Maria is searching through Liam's clothes and pockets looking for evidence. Tom arrives (he's got a key). Maria has found a receipt that seems unfamiliar. It's for an Indian takeaway and that sparks her memory, they'd had a night in with the Simpson's movie and a takeaway.

It's Sophie's birthday and she's listlessly leafing through the cards that have just arrived in the post while Sally is on the phone to the police talking about Rosie. Kevin gives her a bear hug but she's not really interested in her birthday. The police have no new information so Sally decides to put more posters up. Sophie wants to help but they insist she should go to school. Sophie has overheard them talking at night about the possibility of Rosie being dead and she's upset and scared. Kevin writes it off to them just getting a bit paranoid sometimes, especially at night. Kevin offers to drive her to school so she goes, reluctantly after hugging her mother.

In the attic, Rosie wakes, still a bit dazed from her fall off the wardrobe. She gets a glass of water, looking around at the mess from the broken loft window, she gets upset and throws the glass against the door.

John and Fiz have arrived home from their holiday. She's going to check in on Maria and he's ready to talk to her about his guilty conscience but they are interrupted by Kirk running down the stairs in a right state of excitement. He's wearing a bright blue Hawaiian shirt and tells them that Cilla is back with Les and she has sent tickets to South Africa for him, Chesney and Fiz to come for a visit. Fiz immediately assumes Cilla's in some sort of trouble but doesn't think she can drop everything and fly halfway around the world. "Yeah you can, that's what the tickets are for" says our hapless Kirkeh who is giddy with the prospect. Fiz sends John into the kitchen to make bacon sarnies and a cuppa. He looks unsettled at being thwarted in his aim to finally tell Fiz the truth about Rosie.

In the corner shop, Pam wants Molly to go to a Wedding Fayre with her. Molly had had other plans for her afternoon off such as sorting out the airing cupboard to take stock of the sheets. Pam uses all her best arguments. It looks like Molly will probably relent.

Maria is looking over all the calls to and from Carla on the day he died on Liam's phone, at least 15 of them. She questions Tom. Tom prevaricates but it doesn't sound very credible. He says some of the calls were him using Liam's phone, reassuring Carla that nobody was doing anything daft to Tony. She gazes at her wedding photo, crying, while Tom tries to get her to go and get some sleep. For the baby's sake, if nothing else. She does go upstairs, and Fiz rings. Tom tells her that Maria's gone to bed for a sleep so Fiz decides to go see her later.

Next door, Kirk realizes he probably shouldn't go while Maria needs him. Fiz figures Maria would want him to go and there isn't a lot they can do for her right now anyway. John announces he's going to Feed The Cat which elicits a loud sarcastic complaint from Fiz yet again about That Flamin' Cat. (He'd told her that Lloyd had been feeding it while he was away). Fiz wonders if John could come too, they could probably find the money between them all for a ticket. He stutters about not getting anymore time off work which is dismissed summarily (but she didn't think she could take more time off 5 minutes ago!) Someone knocks on the door and it's Eileen who backs up John's excuse by asking him to come to work as they are short handed and have a big job for someone to do, an older couple celebrating an anniversary who want chauffeuring around in the Streetcars' Mercedes. Good job, good tips, could John do it? He tries to get out of it but is persuaded to do it because of the money. Feed the cat later!

Meanwhile Rosie is kicking the door of the room but doesn't get anywhere. She notices a wooden ... chair leg? on the ground and tries to use that. All it really does is give her vent to her frustrations. She gets an idea and starts wielding it like a baseball bat. What does she have in mind, I wonder?

Fiz is doing the washing up and Kirk has brought her in John's keys that Schmeichel had dragged into the yard. Fiz calls John but his phone rings... out in the yard. Another victim of the dog's drooly curiosity.

Norris is furiously and meticulously filling in a form in the Kabin. Molly and Rita are talking weddings. Pam figures she and Molly could get a load of free samples at the Fayre which can keep the wedding costs down. Norris interrupts to get some help with a competition, the prize being a year's supply of soup. He needs a really good answer to "Love is like...." Pam remembers an old Dolly Parton Song, Love is Like a Butterfly. Rita remembers it too and they start singing it, much to Norris' exasperation. Something more original, please. The women chat about music and telly, intent on driving Norris up the wall which it's doing a fair job of doing. At the next chorus of the butterfly song, he gives up, leaving them to giggle.

Eileen is playing Dalek in the cab office (upturning the microphone against her forehead). Typically, she's caught out! (isn't that always the way?) Fiz wants her to contact John through the radio to let him know she's got his keys. He doesn't answer (I must say, I like Eileen's new hair do). When Fiz mentions Lloyd, Eileen informs her that Lloyd's been away all weekend. Horrified, Fiz decides she'd better to the job herself.

After the break, we're in the pub. Becky's come in for a drink. Michelle has got a call from her friend JD who wants her to come sing in a recording session to replace someone that's dropped out. Steve lets her off her shift after she asks Becky to help out and she agrees. Don makes some veiled double entendre aimed at the two of them. Steve is perplexed and Becky is irritated and they both wonder if Dan knows something he shouldn't. And by the way, she's got a court date and he needs to talk to her solicitor.

Norris is still trying to be poetic about love. Love is like Breathing. Love is like a violin. All of which are sarcastically put down by the ever amusing Rita. Emily arrives giving Rita a reprieve from Norris' endless noise. It appears Emily'd already had her fill today of his wondering what love is like. Norris asks her (probably for the 13th time today) what love is like to her. A distant memory, she states categorically, and informs him that a book he'd ordered has arrived. The book is about how to win at competitions authored by America's competition king. He rushes off to get it. "Do you get the feeling this is the start of one of his little "hobbies"?" Rita wonders. Emily, with the line of the day, sighs "I'm afraid I'll have to start eating my meals in my bedroom again!".

Back to Maria, Kirk has come in to check on her. Again. She's getting sick of being asked. He's hurt, he just wants to help and doesn't know what the right thing to say is. She hugs him, knows he really does mean well and assures her she's managing. He tells her about South Africa. The phone rings and Maria takes a call for Liam. She gets upset and Kirk takes the call. It's Ladrags business and the caller asks for Tom or Carla. Maria's radar goes up again and talks to the caller, telling him that Carla is not involved. Now she's suspicious again. He asks her if it's ok if he leaves for SA. She, preoccupied, says of course. When she looks around for Ozzie she realizes he's missing and the door has been left open. They run out.

John is sitting in traffic with an older couple in the back. He explains he'll have to get them another car and driver as he has an appointment. They aren't too pleased about that. He radios in to Eileen to see if there's another driver free. She relays the message that Fiz is going to feed the cat. He blanches and pulls out of traffic for a "short cut". We see Fiz motoring through traffic on her scooter.

Sally is looking at the missing person posters and crying. Kevin has brought some chips but when he realizes she's upset, he goes over to her. She's inconsolable with worry.

Fiz arrives at Gran's while John is speeding down the roads, scaring his passengers who realize he's not even going in the right direction. Squealing through a roundabout, it's clear they're terrified.

Downstairs, Fiz enters and calls for the cat. Rosie has heard the door close (but not Fiz calling for the cat apparently) and jumps up with her stick (looks like a chair leg, maybe) and stands behind the door waiting for "Johnny boy".

We'll just have to wait until next half to find out if John or Fiz is going to be at the receiving end of that makeshift bat.

Tvor

Fizz, who looks gorgeous this week, has entered John's Gran's house, looking for the cat. She calls out to the cat to come and get fed. Meanwhile, Rosie is upstairs, apparently deaf to Fizz's voice, waiting for John behind the door of the attic with a big stick.

Tony Gordon climbs out of his lovely blue Mercedes outside Underworld on the pone to some business colleague. When he finishes that call, he calls Carla. "Hi," he says, leaving a message, "I miss you. Give us a call."

In the background, Maria is madly looking for Ozzie who has gone missing. Kirk is concerned for her and following her, telling her she should be inside where it's warm. Maria is upset that Ozzie has run off and can't imagine what shed do if anything happens to him. She asks Kirk why the business caller she took earlier for Liam would have asked for Carla. Poor Kirk has no idea and goes off to look for the dog. Maria goes to ring Tom.

John is driving furiously to his Gran's house. His passengers are confused as to where he is taking them. John tells them he needs to pop into his Gran's house on the way and he has a genuine emergency. He races off into the traffic as soon as the lights he is stuck at turn green.

Fizz is still looking for the cat. She goes into the kitchen where she notices women's clothing hanging drying over the kitchen chairs.

Tom comes into Maria's house where Maria is waiting for him and gives him the message she took earlier. She wants to know why his business colleague would have asked for Carla. Tom confesses that he went to Carla for some money to help start the business and that he can show her the papers to prove it all. Maria is upset that she was kept in the dark about Carla's involvement and tells Tom that she'll never be able to trust him again. She tells him to leave.

In the Kabin, Jason comes in to buy a chocolate bar and a bag of nuts. Norris tries to talk him into buying a bag of crisps instead. When Jason asks why Norris wants him to buy some crisps, Norris explains about his competitions and how he needs the packets as Proof of Purchase or "pops" as those in know call them. Norris wants to win a Ford Fiesta. Jason offers to buy a bag of crisps from Norris for half price and he will eat the crisps on the spot and give Norris the packet right there and then. Rita puts an end to the madness and sends Jason on his way.

Fizz heads upstairs where she looks feverishly for another woman in all of the bedrooms. There's no-one there but of course, she hasn't gone up into the attic yet.

In the Rovers, Kelly joins Dan (I can't wait to see the back of him, personally. So much promise for a new, attractive male character and they did nothing with him.) for a drink. Dan is needling Steve. Steve whispers to Becky that Dan likely thinks that they are having an affair. He tells Kelly to act casual, stay cool and don't look flustered. "Right," says Becky, "and what are you going to do?" Steve tells her he's going to hide and scarpers. Dan gives Becky a look across the bar and makes Becky look and feel uncomfortable.

Fizz is still looking in John's Gran's house for another woman. She hears a noise coming from upstairs. Rosie is still standing waiting for John with her big stick. Just as Rosie looks like she's going to go up to see what's in the attic, John rushes up the stairs. "Don't go up there!" he shouts. He asks her to come downstairs where he will explain everything.

As Tony Gordon walks into Victoria Court, Leanne walks out. He asks her if she's abandoning her post. Leanne tells him that there's nothing going on and nobody wants to buy the luxury flats. Tony says he's going to reduce the price to generate more interest. Maria comes over to have a word with Leanne in private and then realises she should probably talk to Tony as well. Leanne tells Maria she can't talk and practically runs away from the awkward situation. Maria tells Tony about all the calls between Liam and Maria and just comes out and asks him, "Do you think something might have been going on?" Tony is stony faced.

At John's Gran's house, John says, "I've done a terrible thing, Fizz." He confesses there is no cat and that he's been lying to her. He tells her that he tried to own up to this secret so many time but could never find the right time. He swears that he doesn't have another woman on the go and he tells her he would never cheat on her ever again. When Fizz asks him who the women's clothes belong to he admits to her he has abducted Rosie Webster and she is locked upstairs in the attic. Fizz is suitably shocked.

Steve is in the living room at the Rovers, biting his nails. Becky comes in and Steve demands to know what Dan has said to her. They both think that Dan must have seen them snogging as Hooch drove past them. Steve is very upset that he could lose everything if they are found out, especially since he isn't even "getting his leg over." Becky asks if she's supposed to be sleeping with him but Steve says of course she isn't. Becky can't see what harm it will cause if Dan does blab because they aren't actually having an affair but Steve insists that from now on they keep away from each other and that Becky has to flit with other men at the bar to put Dan off the scent. Becky actually looks a little sad.

Fizz is astounded that John has kidnapped Rosie and she insists that John let her go. She can't believe that John would have lied so bold-faced to Sally and Kevin and helped to look for Rosie, not to mention how he lied to her. John tells her he was in such a dark place the night he took Rosie. He says he'd lost the woman and the job that he loved and when he came back to Weatherfield, Rosie just seemed to be carrying on with her life like nothing had ever happened. Fizz reminds John that it wasn't just Rosie that had the affair. He tells Fizz that when he thought that he'd lost Fizz for ever he grabbed Rosie and put her in the car to teach her a lesson. He says he regretted it the minute he did it and he left her to sober up, thinking it would do her some good to wake up and not know where she was. Nothing he is saying makes sense to Fizz though. She says she's hated her mother, for instance, and wanted to kill her but she could never do something like John has done to Rosie. No sane person would. John explains that he wanted to let Rosie go but then Fizz told him that she wanted them to get back together and he knew as soon as he let her go that it would be all over between them.

In the Kabin, Rita is telling Norris that his competitioning is getting beyond a joke and is getting on her nerves and it needs to stop. She insists it stops. Norris is not going to stop it quite yet though and despite Rita's protests asks Tyrone about how many bars of chocolate could fit into the boot of a Skoda Fabia (?) Tyrone just looks at him all confused.

Maria has gone back to Maria's to talk about Liam and Carla. He reassures Maria that even though Carla and Liam had an attraction between them and each thought that the other was besotted, that they weren't having an affair. He tells Maria that Liam worshipped Maria . Maria feels like she's betraying Liam's memory now.

Back with John and Fizz, John tells Fizz that the last few weeks have been the happiest of his life and that kidnapping Rosie was just a moment of madness that they can move on from. Fizz can't believe that her boyfriend has abducted a teenage girls and held her against her will and that John thinks they can still work things out between them. She urges him to let "the poor lass" go. As if Rosie Webster has ever been a poor lass. She asks John if he is definitely telling her everything and asks if he has hurt Rosie. John is hurt that Fizz would think him capable of hurting Rosie but Fizz reminds him, "I don't know what you're capable of!" John tells Fizz to go home but Fizz wants to see for herself that Rosie is safe and well and tells John that after he lets Rosie go, he has to call the police.

Michelle returns to the Rovers with JD. Becky introduces herself to JD as BG, in an effort to flirt with other men and drapes herself all over him. In a booth, Tyrone, Molly and Auntie Pam are talking about the wedding fair they went to. Auntie Pam has been telling some whoppers to get special treatment, telling the various wedding businesses that Molly is a peer of the realm or something, is engaged to Lord Dobbs and getting married in Westminster Abbey and the like. Molly mentions that some places were offering horse-drawn carriages for weddings. Tyrone says he knows a rag & bone man with a horse if that's what Molly likes. Auntie Pam just rolls her eyes at him. At the bar, Becky is still flirting something shocking with JD. Kelly sees them and goes to tell Dan that she doesn't know what he thought he saw but Becky is all over JD and Steve doesn't even seem to mind. Back with Tyrone & co., Molly says she doesn't feel well and gets up from the table. When she is gone, Auntie Pam tells Tyrone she took the liberty of booking the dove, harpist and horse-drawn carriage. Tyrone is horrified at the thought of the cost. Auntie Pam insists that she'll get a discount, "on account of me being aristocracy."

At John's Gran's house, John gingerly opens the door to the attic. He looks inside but Rosie is nowhere to be seen. He sees the broken skylight window, Just as he least expects it, Rosie comes screaming out of the en suite bathroom, whacks him a beauty with her big stick sending him flying and unconscious onto the bed, pushes past Fizz and runs through the house to escape. Fizz runs after her.

Stella McLoughlin

We open with Rosie making her escape from John's granny's house, running past the bewildered looking couple that John has left waiting outside. They are even more bewildered when Fizz rushes past them, in hot pursuit of Rosie, calling to her that it's all right. Rosie, however, is not in the mood to trust anybody and picks up a branch and holds it threateningly in front of her. "Keep away from me, don't come any closer!" she snarls. Fizz, upset, tearfully tells her she doesn't want to hurt her. "I didn't know, he's only just told me. I'm sorry," she says, and then adds that she wants to help her and holds her arms out to her. Rosie then collapses into Fizz's arms and cries that she thought she was never going to get out of there. John's elderly passenger takes off his jacket and puts it round her, asking what's going on. "I wish I knew, mate," says Fizz.

Meanwhile, back at the Webster's, Sophie is opening her birthday cards. In the envelope from her parents she finds the card still with it's price tag on, and twenty-five pounds in cash. Sally is upset and tells her she's sorry, they've really short-changed her this birthday. Kevin adds that they'll make it up to her. Sophie tells them it's all right, the last thing she wants to do at the moment is to celebrate.

Just then the phone rings and Sally goes to answer it. She cries, "Rosie? Rosie! Oh my God, I can't believe it, are you all right?" Kevin and Sophie run over to Sally as she asks where Rosie is and says they'll come and get her.

Tom has found Ozzy on the Red Rec and taken him back to Maria, who's delighted.

Back at the cottage, Rosie is a bit worried that she may have killed John and tells Fizz she hit him really hard. Fizz tells her not to worry and that the police will sort him out. Just then a dazed looking John emerges from the house. The old man warns him not to try anything, adding that he runs the Tai Chi down at the day centre. "So think on," he says. John ignores him and goes towards Fizz who shouts at him not to come any closer. "Look, Fizz, I know this looks bad," he says. She tells him he's not kidding and waves the branch at him. "One more step and I won't be responsible," she says. He tells her that he never intended any of it and things just got out of hand. Just then there's the sound of sirens. "You called the police?" he asks, amazed. She reminds him that he kidnapped someone. "What did you expect me to do?" she asks. As the police cars stop Rosie runs over to them, saying, "That's him, over there!" John turns to Fizz, "At least tell me you don't hate me," he pleads, but she just stares at him.

In the Barlow household, little Simon is watching Postman Pat on tv. Blanche, as caustic as ever, tells him to remember it's a work of fiction and the real postman turns up around noon and if he's not scattering elastic bands about he'll be rifling through Simon's birthday cards for cash. Ken suggests they have a little fireworks party in the evening and Peter thinks that's a good idea. He says he'll go to town and buy some.

The police officer tells Rosie that the forensics team will go over the room she was kept in, and another policeman takes statements from Fizz and the elderly couple. Just then Kevin and Sally drive up. They leap out of the car and hug their daughter. Sally sobs, "We thought we'd lost you."

Back at Maria's, Tom is assuring Maria that Liam didn't have anything to do with Carla putting money into their business and was actually furious with him. He explains that the bank wouldn't lend him the money he needed and he didn't want to lose the American Booty deal. He says Liam knew it would upset her. "I think he'd sooner have seen the business go belly up, that's how much you meant to him," he tells her.

Back at the cottage, Kevin is furiously telling the policeman that John came to their house and saw Sally and Sophie in bits over Rosie's disappearance and then pretended to help them. John is then led, handcuffed, to a police car. Kevin lunges at him, shouting that he's going to kill him, no matter how long he's inside, he'll be waiting. DC Timmins pulls on his arm and tells him she'll pretend she didn't hear that, and adds that they need to get Rosie to hospital.

Sally goes over to Fizz and hisses, "Did you know about this?" Tearfully Fizz explains that she phoned the police. "And you expect me to be grateful?" snaps Sally, "you bring that man back into our lives again and you expect me to believe you had no idea?" And with that she turns and gets into the ambulance, leaving Fizz crying.

Hooch walks into the Rovers and tells Becky he'll have a pint and a confession. She tells him the confession is off. JD, Michelle's singing partner says something to her about being single and she snaps at him. After he's left, Michelle turns to Steve and tells him JD is all right, and she doesn't know why Becky is being so fussy. She then tells Becky she was a bit sharp, but Becky replies that JD isn't her type.

The Websters arrive back in the Street and Sophie rushes out and hugs Rosie. She says how happy she is to see her and how much she's missed her. Rosie wishes her a happy birthday and says she's sorry she hasn't got her a present. "Yeah, any excuse!" jokes Sophie.

Sean comes out of the Kabin and his mouth drops open when he sees that Rosie is back, and rushes off to spread the news.

In the Barlow's back room, Ken is trying to keep Simon amused with the true story of Guy Fawkes which was over 400 years ago. Blanche remarks that that's about the same time that Peter went to get the fireworks.

Chesney is off to a fireworks display and Julie makes him wear a hat in case of a shower of hot ashes. Just then Fizz walks in and Chesney asks where she's been, saying that they were going to go without her. Fizz tells him that she's not going. Julie asks what's wrong and Fizz breaks down. "It's John, I can't believe what he's done!" she says tearfully.

In the Rovers, Steve and Becky are trying to make their ‘romance' look as convincing as possible. Hooch tells them not to bother on his account, but to save it for court. He tells them not to bother booking any holidays for some time, and then smiles and leaves.

DC Timmins tells the Websters that John will be held in custody and she thinks they have enough evidence to charge him. After she's gone, Kevin asks Rosie if she told the police everything that happened after John put her in his car. Rosie however, doesn't want to talk about it and asks if she can go and have a bath. As she goes upstairs Sally tells Kevin not to push her, they both want to know what didn't happen, but she'll talk when she's ready.

Peter still hasn't returned to the Barlows, so Ken goes and gets some fireworks from the Kabin. He takes Peter and lets them off in the back yard. Eventually, Peter appears, holding boxes of fireworks. Ken asks where he's been but then says, "No need to ask. Who was it this time? Johnnie Walker? Jack Daniels?" Peter admits he lost track of time, but says he's there now and it's only 8 o'clock. Ken points out that a five year old boy needs his sleep. Peter moans that the fireworks cost him an arm and a leg, but Ken dryly remarks that they probably would if they let them off there, as they're display ones. Peter throws the boxes down and storms off.

John is at the police station, locked up in a cell.

Back in Coronation Street, Fizz stands out in the back yard and looks miserable as fireworks can be heard in the distance.

Sally tucks Rosie into bed and says she wants to make sure everything is all right. Rosie tells her it is, she's there. Sally asks if Rosie was able to tell the police everything. Rosie says she did, and assures Sally that John never touched her. Sally smiles and says she won't mention it again. Then Rosie asks her mum if she'll stay with her until she drops off and so Sally lies down beside her and cuddles up close.

Anne Logan

Welcome to that chilly pre-Christmas season, when all the retailers are bedecking their halls with fairy lights and the rest of us are still crying, "Bah! It's only November!" So here we go with the first episode for Friday night.

At breakfast, Sally says it feels as if she's been holding her breath for the whole time Rosie was away. Kevin wonders how long it will take Rosie to get back to her old self. (Me, I'm expecting Rosie to play it for as long as possible!) Sally tells him not to push Rosie too hard. Sophie comes down, prepared to get a breakfast tray together for Rosie and she and Sally have a little argument over who should do it. Sophie wins, because she's going to be at school all day. Kevin says Sally should make the most of it, because the girls will be at each others' throats soon enough.

In the Barlows' living room, Simon watches television while Peter lies on the sofa. Neither responds when Ken talks to them. He turns the TV off and shouts at Peter to get up.

Sophie delivers Rosie's breakfast - which contains a necklace she's bought Rosie with her breakfast money. They agree they missed each other. Sophie explains she was angry at all the fuss because she was sure Rosie had just run away. Rosie says she knew about the postcard. Sophie hugs her and says she wouldn't have done that if she'd realised.

Fiz telephones the police station, wanting to go and see John. Or it might be the remand prison. Anyway, she wants to see John and is told to call back. Julie is very understanding as Fiz weeps and says she's been such a fool. Julie reassures her that Sally knows Fiz had nothing to do with it. Kirk says he'll sort out anyone who upsets Fiz.

Ken doesn't want to keep repeating himself, but he says nothing seems to be sinking in. Peter needs to decide when he's going back to Portsmouth and to enroll Simon in school. If he can't change his hours to suit, which Peter says he can't, then he has to get a list of registered childminders and nurseries. Peter makes a sarcastic comment about whether he can afford all that, but Ken tells him there are other single parents out there. "If you just get a few basics sorted out now, you could have a good life together."

Fiz knocks on the Websters' door. Sally is annoyed that she presumes to be there. Fiz apologises, asks after Rosie and is in tears as she tells Sally she knew nothing about what was going on. "I can't believe you had the nerve to come over here," Sally says. Fiz reiterates that she had nothing to do with it. "He's your boyfriend," Sally says. "Your sick boyfriend." She tells Fiz to go away because she doesn't want Rosie upset again.

Janice, suited and booted, is in the cafe with Leanne reassuring her that she looks respectable enough for work. "I shouldn't wear this to work, really," says Janice. "But I daren't ask for an early lunch so I can get changed." Leanne tries to calm her down, promising to stay with her in court. She says the judge will have seen all sorts, so it won't be a big deal to them.

In the factory, Sean tells the other machinists about Rosie arriving home in a police car. "Fiz's fella kept her, tied up, in a wheelie bin, for all this time," he explains. Kelly and Wiki and a non-speaking extra are astounded. They're just discussing Fiz's involvement when they're interrupted by an angry Julie, who protests Fiz's innocence and tells them Sean doesn't know what he's talking about.

Sally is appalled by some of the clothing Rosie has brought home. She explains that John just bought her what she needed. Kevin wants to throw out all of it. He doesn't want anything associated with John Stape in the house. Rosie patiently explains that there wasn't anything purvy about it. "I want nothing from that madman in my house!" Rosie says he's not mad, just lost. "All he talked about was flamin' Fiz! He was just desperate. He knew that when I came home that would be the end of him and Fiz."

Tony is in the factory office with a man who has short hair, glasses and a suit - this is soapland shorthand for Accountant. He tells Tony that once the overdraft limit is exceeded, all sorts of charges and penalties will kick in. The accountant doubts Tony will be able to refinance. He's up to his neck in debt already, with all the overheads of the factory the flats haven't sold. Though there is a prospective buyer coming to look at the flats, possibly hoping to do a deal for four of them. "If I can sell four of them, I'm home and dried," Tony says. "Mmm. You'll be able to meet your tax bill, at least," says the accountant. Sean knocks and annoys Tony by interrupting to say that Sally has sent a text to say she won't be in today. Tony's annoyance subsides when Sean explains that Rosie's back. He gets rid of Giles (the accountant) and asks Sean whether Rosie is all right. Sean says she seemed okay and Tony heads off, leaving Julie in charge.

In the garage, Auntie Pam explains to Tyrone about the finer points of the horse and carriage she plans to organise for the wedding. "And they put ribbons on the horse's bits," she tells him. "Bit," corrects Tyrone. "His bits are something different." Molly arrives and offers to take him to Roy's Rolls. Tyrone can't get away but promises to buy her dinner there.

Tony, laden with a huge bouquet, arrives at the Websters' and gets quite different reception. He says he and Carla think a lot of Rosie, and of Sally. Kevin is quite brusque and says Rosie isn't up to it, but Rosie comes out and greets him enthusiastically. She takes Tony inside.

Simon's painting and explaining the finer points of colour mixing to Peter. Ken arrives in, bringing Ashley and Joshua with him. Ken suggests Simon have a game of footie with Josh. He tells Peter to stay home. Ashley comments that Peter hardly looks fit enough to get up, let alone run around. Ken tells Peter it will giving him a chance to make those phone calls.

Tony's telling Rosie that he and Carla haven't married yet and she's not missed the wedding. "Have you told anyone about the video? The police?" he asks. Rosie assures him she hasn't said anything to anyone. Tony says he's worried about Maria. Rosie says the police are more interested in John Stape. "Anyway, you've still got my phone," she says. Tony says he chucked it. It was the only way to make sure nobody else found out about the video. Rosie is angry he didn't keep her SIM card. "It's got all my numbers!" she hisses. Sally is arranging the flowers in a vase but apparently can't quite hear what they're saying. Tony promises Rosie any kind of phone she wants. "But this cuts both ways. The only way to get on in management is to prove you can keep a secret," he says. Sally's head turns as he says it. How much has she heard?

In the factory, the others ask Janice if she thinks her suit will get her off. Wiki wants to talk to the judge to explain what the theft meant to them. Kelly says judges don't have to scrimp and save for a week away. "Ten pounds. Ten thousand pounds," says Wiki. "What hurts is that your friends meant nothing to you." Leanne leads Janice away. Tony stops her and asks whether she's heard from Carla. Leanne has, though Tony says he has not been able to get through. He asks Leanne to come to the viewing of the flat, but she refuses because she'll be supporting Janice.

Sally serves up lunch and cross-examines Rosie about Tony's visit. She thinks it seemed very intense. "What was he saying about a secret?" Sally tells her she shouldn't feel pressured to keep a secret. She wonders whether it's got something to do with the day Rosie went missing. She finally gets Rosie to tell her what the secret is. Rosie tells her about the video. Sally says she can hardly believe it, because Carla and Liam barely got on. Rosie says she can prove it. On her computer at work is a file called "Rosie's insurance".

Blanche arrives in the living room and taunts Peter. "What? No manic cartoons? All garish colours and American accents? You must have got rid of that poor little son of yours." The shot switches to Peter, lying on the sofa and counting under his breath: "four, five, six . . ." "You're not heading for Portsmouth yet, then?" she asks. "Yes," says Peter. "I'm in the outside lane of the M6 heading south. Oh, look, there's the turnoff for Birmingham." Blanche says that what upsets her is that if he got his finger out, he could have Simon in school by Christmas, in time for all the parties. "But no. You're too busy pickling your liver and feeling sorry for yourself." Peter waits for her to leave the room, then sits up and reaches for the phone.

At the garage, Molly tries to hurry Tyrone because she's only got half an hour for lunch. She's a bit fed up when Pam arrives, again. But Pam's not stopping. She tells them she's got a table booked for dinner for them at a high-class restaurant - free! Tyrone asks how that's happened and she tells him, "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies." "Proper dinner?" asks Molly. "No," says Pam. "A bowl of porridge and a packet of crisps." She rushes away.

Detective Constable Timmins arrives to see Fiz.

Tony's showing a man around the flats, together with accountant Giles. The buyer offers ten per cent less than what they want. The accountant tries to make Tony realise that it deserves consideration, but he says he's not that desperate yet.

Fiz is getting into a police car, seen by the factory workers and Sally. Julie rushes over to see whether she's all right and whether she's being arrested. A tearful Fiz looks confused and broken. Despite Julie's protests, the car drives off. "They've arrested her!" gasps Sean to Sally. "She must have been in it all along, Sal!"

The End.
Stand by for a nicely browned second episode report from Mr Whitbread, back from his week in the sun.

Margaret Carr

I was not back from Tenerife at the expected time, the monarch A380 which was supposed to bring us back was apparently not well and they turned out a couple of 757s to bring us back. But this led to some delays and in consequence I should like to thank itv.com for their website for providing the source material (I did see one of the weekend omnibus editions but was unable to take notes at the time).

So the police want to question Fiz on how much she had helped John with his imprisonment of Rosie. Eventually the interview starts. Fiz tells the truth and can hardly believe that she is being accused of helping John. She is very tough on Fiz as the interview continues.

There is a discussion in progress at the factory as they discuss crimes of passion. Polish Wiki opines that a crime of passion is pouring boiling pig's fat on your husband's private parts because he made love to your best friend and Julie asks if there is anything she would like to share! However Sally arrives and the question remains unanswered. She knows what they have been discussing and ask Sally for details. She hears that Tony is out and gets some of Rosie's things from the office. Apparently Sally can use a computer and quickly finds the "insurance" folder to which Rosie referred and copies it to a memory stick. She only just manages the transfer before Tony returns and wants to know what Sally is doing. However Windows makes the usual sound when hardware is removed so Tony knows something has been going on and once Sally has gone he goes to look at the PC.

In the Rovers Ashley seeks to re-assure Peter that he is capable of looking after his son - he had found it hard in the early days with Joshua. Ashley knows it will take Peter some time to adjust but he would soon be fine.

Once home Sal finds an enormous laptop with Rosie and they look at the rescued file with Kev. He sighs on watching the kiss between Liam and Carla and he tells them it is none of their business - they should get rid of it and forget they have ever seen it. Somehow I doubt that Sally and Rosie are likely to do that.

Maria has been told that Fiz is being interviewed and asks LLoyd to take her to the police station. They both head off to see if they can provide support.

At the police station Fiz is still being questioned. What about his continuing disappearing act? Fiz referred to the mythical cat and how it sounds stupid now. After all John was such a sweet good natured individual - which as the policewoman points out kept a girl locked up for five weeks in fear for her life. Fiz breaks down in tears and this seems to finally convince the law that she has been telling the truth. Fiz says she wants to see John - but he is still being questioned. The policewoman offers to arrange contact later once it was possible.

Ken has had a phone call from Bessie Street primary - apparently he has asked about enrolling Simon - and Ken is excited as he tells Blanche who takes a rather different view - Peter being lazy would appreciate the family support which would be available.

Fiz emerges and is very pleased to find Maria waiting with Lloyd. They hug and Maria says they must get home.

And Janice is still free as she and Leanne return to the Street - apparently the judge was almost laughable. Maria is returning at this point and Peter sees her and says he wants to explain about the last time he was around. Maria is not in the mood for an explanation and Janice and Leanne grab Peter's arms and walk him to the Rovers, rather surprised that the mouth of the Mersey - Blanche - has not already told him of recent events. In the Rovers they explain to Peter about the last few months and Peter observes that he is not surprised that Maria did not want to hear his apology. He actually thought he was losing his touch!

Ty and Molly are about to go out when Pam bursts through the back door and insists on joining them. Molly is not amused. All becomes clear at the end of the meal when they are asked if they enjoyed it all. Pam is conning the restaurant into providing a free meal in the hope of a wedding booking for a reception for 200 - after all money is no object. Molly knew it was all too good to be true and says so before storming off into the night. The manager returns and asks if there is a problem. Pam thinking quickly accuses Ty of being a love rat - he has been two timing Molly with Bertha Bloodnok from the abattoir and tells Ty to get after Molly rather than sitting there like a pillock. They leave the restaurant at high speed.

Maria and Fiz are catching up when the police phone - Fiz can go and see John - Maria cannot understand why but Fiz wants closure and he will be gone a long time and she needs to make sense of what he has done.

Janice decides to face the rest of the factory girls. Apparently she has been given Community Service in the light of her confession and handing over most of the money. The girls exchange words - Wiki feels it is not punishment enough but Sean implies it is not worth them wasting time on it.

Tony has a new friend - Giles - whom I assume is his accountant. Apparently the bank want their interest payment (what in used fivers? - normally they would just debit the bank account and they levy extra charges for exceeding the agreed overdraft limit). Apparently there is some money in the Underworld wages account and this Tony forges Carla's signature to transfer to one of his other business accounts. Giles strongly advises against such action and then denies seeing it once the signed cheque for ten grand is passed over.

Peter has returned to number one and is rapidly packing when Ken returns and asks if he has had the good news about the place at Bessie Street primary. Peter however has also made a decision - he is not cut out to be a parent and Simon is better off without him. Blanche emerges from the kitchen and tells Peter that he is spineless. The poor lad has lost his mother and now his own father is running away from him. If he was a puppy Peter could have him put down. Ken tries to grab his bag to stop him leaving - and then adds that if Peter is there or in Portsmouth then Simon is going to be with him.

Fiz has finally got to see John. She wants to know how far he would have gone with Rosie. He said that the day she was released that would have happened anyway. But Fiz does not believe him - another day, a week, then a month and it would be a year would have gone by. John said no - the holiday was the end for them and he had made his mind up. He tells her he loves her and that she has no idea how much he adores her. She asks if he would have killed to keep her - what if Fiz had proposed? He claims she is making him out to be a monster - he never laid a finger on her. Fiz gets up to go - but John tells her not to go. Fiz breaks - she loves him, really loves him. John the former teacher notes the use of the present tense - which means that there is hope for him yet, but he just made a bad mistake and he hopes with time she will be able to forgive him. But Fiz does not believe that is possible - she needs to take care of herself and to be sure that he will never hurt her again - he begs for another chance but she departs in tears.

Outside in the dark Fiz crumples and cries for herself - how would she recover from John having broken her heart twice.

Hint - go to South Africa to see your mother!

And is Peter off already? I am not so sure. And will the insurance policy ever be needed? And just how is Tony going to pay those factory girls

All this and much more in forthcoming updates!
K Richard W

Morning in the Barlow residence and Peter has evidently had another night in the bottle and fag packet, as he's coughing up a lung as he enters. Ken is on the floor with Simon and Blanche is at the table. Peter is looking for Deirdre's "emergency" cigs and Ken gives him hell for his lack of parental responsibilities. Peter doesn't see the problem, Ken was up early with Simon and he's fine in front of the telly isn't he? Ken sputters, Blanche utters a few sarcastic remarks, you know the drill. Peter counters with a few veiled remarks about Ken's failed book and the shenanigans that went on over that, courtesy of Blanche's loose tongue. Ken informs Peter he had better either bog off to Portsmouth or find somewhere to live here, but either way, Simon is going with him. He slopes off but Peter, needing a nicotine hit, asks Blanche to keep an eye on the lad for him. (in one ear and out the other, apparently)

(I have to digress here for a minute. I seem to have downloaded a version that has vocal descriptions for the sight impaired and the woman doing the voiceover must fancy Peter because she's just said "A thoughtful Peter, muscular and tattooed, .... " *snort*)

We shift to the Webster house. Sally is getting her makeup on and getting ready for work. They discuss Rosie, Sally hoping she'll be ok but Kevin realizes that Rosie isn't as calm as she lets on. She'll be home on her own so Sally instructs her to keep the doors locked and only answer the door if she knows who it is. (That's right, lock up your daughter who's been locked up for 5 weeks. That's going to make her feel secure! I don't think!) Rosie thinks she'll be ok but Sally plans to pop in and check on her anyway. Kevin assures her that she's safe. He and Sally leave but Rosie still looks anxious, on her own.

Across the road, Fiz is taking yet another call from John and trying to get him to understand that she no longer wants to hear from him and she hangs up.

Outside, Peter steps out to get the milk just as Dan walks by. He's off to the bank to see if he can get a loan and they chat about the bookmaking business that they have in common while Leanne watches from across the road. Dan mentions he's thinking of selling up (hang on, he never did buy it from Harry, did he? Leanne couldn't give him that cash after all) They shake hands, introducing themselves and saying goodbye at the same time. Peter goes back in and Kelly comes tottering along. Sounds like they're having a holiday together though she's paying her own way to Aya Napa. She's going to pack books, he looks as if he doesn't know what one is. She heads off to work with an excited kiss goodbye and he wipes the lippy off his cheek and heads back to work himself. Something tells me he's not all that excited about a trip to the sun and sand with a long leggy lady. Odd, that.

The worker bees are taking the mick as usual. Sean's query to Tony as to whether he prefers satin or silk (or challenging steel) gets an unexpected answer... cotton! Kelly rushes in late but even that doesn't get her a rollocking from Tony who unseriously threatens her with the stocks next time. He must be in a good mood today! Sean reckons it's because Kelly has better legs than him! Even Sally remarks on Tony's uncharacteristically good mood. Kelly tells the others she thought she'd had the wrong bank card because there was no money in the account. Sally says their wages don't usually clear the bank until lunch time, that'll be it. Julie remarks that Kirk and Chesney go to South Africa today (Just in time for the spinoff dvd!) Tony returns to crack the whip and settle them down to work.

Over at Platt Manor, David comes in and overhears Tina telling someone on the phone that "he's absolutely gorgeous!". You know our David, his jealousy lives on the edge of his sanity as it is. Tina hangs up the phone and greets him joyfully. He's apparently been to London and she's very glad to see him back. He's more interested in hearing who she thinks is gorgeous and it turns out to be the new fella of a friend of hers. He immediately suspects she fancies him but she has no time for that. Objective opinion, is her explanation, now come here and kiss me! Oh well, if I must! She makes him feel better and then wants to know what Ted's house is like.

Chesney is packing in the living room (why does everyone, and I do mean Every. One. Always carry all their stuff downstairs and pack in the living rooms on Corrie?) He looks for the sun cream. Kirk has only got Factor 5 and 10, neither of which will do Chesney's fair skin any good. "I'll whizz up into the air like a bit of paper off a bonfire" he says. Kirk looks befuddled as per usual.

Peter is now finally dressed and oversees Simon who is doing a puzzle at the table. Everyone else seems to have cleared off. He's not very successful in drawing any response at all out of the lad who just looks at him blankly rather than answer any of his questions. It's odd, really, normally the little fellow his chirpy and responsive so you can tell the actor has been told not to say anything. Peter decides to get a bit of relief and says he's going to go to the shop and promises to bring back a lollypop.

Outside, Leanne ducks out of the salon, her hair wet and obviously in the middle of having her tresses done. She's seen Janice come by, obviously has been watching for her and she gets Janice to go into the salon to find out how she got on. We see Peter come out of Number 1 behind them and crosses the road. Tony pulls up and is on the phone to his accountant. Things don't sound all that promising. They make a date for lunch and keeps driving (yes he was using the headset!).

Peter is in the Kabin looking at kids' toys but can't decide what he should get and looks frustrated and fed up.

Over at the Platts', David is on the phone to someone and, pausing by the stairs so that Tina can hear, tells the person on the other end "She's absolutely gorgeous". Doh. Tina comes downstairs. Turns out the person on the phone was David's ex-cellmate Graeme who's been released from the detention centre and was touching base. He's coming over later! Tina is far less than impressed.

Simon is aimlessly playing with a truck when Ken gets home. Ken realizes quickly that Peter isn't there. Peter comes out of the Kabin and sees Leanne coming along. They stop and chat. Leanne mentions that she didn't realize he had a child but is sorry about Simon's mother. She asks how the little fellow is coping. Peter doesn't seem to know and when asked how he's coping, he's glib in reply. They have a little flirt and she gets on her way, he watching her go with appreciation.

Julie is hugging Kirk goodbye, and worrying about him finding someone else while he's on holiday. After all, that's how they met, on holiday! She knows, she's seen how girls look at him. Chesney agrees, it's true! He saw some girls in the Arndale center looking at him and giggling recently. Behind them, we can see Sally is visiting Fiz. She wants to know what the police were trying to find out from her. The usual, Fiz explains, i.e. how could she have not known. She repeats to Sally that she had nothing to do with it and the police believed her. She's just devastated it all happened. Sally looks somewhat dubious.

Ken is playing with Simon, waiting for Peter's return. He opens the door, hearing someone, but it's only Blanche.

Rosie has come to the garage in a panic, spooked by some noise or other in the house. The wind seems to have caught a door which slammed and knocked a photo off the wall and scared her. Sally comes out and gathers her daughter in a reassuring hug. Sally tells Kevin that Fiz says she had nothing to do with it all and Rosie agrees, she didn't. Sally isn't sure but Kevin can see reason. Fiz just wouldn't put up with that sort of nonsense.

In the factory, Vikki tells the others that their pay hasn't cleared yet. The workers are alarmed. Janice sits down to another cold shoulder or two and a bit of abuse from Kelly.

Peter finally gets home to Blanche and Ken's sharp tongues. Peter is sarcastic and refers to Ken's proclivity for abandoning his own children. Ken, naturally, takes offence. Peter drags it all up, where's Daniel? Susan? (Ken gets really angry at the mention of his deceased daughter) but oh, Tracy turned out all right, didn't she? Peter is very definitely asking for it. Ken, to his credit, doesn't pop Peter one though is very close to striking Peter and tells him so. In those words. Yes that's so threatening. Peter and Ken trade words in a run up to what would probably be a physical confrontation but Blanche keeps interrupting and saying that Simon wants to say something. When the little lad finally gets to say something he asks "can I have my lolly, please?" Oh crap. Peter realizes he's forgot it.

David's mate, Graeme arrives with kit bag in hand. The boys are happy to see each other and go through the motions of an extended hand shake/high five, pirouette. Tina glowers on the settee. They are introduced and she declines to shake hands. Graeme is looking for a place to crash as he's already had a row with his mother. David figures Gail will be ok with it. (ya think?) They continue a conversation they must have started earlier. David has saved 300 quid towards a car and it seems Graeme is going to help him look for one. Tina doesn't trust him.

Over at Underworld, everyone is griping about not getting paid. Janice remembers the Baldwin era of cash in pay packets. No messing about with banks then. The lottery money won't be distributed to the rightful winners until the police finish their investigations (and where Janice was part of the original lottery pool, can she legally claim a share or will her prosecution nullify that? Ok, morally she shouldn't and the others certainly won't let her for sure). Sean asks Janice what her community service is. Twenty hours in the hospital cafeteria. Janice apologizes yet again, and stalks away from her former friends. Sean seems more inclined to be sympathetic "She might be a wrong'un but she's our wrong'un"

Fiz is home. Her phone rings but when she looks at it, it's clear it must be John again and she doesn't answer it. (Can't you block numbers?) The phone keeps ringing and she resists answering.

Ken comes out the back where Peter is smoking. Ken seems more apologetic but tries to tell what his thinks is a funny story that ends in him having called Amy a cliche. Peter doesn't get it. I have a pretty good sense of humour and it didn't make me laugh either. I guess you had to be there. The two men are awkward. Ken tries to get him to realize that it doesn't matter how many mistakes he or Peter have made, Simon needs him and yes, it's a huge responsibility but nothing is more important and nothing is more loved than your children. Peter looks a bit hang dog at that, at least. Blanche is peeking out of the door to tell them that there's a social worker at the house. Peter can hardly meet Ken's eyes and Ken realizes that Peter has called them. "I can't do it" he admits.

Come back in a half hour to find out what happens. Will Peter send Simon away? Will Ken take Simon off Peter without discussing it with the absent Deirdre? Stay tuned!

Tvor

A social worker turns up at Ken's house to see Peter. Ken is horrified. The social worker can sense the tension and asks if it's a bad time but Peter just brings her into the house to commence with the business of having his son adopted out.

Leanne sees Tony in the street and asks about the progress on selling the luxury flats. Tony says they're still negotiating but the buyers are haggling on the price. Leanne says that once the market picks up, he'll get top whack for them but we all know that Tony can't wait for the market to pick up.

In Underworld, the machinists are all complaining about not getting paid. They talk about withdrawing their labour until their wages come through. Julie gets on the blowers to Tony who, unbeknownst to her, is coming in to the factory. Tony tells her that he doesn't know what the problem. She repeats this to the girls and then adds that she thinks he is lying. Tony frightens the bejeezus out of her by telling her over their shoulder, "I'm not!" He asks them about now being paid and tells them that it's all a complete mystery to him and he'll will go and sort it out.

In Ken's house, the social worker can see the family need time to talk and asks to use the toilet. While she goes upstairs, Blanche tells Peter that of all the times she's been ashamed of the this family, never was she more ashamed than now. |I'm worse than a murderer?" asks Peter, making a very god point. He also tells them that all he is trying to do is give Simon a better life than he can give him and makes another good point that both Blanche and Ken think he is a rubbish father anyway.

Joe turns up at Gail's house. Blah blah blah, have to keep their relationship a secret. Bored with that now. They kiss. Joe reminds Gail that she didn't want David to know that they're together until David had a job so he gave David a job and she still won't tell him. Gail makes the point that that David and Tina probably couldn't handle the thought that their parents had a love life at all never mind with each other's parents and they might be traumatised by it. Joe says she makes a good point. So good points all round then. Gail tells Joe that she had a thought she might want some wardrobes fitted in her bedroom. Hint hint! They go upstairs for some old people's rumpeh pumpeh!

Peter is telling Rachel the social worker about the history of the relationship between him and Simon. He tells her that child care would be difficult and Deirdre, Blanche and Ken have enough on their plates already. He wants Simon to go to a couple who would be able to look after him properly. Rachel asks Peter if he's absolutely sure that if he gives Simon up now, he won't regret it in the future. Simon has a good think.

In Roy's cafe, Ken and Blanche are chatting. Roy asks Blanche how Deirdre is going on in Lourdes and mentions that Hayley is coming home from Africa soon. He wants to welcome Hayley home properly and is trying to plan it to perfection for her, probably with a hot bath. Roy goes about his business. Blanche remarks that at least Hayley will get a good welcome home with a hot bath and not a strange child to look after. Blanche doesn't think that Peter giving Simon up for adoption is too bad a thing since he's "about as cut out for fatherhood as I am for rugby league". Ken can't bear the thought of his grandson being whisked off into the arms of strangers. He reminds her that this was never even thought of for Amy and she only had the same support as Simon. He thinks Peter just needs a bit of time to come round. "And what happens to m'laddo, in the meantime?" asks Blanche? Ken says that he and Deirdre will help out. Blanche tells him that he's making a lot of decisions for other people and she hopes that they're the right ones.

The machinists are all worried about their wages and have their doubts about whether or not Tony has it all under control;. They remind themselves that if Underworld goes belly-up, he has other concerns that will keep him going but they are reliant upon their wages being paid regularly into the banks. Tony comes in to tell them that the bank is looking into the problem and that the money should be available to them tomorrow. The workers are all skeptical and he gets annoyed telling them that if they like they can walk out the door now but they can't expect to walk back in again.

Ken goes to see Peter and the social worker and announces that Deirdre and he are prepared to help look after Simon. Peter doesn't want this and refuses his dad's help. Ken tells him in that case that he and Deirdre will manage without him and they will look after Simon. Blanche is unimpressed at Ken offering Deirdre's help when she hasn't had a say in any of it but Ken likes to think that Deirdre wouldn't have it any other way.Rachel asks to have a word with Simon alone. In the kitchen, Blanche tells Ken that he's stark, staring bonkers. "I knew I could rely on you!" says Ken.

In the street, Graeme frightens the life out of Rosie as she walks back to her house and he toots his horn as he passes her on the way to David who is waiting out in the street. Fizz sees Rosie shaking and comes over to comfort her telling her, "I still can't believe what he did to you!" Graeme is in a flash Audi that he couldn't possibly have bought for 300 quid. Tina is furious and asks Graeme where did he nick it? "Scary combination," says Graeme to David, "Looks like your girlfriend, sounds like your mother!" Tina tells David not to dare get in that car with Graeme and asks him who he'd rather sleep with, Tina or Graeme since if he gets caught in that car, they'll both end up in a cell again before he can say, "This time my girlfriend won't wait for me because I'm a stupid pillock." Love Tina! David can see Tina makes a good point as well. They make a plan to stow the car in Gail's garage. Tina reminds David that she hasn't even asked what Graeme has done with his money.

In Ken's house, Simon is talking about his mother with Rachel the social worker while Ken faffs about with a teapot in the kitchen. Peter comes in to talk to Ken. He tells Ken that if Ken wants to go ahead and look after Simon, he'd better be doing it with no thought of Peter changing hi mind or guilting him into any fatherly duties. Ken tells Peter that he wants Simon to know that Simon has a family that cares about him. Peter wants to make it clear that it's not that he doesn't care about Simon, it's that he can't look after him properly. He tells Ken that in a month or so, if Ken decides that he needs Peter's help to look after Simon, he won't do it and he wants Ken to prove him wrong that Ken is doing this to make Peter feel guilty and not prove him right. The social worker seems quite happy with the situation and tells the family that she'll be back to check on them soon. Blanche wonders if she'll be checking in on them or checking up on them and adds, "Me daughters gone to Lourdes, but he's the one that's going to be needing a miracle, to make this work."

In Gail's house, Gail is holding hands with Joe at her kitchen table and they're laughing away until Tina and David come in. They let go of each other's hands and get all serious. They look awkward as Tina, David and Graeme walk in and make small talk. Gail wonders where she met Graeme before. David mentions that Graeme will be staying over. Graeme tells Gail, "All the time David was staying at Her Majesty's pleasure, he never stopped going on about how much he missed his Mam," buttering Gail up. Gail seems resigned to having Graeme as a house guest for a while. Joe looks slightly incredulous.

At Ken's house, Ken asks Peter what plans he has for the immediate future. Peter tells him he's going back to Portsmouth asap and won't be hanging around to help Ken out until Deirdre gets back, after all, Simon could have been placed with a loving family by now if Ken had kept his nose out. He tells Ken, "The word dysfunctional was created for our family, Just because I'm his biological father, that doesn't mean that, you know, I'm fit to look after him." Ken asks Peter if he remembers how Lucy tried to take Simon away from him five years ago and how Peter nearly broke his neck to stop her. Peter tells Ken that Lucy had good reason to take Simon away from him, she knew what a waste of space he is and she only wanted Peter to take Simon now because she was dying and Peter was her last resort. He tells Ken that whether he approves or not, Ken knows why Peter called social services, deep down, he knows. Ken says Peter is just selfish and poor wee Simon will only have a few faint memories of is mother as he grows up, and now he won't he'll only remember his father as the man who couldn't wait to give him away. He pleads with Peter to give Simon a sense of who he is and asks him to please not turn his back on him. Peter is adamant, "It's for his own good." Ken tells Peter that even though he knows what a rubbish father Peter thought Ken was, he wants to try to stop Peter from becoming the kind of father that he despises about Ken.

At the Platts', Gail tells David that she would have liked to have been asked about Graeme staying with them and asks David how long he'll be staying. Only a couple of days, apparently. Joe asks David if he's up for an early start in the morning. Gail tells Joe not to ask David these things, to tell him. He is the boss, after all. Joe has a problem with the Windass kitchen, which despite the fact that there's nothing wrong with it, the Windass family won't pay until they've made a show of looking at it. David heads upstairs and when he's gone, Joe gives Gail a kiss goodbye and tells her he'll call in to see her again soon.

At the Rovers, Blanche finds Peter. Peter tries to explain that he's just trying to make a clean break etc, Blanche reminds him that his father's getting old and looking after Simon will be too much for him. Peter won't be swayed, he tells Blanche that looking after Simon might even be a reason for Ken to get up in the morning. Blanche says, "Oh, you're doing this for your father's sake. What a prince among men you are!"

The machinists are having a drink and still thinking about their wages. Julie is sure that Tony is lying to them. Kelly asks her if she's a mind-reader now. Julie tells Kelly how easy it is to rubbish other people's abilities and tells them all how everybody thinks that Kirk is a thickie but really he's very clever and says some of the most profound things. Like last night when he remarked, "Have you ever noticed, when you've lost something, it's always in the last place you look?" Good old Kirkeh.

Outside Underworld, Fizz asks Tony if she can come back to work. She wants to come back to work tomorrow. Tony lets her on condition that she backs him up whenever her colleagues are slagging him off.

In the bar, Leanne is all over Peter like a rash. She asks him about Ken looking after Simon. Peter thinks that the news of Ken taking Simon on full-time has got out but Leanne points out that since Peter is in the pub, without his son, somebody has to be looking after him. Peter's phone rings and he walks away from Leanne to answer it. The machinists are still talking about their wages. Tony comes in and offers them all a drink. He tells them that they have a new deadline for a delivery for Friday and pleads with them to work to make the deadline. He also promises them a bonus. He tells them that if they don't deliver, delayed wages won't be all they have to worry about. Vicki tells Tony she'll definitely be in to work the next day and the others follow suit. Tony leaves them money for a drink on the table and tells them he'll see them tomorrow. Peter seems pleasantly surprised by his phone call which is to do with Lucy. It's something to do with Lucy's will and he's in a very good mood now. He gets a drink for Leanne and tells her that his phone call was "life-changing". Can you see what I see?

Stella McLoughlin

All is not well at Underworld as the workers discover that they still haven't been paid.

Joe goes to pick David up for work, and while he's waiting for him to come downstairs he and Gail make a tentative arrangement to see each other at lunch time.

A group of workers, led by Julie, go to Tony's office to find out why they haven't been paid. He tells them the problem isn't of his making, he's paying his bills but other companies who aren't doing so well, aren't paying theirs. It's a cash flow problem. Julie announces that until they're paid they aren't going to do any work. He tells her that if they complete the order the cash flow will clear itself, but she tells him that's not good enough. He argues that unless they finish the order he won't be able to pay them. Just then Fiz gets a call on her mobile, it's Cilla, so Fiz asks if Chesney and Kirk have arrived yet.

Peter is with the solicitor, who tells him that Lucy has left her entire estate to him, on the condition that he looks after his (and her) son. "Just in case you were thinking of abandoning him," she says. She adds that they can't monitor how he spends the money, but assumes he's going to do the right thing? "Oh, absolutely," he tells her.

Fiz walks back into the factory and Tony assumes she's come to her senses, but she tells him she needs a favour. "I let you come back, you go on strike, and now you want a favour?" She tells him there's a family crisis and she needs to go away. He tells her to take as much time as she needs, but she won't be paid for it and there's no guarantee her job will still be there when she comes back. She tells him she'll have to take the risk. He asks if she's going far. "South Africa!" she tells him.

In the corner shop, Eileen playfully snatches the pricing gun from Dev and starts sticking price tickets all over him. Just at that moment Tara walks in through the door. Eileen mutters that she'll leave them to it, and leaves hurriedly. "Well, it's nice to see someone's having fun!" snaps Tara. "What? You don't think…..no, no!" says Dev. She says she doesn't know what to think, she rings and he never answers his phone, and she's spending every day in tears and then she finds him with another woman! "But that's just Eileen, it's not what you think!" cries Dev. She asks what it is then. "What's the real reason you finished with me?"

Outside in the Street, Joe and David pull up. Joe remarks that now they've sorted out the Windasses, hopefully he'll be paid now. David asks if he fancies a quick pint. "On your 18th birthday," says Joe, adding that he's got things to do. "Yeah, don't keep her waiting on my account," says David, grinning.

Dev and Tara are back in his flat, and he tries to tell her that he's not the man she thinks he is. She asks if there's someone else, or whether it's something to do with her dad. "One minute you're his golden boy, now you never see him." She goes on to say that she was happier than she'd ever been and she thought he was too, and asks if he just went off her. Quietly he tells her he never went off her. "Do you not like me?" she asks. He tells her he's crazy about her. "Then give me one good reason we shouldn't be together," she says. He can't, so he hugs her and kisses her.

Peter goes to see Dan and asks if he still wants to sell the bookie's. Dan laughs and says he'll want more than the tenner Peter offered the other day. Peter says he thinks he can manage that, given the state of the books, and asks if he can have a look. Dan asks if he's come into money. Peter just points out that he wants to sell the place. "Can we just get on?" he asks.

Tina and David are chatting about the Windasses kitchen, and he tells her that they had to fix loads of little things, like the fridge opening the other way. "And you think my dad has gone on a date?" she asks. David says he just said that to wind Joe up, and then suggests they go and eat their chips in the car he's just paid 300 pounds for.

Ken and Liz are walking along with Simon and Amy when Peter comes along. Liz asks Ken if he'd like her to take Simon home with Amy for a while, but Peter tells her that won't be necessary. Ken sniffily asks if he's got time to see Simon, he doesn't want to delay his long drive to Portsmouth. Peter just bends and asks Simon if he'd like to go to the park, he'll buy him an ice cream and give him a go on the swings. As they go off, Liz turns to Ken and asks what that's all about, but Ken, of course, doesn't know.

Sitting in the car in the garage, David tells Tina that all he's ever done is sit around in a car listening to music. She reminds him about his stunt of driving into the canal. Then he says he can't see why he can't drive the car they're in. "Because it's nicked and because you're not insured," she tells him. David smiles and starts the engine.

Kelly goes back into the factory to fetch something and Tony tells her that he can't afford to pay the wages in full, but he could afford to let them have 150 pounds. He tells her that if she persuades all the others to come back he'll double it for her. He tells her that he'll come over to the pub to see them, if she just goes back and acts dumb. As she leaves he picks up the phone and, calling the bank, tells them he wants to transfer some money from a joint account to a personal one. "Yes, Tony Gordon and Carla Connor," he says.

He then goes over to the pub and offers the girls a sub of 100 pounds to go back and finish the job. When Julie points out that it's not very much he raises the offer to 150. "Out of my personal account, I can't say fairer than that," he tells them. Kelly then uses her powers of persuasion. "We're not going to make any money sat here are we?" she says. Wiki agrees with her and soon they all agree to go back. "I won't forget this," smiles Tony. "You'd better not!" says Kelly.

Ken and Blanche are in the pub when Dan comes in looking for Peter. Ken tells him he's taken Simon to the pub. Dan hands him a file, asking if he'll give it to Peter telling him it's just bits and bobs to do with the business. He adds that he'll send the rest to his solicitor. Ken looks puzzled and asks what he means. "Hasn't he told you? He's buying the bookies," he says.

As David and Tina drive back into the Street, Graham runs up. "You've not been out in that?" he cries, "did anyone see you?" David says that this is a first, Graham bricking it. "You know it's nicked!" says Graham. "No!" says Tina, "we thought you bought it for 300 quid. Pity about that scratch then!" Graham rushes round the car to check. It turns out that he was supposed to have taken it back earlier, he ‘borrowed' it from his mum's mate while she was on holiday, but now she's back and has reported it missing. He tells David to put it back in the garage while he works out what to do. David asks when he's going to get his money back. Graham winces. "Err, slight problemo!" he says.

Inside the Platt house, Joe and Gail are necking on the sofa.

Ken arrives back home to find Peter and Simon having a good time. He gives Peter the file from Dan. "Ah yes, I was going to tell you about that," says Peter. Blanche asks if it means he's staying in Weatherfield and Peter says he is, with Simon. She asks if he's selling up in Portsmouth and Peter explains that he's been left some money in Lucy's will. Ken asks how much and Peter tells him it's the lot, to bring Simon up with. "Hang on," says Ken, "she left you her entire estate to bring Simon up with and you went and blew it straight away on a bookies?" (Personally I can't see Ken's problem here, it's a business that will provide an income, and Peter needs to work.)

The three teenagers walk into the Platt house and are amazed to find Joe and Gail on the sofa. They spring apart as the kids walk in, and David demands to know what's going on. Joe says he thinks it's pretty obvious and Tina and David are incredulous and disgusted and Tina storms out of the house. "Cup of tea anyone?" asks Graham.

Back at the Barlows, things are getting pretty heated. Peter tells Ken he just can't win. "I don't want Simon and I'm a rat bag, I do and I'm just as bad. I thought you wanted me to stay!" Ken says he does, but for the right reasons. Peter points out that he could have just sloped off with the money and spend it on fast cars and loose women, but he's investing for Simon's future. Ken asks what if it fails? Peter says Ken would think that, because he's running it. "That's how you see me, a complete loser!" Ken tells him that he's only here now because of the money, and there are thousands of broke single parents but they don't put their children into care. "Right," says Peter, "if that's what you think of me I'll sort out somewhere for me and Simon to live and then we'll be gone for good!"

Anne Logan

How come no-one has mentioned that Joe is yet another younger man for Gail? The two of them are a bit annoyed that David and Tina seem to be avoiding them. Graham, who is very endearing, tells them (as he tucks into Gail's food) that D&T (Dina? Tivid?) have a lot of adjusting to do. "They've got a lot of growing up to do," Joe replies.

Peter's at the table reading some papers and he and Ken bicker. Peter points out that Ken and Deirdre were all ready to help until they heard he was buying the bookies. Ken says it's not going to be easy to raise a child and run a business with so many demands on his time. Peter slams the door on the way out!

Tina and David come downstairs at last. They're not speaking - or at least not until Tina accuses her father of lying to their faces. Graham tries to calm things down. He tells Tina and David not to stress. "Look at them. They just want to long for long walks . . . in comfortable shoes. Gail apologises too, but David says he'll have to find another job. As Joe protests that they're not mass murderers, they've just fallen in love, Tina and David storm out, with Gail shouting after them: "It happened to you, too!"

Tara panics when she sees the clock. "I am SO dead!" she says, before rushing out. Amber averts her head when Tara finds time for a passionate goodbye with Dev. Amber tells Dev he's got some serious damage limitation to do with Tara's dad. Dev denies that his situation is anything like Amber's, where her father also disapproves of her boyfriend. "Kebab boy is going nowhere, slowly," he says.

David's shooting a few hoops when Gail goes to work. He's still snarky. When Gail's gone to work, Joe grabs David and backs him up against the house wall. "I can't believe me mum's bagged herself another psycho." Joe tells him quietly that the guilt trips and the silent treatment aren't going to work. David has so much going for him, including Tina and Joe and the best mum he could ever have. "And you resent her feeling happy, after all she's done for you. She's entitled to a life too, you know. You're better than this, David. Get a grip." And he calmly walks away, leaving David looking very put out.

Tony's in the factory handing out pay packets and telling the workers they'll eventually get all their back pay. Kelly tries to speak to him, but he seems not to notice and slams the office door in his face.

Tina comes out of the Kabin (she's taken the sweeping job from Norris, it seems) to find her dad waiting in his van. She doesn't want to talk to him but he gets out of the van and confronts her. He tells her that there wasn't anything to tell them at first. He and Gail flirted a bit, had a date, and it got stronger and stronger. "We didn't want our relationship to affect yours." He explains that they spent most of their time talking about how, when and whether to tell their children. Tina protests that it's been going on for ages. She even teased him about his new clothes and new aftershave. "Yes," he says. "And you told Gail that you always ended up hating everyone I went out with." Tina suddenly looks thoughtful. "Did I?" She did. He tells her Gail even tried to dump him because of that. Tina looks ashamed. But she tells Joe that he said there would be no more secrets. "This is different," he says. "I'm on top of things now. I'm not going to mess this one up." (Ooooh... a secret past!) He says Tina will always be his number one. They hug.

Down the street a bit, Dan offers Peter the chance to run the bookies' for a while. Peter tells him that can come later and asks if he wants a drink.

Graham and David are apparently watching Loose Women. (www.itv. com/Lifestyle/LooseWomen) "Colleen Nolan's fit!" says Graham. David thinks he's joking. "She's old enough to be your Mam," David points out. "Exactly," sighs Graham. "Knows what she's doing." Gail comes in, but Graham's the only one who speaks. He picks up his shoes and tells them they need space. David refuses to listen to Gail. She loves Joe. He makes her laugh and feel safe and makes her look forward to the day ahead. David says she has been in a good mood lately but he thought it must be happy pills. Gail offers to give up Joe for David. "We've put a lot behind us and I won't jeopardise that for anything." David says she'd be a right misery, though. "And Gran would be giving it, ‘Oh, a light's gone off inside her'," he says. They look at each other with new understanding.

Joe's having an argument on the phone with someone and tells them he'll be round within the hour. It's the Windasses, refusing to pay for their new kitchen. David's very indignant. The kitchen is perfect. Joe thinks they're stalling and intend to try to knock down the price. David advises taking a hard line. "I need that seven grand," Joe says. "All of it. Every penny is spoken for."

In the shop, Amber advises Darryl to ask her dad questions about running a business. "Ask him things he knows the answers to." Darryl calls that sucking up. Graham suggests just letting Dev hate Darryl, like most dads. Amber and Darryl suddenly realise they don't know who this stranger is. "Friend of David Platt's," he says. "We were in the halls of residence together." "Shared a cell, you mean?" asks Darryl. "Are you Graham?" Amber asks: "Graham Graham? Arson Graham?" Arson Graham nods happily. Dev comes in and Darryl puts Amber's plan into action. "How top were Diwali?" he asks Dev. Dev just looks angry as Darryl explains he's a Diwali kind of guy. Then he tells Dev he's a fan of Krishnan Guru-Murthy (a channel four news presenter). Dev tells Amber he's off to see Prem. "Boys, you're in the way of paying customers," he says to Darryl and Graham. Graham waves his piece of food at Dev. "Er, 60 pence," he says. "Umbrage has been taken!" Amber has a go at Darryl about what Graham calls "cultural banter." She tells Darryl that if the kebab shop is struggling, he should get some figures together and ask for Dev's advice. "He won't be able to resist poking his nose in."

In the factory, at break time, Sally thinks Tony is taking them for a ride. Janice thinks Hayley would know what to do. Julie offers to march in there and ask for a profit share, but Janice thinks they'll wait till Hayley gets back. A woman comes in looking for Rosie. When she asks if Rosie's off with stress, Sally realises she's a journalist. As Julie tries to hustle the woman out of the place, Tony appears. Hannah Steele, from the Weatherfield Gazette is told to leave. She goes, but says that of course she's now ten times more curious than she was before.

Dev is at Prem's house. He asks for five minutes and Prem opens the door. He interrupts Dev's apology and Dev says: "I love Tara." Prem says Dev loves no-one but himself. Dev protests that Tara makes him a better man. Prem doesn't think sleeping with her mother is the basis for a good relationship. Dev claims this is different. Prem won't listen.

In a new kitchen, Joe and David argue with a man and woman. You can tell they're no good because the man has messy hair and his singlet showing. These must be the Windasses. The man, on crutches, says they've spent more on the kitchen than on any car they've ever had. Joe points out they've spent nothing so far. Behind him, David's neck is tensing. Joe says that if they've changed their mind, it's not his problem. They're ordered off the premises.

Ken brings back Simon from a walk and the lad enthusiastically tells Peter about it. Ken tells off Peter for breathing fumes all over the boy. He sends Simon off to the yard to brush the coat of the imaginary dog, Eccles. "Peter in organised shocker!" says Peter, explaining to Ken that Dan's said he and Simon can move into the flat over the bookies' today. Ken says Simon might not fancy the After School Club five nights a week, so he and Deirdre can pick Simon up at 3.30, give him a snack or his tea, Peter can collect him at 5.30 or 6 and they can have a couple of hours together. "Tea, bath, story, bed." Peter tells him to stop trying to organise. He says Ken was so busy worrying about other people's kids he never had any time for Peter and Susan (though he fails to mention the fact that they were brought up in Scotland!).

The Klever Kitchens van is parked in the street, discussing the Windasses. David wants to take them to court but Joe says that by the time it gets to court, the business will have gone under. "That seven grand was all that stood between me and ruin." He's lost the contract they had for 12 kitchens in a new development. It's been canned because no-one is buying, but he'd turned down three other jobs for the big contract. "The wheels have come off," he tells David. He says it will mean he loses Gail, too. David asks for a minute while he makes a phone call and gets out of the van.

Joe doesn't see him sneak into the Windass's back yard. He reaches for a crowbar outside the back door and bursts into their kitchen, where Mr Windass is now standing without crutches. David congratulates him on the miracle recovery. He tells them the kitchen might be chavvy and horrible, but it's well made and they should pay up. He brandishes the crowbar and when Mr Windass makes a comment about him being too small to reach the worktop, David sweeps the crowbar across the surface, smashing crockery on the floor. "Seven thousand pounds! Deal or no deal?"

The End.
He's got another half hour to keep smashing before the second episode, so Richard will be along to tell you how it goes.
Margaret Carr

Well sometimes it helps to be a part time psycho and David legs it with the money passing a ginger headed lad as he leaves the Windass residence. He jumps in van waves cash at Joe and shouts at him to move. In the background Ginger comes out of the house very quickly. He races towards the van but Joe has engaged brain and gears and is departing rapidly. Ginger is on phobile moan to someone else with a very nasty look on his face. (I have remarked on this before but Weatherfield seems to have an excessively large number of people with red hair).

Prem is telling Dev to get lost - and why not, after all would you want him anywhere near any children of yours? Dev wants to know if anyone else has ever made Tara so happy? He is not asking for Prem's blessing but he is asking humbly if he can see her. Now I have never been convinced by the whole Prem, Nina and Tara thing, so I am even more astounded when Prem agrees to let the relationship continue, for his daughter's sake. Dev thanks him but Prem responds that they are not friends and they never will be, but he will make sure Nina says nothing. Dev must respect his daughter and she must not be hurt. Not surprisingly Dev considers that he has been very generous.

Anyway Joe says that violence is never justified - but David said Joe needed the money and anyway he cannot let Joe disappear - Gail has been like a teenager since he appeared on the scene and it is nice to see.

Leanne arrives at the Underworld office to let Tony know the good news - she has sold a flat - apparently for the full asking price. Kelly manages to overhear and obviously hopes to get her missing money - so once Leanne has departed she asks Tony about the missing one fifty. He tells her she will be paid in full on Monday - but as she points out she will be on holiday - but she is told she will have to wait until Monday.

David is telling Graeme (mad ex-cellmate) about collecting the cash and demonstrates his mad bad stare. Graeme is not impressed and collapses in laughter, claiming he looks like a disgruntled glove puppet. Graeme threatens to do it better, but in reality it is just as blood curdling funny. They disappear inside as a black car appears around the corner containing ginger nut and another. Indoors they continue to talk about David's exploits when he mentions the name - the Windasses. Graeme goes pale and points out that they are bad banditos, not to be messed with under any circumstances.

Kelly has arrived at the bookies and asks Dan is she can borrow me some spends as she has not been paid in full. Dan, a little short, points out that she means lend, tells her that he is busy and will talk to her later. As she departs Dan asks Peter if he looks like a mug and Peter re-assures him that all men look like that to women.

Elsewhere the somewhat monetarily challenged is taking his books to see Dev in the hope of being put on the straight and narrow - Amber tells him to listen to Dev and agree with everything he says. Darryl says that he simply has to be a totally different person - which appears right to Amber. Darryl formally asks Dev for help and he invites Darryl through to the office and says he will put the kettle on.

Back at the bookies Dan and Peter are shaking hands. Dan hands over the keys and will send for his stuff once he is sorted. Dan said that it was a nice business but he did not like the neighbours - it was all starting to get to him - too many losers, talking of which Kelly re-appears dragging her suitcase. He tells Kelly that he has decided to refuse her kind offer of joining him on holiday whilst he subsidises here. He tells her he is trying to economise and anyway he knows someone else willing to pay his way - and then he adds that he will not be coming back. Dan departs and Kelly hurls her boot at the car but it bounces off harmlessly and she has to collect it with one boot on and one off! She departs still wearing only one boot with as much dignity as she can manage - none at all!

David is trying to convince Graeme that Eddie Windass is not scary. Graeme however knows about the maniac son Gary and the uncle Len. And Graeme has stories to back up just how bad the family are. Graeme reckons that David is for the high jump for what he has done. Outside Ginger Gary is telling Uncle Len how David had threatened his parents with a crowbar.

Dev rapidly establishes that Darryl is not a good book-keeper, but Dev says that if the leaves the books he will go through them and make some suggestions. In the meantime perhaps Amber and Darryl could go and do something nice. Amber thinks her father is softening when he tells Darryl to call him Dev. Later Amber tells Darryl it was good he had asked for help and she was sure that Dev will respect that. Back at the shop Dev is indeed thinking things through and has phoned Jerry - he wants to make a proposition to him.

Leanne and Peter are showing Simon the shop and Peter suggests that Leanne joins them for dinner - and boy does he know how to show a girl a good time - fish chips and mushy peas! Leanne accepts! And the next surprise is that Leanne knows where the plates are kept in the flat - she obviously knows her way around. She gets tomato sauce for Simon and finds another bottle for the grown ups. Apparently it was a nice bottle of whisky which Dan had been saving for a special occasion. They do not see Simon covering his chish and fips with six inches of ketchup. Peter and Leanne are joking a little later and Peter asks if Leanne if she would like to stay around, but in code. Leanne decides to make a run for it when Peter goes to put Peter to bed.

On the Street Joe and Gail are enjoying a cuddle (eugggh older people snogging alert). Joe asks what she is doing for the weekend and asks Gail if she would like to join him in Cornwall trying to re-assure her that the business is doing well and not about to go to the wall. They are being watched by ginger Gary and uncle Len who has spotted Joe as the boss. Len declines to sort him out in public - witnesses. They will do it once he is on his own. He will not have much to laugh about once they have sorted him out.

And that is that for this week. Will Leanne and Dan get it together? Will David and Joe survive the revenge of the Windasses? And can Dev run a kebab shop? Bear in mind that Dev only made an offer this evening so by the time the lawyers and everyone else have sorted things out it will be 2 - 3 months before Dev is running Kebab land.

See you next week.
K Richard W

Becky is beside herself with excitement, head ready to explode in anticipation of Hayley's imminent return. Roy? He can't quantify his feelings. The Big C is what Becky calls it. Control. She's made a big sign to welcome Hayley back, complete with lions (that sort of look more like unfuzzy sheep). Becky is also planning a party. Roy thinks it's better to keep it low key. Becky "Low key's my middle name" Grainger will, of course, take no notice.

At the Platt's, Graeme is draining his cereal bowl of it's milk (i.e. drinking from it like a glass). David comes down and they discuss the nightmare on Windass Street, overheard by Tina but Graeme covers and says David just wants a boys night out but is too scared to ask. Tina is affronted by that and insists David can do whatever he likes as well he knows it. But it looks like they've got away with it. For now.

Across the road, Tyrone is reminded that he and Molly are supposed to go to Diggory's later on. Tyrone seems underwhelmed. Around the corner, Becky sees Steve heading towards Victoria Street and she dashes across through the rain to talk to him under the shelter of the bus stop. Jason stops the van as he drives by to say hello to her but is summarily told to bog off. Steve is less than impressed, it's a bit obvious isn't it? It only draws more attention to them when less is what they need. They argue the odds but you know Becky, bounces off her like sleet off an iced pond. She needs what she needs and he's not going to mess it up for her if she's got anything to say about it. She runs back to the cafe, observed by Jason who's unloading (or loading) the van.

Joe arrives at Number 8. He's a bit down in the dumps and feeling the pressure. He's got three quotes and needs to land every one or he won't be able to pay David or take Gail away on the weekend. Apparently he did get a cheque in addition to the wad of cash David got from the Windasses but it's signed "Santa Clause" so it's no good. Joe thinks maybe they should go round and apologize even though he agrees they weren't in the wrong, not really.

In the cafe, Becky is serving a full English to a big tattooed bruiser of a bloke named Haystacks who apparently inhales his food without chewing. Roy is poring over recipe books wondering if he should make Hayley something African or English. While he's wittering, Becky urges him to get a move on. And if he wants to remind Hayley of Africa? Her advice is to wear something hot!

In the kebab shop, Darryl signs for a deliver. He's got a tie loosely done up around a shirt collar and his hair looks really bizarre. It's all combed and flattened down and he looks like something out of a bad 1970s cop show. He teases his mother about her lack of work ethic and a young stylish woman comes to the door. She acts like she knows him but he's clearly never seen her before. Turns out, she's a new mate of Amber's. Amber rushes in the door and introduces Minnie from college. She's showing off her dad's new flat. Minnie flirts with Darryl and blows a big, pink bubble in his direction. I think that's meant to signify something but I hesitate to speculate.

Jason is moaning about his fate in the pub to Michelle and asking her if Becky ever talks about him. Only to call him names, Michelle says apologetically. Jason tries to blame his loss of Becky's affection on Michelle's advice to tell her about Sarah though he knows it's really down to him. He wants to get her back. Michelle figures he needs to find another way to make Becky listen and believe his apologies.

Windass Junior and Uncle Windass are sitting in a car, staking out the Platt house and watching the comings and goings while chatting. Seems Junior enjoys playing poker online while Uncle can't see the point. It's all about the social aspect. I think he despairs of "kids today". Junior figures Uncle thinks computer poker is sad because there's no way to cheat. Yeah, well, there is that, Uncle admits. Joe drives around the corner in his van and they park up. David and Joe get out and David offers to go to the shop. We're in business, utters the stalkers.

Roy is ready to head out to the airport. He nearly leaves without the flowers he'd bought until Becky retrieves them and sends him off with a kiss on the cheek.

Joe takes a call from a client while Uncle and Junior saunters up. It's soon clear to Joe who they are and Junior starts lifting some tools out of the back of the van. Uncle considers it compensation for the trouble and they're square. Joe just gormlessly lets them walk away, looking pained. After the break, David is making him tea in the house while Joe frets. David thinks they should call the police but Joe figures that's not a good idea since it was retaliation for what David had done. Joe feels very sorry for himself, wondering when he's ever going to get a break. He sits down, head in hands, trying to figure things out because he's acting like it's the end of the world. David makes a furtive call to Tina to get home if she can to help.

Dev is on the phone to (solicitor? accountant?) about getting the papers sorted for Jerry's. He cuts off his call as Amber, Darryl and Minnie arrive. Darryl and Dev shake hands (brown nosing, anyone?) and Minnie flirts with Dev and blows another bubble at him. The girls go off to Amber's room and Darryl gets down to business. He's all jazzed up with ideas on how to promote the shop, things like having a website where you can build a virtual doner and all that. Dev pretty much just lets him rabbit on, not letting on he's about to pull the rug out from under.

Ty and Molly are in the pub. Jason makes a joke about Tyrone's weight but Molly points out that Tyrone goes to the gym now. Unfortunately, Jason knows all about gyms and tries to find out what kind of training Ty is doing. Weights? oh big time. Cutting up or bulking? Huh? Um. Yeah all of it. Tyrone clearly has no idea of the gym lingo but Molly doesn't catch on because she doesn't know, either. I think Jason has probably twigged but he doesn't bust Tyrone.

Darryl is still going on about the virtual doner. Amber is highly impressed by her boyfriend's drive and ambition and utter genius. As you do. The doorbell rings and Dev opens it to a very upset Tara so he shoos the kids off.

Tina has returned home and the story Joe and David have concocted about the van being robbed while they were inside making a cuppa outrages her, because of how upset her dad is, not because she doesn't believe it. Gail arrives home for dinner and is told the same story. She is upset but figures insurance will cover it. Ooops, Joe doesn't have any. Rubbish with keeping up paperwork (I'm sorry. If you're that rubbish that you don't keep your business insurance up, you deserve to be in a mess!) He seems to be a bit of a loser, doesn't he? Maybe he and Gail *will* go the distance! ;) Tina is ready to go after whoever did it if she finds out. No word on whether Joe got any of those jobs he went for.

Seems Tara is upset because when she was in London, she saw her ex and found out that he'd had an affair with her mother! He claims that Nina came on to him but she doesn't buy it. (So Nina makes a habit of this!). Dev squirms. Tara cries. How could she do that to her own daughter! She feels foolish after her mother comforted her when she and Greg broke up. Dev assures her he'll always be there for her. Tara is determined to have it out with her mother. Dev tries to talk her out of it for obvious (to us) reasons but she's not having it. Her mother is going to know how she feels. Dev offers to come with her but she is going on her own.

Amber leaves the kebab shop as Teresa returns from her break. She now approves of Amber, it seems but thinks the new mate is trouble. Teresa thinks Darryl should hang on to Amber, seeing as her father is upwardly mobile and successful. Hitch your wagon to a star, my son. Don't screw it up.

Roy has returned, still with flowers in hand. Seems that Hayley wasn't on the plane. She was checked in but hadn't boarded. He has no idea what's going on. Round the corner, Pam beckons to Tyrone. She's got a job lot of men's underwear, "never worn, nearly silk". They're very well constructed, she extols the virtues of a well made pant. "Never mind the lunch box, you could have an 'arrod's 'amper in there and still have change out of it!" Tyrone tries to get out of another round of flogging but Pam paints a picture of Molly in a horse drawn carriage. Tyrone gives in and Pam promises he'll be back in 2 hours, a brief in and out, pun intended!

In the back yard of the Platts', Tina is ranting about her father's predicament. She's planning to scour the pawn shops but Graeme's reaction makes her realize there's more to this than they've told her. She drags the truth out of them. David tries to defend his actions, seems like David really does like and look up to Joe which is a nice thing isn't it? Tina is cold. They're dead meat! What's she going to do about it? Find out in part 2!

Tvor

Tina is raging. And I mean raging. David tries to dissuade her from doing anything stupid but Tina won't be stopped. She demands that David get in the car, he's the one that can drive, after all and, he's the one who got them all into this mess after all.

In the Kabin, Rita asks Emily if she's going over to the cafe to welcome Hayley home. Emily can't go because she's volunteering at the hospital. When Rita tells Emily how good she is for all her voluntary work, Emily reminds Rita that she puts up with Norris in the Kabin all day which makes her a bit of a saint too. Meanwhile, Teresa is reading a magazine in the corner. When Norris asks her if she's going to buy it, Teresa tells him she doesn't have to, she's already read it. When Teresa leaves, Norris goes over to tidy up the magazines and notices something- a magazine with a competition in it that's actually worth winning; a meeting with Sir Cliff Richard, of all people! Norris needs to get a wriggle on, the entry has to be emailed in by the end of the day.

In the cafe, Ashley brings his boys over to see Hayley. Becky tells him that Hayley has not come home yet and wasn't on her flight. Roy is on the phone in the background, not getting anywhere with the customer service from the airline, "Mrs Hayley Cropper. No not Trotter, Cropper..... If I have to listen to Vivaldi's Four Seasons one more time. It's always Spring. There's no sense of progress!" Roy hangs up, frustrated. Rita comes in to see her old friend but is greeted with the news that there is no sign of Hayley yet and Roy is worried sick. Becky remarks that Roy gets right ratty when he's worried. "I am not ratty!" snaps Roy. Becky tells Rita she'll get her a cuppa in a sec and reaches over Molly to pick up some dirty dishes. Molly is poring over photographs of wedding cakes and has an appointment with her Dad to pick a cake for him to make for the wedding. Tyrone is due to go with her but has not turned up. "Blokes," muses Becky, "they're just not that bothered about all that stuff, a'they? Just the nookie afterwards." When Molly asks her what cake she would choose, Becky misunderstands and replies, "Hmmm, good point, the nookie, I s'pose." Molly clarifies and asks her what cakes she would choose, Becky has no opinion on cakes, she prefers biscuits.

Nina storms into Dev's shop and demands to speak to Dev as Dev is serving a customer. She has had an argument with Tara and it looks like it's been a doozie. Dev sends her through the back where he will come in to talk to her when he is free. As Dev's customer leaves, Dev goes to talk to his ex-squeeze and doesn't notice his daughter come into the shop. Nina and Tara's argument has naturally been about Nina's affair with Tara's ex-boyfriend. She accuses Dev of goading Tara into coming round to attack her. Dev tells Nina he can't believe that she would have had an affair with her daughter's boyfriend. Nina reminds him what they've recently been up to. Amber listens in to all the gory details and hears her Dad tells Nina that their affair was different because he didn't even know Tara then. Nina pleads with Dev not to tell Tara, her only child about their affair. Dev has no intention whatsoever of telling Tara. Nina thanks him quietly and leaves. Amber listens in on her dad calling Tara, asking Tara how her meeting with her mother went. She hears as Dev comforts Tara over the phone and invites Tara to come and stay with them for a little bit.

Outside, on the street, a familiar face is walking towards the cafe with her suitcase. Yay! It's Hayley. Hayley walks into the cafe to hear Becky telling Hayley's worried friends that Hayley is tougher than she looks. Becky sees Hayley and shrieks. Everyone is pleased to see her. Becky shouts upstairs to tell Roy that summat's arrived for him. Roy asks Becky if she can sign for it but Becky lures him downstairs. Roy comes down to greet his wife. It turns out that Hayley has both missed her flight and lost her luggage, hence the delay. Roy starts to witter on about service and the like. Hayley looks at him like she is pleased to see that he hasn't changed at all and smiles at him. Hayley tells the gathered assembly that she wasn't expecting a welcoming committee but Becky tells her she wasn't getting off lightly. Hayley claims to be a bit jet-lagged which I thought was a bit strange since the time difference between most African countries and the UK is not that great. Perhaps she means she's just a bit tired. Hayley is quite clearly a bit out of sorts and she heads upstairs with Roy to get some rest. Norris rushes into the cafe, looking for Rita. Rita reminds him that Hayley has arrived. "Oh, hello," he says, like Hayley has never been away. He is excited to tell Rita about his Cliff Richard competition entry which is a rhyme, "Classy and creative, always catchy never crude. That's 'cause he's a Christian, a clean living dude!' Rita asks him why he's in the cafe, "could it be because the Kabin's Klosed? Kome on ya Klown!" Rita drags Norris out, practically by the ear.

Tina, David and Graeme have arrived at the Windasses' house. Tina, still storming her way about, leads the gang up the front path. She bangs on the door but it seems that nobody's home. The boys try to calm Tina down. She tells them if they're both so scared, why don't they go and wait in the car. She bangs again on the door, "Come on! I know you're in there!"

Jason is looking at flowers outside Dev's shop. Teresa sees him and recommends he buys two bunches of flowers if he's trying to make up to his ex-girlfriend. Cheekily, as he has decided to buy three bunches, she takes a bunch from him. "Call it a tip," she tells him.

Tina has had no joy at the Windass residence. Tina and David are ready to give up and look around for Graeme. Graeme has broken in through the back and opens the front door. Tina gives him a kiss and marches through the front door. David tells Graeme he's an idiot. Graeme is blown away by his kiss from the gorgeous Tina.

Tyrone and Aunty Pam are on the street. Tyrone thinks Molly is going to go "well mad" because he's so late for their cake choosing date. Aunty Pam thinks it was worth being late, they've made enough money to buy a horse for the carriage. Before he goes to meet Molly, Aunty Pam tips some beer from her can on his head claiming it will look like sweat and make him look more realistic as a person who has just come from the gym. Molly comes into the street and demands to know where Tyrone has been. She think that Tyrone is trying to deliberately not take part in their wedding preparations. If only she knew.

Tina, David and Graeme are having a high old time destroying things in the Windass kitchen. In fact, they start to destroy the kitchen all together. Nice.

Hayley and Roy are in their flat. Hayley tells Roy how much she has missed a cup of tea. She also thinks that a colleague of hers may have picked up her bag by accident, since they had similar bags. Hayley is having a spot of culture shock and thinks their flat is enormous; compared to what she had in Africa. They chat about how things have changed in her absence and with Becky having moved in. Roy tells Hayley how good it is to have her back. "It's good to be back," says Hayley but you can tell she doesn't really mean it.

Downstairs in the cafe, Jason drops in to give Becky the flowers he picked out for her. Becky accepts them but doesn't let Jason off lightly. When Jason tells Becky he will do anything if she will just forgive him, she tells him to eat the flowers; every last petal. Jason is suitably taken aback and doesn't know what to do until Becky tells him she's joking and tells him to bog off but leave the flowers. Jason leaves looking pretty pleased with the turn of events and when he is gone Becky looks at the flowers and a little smile creeps on her face.

In the Windass household, our the Little Vandals have ripped out the entire kitchen. They don't seem to be too worried, except for David, that the family could be home any minute.

Emily is helping out at the hospital and a man seems to recognise her, It's Jed Stone who, she remembers, used to live with Minnie Caldwell. He has been in hospital since his "mild stroke" which was more like a "hard punch" than anything mild at all. He asks her to come and have a cuppa with her so they can catch up a little. Emily obliges.

Up at Roy & Hayley's, Becky is all dolled up for a night out. Becky gives Hayley her flowers from Jason and makes sure that it's OK that she can stay now that Hayley is home. Of course, Hayley says she can stay. Hayley is astonished to witness the new intimacy that Becky and Roy share as Becky asks Roy how she looks and Roy appears to give Becky advice on the amount and colours of make-up Becky should wear. When Roy replies to Becky's "Laters" by way of same, Hayley can scarcely believe her ears. When Becky has left, Roy realises that Hayley is suffering that malaise many seem to bring home with them from a Third World Country. He knows she is worried about the amount of water the flowers will require.

Back at the Windasses', the kitchen is all out in the back yard.

Tara is telling Dev all about the argument she has had with Tina. Does Tara have the weirdest, most annoying accent in the whole history of Corrie? Amber comes home and Dev tells her that Tara is going to stay with them for a while. Tara tells Amber that Dev is wonderful and she doesn't know what she would do without him.

Jed Stone and Emily are having a good old chinwag in the hospital cafe. Jed basically brings Emily up to speed on what he's been doing in the past hundred years or so. He brings up the subject of the property developer who turfed him out of his place on Nightingale Terrace but doesn't tell Emily who it was yet. Emily comforts him with a pat on the wrist.

Molly and Tyrone arrive home and find Aunty Pam on their sofa. She has let herself in with a key they loaned her. Molly feels bad that her Dad won't let her pay for her wedding cake, since he is broke. There's a hairy moment as Molly realises Tyrone's gym bag is empty. When Tyrone goes up for a shower, Molly asks Aunty Pam if she thinks Tyrone would ever lie to her. When Pam asks her what he would lie about, Molly dismisses her suspicions with a shake of the head.

The Little Vandals set fire to the Windasses' new kitchen and scarper as soon as they hear the family returning from their Thug Conference. Or wherever it was they were. The Windass Mum looks distraught as her cheap units go up in flames. The Little Vandals escape the clutches of the Windass son in their stolen Audi. Surely this is all going to end in tears?

Stella McLoughlin

No episode aired.

Hello, and welcome to another Friday when, thanks to the snow, gales and the ferries being cancelled, I had nothing better to do than stay in and watch this first episode.

Hayley's wandering lonely as a cloud, down past the hairdresser's. She's looking pensive, as only Hayley can. Eventually she settles on Maxine's bench and sighs.

Becky sneaks into the back yard of the Rovers. Steve, still in his dressing gown, sneaks out to meet her, while Michelle thinks he's on the loo. Becky breaks the news that the solicitor has brought forward their meeting to dinnertime today - and that's lunchtime/dinnertime, not 5pm, right in the middle of Steve's shift behind the bar. Becky tells him that once this is over he need never see her again.

Roy finds Hayley and tells her he woke and thought he'd dreamt her return. "Then I saw your after-sun on the bedside cabinet." (Surely she's learned enough to keep out of the sun. I'm not sure any brand of after-sun would calm down a year of sunburn) Hayley says she felt she couldn't breathe. Roy thinks it's jet-lag, which would be a bit odd because there's only three hours' difference in the time zones. They're strolling back to the cafe and flat when Becky joins them.

As a car turns into the street, Tina stands staring out the window. Graham arrives through the back door, startling Tina and David. Tina's very jumpy because of the Windasses, but Graham's got something else on his mind. His mum's mate is back off her hols and has reported her car missing. They have to get rid. Joe comes downstairs with Gail's excess baggage for the weekend away. Gail follows, wearing something very odd. "Where are you going? 1963?" asks David, showing an unexpected but accurate knowledge of historical fashions. This riles Gail, who wishes some day she could walk down the stairs to compliments. "I do not want to look like an emu!" she snaps. "It's Emo," smirks David*. "You do look a bit like an emu, though," says Graham, risking eviction. While Gail's elsewhere in the room, David tries to slip Joe some money to help pay for a meal out, but Joe says he can't take it from David. Joe grabs Gail in a hug, pats her bottom and says, "Come on, sexy." This prompts their children to set some ground rules. No bum slapping. "And don't ever, ever call her sexy," says David.

Becky's dancing around the cafe when Hayley brings down a gift. It's not a scarf, as Hayley thinks, but a capulana, which is a piece of fabric which ties around the waist. Becky loves it. No-one's ever brought her anything back off their hols before. "At least nothing I didn't have to go to a clinic to get rid of."

Emily answers the phone. It's the organiser of the Cliff Richard contest. Norris excitedly takes the phone, thinking he's won, but discovers he's come second to someone called Mary Taylor and will get a Greatest Hits CD. Norris is sure he's heard Ms Taylor's name before. "Maybe she's a devil woman," says Emily playfully, confusing the unplayful Norris. She's off hospital visiting. "Maybe I should take them some mistletoe and wine." Now Norris is just annoyed. "See you later, Bachelor Boy," jokes Emily.

At Gail's house, Gail's already in the taxi, but Joe stops back to ask the kids what happened last night. They change the subject to Joe and Gail. Tina points out that if Joe and Gail get married, Tina will be going out with her own brother. Joe tells them to drop it.

Next door, Darryl slams out of the house, followed by Theresa, who wants to know what's wrong. He's just had a call from Jerry to say that he's sold the kebab shop to Dev and is selling the house out from under them.

Graham's sighing over the car. "My hot-wheeled baby," he says, kissing it. As they shut the garage doors on it and troop back inside, two of the Windasses watch from across the road.

Steve tiptoes out into the yard, but Michelle is about a metre behind him. He says he's got a meeting at the brewery. She asks if it's with the bloke who spits when he talks and Steve says it is.

Near the cafe, Hayley looks at the new block of flats. Everything's changed. Becky comes out and makes some cheery comment about this, and how she's changed her appearance, only to be told sternly that when you've held a dying child in your arms and subsisted on a little grain for three days because the supplies were late, you soon realise how important looks and make-up are. "Is it doing your head in being back?" asks Becky. Hayley asks if Becky missed her, because she often wondered what sort of hole she'd left behind. Everyone is just a speck of nothing on the earth, and who would miss a speck of nothing? Ooooh, poor Hayley.

Hayley tells Roy it was Tilly on the phone. She's arranged to meet Hayley to return her bag. Roy tells Hayley he's researched jet-leg remedies and the internet recommends St John's Wort. Hayley thought that was only used for depression. She tells Roy how happy she is to see his face again. "I feel quite giddy." He asks if she's given any thought to when she'll be going back to the factory. She hasn't.

Graham's still worried about the car. "Burn it out," suggests David. Pyro-Grahamiac loves the sound of that.

Michelle's in the pub when Lloyd comes in and asks for a pint (of orange juice) and a towel. He's had that bloke from the brewery in the cab. Michelle says Steve has a meeting with the bloke at the brewery and Lloyd quickly covers for him, saying he was taking him TO the brewery instead of away. "Do you want ice in that?" Michelle asks. Lloyd says he does, he might as well live dangerously. "Steve does," he mutters under his breath.

Darryl's in the kebab shop, still annoyed, and cross-examines Amber about whether she knew Dev was buying it. She claims she didn't and her friend backs her up. Darryl says that if he doesn't have a job he'll have to move to Spain. Amber storms out and her friend tells him to get a backbone, and a new girlfriend, squirts him with ketchup and follows her.

Graham mooches down the street (he definitely does mooch very well) carrying a petrol can and spies a notice in the butcher-shop window seeking an assistant. He goes in, telling Ashley he wants to butch. "I wanna do butchings. I wanna be a butcher." Ashley, ignoring the petrol can on his counter, asks if Graham has any experience. Graham tells him the truth - that he recently worked in the kitchens of a very large establishment. He confirms that he's used knives. "I'll do two weeks without pay, and I'm a grafter, and I don't see no-one else walking through that door." Hmm, Ashley sacked Kirk because of the economic downturn. Could this be the first sign of the climb back to prosperity?

Hayley's looking pensive again, but now in the flat. She tells Roy she has to speak with him.

Emily arrives at the hospital to find Jed Stone packing up. He's leaving, going to a council place in a building with previous asbestosis cases. She calls him Mr Stone, despite being 11 years older than him and knowing him when he was just a young ex-borstal lad tearing around the street with Dennis Tanner. She makes the offer of giving him temporary lodgings at her place. He's a bit reluctant but agrees it might be nice to see his old haunts again.

There's a bloke putting up a For Sale sign outside the Mortons' as Graham cheerfully walks home, leaving the petrol can outside. The Windasses spot it and get out of their car. Darryl and Theresa come out and discuss the sign with the bloke putting it up. He's very confused. Apart from the fact that they're objecting to the sign, despite his having instructions from Jerry, he thinks Theresa is Darryl's "bird". Next door, Uncle Windass picks up the petrol can and makes off with it.

Hayley tells Roy that now that she's back she feels her life is empty. She's found something that makes her happy. "I've fallen in love - with the place, the people." Roy tells her he understands emptiness. "I've felt nothing else since the moment you left. "I want to go back," Hayley says.

The End for now.
Watch out for Friday's Episode Two.
Margaret Carr

*Wikipedia says: Today emo is more commonly tied to fashion than to music, and the term "emo" is sometimes stereotyped with tight jeans on males and females alike, long fringe (bangs) brushed to one side of the face or over one or both eyes, dyed black, straight hair, tight t-shirts (sometimes short sleeved) which often bear the names of emo bands (or other designer shirts), studded belts, belt buckles, canvas sneakers or skate shoes or other black shoes (often old and beaten up) and thick, black horn-rimmed glasses.

Part 2

Well the breaking news in the UK is that the wonderful Stephanie Beacham, most recently in Bad Girls but star of many other television programmes will be joining the Street, apparently as love interest for Ken who meets her whilst out walking Eccles. In addition with Carla on maternity leave (and I do not know if she will be back but the implication is that she will not return) there is new owner for the factory in Luke Strong. So January could be interesting! Stephanie will be with the Street for 3 - 4 months.

And Margaret may have missed the reference in the first episode to Emo the formerly well known but now forgotten comedian, Emo Philips, http://www.emophilips.com/home and if she did of course know who it was I apologise for misunderstanding the explanation.

On with the motley.

Roy cannot understand why Hayley wants to return to Africa and frankly nor can the viewers as the logic is beyond us. Roy does not want her to depart. Becky appears to inform Hayley that Tilly is downstairs with the missing bag and Hayley hurries out to see her friend. Roy wants to ruminate, but Becky observes that if he carried to excess he might go blind. Roy is royally unamused.

Doris has a bee in his bonnet. Apparently Mary Taylor keeps winning first prizes in all of his competitions. And to add to his woes Emily has another waif and stray under her wing as Sunny Jim now known as Jed Stone formally takes up occupation in the front room back on the Street, many happy returns, as even I struggle to remember his original existence. Anyway Jed is here - how will that unsettle Tony Gordon? Jed explains to Emily and Norris how Tony brought him low and is a little surprised to find that he runs the factory down the Street.

Amber is tearing a strip off Dev in the shop - she has a legitimate complaint as he used insider knowledge to buy the kebab shop and so Darryl will have to go to Spain. Dev admits this is a pleasing side effect - but he did not do it simply to separate them - it was a business decision. Amber undertakes a storming teenager departure and Tara offers to pour oil on the troubled waters and follows her onto the Street.

Well what do you know. Tilly and all the other fair maidens were in thrall to team leader "Olaf" and he is still texting Tilly with jokes. Hayley clearly had a completely unrequited crush and when Tilly reveals that Olaf had got friendly with anything which normally wore a skirt she suddenly realises that her wish to return to Africa is based on a completely unrealisable and unwarranted base. Whoops. Anyway Hayley has now decided that she will not return to Africa.

Becky wants to know how Steve got on with the solicitor. They just went over the statement numerous times. He confirms that he is ready for Wednesday. Lloyd emerges and wants to know what is going on. He wants to know if he is lying to Michelle again. Lloyd tells him that Michelle is bound to find out eventually.

Tara finds Amber and tries to convince her that Dev is doing the right thing, that he is a good man and does not deserve the abuse that Amber handed out. So Amber asks her if he was doing the right thing when he slept with her mother Nina? She suggests that Tara might want to rethink just how wonderful he is. Tara slaps Amber and calls her an evil cow., but Amber responds that she is truthful, not evil and does another storming teenager act.

Graeme has lost petrol can and matches, but we know who has them don't we boys and girls? Wind up merchants the Windasses, bad bandidos senor are watching from not very far away. And as David Graeme and Tina depart in the stolen Audi they follow promising to have some fun. However the trio of twits run out petrol before reaching their intended destination so Tina decides to go shopping (like you do), David follows her leaving Graeme to find a final resting place for the car which he can then torch.

Hayley returns to the cafe where Becky tears into her - she tells Hayley that Roy has been bereft in her absence and has just wanted her return. She was missed by both of them over the last year and they might seem close - but they have had no-one else. Becky loves Roy, he is wicked and she is privileged to know him. And she tells Hayley off good and proper. Becky leaves and Hayley sits in the cafe and cries realising the damage she has caused Roy or perhaps the pride hurt because Olaf had never made a move on her?

Tara returns to the shop and if I had a scowl as big as her I think one look would curdle milk for miles around. Dev is being all lovey dovey and does not sense the changed atmosphere immediately until Tara asks if he respected her when he slept with Nina. Tara asks if Amber was lying but knows she was not. Dev says he is crippled with shame. Tara says that she knows how men and her mother operate so knows the truth. Dev tells her it was just a fling and it was over before he met her. Tara says it is simply another man she cannot trust and departs with a few hurtful remarks.

Michelle has news for Steve - her parents are about to celebrate 40 years wedded and she has invited them over so that they can throw a party on Wednesday because that is the day of the anniversary. Steve excuses himself and calls Becky - to check that the court date is not Wednesday, regrettably the script writers are on the ball here and the hearing is on Wednesday. So double bubble next week for Annie with an hour long episode to cover. Good luck, a party and a hearing. Steve does not know where he will be - although clearly he cannot miss a party. Nor can he miss the court hearing.

Graeme has bought some more petrol when the Audi is driven past him with Gary waving the original petrol can out of the window. Obviously the Windasses can steal cars too. Whatever next? Anyway Graeme seems distinctly pleased that the local crooks have stolen a stolen car.

Hayley returns to the flat and Roy. he has been for a long walk in his mind around the problem and because he loves her he will let her return to Africa if that is what makes her happy - she must go and indeed he insists on it (Roy Cropper has always been wonderful character and these moments are always his best). Hayley sits down as he says he loves her and that this is for the best. Hayley admits that she too has been thinking and that she loves him too. She is sorry for what she has said and she is not going back - she is going to stay. Roy is stunned. Then lean together and Roy puts his arm around Hayley and the two look as though they are again going to be a perfect couple - maybe different to everyone else, but in tune with each other.

And I will be back with next Friday part 2 soon.
K Richard W

Becky is chuffed to little mint balls to hear that Hayley has reconsidered her return to Africa. Michelle scoots in to see if she can get Becky to work so that she can entertain her parents on their 40th anniversary. Becky is amenable until she hears that it's Wednesday Michelle needs her. Her face falls and says it might be a bit tricky but she'll get back to Michelle. Outside and next door, Graeme is sat in the doorway and warbling the first few lines of Que Sera Sera while he waits for Ashley to arrive at the butcher shop. He jumps up when Ashley arrives and seems bemused that the lad is so keen. (Ashley had to let Kirk go. If he's hiring back on, shouldn't Kirk have first go at the job? He's already trained!) They go inside and Becky comes out, calling Steve on the phone.

Steve can't talk because Liz is there. Becky tells him about Michelle wanting her to work. She's worried because it sounded like Steve was going to be at an all day party instead of at her court hearing. Steve said he'll try to work something out but hangs up quickly when Michelle arrives, chattering about said party to them. Steve realizes he's expected to be at her beck and call all day and is finding that spot he's managed to get himself into just a bit tighter, you know the one? Between the rock and the hard place?

Roy is bringing Hayley a narsecuppatea. She's still looking tired and decidedly gloomy and preoccupied. Roy figures now she's decided, she'll be a bit happier. She doesn't look it. He asks her why she changed her mind though she doesn't have to answer. She assures him she's not going back though he's not sure she only said she'd stay out of pity. She gets a bit huffy with him and is reluctant to say anymore. He apologizes and assures her that he'll be there if she wants to talk further.

In the shop, Molly is questioning Amber as to why she told Tara about Dev and Nina. Amber admits she was upset over Darryl. Dev comes in and cooly gives a list to Amber to check for things to order. Amber tries to defend herself. Dev cuts her off and deigns this to be a private matter not to be discussed in public or, indeed, at all, ever again. Tara is forgotten. And we all know that's not true.

The residents of Number 5 have got back from their holiday in South Africa and it doesn't seem to have gone well. (If you want details, you'll have to find the Out of Africa dvd!) Fiz tells Chesney that they should just lie about the holiday and say they had a nice time. They take the bags inside and we pan across the road as David and Tina head out, hand in hand, to see how Graeme is getting on at the butchery.

And how is he getting on? Ashley is explaining knives to him. Blunt is more dangerous than sharp. That sort of thing. Graeme is eager to learn but provides a running commentary in that way that he does. Ashley doesn't think he's taking it seriously. David and Tina laugh through the window at their erstwhile buddy who shows off for them but is caught by Ashley.

Hayley makes an appearance down in the cafe. Becky expresses her joy at Hayley's decision and Hayley, still glum, can't seem to get her face off the floor. Becky asks Roy if she can take a break to get something sorted. Life and Death. Roy offers Hayley breakfast but she intends on going to Underworld to see if she can get her job back.

Becky has gone to the pub and makes up something to get Liz out of the room so she can interrogate Steve. He promises to be at the court, he'll make an excuse somehow. Becky doesn't see how but Steve insists. She doesn't control me, you know! Becky looks dubious. He says he'll be there. She's looking at her life going down the pan if he doesn't. She leaves, looking slightly more hopeful just as Liz returns.

At the factory, Hayley creeps in slowly. Julie stops her and asks who she is because she doesn't recognize Hayley, of course. Hayley timidly says she used to be the supervisor. Julie is short with her and says she won't be doing that again but is interrupted by the entire workforce gathering round Hayley for a group hug, much to Julie's consternation and she's not too happy about being sent for Tony to come and talk to the nicest person to ever work here. What she's got a gob on for, I don't know unless she figures her job is out the window (when it was only temporary anyway, wasn't it?). Sean fills Hayley in on all the changes including their supervisor who doesn't know what planet she's on (Oh, was Julie made supervisor over Vicki? I missed that. No wonder Julie had a knot in her face, then!) Tony arrives with a smile but Hayley is overwhelmed and emotional and backs away, crying that she doesn't want a job and they wouldn't want her anyway! (Oh god. it was *only* a crush!) Tony turns on his heel, perplexed.

After the break, we are in the pub greeting the Connors Senior. They order coffees and chat to Liz while Steve starts to warn Michelle that he's got things he has to do on Wednesday. Michelle takes offence and figures he's just trying to get out of it because he just doesn't want to be there and goes off on one all over him. Steve backs off against the onslaught, says he'll be there but won't say why he's making excuses. Now what's he going to do!

Fiz runs across the road, having seen Hayley. Hayley is as glad to see Fiz as Fiz is to see her. Fiz and Chesney carry on to the cafe to get something to eat, leaving Hayley on the corner.

Amber's friend, the gum chewer, pops into the shop to pick up Amber. Minnie asks to see her dad to ask for a job in the kebab shop. Molly hollers for Dev and the request is put forth. Dev admires her initiative and is pleased to hear she's got some experience. He promises to be in touch. The girls take off. Molly notices that Dev is now talking to Amber but he insists that was a one off for the moment.

Michelle is on the phone to see if Becky can work tomorrow but Becky just can't commit. Michelle smugly mentions that she's made Steve promise he won't step one foot outside the pub all day. Not really what Becky wanted to hear. Hayley creeps back in and tells Roy she needs to have a private word with him about ... just... everything. Oh dear. Roy will be upstairs later when it's less busy.

Ashley sends Graeme off for his dinner. After another offhanded remark, Ashley demands to know if he's wasting his time with the boy, because if he's not taking it seriously... No, Graeme says, he does want to do the job. Ashley says that he'll teach him everything he knows if he really wants to make something of the job.

Amber has made plans to fly to Finland to visit her mother and get a bit of space and tells Minnie she is not to tell Dev that her mother did the inviting. Dev arrives and ... Amber tells him she's visiting her mother but it was her idea! Dev doesn't believe her at first and seems unbelieving that she booked the flight all by her little self. (condescending pratt!) Amber lets him know that she's going to show him he can't just walk all over everyone in his life.

Graeme is scoffing a buttie and telling David and Tina about the events of the other night, where the Windasses stole his car. He lets David in on the joke, because the Windasses have done them all a big favour, nicking the car that Graeme had previously nicked. It's off their hands now! The three of them chortle at the serendipity of it all.

Michelle is making plans with her mom and dad. Barry asks if Carla will be included (why would he even suggest it?). Mammy Connor gets a bit tearful over Liam. The conversation gets hushed and across the bar, Liz comes up to Steve and huffs that she didn't get an invite to this shindig that's happening right under her nose. He points out she's going to be there anyway and whines about his own "invite" that means he can't even go out the door.

At the factory, Fiz has come to see if she can get her job back. He says she can't have her job back but she can have Hayley's job. He'd been persuaded by everyone to be a nice guy and take Hayley back but since she doesn't want it, Fiz can come back in her stead.

In the flat, Hayley is confessing to Roy. She admits to him that she wanted to go back to Africa mainly because of Olaf and on whom she shamefacedly says she'd developed a crush. She discovered she was jealous of his relationship with Tilly because she'd wanted it to be her. She now realizes he was a rather ridiculous man with a guitar and Swedish folk songs. She realizes the real saint is Roy. She practically prostates herself at his feet but he generously says he wouldn't throw out the person he loves. He agrees to pretend she's only just arrived home and he takes her in his arms.

Michelle apologizes to Steve for her attitude but still makes him promise to be around for her parents all day. Becky arrives and asks Steve again. He's not going to be there, is he? He just looks at her as this half hour comes to an end.

Tvor

Becky is in the Rovers talking to Steve. She knows that he can't be in two places at once. Steve tries to talk about it further only to be interrupted by Michelle who has another idea for her parents' anniversary party. She wants to take her parents shopping in the morning and have the party in the afternoon. K, fair enough. When Michelle turns her back, Steve asks Becky quickly what time her court case is. It turns out that it's in the morning which means that Steve can turn up and save her from prison. Hurrah!

Dev is shouting at Amber who has her suitcase packed and is off to see her mother in Scandinavia somewhere. She is angry that Dev has been so awful to Darryl who might have to go and live in Spain now that he doesn't have a job. He says that if Darryl cares for her, he'll get himself a job so that he doesn't have to go and live in Spain. They're not happy with each other.

Michelle is in the Rovers with her Mum and Dad. They're talking about Maria and how she's feeling. Michelle announces her plan to take them shopping in the morning. Michelle's dad asks if Steve is coming but Michelle tells him that Steve has stuff to do in the morning. Steve and Becky pass a sly look between themselves. Michelle leaves her parents to go and have a quiet word with Steve to tell him of all the jobs she has planned for him to fill his morning; decorating the pub, blowing up balloons for the party, etc. Oh joy, Steve.

Amber is ready to leave and is about to get into a cab to get into the airport and is saying goodbye to Darryl. Amber asks him if he knows if he'll be there for her when she gets back. Darryl tells her his dad called and offered him a ticket to Spain. He will try to find a job and somewhere to live in Weatherfield first though. Dev watches smugly from the door of the kebab shop. Darryl sees him and tells Amber that he wouldn't go back to work in the kebab shop for Dev and he can stick his scabby job. Amber kisses his passionately to say goodbye to Darryl and to shock her father. They say goodbye and "I love you" and Amber leaves.

David is on the phone to a kitchen customer as he leaves his house and walks down the street. The Windass son shots across the street about David's car. David tells the Windass lad that the joke was on him because that Audi he stole off David was a stolen car in the first place and the cops are probably looking for it now. Whoops!

In the pub, Becky and Steve are trying to have a quiet word between them while they clear tables. Steve is not sure how he will be able to sneak out for her in the morning. They are interrupted by Michelle's dad who wants to thank him for looking after Michelle during the tough times since Liam has died. He also wants to tell Steve that he thinks of Steve as part of the family already so he's welcome to make an honest woman out of Michelle when he wants. Steve looks slightly uncomfortable with the direction their little chat is taking.

In Roy's, Hayley is chatting to Roy about how she feels raring to go since she and Roy have had their chat. Roy is pleased though that Hayley is happy to be home and content to stay. She wants to help around the cafe, menu revamp and the like, but she finds that a lot has changed since she left for Africa. She grabs her coat and pops out for a bit, assuring Roy that she's ok but she's not. Not really.

Dev is making an absolute fool of himself in the kebab shop, pretending to be a purveyor of fine kebabs. He makes a kebab for David but it's a mess. David tells him to forget it and leaves as Dev realises that working in a kebab shop might not be the career move he should have made. He gets on the phone to Amber's friend to do a shift in the kebab shop but is dismayed to find that she's unable to do it since she has college that afternoon.

Hayley is talking to Becky in the Rovers about her court case in the morning and hears a modicum of truth from Becky as to what she is and isn't guilty of. Becky remarks to Hayley that she just seems to get worse. Hayley tells Becky that at least she knows what she wants from life and she goes out to try and get it; no dithering about. I think we can see that Hayley is having a bit of an identity crisis and is looking for some meaning.

Graeme and Darryl come into the kebab shop. Darryl orders himself a meal deal with onion rings instead of chips and a milk shake instead of a can of drink. Dev goes to make the milkshake but forgets to put the lid on the blender which results in a face full of milkshake. Oh dear. Dev chases Graeme who is laughing at him out but asks Darryl to run the kebab shop for him. He reminds Darryl that he is looking for a job so that he is here when Amber gets back and Dev is there offering him one. "Ermm.... I'll think about it," says Darryl and leaves Dev to clean up his mess.

Becky accosts Steve in the Rovers and asks him how he will manage to stand up for her in court tomorrow if he's going to be so busy doing all the jobs for Michelle. Steve tells her he'll find a way. They are interrupted by Liz who wants to know what the cosy little chat he was having with Barry was about. "Wedding bells by Easter!" she exclaims and tells him he could do a lot worse as Becky looks on. Steve tells him mum to drop it. Steve looks over at Becky and tells her, "Look, I've said I'll be there. And I will!"

Barry and Helen are in Maria's house where Maria has been crying again, the poor thing. They are remembering and missing Liam. Talk turns to the new baby and they ask what happened with her last scan. She tells them that she hasn't gone for a single scan yet because if she doesn't go, they can't give her any bad news. She is frightened there will be something wrong. Helen gives her a cuddle and some comfort offers to go with her to a scan. Maria eagerly accepts her offer.

Out in the street, Fizz is bringing Hayley up to speed on the happenings with John Stape. She lets on that she felt like leaving and everything. Fizz wishes that Hayley was there when it all happened because she could have talked to her about it all.

Steve bursts into the office at Street Cars and looks to Lloyd, Lloyd instantly says, "No!" knowing that Steve is about to ask him for a favour. He tells Steve that he will not be covering him when it comes to Becky. Steve tells Lloyd that he's desperate and that if he doesn't help Becky tomorrow, she will go down. He wants Lloyd to just hang some decorations in the pub in the morning. Lloyd still refuses. Steve storms out, muttering, "Git!" under his breath.

Maria is in her house with Fizz who has brought her a belt from her trip to South Africa as a present. They chat about how they both are and there is a knock at the door. Maria answers it to find a journalist looking for someone to talk about Fizz and her involvement in the John Stape/Rosie Webster case. Fizz comes to the door and the journalist, Anna Steel from the Weatherfield Gazette tells her that some people seem to think that Fizz had a hand in the kidnapping but she tells her, "For what it's worth, it sounds to me like you're innocent." Oh, how very magnanimous of her! Fizz tells her she won't be talking about it. Anna Steel gives Fizz her card and tells her to call if Fizz ever changes her mind and wants to talk about it.

Hayley comes back to the Cafe where Roy has been worrying about her. She tells him she is sorry for being gone for so long and then confides in Roy about how she feels like she needs to do something different with her life. She is looking for something else than working in the cafe and/or factory. She tells him how she has been listening to Becky and Fizz's problems and Roy points out how good she is at listening to people and helping people with their problems.He tells her he's often thought she has a vocation for it. He mentions Emily and how she is involved with a church charity and youth group that might need Hayley's help.

Dev is in the kebab shop. Darryl comes in and hands Dev a list of terms and conditions he needs before he will accept Dev's offer. Dev laughs at Darryl's pay demands but is desperate and gives in on the condition that Darryl start immediately. Darryl takes the apron off Dev and starts his new/old job.

Steve is working alongside Becky in the bar when Michelle comes to him with yet another job for him to do in the morning before her parents' party. She wants him to have a photo from their wedding day blown up so she can put it on display. Steve looks dismayed and wonders when on earth he's going to be able to have it done. Becky hears it all and looks sad.

Graeme and David walk along the street, watched from a car by the Windass son and uncle. They have a plan to get back at Graeme and David for making complete idiots out of them.

Out in the smoker's yard at the Rovers, Becky comes out to see Steve who is having a sneaky nip. She tells him she knows that he has done his best and that he's a great guy and that he doesn't have to testify for her tomorrow. She tells him, "You did your best. It's all down to me now."

Poor Becky!

Stella McLoughlin

It's early morning, and we open with Becky, in her dressing gown, in the flat, packing a cardboard box.

Across the road, Steve goes into the taxi office and finds Lloyd dozing at his post. He tells him that Becky has let him off the hook, he won't have to lie in court. "But if you don't lie, Becky will go to jail," Lloyd points out.

Tony creeps into his kitchen wielding a crutch and calling out that he's called the police, only to find that the intruder is actually Carla, home earlier than expected. After hugs and greetings, she tells him she knows what he's been up to and it's time he told her the truth. He looks shocked and then she says she knows he's withdrawn money from their joint bank account. He tells her he had some cash flow problems and says he knows he should have asked. She tells him it's ok, she trusts him.

Back at Roy and Hayley's, Becky asks Hayley if she'll look after her box of possessions. She tells them there's a problem with her star witness, he can't make it to the trial. Roy wants to know why, but she just tells them she got herself into the mess, it's up to her to get herself out of it.

Over at the pub, Steve is poring over the rota when his mum comes in, followed quickly by Michelle, in her dressing gown. She wonders why he got up so early, and hopes he's not sickening for anything.

Becky tells Roy and Hayley they are not to come to the court, they are the loveliest people and she doesn't want to have to look at them if she gets sent down. "Group hug!" she cries, grabbing them both.

Michelle gives Steve two lists. One is of the things she wants him to do during the morning, and the other is a list of people who've been invited to the party. "And if Uncle Kieran turns up, don't let him in," she says. Steve points out that his name is on the list. "Yes, on the list not to be let in," she says., adding that it might seem a lot to ask, but it means a lot to her.

Outside, David tells Tina that a customer has made an enquiry and he's going to go and see them and give them all the sales spiel, so he can surprise Joe with a job waiting when he gets back. Tina wonders if maybe he should wait and let Joe handle it, but he tells her to stick to selling comics and penny chews and leave luxury kitchens to him. As he drives off, the Windasses are sitting in a vehicle across the road. One of them waves a crowbar. "Time to do some damage," he grins.

In the Kabin, Blanche is waiting her turn as Becky is buying 100 cigarettes. She comments that it might be a stressful day. Just then Lloyd comes in and she asks if she can book a taxi. Blanche is immediately very interested in where Becky is going, especially when she hears Becky wants to be dropped at the Magistrates Court. She tells him to pick her up at the cafe in about ten minutes, adding, "I can't be late!"

After Becky's gone, Blanche turns to Lloyd. "So it's Becky's day in court?" she says. Lloyd says he supposes it is and Blanche asks if he'll be staying to watch, but he says he won't.

Just then Norris comes in all dressed up in a shirt and tie. Blanche asks if he's going to court as well but is told that Norris is having his photo taken as he was runner up in a Cliff Richard competition. Blanche wants to know who came first and is told it's someone called Mary Taylor, and it seems she wins lots of the competitions that Norris enters, much to his annoyance.

In Gail's back garden, the Windasses are picking the lock of her back door. One of them can't wait to get inside and start smashing the place up, but the other one stops him and tells him to calm down. "We do this my way or we don't do it at all. We are silent, we are deadly, but most of all we are tidy."

Michelle takes her parents off on a shopping trip, and as soon as they've gone out of the pub door, Liz and Sean leap into action to get the place decorated. "I love a surprise party!" says Liz. Steve comes in with a step ladder , but Liz is doubtful when she sees Sean climb it. Liz then turns to Steve and tells him to go and fetch the pies.

As Becky hugs Roy and Hayley goodbye she says she will be back, maybe in a few hours, maybe in a few months, but she will be back. Lloyd's taxi arrives to pick her up, and as they drive off, Steve comes round the corner. He asks Roy and Hayley how Becky seemed. They tell her she was putting a brave face on, but was obviously terrified. Hayley adds that she doesn't know what going back to jail will do to her. Steve is then off to the taxi office to find a car when Liz rushes out of the pub yelling that Sean has fallen off the ladder.

The taxi pulls up at the kerb outside the court and Becky tells Lloyd to wish her luck. "Do you want picking up after?" asks Lloyd. "Maybe in a few months, I'll let you know when I get a release date," she says.

She goes inside and meets her brief and she tells him that her witness can't make it. He's worried, he tells her the prosecution have a strong case.

Back at the Rovers, Liz is worried because Ashley hasn't yet delivered the pies, so she sends Steve to go and find out where they are.

Just as he gets outside, Lloyd pulls up in his taxi. Steve tells him to get out of it. As Lloyd protests, Steve asks if he wants Becky to go down, and as he gets into the driving seat he tells Lloyd to cover for him, and then roars off down the road.

Joe and Gail have arrived home and are standing staring, speechless at the empty space that used to be Gail's kitchen. Every cupboard and worktop has disappeared, even the cooker and the kitchen sink! "Do you know anything about this?" she asks Joe. "I've been with you," he points out. "You work with kitchens," she says. "Not when I'm on holiday," he replies. Gail picks up the phone. "Who are you calling?" he asks. "Who do you think," she says, adding, "and I suggest you call Tina."

In the Kabin, Rita and Tina are trying to find out what happened when Norris met Mary Taylor, his fellow comper. Eventually he reveals that she's a smart, attractive, vivacious, witty young woman - and he's meeting her tonight in the Rovers! "Did you tell her you were rich?" asks Tina, "or was she carrying a white stick?"

Steve arrives at the court and runs inside. He meets Becky and her brief in the corridor and she tells him they've adjourned her case to the afternoon. He promises to come back then and she hugs him.

Michelle brings her parents back to the pub and they walk in to shouts of "Surprise!" Of course, Michelle wants to know where Steve is and Liz tells her he's gone to fetch the pies.

Tina and David have arrived at the Platt house. "Where's the kitchen gone?" asks Tina and Joe tells her that David is about to tell them. "I don't know," he mutters. Joe, however, has an inkling that the Windasses are behind this and wants to know why. Tina confesses that they ripped out their kitchen and burned it. "Well, they nicked all your tools!" she tells her dad. Gail asks if someone will tell her what's going on and they explain it all. Gail says she's going to ring the police but Joe stops her, saying he'll sort it out and make sure Gail gets a new kitchen.

Back in the pub, the pies arrive with Ashley and Graeme. Michelle is puzzled. "I thought you said Steve went to fetch the pies?" she starts to say to Liz, when the man himself walks in, coincidentally, behind them. He thinks quickly. "Next time try to get the pies in the oven a bit earlier!" he says to a puzzled Ashley. He then tells Michelle that he's going to have to sneak off later on, he's a got an airport run and the customer has insisted that he does it. "Oh no!" says Michelle. He protests that it's important but she tells him that this is important to her. "You already missed the start, you're going nowhere," she says firmly. Just then his phone starts ringing and Michelle snatches it off him. "Get someone else," she says, "family comes first."

At the courthouse, Becky is looking dejected. "There's no answer," she tells her brief. He comments that Steve's cutting it fine. Just then an official comes along and calls Becky's name and they follow him into court.

Graeme is outside the pub at the back, enjoying a drink. Steve offers him 30 pounds to punch him. Graeme is reluctant, saying he's not a man of violence, but is eventually goaded into delivering a hefty punch onto Steve's nose. As Steve gets to his feet, Michelle and her parents appear, and Steve tells them he was mugged out in the ginnel and ought to get to casualty to get checked over. Michelle agrees, so Steve at last has his legitimate excuse to depart.

Hayley arrives back at the cafe delighted because she's got an interview for a job, and then asks how Becky got on. Roy explains that the case was adjourned until the afternoon.

At the magistrate's court, Steve is called, but does not appear immediately. Suddenly he rushes into court, much to Becky's delight.

David peers in through the Windasses windows. The place is completely empty, no furniture or anything.

In the courtroom, Steve is just about to start giving his evidence when, to his dismay, Blanche takes a seat in the public gallery. However, he goes on to say that he owns the Rovers Return pub and has been having an affair with Becky who is employed there as a barmaid. Blanche's face is a picture when she hears this! Steve goes on to say that on the night of 6th October he and Becky spent the night together in a flat that he owns. "And nobody else saw you?" asks the brief. "No, well, we're having an affair, we don't want anybody else to see us," says Steve. He's asked how long the affair has been going on. He looks at Becky who surreptitiously holds up one finger. "Oh about a year," he says. He goes on to say that it was unexpected, and it's not easy, she can be hard work, difficult and unpredictable, but she's special, really special. "Thank you, Mr, Macdonald, no further questions," says the brief.

After the break, we see Blanche and Steve in the foyer of the courthouse, and she's giving him a piece of her mind. "There's that poor girl back at home, and she's lost both of her brothers….." she says. Steve tells her it was all lies. "So what was that? Perjury? Perverting the course of justice?" Steve tells her it was just to help Becky and he couldn't tell Michelle after all she's just been through. He begs her not to tell Michelle. "On Amy's life, I have not been having an affair," he says. "Don't bring an innocent child into this," says Blanche, adding that she'll think about it. Just then Becky rushes up, screaming with delight and hugs Steve. "All lies you say?" says Blanche, and off she goes. The policeman who was out to get Becky walks past. "Better luck next time, loser!" she cries, gleefully. Steve then takes hold of her and kisses her, and when he lets her go she tells him they don't have to pretend any more. "I'm not pretending," he murmurs, and kisses her again!

Joe thinks they should just call it quits as far as the kitchen is concerned, although Gail thinks they should have called the police. She tells him too that she doesn't like being left out of the loop. He promises to make it up to her with a new kitchen.

Steve and Becky have found a hotel room and as they rip their clothes off and roll on the bed she tells him she doesn't usually do this sober! She then says she'll make an exception for him.

Norris is in the pub with Rita and Jed, waiting for Mary Taylor to arrive. Rita asks him if he's sure she exists.

Michelle is at the bar talking to her parents, who say they loved their party. They ask her if Steve is ok and she admits he's been acting strange all day.

Meanwhile, Steve and Becky are snuggled up in bed in the hotel. She tells him it's been the best day of her life. She tells him she'll never cause him any trouble again and no-one will ever know about any of it, she'll go back to her life and he'll go back to his.

Tony arrives home and is taken aback to find that Carla has prepared dinner. He says he's never sure what's going on in her head. "That's because I'm a woman of mystery," she tells him.

Back in the Rovers, Mary Taylor arrives to see Norris, and a very nice lady she seems to be. Steve walks in then and Michelle tells him that they have to meet her parents at the restaurant for dinner so he had ten minutes to get ready.

Roy and Hayley are wondering what's happened to Becky when she bursts through the door. "I fought the law and the law won - NOT!" she screams, jumping on the sofa.

Carla gets down on one knee in front of Tony and says, "Tony Gordon, will you marry me?" and hands him a small box. He opens the box to find an elastic band inside. "I was being spontaneous," she says, "well, will you?" |He says yes and they hug. She tells him they can get married next week. "I know what I want now," she says, "and I want this rugged Scotsman." They hug, and he murmurs, "This makes it all worthwhile."

Mary Taylor has invited Norris to go with her to see Cliff Richard, and he's delighted to accept.

Steve comes down to the bar, all dressed for going out to dinner, to find Liz about to serve Blanche. "I want him to serve me," she tells Liz. Steve comes over and prices up the drinks that Blanche has ordered. "That'll be 5 pounds 30," he says. "Take a close look at who you're serving and try that again," she says. He then tells her the drinks are on the house. "That's blackmail," he hisses. "Sue me!" she replies.

Just then Becky comes in with Roy and Hayley, in high spirits. She goes to the bar and tells Steve she'll never forget what he did for her. Michelle comes down then and hustles him away, but he leaves looking back over his shoulder at Becky.

Anne Logan

This is the first episode for Friday, which comes to you with a special lurgy which I picked up in Manchester last week. How appropriate. I suggest you wear a mask while reading it!

We open in the Rovers, where Steve tells Michelle he's off to the cab office. She's surprised he's so keen, because ten minutes ago he was snoring for England. She tells him how much it's meant having his support over recent times and that he's really lifted things and gives him a big hug and kiss. Her parents arrive. They've come to take them for a slap-up breakfast.

Graham tells Gail the room looks bigger, though Gail doesn't think that's much consolation for not being able to boil an egg. Graham has the answer - Betsy. Betsy, it seems is his single-burner camping cooker. "Betsy punches above her weight. She won't let you down," he says. Graham goes out just as David and Joe start lugging in kitchen pieces. Gail's glad they're starting work, but she tells David it's time for Graham to go.

In the factory, Sean's limping and complaining about the after-effects of his fall. Tony comes in with Carla and the staff say they're glad to see her back. Tony goes into the office and Carla takes the opportunity to tell the workers she understands there have been a few "issues" while she was away, but she's going to make them her first priority. She and Tony tell them all they're getting married next week and everyone is invited.

Roy thinks Becky is attacking her duties with gusto. Becky says it's the influence of freedom. The Connors and Steve come in and order big breakfasts. Steve and Becky exchange glances.

Jason's loading the truck when Eileen arrives with his lunch. Jason wants to go and see Becky but Eileen tries to discourage him. She lets slip that Becky was in court yesterday. Jason's annoyed that he didn't know.

Graham's playing with his food - well, Ashley's meat. He's re-enacting scenes from horror films and ends up with Norris backed against the wall. Ashley comes in and gives him a bollocking. He's not keen on Graham's plans to recreate classic movies using meat and put the footage on YouTube as advertising! "We're going to have to have a chat, mate," Ashley says. David comes in and breaks it to Graham that he has to leave. Graham assures him he has somewhere to go. Graham tells Ashley he's now homeless and it seems he's soon to be jobless. Ashley doesn't like Graham "weirding out the customers" but he's still willing to give him a chance. He offers him the job.

Hayley is off to the youth centre for her interview. Roy advises her to be herself. "Allow them to see the woman I love."

Breakfast is done and Michelle's dad tells Becky to keep the change. The others get up to go and Steve thinks he'll finish his coffee and then do some paperwork. Michelle asks him to take her dad to a fishing shop to get his mind off Maria's scan today. She asks Becky to do a couple of hours in the Rovers at dinner time, but Becky says she can't. Roy overhears and tells her that given the circumstances they can make an exception. Michelle and Steve leave together and Becky is left scraping plates and looking very thoughtful.

As Becky leaves to go to the Rovers, Jason catches her and says he wishes he'd known about the court case. "I just want to be your mate," he says. Becky doesn't believe it but won't tell him whether there's someone else. She doesn't see Steve notice them talking. She tells Jason that the two of them will never get back together.

Tina sees Dev in his apron and kebab-shop silly hat and asks how the road-kill business is. Dev is grumpy - there have been some teething difficulties with the rotas, which is why he's having to work there. He suggests Tina would be ideal but she's not interested in working there again.

Carla's going through the books. They're £600,000 in the red overall, which Tony says is mostly his share of the flats and his buy-in of the factory. Tony says his creditors are queuing round the block and he's no assets, but Carla says he's got her and they will get through this together.

In the Rovers, Sally and Kevin discuss the Connors. Sally's disgusted because Carla is a role model to Rosie, but Kevin tells her to let it go.

Hayley's back. The interview went well until she told them about Wayne and her criminal record. She's sure she won't get the job. Roy tries to reassure her, but she says: "It's over, Roy. I just can't work with children - ever!"

Jason turns up in the Rovers with a goldfish for Becky. He's remembered she always wanted one and he thinks that the fish will remind Becky of him every day. "IQ-wise especially," laughs Liz. Poor Jason just looks puzzled at this. Becky is flattered but tries to turn down the gift. Steve and the Connors arrive back and the first thing Steve sees is Jason and Becky huddled in a booth with a fish. Michelle thinks it's romantic but Steve says loudly that he can't see a fish making up for what Jason did. He thinks some people have shorter memories than the fish.

In the Kabin, Norris raves about Sir Cliff Richard. He assures Tina that Cliff is as relevant today as he was 50 years ago. Dev comes in and pleads with her to take the job. She doesn't want to leave the Kabin so he suggests part-time, at six pounds an hour. "Seven, plus free chow," says Tina. "That's extortionate!" gasps Dev. "It is, innit," grins Tina. They shake on her starting tonight.

At the garage, Carla tells Kevin how glad she is that Rosie is back and safe and asks if she can pop over tonight. Kevin discourages her.

Becky has the fish in a bowl on the cafe counter. Steve comes in and says they need to talk. She attacks him for his performance with Jason in the pub. "You must have the brains of a rocking horse," she says. Steve has told her to play it low key, "and then you go and pull a stunt like that." Steve can't get a word in edgewise. She tells him she has to move on and be strong on her own. He tells her to shut up for a minute. They sit down. "What I wanted to say was, yesterday, all I could think about was you. There was nobody else in here [he points to his head] but you." He says he'd forgotten what that felt like and he doesn't want that feeling to go away. Becky says they've already talked about all this, but Steve corrects her - she made assumptions. "I was only trying to do right by you and Michelle," she says. "Yeah," says Steve, softly. "And that's one of the reasons why I love you." Becky's gobsmacked. "You don't mean that!" She whacks him on the shoulder and tells him not to say stuff like that. She says she's just picking herself up. He does mean it. "I love you."

The End of part one.
Whew!
Margaret Carr

Now do you really wish you were Steve, caught between the rock of Michelle and the hard place of Becky? Does he prefer blondes or brunettes and are either of them really their natural colour? And frankly how did he get himself in this mess and how can he do this to Michelle? Or Becky come to that? And Steve has just declared his love for the latter and they are now in the infamous smoking area of the Rovers as Becky says that he does not have to do that - she tells him that he and Michelle can carry on as before. Steve says she does not seem pleased - but then Becky only gets told that fells love her after ten pints of snake bite and he appears to be sober. He repeats he loves her. How is he going to tell Michelle she asks - but he does not know - he is as gobsmacked as her. (And remember this entire storyline was written before Michelle announced that she is taking maternity leave next summer - so congratulations to Kym Marsh and Jamie Lomas). Anyway that is good enough for Becky who kisses him again.

Deirdre is back from Lourdes and is pleased to see that Simon can draw batman (or as he points out Spiderman), but she has had a less than enthralling time, and has an amazing suntan for a French religious visit! Turns out it was a miracle she did not strangle her charges. Anyway as soon as Ken appears Peter and Simon depart in the opposite direction.

Liam's parents are escorting Maria for her scan - but given the news last time she went for one of these she is none too keen to go. They leave Michelle behind and Steve walks up to her - he has something to tell her - but Michelle is so worried that her mother and father cannot take any more bad news so Steve realises that saying she was dumped is not appropriate at this juncture.

Joe is clearly in deep doo doos. He wants the credit card company to up his credit limit. They clearly are not going to do it and he has to cut the call short when Gail, Tina and David return.

In the Rovers Carla is ordering champagne to announce the wedding is back on (to a man £600k in debt) next week. And she suggests that Steve and Michelle should also be getting married soon - Steve does not look enthused by this.

Hayley has not got the job at the youth centre and flees upstairs away from the consoling noises from Roy and Becky.

At the hospital Maria is undergoing a scan. She almost refuses and the situation is explained to the scanner operator who sympathetically encourages her. Baby Connor is alive and kicking and the entire family are besides themselves with happiness that the Connor genes will extend to one more generation.

Becky enters the Rovers expecting to find a heavy atmosphere assuming that Steve has told Michelle. However the latter, Carla and Leanne are deep into the champers and despite an invite to join them Becky disappears into the back room. In the smoking area she finds Lloyd and tells him that Steve loves her and will leaving Michelle today. Now telling Lloyd and expecting him to keep a secret under Michelle's questioning is impossible - so he will blurt it out.

Back at the cab office Lloyd asks Steve what he is doing? Becky? Michelle? Whichever one he has slept with last? Or is talking to at the moment? And can Steve actually define "love"? Apparently not as well as Lloyd - a word used by men when they are trying to sleep with a woman! Anyway Steve has something bad - it makes him go all wobbly when he is near Becky. And when is he planning to tell Michelle - six hours ago!

Rosie opens her front door to find Carla on her doorstep and with Kevin and Sally out shopping Carla comes in and seeks to comfort her. And gets the shock of her life when Tony emerges from the darkness (are people in the North really unable to afford to turn on the lights these days) with a mug of coffee. Apparently he was checking up on Rosie as well and tells Carla about the journalist whom he calls sleazy - talk about pots and kettles! Anyway Rosie notes that they are smiling at each other and her face settles into a real hard and nasty look. As they depart Rosie cheekily asks for a pay rise and Carla can hardly turn her down! Anyway Carla is going to be busy - she has a wedding to plan - so it is clearly still on. Tony turns back to Rosie - after the wedding he is taking Carla away for a honeymoon - can Rosie run the office whilst they are away - she agrees excitedly and he asks her to keep it a secret from Carla.

Deirdre visits Peter in the flat and she has to listen to Peter complaining yet again about the poor treatment he had from Ken as a father - no praise and Peter does not believe that Ken loves him although Dreary assures him that he is loved.

Steve stops Graeme in the Street and asks if he wants to earn some more money. Graeme is unlikely to say no and punches Steve before the latter can explain that he needs advice on ending a relationship. Graeme guesses that he is dumping Michelle - and then comes out with a wonderful statement. "You know nothing in life is simple. How sometimes you can really love a person and want the best for them in every way but just feel you are in the wrong place." Steve pays up.

He rushes into the Rovers to try it on Michelle and she asks if this is what he has been worrying about. And Michelle has the perfect answer - she had been hurt by what he did and for a while she had not been sure, but in the last few days she knows that she is in exactly the right place with exactly the right person, so he is not to worry about things any more and returns to the bar leaving Steve looking very stunned.

In the bar the Connors are showing off a picture of the next generation and Michelle smiles through tears that there is still a part of Liam in this world. Becky walks in and can see that Steve has still not carried out on his promise to tell.

Rosie is checking that her new mobile now has a copy of the famous doorstep kiss of Carla and Liam. Why so it does! Her insurance policy remains intact.

And we end where we started in the smoking area outside the back of the Rovers - I swear it gets bigger and bigger. Becky tells Steve that she expects nothing - she never does. Ever since she got ill treated on her very first date by Alan Brennan, who turned up an hour late, she had been waiting in the rain and she looked a right mess. He ran off and jumped on a bus and rode off laughing at her chasing the bus - only 15 then but it remains the same pattern.

Steve seeks to re-assure her - there is Ryan and Amy to consider but as he talks his mind clicks into gear - if he behaves badly then Michelle will revert to hating him and she will dump him and the coast will be clear for the two of them to get together. Nothing could be easier. And it will all unfold in front of our eyes next week.

I will be back for the second half of an hour long Wednesday.

Cheers
K Richard W

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Updates written by K Richard Whitbread, Martin Rosen, Ann Logan, Margaret Carr, Stella McLoughlin, Tvor.

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