Hello. Here's Friday's update. Enjoy.

Michelle and Sean stop for a chat in the street. She tells him she's being whisked away to a swanky restaurant by Sonny and tells him of Steve and Liz's competing theories -- that Sonny's going to dump her or that he's going to pop The Question. If it's the latter, she doesn't think she's ready for marriage. She hopes Sonny's just going to ask her to move in with him.

The stop has made Sean late for work and Liam is grumpy, saying they're getting behind with the order already. Sally points out that it isn't the machinists' fault that he took on too much work. "Listen, darling, you get the orders in first, you worry about filling them later -- it's been called being an entrepreneur!" Liam says. The others agree with Sally (well, it makes a change). Sally points out that he should have taken on a replacement for Janice. When Liam goes, the others have a go at Kelly, pointing out she didn't say a work during the exchange with Liam.

In the Rovers, Liz and Michelle are talking about the lunch date. Vernon, who is supposed to be in the cellar, comes out of the gents' singing "Born Free". If you're squeamish about germs, look away now: He's got a mug of tea and some toast with him. Liz asks why he's not in the cellar and Vernon says he was on his way when he got a call of nature. Michelle looks at his newspaper. "Since when does Nature call you to do the crossword. It's not even the quickie" Vernon says: "I don't do quickies," and looks at Liz, who giggles her agreement. Vernon thinks a proposal is likely at lunch and tells Michelle he's still in touch with some of the Rascals. He tells her, in song, that "when a man loves a woman, can't keep his mind on nothing else, he'll trade the world for the good thing he's found." He says that if Sonny really loves Michelle and she's the one for him, "then why shouldn't he propose?" He catches Liz's eye and realises what he's just said, straightens up and says: "Mind you, what do I know?" and heads for the cellar.

Jamie arrives at the taxi office and Claire says business is slow. Steve's been sitting in the office putting the world to rights, but a call has just come in, a pick-up at the train station. Steve refuses to go, assuming it's going to be a no-show, but Jamie's happy to keep busy and off he goes.

There's a strange face in the office at the factory and the workers speculate on who she might be -- a buyer, perhaps. All is revealed when Mr Connor (Paul) comes out and sits the woman down at a machine, telling her Sally will look after her. Sally suggests an introduction might be appropriate. Vickie is a new machinist. She tells them she's from Warsaw. "Walsall -- you don't sound much like a Brummie to me," says Fizz. Sally points out the difference. "It's Poland." Vickie spots Kelly and gives her a cheery "Hi!" Kelly ignores her.

Lloyd teases Steve about missing out on Michelle. Michelle comes out looking gorgeous and Vernon gets a slap from Liz for touching the back of Michelle's skirt. Carla wishes her luck, but Michelle is sure there won't be a proposal. Steve reckons she'll be dumped and says he'd put money on it. Carla wants to know why Michelle would be taken to the most expensive restaurant in the north-west (strange... from here it looks like the south...) and given five lovingly prepared courses if she was being dumped. As she goes off, Lloyd suggests Steve might be mistaken, but Steve is sure.

At a rather lovely restaurant with orchids, Michelle tells Sonny she's hardly slept wondering what all the fuss is about. He says the fuss is about her and they go to their table.

Jamie arrives at the station and approaches a woman stood waiting with a huge pile of pink luggage. She's watching the street, so how she missed seeing him arrive, I have no idea. Jamie asks if she ordered a taxi and she turns. It's Leanne!

Michelle and Sonny are in the restaurant. Michelle seems a little quiet and she tells him it's just that lunch usually means Betty's hotpot. "I'm never really comfortable in these sort of places." She tells him she got the wrong end of the stick today because she thought he might be planning to ask her to move in with him or something. "I'm amazed that you think I'm that brave," he says. "I'd never have risked that, even though that's what I want." He thinks now that he's being honest, he should say a lot more. He grabs a napkin ring and falls to his knees by her chair, as other diners turn to watch. "It's not a diamond but it'll do for now," he says. "Michelle, will you marry me?" "Yeah. Yeah, I will," she says quickly.

Jamie is driving Leanne from the station. She says he should have called for a different taxi. She would have understood. "Well, you took me for a ride. The least I can do is return the favour," Jamie answers. Leanne says she plans to give Janice a surprise because she hasn't spoken to her since Christmas. Janice told her Danny had left. In fact, Janice told Leanne a lot, but Leanne didn't believe half of them. "Well, it's a shame she didn't tell you she was bogging off to France with some plumber," Jamie says.

The workers are heading back to work from the Rovers, discussing the new machinist. Kelly denies knowing Vickie, but as the conversation turns to foreign workers who will work for a pittance, the others realise that Kelly knows her from the night shift. Sally thinks it's the start of the Connors' taking on cheap labour during the day.

There's no answer from Les's house so Leanne wants Jamie to take her back into town. She's got the money to pay for taxis now. Jamie congratulates her. "Danny may have done the dirty on you, but at least you got something out of it." "It just meant I got to cry into softer pillows," Leanne points out. She asks whether it was true about Jamie and Frankie, which he admits. So she invites herself to his place to hear the whole story.

In the factory, Sally, Fizz and Joanne corral Vickie and ask her if she's getting the same whack during the day as she is on the night shift. "How much are you getting paid?" they ask when doesn't understand what a whack is. Liam comes across and asks what's going on. Fizz says they were just having a word. "Yeah?" he asks. "Well it looks like you were after her dinner money and her conkers to me." He won't have bullying in his factory. They tell him their concerns and Liam says that who he employs and how much he pays them is his business. Kelly listens to it all. Sally tells Liam: "We've got full employment rights, all of us. You muck about with them and you're going to regret it."

Michelle invites Sonny in. "Sean's face will be a picture." Sonny doesn't want to be the centre of attention.

In the factory office, Carla tells Liam the workers can't dictate to them. "It's not the 1970s," she says. "It's not the 1870s, neither," he says. Carla says her workers are happy enough and he won't hear any complaints from them. "Not in English, anyway," he mutters. Kelly comes in and tells Carla she can't do nights any more because it's upsetting her mates. Carla can't change her mind.

Michelle looks pensive at the table in the back room at the Rovers. She's fiddling with a napkin ring. She tells Sean, gloomily, that what happened at lunch was the last thing she expected. Sean tells her how sorry he is. He doesn't know what to say. Liz comes in with tea and tells Michelle to put Sean out of his misery. "We're getting married!" Michelle says joyfully. Sean says "oh" in a strangled sort of way, then again with false gaiety. "If you need a page boy, I look smashing in a sailor suit," he says, hugging her. Steve comes in and wants to know what's happening. "Well, well, well," says Michelle. "If it isn't Gypsy Rose McDonald come to tell me future again." She tells him they're getting married. "Good luck," he says. "You're gonna need it."

Leanne tells Jamie that between them they've cost Danny the two things he loved the most -- his factory and Frankie. She tells him she'll always be sorry for what she did to him. He says he hasn't forgiven her yet. "But I am sick of hating people -- wears you out." Leanne starts getting ready to go and find a hotel, but Jamie says she's welcome to the spare room ('ey oop!). She agrees and looks at the wine bottle. "Shame your mini-bar's run dry." He offers to go to Dev's, but she gives him cash and insists he go to the Rovers to get a decent bottle.

In said pub. Steve and Lloyd are talking. Lloyd thinks it's time Steve left well enough alone. Jamie comes in for a bottle of red wine. Liz hopes he isn't going home to drink it on his own. "A lad like you should be out on the tiles." Vernon is cross-examining Michelle about the family's reaction to the engagement. He thinks there could be a culture gap. Steve says Michelle's family don't really know Sonny. Lloyd tries to shut him up but he keeps going. "I wouldn't buy a dress just yet," he says spitefully. Michelle asks what's wrong with Steve. "He's gay!" Steve blurts out. "I'm sorry, but he's gay!" "Steve," Jamie says warningly. Michelle looks at Steve. "Well, that is just about the lowest, sorriest, saddest trick you could have pulled." Steve says he saw Sonny and Sean kissing. "Stop it! You're an embarrassment!" Michelle cries. She says Steve is making up the story and only dragging Sean into it because he's the only gay man he knows. "Aren't you ashamed, Liz?" Liz says she's sorry. Lloyd tries to get Steve out of the pub, but Steve isn't going quietly. "I tried to warn her!" he shouts. "Just remember that. I tried to warn her!"

The End
Margaret Carr

My apologies that this update is running late. It was my birthday this week and the riotous celebrations have been non stop. I had to work late on Monday evening, then dinner and the theatre (the Lady from Dubuque - another triumph for Dame Maggie Smith) on Tuesday, a curry night with friends on Wednesday evening followed by a meal at my wife's favourite restaurant with daughter #1 and partner on Thursday lead to early night on Friday night.

Anyway last Sunday night on the Street Michelle was stunned when at just after 7 in the morning she finds Sonny at her front door - he goes down on one knee and asks her to marry him. She has to give an instant answer as he has a meeting to go to - and it is "YES, YES" and the ring is on her finger!! Sonny departs and Ryan wants to know if it is official - when asked if he is happy he merely wants to know where they will be living - if it this flat then he will have second thoughts and wants to know if he will get any wedding presents!! Not a chance.

Leanne is back to her slim slinky self in Frankie's dressing gown and Jamie is not turned on by seeing her dressed like that. She has plans for the day - she wants to see her father and she is going to cook Jamie a meal as a thank you - which he eventually accepts.

Michelle informs the hair dye family (oh come on just how much black hair dye is used to keep Michelle, Paul, Liam and for no obvious reason Carla, the same hair colour. I almost wish that Carla would go blonde!, or perhaps just go) of her new engagement. Paul is going to take all to some swanky restaurant - but Michelle insists on working her shift because she cannot let people down, even if she is about to come into a lot of money through marriage. Amazing!

Steve continues to rant about the kiss and Sean is quite upset by it - telling Jamie (who does not mention that Leanne has re-appeared) - who responds by telling him that Michelle is engaged - although how he actually knows this is a complete mystery to me - as no-one has told him!! Sonny phones Sean - he wants to talk and is coming round.

Ashley wants his dinner - or even his Sunday lunch to us southerners - but Claire is on the phone to Casey sorting out her problems again. Luckily the chicken is still pink, probably because Claire put it on a very low oven knowing that headcasey was going to call!! Anyway talking to headcasey puts Claire in a good mood (which for someone suffering from depression only a few weeks ago is amazing) - but she is able to count her blessings.

Steve tries to say sorry to Michelle but when she reveals the impending nuptials he calls Sonny "gay". Steve the correct word is bi-sexual (I think - I should point out that I am not an expert). Anyway Michelle threatens Steve with violence - not for using the wrong word but for even suggesting that Sonny is not straight as she cannot believe what is being said. At the Rovers Liz likes the ring and reckons they should get it valued on the following day and Michelle should ignore Steve - he can sulk, he once sulked from Christmas to Easter for losing a game of Kerplunk! She immediately pulls Steve's leg with this fact! Sean is not coming in today (despite having been seen in good health) and Steve has to help behind the bar. Michelle decides she has to go out.

And why can't Sean work - well Sonny is visiting (they keep their clothes on this time) - and Sean tells him that Steve saw them together at the club. At which point there is a knock on the door and Michelle demands she be let in - watched from outside the Rovers by Steve. Inside Sean denies everything and claims a tummy bug. She reckons he looks rough and should go to bed. Once she has gone Sonny comes in the back door and thanks Sean - but it is all over between them - he is engaged and he says he loves Michelle as he departs. Back at the Rovers Michelle does not appear entirely happy, although she claims she is.

Also looking rough is Rita, hungover again. Doris is hardly sympathetic - huffing that Doreen is responsible. A little later she and Doris and Blanche are in the Rovers and Rita announces that she has been neglecting her old friends and she wants to spend more time with them. Doris is pleased but asks that she does not call them "old".

Michelle tells Steve that Sean said he was a big fat liar - Steve asks how stupid is she - and the response is that she was stupid to believe him even for a second. Sonny arrives and faces Steve up - has he been saying things about him and would he like to repeat them to his face? Steve declines and tells Michelle that if she wants to ruin her life then she should go ahead.

Leanne puts a smile on Les' face when she appears on his doorstep - rather different from a previous return as a speciality dancer. She is making good money selling apartments in Spain - and she is brought up to date on Tracy. Les asks her to stay, but there is no space and she says she will go to a hotel.

Later Leanne has been as good as her word and cooked Jamie a meal. He tells her not to get a hotel - she can stay the night - but she must not get comfortable as the landlord has rung up and told him that the house is going to be sold. She asks where he will go - he is not sure but reckons it is time for a change. Leanne looks as though she might be having a thought - but given the lack of brain that might be fanciful.

Liam and Paul arrive in the Rovers, grab Sonny and point out that he has sinned - he did not tell them he was going to propose and they do not like secrets in the family. Then they tell him how they like winding people up and it is his round. Once the champagne has been poured the brothers tell Sonny that Ryan is important - since his father died they have provided a father figure and that duty now falls on Sonny and he must not let them down. Sonny agrees that he will. Steve looks across from the bar and realises that his dreams are non-existent and he has to give up chasing that particular piece of skirt. But will he - and indeed can he - leave it alone?

To be continued.

K Richard W

Amanda is away again this week - nothing serious and I think she will be back next week. Sorry this update is late. I have been waiting for the Sunday update to be written and posted - and hopefully it is with you by now - before I could get started. Someone tell KRW to pull his finger out will they?

A For Sale sign has been erected above the door of Number 7 and tenant Jamie may well soon be moving. Jamie will start looking through the property pages and Leanne asks if he can look for her too so that she can move out - but Jamie seems reluctant to let her go by herself.

Ashley returns home for a spell looking after the children - which is lucky because headCasey phones once again sounding a little depressed and off Claire goes. Claire this is not how it is supposed to be! Later the call is finished and Claire says she is trying to be friend to headCasey - but somehow Ashley makes it clear that he does not want to go round to dinner with them.

At the refreshed Roy's Rolls (many of the wonderful railway pictures and memorabilia have obviously not survived fire - including the picture of Southampton Central) David and Gail are preparing for a trip to the lawyers where they are joined by Tracy and Dreary. David is in second heaven as he manages to feel Tracy's leg under the table whilst being thanked for the evidence he is giving. Lloyd arrives to take them away before Tracy loses it.

Leanne has resolved her housing crisis - she has managed to contact Janice in France and been told that she can use the flat if she can break in - Janice has the only key. A little later Leanne fails to make any progress with a credit card (rare in her case I would have thought) on breaking and entering and he departs to get tooled up.

Liam wants a quiet lunchtime drink so chooses the pub where his sister works - clearly not brain of Britain material. Anyway sensing the frosty atmosphere between Michelle and Steve he wants to know what is wrong and she tells him that Steve has been claiming that Sean and Sonny have been "at it with each other". She tells him not to worry - it is a load of rubbish and Sean denies it. He looks concerned, but she tells him not to mither. He is mithered plenty and visits StreetCars to get the story from the horse's mouth. Steve and Liam have a bit of shout and then Liam sits down, almost convinced by Steve.

He leaves the taxi office knowing the facts and finds Leanne and Jamie still trying to break into the flat. Jamie introduces Leanne to Liam and explains his ownership of Danny's factory. Liam sizes up the situation and puts the boot in - to the door which opens rapidly! Leanne is not impressed - but at least she has somewhere to sleep tonight.

David and Gail return to the Street and are immediately spotted by Dreary and Tracy who want to know about progress. All well apparently - and he will not be on a video link - he will be in the courtroom to testify. A little later David is sat in his car and Tracy knocks on the window - if he ever touches her like that again then he will never get his reward - she tells him to stop playing games - even if he changed his story no-one would believe him and she will still get off. He reckons he is doing her a massive favour - but it is not as big as the one he will get after the court hearing as she points out.

Outside Underworld Liam waits for Sean as the workforce return from lunch. The girls go in but he asks Sean for a word. He wants to know what is going on with Sonny - Sean says nothing - he was just flirting and it meant nothing. He goes into work. Later Paul arrives and Liam brings him up to date on the rumour. They discuss it - and for once Paul does not turn into the Great Hulk and set about everything with his bad temper. Paul claims he is thinking, hopefully he will not think too much or his brain will go into overheat mode, he will start sweating and the hair dye will come out!

Leanne has not changed. She has her feet up as Jamie moves her possessions into the flat. She asks about the new factory owner and Jamie provides the full story. Sounds like she has her next target in her sites.

Paul and Liam decide they have to do something - so they send all the girls home (on pay) and invite Sean into the office where he sits looking just a tad uncomfortable - which is probably because of the brown mess he is sitting on. Paul asks Sean for the truth about him and Sonny. They tell him they are concerned for Michelle - and so is Sean - she is his friend. Anyway they eventually wear him down and he admits that he has known Sonny for years - but yes he has slept with Sonny since he got together with Michelle, but it is all over now. Paul and Liam make it clear that Sean has only one decent course of action now - that Sean must tell his friend Michelle what he has done behind her back.

And my colleague will be along shortly to tell you all about it.

K Richard W

We open with Paul and Liam walking with Sean over to the pub where he is going to tell Michelle the truth. He bumps into Jamie and they have a strangely stilted conversation.

Adam, Deirdre and Tracy see the estate agent's 'sold' board outside Charlie's old house. Tracy says she is upset because she has put a lot of work into the house. Deirdre tells her not to worry, that it should be the least of her concerns, as it must have a lot of bad memories for her.

Sean has a drink at the Rovers before going in to see Michelle. Betty is surprised to see him there as he is not due to start work for another 20 minutes. He says he has had a stressful day. Then Michelle comes out to the bar, wearing a raincoat. She wants to take him to the back room to show him the new dress she has bought to impress Sonny. She wants Sean's opinion (?!). Now the real reason she wanted Sean, there was a hole in the seam and she wants Sean to sew it up for her. Sean is very quiet.

Eventually Michelle realises something is wrong. She suspects it is to do with what Steve has been saying and tells Sean that she doesn't believe him. Then Sean drops his bombshell by confessing it is true. Her initial reaction is to think that Steve put him up to it as a joke. Michelle certainly doesn't want to believe it. Sean reiterates and says that he and Sonny have known each other for years. Michelle wonders if Sean is going to pick up with Sonny where they left off. She is now concerned that Sonny is just pretending with her.

Betty goes into the Kabin. Norris is being unusually over-friendly. Rita explains that it is his birthday. He is being taken for an Italian meal by Rita.

Michelle dashes out of the pub, ignoring the calls of Paul and Liam. Sean also comes out to the pub. Paul and Liam go chasing after Michelle, and Jamie comes in. Sean tells Jamie that Michelle knows about him and Sonny.

Paul and Liam eventually catch up with Michelle. They tell her they know about Sean and Sonny. She wonders if Sean told them, but Liam tells her they forced it out of him. She tells them to stay out of it and goes into her flat.

Tracy is about to have a drink with her mother when she receives a text message. She tells Deirdre that she has to pop out, but will only be five minutes.

Michelle is alone in her room, crying. She takes off the watch and ring that Sonny gave her and puts them on the table.

Leanne has got Jason in to fix the door that Liam had kicked in. Liam comes round and tells Jason that he hopes she is paying him well. He says she got him out of the bath. Liam offers to pay for the work, and tells Leanne that she can pay for dinner! Leanne says she has to go out to a "business meeting".

Rita and Norris are in the Rovers. Norris is deciding what to eat. In bounds Doreen. She suggests that her and Rita go out. Rita tells her that she is busy tonight, she is eating out with Norris as it is his birthday. When she suggests that she could fit in, Rita tells her that she will see her another night. Doreen takes the hint and goes.

Also in the Rovers, Sean asks Liam about Michelle. He says she will cope, but when Sean offers to pop round, Liam tells him to stay out of it.

Vernon is "drumming" on the table in StreetCars. A call comes in for a cab. So Steve and Lloyd are delighted to send him out. Steve tells him it is a local job and he is expected back at the office in 30 minutes, and not to get lost.

Sonny turns up at Michelle's flat with a big bunch of flowers, unaware of what has happened. When he goes in he soon realises something is very wrong. She asks whether she was enough for him, she says she is only a woman. Realising what has happened, he queries with Michelle whether Sean told her. He admits that he should have told her earlier. She thinks that perhaps he was saving it for the wedding night. Sonny replies that he thought that she would not understand. He tells her that he loves her. Michelle accuses him of lying. Sonny tells her that if he told her everything she wouldn't have wanted him. Michelle says that she would have been able to make a choice; she tells him that he had a choice of not telling her.

Tracy is hanging around an alleyway, waiting for David. He finally turns up. He says he can wait no longer. Tracy reminds him that they had agreed to wait until the trial is over and she is a free person. David (has finally realised) says that she won't want to know him after the trial. He says that there is nobody in at his place, but Tracy says she cannot risk being seen with him. (Seeing that they are always chatting to each other, she is not making a good job of it!). David suggests that she is laughing at him and starts to walk away. Tracy calls him back and says for their agreement she wants something special where they can be alone. She then kisses him goodbye.

Steve is calling for Vernon on the cab radio. He is not answering. Lloyd blames Liz for letting him get away with doing nothing. We then see Vernon sitting in the car and he is drumming on the dashboard. In the background we hear Steve's voice calling him.

Michelle asks Sonny how he could have asked her to marry. He begs her for another to prove himself. She says she cannot take risk. He claims that they still do love each other, but Michelle says it doesn't matter and tells him to go.

Sean leaves the pub and sees Sonny outside Michelle's flat. Sean tries to explain that he was made to confess. At this point, right on cue, Michelle comes out and sees them together and suggests that it didn't take long! She slaps Sean on the face. Sean is left standing all alone in the street look bemused.

Martin Rosen

Hi everyone, here's the update for Wednesday 7th March.

Leanne is walking along the street and bumps into Liam who is coming out of Roy's Rolls. He asks if she got lucky the night before. She tells him it was a business dinner with a property developer, she's thinking of investing in the Bulgarian property market. "Oh, all hail the property portfolio queen!" says Liam, as he bites into his sausage roll. Leanne flicks the crumbs off her shoulders and tells him to stick to one syllable words, she could do without a face full of pastry.

Fizz bumps into Sean who's on his way to work. She asks him to hang on for her, she wants to pop into the Kabin for her magazine, there's a new diet in it she wants to try – eating only red and yellow foods. Sean looks puzzled, "What, like pizza?" he asks. Before he can get an answer, Michelle comes out of the Kabin and glares in their direction. Fizz wonders what is the matter with her, "If looks could kill I'd be dialling 999!" she says. Sean mutters that they had a bit of a falling out.

The cafe seems to have reopened without any ceremony, and looks just the same as it always used to, even down to the same pictures on the walls, which seems a little strange. They would have been burnt to a cinder, surely? Roy seems to be working there alone, and there's a queue of people waiting to be served when Jamie comes in and sits down at Leanne's table. She tells him she's thinking of buying the house he's living in, and then letting it. She'll give him first chance of being her tenant. She asks if he's all right with that. He says he doesn't have any choice, but if she gets him a bacon sandwich they'll call it evens.

In the factory, Joanne and Kelly are fiddling with the Polish girl's machine. When she comes back to it and starts working she finds the stitching is now pink instead of white!

David meets Tracy outside the chippy and he asks her if she's sorted out somewhere for them to go. She tells him they can't go to her house because her gran will be there, and they can't go to his house. She tells him it would be better to wait until the trial is over. His mood changes and he becomes quite aggressive. "Have I got ‘muppet' tattooed across my forehead?" he snarls. Tracy, obviously worried by his attitude, tells him she'll sort them out something for later.

Leanne sees her dad washing a car outside the taxi office. She tells him she's heard a whisper about who is buying No. 7. Les tells her whoever it is they can't be worse than the Baldwins. She tells him it's a young woman in her twenties with family living close by. Les takes much more interest all of a sudden. "A young bird?" he says, "Can't be bad. Is she a looker?" Leanne, exasperated, tells him it's her. Les tells her that's great. They can see each other all the time, and she can get to know Cilla properly. Leanne smiles and says she'll probably be renting it out.

Back in the factory, Fizz asks Vicky, the Polish girl, if she'd like to go to the pub with them all at lunch time. Joanne doesn't like that idea at all and says she and Kelly are going to town. Fizz asks Sean if he's coming and he says he's going home. Fizz asks him how he thinks Vicky feels, so he agrees to come. Paul comes back into the factory with the news that they have a new customer who he thinks is about to place a large order. He hope that little Polish Vicky has some little Polish mates. "All willing to work for little Polish wage packets!" says Liam. "Bingo!" says Paul.

Vernon comes up from the cellar, saying you could now eat your dinner off the floor down there. "I should think so, you've been down there three hours," remarks Steve. Lloyd says that anyone would think Steve was suggesting that Vernon was a work-shy freeloader. Jack, standing at the bar, comments that he used to be accused of the same thing. "Surely not?" says Liz, with more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice, but insists that Vernon has now turned over a new leaf. Steve says that's good news, because they need a couple of extra drivers. Liz thinks that's an excellent idea, so, much to his disgust, Vernon is enlisted as a taxi driver.

Liz comes through to the bar and puts two plates of food in front of Steve and Lloyd. Steve asks if she's all right, she says she's fine.

Just then Fizz and Sean brink Vicky into the bar. Sean greets Michelle, but she asks Liz if she can have a couple of minutes, she's got a terrible headache and needs to go home and get her pills. "But it's lunchtime," says Liz, "and we've got aspirins in the kitchen." Steve tells his mother it's ok, he'll cover for her, and Michelle, after glaring at Sean, turns and goes out the back. Fizz sees the dirty look and is outraged, and then wants to know what has happened, she won't have her little Seany-boy upset. Sean, however, won't say.

Jason is in Charlie's office when Tracy comes in, and asks if she can borrow the keys to the flat for a short time. She thinks there's some photos in there that she wants for Amy, and she'd like to check before the place gets sold. "I wouldn't ask," she murmurs in her ‘poor little me' voice, "but it's sentimental value for Amy." Jason reluctantly hands over the keys.

As she goes off down the steps, Tracy pulls out her phone and calls David, unaware that Jason is watching her on the CCTV screen that Charlie set up to view the comings and goings of Maria when she lived at the flat. "Hi," she smirks, "it's all sorted, Charlie's flat – that's if you still want to go through with it?" Jason looks thoughtful.

Adam walks off down Coronation Street when Tracy comes out of the front door. "Wait!" she calls and catches up with him. She asks him to phone her on her mobile at exactly half past five. "Why?" he asks. She tells him that she doesn't want her mum and dad to know but she has another appointment with the solicitor and it's driving her mad, she needs an excuse to get out of it. Adam agrees. "Half past, right?" she reminds him, "set the alarm on your phone." "What is this, Mission Impossible?" laughs Adam, and assures her he'll remember.

Vernon is at the taxi office, moaning because he just took an old lady who tipped him 30p. "Lads, I need some action!" he said. Lloyd says that he could have the next job, to take some lads to a lap dancing club downtown. It'll be a big tip. Les protests that he was told he could have that job, but Vernon snatches the paper with the address on it, and heads off out the door, telling Les he was too slow. After he's gone, they laugh to each other, "Hook, line and sinker!" says Lloyd, "four bladdered blokes on a stag night!"

Behind the bar in the Rovers, Sean tries to talk to Michelle, but she snaps at him to keep out of her way. Adam, Leanne and Fizz are at the bar, trying to order drinks, but Sean appears to be in a world of his own. Michelle suddenly finds the barrel needs changing and shouts at Sean that he should change it. Liz orders them both out to the back and demands to know what is going on. Michelle tells her that Steve was right, Sean has been carrying on with Sonny behind her back. She thought they were friends. Liz asks if they can work together behind the bar, and they both say they can. Michelle stamps off back to work, while Sean says to Liz that he thinks it best if he goes home. She agrees, but as he goes out of the door she asks him, "What were you thinking?" Sean looks ashamed.

Jason is still in Charlie's office when, on the CCTV, he sees Tracy arrive at the flat, followed just moments later by David.

Upstairs in the flat Tracy pours herself a glass of wine as David, grinning like a Cheshire cat, comes through the door. "Make yourself comfy on the sofa," she tells him. "Whatever you say," smirks David, and slaps her backside! Tracy jumps. "Sexy!" he grins. Tracy sighs and takes a large swig of her drink.

Sean opens his front door to find Sonny standing there. "Can I come in," he says.

Back in the Rovers, Liz is discussing Michelle's situation with Steve, whilst Michelle is serving, and can obviously hear every word. "I may be stupid but I'm not deaf," she says to Liz, who then goes away. Steve tries to be sympathetic and understanding. "I've had a lot of relationships that have gone pear shaped," he tells her. "Not humiliating like this," she says. "You have no idea," he replies. Over at a table, Leanne, Fizz, Kelly and Adam are playing a game with shots of alcohol.

Back in the flat, Tracy tries to engage David in conversation. When that fails, she says she has to go to the loo.

Sonny and Sean are thrashing out their situation. Sean tells Sonny that he could have lost both his jobs. Sonny says he never wanted to hurt Michelle. Sean orders him to get out and to go and ruin someone else's life. "Your work here is done," he tells him.

In the pub the game is progressing, with the participants getting increasingly drunk.

Liz asks Steve and Lloyd if they've heard from Vernon, he's not answering his phone. They think he's probably asleep in a layby somewhere.

Lloyd starts teasing Steve about his situation with Tracy, but Steve tells him he's going to be far too busy being a shoulder to cry on for his broken hearted bar maid. Unfortunately Michelle hears this and marches over and tweaks his ear. "Every time I start thinking you might be a half decent bloke you open that stupid, childish gob of yours!" she shouts, adding that she's off men and even if she wasn't she wouldn't go near him if he was the last man on earth. "Get it!" she yells. "Got it," says Steve.

Adam suddenly realises it's six o'clock and rushes off to make his phone call.

Back at the flat, Tracy has to come of the bathroom. "What have you been doing in there?" asks David. She tells him she's been making herself beautiful for him. Just then the phone rings, and with much relief she answers it. "Adam!" she says, and then pretends that there's a problem with Amy and she has to rush home. "Sorry," she tells David, who looks crushed with disappointment.

As they get outside the flat, David stands against the wall as Tracy moves in close, and strokes his face, telling him that she's really grateful for all he's doing, and soon will show him just how grateful she is. "Bye," she murmurs, and walks off down the street. Upstairs in Charlie's office, Jason watches these events unfold on the tv screen, with great interest. Then, as all this is recorded on video tape, he rewinds and watches it all again!

Anne Logan.

Hello and welcome to another Friday update.

David's just got off the bus from school and asks Tracy when they can meet again. She hedges. Neither of them sees Jason watching them.

Ryan's back from a school camping trip. He heads off to the loo and once he's gone, Steve suggests Michelle take him to her flat to tell him about breaking up with Sonny. Michelle says there's no need, but Steve's worried about her telling Ryan the news in the pub. How is she going to do it? "Well, I could say, 'you know Sonny, well he's gay. He's in love with Sean and there are no more football tickets. Oh, and the engagement's off'!" Steve says only the last sentence is really necessary. Michelle loves it when he patronises her. Ryan comes out and Steve says Michelle should take him through to the back room. Liz feels sorry for Michelle, but Steve says he feels sorry for himself, because he should be at Streetcars, "and I'm not, I'm here. Because my flippin' pot man's still in bed." Liz says he's not, actually. After that last job Steve gave Vernon, Vernon's not been seen again, though Liz did have a drunken phone call in the middle of the night. "Give me strength!" moans Steve.

In the cafe, Roy is serving burgers to Sarah and Jason. Jason asks if Sarah's noticed anything weird about David. Sarah playfully asks Roy if he'd like to take in David, as he did Craig. When Roy's gone, Jason tells Sarah what he's seen with David and Tracy. Even though he says he's got it on CCTV, Sarah will not believe him. She points out that David's a lad and Tracy's a woman, but Jason is adamant. He offers to show her the video.

Ryan wants to know why Sonny and Michelle have split up. He's quite sure it's because he gets in the way. And Michelle won't elaborate on the reason, so he thinks he's right. Ryan rushes off home.

In the bar, Ryan has a few words with Steve, saying he's going to find out what's been happening. Then off he goes.

Sean has just arrived on Sonny's doorstep. He wants to sort a few things out, he says, so Sonny invites him inside.

Michelle is taking inventory in Jamie's house. He hopes she's not going to be one of those fussy landladies. They're joking back and forth as if they were still together.

Sarah gasps as she sees Tracy stroking David's face outside Charlie's old flat. "Oooh, that is a bit odd," she admits. Jason wonders what they might have got up to in the flat.

Sean and Sonny are talking. Sean comments that the house is a bit different to where Sonny used to live. Sonny says he's worked hard, but if Sean doesn't like it or him, he's welcome to leave. Sean seems happy to stay.

Jamie asks Leanne if she wants first refusal on any of the contents -- pots and pans or anything. She thinks it will be fine if he just leaves the bricks and mortar. As Jamie shuts the door behind her, she meets Liam, who says he thought she and Jamie were over. "It's just the house I'm interested in," Leanne tells him. It's a nice house, nice location, nice price. She even likes having a sitting tenant, because it will help her income. Liam thinks it's a bit downmarket for her now. As she goes off down the street, Liam turns to the agent's signboard and starts putting numbers into his mobile phone.

At home, Sarah demands to know what David was up to with Tracy. "Discussing the forthcoming trial," he tells her. He says they couldn't do it in David's house because Tracy gets upset. Sarah can't see Tracy pouring her heart out to David. "Well, why?" he asks. "I know what happened?" Sarah wants to know why they met up again today. He says they met by chance. Tracy's in trouble and needs a friend. "And I can be sensitive, you know. When people aren't on me back."

Sonny opens the door and it's Ryan, who asks to come in. He says he can't go home because there isn't another bus for an hour, so Sonny invites him in. Sonny tells him they split up because Sonny wasn't right for her. "I'm sorry, mate. I was looking forward to going to the City match with you." Ryan asks if he was in the way and that's why they split up. Ryan asks if Sonny's got anyone else and Sonny says he hasn't. Just then, Sean opens a door upstairs and Ryan sees him. "I know this looks bad, but I can explain," says Sean. "You're with Sonny?" asks Ryan. Sean says he's known Sonny for years. Sonny tries to distract Ryan by giving him the football tickets, but Ryan is busy telling Sean: "But you're her mate. You work with her." He spots Sonny's keys on the hall shelf, grabs them, races outside and drives off in Sonny's sports car.

Steve goes into the Rovers and asks Liz: "Scarlet Pimpernel turned up yet?" Liz says he should be at Streetcars by now. That answers Steve's question, then. The phone goes and they both assume it's Vernon. Michelle goes to answer it. While she's gone, a new deliveryman, Derek, comes in and introduces himself to Steve and Liz. The very fact that Derek was given some lines and a name means he must be destined for better things. He looked very familiar, but according to uk.imdb.com that's probably because he appeared in Othello in 1990, followed by near enough every drama serial being made in the UK (Casualty, The Bill, Heartbeat...and much, much more). Anyway, he wants to go around to the back to make the delivery and Liz is going through to open up for him, when she's almost bowled over by Michelle racing through. "That was the police. He's in custody for joyriding," she says. Steve is puzzled. "Vernon? Joyriding?" She puts them straight, turns down Steve's offer of a lift and heads for Streetcars. "They said this pub would be lively," comments Derek.

In the cafe, Sarah tells Jason she doesn't believe David. He suggests she ask Tracy, but doesn't expect her to leap to her feet and go over to where Tracy and Deirdre are sitting. "What's going on with you and our David?" she asks. Why do they keep meeting up in secret? Tracy says it's just that they keep bumping into each other every now and then. After all, David is her chief witness. Deirdre and Tracy decide to go to the pub. Sarah tells Tracy to stay away from David.

In the police interview room, Ryan says all he did was drive down the road. "Without the owner's consent," the constable points out. Ryan is given an official reprimand and allowed to go. Sonny is at the counter when they get to the foyer. Michelle says she'll pay for any damage to the car, but Sonny says there's none. Sonny sounds very hurt and Michelle is very curt.

In the Rovers, Tracy tells her mother that Sarah is just a silly girl who's got hold of the wrong end of the stick. Derek is leaving (he's been a long time) and tells Liz he looks forward to seeing her again next week. Vernon comes bustling in with a bouquet of garage flowers. He wants to talk to Liz, not Steve, because "Liz is my partner and I've let her down." He claims someone must have spiked his drink. But everyone there was so lovely, Liz would have loved it . . . Steve tries to get a word out of Vernon, but Vernon wants to put things right with Liz. So Steve says he'll just nip over to Streetcars. "Are you going to do my shift for me?" asks Vernon. No, Steve says, but he will fetch his P45 for him, "and I'll have it back here quicker than you can say garage flowers!" That stops Vernon's apology to Liz. "You're firing me?" he asks. Steve tells his mother than Vernon is smarter than he thought he was.

While they wait for a taxi, Michelle reads the riot act to Ryan. Maybe she should have been more honest with him, but no matter what mistakes she makes, nothing she does will ever give him the right to steal a car. "I was angry. I just saw the keys and grabbed them," Ryan says. He just wanted to get back at Sonny. "So, you'd put your life in danger for a man who lies and cheats?" she asks him. "I wouldn't." She says she will not lose anyone else to a fast car. She should take him to one of those mortuaries to see what people do to themselves. "One visit was enough for me." Ryan says sorry and she hugs him.

Deirdre is nagging at Tracy to tell her where she and David have been going. Tracy says they haven't been going anywhere.

Outside, Michelle arrives in a taxi with Ryan, to be met by her brothers and Carla. She tells them what's happened. Liam starts to tell off Ryan, but Michelle tells him to quit. Then Paul starts and Michelle tells him Ryan's already been dealt with and won't do it again. He has another go at Ryan about almost killing someone and Ryan replies that he was nowhere near killing anyone. Whack! Paul's leapt for him and hit him upside the head and then has Ryan by the collar shoved against Michelle's front door. Carla, Liam and Michelle drag them apart. Paul is furious. Michelle is even angrier. She tells Paul to stay away from Ryan and shuts her front door in their faces.

In the Rovers, Liz is asking Tracy how she's coping. When Tracy goes back to the booth, Deirdre asks how come she can talk to Liz but won't talk to her own mother. Tracy takes a deep breath and says she has been seeing David. "The truth is, he's in bits. He's got this bravado which fools his mam and his sister, but inside he's falling apart." She says David's been having flashbacks. It was the blood that got to him -- that's why he ran away and didn't say anything at first. She whispers to Deirdre that David has started wetting the bed and changes the sheets before Gail sees them. "All I'm trying to do, Mam, is comfort him. The poor boy is terrified about testifying in court." "Tracy, stop comforting him!" Deirdre says. She says David's family deserves to know what a state he's in, and she can't afford the rumours if it carries on. "Just promise me you won't even speak to him." Tracy seems to ponder for a moment then agrees. "All right. I won't. I won't."

The End
Margaret Carr

Events in Weatherfield are moving along and I am conscious that I usually go into a little too much detail - so a little compressed this evening. Views welcomed on this approach.

Tracy is under suspicion - from Deirdre who spies her talking to David in the back passage. So after all these years does Deirdre still believe her daughter? She visits Jason and obtains the surveillance video recording and much later she confronts Tracy over the videotape which she has watched numerous times whilst cooking Sunday lunch. We all know that Tracy is as pure as the driven snow but somehow Deirdre doubts her own daughter who has to explain that David is very shaken by witnessing the murder and cannot tell his mother how he feels - so he has turned to Tracy. She is giving him comfort (he wants a bit more than that) in view of the pressure he is under. Deirdre is entirely satisfied by the explanation and once Tracy has gone she pulls the tape out of the recorder and drops tape cassette and loose tape into the dustbin, totally unusable.

Sonny pops round to see Sean to confirm that Ryan is unhurt. Sean in not keen on Sonny being around - he has to face Michelle in a few minutes and although Sonny thinks they might have had a good thing going Sean sends him packing. Later in the Rovers Sean tries to apologise to Michelle but is not exactly welcomed with open arms. There are jokes about Sonny and all it does is wind up Michelle.

Amber and Molly have decided that it is time for Dev to move on from Sunita and so they point out that he is having great difficulty pulling. To prove them wrong he tries chatting up a customer and it is a complete disaster. They tease him endlessly suggesting that he needs new clothes and a smaller waistline. No doubt hilarious consequences will result.

Michelle is also wound up by her own family as Paul who is still seething about Ryan stealing the car. All will become clear soon. Everyone apart from Liam wants to know why Paul went berserk over Ryan's twoccing but no-one is admitting anything. Between Liam and Carla they keep pushing Paul and eventually he storms out of the Rovers in a monumentally bad mood.

See you next week.

K Richard W

Written by Simon Crowther
Directed by Pip Short.

Barlows Tracy asks her mum if she got rid of the tape, she has. Ken comes down the stairs and Peter just comes in the door from driving all night. Deirdre is smoking and told not to get stressed as she will go in, say not guilty and come back home.

Outside the factory everyone is waiting to get in.

Corner shop Dev asks Leanne if she remembered the brochure for the villa, she says no. Liam stops her and asks if she wants to go out. He said he can take her out or the girl on the phone. She goes. Dev asks if he really had another girl on the phone. Liam says no one will ever know.

Outside Leanne asks Les for a ride into town. He says she will be his first customer. She says she is family and asking him not Streetcars.

Rovers back room Vernon says he is going to the job center. Steve mocks him. Liz says he is jealous. Steve asks her to write 300 words why. Liz wishes Vernon good luck.

Corner shop Dev is looking in the mirror then asks if they think he is fat. Molly says no and that her mum would like him. Dev is interested until she says her mum is 53. Dev says he needs new clothes and goes.

Solicitor's office the barrister says to Tracy, he sees she is pleading not guilty. He tells her if she is found guilty she can be sent to prison for 15 years. Then says, if she is guilty she should say so at the earliest time, like this afternoon. He asks if she is going to change her plea. She says no.

Factory the girls ask how Sonny was. He says he would have never married Michelle. In the office Liam thinks they should get some nice tea and not cheap tea. Sean laughs saying its like you stay at your side of the bar and I'll stay at mine. Paul hears and goes mental and tells him he is sacked.

Factory the girls think that this is the start of them bringing in Polish workers and they will all be sacked next. Vickie is still working. They all agree to go on strike. In the office Liam asks why he ripped into Sean. Paul is on the phone trying to order a tv. Liam tells him it's not about Sean and he knows it.

Grimshaws Eileen is back from seeing Todd and shocked to find Sean home as well. He asks how Todd is and is told he has taken up tennis. Sean says he has taken up getting sacked. Eileen says she knows. Sean asks how and she says Violet told her.

Factory Janice comes in speaking French. She asks who Vickie is and is told her Polish replacement and a lot has changed. They tell her about Sean, and Hayley and Sally head for the office. Liam says he had a buyer coming round and will sort things out tomorrow. Sally says it would look bad if he sees an empty factory. Hayley says they are striking, all off them go but Vickie.

Grimshaws Sean says he done wrong but should not have been sacked as it was off the field of play. Someone knocks at the door. Sean thinks it's Paul to beat him up again and says he should get Jason and a peep hole in the door. As he opens it, it's Joanne who says they are striking.

Factory Liam says they need to talk about this. Paul who is canceling the tv says he has got a good tv so there is nothing to talk about. Liam says his demons and asks if Carla knows that really happened to Dean. Paul says he is going for a sandwich. Liam's phone goes off and he says well instruct the surveyor then and tells him to do what he has too.

Outside Paul passes the factory lot who ask if he has changed his mind. He says no and that he will sack the lot of them. Janice sees Leanne getting out of Les's taxi and rushes over to her.

Corner shop Dev shows off his clothes to Molly and Amber who don't say much. Molly says she is going on her lunch. Dev says he is trying his clothes on again, as shop mirrors are misleading.

Rovers Liz asks Vernon how he got on. He says he placed an add. Steve asks where and it?s in a tatty place, in the shadows of a closed DIY store. Steve says the add says help. Vernon says its says Feel the beat but got no rhythm? Drumming lessons from experienced teacher.

Outside Joanne has come with the drinks. Tyrone asks where theirs is. Kevin tells him Sally thinks he has his eyes on the weather girl. Paul sees Carla coming in her car so he jumps in his car and speeds off. She shouts at him then passes the factory lot looking confused.

Factory Carla comes in and asks what is going on as the staff are outside and Paul has just went speeding away in his car. She tells him she wants to know now what is going on.

This report is copyright M@nda

Amanda Souter

Apologies if the writing is a bit wobbly tonight, but I have consumed a large amount of wine !!

We rejoin the Street where Carla is on the phone trying to contact Paul, who has gone off just as an important buyer is due to arrive. She leaves a message on his voicemail. She wants to know more about the family secret. Liam alleges that he knows no more, but Carla doesn't believe him. He says that they had both put Dean's death behind them, but Ryan stealing the car to go joy riding has obviously brought it all back to Paul.

The Barlows return home from the hearing. Tracy is beaming, and Peter remarks to Deirdre that Tracy is extremely confident. Deirdre tries to defend her. Peter says it seemed as if she was facing a parking ticket fine rather than murder.

Outside Underworld, the strikers are making up some chants about their predicament. Unfortunately at this time the buyer arrives and has to push her way through the pickets to get inside.

Liam and Carla are arguing about the strike. Liam is ready to relent and let Sean back to his job. Carla says if he gives in they will be outside every day. Liam says that if Paul has gone AWOL then he is going to reinstate Sean. They then look up and notice that the buyer has arrived, and she doesn't look too pleased. She introduces herself as Jennifer Mills. She asks if she has come at a bad time. Carla immediately says it is only a bit of fun, and Liam offers her a cup of tea. She wants Earl Grey!!

Janice is telling Leanne all about her trip to France. He was a very nice. Leanne wonders if he was like her father. Janice laughs as she says, no he was nice! Then a mobile phone rings in Leanne's handbag. When she says it is her work phone. Janice is impressed that she has two phones. She takes the call, and she says okay, and tells the caller that she will see them. She grabs a couple of brochures off the table to take around to Dev. She tells Janice that the development isn't even built but she is selling them like "hot cakes". Janice thinks Leanne that she has landed on her feet.

Vernon does a "drum roll" with his hands on the Rovers bar. He announces that he is going to call his new business 'Tomlin's Academy of Drumming'. Steve tries to pour cold water on the idea by warning him that there is a lot to running a business. He would need to do tax returns, a lot of other paperwork and he would also need business premises. Vernon says that he has arranged with Liz that he can use the upstairs of the Rovers. Steve looks far from happy, but Liz reminds him that when he has wanted to get into a business venture she has always backed him.

Tracy comes in and hugs Steve. She then tells him that the Hearing went well.

Jennifer is annoyed that Paul is not around. It seems he has all the details of the products with him in the car. Liam says he could do her some rough estimates, but she says she would rather hear it from Paul. Carla tells her that he is out on urgent business. Jennifer doesn't look at all impressed, telling Liam and Carla to get Paul to contact her when he returns. Once she goes, Liam and Carla start arguing. She doesn't want to be left in the dark and goes to look for him, but tells Liam to ring her if he turns up.

When Derek, the deliveryman (it seems he is called a "drayman") arrives at the Rovers, Liz is pleased to see him. Betty asks if she should fetch Vernon to help. However, Liz says she is sure that Derek can cope.

Peter goes over to Maria and offers to buy her a drink. She warns him that Tracy will be annoyed, and sure enough she yells over to him to leave the "tart", she concludes that she might give him something.

Next into the Rovers is Dev. He is wearing a designer jacket and dark glasses! He slips off his jacket ...........only to reveal that Peter is wearing the same shirt! Peter suggests that Dev puts his jacket back on.

Liam comes out of the factory to meet the workforce. He thrusts a pair of knickers at Sean and tells him they aren't finished and to finish them off in the morning. They realise they have won and Sean has been reinstated. However Hayley then demands that Vicky, the Polish girl, should get equal pay to the rest of them. Liam agrees. He says he doesn't excuse their behaviour but then he can't condone Paul's behaviour either.

Derek has finished unloading the delivery. Liz offers him a pint but he refuses because his wife would smell his breath. He says he will accept an orange juice. She suggests that he should drink it in the living room.

Sean drinks a toast to his friends that supported him. They want a speech from him. He says he was looking forward to a lie in the morning, if it hadn't been for them.

Jason calls round to the Barlows' house. Ken answers the door and Jason quips whether Blanche is coming out to play! Actually, he explains that he really wanted to speak with Deirdre. He asks her whether she has seen the tape. She says she has and Tracy explained that David was getting pre-trial nerves and a bit wobbly, so she was just reassuring him. Jason is satisfied and leaves it. (I would have thought he might ask for the tape back).

Tracy spots Jason leaving her mother's house. When she goes over she asks Deirdre what Jason wanted. Her mother replies that she just wanted to know if she thought about the tape. When Deirdre says she explained everything to him, Tracy looks relieved and says she is ready for supper.

Liz and Derek are chatting away. He says that his wife always has a list of little jobs for him to do as soon as he gets home. She laughs about Vernon and says she has to promise him sex and beer before he does anything. The phone rings, but Liz decides to ignore it saying it is probably only a salesman. She then tells him about Vernon's venture. She says he really is excited about it. At that point Vernon bursts in and yells that he has his first customer. A woman has booked 6 lessons for her son's 17th birthday. Liz promptly introduces him to Derek. Vernon asks whether he would want any lessons. Derek declines the offer. Vernon says he is going to have to go and tell the news to Steve.

Carla returns having been unsuccessful in tracing Paul. She has tried his friends and other places he usually hangs-out. She tells Liam that she knows it is to do with the crash and wants to know the full truth. Liam reluctantly tells her what happened. He reminds her of when he was best man at their wedding. He said in his speech that she and Paul were for keeps, it is what he really meant.

Derek finally leaves The Rovers. Steve wonders why it took so long for him to do the delivery. Liz says he was talking about a new lager his brewery are bringing out, and Liz tells Steve that she had to tell him that he was in deliveries and not in sales.

Janice and Leanne are sitting at the table. Leanne offers another drink, but Janice refuses, saying she has to go home. Leanne realises that Janice is skint, so she gives her some "rent" money for the time she has spent in the flat.

Carla catches Liam as he is about to come out of the factory and he gets into her car. He then reminisces about the time he, Paul and Dean had been to a boxing match. They all had drunk a lot that night. Dean offered to drive thinking he was alright. However Paul decided that he wasn't fit, so he drove instead. They crashed and when the car stopped, the road was empty and they got Dean's body and put it in the driving seat. Liam believes they did the right thing, but asks her not to mention it to Michelle. Liam asks her to consider what would happen if Ryan found out they had been responsible for his father's death. He says it was a moment of madness, but he was already dead. Liam then turns to Carla and says she now knows everything, but does it bring us closer to finding Paul ?

Martin Rosen

Hi all, Spring has sprung here in the UK, the sun is shining and the daffodils are blooming, and here's the update for Wednesday 14th March.

Liam stands on the factory steps, greeting the workers as they come back to work after their strike. He says a special hello to Sean, the man it was all about. Then he greets Vicky, the Polish girl, and says they need to have a little chat. He tells her not to look so worried, it's good news.

Maria arrives at the salon and starts to unlock the door. She is accosted by Peter. "It's Maria Scissorhands," he jokes, and then asks if she can fit him in for a quick trim, although his hair looks incredibly short and neat, and far from needing a trim. She tells him she's on her own today and she's fully booked.

Back at the factory, Liam tells Vicky her wages are going up, she's going to get the same as the others. "Why?" she asks, puzzled. Fizz comIn the es by, "Cos we made him give it yer," she says.

Carla comes in and tells Liam she needs to speak to him, and they go into the office. She tells him she's not heard from Paul, but she wants to get it clear that he was the one driving when Dean, Michelle's husband, was killed. She's hurt that Paul never told her, and wants to know why Liam has told her now. "You managed to keep it from me for five years." Liam admits that as Paul has taken himself out of the picture it has left him keeper of the secret and he wasn't up to it.

Over at the Barlow residence, Ken is pondering the quirks of the English legal system. Deirdre reminds him that Tracy is meeting her barrister today. "Where is she anyway?" asks Peter, looking up from his paper. Deirdre says she's taking Amy to nursery, then she rounds on Ken, "Are you saying that Tracy shouldn't have a barrister?" she demands to know. Ken says he was just talking about the English legal system. "And I'm talking about our daughter!" says Deirdre. "Who is at the mercy of the English legal system," Ken points out. Just then Tracy comes in, and says she's going to have a shower to get ready for meeting her barrister. As she goes off upstairs, Deirdre turns to Ken and says that it's not about a solicitor or a barrister, it's about the truth. "Of course it is," says Ken, but he doesn't sound very convincing.

In the back room of the pub, Liz tells Vernon she's going to take him somewhere special tonight. Vernon tells her that he can't, he's off to Rochdale to the Northern Soul Collector's Fair, followed by a Soul Revival night afterwards. "And you'd rather do that than go out with me?" Liz asks him, clearly disappointed. Vernon tells her he's already bought a ticket, but any other time?".

It's tea break in the factory, and Vicky puts some boxes of cakes down on the table, telling the workers they are to thank them for helping her to get more money. Fizz and Hayley thank her, but Joanne isn't pleased, ‘she thinks we're all just going to like her now?" she says, with disgust. Kelly reckons they should go back on strike to get her money taken down again. As Fizz reaches for the cakes, Hayley says she thinks it's brilliant that they are all on the same money, but Joanne points out that Vicky was the one person who didn't go out on strike, and yet she's the one who benefits, it's just all wrong.

Out in the Street, Tracy is getting into the taxi with her solicitor, they're off to see the barrister.

Peter goes back to the salon. Maria starts to say that she told him that she couldn't fit him in, when he grabs the book and starts to check for himself. "You've got no one between Mrs Dewhurst and someone's who's name I can't read," he says, and then tells her he'll go and make her a coffee and then sit down til she's ready. She laughs and agrees.

Tracy meets her barrister who asks her to take him through the events from the beginning. Tracy is immediately on the defensive, ‘the beginning of what?" she snaps. ‘the beginning of things taking a turn for the worse," he says, calmly. Tracy turns to her solicitor and says that she's already told her all of this. Her solicitor tells her that Mr. Sinclair needs to hear it in her own words. Tracy's attitude changes and she puts on her weak little girl voice and tells him about Charlie's affair with the hairdresser. "Everybody knew about it," she says, "it got to the point where I couldn't even show my face."

Meanwhile, the hairdresser in question is washing the hair of Tracy's brother. They too are discussing what happened to Charlie. "He said he was going to leave her," Maria tells Peter, "but I bet you won't believe that, will you?" She goes on to say that she's sure Tracy will have told him that she is just a silly little slag who tried to take Charlie off her. "my sister gets a lot of things wrong," says Peter, ‘like living with a bullying psychopath who tried to kill her, for instance." He goes on to say that not only does he find Maria very attractive, he thinks she's pretty smart too, and can weigh people up.

In the barrister's office, he is asking Tracy, quite forcefully, why she left and went back to Charlie at least three times, when he was clearly not to be trusted. Tracy has had enough, and her attitude is starting to show through. "Oh, what's the point in this?" she asks, and then busies herself dunking her biscuit in her teacup and eating it. Her solicitor explains that she is likely to be asked these questions in court and Mr Sinclair needs to know how she will answer. Tracy tells them she will answer however they like, if they write the answers down and she'll learn them. They tell her it has to be in her own words. She asks them to tell her what it is they want her to say.

The factory workers are in the pub, still discussing Vicky's gift of cakes. Joanne says it's lucky they were bought cakes, or she could have tried to poison them all. Sean brings the drinks over. "You're not still on about that are you?" he asks.

Liam and Carla come in, and ask Michelle if she's heard anything from Paul, but she hasn't.

Vernon is off to Rochdale, much to Liz's disgust. "I hope you have a really wonderful time," she tells him, but doesn't sound like she means it.

Ken and Deirdre come in. He tells Deirdre he knows she's worried about Tracy and so is he, but they shouldn't take it out on one another.

Tracy's taxi arrives back in the Street, her solcitor tells her that if she rehearses what she's going to say it will sound like a performance in court. "And nobody will believe me?" says Tracy, ‘that is encouraging!"

The delivery man that has chatted to Liz in the past,, turns up in the bar. He tells her that he has a day off, and he thought that of all the pubs he gets around, hers was the one he most wanted to call in at. She's flattered.

Michelle is talking to Liam about Paul. She wonders if he and Carla haven't just had a huge row.

Tracy comes into the pub and tells Deirdre and Ken that she doesn't know what they are paying the barrister for. She tells them he just made her out to be a liar and told her not to put on a performance or no one will believe a word she says.

Liz is chatting to the delivery man, he says that when they spoke the other day he felt a spark between them, so he wondered if she'd go out for a drink with him sometime, somewhere else. "Or I could just drink this and get out and pretend I never said anything," he says, awkwardly. Liz tells him she's free tonight, as long as she's back by closing. He says he'll call for her at half past six.

Amber gets back from school and goes into the corner shop. Molly warns her that Dev will ask what she thinks about his new shirt. Dev then appears in the doorway and asks how school was. Then he draws attention to his new shirt. "doesn't make me look too young, does it?" he enquires, doing a twirl. "For a bus pass, yes," says Amber. Dev looks crestfallen, and Molly scolds her for hurting his feelings. "You can wear what you want," Amber tells her dad, "but just not when you're picking me up, all right?" and she goes off upstairs.

Back home, Tracy goes off to get Amy, and Deirdre sits down to chat to Ken. She tells him that she's asking herself questions like, "do I believe her?" She then starts to tell Ken about the tape, and how it seems that there's a secret between them. Just then Peter comes in, so Deirdre mouths to Ken that she'll tell him later.

The factory workers are finished for the day, and Liam says he'll go home with Carla in case Paul comes back so he can explain why he blew the big secret.

Leanne and Janice are at the bar, and Leanne's buying the drinks. Liz appears, all dressed up and tells Michelle she's going to be out for a bit, but will be back by closing. Maria comes in, closely followed by Peter who buys her a drink.

Liz does a double take as Vernon walks into the bar. "Vernon!" she exclaims. He tells her he couldn't go, and asks if the night out is still on. She tells him it is. "What a lovely surprise," she says.

Carla and Liam get back to her house, Paul isn't there and hasn't left a message on the phone. Liam decides to leave Paul a message of his own. His message tells Paul that he's told Carla exactly what happened. "Now get yourself back here," he says as he hangs up.

Peter is telling Maria how he thinks they're very alike. They both get themselves into situations that they shouldn't. She went out with Charlie because Charlie told her that he and Tracy were finished, and he married two women at once.

Derek, Liz's date, walks into the bar. She hastily introduces Vernon to him, saying that he wasn't supposed to be there but turned up out of the blue. Derek orders a pint, saying that then he'll be off back home for a night in with the telly. "I did have plans," he says, "but it seems like they've fallen through." "that's a shame," says Liz.

Back at the Barlow's, Tracy asks if anyone wants to volunteer to read Amy a story. Neither Ken or Deirdre want to, so Tracy ungraciously goes off to do it herself. Then Deirdre turns to Ken and tells her she destroyed the tape. "I so want to believe her," she says. "But it's what you saw on that tape that stopping you?" says Ken. "What's our job?" asks Deirdre, "to stand by her, never to question anything" Because I'm beginning to think I can't do that!"

Anne Logan

Well, with more snow threatening, the heaters turned up and some chocolate peppermint slice in the house, what could be better than to settle down with a Friday update...

A weary Carla comes into the kitchen to make her morning cuppa. The door opens and Paul comes in. They say nothing until they embrace. "Oh, thank God you're all right," she whispers, falling into his arms. He is worried she's said something to Michelle, but she hasn't.

Tracy is also thinking of her morning cuppa. Her mobile, which she appears to keep in the pocket of her robe, rings and she offers to take the rubbish out. It's a ploy so she can take David's call outside. She tells him off for calling and arranges to see him at dinnertime, not realising Deirdre has followed her out. Deirdre tells her she shouldn't be spending so much time with a witness. "You're always going on about how selfish I am," Tracy says, "but the minute I try to help someone . . ." An exasperated Deirdre sighs as Tracy returns indoors.

Carla has made Paul a cuppa. She can't understand why he and Liam kept the secret about Paul being the crash driver. "You're so tight, pushing everyone else out, even me." Paul says he couldn't tell her how selfish he was over the crash.

Outside the salon, Michelle and Maria see Peter on the other side of the street. Michelle says she fancies him. Maria points out they've had a drink together, but that doesn't mean she fancies Peter. "He's not my type." Michelle leaves as Peter comes over to talk to Maria. He asks her to have another drink with him. She's wary of Tracy but agrees.

Janice and Leanne are just back from a shopping trip, with Leanne saying she's going back to get a pair of red shoes tomorrow. "I might get the black ones and all." Steve sticks his head out of the bookies' to tell them that if they can afford their shopping, they can afford a cab home, too. Leanne laughs. "We're saving the cab for later. Know any good places to eat in Cheshire?" She wants somewhere with a bit of class for "ladies what lunch." They are interrupted by Leanne's work phone and she moves away to take the call.

Paul strolls into the factory, giving the workers a cheerful good morning. Liam seems anything but cheerful. "Why the hell, after all these years, did you have to tell her?" Liam explains he didn't have any option. "She thought you might be dead, the state you were in when you went off." Paul seems astounded at this. Liam explains the repercussions of Paul swanning off to the Lake District on holiday. "It wasn't a holiday," Paul says. "Compared to what you left me with here, mate, it was a flippin' luxury cruise!"

Violet meets Sean in the street. Sean's cheerful because Paul saw him in the factory and said nothing. She's off for an appointment with the consultant.

Nearby, Tracy and David are skulking just around the corner of the Kabin. Tracy says they can't keep meeting like this, but David says they're doing nothing. They're just mates, hanging out, chilling! Tracy fixes him with a chilling look! "You mean we're not mates?" asks David. "You're just using me to get away with murder?" Tracy says of course not. She says she does quite like talking to him because she doesn't have to pretend, but if anyone sees them they'll wonder what's going on. She says Deirdre knows he's been ringing. Just then, Deirdre comes out of the corner shop, but luckily she's calling across the street to Gail, asking her if she fancies a coffee. Tracy vanishes. Gail does fancy a coffee, but then Deirdre says she'll come to Gail's. "Then don't have me mother." Actually, it's so long since we saw Blanche that I suspect Tracy's whacked her with an ornament, too, and Deirdre's covering up! Tracy might be around the corner, but she's heard her mother and Gail and now worries what's up. "They're not big mates," she tells David, sending him to find out what's up. He won't, saying he's supposed to be at school.

In Gail's house, Deirdre asks if she can smoke. She should know from the extended pause that Gail's tossing up how to say no. But Gail says yes and hands Deirdre a small plate to use as an ashtray. Deirdre says the cigarettes are the only things keeping her sane. "Mind you, it's bad for you, what with all the stress on David." Gail is surprised, and Deirdre tells her something of what Tracy told her (leaving out the bedwetting!). Gail says David's not stressed and is asleep as soon as his head touches the pillow.

Claire has gone to meet the woman she's been counselling. Why they've chosen to meet on a bridge over the canal I have no idea. Casey is a bit down because there was a baby on the bus so she got off and walked. Claire suggests they get a coffee.

Tracy "accidentally" meets Deirdre and Gail in the street. Gail asks whether David's said anything to her. Tracy tells Deirdre she's sure David doesn't want his mother worried. Gail thinks David's probably just being dramatic. As soon as Gail's gone, Tracy tells her mother that David spoke to her in confidence. She can't afford to upset him because he's the chief witness. "Thanks a lot!"

Claire is telling Casey about Ashley. They're walking over some bridges and Claire is carrying coffee (does going for coffee never mean going for coffee in a cafe any more?). There's something wrong with the sound (well, there is on my telly, anyway) and their voices are quite indistinct in this scene and hard to pick up, but Claire ends up telling Casey about her own bout of depression. She says having a friend is a big help for her, too. Casey seems thrilled to be called a friend.

Janice and Leanne are back from lunch and slumming it in the Rovers. Janice says she could have lived in the toilets at the restaurant. "Carpet were thicker than my mattress." She and Leanne sit down and Leanne says they can go again, but Janice wants to pay her own way. She misses being in the factory. Leanne suggests she could have a word with Liam. "Use the fact that he fancies me to help get your job back." She thinks all men are only after one thing and tells Janice it's up to women to use their brains and play men at their own game. "As long as you remember that's all it is, a game, you're laughing."

Sean and Violet are at home and Sean wants Violet to come out with him tonight. She tells him the consultant told her she could still conceive but would not be as fertile as she was before.

Out in the street, Peter waits outside the salon for Maria. He tells her that if she's worried about them being seen together they can always go to another pub. Just then, Michelle leaves the Rovers, giving them a cheery greeting." Oh, well, too late," says Peter. Michelle spots Paul's car outside the factory.

Her brothers and Carla are drinking tea/coffee in the factory when Michelle walks in, wanting to know where Paul has been and what it's all about. She says Ryan's convinced Paul left because of him. They tell her Paul's only been back about an hour. Liam suggests they go out for a meal. "On one condition," Michelle says. "Paul's paying." Does anyone else think something's gone horribly wrong with the staff roster at the Rovers?

There can't be anyone serving, because Steve's sitting on the other side of the bar with Deirdre, and Liz is having a drink and chatting with them. And Betty's in her 80s and gave up doing nights years ago. Steve wants to know what Tracy and Charlie had been rowing about when she killed him. Deirdre explains that Tracy wanted to leave and Charlie wouldn't let her. Steve thinks it shows what Charlie was like. That very day he told Steve he was going to throw Tracy out. "Are you sure?" asks Deirdre. Tracy comes in and is horrified when she sees Peter sitting with Maria. Maria thinks maybe Peter should go and sit with his family, but he says he's too much of a gentleman to leave a good looking woman in a pub on her own. "Like you're too much of a gentleman to explain to one wife that you already had another?" Maria teases. Deirdre and Tracy move to a booth, though Tracy is using that chilling glare on Maria. Deirdre tells her what Steve just said about Charlie. Tracy says Charlie was a control freak and everything had to bee on his terms. Peter comes to sit with them and Tracy demands to know what he and Maria were talking about. He says they were just chatting. "Well, you better not be telling her any of my business," Tracy snaps. "Yeah," says Peter, "like I'd dare!" He gets up and Tracy tells Deirdre to stop cross-examining her. "Everything I do, you question." She gets up and leaves.

Deirdre follows her into the street, wanting to know what Tracy's outburst was about. Tracy says Deirdre managed to make a phone from David sound sinister and then cross-examined David's mother. And she doesn't support her own daughter. Deirdre says she's just trying to make sense of it. "The last thing I want is my own mother, digging, stirring, questioning," Tracy says. "Leave it." She storms off. Peter is behind Deirdre now and asks if she's OK. "I don't know," she says, blinking back tears. "I honestly just don't know."

The End
Margaret Carr

A little while ago I asked for comments on short or long updates and received a universal request for full details and many thanks for my efforts (and those of my many colleagues) for providing these updates of events in Weatherfield. So I am sure we will note the guidance and off we go to the Street where events actually open in the Street itself tonight as Claire, Sarah and Gail gather to watch the arrival of a furniture van, the contents of which are emptied into number 6 - obviously the murder of a builder (and did someone else cop it in the same house?) including a leather sofa and a rather nice plasma screen tv which will no doubt not be showing the Street ever. Claire is having to walk the Street because, being Mother's Day a cake is being baked, and she is carrying her current book - Jane Eyre - reaching the point where Bertha can be heard in the attic - why do people ever watch telly she says - when they can read the book, or as in the case of this communication get the update delivered direct to your inbox!!

Anyway murder Tracy walks into the living room where the family are discussing the trial. Tracy is spoiling for a fight and throws a card at her mother. She claims as usual that she cannot do anything right, although Peter is trying to avoid the row.

The family moving into number 6 arrive - and well what do you know another soap crossover as Sinbad (did he ever have a real name) arrives from Brookside Close and claims to be "Jerry Morton" which in Japanese pronunciation obviously quickly becomes Jelly Roll. With him is Wilf, daughter Kayleigh (which is odd - the only one I ever knew spelt it Caley - and I wonder what she is doing these days - if you are reading this Caley (originally from Bournemouth and later Imperial College - good evening) hello and how are you?). Handshakes and introductions all the way round the crowd and Gail is saying how peaceful it is on the Street - just as the wondrous Tracy emerges from number 1 and starts shouting about how they must have got it on the cheap. Tracy wants them to know it should be her house - it was rightfully hers. Ken and Deirdre drag Tracy away trying to calm her down (a statuette is the right solution - twice across the head).

Gail tries to explain that Tracy left under difficult circumstances - but Jelly Roll knows the story and observes that she killed her old man - she was provoked Claire is quick to clarify.

Inside the family argue over the sleeping arrangements and try to work out where Charlie died.

Elsewhere Paul is trying to recover ground with Ryan apologising and giving him a present. Ryan is having none of it.

In the Rovers the Barlows are split into two - Ken, Deirdre and Peter discuss Tracy's state of mind (in my view murderous - but clearly unbalanced - is it possible to blame the parents?). They agree that the eye witness will be important as will the family support. Tracy goes and sits with Claire who is reading her book. She wonders if it is mucky with sex on every page - but Tracy apologises for teasing her and then has a snipe at Sean when he delivers the drinks. Tracy claims she is worrying about the case.

Tracy rejoins the family and observes to Dreary that with those glasses she is the spitting image of the old Dreary when she had large bins (a point I had been planning to make myself - these scriptwriters get everywhere and obviously are stealing my ideas before I can get finger to key (does anyone use a pen any more?)). Tracy even suggests that Claire is Dreary's love child. Tracy makes it clear that she cannot stand the stupid cow (more often known as Claire) and is only staying friendly because she will provide a good character witness - she and I are bezzy mates until the trial is over and then end of. The rest of the Barlows are shocked as you might expect - but we all know that Tracy has been playing Claire for a simpleton for months (with ease I might add).

Gail almost gets hit by a pair of trainers thrown out of a window as she and Jelly Roll discuss the unexploded bomb and the fence which needs repairing.

Watch out low flying, groveling, begging, pleading polite and needy Janice about - and Liam the sucker falls for it and gives her back her old job in Underworld, now better known as kids clothes sweat shop. She starts Monday.

Sarah has cooked her mother a roast dinner and all goes well until the Battersbys next door - oh sorry Mortons - but even I can spot a recycled story line - turn up the volume on the stereo and the kids complain. Gail suggests they practice some tolerance and offers the kids some wine, they almost fall off their chairs in surprise. On the other side Ashley and family are suffering from the noise as well. However we briefly see a happy family - dad, mum and kids - so in true soapland development, something nasty comes this way (doom laden music should play at this point but I am told that I am not allowed to undertake multimedia updates and have to stick to plain text - and I tell you texting this on a mobile phone keyboard is a real uphill task). Gail breaks and storms into the garden with Sarah and David shouting "Go Gail, Go Gail". She asks Jelly Roll for a word - and he invites her indoors for a cup of tea.

In the Rovers Leanne turns on her charm in an attempt to get Janice her job back. Liam gets a date out of - not mentioning that he has already conceded the re-instatement. The flirting goes on and on for ages. Well at least until Janice turns up and offers to buy Leanne a drink - who believes her mother is skint. No longer - she will be back at work on the morrow. Since when - this morning. Leanne looks at Liam who shrugs and alleges he has a bad memory and cannot remember the name of every new recruit. Leanne knows how to treat 'em mean and keep 'em keen and marches out saying she has had a better offer!!

Eventually Jelly Roll accedes to the request from Gail and reduces the volume - claiming that it is his punk rock days when he was in a band. he calls the kids down to introduce them - the twins Mel and Daryll who appear to be teenagers - they need something to eat - and the younger Kayleigh. Gail reports on her brood next door and Jelly Roll observes that they are both single parents and they should get together and compare notes. Gail makes her excuses and departs.

Dreary cannot let matters rest and decides to have a chat with Claire, telling her she is grateful for her contribution. Claire confirms that she never really saw anything - but the noises through the wall - shouting, things being smashed. And Tracy was always covering for Charlie - would never admit anything was wrong and that is what abused women do. Claire tells Dreary that Tracy is a brilliant actress - always putting on the happy face, no matter what she was suffering.

Gail returns home to report success on the noise front. David wants to know how it was done - violence, but Gail claims that with age comes wisdom and she was merely sensible and mature and people respond to polite requests. Anyway there is boy close to David's age and Jelly Roll was great about turning off the music - just as another noise fills the air - presumably another punk rock band - Gail immediately sees that the Mortons may be a little more difficult neighbours than she had anticipated.

Be back next Sunday.

K Richard W

The Episode opens to 'Leons Neons' sign company van parked outside the new fast food place ran by the new Morton family. We then spot Roy trying to sneak a peek through the window of the new competition.

We move into Janice's flat next, she's frying bacon as Leanne bursts out of the bedroom on a very 'important' business call.....Janice looks on the scene from the oven looking very impressed at her step-daughters success. Janice's cooking efforts reward Leanne with a tasty looking bacon sandwich, and the two strike up a conversation. Leanne fills Janice in that she is attending a property exhibition at a very posh hotel, and says it could provide her with lots of leads to potential clients- She then asks Janice to help her pick out an outfit to wear (probably not the first person you'd think of for fashion advice- but this is Leanne we are talking about!!!) Janice is only too happy to help and they both head into the bedroom.

Over at the Barlows and the postman has just arrived, Deirdre is over at the door picking the letters up and Ken is looking at the newspaper- he's not happy because part of it is ripped, which he blames on Chesney pushing it through the letter-box too fast (you'd think that would be the last thing on his mind considering he has a murderer living in the same house) He shouts asking anyone if they know where the sellotape is.

Deirdre is reading her letter- its a summons from the court, asking her to testify in court for the defense- Tracy is stood in the doorway and comments that it'll be nice to have more people on her side in court.

In the Kabin, Norris is clearing out Chesney's paper delivery bag, he comments to Rita how much rubbish is in it, he pulls out sweet wrappers, pens and string- Rita just laughs and says all boys of his age carry string! Norris takes the opportunity to ask Rita where her friend Doreen is- She hasn't been out with her in a while and Rita replies to Norris that she has told Doreen she wants to take things quieter for a bit. Norris turns round and accuses Rita of "snubbing" Doreen and that's why she hasn't been in touch.

Janice and Leanne are walking arm in arm down the street towards to factory, Janice is on her way to work. They are discussing how well Leanne is doing when Liam pulls up in his car. Janice comments that everything would be perfect for Leanne if there wasn't that one thing missing- her eyes are looking at Liam and Leanne says the only reason she is doing so well is because she doesn't have a man holding her back.

David and newcomer Darryl are leaning against the wall outside the Platts, Darryl's twin sister Mel is walking across the street....David has obviously seen someone that appeals to him nearly as much as Tracy and asks Darryl if he thinks his sister would be interested him- Darryl smirks and tells him he'd have no chance!

Jerry, Jodie and Kayleigh are in the fast food shop, the guy from the sign company comes in and tells them he has finished- The family spill into the street and look up, "What the hell is that?" Jerry shouts, the man that has fitted the sign looks shocked and says it looks fine- Jerry however insists he thinks the neon sign is pink and he ordered red. His two daughters back him up and says it looks more pink that red and the sign man looks very worried!

Ryan is in the Kabin looking through the magazine racks, Norris asks him if he is looking for 'Graffiti Monthly' -referring to the time when Ryan spray painted outside the Kabin, Ryan replies that he's looking for Golf Monthly, just as Paul enters. They enquire to Norris about ordering the golf magazine and Paul asks Ryan if he wants anything else- when Ryan says no, they leave.

Outside Jerry's Fast Food now and the sign man is on the phone to his boss, Jodie and Jerry are watching from inside the shop.....Jerry is pretending to rant about the sign and pauses briefly to ask Jodie if the man is watching and does he look worried? Jodie nods and Jerry continues his rant- when the man isn't watching Jerry takes another pause "doesn't it look great?" he asks............Jerry is trying for a discount- he loves the sign really!

Dev and Steve are round the bar in the Rovers when Paul walks up to them- he had an afternoon of Golf arranged and his friends have let him down- he invites Dev and Steve to go instead. They agree to accompany him and Paul comments he feels like it'll be his lucky day.

Back with the Mortons and Jerry is looking very pleased with himself- he has managed to get a 40% discount on the sign....The family look at it from the Street and they take a family photo as they say hello to their future.

Back in Jerry's fast food and Jodie has entered carrying a box of champagne- Jerry declares the shop as open and sprays them all with Champagne then promptly instructs Darryl to get a mop he doesn't want his new customers to slip on the floor.

We are in Janice's flat now and her and Fiz are going through Leanne's clothes saying how lovely they are. We hear a phone ringing and Fiz picks a mobile phone up from behind a cushion on the couch, Janice says its Leanne business phone and Fiz suggests that Janice takes it to her at the hotel. Janice says she doesn't want to show Leanne up by turning up at the hotel- but she doesn't take much convincing and starts getting ready.

At the golf course, Steve, Dev and Paul are just starting their afternoon of golf and Steve is moaning that he doesn't want to pay alot of money to hire some golf clubs- Paul tells them to hurry up as its getting dark....Steve asks how long it takes to play a game of golf and when Dev replies to say it depends how good you are- Steve jokes that they may need a torch.

Ken and Deirdre are standing outside their house. They look across the street and see Tracy and Clare gardening together at the Peacocks. Deirdre comments that it is a strange friendship and the make an odd couple she then says she can't understand why Tracy wants to spend time with Clare.

Tracy is questioning Clare about whether she has relieved a letter from the court asking her to testify- Clare says she has and drops into the conversation that Deirdre came to see her the day before. Tracy appears to be rattled by this and asks them what they were talking about. Clare says they just spoke about the court case.

Janice is walking to the bus stop when a Street Cars taxi pulls up alongside her- Its Les, he whistles and Janice tells him to get lost. Les persists though and asks her where she is going. When he finds out she is going to see Leanne he offers her a lift instead of going on the bus. Although Janice says no at first she eventually says fine and gets in the car.

Leanne has arrived at the hotel, she has a confidence about her as she approaches the reception. The receptionist clearly knows her and Leanne asks him where her client is. He points through to one of the bars in the hotel and tells her its a man who is very nervous- Leanne promises she'll be gentle with him and smiles.

Sally, Liam, Vernon and Fiz are the first in Jerry's Fast Food to try out the new takeaway- they are eating kebab's and drinking complimentary champagne, Roy is peering in the doorway- Fiz spots him and pulls him in- things are looking very awkward as Jerry introduces himself to Roy.

Les and Janice arrive at the hotel and Les tries to persuade Janice to let him come in with her- Janice says he can but he has to promise not to embarrass Leanne as its a very important day for her. he agrees, but just as they start to walk through the hotel Les's phone rings- Its a job for him from Street Cars and he can't stay.

Leanne and her 'client' are walking across the hotel to the lift when Janice spots them...

Susan

Thank you very much Susan on your debut here. Hope you enjoyed it, but now you are back with an "old regular".

Warning: Please don't sit too near the monitor as my wife has an awful cold and cough and she may come by and pass it onto you. ;-)

We start part two as Janice is wandering around the hotel looking a bit unsure. The Concierge asks if everything is alright. She confirms it is and says she would like to take a drink at the bar.

Dev, Steve and Paul are still on the golf course. Dev is cheering as he tots up the scores. Paul complains about the weight of the clubs, or it could be that his new shoes are rubbing.

Cilla comes into the kebab shop and asks for a drink. She is told she is too late, that it has all gone. Hayley then comes in. Roy introduces her, to which Jerry patronisingly says that she must be a super-model (he obviously isn't aware of her history!). He offers her a kebab and a drink from a bottle that had put by.

Back on the golf course, Paul is still having getting the ball out of the bunker.

In the hotel Janice finally meets up with Leanne. She is surprised to see Janice there. She explains that she forgot to take her mobile phone. Janice tells Leanne that while she has been waiting she has realised a couple of things. She knows that Leanne is not a property agent. She also knows that she is a prostitute. Leanne tries to defend herself by saying she is an escort and works for an agency. Janice just tells her that it is cheap and seedy, to which Leanne remarks about the posh hotel and the rooms upstairs are excellent. Janice remarks that no doubt the ceilings are probably very nice! Leanne tells her that she doesn't understand. So Janice asks to be told what bit is wrong when Leanne gets a phone call. She meets a bloke in a hotel, she drink with him, laughs at his jokes, and then goes to the room where she drops her drawers for him and takes his money. At this point the Concierge comes over and tells "Rachel" that her taxi is here. Of course that confirms Janice's suspicions that despite Leanne's denials she is ashamed.

Paul finally manages to get the golf ball in the hole. He says that he is going to take the clubs back to the shop he bought them from.

In the Rovers, Hayley tells Roy that she thinks that Jerry is a nice man. Roy says that Jerry wants to dovetail their services. Roy doesn't look too convinced though.

Peter joins Maria for a drink. They talk about her ex-boyfriend. He says that he met Charlie and he was a bully and psychopath.

While Rita is getting some drinks Norris is with Doreen and notes that she is uncharacteristically quiet that evening. She says that she is saving herself for the final sprint. Norris looks bemused and she explains that she is going to race him home! Rita having returned with the drinks suggests to Norris not to take Doreen on for a race as she is faster than she looks.

Jerry goes off to the Rovers. On the way he passes Janice and tells her that the kebabs are very good over there. Then, Les sees Janice and asks her if she caught up with Leanne at the property exhibition. He wonders if she was surprised to see her. Janice replies she certainly was surprised.

Jerry offers Gail and Sarah a drink. Gail doesn't seem to pleased, but he says the only way they will get to know each other is if they talk.

Steve and Dev are talking about their golf match with Paul to Leanne. Janice comes into the pub and sees Leanne and turns round and walks out. Leanne goes out after her. Leanne catches up with her at home and finds Janice searching through her things. She presumes that Leanne is on drugs. Leanne tells her that she is doing an honest day's work. The men know what they want and are willing to pay for it. Sometimes they just talk, Leanne confirms, and she can always say no. So, Janice asks if she could do it as well, but then gives Leanne her answer by saying she is too old or too ugly. Leanne just says she wants to better herself. She wants to move away from the dismal and pathetic place where she lives.

Steve and Dev are still on a high about the golf. Paul hands them their winnings, but asks for a re-match. Steve says he may get himself some clubs, or may borrow Paul's !

Jerry tells Gail and Sarah that he quite likes it in this neighbourhood. He says everybody is friendly. Gail says that they try to be considerate, especially not playing loud music. Jerry tells her that it is alright, David can turn his music up as loud as he wants !!

Deirdre is discussing her concerns with Ken. She just feels that Tracy is not telling them everything. Ken thinks that maybe she is winding her up. Deirdre says she is trying to help her, and wonders why she can't see it.

Jerry says he must go to Gail and Sarah. After he has gone Sarah says to her mother that she really "told" him. Gail replies that everybody must get on talking to each other.

Doreen tells Rita that there are going to be repairs done to her flat and that she will have to get out. She explains that they want to move her to a really awful Estate. Rita suggests that she moves in with her as she has plenty of room. Doreen feels embarrassed as Rita doesn't want payment, so they agree on 5 vodkas and tonic a week en lieu of rent. Norris comes back over and looks somewhat surprised when Rita tells him about Doreen moving in.

As Maria leaves the Rovers, Tracy comes in; she is worried that Peter maybe talking to Maria. Peter explains that he was giving Maria a hard time, but was sticking up for her. She wishes he would convince their mother. She is talking to people such as, Claire, Gail and Steve behind her back.

Janice goes into Jerry's with Leanne in there. They begin to talk and Les pops in. He says he is so proud of Leanne. He then goes off on a job. When he is gone Janice questions whether he would be so pleased if he knew what she was doing. Leanne confirms she is still going to carry on, everybody does it, not necessarily for cash, but for presents, clothes, dinner etc. She tells Janice, if she wants her to stay she'll have go get used to it.

And now as I rush to my wife's aid with another box of tissues, I wish you a fond farewell !

Martin Rosen

Vernon is in the back rooms of the pub, lavishly smothering his hands with hand cream. Liz saying she's been looking all over for that, and demanding to know what he's doing with it. He explains that he has to look after ‘the tools of his trade'. "And we've got a lot of work to do today," he says, looking at them lovingly. Liz agrees, there's a delivery coming. "Actually," says Vernon, "I was talking about drumming practice." Liz points out that he is the cellarman, but he says he now has to be careful lugging those crates about. Liz isn't impressed.

In the Barlow residence, Tracy is very much on the defensive. Deirdre suggests they go into town for some shopping. "Oh yeah, I'm going to need a whole new wardrobe in prison, aren't I?" snaps Tracy. She goes on to say she doesn't know why Deirdre doesn't have her tagged like they do with prisoners, so she will know exactly where she is. Peter tells Tracy to give it a rest. "Me give it a rest?" explodes Tracy, "what about her, questioning me, cross examining me?" Deirdre says that she can't help worrying, she's her mother. "Are you?" says Tracy, "sometimes I wonder!" She asks why Deirdre can't just believe her. Deirdre says she just wants the whole story. "You know all a mother needs to know," says Tracy. Peter then leaps up from the table, tells them all to put a sock in it, he's sick of listening to it every morning, it's driving him mad. He storms out of the room.

Janice and Leanne are walking down the Street. Janice wants to know how Leanne got into the prostitution in the first place, it might help her to understand. Leanne tells her that when she was in Spain she did a bit of escort work, nothing more than that, but one night she met a client who was ‘well fit' she was going to go back to his room with him anyway, so the money was just a bonus. "So are they all like that?" questions Janice, "all drop dead gorgeous? Good company?" Leanne tries to say that she has a choice. "Do you?" asks Janice, sounding like the doesn't believe a word of it. Leanne tells her that she's sorry Janice doesn't like what she does but it's her decision and she's happy with it, and she's earning more money than she can ever hope to earn round there.

Roy is just putting a board up outside the cafe, giving details of the day's ‘Specials'. Fizz comes along and states that he's pulling out all the stops. Roy looks puzzled and says he doesn't understand. "All's fair in love and fast food!" laughs Fizz. Roy says he's not a purveyor of fast food. "Not when Vera's behind the counter, that's for sure!" Fizz laughs again. Roy says he can handle a little healthy competition. Fizz says that is about the only thing that is healthy about the place next door.

She walks on and passes Jerry putting out his eye catching board. "Morning Roy!" he calls. Roy looks round, chalk in hand, and frowns.

Jerry goes inside and starts chatting to his family, saying he's glad Roy didn't cut up rough about them opening up on his doorstep. He's wants him to stay friendly. "You never used to say that about rival chip vans," says Jodie. Just then Tyrone comes in and orders a kebab and drink, confessing to them that Molly wouldn't really approve.

Over in the factory, Janice is sitting at her machine, lost in thought. The girls start to ask how Leanne got on at the property exhibition – did she manage to sell anything? Janice murmurs that she doesn't know and then jumps up from her seat and goes into the office, where she asks Liam if she can have an advance on her wages. Liam turns her down, nicely.

Back at Jerry's fast food place, Granddad is trying to get Jerry's little daughter (sorry don't know her name) to help him work a scam. Jerry overhears and sends his daughter off out. Then he turns to his father and tells him that she won't make any friends by conning people on her own doorstep. "I don't want you teaching my kids con-tricks," he says. The Granddad points out that he was doing time when Jerry was conceived. "It's not an honest world we live in," he says, "there's no rights and there's no wrongs." "Yes there are!" says Jerry. He admits there might be some grey areas here and there, but he wants his kids to know where the line is

In the factory, Janice approaches Fizz and asks if she can borrow some money. "How much?" asks Fizz reaching for her purse. When Janice says she wants a couple of hundred pounds Fizz looks at her in disbelief. "You're kidding aren't you?" she says, and tells her she's skint. "Why don't you ask Leanne?" she suggests, "she's minted." Janice turns and puts on her coat, saying there's something she's got to sort out, and to the amazement of all the factory girls, she rushes out.

Vernon and Liz walk up to the delivery lorry. Vernon complains that Buddy Rich was never seen lugging around barrels of brown ale. "Well, I doubt he ever lived over a pub in Weatherfield," says Liz. As Vernon starts to unload the barrels, the delivery driver comes round from the front. It's Liz's friend Derek. "Oh, hello!" she says, taking the clipboard from him. She then turns to Vernon and says that as there's not a lot there he might as well go back to his drumming. As Vernon disappears, she turns to Derek. "I was hoping it might be you," she tells him, and goes on to say she wanted to explain about the other night, she felt bad, blowing him out at the last minute. He tells her he understood and was fine about it. She asks him if he'll come in for a brew, or something stronger when he's finished out there. He says he will.

Across the road, Janice is sitting at the bus stop, holding some packets with jewelry in, and looking thoughtful.

In the factory, Liam and Paul are in the office. Liam suddenly notices that Janice is still not at her machine, after being told she was in the toilet half an hour earlier. He goes out and asks the girls where she is. Fizz makes up a story about a dodgy kebab and says Janice had to rush off home quickly.

Liz and Derek are in the back room enjoying a drink. Above them comes the sound of Vernon, drumming. The conversation turns to the running of the pub, and Liz remarks that it's not all sweetness and light, and sometimes she wonders if she wasn't just a little bit too old to take it all on. He tells her that there's no other landlady that can hold a candle to her. She thanks him for being understanding about the other night, and he tells her he was hoping they might try again another night, if she can get away. Just then Vernon calls from the hallway. "Any chance of a brew," he calls, "I've got a tongue like a drumskin here!" Liz turns to Derek and thanks him, but says that she feels that maybe things turned out for the best. He writes his number on a piece of paper and tells her to ring him if she changes her mind.

Maria is entertaining Peter in her flat. She's cooked him a meal. The conversation turns to the trial. He thinks Tracy has got a strong case, Charlie was a head case, he's got the scars to prove it. "But I haven't," says Maria. "What are you trying to say?" asks Peter. Maria explains that Charlie might have had rucks with blokes, but never laid a finger on her, or Shelley or any other woman as far as she knows. "It was Tracy who took a swing at me," she says. Peter reasons that she was Charlie's mistress, he's want to keep her sweet, and he was able to get to Shelley without resorting to violence. "Most women get beaten up behind closed doors," he says. Maria comments that she's never had Tracy pegged as a victim, she doesn't seem the type. "Still, you know her better than I do," she adds. Peter looks thoughtful.

In the pub, Steve, Dev and Paul are discussing golf clubs. They start talking about a rematch, and Paul says he'll fix it up.

Ken and Deirdre are sitting at a table, discussing Tracy. "She takes offence whatever I say to her," says Deirdre. Ken thinks she's under a lot of stress. "Well if she thinks this is stressful, wait til the prosecution start baiting her," says Deirdre. They decide to go home, and Ken goes over to the bar where Tracy is drinking. "We're off now," he says. Tracy says moodily that she doesn't know what time she'll be in. "Why must you be so hostile?" asks Ken. "Because I feel so let down Dad," says Tracy, "by the one person I should be able to count on!" She says this loudly, looking over towards Deirdre. Ken tries to say that she can count on Deirdre, she just needs a little more….."Faith!" Tracy finishes for him, "the word is faith!" Ken assures her that they are right behind her, they love her. "Come home Tracy and we'll talk this through before more damage gets done," he says. She nods.

Across the Street, Peter is taking his leave of Maria. "Thanks for that," he says, "I'd forgotten what normal life is like." They say they'll have to do it again soon. They stand in the road, and he kisses her, just as the other Barlows come out of the pub. "Oi!" shrieks Tracy, running across to them, "what do you think you're doing?" Shouting and yelling, she runs at Peter, as Maria runs back into her flat. Tracy starts hitting out at Peter, as Ken tries to pull her back and get her to go home. Behind them, as all this fracas is occurring, Deirdre starts to gasp as she struggles to get her breath. She clutches her chest and leans against the wall. Ken sees her and rushes over. Ken turns round and shouts to Peter and Tracy to shut up and call an ambulance.

Jerry, his son and his father are in the pub. The son asks Jerry for some money and Jerry hands some notes over, telling him he'll take it out of his wages. As the boy goes off, Granddad turns to Jerry and says that he shouldn't give him handouts he'll make him soft. Jerry says he'd rather give him money than have him make it the way his father did. "You never went without," says Granddad. "You were always in stir," says Jerry, "but I'm always going to be here for my kids."

Janice sits herself down next to Leanne. She tells her she's pawned some jewelry. She hands her 400 pounds and says that should keep her going until she finds a proper job. Leanne says she can make that in a night. "I know you mean well," she says. "Of course I mean well," says Janice, "I might not be your mother, but you are the nearest thing to a daughter that I've got." (What about Toyah, she is Janice's real daughter?) Janice starts to get tearful, and Leanne tells her to save her tears. She says in a couple of years she'll be set up for life. She has no intention of stopping.

The paramedics are at the Barlow's house. They tell Deirdre she's had a panic attack as a result of increased stress. They suggest she goes to her GP, and in the meantime gets some rest. "So it's my fault!" says Tracy. Ken says it's no one's fault and hustles her out of the room. When he's shut the door, Deirdre starts to cry and turns to Ken. "You were wrong," she says, "it is her fault. There are too many questions." She tells him she knows that Tracy's explanation about David Platt was a lie, she can tell by the way she behaves when she tries to ask her about it. "There is something not right here Ken," she says. She's also suspicious of Tracy's friendship with Claire, because Tracy has as good as said she is just stringing Claire along, and she knows that Claire never saw Charlie harm Tracy. "Surely you're not suggesting that Tracy invented anything?" asks Ken. Deirdre says she doesn't know what she's suggesting, but she knows that Tracy wanted the barrister to coach her into what to say to make her story sound credible, she wouldn't need to do that if she was telling the truth. She also wonders if Tracy should really have been as calm as Peter said she was at the plea hearing. "You know Tracy's capable of anything," says Ken, meaning to reassure her. "Oh I know that, Ken," says Deirdre, "that's why I'm scared to death right now!"

Anne Logan.

Oh, things are getting very tense at the Barlows' as we get closer to Tracy's trial. However, this Friday we open in the back gardens of the "new" houses.

Jerry and Darryl are fiddling with the fence when Claire comes out with a basket full of washing to hang out. Jerry asks if she's lost weight. Claire goes all coy and Jerry prompts her to invite them in for a cup of tea. He and Darryl pop back into their own house while Claire answers her phone. Of course, it's Casey calling to make arrangements to meet. Gail is leaning on the fence by her garden with a very strange look on her face. They talk about Jerry (yes, with their voices carrying past his back door) and Gail says his deafness is selective. Claire tries it out by asking quietly if Jerry fancies a custard cream with his cuppa. "Make it a bourbon, love, and I'm yours for life!" comes Jerry's voice from inside his house.

It's breakfast time in the Barlow household and Blanche can't understand why Deirdre isn't down, if, as Ken says, she's feeling better. Peter says it was just a panic attack, not a full-blown nervous breakdown, and Ken explains that Deirdre is just tired. Blanche is determined to find out why Deirdre had the panic attack. "Something must have triggered it!" Tracy has prepared a tray for Deirdre and, of course, that makes Blanche even more suspicious. "Name me an occasion when you ever waited on your mother from your own choice." Tracy accuses Blanche of "sitting there like Paris Hilton" and says she won't be talked to like that in her own house. "Strictly speaking, it's the finance company's house," Peter points out. They continue sniping at each other until Ken loudly threatens to bang their heads together.

In the Kabin, Rita's remembered Sheila Frith who could yodel and was double-jointed at the elbow. She and Norris are interrupted by Doreen, who brings in a bottle of bubbly, which she says is her rent. Doreen asks if Rita minds if she "brings a few bits".

Tracy is outside the bookies when Peter comes out. She snipes at him about Maria and he says Maria is just as much a victim as Tracy is. "I'm free to see whoever I want to see." Tracy tells him she hopes he's better at picking horses than he is women.

Leanne is hunting for something. She picks up a mobile phone and makes a call. "Janice, in case you're checking MY messages on MY mobile, I'm onto you, and you're in big trouble!"

Peter goes into the salon to apologise to Maria for Tracy kicking off. He says Tracy's under a lot of pressure, but Maria retaliates that Tracy's just a right cow and she wishes people would stop making excuses for her. Peter tells Maria he likes her -- in fact he distracts her from the shampoo she's supposed to be doing -- but she says that even though she likes him too, it's just not worth it. Peter doesn't think Maria should be swayed by Tracy stamping her foot. He leaves Maria looking very thoughtful.

Dev and Steve are too busy discussing golf to pay any attention to the customer in the shop. Grandad Morton has to wait for Molly to come through from the back before he gets served. He buys three lollipops, which he says are for the grandkids. He tells Molly that he's only got a £20 note. As she gives him his change, he says he used to have a shop and he's got some advice for her: "Kick him into the bunker." He points at Dev.

Deirdre's going at the vacuuming like a woman possessed. Ken points out she's supposed to be taking it easy. Tracy comes in and starts to say how pleased she is to see her mother up. "Don't!" snaps Deirdre. Tracy says she was just . . . "Trying to be nice!" interrupts Deirdre. "I know. Well, don't! You're freaking me out."

Back in the corner shop, Dev and Steve are still talking golf while Dev serves on auto-pilot. Kayleigh Morton interrupts to point out that she gave him a £20. Dev says he's sure it was a five. But Kayleigh insists. "It's got a flower on, if you don't believe me. My dad told me off -- said it's treason to doodle on the Queen." Lo and behold, when Dev checks, the top £20 in the cash drawer does indeed have a flower on it. He apologises profusely and hands over another £15.

Grandad Morton is waiting outside. Kayleigh gives him the thumbs up and they high five!

Deirdre is worried about whether she can give evidence in Tracy's favour. "You saw her with Maria last night -- vicious!" Ken says the easy answer is not to take the stand. Deirdre laughs, then realises he's serious.

Tracy goes into the Rovers and looks very pleased to see Steve. Gail tells her she's counting the days until the trial, but she doesn't expect Tracy feels the same. "He'll do you justice, I know he will," Gail says. Once Gail's gone, it takes Tracy two mouthfuls to almost finish the glass of red wine that Steve's put in front of her. "Can you sing Ten Green Bottles at the same time?" he asks. Tracy tells him about Deirdre's panic attacks, in a very unsympathetic way. "All she has to do is say her name, not bump into the furniture and go on about what a wonderful daughter I am!" She thinks everyone is trying to get their own piece of her tragedy. "I mean, how self-indulgent can you get?"

Deirdre thinks there will be a second murder charge if she tells Tracy she won't give evidence for her. Ken says David's evidence will swing things in Tracy's favour, but Deirdre isn't sure she can believe what David says. "Ken, we have had a lifetime of Tracy pushing kids around, from Bessie Street on..." Ken says Claire is a grown woman with a mind of her own, and doesn't even like Tracy. "Whereas David likes her too much!" Deirdre says. She tells Ken she doesn't want him to agree with her. She wants him to prove her wrong. Ken says she's right in that she won't survive on the stand. Two minutes with an opposition barrister and she'll blurt out her feelings about Tracy. Either than or have another panic attack. "For Tracy's sake as well as your own, you've got to pull out." Deirdre agrees, but tells Ken, "This is huge. It's got to come from me."

Next door, Tracy wants to go upstairs with Steve to burn off some energy. Steve tells her that if she's stressed, he'll make her some chamomile tea. He says Deirdre is like his mum, like Eileen and like Janice -- she'd rather cut her leg off than admit she had a pain in it. If Deirdre's collapsed and seen a doctor, Tracy should listen. "You are no fun," she says. In a booth, a mobile phone goes off. Leanne scrabbles towards the sound and finds her phone in Janice's bag. There are three missed calls listed -- the one she made and two from the agency. "Good!" says Janice. Leanne is furious. "This isn't going to make me stop, you know. This is just going to get me sacked." Janice thinks Leanne's gone hard. "Yeah, 'cause I was like a Barbie doll before," Leanne sneers. "Well, harder, then," Janice says. Leanne tells her they're more alike than Janice thinks.

Claire meets Casey by the canal again and starts talking to her about the court case. Claire is worried she'll do something wrong at the trial and let down Tracy, but Casey reassures her she won't. She reckons Tracy will be sleeping better just knowing she's got Claire on her side.

Norris is amused to see that Doreen's "bits" take up most of Jamie's taxi. "I'd hate to see the size of her 'bobs'," says Jamie, handing over yet another carrier bag of stuff.

Casey suggests Claire pick one person in the court and talk directly to them. And all the lawyers and judges in their wigs, "they sit on the loo just like you and me." She suggests Claire bring Josh next time.

Rita tells Jamie to just keep unloading. "There's a good tip in it for you." Norris can't believe Doreen is only staying a short time. Rita hushes him, saying Doreen can stay as long as she needs and she needs to know her treasured possessions are safe. "And have you been to that estate lately?" Rita asks. Norris hasn't. "Well, I wouldn't leave an Alsatian there unattended!"

Janice and Fizz are on a fag break when Leanne turns up. She hands Janice a brown envelope. She says Danny Baldwin gave her a cheque for £50,000, but it didn't mean nearly as much as Janice pawning her jewelry for £400. They apologise to each other. Leanne says her job is a lonely one and she quite likes having someone she can be honest with. Janice wants Leanne to tell her names, places and times when she goes out.

Jerry goes home, having spilt pickled onions down his trousers. His family is sitting watching telly and he asks Grandad what he's doing there. Darryl sees Kayleigh texting and asks where she got credit. "You've been crying poverty all week." Jerry, on his way, trouserless, upstairs, rushes back and turns off the TV and snatches Kayleigh's phone. "Rule number one, don't dump on your own doorstep," he says. "You look shifty, the pair of you. How much." Kayleigh confesses to the scam. Jerry says he wants her to work three shifts in the shop for nothing and she'll get her phone back when he's bought £15 worth of drinks for Dev, Kayleigh can have her phone back. Grandad points out that it wasn't all Kayleigh's doing, but Jerry says Grandad is past saving. "She isn't." He thinks feeling guilty have a good effect on Grandad.

Leanne swans into the Rovers and hands Janice a list before telling Fizz and Jamie and Steve that she's off to see a client. Fizz goes to sit with Janice and congratulates her on making up with Leanne.

Tracy is showing off something Amy did at nursery. Deirdre sits her down and tells her she's not up to giving evidence. Ken's found out more about panic attacks. "If I get on the stand, the pressure will get to me and I won't be able to go through with it." Tracy is indignant. She wants to know how it will look if Deirdre's name is removed from the list of witnesses, after the opposition has researched her and planned their questions. "We haven't done this lightly," Ken says. Tracy accuses them of taking advice from Peter and Maria, "before coming to the most selfish decision of your lives! She rants that she's undermined and criticised every day in her own home, "though why I should be surprised, I don't know. I should have expected it from the last time I lived here." She's ignoring Deirdre, who is clearly in distress and gasping for air. "Oh, give the woman an Oscar!" Tracy shouts. She says sarcastically that, of course, Deirdre's breathing problems are nothing to do with the hundreds of fags she's puffed on today. "This is great. If you can pull off a performance like this in front of an audience of two then why can't you do the same for me in court? Why can't you show people how much you believe in me? "GET OUT!" screams Ken. "Get out before I throw you out!" Deirdre gets enough breath back to say: "Why? That's a very good question." She clutches her chest again.

The End
Margaret Carr

And so it all comes round. Corrie and other lesser soaps originally existed to entertain and divert viewers between the advertisements to enable products to be sold to the masses who saw television as a new way of publicizing their wares. This worked for many years until (careful now - abusive words included) EastEnders appeared. With no products to sell the writers and directors and production team could look to introduce "art" into their offering and so we got a new form "the two-hander" where the writers took two long running characters and effectively wrote a playlet for a single episode, with no-one else being allowed to speak; I believe the first was Den and Angie (sorry) but I remember two which have since followed with affection - Dot and Ethel was an excellent example and I had the sincere pleasure of writing the update for Norman (Curly) Watts and Raquel when she returned late one night to explain why she left and how she had borne Curly a child. Even The Archers (famed for always having 7 characters in every episode) has done the two hander - the night Kathy discovered that boring old Sid had been bedding Jolene (in showers as well as elsewhere) - luckily they are all good friends now.

And these days I sometimes think that the production team reach for the two hander a little too easily and perhaps the story needs and perhaps not. As you dear readers know I have not believed the Tracy / Charlie story as appropriate to the Street and I am deeply unhappy that I now have to write an update on something I almost see as a travesty to the greatness of The Street and the history it represents as well as its contribution to the development of television and the attraction it represents to even famous names. In defence of the cast this is only the second time The Street has turned to the two hander and so I can claim that I am the only update writer ever to have written the updates!

But before starting the update can I just commend the late Valerie Barlow (nee Tatlock) on her second stunning contribution to Doctor Who. Whilst Valerie might have had 15 million viewers at her funeral her performance as a murderous alien last night almost had us hiding behind the sofa, especially as she almost killed the Doctor - deserves much wider viewing. Those who have not seen should make sure they do so, so much evil with a straw. The Barlow girls represent a formidable collection of actresses!

It is the night before the court hearing and Deirdre (hereafter D) hands Tracy (T) a glass of wine and tells her only the one - no hangover tomorrow.

T starts with an apology for causing the stress - but as D observes that is nothing new. T wants to know that she is still loved and D responds - T is her daughter and of course she is loved - she is not upstairs sleeping with Rod Stewart (watch out Rod - do not volunteer to appear in The Street - you will end up bedding D) rather than going out of her mind downstairs. T can see this is not a fun evening!!

They start arguing over nothing snapping at each other. D picks up a leaflet on panic attacks - essentially we are all animals and it is either fight or flight and which route did T take when Charlie attacked her - "Fight of course - hence the statue" (talking of which prior to its pivotal involvement in the action had you ever seen it in the Stubbs living room - someone should find out when it was bought). Again the argue.

D having wound up T says she wants to know the truth - D knows her better than anyone, carried her for nine months (why do mothers always say that?), she hears the words saying one thing and the eyes saying something completely different. D "knows" that there is something wrong and she wants to really "know"! T decides again on Fight rather than Flight and tells her mother that the only problem is her (D). Her own mother does not believe that Charlie beat her within an inch of her life (as if) and when she lashes out in self defence her own mother (the one who carried her for nine months) turns her back on her (T). {By the way if you are not following this I am sorry - essentially it is back and forth and relentless, the whole thing appears to have been shot in the dark and knowing who is talking is not always easy).

D denies turning her back on T (but come on D - this girl hardly earns your support). As mother she has fed her, clothed her - but she always wanted more, better stuff, better treatment, always forgiven for her mistakes - even Date Raping Roy Cropper (T claims she never laid a finger on him), selling Amy (well the little girl knew nothing about it T claims), taking Ecstasy and ending up on life support. T thinks she might have ended up getting her wrists slapped over that one - but as D observes it is always about T - she is completely selfish, by this time D is in tears, saying that she was only rescued because her beloved Samir, the only man she has loved had lost his life - although T can hardly be blamed for his death as T states - and anyway what about the man upstairs - T snickers was Samir the real "love" of your life?

D tells us what we know - that she was feeling down and Samir came along and made her feel special again as a woman - and now she is stood there, mocking her mother and the kidney inside her is the only good part of her. She opens T's handbag and finds the tablets she has to take daily - but never in public - is she ashamed of the kidney? So if she hides the drugs what else does she hide?

T comes back in full flow - she only took drugs to get away from her mother, the little house, the geriatric furniture, kitsch wallpaper, your glasses, your necklines, your moaning, your coughing and everything always stinks of fags. Stunned at the outburst D pours herself another glass of merlot (me I am surprised that she did not just swig the bottle). T continues - another drink. I remember your tacky perm, your loose morals (T is really going for the jugular now). "Oy Tracy Barlow your mum's a slag" was all I heard at school - I never knew who was going to wake up in your bed next.

The next bit was replayed on Harry Hill last night. Deirdre throws off the Dreary tag and socks it to Tracy with a slap around the face. Turns round and grabs not only her glass of wine - but also the entire bottle - before dashing out to the back yard. Most of us wonder why she only got a smack for that outburst - attacking a known killer is not a good way of staying alive.

In near pitch black in the yard D is smoking. T tries to recover the situation - the perm was not that bad and it was the eighties when they were common. D says that T must not show that vicious side to the judge and jury. T says that the only thing she really resents is that T was brought up hating Ray and she does not blame her mother for hating her. D denies she hates her mother but she does not love her very much, indeed she will lie for her daughter - providing she knows what she is lying about and she needs to know what really happens. In the dark T's eyes widen - her "Get out of Jail Free" card has just been delivered. You will go on the stand and lie? D nods. T hisses she cannot say it outdoors and D will come indoors when she has finished the fag.

T knows that if she tells the truth her mother will hate her - but D "knows" that T was suffering abuse, she was even burned with an iron. T smiles - "What if I said he never laid a finer on me?". D is puzzled - what does she mean - after all she saw it. But as T points out no-one ever saw any actual event and T gets up and picks up an iron and places it against her arm. D gasps - but as T points out this time the iron is cold - it has been off for half an hour. T has one of her wild grins on her face and D has a cold shock of realisation that they have all been played for fool.

T says that she planned it all. She had planned the perfect murder from the time that she found about Maria's affair and that Fatty Arbuckle (come back Shelley we all miss you lots and lots) was pregnant by him. So what did she expect - D responds that she could have left him - Oh really mother - I stayed with him. Because you loved him says D. Oh pur-lease says T exasperatedly. D is starting to get the point - "You went back to him because you were planning to kill him? I can handle this" she says as re-assurance "I promised I would you are my daughter and you are breaking my heart. T cries "I know what I did was unforgivable, I have let you down [not for the first time is it either?]. But D points out that Claire saw it - locked in her room, she heard screams".

The T smile widens. She saw diddly squat. Just because I scream now does that mean you hit me? D - "But David did see it - the attack, your defence". Tracy smiles more and shakes her head. "That boy will do anything for me!". D finally grasps that D is lying - but why? T nods - she does not care so long as he takes the stand and lies convincingly. But what does David stand to gain? T knows "The fellas are putty in her hands - it is one of those things she has inherited from her mother - Sexy Specs.

D asks if she has slept with David. T does not answer. "You burnt yourself with an iron?" "Are you out of your mind?" T grins again - it was all worth it. And finally D asks - and that night - did he really attack you?

The T grin is out of control - she is manic now - she answers that Charlie was in a really foul mood that evening and he played his part brilliantly.

D breaks down crying and yet laughing at that last comment. T asks why - D responds that she is so pathetic, T would say anything to make it all look better for her - has it all got to her so much - being a battered wife so that she could take her revenge on Charlie's infidelities? T tells D to get a grip - as if she would let a man hit her ever!

Jackpot - D has finally worked it all out. She needs nicotine! T follows up "Charlie was an evil evil man who deserved to die and (usual selfish bleating from T follows) I do not deserve to do time for it." Then she realises that her mother is about to crumple (she cannot light her fag). "Don't desert me now mother, talk to me." D goes through the kitchen and into the yard.

D says that often standing in the yard she can hear police sirens, the police helicopter and the wave of crime in the world - but always someone else's child. And now this makes her such a hypocrite. T says that none of this is D's fault. D thanks T for the words of support but they are hollow in view of the mouth they come from.

Back indoors emotions calm just a little. T picks up the leaflet. T says D has two options - Fight or Flight - fight for me or run away - which will it be? D is exhausted and asks T to leave her alone. T fears that she has blown it completely and says quietly "Night then". She walks into the hallway and sits on the stairs and starts to cry. Are they real or for her mother's benefit? Given the lighting we will never know but being the updater I go for the second option.

So will Tracy go down? Will she miss Amy growing up? Either way of course she is leaving the Street and it will be much quieter without her and Steve having regular set-tos.

No doubt she will re-appear in a few years to nurse Dreary in her Blanche years and the intervening time will seem almost as nothing.

I now return you to normal updates.

K Richard W

Its the first day of the trial and early morning, Deirdre is keeping the bench warm in the Barlows garden, she's smoking when Ken appears in the doorway. "Morning" he says, then he asks her why she didn't come to bed last night. Deirdre explains that her and Tracy stayed up while late talking. Ken disappears back into the house and Deirdre follows him in. Ken asks where Tracy is, Deirdre tells him that Tracy is round at Steve's dropping Amy off for the day while she's in court. Deirdre chooses this opportunity to tell Ken she's got something to tell him.

In the Mortons house, Jerry is cooking breakfast for his family, Darryl is sat on the couch and Jerry comments its a surprise to see him up so early- Darryl says it because he's got places to go and Kayleigh asks whether she can come too, she is replied with "no chance" and the two siblings start bickering- Jerry then moves towards them and hits Darryl over the head with a wooden spoon for arguing with his sister. Mel enters the kitchen and asks Jerry if he's noticed anything about Kayleigh lately, Jerry admits he feels she's been quiet lately and he promises he'll have a word with her later that day.

In the back room at the Rovers and Tracy is telling Steve what's in Amy's bag as she leaves her with her Dad for the day. She goes through her favourite toys and which dvd's she likes to watch. As Tracy is leaving emergency contact numbers with Steve she starts to cry- Steve puts his arms round her and says that all her family and friends are behind her.

Leanne is telling Janice in the flat how grown up she feels now she is buying number 7- Janice doesn't look interested whatsoever and tells her that she struggles to pay the rent but at least it is with honest money- Leanne doesn't look too interested in what Janice is telling her though.

We're back with Deirdre and Ken over at the Barlows, there's an awkward silence between the two and it soon becomes apparent that Deirdre has told Ken all what Tracy confessed the night before. The famous neck muscles get the exercise of a lifetime in this scene as she begs Ken to say something. "I don't know what to say" he replies, Deirdre tries to say sorry to him, but Ken tells her she has nothing to be sorry for. "Tracy has fooled us and all our friends" he bursts out "How dare she lay all this on you" . And now we have the quote of the year so far ; "She's not a bad girl" Deirdre protests, but Ken is quick to tell her she can't defend Tracy for this, he then goes on to say that she is definitely Ray's daughter, a comment which Deirdre takes great offense to.

Ken asks Deirdre where David Platt fits into all this- but Deirdre doesn't want to fill him in on that bit and asks him to let it lie for now- Tracy is back, she enters the room and notices there's an atmosphere, "You've told him then?" she asks her Mum. Ken is livid at this point- 'Sit down' he shouts, Tracy sits.

Sophie, Chesney and newcomer Kayleigh are on the corner by the salon waiting for the bus. Kayleigh is just going for her first day at school and asks Sophie and Chesney what its like. They are quick to tell her that she can't wear Make-up and the teachers will make her take her jewelry off. The bus arrives and a horrified Kayleigh says she'll walk instead as Sophie and Chesney board the bus.

Tracy is sat at the table putting on a great performance in front of Ken. "Save your crocodile tears for the judge" he tells her, but Tracy is already thinking of her response as she says sorry, she also tells him that although Charlie never hit her physically he hurt her in her head. Ken is having none of it though but has to hold his words back as Blanche and Adam enter the room. "Go on what aren't you telling me now?" Blanche asks. When no-one answers her she decides to ask Tracy about her make-up instead, she comments that she should try and create the impression she is naive, not go into court looking like she belongs in a shop window.

Emily and Norris are stood on the Street. Emily is off to spend the day in court to support Tracy and Norris has made her a packed lunch- Emily takes it, but it doesn't take much to see that she doesn't really appreciate Norris's gesture. At this point Doreen (Rita's friend) walks up to the two of them and asks them how are they. Norris informs her that Emily is going to court for a murder trial. Doreen jokingly suggests that it is Emily on trial and comments; "Your a dark horse, Emily"

Leanne is now walking down the street when her phone rings- putting on a chirpy voice she says hello- Its the estate agent ringing to inform her that she has been outbid on number 7. Leanne is straight off the phone and making a call to Janice, in which she yells down the phone that she has been 'Gazumped'

Peter, Blanche, Steve and Tracy are just getting into their taxi's ready to go to court. Clare is across the road and shouts 'Good Luck' to Tracy and tells her; "everyone is behind you!". Tracy looks at Ken and he looks back disapprovingly.

Just as the Barlows + Steve enters the court, Sarah, Jason and Maria are stood in the reception- Maria and Jason are to give evidence today. Peter spots Maria and they share a little wave. Tracy asks Peter why he is bothering with Maria- in which he tells her to not get involved and he says she is no-one to give advice on relationships right now.

Liam is knocking on the door of number 7, Jamie answers and Liam asks if he can come in. Jamie lets him in and Liam announces that he is his new landlord- He tells Jamie he isn't going to throw him out- but would like to move in with him.

In the corner shop Dev and Molly are working- Molly is talking about how Tyrone had told her that Dev and Tracy used to go out together, "You haven't had much luck with women have you?" she asks. Dev isn't willing to get into a conversation about it, so Molly tells him how she once had an old auntie that could predict the future....."She told me that I would meet a tall, dark man and fall in love with him" she flirts, suggesting that Dev could be the man she was talking about- Dev tries to tell her he isn't the man and eventually retreats into his office in embarrassment as Molly leans on the counter laughing.

Back at the Barlows (again!!) Deirdre is still raving about what Ken said about Tracy being Ray's daughter. "She's your daughter Ken" He hesitates and apologises for saying it. At this point Deirdre breaks down and cries in Kens arms, she wails that she doesn't know what to do, she doesn't want to condemn Tracy to a life of imprisonment, but Ken makes the point that if she lies for her daughter will she be able to sleep at night? Deirdre looks as though she is digesting Ken's words, but she still cries that she doesn't know what to do.

In the Kabin, Rita is doing a crossword. Norris is dusting the shelves, and at this moment in my update I feel I should give the award for the worst tie in Weatherfield (maybe even the world) to Norris, who is wearing a tie made up of yellow, mustard and brown type of colours. Doreen enters the shop and announces she is going to make dinner for her and Rita later in the evening, Norris, as usual, is rather rude to her, but Rita tells Doreen to just ignore him, he's worried about Emily in court all day. They suggest he goes home and cook her a nice meal. Rita says he should make Shepards pie and Doreen says a cheaper alternative would be corned beef hash. "What are you? Two fat ladies on a budget" he replies.

Jerry is asking Kayleigh at the Mortons, why she hasn't gone to school- she reasons with him that she wouldn't have been allowed to wear make-up and she couldn't have worn her jewelry- Jerry says he is pleased as her sovereign ring was expensive and he doesn't want some school thief stealing it. Kayleigh lets out that she is missing her younger brother Finlay and wants to move back in with her Mum.

Over in court things are just getting started. Blanche starts reciting a prayer and Emily mentions she didn't realise Blanche was religious. "I'm not" Blanche replies "but anything's worth a try" The judge enters, and the camera flashes to a very nervous looking Tracy.

Susan x

The trial begins. The prosecution present the opening arguments. They put forward that the law recognises it is justified for someone to fight off an attacker; a desperate woman using self-defence. The fatal blow to the head; well he had it coming. Then the prosecutor explains that it was none of this, in fact Tracy was making a cynical attempt to get off. It is an insult to the genuine women who live in fear of their partner. The prosecution calls its first witness, Jason Grimshaw. Tracy doesn't look happy at that.

Over at Jerry's house, his daughter, Kayleigh wants to go back to live with her mother so she can be with her friends.

In the courtroom Jason explains about Charlie's affair with Maria. When asked how Charlie reacted when Tracy found out and went back to her mother's. He responded that he thought it was a "fair cop". Asked how he was when Tracy returned to him, he said "surprised". Jason goes on to say that Charlie always thought that Tracy was playing some sort of game to get her own back. She would have arguments for no reason, and lock herself in her bedroom. The prosecution sums up Jason's evidence by saying that he thought Charlie was fed up and going to chuck Tracy out.

Back home at the Barlow's, Deirdre is in the backyard lighting up a cigarette. Ken is watching from an upstairs window.

It is the defence turn to question Jason. He is asked whether, when Tracy went back to her mother, did she take her clothes and other belongings with her. He doesn't know. He also questions Jason why did Charlie say to him that it was "one of those things" . He wonders if Charlie used him as a confident, a sort of sounding board while he was mixing cement?!! Jason responds that he did all the mixing !!!!! The defence wonders whether Charlie was hiding his true feelings for Tracy. Was his pride hurt? Could Charlie have been lying to him? The prosecution calls to the Judge that the defence is going too far. The defence then says that he has no further questions.

[You maybe interested to note that, in real life, the Judge is Mrs William Roache]

At the Barlow's, Deirdre wonders if she was too easy with Tracy when she was growing up. She was punished when she did things wrong, and was kept in for a week. However, normally after a few days she would get under her feet, so Deirdre would suggest that she has learnt her lesson and could go out. She realises that she should punish a child. Ken asks whether she is going to testify against her. Deirdre realises it is a balancing act. If she does testify against her, then she won't be sent to prison for 20 years and then get time off for good behaviour, it would be forever. She feels she would be dead by the time she would want to speak to her again. Ken says at the rate she is smoking you are likely to be anyway. She feels she can't do it, Tracy is her daughter and it would be like punishing herself.

Liam tells Jamie that there is one rule for the house. The rule is there are no rules, except that the fridge must be stocked up at all times, but not necessarily with food. Leanne comes to the house. She is surprised that Liam is there. She tells Jamie that someone put in a higher offer for the house. Liam smiles and says it was too good an offer to turn down, to which Leanne replies that she didn't really want it anyway.

Claire is getting nervous about her court appearance tomorrow. She goes round to the butcher shop to see Ashley, who says that he is too busy to talk. She says she will go and see Casey, who will listen to her.

Liz goes into Jerry's fast food outlet. Jerry smarms that she has lost weight. She orders a child's portion of chicken nuggets. Jerry says that isn't enough for her, but Liz explains it is for her granddaughter. He also gives her a pot of bubbles. (I don't know what they are called, we used to have them as a kid, it consists of soapy liquid and a small wand with a hole at the top, and you blow through it and create bubbles!).

Over in the courtroom, Maria is next on the stand. She is asked by the prosecution if she ever felt threatened by Charlie. She says she wasn't, but was threatened by Tracy when she found out that he had been sleeping with her. Tracy attacked her in the street.

Deirdre is in the back garden, smoking away again. She hears voices from the Rovers yard next door. She looks over and it is Liz playing with the bubbles with Amy. Liz says that she thought that Deirdre would be in court, but Deirdre confirms she is not due in until later in the week. Liz then suggests to Deirdre that she joins in, but she declines saying it wouldn't be fair to give Amy a lungful of smoke.

Tracy's defence barrister asks Maria if she knows if Charlie was ever violent to anyone else. She says he once tried to drown David Platt. He asks how old David was at the time, and Maria says fifteen. The barrister confirms that he was never violent towards her, but he was against a fifteen year old boy. Maria confirms that it is correct.

Next into the witness box is Peter. The prosecution confirms that he went round on the night of the murder. He is asked how long it was before Tracy opened the door. He says he was knocking for several minutes and he couldn't hear anything inside. Eventually, Peter confirms Tracy opened the door and she was on the phone to the police. He tells the prosecutor that the place was in a mess. Charlie was on the floor with a knife in his hand. He said he then went upstairs and picked up Amy. The prosecutor confirms that Amy was upstairs and out of the way.

The defence takes over questioning Peter. He reminds Peter of the fight that he had with Charlie a few days previously. Peter says that Charlie came at him from behind and punched him. He was knocked unconscious before he had a chance to defend himself. He says Charlie was a psycho.

In the park Claire and Casey are talking. Claire is worried she may say the wrong thing at the trial and it could end up with Tracy being sent to jail. Casey offers therapy - a bar of chocolate. Josh is taking pictures around and Claire suggests that he takes a picture of the two of them eating the chocolate.

Back at the court room, the forensic expert is called by the prosecution. He claims that after receiving two blows to the head, Charlie would drop the knife. The prosecutor were there any other wounds on Charlie that could have possibly led to his death. The expert says that he found various marks and bruises on him, but they were a day or two old. There was nothing, he confirmed that were inflicted that day. He is then asked if he examined Tracy. He confirms he did and that there were cuts on the back and front of her left hand. He says they were not deep, but enough to inflict pain and bleeding. He is asked if she would have been able to pick up the murder weapon. He says that she could have done with a bit of difficulty, and would have left some blood on it.

Blanche whispers to Emily who are observing the case, that he hopes the defence barrister earns his money.

The barrister asks the forensic expert whether it would be medically impossible for Charlie to keep hold of the knife even though he had fallen unconscious. The expert confirms that it would not be impossible. He also asks whether in the midst of the struggle she could have found the strength to use her other hand to lift the murder weapon, and therefore there would be no blood on it. Again, he confirms it is a possibility.

Jerry is on the phone to Kayleigh's mother and asks her to speak to her daughter. Kayleigh tells her that it is unfair of her father to expect her to go to school on the final week of term. (We always did!). Then she sees Jerry setting fire to her school tie. She then runs over to Jerry and thanks him for allowing her to go back to her mother's.

Over in the Rovers, Sarah tells Jason that she has had a text message from Candice. She is getting married in Greece, and she wants her to be a bridesmaid, and she is paying for the tickets for both of their tickets.

Back at the Barlows, everyone arrives home from court. Deirdre asks how it went. Peter says it was a bit of swings and roundabouts. He says that some of the evidence looked bad but Tracy's barrister came through. They were arguing, according to Peter about the angle of impact, and blood stains. Tracy looks at her parents and rushes upstairs saying she has had enough for one day. They were worried at one point about the forensic expert, but Blanche continues that the barrister ripped him to shreds. Blanche continues that the defence barrister got the expert to confirm that it was possible for Charlie to be standing at the time and then fell back into his chair. Deirdre grabs a cigarette and goes into the backyard.

Ken follows her out and Deirdre tells Ken that he was sitting down when she murdered him. Ken says that they don't know that definitely. Deirdre is unconvinced by Ken. She realises the type of person Tracy is and asks how she could possibly testify for her.

The trial continues.

As you know there have been two endings filmed. We won't find out for definite until next Monday whether she is guilty or not guilty (in the eyes of the law). Your next court reporter is Anne.

Martin Rosen

Hi everyone – here's the update for Wednesday 28th March – another thrilling instalment as Tracy's trial continues!

In the Barlow household, Tracy is preparing for her day in court, carefully applying her make up. Deirdre wanders in from upstairs, looking gaunt and worried. "Do you think I've got too much eye make up on?" Tracy asks her, checking her appearance in her mirror. "Anyone would think you were going on the stage," remarks Ken, dryly. "Well, in a way I am," replies Tracy. "A lot rests on how I come across." "Worried you might fluff your lines? Or miss your cue?" asks Ken with more than a hint of sarcasm. Tracy mutters that she has to stay focused. "Even though you're just going to stand up and say a load of lies?" Deirdre asks her. She goes on to say that not everyone finds it as easy to lie as Tracy does, and in fact, she doesn't think she can.

Leanne marches purposefully up to Janice who is waiting to go into the factory. One of the other girls mutters that Janice must be really proud of her. "Oh I am," murmurs Janice. Leanne tells Janice her plans for the day – starting with a ‘client' in Bolton, then lunch at an Italian restaurant, she might be gone all night, but Janice isn't to worry about her. Her taxi then arrives and she rushes off. As she drives off Janice looks down and sees that Leanne has left her handbag on the factory steps. She runs after the taxi shouting, but isn't heard.

Back in the Barlow's, Tracy turns on Ken. "It's you that's behind all this, isn't it," she snarls, "you with your moralising and your hand-wringing!" Ken tells her there is another way, she could tell the truth. Tracy shouts that she can't change her story now, they would throw the book at her. "They would see you as a woman who knows the difference between right and wrong," says Deirdre. "Rather than a cold, calculated murderer," says Ken. "And what? So I get a warning? Community service maybe?" scoffs Tracy. Deirdre tells her that whatever way she looks at it she's in serious trouble. Tracy is adamant that her way there is a chance that she might walk free, but Ken says there's a chance she might get twenty years. Deirdre thinks they'll be more lenient with Tracy if she tells the truth. Tracy then turns on the emotional blackmail and tells Deirdre that she thinks more of Charlie than she does of her. "If you're not on my side then you're on his," she tells Deirdre. "It's dead simple – I lose, then he wins!" Deirdre looks tormented.

Time has obviously passed, because we then see the Barlows arriving at the court. Jane, Tracy's lawyer greets them and tells that that they may all be called today, but it depends on how long Tracy's testimony last. Deirdre needs to go outside for a cigarette and Ken tells her that even he doesn't begrudge her one today. As she turns to go, Tracy goes after her. "Not more emotional blackmail Tracy, please," says Deirdre, rushing through the doors.

Outside on the steps, Tracy catches up with her and apologises for being so horrible. "You must do what you think is right," she says, "it's just that I am so scared." They hug.

In the factory, Liam discovers that one of his workers may have left, and Karla tells him that she can get him another worker, from the same source as Vicky. Liam says he doesn't think that's a good idea, as hardly anyone speaks to her. "Exactly," says Karla, "she keeps her head down, all my lot do."

In the court, Tracy's barrister calls her to the stand, and she takes the oath. Ken rolls his eyes! Her counsel begins by ascertaining that she lived with Charlie at No. 6 for about six months, prior to the night that Mr. Stubbs died. "I killed him," says Tracy, "I'm not going to lie to you, I killed him!" She goes on to say that she deserves to go to prison for what she did. Her barrister says that the fact that she struck the blow that killed Mr. Stubbs is not in dispute, but they have to find out whether it was an act of self defence. Tracy starts to cry, "He was good man and I loved him and he loved me!" Ken looks at her with disapproval, and shakes his head.

Back in the Street, Kayleigh Morton is waiting for her mother to come and pick her up. She's going back to live with her. Jerry tells her she can clean her room before she goes, and her brother and sister start arguing about who is going to have her room. Jerry mentions that he's going to be starting on an extension soon.

Tracy's barrister says he wants to take her through the sequence of events after Mr. Stubbs discovered that she was planning to leave him. Tracy mutters that she should never have packed her bag. In a broken voice she tells the court that Charlie had a dark side. Most of the time he was a really nice bloke, but when you've got a two-year old…… She then says that she could have handled him better. Packing her bag was like a red rag to a bull. She tells them that he threatened her, she was afraid for her safety. Laying it on really thickly, Tracy says she pushed him too far, she should have tried to calm the situation. The barrister reminds her that Charlie burnt her arm with an iron. Tracy says he never meant to hurt her, she just wasn't a good enough girl friend. She tells them that on the night he died he went into the kitchen and got a knife and slashed at her with it and cut her hand on the front and the back. She says she just grabbed the nearest thing to hand, closed her eyes and took a swipe at him, meaning only to catch him off balance. "I wasn't aiming for his head," she sobs, "I just wanted him to drop the knife, I wanted him to stop!" She weeps, very convincingly!

Outside the court room, David, Claire and Deirdre are waiting to be called. Claire is doing her Sudoku puzzles and urges the other two to do them too, it might take their minds off things. Deirdre snaps that she doesn't want to take her mind off it all, she just wants to get her head straight. Claire apologises and tells her to remember it's not just Tracy they are fighting for, it's victims of domestic abuse everywhere.

Tracy is describing what happened after she had bludgeoned Charlie to death. How she rang the police and wanted to get an ambulance to him. "Hoping he would still be alive," she cries, "and he was, but not for long."

The counsel for the prosecution stands up. She checks that Tracy's hand was bleeding after being cut with the knife. Tracy says that it was. "So it was bleeding when you grabbed the ornament?" says the barrister, "then how do you account for the lack of your blood on the ornament?" Tracy stammers that she doesn't know, she must have grabbed it with one hand. The barrister asks her to show them, and puts the ornament in front of Tracy. "Show me how, please," she says, "show us as best you can." Tracy clasps the statuette with one hand, but it's large and obviously heavy. "Now show us exactly how you struck Mr. Stubbs," says the barrister. Tracy tries, but it's obviously too heavy to hold with one hand and she almost drops it. "Struggling, Miss Barlow?" says the lawyer. "Well, I wasn't at the time," snaps Tracy.

Leanne is having a meal in a restaurant with her ‘client', who looks like a nervous businessman. Just then Janice rushes in. "You left your bag behind," she tells her, "you can't work without your whip and balaclava!" Leanne looks furious and the businessman looks terrified. "What are you playing at, Leanne?" Janice says to her. "Shove off," says Leanne. Janice turns to the man. "Let me guess, your wife doesn't understand you?" she quips. "I knew it would go wrong," says the man, and leaves hurriedly.

Back at the court, Claire is in the stand, but she's using it as a soapbox. "There are too many men like Charlie Stubbs out there, and too many women like Tracy," she says. The prosecution barrister asks the judge if Claire can be kept to just giving the relevant facts and not provide biased opinion. Claire ignores her and tells the court about Shelley, who was afraid to go out of the house. The judge tells Claire she cannot be allowed to continue like this, and orders the jury to disregard what they have just heard. Tracy's barrister asks Claire if she kept a diary of events. Claire says that she did, and was prompted to keep it after she found that Tracy had been locked inside her bedroom. "By whom?" asks the lawyer. "Who do you think?" says Claire. She says that Tracy tried to cover for Charlie then, and also when he burnt her arm. "You were present when that happened?" asks the barrister. Claire admits that she wasn't. "She was under his spell, you see," she says.

In the restaurant, Leanne is still furious with Janice. "You pull a stunt like this again and I will go," she tells her. "I mean it, Janice."

The prosecution counsel stands to question Claire. She asks Claire if she ever voiced her concerns to Charlie over his relationship with Tracy. Claire says he was the last person she would have spoken to. "So you never saw the need to get the other side of the story?" Claire is adamant that she knew what was going on. "Besides, he could charm the birds off the trees, could Charlie Stubbs." The lawyer asks how he behaved with her. Claire says he was civilised, but she thinks he knew she was on to him. The lawyer then asks Claire if she was on any medication at the time she was keeping the diary. "What's that got to do with anything?" asks Claire, immediately flustered. She's told to answer the question so she admits that she was on anti depressants, because she was recovering from postnatal depression. "Is it true that you were sectioned under the Mental Health Act?" asks the lawyer. Claire tells the barrister she is trying to blacken her name. The lawyer then asks Claire if she ever, at any point, witnessed Mr. Stubbs abusing Miss Barlow. "No," says Claire. The judge adjourns the court.

Back in Coronation Street, Kayleigh's mum has come to pick her up. Jerry asks his ex wife where Finlay is. She says he's out with his mates somewhere, she doesn't know where. "Devoted as ever?" says Jerry. Kayleigh's mum then asks him for money, "I can't afford to keep her," she says, so Jerry hands her over a wad of notes. "Money for her, not you," he says.

The Barlows have arrived at home. "Bravo!" says Ken to Tracy, "a masterly performance!" And tells her that her picture of blind devotion was very compelling, utterly convincing. Tracy says she has to fight her corner, seeing as they are all dropping like flies. Tracy is worried though, that she has not convinced the jury, and now they have made Claire out to be a loony. She turns to Deirdre, "Mum, I am really desperate, I am staring down a barrel here." Deirdre says she knows what she has to do. "She's still my daughter," she tells Ken, "Charlie was an evil man," she turns to Tracy, "and if I'm not on your side, I'm on his." Tracy, much relieved, hugs her. "Thank you!" she says.

Anne Logan.

It's Friday and the trial continues.

As the opening music fades, Ken spots Deirdre coming around the corner by the salon. He's been looking for her everywhere. She's been walking and thinking and has decided she's Tracy's mother and she'll do anything to stop her going to prison. Hayley (no, I have no idea why she's out on this part of the street so early) stops to wish Deirdre well.

At the Tilsley-Platt-Hillman household, David assures Gail that he's looking forward to giving evidence. She tells him there's no need for bravado and everyone would understand if he decided not to do it.

At Number One, Adam and Peter are hoeing into their breakfast, much to Blanche's disgust. Tracy comes in and everyone leaps to their feet, ready to go off to the court. Tracy asks if Deirdre is OK and tells her that she really needs her today. "It's not often a grown-up girl can say that to her mother and really mean it," she says, gripping Deirdre's arm.

Kasia (pronounced Kasha) and Judie (no idea if this is really her name -- she wasn't listed in the credits) are introduced to the factory girls. When Wiki (pronounced Vicki) greets them in Polish, Janice says she gets it. "More job thieves from the night shift, gunning for our wages." Wiki tells them in English that there is a downside to the day shift and it's Janice.

There are photographers outside the court, but they don't seem to worry Tracy too much as she tells her parents she's staying with them rather than going to find her solicitor. Deirdre assures her she's all right. Gail and David arrive and David tells Tracy: "You're so not going down for this one -- not after they've heard a couple of this home boyo's home truths!" and he winks at Tracy.

WikipronouncedVicky has made the teas and is handing them around. Janice says she can't get round her with a brew. WikipronouncedVicky says she's not trying to. "Oh, sings are zo ard een my contry," mocks Janice in a mock Polish accent. WpVicky leans towards her and says something in Polish. I don't know if any of you out there speak Polish, but it sounded something like "Mash more ma yak now pass". Let us all know what it probably was, if you can work it out.

In the court corridors, David is being called. Outside, Ken brings Deirdre some more cigarettes, saying he feels like her drug dealer. Ken wants her to try to stay calm. "I wish you'd stop saying that," she says even more agitatedly. "I'm as calm as I can be!" That's about as calm as Cook Strait or the Pentland Firth, then.

In the courtroom, any member of the jury would look at David Platt and sum him up quickly -- smarta**e! Asked if he believed Tracy was in imminent danger, he replies, "Yeah, deffo." He's smirking. He hasn't allowed for the prosecutor, who has a smirk of her own. She asks him about his behaviour after witnessing the killing. He went into the front street and watched the police and ambulance arrive, like everyone else. He didn't tell anyone else about what he'd seen until a fortnight after Charlie was dead. "As if you hadn't seen anything at all," she sneers. She points out that he says he didn't speak up because he was scared of Charlie, "yet you could stand, peeping, through his window." David says it was dark and he thought there would be more chance of being seen if he moved. She asks him to demonstrate Charlie holding the knife. David demonstrates, using his right hand, making a prodding movement, wrist upturned. He assures the court this is exactly what he saw. When he says Charlie "approached the defendant with malicious intent," the judge (Ken Barlow's wife in real life!) warns him against sarcasm. David carries on, saying he saw Charlie cut Tracy's hand, then the back of her hand, then shout, "I'm going to kill you." Snap! The prosecutor's trap springs shut. She asks how he could have heard that above the music and David says Tracy had turned down the music as Charlie approached her. Tracy suddenly looks very worried. The prosecutor tells David that Charlie was left-handed and when found was holding the knife as if in a stabbing movement. Now it's Gail who suddenly looks very worried. David now thinks he must have got the hands muddled up. He admits he's not positive. The prosecutor tells him he's made it up. "None of your evidence is supported by forensic testimony, but it is the same as Miss Barlow's." Miss Barlow looks even more worried.

In the court corridors, Deirdre is hyperventilating already. Ken tries to get her to take a deep breath and tells her to give evidence as if she didn't know the truth. "I know what I have to do, I just can't breathe," she says. Her name is called and she suddenly says she can't do it and flees the building.

In the courtroom, David asks Gail how he looked. "Cocky and deceitful," she says. There are some mutterings about where Deirdre is and the solicitor tells Tracy her mother has left the building. Emily arrives, complete with packed lunch.

Outside, Deirdre lights yet another cigarette and sobs to Ken that she can't go in there.

Tracy asks the solicitor if they can ask for a recess. "Adjournment," solicitor Jane corrects her. Tracy suddenly turns nasty, hissing, "Go find her and tell her to get on that stand! Tell her I need her!"

Ken tells Deirdre that she's running away, not making a decision. Jane comes to find Deirdre. "I know you're under a lot of pressure, but the defence case will be compromised if you don't take the witness stand."

The judge is just getting tetchy about losing valuable court time when Jane escorts Deirdre into the courtroom. She barely gets through the oath without collapsing. Tracy mouths "thank you" and the solicitor tells her barrister to keep it short. He asks Deirdre why Tracy didn't tell her about Charlie hitting her. "You knew it was going on?" he asks. "Well, I thought I did," Deirdre says. "I mean, yes." Jane sits up straighter. Deirdre says Tracy is stubborn and felt trapped because there was no room at her parents' place. "She loved him." The prosecutor asks straight out whether Deirdre ever saw Charlie hit Tracy. "No, but I knew it was going on," Deirdre insists. She explains what made her believe Charlie was violent. "You're her mother, a good mother," coos the prosecutor. "Of course you believed her." Deirdre explains she begged Tracy to come home. The solicitor points out that she's just said there was no room at home. "You're contradicting yourself, aren't you." Up in the cheap seats, Blanche mutters, "Deirdre, Deirdre" and shakes her head as Deirdre goes into another panic attack. The judge agrees to a short adjournment. As the usher leads Deirdre away, Tracy leaps to her feet and screeches, "What you doing, Mum?"

In the factory, Kasia's pile of completed garments is enormous, so Janice has a word with her, saying nobody likes a crawler and that pile is just showing off. Wiki comes over to point out that if Janice had bothered to introduce herself she'd know Kasia did not have good English. She says something in Polish that makes Kasia giggle. It's too long to write out phonetically.

Jane tells Deirdre that the judge has given them two minutes. Deirdre tells Jane that she's lying. "She's pretending that he beat her up. She did it." She says she can't go back in here. Jane says she has to or she'll be found in contempt of court. And if she doesn't tell the truth she'll be committing perjury.

In the courtroom, the judge says the break is going on far too long. Tracy wants to know if Deirdre is all right but before she gets an answer, her mother is back. The prosecutor hooks straight in with a question about Tracy's bad temper. Deirdre says the attack on Maria was out of character. The prosecutor suggests that if Tracy does not have a quick temper, maybe she's a brooder -- someone who makes long-term plans for a murder. The prosecutor says Deirdre is Tracy's mother and knows her better than anyone. "Are you finding it hard to stick up for her? Do you have any reason to doubt her version of events? "No," says Deirdre. "No, I haven't. She's my daughter. She wouldn't. . ." She stops. That's the end of the questions and the end of the defence case. The judge says they'll hear closing speeches on Monday, when everyone is refreshed.

Once the judge is gone, Blanche is very scathing of Deirdre's evidence, even though Ken says she was doing her best. "If that's her best, I'd hate to see her worst." Tracy asks Jane why they didn't question Deirdre some more. "She's just rubbished the whole case!" Jane has finally seen through Tracy. "I represent women who have suffered years of abuse," she says. They have suffered terrible beatings from truly violent men. "You are using the pain of those women to cover up your crime!" "Two hundred pounds an hour and morally superior!" sneer Tracy. "If only everyone could be in your shoes." Jane glares at her. "You disgust me." "And I employ you," says Tracy, "so shut up and do your job."

Blanche's hip might mean she doesn't get down stairs easily, but she does manage to whinge all the way. When the whole family, plus Emily, get to the ground floor, Tracy arrives. Deirdre says they were waiting for her. "I don't need you now, mam. I needed you in the witness box." Her voice is rising. "It's not good enough that you had a little word with my lawyer, but you... you've stuffed my case! They think I did it. I'm going to be found guilty. I'm going to rot in jail and miss my daughter growing up and for what? For Charlie Stubbs, that pig. . . I asked you to do one thing for me, one thing. If I get sent down for this, this is going to be your fault. Your fault. Thanks a lot." She rushes away, leaving Deirdre in tears.

The End.
Margaret Carr

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Updates written by K Richard Whitbread, Martin Rosen, Ann Logan, Sue Haasler, Margaret Carr,Katie Fairclough, Amanda Souter.

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