment for the flat over the shop. Shelley thinks its taken from her wages. Sunita wants an explanation to why Dev was lying to her and she gave him the chance to tell her he went to the hospital.

In the bar Carol enters asking for tap water. Sean tells her they have lots of soft drinks but she tells him if she's not drinking she might as well pay nothing. Sean smiles and tells her he will add a slice at no extra charge then and says to think of it as a water cocktail. Violet tells Sean she is worried because Jason didn't come into the pub at lunchtime. Sean tells her he doesn't always come in. She sighs thinking that he would of come into day. Janice asks Joanne what time she is meeting Jamie and where they are going. Joanne tells her she does not care and to stop asking. Janice says she loves a disaster and Titanic is her favourite film. Joanne does not think it will be a disaster. Janice says with his family. She nods at Carol and says that could be her mother in-law. Joanne thinks she is getting a grip on herself and Janice should too. And tells her Jamie is not getting back with Leanne. Jason arrives and tells Violet he is sorry for being a nark earlier. They kiss and make up.

Hospital again and Sunita admires the flowers asking if 'he' gave them to her. Ravinder wonders who and Sunita shouts Dev when he came this morning. Sunita says she's not stupid. Ravinder tells her to go. A nurse comes and drawn the screen.

At the Rovers again Janice is apologizing to Carol saying she is going to stick up for Leanne. Janice thinks she would do the same for Jamie. She puts a drink on the table and tells Carol it's a peace offering. Carol asks what it is and Janice says Vodka as that's what she though she was drinking. Carol does not want it. Janice does not care and tells her she was just being nice and walks away with a smug smile on her face.

Hospital and Sunita tells Ravinder Dev's admitted everything. Ravinder asks what she wants from her and says it was Dev that wanted to lie. Sunita asks what she wanted. She wanted her to know. Sunita says she never gave a thought to her or her babies. Ravinder from the start when Dev first met Sunita, told him he should tell her. Sunita wonders what and asks how long this has been going on. Ravinder is confused and wonders what she's on about. Sunita says the affair. Ravinder tells her they are not having an affair and asks what Dev has told her. She says there's been nothing between them for years. Sunita tries to make sense of what she has just heard and asks why Dev would lie to her about visiting Revinder. She wonders why all the secrecy and why she gets the flat rent free. Amber enters saying her gran is doing her head in. Ravinder shouts at her telling her to go. Sunita putting all the things together and Revinder shouting and telling Amber to go, realizes that Amber is Dev's daughter.

Amanda Souter




The next episode update is copyright ITV from the Visual Update for that date.
Sunita is stunned at the realization that Amber is Dev's daughter. She gasps, 'But he was so excited when he found out I was pregnant. Like it was his first time. That's why he was so keen to have a son, because he's already got......' Ravinder tells her, 'He does love you, you know. That's why he didn't want to tell you. We had massive rows about it.' Sunita gasps, 'You discussed it. Before we got married!' She replies, 'I wouldn't say discussed it as such. He was scared he would lose you.' Sunita rages, 'And where was this discussion? At your flat when he visited Amber?'

Ravinder tells her, 'He doesn't visit Amber. He only sees her 'cos she is always in the shop with me. She doesn't know who he is.' Sunita hisses, 'That he is her father!' Ravinder tells her that's another thing they have rowed about, 'He's a good bloke. I'm not saying he is a great father but at least he didn't walk away from his kids.' Sunita cries, 'Kids? You said kids! You mean there are more?' Ravinder asks her to leave, 'I don't feel well. I'll call the nurse.' Sunita begs, 'Please Ravinder. Tell me. If you were in my position. Wouldn't you want to know?' Ravinder tells her, 'Just...... talk to Sandra.'

Sunita gasps, 'Sandra at the shop? In Gorton?' They are interrupted as Amber flounces back into the room and throws herself onto the bed wailing, 'She is doing my head in. I swear I'm gonna commit granicide! Can I come and stay at yours?'

Sunita can only look in horror at the girl who she now knows is her husband's daughter and then flees the room.

Violet suggests going out for a meal and then on to a club. Jason is keen so she tells him she is going to go home and get changed. He laughs, 'Well the time you take in the bathroom, I'll stop and have another pint.'

Leanne snarls at Joanne and gripes to Janice, 'I bet I know where he's taking her. For a cosy little pizza or something I bet.' Janice leers, 'Oh don't you worry about Joanne. I've got it all taken care of.' She looks over at the bar where Carol is stood and shouts over, 'Are you getting them in then love?'

Carol has obviously downed the vodka Janice left on the table which seems to have taken her from sober to drunk in 30 seconds, not mention aged her twenty years in the same time. She snarls, 'You can shut up. And that little tart of a daughter of yours too!' With a look of utter satisfaction spread across her malicious little face, Janice smirks at Leanne, 'I think Jamie's going to have his hands full when he gets back. There'll be no time for pizza tonight.'

Sunita phones Sandra at the Gorton shop, 'Dev wants you to close the shop early...... Yes, you 'will' get paid for it. He wants to see the till rolls so I am sending a taxi for you...... Just come, okay? No! You 'can't' speak to him. I'm your boss too aren't I? So just do as I say!' Jason gets a call from Charlie about some supplies that have been dropped off at the yard, 'Where have they left them?...... Outside the gate. The divs! I'll go move them now.' Sean whines at him, 'Oi you, you are supposed to be getting ready to go out with Violet.' Jason grunts that it won't take him more than ten minutes.

As usual, two drinks and Carol has turned into her usual nasty self. She rounds on Joanne, 'It's your round! I bought 'you' a drink, it's 'your' turn!' Joanne, who in stark contrast to our friendly neighbourhood dipsomaniac takes more than one gulp to down a drink, tells her she hasn't finished hers yet. Carol snarls at her, 'I don't buy everyone my Jamie fancies a drink you know. I never bought that slag Leanne one.' Carol slurs, 'Long arms, short pockets, I mean short pocketsh... you know what I mean.' Joanne tells her, 'I'll buy you one as soon as I have fini....' but Carol turns to Sean and yells, 'Large voddy and a splash!'

Jamie arrives and, finding that Carol has not so much fallen, but thrown herself off the wagon, sees Joanne handing her a vodka. He cries, 'What are you doing? She is on the wagon!' Joanne protests that Carol made her buy it. He tells Carol, 'It's when something bad happens that you have to try your hardest.' Carol asks, 'What's happened?' Jamie replies, 'Your flat?' She asks, 'Why? What's happened to it?' He reminds her of the break in. She slurs, 'Yeah, kicked the door down they did. Fast asleep I was, the bleedin' yobs!' He yells, 'You weren't in, and you said it was the window!'

Janice watches with smug satisfaction as Jamie tells at her, 'You just made all this up!' Carol slobbers all over Jamie, crying, 'I just want to be with my son, my only son.' He snarls, 'We're going,' and drags her to the door. Joanne cries, 'I only bought her one 'cos she kept going on about it,' and Jamie shouts at her, 'Course she was going on about it. She's a flaming alcoholic!' and drags his mother out of the door leaving Joanne behind. Janice smiles, 'Well, that went even better than I hoped.' A furious Jamie dumps his mother at the cab office, hands a wad of cash to Eileen and tells her to get her back to Birmingham. 'And bring me the change. Don't give it to her or she'll spend it on more booze.' Eileen tells him there will be a bit of a wait but Jamie doesn't even wait around to see she gets off okay, just shoves her up against the counter and walks out.

Sarah, who seems to have practically taken up residence outside the yard gate, accuses Jason of being too scared to come round earlier. He tells her he wasn't scared, 'I'm just not playing your games.' She purrs, 'Oh I'm not playing games Jason. I want more of what we had the other night, and I think you do too.' He tells her doesn't. She moves closer and smiles knowingly, 'See, I'm not sure I believe you because I feel something when I am close to you and the closer I get, the more I feel.' He reaches up to touch her hair and she suddenly steps away and smiles, 'I'm not playing games. See you on Wednesday.'

Sally and Kev bump into Jessie, selling knock off trainers from a holdall. Kev asks how much and she replies, 'What? You want me to say it out loud? Last time I did that it caused a stampede! Suede-ique? How much? I can't believe it. A fiver.' Sally tells Kevin, 'She has got enough pairs of shoes.' Jessie smiles, 'If she hasn't got Suede-ique, she hasn't got enough shoes,' but Sally declines.

Sandra from the Gorton shop arrives and slams the till rolls on the counter, 'If Dev is accusing me of anything I'll....' Sunita cuts her off, 'You'll what? Pack your job in? I don't think you will, will you. He is paying you over the odds as it is.' Sandra snaps, 'He is not.' Sunita replies coldly, 'Or maybe you'll withdraw access?' Sandra looks puzzled, 'To what?' She looks stunned as Sunita replies, 'His kids!'

Sunita snaps, 'Are they both his? Or is it two different fathers? How long have you been together. Long enough to have two kids.' Sandra, who appears to a far harder and less contrite disposition than Ravinder, snaps back, 'Long enough to have some rights. It was two short times. He's got no staying power. You'll soon find that out! And my kids are just as entitled to his money as your sprogs will be.' Sunita sneers, 'So you're after his money.'

Sandra snarls, 'It was me he should have married if he had any backbone, but he wanted a nice Asian girl that mummy and daddy would approve of, with no brains that would do anything he said.' Sunita tells her to get out, 'I should have known you had something over him. Why else would he employ a lazy gobby...' Sandra rages, 'Lazy? It takes it out of you bringing up two kids, especially when the father is off looking for fresh meat all the time. You'll find that out. Bit of a shock was it, finding out what kind of a man you've got?' Sunita tells her again to get out.

As she turns to leave she snipes, 'And have you spoken to Ravinder?' Sunita screams at her to get out but she continues, 'And Shareen?' Sunita looks like she has just been slapped. Sandra smiles, 'You didn't know about Shareen? Oh dear. You 'are' having a bad day, aren't you?' And well done to you eagle eyed Corrie fans who spotted that Sandra is played by the lovely Jeni Williams who we last saw on the show playing Sheila Hayes, mother of Wayne in the 'Boy Disappears In Tranny Snatch' storyline. Lovely to see her back again.

Frankie arrives and asks Jessie if she can have a look at the shoes she is selling, 'I can't resist shoes, me.' Jessie tells her they are fifty quid. Sally screeches, 'You told me a fiver!' Jessie replies, 'A fiver to you, fifty to her for her Jamie hurting our Joanne's feelings.' Frankie hears about Carol and rushes off to find Jamie. Sally sidles closer and asks, 'Can I have a look at those shoes?' Jessie hands her pair but warns, 'Be careful. People have become addicted to the feel of them. There's a support group in Eccles.'

Sean moans at Jason when he returns from the yard for not getting dressed up for Violet. Jason tells her, 'I got caught up at the yard, if I'd have gone home to shower I'd have been another half hour and you'd have been just as narky about that.' Violet tells him it's fine and he snaps, 'Well your mate Sean doesn't seem to think so.' Violet, not wanting to have an argument, assures him it's fine and tells him, 'Come on, just let me buy you a drink.'

Dev arrives home with presents for Sunita, and enters laughing, 'Presents are guaranteed to cure hormonal..... hey, what's wrong? Look, if your hormones are that bad maybe we should see a doctor.' She replies, 'Isn't this normal for a pregnancy then?' Blissfully unaware, he replies, 'I don't know. We can find out.' She snaps at him, 'How was it with Ravinder? How was she? Or Sandra? It can't be 'that' hard to remember!' He stammers, 'Let's.... let's just sit down and...' She yells, 'I am sat down. When were you going to tell me about your kids?' He cries, 'Soon. Soon but not while you were....'

She screams, 'Liar! You were never going to tell me. You were happy to let me believe that I was carrying your first born children.' He cries that he was going to tell her when they were settled down, all four of them. She rages, 'Why didn't you tell me 'before' I was pregnant, before we were married? Now's as good a time as any. How many women have you got?' He cries, 'Only you. The only children I care about as those in...' He reaches to touch her stomach but she flinches away from his touch and yells, 'How can you say that I am your only woman? That these are your only children. You are a liar!'

Eileen brings a legless Carol back to Frankie's, 'I'm sorry, she only got as far as Inkerman Street and she threw all over the car. The driver refused to take her. I've got your money but it' twenty quid down. Lloyd insisted. Well it 'was' his car that she threw up all over but it's the standard charge.'

Jamie sighs, 'You were right Frankie. People let you down. That's all they do.' Frankie tells him not to give up, 'And don't give up on Joanne.' He moans, 'Why did she have to buy her a drink?' Eileen tells him, 'Don't blame Joanne. She'd have got it somewhere. I only took my eyes off her for a second and she was off trying to score more.' Frankie tells him, 'See? Don't blame Joanne. She's a good thing in your life and you deserve a bit of that.'

Jason continues to snap and be narky with Violet. She tells him, 'I can't seem to do anything right for you these days. What's wrong?' He tells her, 'Look you stay here and pull everything to bits with Sean, I'm off home.'

Dev tells Sunita that he wanted to tell her but was scared of losing her. She replies, 'Lying is what loses people. Keeping secrets.' He tells her he never lied about how he feels for her or their children, 'Everything else is in the past. Ravinder wanted to keep the baby. What could I do? Sandra tried to trap me. Couldn't handle the fact that I didn't want to be with her.' She replies, 'And how many more are there?' You could have hundreds for all I know.' He tells her she knows everything now. The doorbell rings and Sunita tells him to answer it. He picks up the phone and goes very quiet as he hears who it is. Sunita tells him, 'That's right. It's Shareen. I invited her. Buzz her in.'

He begs Sunita to let him get rid of her, 'You and I need to talk.' Sunita replies, 'I gave you a chance to tell me everything. Shareen just slipped your mind did she?' He tells her he is going to tell her to go and opens the door. Shareen marches in straight past him and smiles, 'Blimey, this is an invitation I thought I'd never get. Here, take the baby while I get my breath.'

As the infant cries in it's basket, Sunita looks in astonishment, her brain performing the simple maths in a fraction of a second to tell her that Shareen's child must have been born after they were married. Her husband married her knowing full well that another woman was carrying his child! She gasps, 'A baby!' and rushes into the bedroom in tears.

Sarah finds Jason back at the yard tidying up and smiles, 'I thought you were going out. Had a row?' He snaps, 'Yeah, you'd love that wouldn't you?' She tells him she is sorry she was heavy with him earlier, 'I'm sure you get enough of that at home. I just can't help fancying you so much but I'll back off if that's what you want.'

Sally presents Sophie with a pair of trainers, 'They're genuine Suede-ique!' Sophie asks, 'What's Suede-ique?' Sally replies, 'Trendy!' and sends her off home to try them on. Kevin huffs, 'Aren't you the generous one?' Sally smiles, 'You said she should have some.' He replies, 'No, I said 'I' should buy her some. You make one rule one minute and the next you change your mind and I have to just tag along with it.'

Jamie apologises to Joanne for blowing up at her earlier. She tells him, 'It's okay, The way I look at it is it wasn't really about me.' He smiles, 'If I had spoken to Leanne like that she would have punished me for weeks.' Joanne asks him if he still loves her. He tells her, 'God no, sorry. I didn't mean to start on about her. She was only on my mind because you are so different. It's weird to be with somebody who is so much less selfish and so much nicer.' She smiles, 'You think I am nicer?'

He smiles, 'Nicer? Two of the worst dates in the history of mankind and you are still here, sat next to me.' She tells him she really likes him and they kiss....just as Leanne and Janice are walking by.

Leanne sighs, 'So much for it going better than you thought. You go get your chips. I'm not very hungry all of a sudden.'

Dev shouts through the door, 'Sunita, I just thought you had heard enough for one day. I'm over forty years old. I have a past, of course I do but please, we can....' The door opens and she emerges carrying a suitcase. She asks, 'How can you say it is in the past? I bet you've got a pregnant women living at every shop! In every flat, living rent free!' He cries, 'Look, I know I've made mistakes....but I love you! I never married anyone but you!'

She screams, 'No, you just bred from them!' and pushes past him. He stops her, 'You can't go like this! Not in your condition!' She snarls at him, 'I can manage! Just like all the others had to manage on their own. Now, why don't you go help poor Shareen having to cope with your baby?' He cries, 'That's not my baby,' but she screams, 'Stop lying! You just stay away from me!' and flees from the flat.


Wednesday 16 November

Written by: Martin Allen
Directed by: Kay Patrick

A down in the dumps Dev is sitting in his dump of a flat (everything's packed ready for moving) trying to call Sunita who's dumped him. She's asleep on Shelley's sofa, which is no place for a heavily pregnant woman in my opinion, and is not answering his calls.

It's raining in the Street, but Sophie is so pleased with her new trainers that she doesn't care and goes off happily to school. Sally joins her workmates sheltering from the rain on the factory steps and chats happily with the twins about the fantastic footwear they sold her.

Chez Baldwin, Carol is trying to put her sheet in the washing machine, but Jamie says it won't need washing after just one night. Except it does, because it's wet. Carol says she spilled tea on it, but Jamie doesn't believe her. Neither does Frankie when she comes down and takes the sheet from Jamie. Embarrassed, Carol goes to get dressed, and Frankie tells Jamie he can't be expected to look after Carol. She says alcoholics lie, cheat, and 'do this.' Jamie says he can't desert Carol when she's at rock bottom.

At the garage, Nathan and Ashley are going out for a jog. Claire is on her way to pick up Josh from nursery. Tyrone is sitting on a car engine eating a sandwich. Tracy comes along, and Claire tells her she doesn't mind Ashley training but she doesn't like him boxing: 'two men hitting each other – it's barbaric.' Tracy says she finds it sexy. Claire is trying to be friendly to Tracy and invites the latest Amy to play with Josh, but Tracy says, 'I tell you what – I'll call you,' and goes off, leaving Claire pulling a face at her retreating back.

Gail's washing up, Phil's drying, and David's reading a magazine and giving out attitude. He's reading an article about a man who reckons spiders are full of vitamins, which David says is no more crazy than saying you can cure people by fiddling with their feet. Phil attempts to be conciliatory and says as long as it works it's fine, but David says, 'Whatever turns you on, eh Phil? If going out with the widow of a serial killer does it for you, go for it.' Then he goes off to get ready for school.

Sunita and Shelley are in Shelley's back room discussing the serial sperm-bank known as Dev. It's the young baby that Shareen has that bothers Sunita the most, because it must have been conceived, gestated and born since she was married to Dev. She says she can't trust anything else he says, it's like she doesn't know him any more: 'I'm married to a stranger, carrying his children. I don't know what to do.'

Jason is at the Platt's putting shelves up, when Seductive Sarah arrives home, having sneaked off early (let's hope she neutralised the perm she was busy with before she sneaked off, otherwise there'll be melted hair all over the salon). He's so surprised he cuts his finger, so Sarah goes into Flirty First Aid mode and gets a plaster. He can't resist her feminine wiles and is just about to kiss her when Gail arrives back home. Sarah nevertheless looks pleased with her morning's work.

'You look rough,' Tracy greets her local grocer as she pops in to the corner shop to buy some milk. She attempts to needle Dev about whatever's worrying him, but he's not rising to her bait. He does look rough, though. If you're feeling bad, the last person you probably want to see is an estate agent, and one arrives now to inform Dev that the house sale has gone through, and the house is now legally his. He leaves Dev with two sets of keys and a bottle of champagne: 'All part of the service. Do give my love to Mrs Alahan.'

Sally is in the pub, and when the twins join her she can't help noticing that their feet are wet, despite them having been indoors for the past several hours. When Jessie takes her shoe off to air it out, it falls apart in her hands. Sally has a look, and discovers the soles of the shoes are made of cardboard. Then Sally gets a call from the school to say that Sophie's shoes have also fallen apart, which has caused the other girls to pick on her, and Sophie has been fighting back. Sally has to go and collect her.

At the bar, Jason is trying to convince Violet that he's sorry for messing her about, and she is the only one he loves. He'll do anything to prove it, he says. She asks him if he'll stand on his head in his underpants on the factory roof, and he says he would. He promises he'll never let her down again. 'No-one can promise that,' she says realistically, but he says he'll try.

Talking of people who let people down, here's Dev looking for Sunita. Shelley says she hasn't seen her, but Dev doesn't believe her. 'Please tell her I called,' he says. 'She knows where I am when she's ready to talk.'

A tense atmosphere also at the Baldwins, where Frankie and Jamie are sitting with Carol waiting for a taxi to take her to the station. Carol tells Jamie it was nice seeing him, 'even if it was short.' She says it might be easier if she moved to Weatherfield and got a flat with Jamie. Frankie tells Carol that she needs 'professional help, not some kid who thinks it's all his fault anyway.' Frankie is worried that Carol will end up taking over Jamie's life, but she knows that Jamie wants to help him mum, so she makes Carol an offer – she can either move back to Birmingham on her own, or she can move in with them, but if she does that the drinking has to stop for good. Carol agrees.

Kevin is surprised to see his youngest daughter being driven home from school early. He's even more surprised when a spittingly angry Sophie shows him her cardboard shoes: 'I felt like a right donk at school!' she says. Kevin orders her into the house to change into her old shoes and get back to school. Then he goes over the road to confront Joanne and Jessie and demand his money back, plus loss of earnings for Sally.

Dev goes into his new house, but he can't cope with being there alone so he gets no further than the hallway before going back out again.

When Kevin gets home from work, Sally says she finds it a bit of a turn-on when he gets all masterful, like he did with the twins. But then she has a go at him about how he always leaves the disciplining of Rosie and Sophie to her, and how he's always the good cop while she's the bad cop. She says from now on it's going to be him who has to put his foot down with them, and she'll just have a bit of fun with them for a change.

It's dark, and Jason is at the builders' yard stacking up tiles when Seductive Sarah arrives, ostensibly to pay him for doing the shelves. She says she'll leave it in Charlie's office so he gets it when he gets back (which will be tomorrow, according to Jason). 'Is it up them stairs?' she purrs. 'Are you going to show me?' He says no, so she goes up alone, pausing half way up to pout, 'Do I go all the way to the top?' He's putty in her hands, to use a building-related metaphor, and follows her upstairs and propels her passionately onto a pile of dustsheets.

Living proof of the problems of profligate passion (i.e. Dev) arrives at the Rovers again, demanding to see Sunita. He barges straight past a protesting Shelley to the back room. Sunita tells him to get out. He gives her the keys to the new house but she says she won't be coming with him. He says she's angry about things that happened before they even met. 'I've seen Shareen's daughter,' she says. 'Shareen's daughter isn't mine,' he says, but Sunita doesn't believe that and says he must have been seeing Shareen while they were married. But it's not quite as Sunita imagined. Dev tells her, 'Shareen's my daughter! That child's got nothing to do with me.' (Apart from being his grandchild, obviously). He says he's never been unfaithful to Sunita, and he didn't tell her about his extensive family because he was afraid of losing her. 'How many more are there?' she wants to know, and he says she now knows everything. Sunita is hysterical – she says she can never trust him again. 'But you're carrying my children,' he protests. 'Not after this I'm not,' she hisses back at him, and says she's going to get rid of them: 'I'm having an abortion, Dev, and that's me and you finished!'

Sue Haasler






Friday 18 November

Right, after an extended tour of Pittenweem, Preston, Wigan and Huddersfield, marred only by realising after the first week that I'd forgotten to allow for the finishing of summer time when I sent the video for the Corrie episodes I was missing (sob!) I'm back and it's Friday night.

As Sally and Kev leave for work, they're in the middle of discussing Sally being the good cop. She promises to smile, smile, smile, no matter what. Right behind them comes Sophie, trying to put her shoes on at the same time as she tries to persuade her mum to let her go shopping, too. It seems Sally's given in and is going to buy a proper pair of trendy trainers. "I'll run away if you buy me any more cheapos," Sophie says. Kev, by now across the road at work, can't work out why Sal hasn't gone into Underworld. It seems he doesn't know she's skiving off work, nor that she's off to buy some trainers. "Au revoir, Papa," Sophie calls. Nearby, Carol and Jamie arrive at Frankie's. Carol is moving in. Danny comes up behind them, and is appalled to discover this.

In the taxi office, Tracy waltzes in and demands that Claire run her into town. I absolutely love it when the writers make Tracy this bitchy, even though if I met the actress in the street I'd being in serious danger of slapping her face (and I KNOW it's fiction). Claire can't do the job. Her gearbox is playing up. "Oh, I suppose that counts for excitement in your life," Tracy says patronisingly. She recommends that Claire get Nathan's help. "He'll rev you up like you've never been revved before, if you know what I mean." She turns to Eileen. "Actually, she doesn't, but that's Ashley for you." Then she leaves before Eileen can give her the slapping she so richly deserves.

Ken rushes in the cafe with the news that Roy's made it into the national press. Roy would rather not read the article, but Ken tells him he must or he won't know what everyone is talking about. Roy seems to take a quick glance before declaring it a little fulsome in its praise. Hayley and Violet also read it. "Well, I've just had breakfast and I agree with every word." Hayley reads it out loud: "The best full English breakfast in the north-west of England is served without flourish or fanfare at Roy's Rolls cafe, in Victoria Street, Weatherfield, Manchester. Understated perfection." Hayley urges Roy to put the cutting in the window, but he doesn't want to cut up Ken's paper. "No, my copy's at home. I bought that for you," Ken tells him. The others, thrilled for Roy, all leave. And we see Roy's not quite as calm as he's pretending, as he tries to wipe the counter with a bread roll.

Fred has gone to see Dev and to commiserate as one who tried to keep a child secret for years. Dev tells him Sunita might seem sweet and gentle, but she's planning on getting rid of the twins. "Never!" Fred says. "She would never do that." Fred won't believe him, but Dev tells him to go and ask Sunita.

At the garage, Claire tells Nathan she can't afford to have her car off the road and it's the same problem he fixed before. Nathan says he'll have another look. Claire isn't that keen, but Kevin says he's too busy to do it. "I need it as soon as possible," Claire reiterates, giving Nathan a stern look.

Sally and Violet are crowding Sunita and she needs some fresh air. They remind her it's moving day, so Dev won't be calling in. She's going to buy some stuff for the babies while she can still get about, but refuses to fetch any of the stuff they've already bought for the babies. "I never want to see him again," she says, then, defensively, "I'm all right. I'm allowed some bitterness. I deserve it!"

Danny stops Frankie in the street and begs her to get rid of Carol. Frankie points out that Carol has always been with them -- Jamie has her eyes. Carol is in their past, but in all their pasts. Frankie tries to get away but he pulls her back. "Listen to me. She is insane," he says. Carol will pull the family apart. "No," says Carol. That's your speciality. Nobody does it better."

Inside the house, we see Carol restless and pacing, then finally she grabs an opened bottle of white wine from the fridge and pour herself two hefty glassfuls, topping it up with tapwater.

In the pub, Tracy wants Nathan to take the afternoon off. She just promising him he won't regret it, when Claire is at his shoulder like the conscience fairy. He says it will be ready about four o' clock. "I need it now," she says, quietly. Tracy sneers that he's seeing to her first, because she needs a full service and overhaul, "if you get my drift." "I do," says Claire very quietly. "But I still need it within the hour." She turns and marches out and the entire British nation crosses its fingers and hopes she's gone to get her machine gun. There's no need. Nathan puts Tracy down and heads off to work. Carol tells Jamie she's drinking tonic water and that she's going to get a job. "Mum, how long's it been since you last had a job?" He says he'd prefer her to join an organisation, but she insists she hasn't got a problem. "I drink when I choose to drink." Joanne comes in to check if Jamie's still OK for tonight. Despite meeting her before, Carol doesn't remember Joanne at all, but she doesn't like her. At the bar, Leanne puts the poison in, telling Joanne she's lumbering herself with Carol. Jamie won't go out with Joanne, because he'll be caring for his mother. Joanne orders a shandy from Violet and Leanne chips in: "and a bottle of meths for the boyfriend's mother."

At the new house, Dev sits forlornly among the packing cases while a moving man witters on about babies and all the cots, buggies and teddy bears. He goes, leaving Dev playing with a toy that plays "Twinkle twinkle."

In the Webster household, Kev is going on about Sal giving in to Sophie about the trainers and how there's no point in saying anything because no-one listens to him. Sally says she finally stopped nagging long enough to hear herself. "I don't know how the girls put up with it," she says. "We just ignored you," Rosie says sweetly. Sally plans to speak to the girls nicely and listen to them and be friendly to them. "Ew, gross," says Rosie. Sophie, developing into a real character, comes downstairs. Sally tells her they're going out for a pizza, and hands over the trainers. Sophie is so overcome she's immediately multi-lingual. "Pizza! Delicio! Oh, mum you got them. Thank you. Merci, merci, maman." She rushes upstairs and Sally beams at Martin. "There you go, gratitude in two languages. What more do you want?"

Joanne and Jamie are talking about his mum outside the pub. Apparently Carol's been in the toilet for half an hour. Jamie's just reassuring Joanne that everything's under control when Leanne pours Carol into the street. "You stink of it!" Jamie shouts at her. If this is some little plan of Leanne's, it's failed, because Carol and Jamie pick Carol up off the ground and take her home, leaving Joanne looking after them.

Tracy sits with Claire in the cafe and wants to know if she's ever done it in the afternoon when she should be at work. "What gives Ashley a thrill when it's early closing? Tea on the lawn? Eileen tells Claire to ignore Tracy. "She can't help it, she's on heat." Tracy says she doesn't think Claire knows what that means. "It means," says Eileen, "that soon she'll be sniffing round embarrassing places and we'll have to ask her to leave." Tracy says she was going anyway. She tells Claire to look around her. "You, Eileen, Roy, Hayley. You know what this place is, don't you? It's a hangout for the undersexed."

Roy's relented and put up the cutting, though he's made sure it's not bigger than his grandad. Hayley asks if he's proud and he replies that he's not euphoric or elated, but he's quietly pleased. He thinks it might bring one or two more customers in. "Will you cope?" asks Hayley. "With a lovely wife like you beside me, course I will," he says, with a glint in his eye, and Hayley giggles naughtily. So much for what Tracy thought

Sunita struggles back into the Rovers with some shopping bags. She is upset. Dev has cancelled all her credit cards and she barely had enough money to get home. There's worse news to come. While she's out, a letter has been hand-delivered. Dev has taken out an injunction to stop her aborting the babies. "I was angry, I wanted to hurt him," she says. "But he clearly believed every word I said. How could be believe I could destroy our babies?".

Over at Frankie's, Carol comes down claiming she's not drunk but sick. Jamie realises she must have brought some booze with her in her suitcase. He and Frankie tell Carol she has to go. She promised she wouldn't drink, so they don't have to keep their promise to look after her. She becomes distraught as she realises she might have blown her last chance. Carol tries to blame Frankie for leaving her on her own, but that doesn't wash. She grovels and tells Jamie she'll do anything. "Will you admit what's wrong with you?" And finally she has to admit it. "I'm an alcoholic."

The End.

Margaret Carr





Sunday 20 November

Carol, clad in her dressing gown, sits huddled on Frankie's sofa. Jamie comes down and asks if he can get her anything. She says that some company would be nice. She's obviously suffering from lack of alcohol, and Jamie tells her that he's found a support group, she's going tonight, and there's one for relatives too and he's going to that. Carol isn't keen, but he tells her it's a done deal.

Over in the Webster household, Kevin is giving the girls a list of jobs to be done. Just then Sally comes in and tells them that it's Sunday and they don't have to do anything.

Danny knocks on what used to be his front door. Frankie opens it and reluctantly allows him inside. No sooner has he stepped over the threshold than Carol comes downstairs and demands to know what he's doing there. Danny tries to get rid of her, "Three's a crowd, love," he says. "Don't mind me," she retorts, "I only live here." Frankie suggests that she goes and makes a cuppa, and when she's gone Danny explains that Warren's team over in Spain is having a celebration bash and all the players' families can go. He wants to pay for Frankie and Jamie to go. Frankie doesn't want to accept charity, but Danny says it isn't for them, this is about what Jamie wants, and he would want Frankie to be there. Frankie says that he would want Danny there too, but just then Carol comes back and sits herself down on the sofa. "Don't mind me," she says. Frankie tells Danny she'll think about it, and shows him out.

Shelley and Sunita are having a chat in the back room of the Rovers. Shelley tells Sunita that she knows what Dev did was wrong in getting the injunction, but he thought she was going to have an abortion. Shelley says quietly that the longer Sunita leaves it without speaking to Dev, the worse it's going to get. "How?" Sunita demands to know, "how can it get any worse?" Sunita then goes off to see Dev, as Shelley pleads with her to listen to what he's got to say.

Over in the Baldwin household, Carol is doing her best to keep Frankie away from Danny. She tells her that Danny is just using Warren to get at her. Frankie points out that Danny won't be going with them to see Warren, but Carol says he'll be with her – inside her head. "He's like an addiction," says Carol, "trust me, I know what I'm talking about." Frankie says that she doesn't want Danny back, but she looks pretty miserable. Carol tells her that someone has to learn from her mistakes, and Frankie promises that she will. "As long as we stick together," says Carol, "we are Danny's worst nightmare."

After the break, we see Frankie walking down the street, when she bumps into Danny. She tells him she's thought about his offer, and he can stick his money. She walks off, and as Danny stares after her, Carol comes up behind him. He asks her what she said to Frankie and she tells him she just filled in a few blanks. She then informs Danny that she's just got herself a job in the bookies, so they'll be able to see each other every day. Danny looks less than delighted, and so offers to take her to the pub for a drink to celebrate. Carol declines his offer, and says she'll just go home. He offers her the money he was going to give Frankie, telling her that they don't want her living in their house, and she is just a sad, deluded drunk. She refuses the money, but Danny tells her that as soon as she leaves that house he will find a way to get back in.

Sunita has arrived to see Dev at their new house. He tells her he's not going to let her go, and these are his babies as well. "What's so special about these two," she asks him, bitterly.

At the Webster's, Rosie is watching tv, and is in a grumpy mood with her dad for giving her and her sister household jobs to do. Sharp as ever, Sophie notices that the list of jobs is written in Sally's handwriting, and both girls realise that really their mother was behind it all. Kevin tells them that Sally just wanted to be a 'good guy' for once. They then throw things all over the living room, messing up the place, to see how much mess Sally can really take.

Carol goes to see Eileen, (one wonders why?) She sounds like someone becoming more and more deluded as she tells a rather bewildered Eileen that Frankie and Danny are in bed together, making up. "A leopard doesn't change it's spots," she spits, venomously. Eileen thinks she should call Jamie, but Carol is sure he'll take her to the 'nut-house'. "He just wants to control me," she says. She launches into a tirade, all the time shaking. She says she's scared she's going to mess up, and then Jamie won't give her a second chance. "You've got a second chance," says Eileen, "it's up to you whether you take it."

Sally arrives home and is not amused to find the house a mess. Just as she starts to get really cross about it, Kevin and the girls start laughing. She's really upset with him, as once again she's portrayed as the big, bad monster, and he's their friend.

Meanwhile, Dev is still trying to explain himself to Sunita. He says that when they got together his life changed, and telling her about his past would have been like going backwards. She says he should have trusted her. He says he didn't want to lose her, everything he does is about her and their children. She asks what about his other children, but he says he doesn't even know them. "They were mistakes," he says, "and they've never wanted for anything." "Except a father!" says Sunita. He admits that he's blanked out the past, it's not important to him. Sunita is incredulous that he can think that way, when all his children are very much in the present.

Jamie arrives home to find Carol on the sofa, suffering from the DT's, shaking violently. He tells her that they have to be at the alcoholics meeting in an hour, but she shouts at him to leave her alone, says she's not going and runs upstairs.

Dev shows Sunita round the new house, and shows her the cots he spent the night putting together. She tells him he is not the man she married, and if one day he were to decide that their relationship wasn't working, she knows it would be to him as if they never happened. He asks what she wants, and she tells him she wants a divorce.

Annie Logan.





Monday 21 November

We have a triple bill tonight. This is the first part.

At the Webster's Rosie stops eating her toast and heads to the door when her mum asks her where she's going. Rosie says she's going to school early. "It's not a detention?" Sally asks. Rosie says no. Sally hands Rosie her bag saying its heavy. Rosie says it's school books and runs out the door.

Over at the Grimshaw's Violet has cooked Jason breakfast telling Sean it's for last night. Sean also gets breakfast and tells Jason to keep up the good work. Violet asks Jason if he's pleased with his breakfast, he says it's as good as his Mum's. Sean says she is turning into a junior Eileen. Jason tells him not to say that. Sean says everyone hates the idea of their girlfriend turning into their mum.

Out in the street Rosie and Craig chain them self's to the butcher's door. David sees them and asks what they are doing. Craig says, "it's a protest" They are standing up for cruelty to animals. David thinks they are wasting their time. Jason sees Sarah and tells her he wants to see her later because he can't stop thinking about her. She smiles saying she's busy. Charlie shouts over to Jason telling him to hurry up. Fred comes to his shop and sees what is going on. He thinks David is on in it but he says he is just the innocent by stander thinking about his tea for tonight. Janice and Fiz also come up to investigate. Janice says she was going to get some sausages for tea and will have to go to Maddock's instead. Fred is annoyed and asks for the key. Rosie tells him to come and get it, then drops it down her top.

Baldwin's and Carol is on the sofa moaning at Frankie and Jamie saying she cant stop her self being sick and her stomach must be red raw inside. They go and sit at the table and she says she has a million blokes inside her head with hammers banging. Frankie asks if she wants aspirin but Carol snaps, "I didn't say I've got a headache! I've got men inside my head with hammers" Carol then says she wants to punch someone. Jamie tells her to punch him not Frankie. Carol tells him she would never punch her own flesh and blood.

Back to the protest outside. He says every second the shop is closed he is losing money and offers them money. He says £20 each then £30. He goes up to £50 and Craig says they should take it, "You know, he's right. We 'have' made a significant point this morning" Rosie still says no. Fred says he will give Craig £100 if he get her to change her mind but Craig only opens his mouth as Rosie says no. Sally comes out and sees what is going on, "You deceitful little madam" Fred tells her he can't get in his shop as she dropped the key down her top. Sally tells her to unlock the chains immediately but Rosie will not budge. "We're going nowhere till this sickening trade in animal cruelty is stopped" she says. Sally just turns and walks away with a small smile on her face, leaving Fred shouting telling her that Rosie is her daughter and she should have her under control. Frankie and Jamie just come out their house. Frankie tells him she can't take much more of Carol. She asks how many more urine soaked sheets does she have to wash and thinks she's being treated like a punch bag in her own home. Danny watches the pair from over the road as she tells Jamie things have to get better. Sally returns with cutter and says they either open the lock or she will. Rosie says she will have to cut of her fingers to get the chain cut and grabs the chain. Sally says she will then asks Fred if he has ice so they can put her fingers in and then get her to the hospital to sewn them back on. Rosie just before he mum says three moves her fingers and the chain is cut. Sally then tells her to get to school. Rosie asks if that's it but Sally says she will think of a punishment.

At the salon Sarah is sweeping the floor as Jason enters. He asks if she's alone, she says just for a minute. He asks to see her later and she says she will see what she can do. Just then Maria and Audrey come back and Jason leaves. Maria asks if he wanted a hair cut and Sarah tells her he came round to see her. Audrey wonders why and she says it was about the work he had been doing at her Mum's.

At a bar Molly and Kirk are having a drink. Molly tells him she can hear the fear in his came when he says Fiz. He says she don't scare of Fiz. Molly goes and says she' been there and knows the signs. Molly says he needs to stand up to Fiz and tell her he calls the shots from now on. When Kirk says he can't stay long as Fiz is cooking him a meal she tells him he is a free man and can do what he wants. She tells him to stay for a drink as Fiz is not the boss of him.

Rovers and Dev enters to find Sunita behind the bar. He asks her what she's doing and says he got papers from her solicitors this morning. She tells him good. He says he does not want a divorce and asks what she wants him to do, "Beg in front of all these people?" Sunita tells him she wants him to leave. He tells her not to do this to them. Shelley tells him to leave and then takes Sunita into the back. Danny tells Frankie that he will win her back no matter what it takes. Even if he is old and grey and will not stop trying.

Battersby's household Kirk comes in and Fiz is not amused with him. She asks where he has been. "Talk to the hand 'cos the ears don't work" he tells her and falls backwards onto the sofa. Fiz shows him what she made for him and he says her cheese on toast is her favourite dinner not his. Kirk tells her he likes spaghetti hoops and from now he calls the shots. He passes out. Fiz pulls a blanket over him and says they will talk about this later.

At the yard Sarah had come to see Jason. Both of them race up the stairs. They stop and Jason covers Sarah's mouth as they find Charlie on the phone. Jason grabs her by the hand and they race out of the yard onto the street and then race behind the Rovers. As he kisses her up against the wall she tells him, "I'm not doing it here" He shows her keys to his house and they race into the backyard and him the garden. Just as they are about to go in they see Sean through the window dancing round the house. He pushes her up against the wall and tells her he wants her. She says not here because it's freezing. He tells her he doesn't care. She says she has an idea.

At the Factory Frankie enters and tells Danny that if he wants her back he should start by helping her look after Carol. Then tells her while he is doing that he can get down on his knees and beg his son for forgiveness. As she turns to leave he asks if she wants money. She doesn't not know what she wants but wants something good to happen and then says she knows what she does not want and that's him.

Platt's household Jason and Sarah enter, unable to keep their hands and lips off each other. He grabs her hand and leads her up the stairs. She stops halfway and asks, "Hang on. Are we going out?" He says what and she asks again. He says yes. She says, "I mean it. I'm not coming upstairs if you are just using me. Are we going out officially?" He tugs her saying yes. Sarah also asks if he's going to finish with Violet and he says yes and the pair continue upstairs.

Outside the Rovers Carol has presses her face against the window. Frankie and Jamie arriving and see Carol heading for the pub door. She pauses at the door and tells her self-she done not need a drink and to go home and have a cup of tea instead, she repeats this several times. She turns away from the pub. She cries, "You spying on me?" Jamie gives her a big hug and tells her she done well and is proud of her.

Platt's again and David arrives home from school entering through the back door. He gets a beer from the fridge.

Corner shop and Sunita comes to see Dev who tries to convince her that if they are honest with each other they can get back to where they were. She says, "I don't think you are even capable of being honest. I only came here to tell you never to make a scene again like you did in The Rovers earlier. I think it would be best if we let our solicitors do the talking from now on" he looks shocked.

Back to the Platt's and David is about to sit down when he hears laughing from upstairs. He says to himself, "Mum, that is disgusting" and heads towards the back door as he hears Sarah say, "Jason, I need to get a drink," and Jason tells her he will get it. The pair come rushing down and giggling. The freeze as they see David. He opens his beer and has the biggest grin on his face. "well well well. This is a surprise" he says.

Amanda Souter

The update for part 2 is copyright ITV Visual updates.

Caught in the act by David, Jason does some quick thinking. Unfortunately, with a brain the size of a pea, the best he can come up with is blustering, 'Ahem, so I think those shelves look okay. What do you think Sarah? Davis snorts, 'Oh per-lease!' Jason snaps, 'Aren't you supposed to be at school?' David fires back, 'Aren't you supposed to be inspecting 'Violet's' shelves? She 'is' supposed to be your girlfriend isn't she?'

Jason mumbles that it's a bit more complicated than that. David replies coolly, 'Really? Me sister getting her kit off for a builder seems pretty straightforward to me.' Sarah tells him to shut up and he smirks, 'Ah, now shutting up could prove a bit more complicated.' Jason cries, 'Look, me and Sarah are just mates.' Sarah gasps, 'Jason? We are 'so' not!' David smirks, 'Not a good role model are you, you two? I'm at an impressionable age.'

David simply smirks at the pair and saunters off into the living room. Jason whispers to Sarah, 'He 'will' keep his mouth shut, won't he?' Sarah eyes her sibling and replies, 'Oh yes, he will.' Hmm, pigs gassed up and ready to fly.

Sunita tells Shelley that Dev seems to think if he keeps talking at her long enough he will persuade her round, 'If you heard him you'd think 'he' was the injured party!' Shelley tells her they will get through it. Sunita sighs and pats her stomach, 'It's these two that matter now. They've got the surname, top of the range twin buggies and a doting father on standby with a camcorder. Yeah, fate has really smiled on these two.'

Jason is in the middle of telling Sarah that Violet would be devastated if he dumped her, Sarah crying, 'But you said we were going out!' They fall silent as David reappears and sniggers, 'Anyone would think you two had something to hide.' Jason growls, 'You are sailing very close to the wind mate.' David heads for the front door and tells Jason pointedly, 'No, that's you...... mate!'

Sarah reasons, 'Well, if he 'does' blab to Violet at least you won't have to tell her.' He tells her not to be such a cow. She cries, 'I can't help it. We are meant to be together. It's fate!' He replies, 'Yeah, a fate worse than death if our mams get wind of it.' Sarah tells him they are both consenting adults. He tells her is mad about her, 'But I 'am' happy with Violet. Look I've got to get back to work.' Sarah tells him earnestly, 'You can't stop fate Jason. And if you were getting everything you needed from her you wouldn't be round here now.'

Sarah reasons, 'Well, if he 'does' blab to Violet at least you won't have to tell her.' He tells her not to be such a cow. She cries, 'I can't help it. We are meant to be together. It's fate!' He replies, 'Yeah, a fate worse than death if our mams get wind of it.' Sarah tells him they are both consenting adults. He tells her is mad about her, 'But I 'am' happy with Violet. Look I've got to get back to work.' Sarah tells him earnestly, 'You can't stop fate Jason. And if you were getting everything you needed from her you wouldn't be round here now.'

Bev takes a surprisingly pragmatic view on Dev's offspring and points out to Sunita that it 'was' a long time ago, 'You are the one he married. You have status.' Sunita gripes, 'He thinks a gold band makes everything alright. The others don't count because they are not called Alahan.' Bev tells her, 'I'm not fighting his corner. It's low life. All I'm saying is that when you are doing a 3am feed, followed by a 4am feed and weeping with exhaustion, you might just wish that low life was beside you.'

Dev shows Fred the divorce letter from Sunita's solicitor. Fred asks, 'Can't you delay it, ask for mediation or something?' Dev tells him, 'You know they can rush one through in four months now, if it's uncontested? Her mind is made up. She wants a divorce and I suppose under the circumstances the least I can do is make it as painless as possible.'

Jason rushes home having had a text from Sarah saying she needs to see him urgently. He rushes into the backyard to find her stood there dolled up to the nines. He cries, 'You said it was urgent.' She smiles, 'What could be more urgent than unfinished business? Eileen is at work, Sean's out and the V word is stuck behind the bar getting varicose veins.'

She slips off her coat and purrs, 'This is a Victorian bodice. It's this season's must have. It's very tight and strappy and I think I might need some help getting out of it.' Jason doesn't need asking twice and quickly drags her indoors.

Roy proudly shows Vera the piece from the newspaper. She tells him it's very nice and he replies, 'Yes, rather saccharine but nevertheless gratifying in it's own way.' She tells him, 'Our Jack was in the papers once you know!' Roy replies interestedly, 'Oh yes?' She answers, 'Yeah.... for drink driving. Page four it was. And our Terry, he hand a column inch or two when he did a runner from the courts. It was pages three, four and five!'

Craig tells a furious Keith that they were making a protest to protect those that can't protect themselves. Keith fires back, 'You were sagging off school and making an exhibition of yourself! As if the eyeliner wasn't bad enough! It's the food chain lad, they eat grass and we eat them!' Craig wails, 'What kind of a chain is that?' Keith retorts, 'A very tasty one.' Roy arrives with two plates of lasagne, roast potatoes and veg and Keith tells him to get stuck in. Craig rages, 'How many times? I'm a veggie!'

Keith simply takes Craig's plate and scrapes his lasagne onto his own plate, 'No point in it going to waste. I could eat a scabby horse, though I suppose that's something else that's on your list of no-nos.' Craig whines, 'And what am 'I' going to have.' Keith smirks, 'Don't worry, roast potatoes and veg will keep you nice and anemic looking.' As Craig sulks, Keith shouts over, 'Hey, eleven out of ten Roy. Laminate that!'

David spots Jason and calls him over, 'Oi Grimshaw, what time does your Violet finish work?' Jason tells him, 'Go and play conkers with your methy mates, eh?' David shrugs, 'Fair enough, I'll ask her meself.' and heads for the door. Jason races over and slams him against the wall, 'Okay, how much?' David smirks, 'Let's say.... forty.' Jason snorts, 'A tenner!' David replies, 'Twenty and my lips are sealed.' Jason hands over the dosh and grunts, 'This is great, being blackmailed by a kid.' David laughs, 'Blackmail?' and mimicking Peter Kay's Max, smirks, 'How very dare you?' before sauntering off.

Fiz becomes more worried about Molly's influence over Kirk as he continues to be aggressive towards her. She tells him he was really horrible to her at lunchtime but he replies, 'Yeah? Sometimes you've got to fight fire with fire.' She cries, Oh, that another of Molly's pearls of wisdom is it? He grunts that he is starving. She tells him she will make him something to eat but he pushes past her, telling her, 'I can see to myself!'

Rosie arrives at the cafe and Keith, having devoured his double helping of lasagne, tells her and Craig, 'I'll leave you two to look pale and interesting together then.' Rosie scowls, 'We've got things to talk about. World issues and that.' Keith tells her, 'Yeah? Well take Fred Elliott off your list will you? I want a quiet life.' Craig tells him, 'We rattled Fred's cage. Mission accomplished.' Keith exclaims, 'Mission? Why can't you eat burgers and have a laugh like other kids?'

Craig asks if Sally has come down of the ceiling yet. Rosie tells her, 'I've been steering well clear. I reckon she'll ground me for at least two weeks but I'll cry me eyes out to me dad and get it knocked down to something like one day.' She tells him they need to change tactics and target meat eaters directly using an element of surprise. Craig muses, 'Yeah, or we could just stop here and have a snog.'

Rosie replies, 'Yeah, but only after we have picked a meat eater and guilt tripped 'em.' Craig wonders if anyone is really going to be swung round by the two of them banging on. Rosie laughs, 'Der! That's why we need a prop! They need to look death in the face.'

And so, gentle reader, this is why a few minutes later we find our old friend Porky being led down the street by our carrot crunching doom merchants, though quite how she came to be wearing one of Liz Macdonald's going out outfits is something of a mystery. The trio come to a halt outside Jack and Vera's and hammer on the door.

Tyrone looks down and exclaims, 'Hello mate. I've just been eating your cousin. Toad in the hole!' Rosie tells him, 'Life expectancy, six months.' Ty asks, 'Why? Is she ill or something?' Craig informs him, 'She has a rendezvous with the abattoir.' Rosie tells him, 'You are staring death in the face. How does that feel.' Tyrone replies seriously, 'Terrible........ but you're a cutey aren't you? Yes, you are!'

Rosie replies, 'Will she look as cute with an apple in her mouth in Fred Elliot's window?' Ty gulps, 'No, but that won't happen to this one will it? Craig asks him, 'Looking forward to your belly of pork at Christmas are you?'

Rosie piles on the pressure, 'That's all this poor animal will be basically. All it's innards ripped out, bled, refrigerated. Then hung on a dirty, bloody hook!' Craig intones, 'Gas mark 6 for one hour, serve with seasonal vegetables and a dollop of apple sauce.' Rosie cries, 'Farewell Porky, RIP! Rest Innocent Pig. And all this in a season of so called goodwill.'

Ty blusters, 'Yeah, but it won't be 'this' pig, will it?' Craig tells him, 'Yep, and hundred just like it. Some people are just pig ignorant.' Rosie adds, 'We just thought you should know the facts.' Ty slinks back inside looking rather pale and I'd hazard a guess that he is going to be eating just hole and not much in the way of toad for his tea now.

Kirk has now become so rebellious that he has even..... shock.... horror..... made his own spaghetti hoops. Fiz tells him, 'Molly has been pouring poison in your ear. She is trying to come between us. Can't you see that.' but Kirk won't have it and tells her, 'She said you'd feel threatened by our friendship. She has just helped me see things a bit clearer!'

David has no joy trying to buy a couple of fourpacks of lager at the corner shop. He rages, 'Lived over the road all me life and he won't even sell me eight cans of poxy warm and overpriced lager!' Jack tells him, 'Well I'll buy 'em for you then.' Dev yells, 'No!' and points to the sign that states clearly that is against the law to buy alcohol on behalf of those who are underage. David gripes, 'He's only got the hump 'cos everything's gone pear shaped with Sunita!' Dev escorts him to the door and ejects him as David rails, 'You know what me gran says about you? At least Dick Turpin wore a mask!'

Jack tells Dev he is sorry, 'I didn't know you and Sunita were....' Dev replies, 'Finished. Getting divorced. It'll be through before the kids are born.' Jack grimaces, 'That's hard. I'm sorry to hear it.' Dev shows him out and with a heavy heart, locks the door for the night.

As Fiz pours her heart out to Maria and Tyrone, Maria tries to reassure her, 'I know he's my brother and everything, but 'who' apart from you would fancy him? And f she does, well he's bound to doing the big I am act, isn't he?' Ty concurs, 'Yeah, he'll be doing the whole peacock routine, strutting around and that.' Fiz replies miserably, 'He wasn't born to strut. He's my lolloping Kirky, all cuddly and useless. But now she's turned him against me he's slipping away.'

Hayley tells Roy he is the toast of Manchester. Roy laughs, 'Surely you mean bruschetta? Toast is so yesterday!' She trills,' All your hard work as paid off. Your unsung talents have been..... well, sung!' She tells him, 'Cream always rises to the top.' Roy adds glumly, 'So do dead bodies and waste matter. Let's not get too carried away. Kipling said that you should treat both triumph and disaster as impostors' but Hayley tells him, 'Rubbish. Let's open that bottle of Pommagne from the church raffle and leave Kipling to making his exceedingly good cakes!'

Fred tells Sunita that he saw Dev earlier, 'He seems to have accepted that you want a divorce.' Sunita replies matter of factly, 'Good.' Fred is about to walk away but he turns back and tells her, 'It's tragic.' She looks at Shelley and sighs, 'Yeah, and it's terrifying but it's the only way forward for me and my unborn children.'

part 3

This is a bit out of order, but I'm heading off for the All Blacks v Scotland test, leaving tomorrow when there are blizzards forecast.

In case you hadn't heard, ITV is back with another fortnight of "celebrities" trying to survive in the jungle. What better way to boost its ratings than to put it between episodes of Corrie. But with Carol Thatcher leaping up in the middle of the night to pee right by her bed, David Dickinson shaving his privates to avoid tick attack (thankfully he had his back to the camera!) and little Jimmy Osmond (who's quite a lot bigger now) confessing he'd smuggled contraband into the camp, that Street sandwich had to be a late-night snack, giving us THREE episodes on Monday and playing havoc with your reporters' bedtimes. So here we go with episode three from Monday night.

We open in Gail's house where Phil has apparently spent the night. There might be some squeamish among you, so I'll spare you the coy little comments she makes as she fiddles with his hair at the dining table. You can mute the sound and it won't make a lot of difference. David grumbles to Sarah that he doesn't like Phil staying over. Gail comes back and wants to know what they're bickering about, but of course neither mentions that the conversation has turned to Sarah and Jason.

Poor Fizz. She's obviously been upset by what Kirk's been saying. She's carrying something on a hanger and running across the street in a very Hayley sort of way. When Kirk answers his door she tells him she's washed and ironed another shirt for him, because she likes to look after him. He says he'll wear it tonight when he gets home, but she thinks he should put it on now and starts to try to take off what he's wearing. Kirk shrugs her off, telling her she's like a little kid dressing a doll. "I'm not a doll. I'm me. You're always pushing me about, telling me what to wear and where to go and who to talk to." He rushes upstairs.

Dev opens the shop to find Norris on the doorstep. He hints at Dev's "marital circumstances" (Norris is one of the few people who can put speech marks round words by his tone of voice) and is promptly told Dev doesn't want to talk about that. Oh, no, that was the last thing on Norris's mind (hah!). He only came in for some milk. But when he won't shut up, going on about his own "miseries of marital meltdown", failing to notice that Dev has taken on the look of a very angry, very large silverback gorilla. It's only when the till slams in the way an angry silverback would slam it, that Norris scurries away.

Out in the street, Tyrone stops Kirk and asks if he's been upsetting Fizz. Kirk tells him Fizz keeps bossing him about and thinks there's something between him and Molly, but there isn't and all he wants is for things to be like they were before, "before Fizz started pushing it." Further down the street, David catches up with Jason and asks how much it's worth to go on keeping his mouth shut. He threatens to tell Violet but Jason tells him to clear off.

In Craig's back yard, he and Rosie are looking at the pigs when Keith returns home. Rosie proudly tells him they've been round everyone who had ordered pork and persuaded them to cancel their orders. Keith is astounded. "You did what? You went behind my back and this is what you did? All my hard work thrown away?" He points out that the money for the pigs was going towards Christmas presents, including those for Craig and his mother.

Deirdre goes into the corner shop to see if Dev is all right. Before he can answer, Tracy Bar-low-as-she-can-possibly-go pops in to sneer. She thanks Dev for giving the gossips something other than her to talk about. Dev looks at her, pulls a lever and a gigantic trap door opens, dropping her into a pit with all the people she's ever offended, and they've all got sharp sticks. Oh, if only. No, he tells her to take her nasty comments elsewhere, and she goes, leaving Deirdre to apologise for her bitchy daughter.

Norris has his barrister-cross-examining-a-witness hat on as he asks Emily: "You cancelled our order of a leg of pork from Keith Appleyard, am I correct?" Why yes, he is. "So, am I to assume that I can look forward to a Christmas dinner of bean sprouts, cabbage and half a nut cutlet?" Emily tells him it's not a problem. They'll get a bird of some sort. So why did she cancel the pork? "In my opinion, Norris, there is all the difference in the world between dining on a creature you encounter for the first time plucked and ready for the oven, and eating a beast you've been on nodding terms with during its life," she explains. "I visited those pigs on several occasions -- took them scraps, made eye contact. I never realised that pigs can manage a definite twinkle." When Rosie Webster came round, she couldn't refuse. Sally overhears and rushes over to apologise for Rosie making a nuisance of herself. "Oh, but she hasn't," Emily says. "It's so good to meet a teenager with principles and the courage of her convictions." Norris agrees, sort of. "Oh, yes, your daughter knows exactly what other people should do, and she's not shy about telling them to do it."

Tyrone is in the cafe trying to reassure Fizz. Kirk arrives and Ty leaves. He tells her he's sick of them falling out. She says she's sorry and it's all her fault. Kirk agrees with that and they seem to have made up when Fizz says she'll let him decide everything from now on. "Let's celebrate. What do you want to do tonight?" That's all a bit much for Kirky's wee brain and he can't think of anything straight off. But they're smiling at each other.

Near a dark alleyway, David Platt steps out of the shadows as if he's practising to be the third Mitchell brother. (Reference to The Other Soap That Shall Remain Nameless, so don't trawl through the Corrie character lists to see if they bullied Emily at Gamma Garments). David tells Jason he's been waiting for him. And if Jason won't pay him then he can steer clear of their household because he's not wanted there. "Stay away from our Sarah. You're no good for her. None of you bloody Grimshaws are." Jason tells him to grow up and get lost. But David won't be spoken to like that. "I'm not a kid," he shouts. "You're just another lousy Grimshaw like your lousy brother. And suddenly, shouting "I'll kill you!" he starts laying into Jason. "David, David, why are you doing this?" Jason shouts as he tries to fend him off. David falls to the ground and is helped up by Sarah and by Phil, who, unnoticed, has seen what went on. As Sarah takes David home, Phil and Charlie ask what's going on, but Jason won't say.

Gail questions David as she tends his wounds. He says Jason started it, deliberately blocking his way, saying something nasty about the family. "Well, there's no excuse for a grown man picking on a boy," Gail says, heading straight for the phone to ring the police. She tells Sarah the Grimshaws have done the family enough damage. "This is where I stop it."

In the pub, Charlie is still trying to find out what happened, but Jason won't talk in front of Violet. But Eileen comes in and makes a noise about it. "We either talk about it here or at home," she says, hustling Jason out the door and leaving Violet wondering what's going on.

Sally puts a good vegetarian dinner down in front of Craig and Rosie. Yes, it's beans on toast. She's heard about what happened and Rosie starts defending them straight away, stopping when she wonders why Sally isn't shouting. Sally tells them some of the neighbours predict great things for Rosie. "Thirty years from now, I can see you as a top civil servant, running the country from behind the scenes." "Eww, no way!" says Rosie. "We don't want to spend our lives propping up a rotten system, do we, Craig?" He hastily agrees, but only because he knows what's good for him. "We want to change things," he says. "Well, that's fine as long as you change it for the better and not for worse," Sally says. It's too much for Rosie. "Mum, don't be tolerant. I hate it when you're tolerant. It's really . . . oppressive."

Kirk pops into the baker's to see Molly. Her face falls when he says he's made things up with Fizz. He tells her that from now on he's going to make all the decisions. "She said that?" pooh poohs Molly. "Oh, she's so cunning. I couldn't be like that, me." She says it's the oldest trick in the book, manipulating people, letting him think he's in charge. He should be called Kermit, not Kirk, because Miss Piggy has her hand right up his. . . glove.

Family crisis and injured son or not, Gail is in the pub. She won't tell Shelley what's wrong. Molly frog-marches Kirk into the bar. She watches as he goes over to Fizz and, voice trembling, tells her he knows why they've not been getting on. They've been living in each other's pockets. "We should give each other a bit of er. . . a bit of er. . ." Fizz finishes it for him. "Space." She tells him she understands and watches as he goes over to Molly, who has bought him a drink. The two women exchange looks.

Jason is refusing to tell his mother what the fight was all about. She thinks it's got something to do with Sarah. Violet comes in and Jason tells them both that David just tried to thump him one but he doesn't know why. Maybe it's got something to do with the arguments between Gail and Eileen. There is a knock on the door. It's the police, acting on Gail's complaint of assault on David.

A very depressed-looking Keith is hosing out an empty pig pen when Rosie and Craig come into the garden. Rosie's brought some scraps for the pigs. But where are they? "I've sold them to Fred Eliot for the best price I could get," Keith says. "Peanuts for what I could have got for them orders." Rosie is confused. "Fred Eliot? What's he going to do with them?" Keith asks: "What do you think? And by now it'll have been done. What did you expect? Did you think I'd keep them ruddy pigs as pets? It costs me enough to keep Craig and me fed for a week, never mind feeding a couple of hungry pigs."

Jason is trying to explain his side of the story, but his version is different from Gail's, the policewoman tells him. There's another knock at the door. It's the one-Platt-woman vigilante squad that is Gail. Eileen asks what she wants. "I want you and that son of yours to get what's coming to you." Eileen goes right on the attack. She knows it's Gail who complained to the police. "It's nothing but lies." David is out of control because Gail has poisoned his mind. Jason comes out and tried to explain his side of things, but Gail refuses to believe it. She's still shouting at Jason when Phil arrives. He says he saw this incident and she urges him to tell the policewoman. "Well, it's like Jason said. David started hitting him and Jason was just trying to keep him off when he fell down." Eileen thanks him. The policewoman asks if Gail wants to pursue the charge. She doesn't. Nor does Jason. "I just want to have me tea in peace." Jason tells Violet that maybe she'll believe him next time. Phil tells Gail he's sorry, but that's how it was. Shall I walk you to your door?" "No, no thanks you she says," and turns her back on him.

The End.





Wednesday 23 November

Written by: Julie Jones
Directed by: Terry Dyddgen-Jones

Gail is peeved with Big Phil because he told the policewoman the truth about David picking the fight with Jason. Gail's morality is based on 'If you can't think of anything nice to say about the Platt family, don't say anything at all,' and she thinks he should have kept out of it. Phil points out that covering up for David would have been misplaced loyalty, and that at the age of 14 David needs to take responsibility for his own actions. Gail makes excuses for David, saying that he's had a hard time recently. Phil says that when he was a boy he saw things that no child should ever have to see, but he still knew the difference between right and wrong. 'Don't you DARE cast judgment on my son!' Gail shouts at him, and goes over all the Richard Hillman trauma again: 'God knows what that's done to him.' David, meanwhile, is sitting at the top of the stairs listening to all this and grinning away to himself because apparently, as far as Gail is concerned, he'll be excused from any bad behaviour because of previous events.

At Roy's Rolls, Eileen and Violet are discussing the recent Jason/David grudge match. Violet is sure that there's something Jason isn't telling her, as he couldn't even look her in the eye. Eileen has given up trying to fathom what goes on in Jason's tiny mind. The tiny-minded one himself arrives, saying Charlie is working him like a dog and he's feeling like giving it up. He then tells Violet that the Platts are 'mental.' Eileen pointedly tells him that the best thing to do is stay away from *all* of the Platts. He says he intends to.

Deirdre comes to see Sunita, bringing her some baby clothes. She tries to convince Sunita not to give up on Dev, and not to let the past ruin their love. Sunita says it's not the past, it's live children that Dev has created. Deirdre tries to argue but Sunita has heard enough and yells at her to get out. Deirdre's parting shot is: 'Give yourself another chance, love. Please.'

Gail and Phil look like they're friends again, but any harmony they might have is threatened by David who is in destruct mode. He tells them that the reason he was fighting with Jason is that Jason said he was glad that Billy died, because he was better off in a grave than living with the Platts. 'So I was fighting trying to defend this family. But even that's wrong,' he says. Gail is shocked.

Sunita tells Bev and Shelley that she doesn't feel well – she feels sick and faint and hasn't been able to eat all day. Shelley says she'll call a cab.

Jason's sitting on the Maxine Peacock Memorial Bench, and Sarah creeps up behind him and puts her hands over his eyes. 'Violet, get off!' he says. Which doesn't make Sarah best pleased, and she tells him he's supposed to have finished with Violet by now and he has to do it soon. David is out with Bethany and shouts something abusive at Jason.

We see Les stealing a couple of bunches of flowers from the front of the Corner Shop.

David and Bethany watch Jason crossing the road. 'Do you know who that is?' David asks his niece. 'Jason,' she replies. 'That's right. Jason. And he's going to be your new daddy.' Bethany frowns.

Sunita has arrived at the hospital and goes off to be seen by a doctor. Bev and Shelley stay in the waiting room, and Shelley tells her mother that she wishes Sunita could have a nice life, with a nice house and the children and a man to look after her. Bev says it's not much to ask for, and all anyone wants is someone to love them.

A man who has perhaps loved too much, Dev, is busy pricing up cereal boxes at the shop when Sunita's brother Jayesh comes in looking for her, obviously not a happy chap. Dev says she isn't there, and Jayesh thinks she's upstairs and takes the keys from Dev so he can go and look.

Jayesh has been up to the flat and found that all of Sunita's stuff is missing, and demands to know where she is. He says his mother can't stop crying, his father is worried in case his mother has another stroke, and Sunita's life is in ruins, all because of Dev. He says he'll find out where she is even if he has to beat it out of Dev. Dev says, 'And your attitude, my friend, is exactly why I'm saying nothing.'

'I hate hospitals,' says Bev. 'It's the smell. Like death. And fear. And disinfectant' (disinfectant being the lesser of the three evils there). It reminds her of when her other daughter died. Shelley says when her life was at its worst she used to envy her sister Sharon for being dead. Bev tells her that the best thing to do is notice the times that you're happy, and don't let them pass you by. Sunita comes out, and tells them that she and the babies are all fine. The three women all hug (noticing a time when they're happy, I hope).

Jayesh and Dev are outside the shop. Jayesh is continuing his theme of Dev having ruined Sunita's life, whereas Dev believes that he made her happy after her family had tried to get her to marry a man she didn't even like, and then refused to speak to her for years. He says that if she went back to her family they'd knock every spark of life out of her. 'You're like the kiss of death to my sister,' says Jayesh. 'If you had any shred of decency in you, you'd leave her alone.' 'You abANDoned her!' shouts Dev. 'Just when she needed you most you abandoned her. I will never ever do that to her.' This earns him a punch in the face and the threat that if he ever goes near Sunita again, Jayesh will kill him.

In the Rovers, Violet and Jason are 'canoodling,' a sight which Sarah tells Molly Compton knocks her sick.

'Well, she is his girlfriend,' Molly points out. 'Was,' corrects Sarah. 'He's got someone much better now.' 'You never have?' Molly says. 'Twice,' says Shameless Sarah, and says that Jason is due to be binning Violet off at any moment. The visual evidence seems to contradict this. Gail and Phil come into the pub, Gail not happy to see that Eileen is already there.

Claire has just driven Tracy and the latest Amy back from the shops. Amy has a bad cough which Claire thinks needs medical attention as infections can take hold really quickly at that age. She doesn't know whether Tracy is kidding or not when she replies that she'll be leaving Amy in the back yard overnight – with a couple of extra blankets, of course – because the coughing has been keeping her awake. Tracy refuses to pay the cab fare, since Amy's dad owns the company. She says if Steve's bothered he can knock it off the child support.

Les, Chesney and Fiz are making the house beautiful for the return of Cilla. This involves arranging the flowers Les nicked in cut-down plastic beer bottles, and Chesney turning a cushion over so it displays dried-on mushy peas, as opposed to the 'something much worse' which is on the other side. Fiz doesn't think Cilla will actually come back: 'Next time you see her'll be in one of them documentaries, lying in a gutter with her skirt over her head,' she says. 'I've given my heart to that woman,' Les reminds her. 'Let's hope she doesn't swap it for a pint and a pickled egg,' Fiz replies.

Sunita is talking with Bev and Shelley about how she imagines her future, bringing up her babies on her own. She says at the hospital she heard their hearts beat, and all that matters is that they're alive and she loves them.

That wicked David Platt is at home asking Bethany if she wants Jason as her new dad. She says no, and he says in that case she has to tell Nana all about it. Evil!

Cilla has decided Les's heart is preferable to a pint and a pickled egg, because here she is, large as life and twice as orange. At least, she looks like Cilla – but she's not acting like Cilla, because she's brought presents for everyone – even Fiz – and there are receipts in the bag and everything! Fiz thinks this all points to a guilty conscience, but Cilla says she's a one-man woman and she takes her vows very seriously.

Gail, Sarah and Phil get back from the pub, and Bethany is sitting under the table. David tells them something has upset her, and tells Bethany she should tell Nana. Bethany runs to Gail saying, 'I don't want Jason to be my daddy.' Gail sends David upstairs with Bethany, and asks Sarah what's going on. 'So I'm seeing Jason,' Sarah says. 'So what?'

So what will Gail's reaction be? I expect we'll find out in part two of today's double episode...

Sue Haasler

Good evening. An extra episode so an old update writer returns to the keyboard.

Well the Platts know about Jason (nice one David - winding up Bethany like that - children are so malleable) Sarah disappears out of the front door and David tells Phil not to get involved. Gail asserts that David should control his tongue - and stop manipulating Bethany. Phil merely wants to eat his dinner (a man after my own heart). Gail asserts that Ellen's family is like the Munsters.

Eileen and Sean are looking to get a takeaway when Jason gets a text message from Sarah asking for a meeting outside. He gets to get the meal.

Claire asks Dreary about Amy and the "start" of whooping cough. Dreary is alarmed and heads off at high speed to Weatherfield General (but as Martin has departed the set will have been dismantled so that could be hard to find).

Jason emerges onto the Street and his femme fatale is waiting with short skirt and alcohol. She wants to know when Violet will be dumped - because if Jason does not do it soon then Sarah will do it for him.

Fred brings Dev up to date on Sunita's hospital visit - but suggests that she is still too fragile and his presence will not help.

Les & Cilla are demonstrating their re-union in the Rovers - she has a karaoke trophy - she performed every evening apparently and there was never a dry eye in the house (I can but hope that there was a ready supply of ear muffs). Yana is texting one of her conquests and asks if there is a "q" in cucumber - Cilla confirms that there is.

Dreary returns from the missing hospital. Turns out Amy is a bit chesty (more a description of Sunita or Cilla than Amy just yet I would suggest). Speccy four eyes sticking her nose in again. She looks like a Care Bear - must buy her clothes in a kiddies shop.

Gail and Sarah row over her latest boyfriend - after all the former has never approved of the latter's choices (I think Gail might just have a point here if you think about it). Gail says she liked Scooter who as David observes was a right wimp. Gail observes that Sarah obviously needs the sex, Sarah has been at it since she was thirteen - Jason is using her and she is a mug. Sarah informs Gail that Jason is going to dump Violet. Of course he is says Gail. Sarah leaves the Platt household in the usual teenage fashion! She catches Sarah outside Eileen's house and tries to stop her hammering on the door.

And after the break Sarah is outside Jason's and in front of Violet and with Gail trying to keep her daughter under control the truth is revealed. Violet does not want to know him and storms out the back. Jason tries to explain that it was while they had split up. Jason says he was not unfaithful. Violet excuses Jason of giving Sarah seconds and all the rest. She asks if Sarah was good in bed? Jason defends Sarah. Jason then tries to defend himself. She calls him a stupid idiot, she is hurting and she always knew he would hurt her. Violet tells him to go to her. He wants to sort it out - but it is not possible. She reminds him of the fuss he caused over the snog with Charlie. She would never have done that and there is no excuse for what Jason has done. He regrets what he has done. She tells him to find her in a year's time. He wants to stay with Violet - but it is over - he is free.

In the Rovers Nathan and Tracy are together. Claire asks after Amy - she is fine because she has Tracy as a mother. There is no whooping cough - so scaring Dreary was not a good idea. Claire suggests that Tracy should have been ducked in the pond in olden times.

Fiz gets the low down on the honeymoon from Yana - apparently Cilla was unable to pull - she has the smell of a married woman.

Back at Eileen's Violet departs and then Eileen tells Jason to get out of the house - she cannot stand the sight of him either. Jason shouts after Violet that he loves her - and with Sarah watching from the window - Violet leaves the Street.

K Richard W





Friday 25 November

Tonight's episode was pretty boring to be honest, of course with the exception of any Cilla scenes.

At the Rovers Sunita, Shelly and Violet are boyfriend/Husband bashing. Sunita implies to a very embarrassed Fred that all men carry their brains in their testicles. Fred, who can't be doing with all the women talk takes his cup of non existent tea through to the bar. Violets mention her Mother for the first time I can think of. Says something on the lines of her Mother thinks Violet is useless blah blah.

Over at the yard, Charlie is over the moon about Jason's indiscretions. He is very proud of his young apprentice and all but shakes his hand and pats him firmly on the back. Jason says he wants Violet back.

Molly (complete over-actor) is walking down the Street and tells useless Kirk that he has to dump Fizz. Molly speaks to Kirk as if he is a German Shepherd. Sit. Heel! Jason is heading to the pub and is closely followed by stalker Sarah-Louise. Sarah is wearing this hideous fur coat and tried to be all seductive by snogging Jason behind the back of the Rovers.

At Les's, Cilla is telling Fizz that men can smell a married woman a mile off and this must be the reason she failed to pull in Spain. Cilla says that she knows she is no Catherine Zeta Jones in the looks department but she is a right bobby dazzler when she's got her slap on. Fizz thinks Cilla should marry Les in case he goes off elsewhere and she is doomed to a life of celibacy.

Betty Turpin is having her hair done by Audrey and fills her in on her Granddaughter's behaviour. Audrey has a go at Sarah-Louise, who couldn't not care less. It is so easy to give a character a personality transplant in soaps.

Kirk heads to Les's house where he dumps Fizz! Yes that's right, HE dumps HER. Fizz throws a top at him in a temper but I say good riddance. God I hate Kirk. Fizz too may not be a dead ringer for CZJ but she could sure do better than Forrest Gump!

Claire and Ashley go to the Rovers and Nathan is in with Cruela de Barlow. The unlikely buddies force their respective beaus in to a not so cosy foursome. Now I thought that only Fred, Ashley and Claire knew about Josh being fathered by the Dr, but it appears that Tracey does as well. She spits poison at Claire and Ashley about this and Claire throws her drink over Tracey.

Jason and Charlie are also in the Rovers and in walks Violet. Violet has just found out that Sean Tully knew all about the whole business and is pretty p***ed off. Jason tries to win Violet around, but she tells him were to go.

Cilla, Les and Chesney are tucking in to the tea that Cilla has prepared. Tomato soup mixed with tinned tuna and peas! (if any readers have tried this recipe, please let me know). Cilla has an announcement to make and a delighted Les assumes she is pregnant as he thought she had been looking a bit tubby around the belly area. Cilla tells him that no, she is not pregnant but wants to marry him for real. Chesney is over the moon and hopes that they will be having the soup, fish and pea dish at the do.

Jason returns to Eileen's and she asks him to stay. 'I just wanna a cuddle' he says to his Mum. The mard arse!

The end.
Joanne McCartney





Sunday 27 November

We open in the butcher's, and Ashley is using the meat cleaver with the passion of man with a grievance. Fred points out that it's not firewood he's chopping, but prime Hereford. He assumes that Ashley and Claire must have had a row, but Ashley tells him that he and Claire are fine. Just then Claire comes in, and is surprised to see Ashley there, she thought he was going to the gym, but Ashley says he doesn't want to see Nathan today. Fred goes off out, telling Claire that whoever Ashley is imagining on the chopping block had better stay out of Ashley's way today. Ashley tells Claire that he's really upset with Tracy, for all the nasty things she said the night before. Claire admits she was a little hurt by what Tracy said the night before, but it's forgotten now, and she persuades Ashley to go off training at the gym with Nathan.

Over in the pub, Violet is telling Shelley, Bev and Sunita how Sean knew that Jason was cheating on her. She used to think that Sean was her friend, but not any more. Shelley remarks that the older she gets, the more she thinks that men and women can't be friends. Fred turns round at this point, (so thats where he went when he left the butcher's, but if Ashley has gone to the gym, who's minding the shop?) and remarks that men might be arrogant but deaf they are not!

Tracy has arrived at the gym with Nathan, and starts teasing Nathan about being afraid of Ashley, obviously trying to wind him up into giving Ashley a beating. Ashley then arrives, and on seeing Tracy goes to leave again. Nathan asks Tracy to go, he's never taken a girlfriend when he's been training before, and shouldn't have started now. Tracy is most put out, and doesn't want to leave, as she's obviously hoping to see Nathan pulverise Ashley, but eventually agrees to go. "Give my love to Claire," she says to Ashley as her parting shot, "the state of you I expect the poor cow needs all she can get!"

In the chippie, Yana is boasting to Cilla about the man she met when she went on the honeymoon with Cilla. Just then Les and Fiz come running in. There's been a cancellation at the Register Office, they can get married right away, if they don't take it they might have to wait three months for another one. Cilla isn't keen at first, until Fiz quietly tells her that if she's not careful she might let Les slip through her fingers and then she'll be sleeping alone until the day they nail down the coffin lid. Yana persuades her by reminding her that the boss has slipped out for an hour, she could go and be back before him, and he would be none the wiser. When Cilla realises that she wouldn't get her wages docked, she agrees to go. Yana takes her hat off and walks towards the door. "Where do you think you're going?" Yana thinks she's going to be maid of honor. "After that holiday?" says Cilla, and tells her that someone needs to mind the shop.

Ashley and Nathan are sparring in the ring. They take a break and Nathan comments that Ashley's found his inner demon today. Ashley tells him it's all down to Tracy, and he's not too pleased with Nathan either, he seemed to be amused, whilst Claire had tears in her eyes. Nathan says it was just a bit of banter that went too far, but he's sorry if he laughed.

Kirk and Molly are walking down the street, he's upset because of the row with Fiz, while Molly tries to tell him that it's all for the best, she is no good for him. She tries to tempt him out that evening for his favourite meal, a cheeseburger, with a drink in the Rover's after to wash it down. She clutches him, "My poor, brave Kirk," she says, "I'm sorry you've had to go through all this."

Just then, Fiz, Les, Cilla and Chesney rush up, dressed to the nines, they're off to the Register office, and Kirk can finally get to be Les's best man. Molly smoothes his hair and tells him to go off and knock 'em dead!

Nathan and Ashley are sparring. Nathan asks him if it's going to be the silent treatment all session. The floodgates then open, and all of Ashley's feelings about Tracy come pouring out, how she split up Roy and Hayley, how she then tried to sell her own baby and then broke up Steve and Karen's marriage. Nathan walks away and tells Ashley to cool it, but Ashley keeps on. "That's enough!" says Nathan, and climbs through the ropes. "Well you know what she is Nathan," says Ashley, "the truth hurts doesn't it?" "Yeah, obviously," says Nathan and walks away. "What are you saying?" Ashley demands to know, following him. Nathan tells him to leave it, but Ashley won't. "What are you saying?" he asks again, grabbing at Nathan's arm. Nathan finally loses his temper and turns and punches Ashley in the face. Ashley falls to the ground unconscious, and Nathan runs off downstairs and punches and kicks the lockers in the changing room. Ashley remains on the floor, out cold.

Over at the builder's yard, Charlie and Jason are chatting about women troubles. Charlie asks if Jason regrets what happened, and he says he doesn't, but the way it happened. Just then Sarah arrives and asks when they can go on a date now that they don't have to hide in corners any more. They kiss, watched from Charlie on the stairs.

Back at the gym Nathan goes back upstairs and finds Ashley still lying there. He tries to help him up, but Ashley moans about his head hurting and says he can't see properly. Nathan says he'll get help and pulls his phone out of his pocket.

The wedding party have arrived back in the street and they pile out of the taxi. "After you, Mrs. Battersby-Brown," says Les. Fiz can't believe her mother is really going to call herself that, but Chesney likes the idea of that being his surname too. Les is impressed, "Chesney Battersby-Brown," he says, "what a moniker that is!" Cilla then announces that she has to get back to work, much to Les's disappointment. Chesney wonders if he should call Les 'Dad' but eventually they agree that he will go on being 'Uncle Les', and Les takes him off to buy some cake, after all, what is wedding without cake. Fiz and Kirk are left on the doorstep, obviously rather awkward with each other. Kirk then starts to tell Fiz something. "I've really...er...I've really..." But then sees Molly coming round the corner. "I've got to go," he tells Fiz, and rushes off.

In the Rovers, Sean is upset because Violet won't speak to him. He tells Shelley he thought he was doing the right thing. Shelley is all for changing the work rotas so they don't have to work together, but he implores her to leave them as they are so he can talk to Violet.

Kirk and Molly are at the bar. She's flirting with him like mad, and tells him he's dead sexy. She goes off to the loo, and Maria comes over. "Kirk, what the hell's going on?" she asks her brother. Kirk admits that Molly might fancy him. "Oh nothing gets past you, does it?" says Maria, and asks if he's going to ask her out. Kirk admits that Molly's nice enough, but she's not Fiz. He loves everything about Fiz, but hates the bullying.

Shelley is just telling Fred that she is allowing Sean to work with Violet, when Claire rushes in, saying that Ashley has been rushed into hospital. All she knows is that Nathan has said that he's had an accident. Fred rushes off with her.

Fiz walks in then and sees Molly cuddling up to Kirk. "Take your hands off him," she shouts, and Molly asks what she's going to do, give her a Chinese burn or take her dinner money. "Kirk, listen to me," says Fiz, and Molly says she forgot, it's him she terrorises these days. Kirk tells Fiz he doesn't want her to bully him any more, and Molly taunts Fiz that she doesn't like it when people stand up to her. "No," says Fiz, "so sit down!" and bops Molly on the nose. Molly falls over and gets up with a bloody nose. Shelley tells Fiz to leave, but Molly and Kirk leave instead.

In the chippie Yana is serving a customer while the sounds of shouting can be heard coming from the back. Cilla then comes through, and starts chatting flirtatiously to the man waiting for his fish and chips. He asks if he can give her a ring, but Yana holds Cilla's hand up and says someone already did.

Kirk is tending Molly with her sore nose, he can't believe Fiz did that. Molly leans seductively towards him but Kirk makes a quick getaway.

Claire and Fred have arrived at the hospital and are asking Nathan what happened. He tells them it was an unlucky punch. "Oh, so it happened in t'ring then?" says Fred. Before Nathan can reply the doctor comes out and tells them they are just taking Ashley to surgery, it looks as if the retina in his left eye may have detached and haemorrhaged. The majority of these operations are a complete success, although there's a chance that Ashley might only regain partial vision in that eye, or lose it altogether. Nathan looks shocked.

Annie Logan.





Monday 28 November

Part 1

We open at the hospital. Ashley is lying sleeping. Fred and Claire look through the window. Fred asks the nurse if the operation went well. She tells him they will only know when they remove the bandages. Fred tells her of course and says he's not thinking straight. Claire a bit worried asks if they had to take his eye out. The nurse tells her no. Claire is relieved.

At the bakery Diggory calls Liz Cinderella and asks if she's going to the ball. He shows her tickets to The Weatherfield Trade Annual Dinner Dance. He then asks her if she would come with him. Fiz enters and asks if Molly is around. Diggory says no and say he done not wants any more violence. Fiz says there wont be and leaves. Liz tells Diggory she works here and he's her boss and it's best they keep it that way. Diggory tells her it will be smashing. She tells him there's no point in going on as the answer is still no.

Over at the Factory Danny has a big bouquet. He tells Mike it's the anniversary of the day he and Frankie got engaged. He says he will win her back. Mike says it's too soon. He wants her to know how he feels about her and tells Mike he has some thing planned for later. Danny hands him a cheque from a customer and asks if he can bank it for him. Mike says he will bank it. Adam enters telling Danny Frankie has gone.

Baldwin's and as Danny is putting the flowers on the table Frankie enters. She asks how he got in and he smiles telling her spare key out the back. She tells him that will be gone next time. He tells her Happy Anniversary. She says she done not want them. He tells her if she doesn't want them she can chuck them in the bin. She says she might just do that. He asks how's life with Oliver Reed. Frankie bursts out laughing and tells him that Carol has given up drinking. He tells her at least it's company for her and tell she to think of him in that flat all by him self. He tells her that next year will be better for them and asks if she is going out later or will she be home all day. She asks why and he tells her to wait and see. He leaves with a smile on his face.

Out in the street Tracy sees Fred and Claire come out their car. Tracy winds up Claire saying good morning. Claire just gives her a look. Tracy laughing tells her not to pull faces at her or they will be fighting in the ring next. She asks if she fancy that but says she will have to take off her glasses first. Claire tells her that Ashley is in hospital and might lose his slight in one eye. Tracy asks if he's really in hospital and says she is sorry, as she did not know.

Over at the Baldwin's household Eileen is round talking to Frankie. Carol just comes in and sees the flowers and is told Danny gave them to her for their anniversary. Carol says Danny never gave her flowers on any of their anniversaries and says he probably has charged them to the business. Eileen says she hear she's started work at the bookies. Carol tells her it's just half a day today till she get to know what's what. Carol realizes she has gone to start to pour herself a drink but she does not do that anymore. Eileen asks how the giving up drinking is going. Carol tells her it's okay and some times it's harder than others. Carol then says Danny is trying to worm his way back and that does not surprise her. She tells Frankie he tried to come back to her when he went with her. She told him she didn't need him, she has a bottle for company. She goes to get a cup of tea.

Out in the street Fiz sees Molly and tells her she is sorry for everything she has ever done to her. Molly says she don't know the meaning of the word. Fiz says she's really sorry. Molly says it's her fault as she made her want to hit her, and says Fiz probably wants to hit her now. Fiz is almost sobbing. Kirk hides behind a van. He listens as Fiz tells Molly tearfully she know how she was and wishes she wasn't but can't help it. As she walks away, Kirk rushes over towards Molly when Fiz is gone. Kirk tells Molly he thinks Fiz sounded upset. Before she can reply, Liz asks Molly if she's going to help her dad. Her dad shouts her telling her she's coming with him on Friday night to the Traders' Ball. Molly says no and last year she told him she was not going again.

Rovers: Audrey enters telling Fred she normally goes with him to the Weatherfield Trader's Ball but Keith asked her and she could not think of a reason to say no. He says he does not mind. Nathan tells Tracy and Tyrone about what happened at the gym. He says it's his fault and has to tell Fred the truth. Nathan approaches and tells Fred the truth about what happened. Audrey thinks he went to hurt him. Nathan replies saying he does not know what he meant. It just happened. Nathan tells him if there's anything he can do he just to ask. Nathan sits back down. Audrey tells Fred he should call the police.

At the Factory Danny tells Mike that he thinks Frankie has already forgiven him. Mike still thinks it's too soon and is not sure Frankie has forgiven him. Danny is persistent telling Mike he knows the woman. He then tells Mike he has got a surprise for later that will win her back. Danny asks if he wants to bet on this. Mike tells him to keep his money, as he might need it to pay the rent on the flat.

Peacock's household and Fred tells Claire what Nathan told him. Claire says it will have been Ashley standing up for her and Nathan standing up for Tracy. Fred asks if she gets on with Tracy. Claire replies saying she can't stand the stupid cow. Claire starts to get upset when thinking if Ashley loses his sight because of Tracy. Fred tells her he isn't going to but she thinks he will. Fred tells her they don't know and says Ashley would not want to see her like this.

Out in the street Kirk sees Fiz and asks to speak to her. She thinks he is going to have a go at her for hitting Molly. Kirk tells her about how he listened to her saying sorry to Molly and thought she was great. He says he wants to talk indoors so they both go in.

At the Baldwin's Jamie angrily says Danny thinking that sending a few flowers will make everything alright. Carol tells him she still hasn't had a drink and he tells her she is doing great. She says thanks and tells him that Eric from the bookies offered to take her out but she told him she had something else on. Jamie and Carol see Frankie looking at the flowers. Carol thinks he's getting to her. Frankie replies saying no and he will not get to her.

Hospital and Ashley has come round. He tells Claire he was told not to move his head. She ass him if the fight was over her and Tracy. He done not say yes but as good as. Fred enters and Ashley says he is to blame as well. They are to talk to Nathan as they would normally.

Battersby's and Kirk say's he realized that Molly was saying things to make him hate her. When he watched Fiz say sorry to Molly he saw the old Fiz. She asks what they was and he says a nice kind person. They make up and Kirk's mobile rings, its Molly. Kirk does not know what to say so Fiz takes the mobile and tells Molly her plan failed and she's still Kirk's girlfriend. Fiz asks if she wants to speak to Kirk. Molly says yes but Fiz says she can't, and hangs up. Fiz and Kirk hug both saying the love each other.

Factory and Danny finds Mike asleep, so he claps loudly. Mike wakes and Danny asks if he woke him. Mike says no as he was not asleep. Danny laughs saying he was doing a really good impression. Danny then says while picking up the phone he's going to get an audience as he thinks there's no point in going to all this trouble if no one can see it.

At the Baldwin's Jamie picks up the phone, it's Danny. He wants to speak to Frankie but Jamie says that's not up to him and ask Frankie if she wants to speak to him. Frankie agrees and he asks her to go outside. She asks why but he won't say. She soon agrees and tells Jamie and Carol he wants her to go outside. They all start to head outside.

Factory and Danny is so happy and tells Mike and Adam she's going. He then tells them to hurry up outside.

Outside Frankie, Jamie and Carol come out and look towards the Factory. Danny, Mike and Adam come out from the Factory as a big white shaped flat balloon comes up saying, "Frankie, I love you. Happy anniversary Danny" He is so pleased with him-self and thinks she will have to take him back now. Frankie stands still not looking amused what so ever.

Amanda Souter

Good evening. Duncan is unavailable for a couple of weeks so I have been inveigled out of semi-retirement to put fingers to keyboard. Events in Weatherfield are reported thanks to a partially malfunctioning and late starting video recorder (or someone at Network is ignoring the start / finish times).

Danny's grand gesture appears to cut no ice with Frankie (and certainly not in front of either Carol, the recovering alcoholic, or Jamie, the son whose trust he broke) and he is told to get the balloon down now. Now perhaps I am just a soppy sentimental but something in Frankie's eyes just hints that either she is going to give way or at some point, or is going to lose it completely - and I am not sure which!

Claire arrives at the garage to give the nasty Nathan a piece of her mind - not only should he not go around beating the living daylights out of her husband but he should not have lied about it. Nathan, to give him his due takes the tongue lashing well (after all wouldn't you like a tongue lashing from Claire - no well perhaps not - why have they made her quite so dowdy with Dreary's old cast off super size specs, give her some sex (or specs) appeal and a couple of kids of her own please. Claire calls him an evil thug and now she knows why Nathan and Tracy get on so well. Claire will make sure that Nathan is sorry.

Carol tells Frankie that she should send her own message to Danny - it is over. Frankie agrees (well sort of) as does Jamie. Frankie says that Danny will not give in - she feels hounded - she just wishes Danny would accept it is over. Danny pulls down the message and looks unhappy.

Mollie is trying to convince Liz to take her place at the Weatherfield Traders Ball. She fails. Kirk arrives to tell Mollie that he and Fiz are back on. Mollie tells him that they are still friends. Fiz is all over Kirk in the pub - until she finds out that Kirk has failed to sack Mollie from her job at the kennels.

Tracy catches Claire leaving the Rovers to go and see Ashley. They exchange words.

Danny is telling Mike that Frankie was not angry - she moved by his devotion to her. Mike reveals that he still loves Alma although she has been dead four years. The phone goes - the bank rings to say that a cheque has not arrived. Mike denies having the cheque to bank. Danny is sure he has given Mike the cheque - they argue. Danny asks Mike for the cheque - but Mike has no idea what he is talking about and accuses Danny of running some sort of scam.

Nathan visits Ashley who calls him a nutcase - in a joking term. Nathan delivers some grapes and says he is sorry. It was a stupid scrap which got out of hand. Doctors have not said much - operation went well and there will probably be no permanent damage - but will not know until the bandage is removed.

Cedric Diggory is still trying to get Liz to join him at the Ball - she settles for time and a half - it is at night.

Kirk tells Mollie that it is not going to work - she says they have to keep her feelings in check. She can talk her way out of a paperbag - she threatens her with a tribunal if he sacks her - and there is something she wants to ask him.

Carol refuses to go to see her counsellor - but Frankie and Jamie gang up on her - Jamie offers to take her and wait for her - she gives in and they leave. Outside Danny is locking up the factory and watches them depart then knocks on Frankie's door. He reports the banner is down and apologises for his actions. He asks for five minutes to say his speech. She gives him a look and lets him in.

Claire sees Nathan with Ashley and she wonders how he could show his face. Claire wants Nathan locked up - but Ashley is still sensible.

Danny and Frankie face each other - Danny rambles because he misses talking to Frankie about nothing in particular. He says he is not making a good job of it. Danny says he cannot throw in the towel and give up - he spends whole days thinking of reasons for getting her to change her mind - and they agree that the balloon was not one of his better ideas (and is Frankie softening in front of our eyes?). He threatens something even sillier for the following day. Frankie responds by saying she will stay indoors with the door locked - and gives a throwaway laugh, and a slight smile. He wanted to look her in the eye and tell her that she means everything to him. He will never give up trying no matter what she says or does.

Down at the Rovers Cedric and Fred are discussing the big do. Cedric boasts he is taking Liz. Kirk tells Fiz that Mollie is unsackable - she is very good at her job. Fiz says that the next thing will be that Kirk has given Mollie a pay rise and as Kirk says "How did you know that?" Fiz cannot believe her ears!

Fred invites Bev to the Ball and she agrees.

Kevin and Nathan are discussing events - Nathan admits he used to be violent - Nathan comes from Bromley and is middle class - but he is a low-life - he does not understand how decent people behave.

Claire and Ashley argue over Nathan. Claire says that Ashley could lose his sight - he has not been told that there could be problems and she has to explain that he might not regain the sight in his left eye - the possibility is small and she promises him that all will be well.

Danny is not asking for forgiveness - but asks if they can try again - he swears he will never do it again. She is crying - she has heard it all before - he never meant it before. He cannot keep hurting her - and yet he knows she still feels for her. He can see it in her eyes. He could see it this afternoon and he can see it now. They move closer tenderly, he touches her face and then Jamie returns with Carole and throws Danny out onto the Street and Jamie then punches Danny who falls to the ground. Danny picks himself up, dusts himself down and looks up at the bedroom window before walking off to think up a bright idea for the next day.

And that is about it for tonight. Nothing great, nothing poor. And without Jamie Danny might have succeeded. Ashley knows the truth now - so regaining full eyesight is now inevitable.

See you all again next week.

K Richard W





Wednesday 30 November

Written by: Chris Parker
Directed by: Tracey Rooney

Carol and Frankie are both 'doing really well.' Jamie tells Carol she's 'doing really well' because she's staying off the drink and is about to start her first morning at the bookie's, and Carol tells Frankie she's 'doing really well' for getting over Danny. Frankie is about to have a shower, which she promises will involve washing that man right out of her hair.

At the Webster breakfast table, Sophie tells her parents that she's bringing a new friend home for tea. Sally's not pleased at first because she hasn't got time to go shopping for extra food, but Rosie wants to have her tea at Craig's anyway, so problem solved. And Sophie piles on the flattery anyway: 'She's dying to meet you,' she tells Sally.

In the back room of t'Rovers, Fred is worried that if Ashley loses the sight in his eye, he'll lose his perspective. Claire thinks Fred's in danger of losing his own perspective, but the sad irony, as far as Fred's concerned, is that butchers chuck out eyes by the bucketload: 'It's the one thing we've got no use for,' he says, giving us a rather graphic glimpse into the butchery trade. And something else I wouldn't have thought of, either – not having stereoscopic vision is apparently going to be a big impediment when it comes to hacking chunks of meat with sharp implements. Ashley could lose fingers, and/or customers. Bev pops in to ask them pass on her best wishes to Ashley, and mentions the Weatherfield Traders Ball. Fred says he doesn't really have the heart for it now.

At the plush quayside apartment of the most senior of the Baldwins, Mike, Penny and Adam are getting ready for work and discussing Danny's failed attempt to win Frankie back. Penny discovers the cheque that Danny gave Mike to take to the bank, in Mike's pocket. Mike still doesn't remember putting it there, but he isn't worried. He says it's a cheque made out to his company, in his pocket, and they should only make a fuss if they find it in someone else's pocket. Penny looks concerned all the same.

Jamie meets Danny (who has a nice big bruise from their last encounter) in the street. Danny's opinion is that now Jamie has hit him, it's suitable revenge for what happened with Leanne, so they're back on a level footing. Unsurprisingly, Jamie doesn't agree with this assessment, and says anyway it's Frankie he's worried about. Danny says, 'I've got the message, so please, can we move on?' 'Don't worry,' Jamie says, 'She has done.'

Fred and Claire are at Ashley's bedside, waiting for the doctor to come and see him. Fred is tense: 'Why do they always keep you waiting at a time like this?' he rants, while Claire is doing her best to be calm and positive.

Bev and Emily are talking in the street about the Ball. Bev is disappointed not to be going – once she'd got her frock out of mothballs she got quite excited. Emily says she'd love to be going herself, and Bev suggests that she goes with Norris, who has tickets. Emily admits that there's something about the dark nights that makes her long to get out and have some fun.

The doctor tells Ashley that when the bandages come off, he may find his vision is still impaired; if the retina is still re-attaching itself, his vision might be a bit patchy. 'Patchy?' whispers Fred dramatically. 'I've told you this already, Dad,' Ashley says. The doctor takes off the bandage and the dressing, revealing a big bruise but an otherwise normal-looking eye. Ashley stares around the room in silence. The doctor tells him not to worry if things look murky at first. Ashley puts his hand over his uninjured eye, and looks around. 'There's nothing!' he says. 'It's just black!' The doctor tells him to wait a few seconds for the eye to adjust. Ashley says, 'You said it might be impaired. This isn't impaired. I can't see!'

It's night time and the Rovers is crowded. Tracy comes in to join Nathan, and asks him, 'Any news on Cyclops?' This earns her a nasty look from Bev, Frankie and Liz who are standing at the bar, and from Nathan himself.

Liz is telling Bev that she has to try and persuade Fred to go to the Ball, because she wants other people there that she knows apart from Diggory. She's worried she might 'lamp' Diggory otherwise, 'if me flesh don't crawl right off me body first!' In the background we see Danny come in, but when he sees Frankie there laughing with her friends, he goes out again without her seeing him.

That Keith Appleyard is a proud man, and wants to pay Audrey for his ticket to the Ball, but she says she'll call it a business expense and write it off against tax, so he puts his wallet away. Audrey's also got him a suit, which she says came from a charity shop so it didn't cost much. Emily overhears this, and comments that she does a lot of pricing for the Friends of Weatherfield Hospital charity shop, and they don't often get things in such pristine condition. While Keith's at the bar getting drinks, Emily and Audrey exchange A Look. I'm thinking that suit didn't come from a charity shop at all.

Sally's pushing the boat out food-wise for Sophie's new friend. She's got sandwiches and vol-au-vents! And proper napkins with napkin rings, not the paper kind. Her efforts are certainly appreciated by Sophie's friend: 'Oooh! Lovin' the doily!' she says in a ripe Mancunian accent, and introduces herself as Nicolette. Hurrah! Before we even had a chance to miss Candice, here's Candice Mark 2!

The Peacocks and Elliotts aren't handling the news of Ashley's semi-blindness very well. Claire is still trying to be positive, saying that the doctor said there was an eighty percent chance of some sight returning to the eye. 'Some degree,' Fred corrects her, 'Some degREE!' 'Shut up!' snaps Claire. Fred apologises, and says he just wishes that Nathan was there to see what he's done to them.

Sally is not entirely thrilled to learn that Nicolette has a tattoo, 'Of a horny little devil. It peeps over me thong! It's got a fork an'all.' Kevin comes in, and Nicolette asks Sophie if she sees much of her real dad. 'I *am* her real dad,' Kevin says. 'But you said your parents remarried,' Nicolette says to Sophie, who says that they did, but to each other. 'That's off its head!' marvels Nicolette. 'I mean, it's brilliant, but how "Trisha"'s that?' Sally does not approve of her daughter's new friend, but it turns out that they have a closer bond than just being friends. At school they've been doing family trees, and it turns out that Sally's granddad's sister (Auntie Valda)'s son is Nicolette's dad (oh, do pay attention!). 'So you're my Auntie Sal,' sums up Nicolette, 'How cool's that?' Not cool at all, from the look on Sally's face.

Penny comes to the factory to see Danny. She tells him she's worried about Mike: there's the business with the cheque, but on other occasions he's forgotten things or behaved oddly. 'You think he's losing his marbles?' Danny laughs. 'I don't know,' she says, seriously. 'He's sharper than me and ten times as deadly,' Danny says, 'And if that ever changes, trust me, I'll be the first to notice.' Poor Penny doesn't look at all convinced.

Nicolette isn't endearing herself to Sally, stuffing cakes into her mouth and using the word 'lend' instead of 'borrow' (what do they teach them at Weatherfield High?). But Sophie says, 'She can come round whenever she likes now – she's family!' The girls go upstairs, and Kevin tells Sally he thinks that Nicolette is alright. 'It's not her, it's her family,' Sally says. 'They're scum, Kevin!' Apparently Auntie Valda was a woman of loose moral fibre, and Sally reckons Nicolette's parents can't be much better. She says they have to do something: 'I'm not going to let my daughter be dragged into the same pool of slime I've had to drag meself out of.'

At the Rovers, Fred asks Bev if she'd still like to go to the Ball. He's very upset about Ashley, but he says you have to take what's good in life and suck the marrow out of it (that'd be a butcher's metaphor). Emily is angling for an invitation to the Ball from Norris, telling him he won't need to look far afield, but he misunderstands and thinks she means Rita. He says he can rely on Rita because she's 'a trusty old war-horse. She'll hum and ha, but underneath she's just pining for company. Sad really.'

Nathan is sitting in the pub with Tracy, and Fred sits down at the table with them. 'Ashley's home,' he says. 'Go and see what you've done, I dare you.' Nathan says he thought that Ashley was on the mend, but Fred says, 'Forget that, I say forget that!' Tracy says it's not Nathan's fault if Ashley and Claire are 'walking around like Peters and Lee. It was your precious Ashley goading him and winding him up, that's why it happened.' Nathan looks upset, and Fred says to him, 'One wrong word and you felt entitled to blight a young life. Why? Respect, is that what you wanted?' Nathan says he's sorry, and Fred says he should tell that to Claire and little Joshua. Bev comes over, and tells Nathan and Tracy that they should go.

Danny meets Frankie out in the street, and he tries to talk to her but she says all they do is keep hurting each other – which is why she's going to get a divorce.

Ashley and Claire are at home. While she bustles about in the kitchen, wittering on and trying to pretend everything's normal, he's sitting on the sofa, with an eyepatch over the injured eye, crying.

Sue Haasler







Updates written by K Richard Whitbread, Martin Rosen, Ann Logan, Peter Webb, Margaret Carr, Mary Earlam, Amanda Souter.