I hope the weather's been as lovely where you are as it has been here. It's time for another first episode for a Friday.

As we begin, Fiz hammers on the factory door but there's nobody in. Trevor doesn't know where Carla is because he slept at Janice's last night. Carla arrives looking rough and wearing sunglasses. Michelle, who gets a good morning kiss from Carla reels back and suggests Carla never made it home at all.

A worried David calls Tina's phone and leaves a message saying he was out of order last night and he's sorry. Nick, who has been out jogging, bursts in and Gail comes downstairs. David clams up. Nick has come to ask if he can move back in. "Yeah, that'll be two of us out of work," she says.

Graeme's in the flat and hears a phone ring but can't find it. Tina, her hair wet and wearing a cardie over a towel, comes in, saying she was cold. She checks her phone and sees she's missed calls from David. Graeme goes off to work and she pulls up the sleeve of the cardigan to examine her bruises.

Sally's asking for time off for a doctor's check-up. She asks if Carla's OK and Carla says it's just a headache. When Sally leaves Carla puts headache tablets into her mouth and reaches for a bottle hidden in a filing box, but is interrupted by Trevor coming in. He asks why Nick isn't there helping her but she puts him off. He's come in to get her to look at some orders. Carla points out they were meant to be gone first thing. Trev didn't want to rush it in case he'd made a cock-up. Carla tells him to get them gone.

Garry and Eddie come home laughing and joking to find Anna has been crying. She doesn't want Garry to go to Afghanistan. "I'm so proud of you but that doesn't stop me worrying."

Tyrone's buying a magazine for Molly and when Sally comes in she asks how Molly's getting on. Rita suggests he take Molly out and Sally leaps in and offers to babysit baby Jack. She insists that they're godparents so babysitting comes with the job. When Tyrone's gone, Rita asks Sally how she and Sophie are getting on. Sally says it's a bit strange but they're getting there. As she leaves the Kabin, Tina comes in, checking first to see whether Norris is there. Rita assures her that Norris is out, "probably ruining somebody else's day." Tina's come to ask for her wages and won't be asking for her job back until Norris apologises. She looks in her pay packet and finds Rita's paid her extra. She gets a bit tearful and tells Rita she's just not used to people being nice to her recently. Rita tries to find out what's upsetting Tina.

At break time, as the girls discuss where Nick might be, Carla comes out shouting at Trev. He's sent the order to Stockport instead of Leeds. He asks if she's joking. "No, the only joke was me hiring you, thinking you were up to the job!" That riles Trevor. Carla tells him she's sorry but it just isn't happening. "Are we still talking about the job here?" Trevor asks. Carla says she's not doing this here and goes back into the office. "Was I embarrassing you in front of everyone?" Trevor asks. "Now you know how it feels." He insists they have it out now and Carla admits that nothing is working - not the job, not them. "Happy?" Trevor says he's happier than she'll ever be because he's not still running after a dead man. He's not Liam and never will be and nor will the next man. "Stuff your job and stuff this because I would rather be shifting rubbish than be treated like it!" He rushes out with Carla following him and calling his name.

Tina's told Rita the whole thing - and shown her the bruises. She confesses she thought David might rape her. She keeps wondering if it was her fault but Rita lectures her and tells her it wasn't. Tina hasn't told anyone else. She says Graeme would batter David if he knew. "What about the police?" asks Rita. Tina says she wouldn't know what to say. She still doesn't know if David intended to hurt her or whether he was just angry. Rita offers to accompany her if she does decide to go to the police. Tina leaves and Ryan comes in to buy a magazine for his mother. He says he never reads them but Rita suggests he might learn something if he did.

A mournful Carla opens the bottle from her desk and pours it into a mug in full view of the factory.

Garry's packed up and talks to Eddie about it. He's got some paintbrushes sticking out of his backpack and tells Eddie they're spares because they use them for getting sand off stuff in Afghanistan. "What sort of stuff?" Eddie wants to know. "Landmines." Eddie goes to what Michael McIntyre would describe as "the man drawer" (you know, the one with the spare torch lightbulbs, batteries and stuff) and digs out a St Christopher medal, which he gives his son, telling him to keep his head down and forget any John Wayne nonsense. They almost go into a father-son hug and both seem relieved when Garry's phone rings. This was a lovely scene.

Tyrone sees Molly and the baby and dashes across the street to say hello. Molly's walked miles to get Jack to sleep. Tyrone tells her he's booked a table for dinner and Kevin and Sally will babysit. Molly immediately loses her enthusiasm for a night out but Tyrone persuades her.

In the pub, Liz asks Michelle if Ryan's all right. "He's had his head in that magazine for about and hour and now he's reading an article on cystitis." Ciaran comes in and orders a pint. As Michelle asks him about Glasgow, Ryan takes an interest. Ciaran has got the job he went for.

Tina and Graeme come in. Graeme greets David at the bar and tells him Ashley might be selling the shop. He asks David not to tell Tina and says she's really down at the moment. David makes an excuse and hurries off. He tries to say something to Tina on the way out but she tells him to "Do one - or else!"

Carla's still drinking from her mug. She makes a business call but seems to have the wrong number. The bottle is almost empty, which seems to surprise her.

Garry meets Izzy in the street and tells her he's shipping out tomorrow. She suggests he buy her a drink but he says his mum is cooking for him tonight so he'd best not. He asks for her number but she says they can just go for a drink next time he's back. He seems genuinely disappointed.

Peter's off to his AA meeting and he and Leanne hug goodbye just as Nick arrives on the scene. "That's right, rub my nose in it!" he jokes. He tells them he's now unemployed and moving back with his mum. He invites them for a drink but Peter refuses and suggests Leanne go. She agrees to go once the shop's shut.

In the pub, Ciaran sits with Ryan and looks at the magazine. He's reading "The truth about menopause." They talk about Ciaran's new job in Glasgow. Ryan admits he was offered a place at university in Glasgow.

Sally's annoyed she missed Trevor storming out. They're interrupted by Carla shooing them out of the factory.

Tina arrives at the flat door and almost has a heart attack when David looms out of the darkness. He wants to speak to her and didn't sleep last night for thinking about it. She tells him to shut up as Graeme arrives. Tina can't stop Graeme inviting David to help him lug some boxes up the stairs.

In Peter's AA group, one member is talking about why he drinks. As he finishes the door opens and the leader says this must be the lady who rang earlier. It's Carla but when she sees Peter she turns and flees.

The End of the first episode.
Margaret Carr

Here's episode two...excuse any grammatical errors, I'm currently typing with frozen fingers!

Peter catches up with Carla and asks if everything is all right. She brushes it off with laughter and says she was meant to be in Spanish. Peter suggests they meet up afterwards.

Leanne is telling Nick that he may regret walking out on the factory. He says he had to seize the opportunity...he's got big plans. Leanne doesn't look too sure.

Julie, Izzy and Fiz are discussing the loss of Trev when Nick comes in and informs them that he is leaving the factory too. Julie bemoans the fact that there are no longer any hunky men at Underworld.

Ciaran watches Liz take a phone call from Betty who isn't well and offers to save the day before leaping behind the bar.

Kevin comes in to find Sally holding baby Jack. Tyrone and Molly are going out for a meal but Molly looks very nervous while Kevin doesn't look too impressed.

Peter waits outside Spanish class as people pour out but Carla is not among them.

David helps Graeme with the last of his things. Graeme suggests he stays for beers which Tina strongly tries to discourage but Graeme insists.

Lloyd and Trev are sitting together. Trev tells Lloyd that his split with Carla was on the cards so it didn't really surprise him.

Anna has just cooked a meal for Gary and Eddie. As they finish eating, Eddie suggests they go to the pub. Anna clearly wants to stay in and Gary agrees. He goes on to say he told Izzy he was having a night in. Anna tells him to get a clean shirt on and go to her. Gary kisses her and thanks her. Eddie tells Anna there will be other nights as she holds back tears.

Lloyd tells Trev it's not too late to try and win back Carla. Trev tells him he realises that they were both on the rebound. Carla from Liam and Trev from a girl named Michaela. Lloyd suggests he gets in touch with Michaela and Trev seems to consider the idea.

Peter tells Ciaran to say goodbye before going to Glasgow. Liz smugly tells Ciaran that there are other people who will miss him...namely Michelle.

Leanne asks Peter to tell Nick he's making a mistake but Nick reiterates that he has big plans but he's keeping his cards to his chest for now.

Molly and Tyrone are having a drink but Molly is worrying about Jack. Tyrone assures her that he is in good hands and everything will be okay.

Peter watches Carla come in and order an extra large red wine. She catches him looking and seems uneasy.

Sally asks Kevin to hold baby Jack while she gets his bottle. With a huff he reluctantly takes him. Sally watches with a smile as Jack settles in Kevin's arms.

Leanne asks Carla if she wants to talk. Carla tells her that it will take more than Trev and Nick to get her down and refuses the offer. Leanne looks worried about her as she is slurring her words.

Molly is worrying that there isn't time for another drink before the restaurant.

Izzy is about to head home when Gary comes in. He asks her if she has a reverse button on her wheelchair.

Nick seems unsympathetic about Carla's attitude and Peter looks thoughtful as Leanne frets about her.

Tina is urging Graeme to get rid of David. Graeme has just made him a toasted sandwich but promises to get rid afterwards. He finds David fast asleep and he eventually wakes up, looking very dozy. He admits he hasn't been eating recently. Tina rolls her eyes.

Ciaran tells Carla he is going to Glasgow. She quips that she never wants to hear another Scottish accent again. He frowns as she wobbles on her seat as she slurs her words again.

Tyrone and Molly are all set for the restaurant but Molly tells Tyrone that she can't do it and begs him to cancel. He reluctantly agrees.

Peter asks Carla if everything is okay. She tells him it's fine. He asks how her class went, only he didn't see her come out. She says she left early to catch up with work and says she is going to the factory to do some more.

Molly and Tyrone have come to the Websters' and Kevin comes downstairs. Molly demands to know what he was doing. He said he was changing him and Molly tells him he had no right before snatching Jack. Tyrone apologises and says she is just finding it hard leaving Jack with others. After they go, Sally comments that there is something very strange going on.

Izzy asks Gary if he is scared. He says he is not scared of what will happen to him but of having to kill somebody. Izzy realises the conversation is getting deep and says she bets he wished he stayed at home. He takes her hand and firmly says no before they share a passionate kiss.

Peter and Leanne are heading off but Nick decides to stay to kick around a few ideas. Peter asks Leanne to pick up Simon as he needs to buy some cigarettes.

David is leaving. As Graeme goes to answer the phone David apologises to Tina and thanks her for not telling Graeme. She says she didn't do it for him and warns him not to come round again.

Carla is in a state at the factory. Peter comes round and asks to talk. She tells him to go away. He tells her he knows what's going on and wants to help. Carla tells him she can control her drinking so he can take his advice elsewhere. He asks if she is sure and she tells him to go.

Gary asks Izzy what now. She says seeing as he is going to war tomorrow, would he fancy staying the night. He smiles at her and says he would like that. She smiles back.

Carla throws cold water in her face and looks at herself in the mirror. It's clear she doesn't like what she sees...

So what have we learned, except for the fact that it's exceptionally difficult to type when your fingers are encased in ice?
-Nick is spontaneous, impulsive and stupid
-Carla can only love someone who is dead or who is a homicidal maniac
-A couple of pints isn't enough to knock Ciaran off of his stride.
-The only things you need when babysitting Jack are nappies, Molly's mobile number and Mr Snuggles.
-Sally doesn't know ‘Umbrella' by Rhianna
-Graeme's idea of a lad's night in consists of beers, toasties and Monster Munch
-Carla's a very good looking handful
-Even Janice Battersby looked cute as a baby
-Julie spends her Friday nights watching repeats of Wire in the Blood and eating a pre packaged lasagne for one.

Dubious Awards
Most terrifying thought: "You're beginning to sound like my mum" Nick to Leanne
Best love problem sensor: "I'm detecting a hint of romantic disillusionment" Lloyd to Trev
Understatement of the night: "She were a bit high maintenance at times" Trev about Carla
Most potentially entertaining scene: "I could swing for you sometimes!" Anna to Eddie. Please do!
Most unlikely Agony Uncle: "You're good at all this romance stuff aren't you?" Trev to Lloyd
Slightly off the mark statement one: "Don't be so grumpy, he is your godson after all" Sally to Kevin. Take off the ‘god' and you're there!
Slightly off the mark statement two: "Aw, you're a natural!" Sally to Kevin. Add ‘liar' onto the end and you're there!

That's all from me!
Duncan Lindsay

Written By Chris Fewtrell Directed by Kay Patrick

Trev is in the shop and tells Sean and Sunita that he's going to leave Weatherfield and going to Swansea. He's going to try to get back with his ex-girlfriend. Sean knows Janice will be upset as she has a soft spot for Trev. Trev muses that if he'd not got involved with Carla and the factory... But Sunita figures what doesn't kill you... (makes you stronger)

Carla looks like something has done a good job on her. She's spent the night passed out on the sofa, a stale glass of booze by her side. She drags herself up and sees that she's very late.

Molly is scraping the burned bits off Tyrone's toast and is in a mood. Tyrone is too, because he can't understand why Molly is upset that Kevin was holding the baby the night before. She tries to make out that Kevin's baby experience was long, long ago and she doesn't want to be dependent on the Websters. Jack comes in and notices an atmosphere. Tyrone assures him he's not the problem. Molly offers him a brew but Jack is preferring a full English at Roy's.

The workers are waiting on the factory doorstep. Sean has told them, well, Hayley at least, about Trev's impending flit. Sean reckons Carla won't mind his departure since they've split anyway. He and Hayley agree that Trev really was never suited for the factory. Sean laughs "Carla can certainly pick'em. From Evil Genius to Village Idiot".

Anna is fretting because Gary's not been home last night and it's his last day before shipping out. Eddie's got his red turtleneck shirt on, signifying his Sunday Best. Sounds like they have their meeting with the adoption board today to find out if they're suited. Anna is distracted and upset. Eddie assures her that Gary just wanted a last night of fun before heading to war. Gary comes in and Anna flies at him. Eddie tries to defend him but Gary apologizes to his mum for staying out without letting her know. Anna goes off in tears and Gary assures his dad he did in fact have a pretty good time.

Over the road, Katy has come to see Chesney. They chat about his breakfast and entrepreneurial ulcers and she moves in for a little snog which surprises him. He's still not very good at this girlfriend malarkey is he? They talk about their relationship and Katy asks him if he does want more. He does but admits he's never done this all before. She says she hasn't either and they kiss again until Kirk knocks at the door. Kirk is let in, and he is off on one because he's late. Turns out he couldn't find his Monday socks. (Day of the week socks, apparently. He's bought two pairs of Friday ones because he likes Fridays. Daft thing!) Seems the teens have been thwarted. Katy says her dad always goes out on Fridays so they could have a night in at hers. It's a date!

Back across the road, Anna is packing for Gary. Lots of socks. She's very upset and worried. Eddie doesn't show any emotion and tries to reassure her that he'll be ok but nothing really works. She's terrified he'll be killed. Eddie isn't much comfort really but you know down deep he's probably worried as well.

Ciaran sees Ryan at the bus stop and teases him about staying in his comfort zone. Ryan admits he's staying because his mum would be on her own otherwise.

Carla drives up and nearly hits Nick who's come out with a takeaway coffee. They exchange a few sarcastic words and she continues up Coronation Street where there's a delivery van holding up traffic. Sunita is telling off the driver and the cars are lined up and beeping their horns. Peter and Leanne have come out as well and Sean mentions that there are people going in and out of their old bar. Nick tells Carla he'll sort the problem out. Turns out the vans are delivering to the old Joinery, on his instructions. He announces to the onlookers that it's going to be his new bar! Peter and Leanne's jaws certainly drop at that!

Now everyone's in the factory finally working and busy but the gossip flies about Nick's new bar. Izzy wonders where things stand with Nick and the factory but nobody knows. Nick arrives and barges into Carla's factory, reminding her he still owns 40% for now but wants to get out of the contract. He says he wants her to buy him out or he'll sell to someone else. She's got a 2 week option. He leaves and she sinks into her chair, pulling a bottle of whiskey out of the drawer.

Leanne is grousing in the pub. Peter reckons it's just business but Leanne is taking it all personally. They did all the hard work, finding the location and doing the renovations and now Nick is going to scoop up their dream! At the bar, Tyrone apologizes to Jack for Molly's attitude, putting it down to being sleepless with a new baby. Jack says it's just a phase though his Vera's phase lasted 50 years. John comes in and they joke with him that he's got all this to look forward to. Then it comes to light that Jack's lost a few hundred on the dogs. He doesn't seem concerned but Tyrone looks a bit worried.

Eddie and Anna have got back and were approved for adoption. Nice one! Gary hugs his mum and Eddie answers the door to Izzy who's come to say good bye. Turns out she was where Gary was last night and the reason she's been in a mood all morning is because he snuck out before she woke up. He apologizes but didn't want to wake her and is reluctant to have a girlfriend. She's highly unimpressed so he admits, he doesn't want anyone to care about him because he might not come back. He sees how upset his mum is and doesn't want anyone else to be upset either, especially her. She points out it's her risk to take and pulls him down for a snog.

In the corner shop, Chesney is looking worried. Kirk guesses it's women's trouble. Sunita discreetly overhears and is smirking. Ches tells Kirk that he's worried about being romantic and wanting to get Katy in the mood. Kirk suggests Simply Red but Sunita interrupts and points out that it's probably not a good image for Katy to have, Mick Hucknall when she's running her fingers through Chesney's equally red hair. Chesney hot foots it out the door and Kirk looks gormless. As per. Kirk reckons he's got to find just the right advise for Chesney and doesn't think Sunita, as a woman, is the right person to ask! She just shakes her head.

Gary is kissing Izzy goodbye and then gives his mum a hug. Ciaran passes and shakes his hand. Gary promises he'll come back. Eddie gives Gary a new camcorder so he can record messages to send home since he's not much of a writer. Awww. One more hug for Mum and he tells her he loves her. An affectionate glance at Izzy and off he goes in the cab with his Dad.

Around the corner, Ciaran needles Ryan a bit more but Ryan insists his mother needs him. Ryan does admit he's tempted, though.Ciaran establishes that the door is still open and invites Ryan to go to Glasgow with him to check it out.

In the pub, Nick comes in and Leanne gives him the short shrift. Peter, however, invites Nick to sit down and 'splain things. Leanne feels Nick went behind their back and Nick says it was too good an opportunity. Peter wishes him all the best and Leanne scowls.

Carla is on the phone with her banker, and is clearly drunk. She's trying to get them to agree to lend her the money for the business buyout and the bank wants to meet her now. She is reluctant but agrees. She asks Hayley to mind things while she goes to the bank for the afternoon and asks for a large coffee.

Eddie has returned and tells Anna that Gary got off ok. He tries to get her to go to the Rovers for a drink but she's not in the mood. Leanne and Peter come out of the Rovers and she's still in a strop. Peter says it's not a problem but she feels let down. She goes off to fetch Simon and Peter sees Carla lurching towards her car.

Molly picks up little Jack to change him and notices a rash all over his face. She panics and runs outside and up towards the health centre. She runs into Sally who says babies get all kinds of rashes but says she'll go to the doctor with Molly anyway.

Carla drops her handbag and Peter helps her pick things up. When he realizes she's going to drive, he tries to talk her out of it. She refuses and the music ends for the first half. Will Peter keep her from driving? Stay tuned!

Tvor

At the end of the first episode Peter could see that Carla was drunk and was trying to prevent her driving. He jumps in the passenger seat and wants to go with her. He then tells her that if she wraps it around a lamp-post then she would not be killing just herself. Peter has been down this road and it is not worth the trip. He grabs the keys. Carla claims she has been under a lot of stress - she admits he was right and she will not drive. She tells Peter to back off. He then gave her his number and told her to call him anytime if she needed support. Peter tells her that Leanne would understand if told - but Carla does not want her told - she agrees to a cab - she was going to see the bank manager - but he sends her home instead - and she agrees after looking in the mirror at the face she is currently carrying.

At the medical centre, Molly discovered that baby Jack's rash was a milk rash and nothing serious. She did the right thing in rushing to the medical centre. As they leave Molly and Sally exchange thoughts on being parents.

Eddie and his wife have been approved for adoption - but Becky is not exactly overwhelming in congratulating them. Eddie cannot let the matter drop. Eventually Kylie orders Eddie out. Becky then bars him as well. His wife is not amused and shoves him out.

Ty is giving Kirk advice on chatting up women (to be passed on to Chesney). Later Steve and Owen help as well - which Owen is happy to give providing it does not involve his daughters (little does he know). Steve points out that Owen is going out with his mother. Owen describes it as a business deal. Steve asserts that he wears the trousers in his house (when Becky is out). Later even Dev gets involved, although no-one understands what he is going on about!

Elsewhere, Ryan asked Michelle if he could go for a night out in Glasgow with Ciaran. Michelle accepts that Ciaran cares far too much to allow any harm to come to Ryan.

Trevor returns to collect odds and sods and finds Carla downing a glass of wine. They bicker and then he smiles and goes to clear up. As Trevor leaves Carla apologises and says it is her fault - she tried to make him something he wasn't. He hugs her and she cries. He tells her she needs to move on - but she does herself no favours. He tells her to watch her boozing. He leaves.

After the break we return to the back of the Rovers where Michelle relents and hands a bundle of cash over to Ryan and wishes him a good time and Ciaran promises again to take good care.

Leanne is complaining about being able to find anything in the cupboards. She is still angry over Nick's announcement when Peter received a call from a distressed Carla. Not wanting to tell Leanne about Carla's problem, he said he was going to see a mate called 'Carl' from his support group. He agrees to be with "her" as soon as possible.

Steve points out to Becky and Kylie that Gary has just gone to war - and that an apology is needed. They go across the road and Becky apologises and there will be a free drink when they next come in. Becky asks about Gary and causes upset.

Along the Street, Molly told Tyrone and Jack about her scare with the baby. They tell Jack that he is more than welcome to share their house and Molly insists on a cup of tea - which Jack makes. When Tyrone said they were indebted again to Sally for her help, Jack looked thoughtful.

At Carla's flat, Peter found her in a state. He helps clean her up - she had no-one else to call - he gets a piece of broken glass out of her hand. He talked to her about how his drinking spiralled out of control and advised her to identify the real problem behind her drinking' knowing the reason helps sort it out - in his case Simon was the key factor in getting him back on the straight and narrow. Peter reassures she cans till stop it. Carla shared it was about her feelings around Liam. It goes back a long time - even when she was married to Paul - if she had gone off with him there would not be all these problems. She cannot move on but Peter tries to convince her she has something to live for. Peter assures her she had a lot to live for and promised to help her every step of the way.

As Carla finally fell asleep on the sofa, he felt unable to leave her and called Leanne. He made his excuses and said he was stopping with 'Carl' as he was in a bad way.

Leanne sounds understanding and Peter says he does not deserve her. They tell each other that they love them Peter starts pouring the wine away and the credits roll.

See you next week, hopefully less technically challenged.
K Richard W

Carla is asleep on the sofa, Peter is asleep in the armchair.

Meanwhile, Sean and Julie are waiting outside Underworld for their boss to arrive and open up. The others have all gone, but they remain, eventually tossing a coin as to whether they stay and wait or go to the cafe. They head off towards the cafe, meeting Leanne on the way, explaining that Hayley's off sick, Nick's quit, and as for Carla....they think she might give it all up. They continue on their way, leaving Leanne frowning.

Fiz rushes round the corner after Kirk, and tells him she hopes he didn't take any notice of what they were saying in the pub about seducing a woman. "It's all gubbins," she tells him, adding that he won't get anywhere with Izzy like that. Just then Izzy comes up behind her and Fiz hastily tries to change the subject. "Finished talking about me?" says Izzy. "We weren't!" says Fiz. "Think so," says Kirk, adding that he's off to get some bones for Ozzie.

Just then Sally rushes over, she's just received two tickets for Cabaret at the Playhouse tomorrow night, with a note that says ‘Sally Webster, have a good 'un because you're a good 'un!' She thinks they must be from Kevin because it's their anniversary. "Does he call you Sally Webster?" asks Fiz. Izzy's looking at the tickets, they're for front stalls. "Look at the price of them!" she says. Sally says she's off to sit in Kevin's office to wait till he gets back from a pickup, and then tell him he's a star.

As she goes off, Fiz asks Izzy if she'd like her to hint to Kirk about Cabaret. "Fiz! I am not seeing Kirk!" cries Izzy.

In Carla's flat, they're both awake. Carla looks bleary eyed and very much the worse for wear. Peter hands her a tablet fizzing in a glass of water. She pushes it away, saying she's always like this before coffee in the morning. She studies her hand. Peter tells her she cut it on a wine glass. "I do know, I was there!" she snaps. He tells her he's not having a dig, he just recognises the signs of someone not knowing what they did the night before. "I know what I did!" she snaps again, going on to say that she shouldn't have phoned him when she'd had a few. "You didn't phone me," he says, so she starts to mumble that he shouldn't have come checking up on her. He then admits that she did phone him, because she wants to get a grip on this. She tells him he shouldn't be there, and he tells her that no one knows he is, Leanne thinks he's at a mate's house. Just then there's a knock on the door. "Carla? It's Leanne!" They look at each other, and then Carla's phone starts to ring. She leaves a voicemail message saying she's worried about her, and asking if she'll give her a ring. Leanne then leaves. Peter tells Carla that he'll leave too as soon as she admits to him, sober, that she's got a problem. Carla doesn't think she has a problem. He points out that she was going to drive into a wall, drunk. "I didn't though!" she says, telling him not to make her his project. "Go back to Leanne," she says. He says Leanne can wait. Carla doesn't want to be his excuse to treat Leanne like dirt, and tells him again to go back to her. He says alcohol nearly ruined his life, that's why he's trying to help her. She says that the way she feels now she's never drinking again. She slams off into the bedroom, calling to him to close the door on his way out. He gets up, and leaves.

In the cafe, Anna is in a world of her own behind the counter, with earphones in her ears. Sean and Julie are working their way through a word search puzzle. Nick is leaving with a coffee as Leanne comes in. He stops her and says he's trying to apply for a licence for the bar and asks if she'll look through the forms for him. "Try the council," she snaps, irritably. "Are you really that bitter?" he asks, saying it would only take her two minutes. Eventually she agrees.

Eddie comes in to the cafe. Anna looks up from listening through her headphones. "They've named him, the lad from yesterday," she says, "Twenty, he was." Eddie tells her she should put it out of her mind, there's no point worrying about something they can't alter. "Good point - what son?" she snaps, and then immediately regrets saying it. He says that maybe they'll get another tearaway to keep them busy. She slaps his hand and tells him to go away, to go and forget about Gary somewhere else.

Nick is showing Leanne what he's done so far to the bar. She gets tearful and tries to leave. She tells him she's not going to help him get a licence to ruin everything she wanted for the place. She tells him she loves the place, she thought about nothing else for months. She marches towards the door. "Be the manager," says Nick, "manage this place for me?" She stops in her tracks. "Make it yours - please?"

Nick and Leanne are leaving the bar premises. He can't see why she won't agree. He's a businessman, he wants to take an idea and make it succeed. She says it was her dream, her and Peter's. Nick knows that Peter's a businessman too, he would have stood back and let Leanne turn it into the stylish and classy place she knew it could be. Just then Leanne sees Peter arriving home and runs across to him. "How's Carl?" she asked. Peter said it was tough, but Carl is ok. Nick is close behind Leanne and tells Peter he's offering Leanne a job. He'll pay well because he knows the bar will make more if Leanne is driving it. "I said no!" snaps Leanne and she and Peter start to walk off. "She deserves it!" Nick calls after them. "She said no!" says Peter.

In the Rovers, Sally tells Julie that the tickets weren't from Kevin, he was clueless about them. Jack and Tyrone listen from a short distance away, as Betty says that Sally must have a secret admirer. Julie confesses that she always dreamed of getting a single red rose with no note, or just one saying "I've admired you from afar". Sally asks Tyrone if the tickets were from him, a little gift for the midwife. "Why would I buy them?" asks Tyrone. Just then the phone rings and Betty answers it. It's Carla, looking for her workers. Betty tells them that none of the workers are there but if they come in she'll send them over. Julie and Sally finish their drinks quickly!

Outside, Ciaran and Ryan are back from Glasgow and getting out of the taxi. Michelle comes along and asks how their weekend was. Has Ryan been tattooed, or bailed, painted green or chained to a lamp post? Ciaran says they should go partying in Michelle's head, it sounds like great fun. Ryan just mutters that it's a great city and off he goes to take his case up to the flat.

Leanne marches into the factory and tells Carla that the rumours she's been hearing had better not be true. Carla looks worried for a minute, until Leanne goes on to ask if she's really thinking of packing in the factory. "Who said that?" asks Carla, looking relieved. Leanne says she was worried because Carla wasn't there this morning, and eventually persuades her to go for a drink with her after work.

Ciaran finds Ryan in the cafe and asks if he's changed his mind about Glasgow. "No," says Ryan. Ciaran wants to know why he's being so secretive with his mum. Ryan says he wants to pick the right moment. Ciaran points out there are many moments left, he's due to move up there on Monday, at this rate he's giving her no notice whatsoever.

Anna sees Eddie sitting at a table, putting items into a cardboard box. She rushes over to ask what he's doing. Just then Ciaran comes over. "Good man," he says, dropping what looks like chewing gum into the box. "Tell Gary here's a little contribution from me." When Anna realises what he's doing she takes the pants out - "He wants decent pants," - and says she'll sort out his pants, and pulls out some magazines too, saying they're for the bin.

A florists van pulls away, as Julie and Fiz come along and see Kirk holding a single red rose. Fiz immediately thinks the rose is for Izzy, but Kirk tells her it's for Julie. "Kirk!" she says, "you and me are the past." Kirk explains that it's not from him, the florist just gave it to him. Julie looks at the card that's attached. It just reads: For Julie. She then gets really agitated not knowing who it's from and accuses Fiz and Tyrone of sending it. "That's the last time I tell any of you my little fantasies!" she says, storming off.

Leanne and Peter are in the pub. Peter tells her he's been thinking and she should take the job that Nick's offering. He tells her he knows how much the bar meant to her and he wants her to be happy. She thinks it would be very hard for him to watch her trot off to that place every day. He tells her he wants her to finish what she started before he messed it all up, because he loves her. They kiss and as they leave the pub he tells her to go and tell Nick before he offers the job to anyone else, and he'll go and pick Simon up. At that moment Carla walks across the street. Leanne suddenly remembers their arrangement and tells her to order her a white wine, she'll be back in a few minutes.

Jack arrives home and Tyrone tells him that every time something nice has happened to someone today he's been accused of it. Sally and the tickets, and then Julie and the rose. "Oh aye," says Jack, "pleased was she?" Tyrone says she wasn't, she said it's going to drive her mad. "Secretly pleased then," says Jack. Tyrone suddenly pulls a piece of paper out from down the side of armchair he's sitting on. It's a receipt for two tickets to Cabaret. He immediately thinks that Molly must've bought the tickets for Sally. He astounded at the price and says he's going to have a word. "Leave her be, lad," says Jack. "No I won't!" says Tyrone, all indignant, "I know Sally's been good to her, but....." "It wasn't Molly!" says Jack, sharply. "How do you know?" asks Tyrone, slow on the uptake. Jack tells him not to say a word, to let it lie. "You?" Tyrone is dumbfounded, "why would you......." Jack repeats his instruction to let it lie.

Peter has followed Carla into the pub and hovers at her elbow while she orders two drinks. Michelle asks if one is for him. "Oh no," he says, "I've worked too hard to get here." Carla says she's only having the one. They go to a booth to sit down. Carla asks him what she was supposed to say to Leanne who asked her for a drink. Peter says it was never going to be easy, but maybe she's not ready to change things yet. He gets up and moves to the bar to put his jacket on. Carla picks up the bottle of wine and goes to pour herself a glass, but hesitates. Then she gets up and hands the wine bottle of Sean. "Enjoy," she says, and walks to the door. She turns to Peter and apologises for being a cow earlier and asks him to give her apologies to Leanne.

Leanne is talking to Nick, laying down the conditions of her employment and her duties. He agrees to everything she says. They shake hands and he says they'll be a good team. She walks away, grinning. She turns. "Thanks Nick," she says.

Anne Logan.

Good evening. We open in the Dobbs' place where Molly and Tyrone discuss the weirdness of Jack's behaviour. Tyrone's told her it was Jack who gave Sally the tickets and Julie the rose.

Leanne's worried about Carla but Peter says she's just a busy woman. Leanne's still worried Peter might resent her working in Nick's bar but Peter seems very unworried. Simon's written a "Happy birthday, Granbad," card, though Leanne agrees with Simon that it's a D not a B. Before Peter takes Simon to deliver it on the way to school, he assures Leanne that he loves her and wants her to be happy so he's delighted for her.

Jack wants a word with Tyrone before he goes to work. He wants Tyrone to understand he's not mad giving gifts to people. Tyrone assures him he hasn't said anything to Molly but Jack doesn't believe him.

Chesney's at Roy's when Katy comes in to quickly assure him she'll see him tonight. This interrupts Roy's discussion of how much Chesney reminds him of himself! When Katy's dashed off to school, Chesney tells Roy he's taken a day off from the market because he has things to do.

At Ken's, Peter notices a birthday card from James. He tells Ken that Leanne will work with Nick on the bar. Ken looks a little worried.

Michelle and Ryan get breakfast in the cafe. Poor Ryan's trying to break the news to his mother than he wants to go to Glasgow to study. Michelle keeps talking over him. She tells him if went away she'd have no-one to talk to and no-one to take out for breakfast.

Sally arrives at the garage but Kevin's out on a breakdown. She tells Ty that Kevin's very grumpy about the musical they're supposed to be seeing tonight. The phone rings. Molly tells Tyrone she's rung Connie to find out what's going on and Connie's going to come round while Jack's out on his walk. Sally takes the phone from her. "Do you want to go and see Cabaret?"

Ryan meets Ciaran in the street and says he's changed his mind. He doesn't want to leave his mother on her own. Ciaran lectures him about the need to sometimes be a bit selfish.

Leanne and Nick discuss what needs to be done. Ken turns up to see how things are going. He's come to wish Leanne every success. It all seems a bit weird though. Nick thinks Ken's come to check up on Leanne.

Ches is with Kirk and says he hasn't got any condoms and he's too scared to ask in a chemist shop. Kirk has a better idea.

Molly comes downstairs to find Jack's delayed his walk. There's a knock at the door. It's Connie. Jack demands to know what she's doing there. "Apparently you haven't been altogether honest," she says. Jack shuts her up and demands that she come with him to the Rovers for a drink and to talk. They go off, leaving Molly more puzzled than ever.

Kirk and Chesney are in the Rovers and Kirk orders at the bar. In a booth, Connie tells Jack she doesn't know what he's playing at. She's thought about him day and night, wondering how he's been. He tells her he's realised how young Molly and Tyrone are. He could see "their whole world revolved round that little babby. I didn't want to spoil that. I couldn't bring myself to tell them."

Kirk and Chesney discuss Ches getting condoms from the machine in the gents. Neither of them seems to know that chemists and supermarkets have condoms displayed freely on open shelves now. Kirk sends Chesney off on his mission.

Leanne's on the phone sweet-talking a supplier. Nick says they have to decide on a name. He wants to call it The Joinery, which is what Leanne and Peter wanted to call it. Leanne says he can't. She's worried how Peter will feel.

Chesney comes back. The machine's eaten his money and he's lost four quid. Kirk tells him to report it. So he tells Betty. "It's not my department," she says. "You'll just have to have a word with the landlady." When he gets back to the booth Kirk tells him that was the bravest thing he's ever seen.

Jack tells Connie he will talk to Tyrone and Molly.

Michelle's in the cafe again. Ciaran's asked her out so he can tell her Ryan's secret. He tells her Ryan's been offered a place to study music. "I'm not stopping him. Don't go blaming me!" says Michelle.

Ken and Peter discuss the bar. Ken thinks it's dangerous for Leanne to work with Nick and that it's unfair to Peter. Peter points out that he talked her into it. Ken thinks he's generous and brave. "And a bit daft," says Peter.

Jack's gone for a nap and Connie and Molly talk about him. Connie says he can be a bit cantankerous. When Molly asks if he's all right, Connie says he'll let them know as soon as he isn't.

Katy's on the phone to Chesney. She'll see him about seven. Kirk says Dev might sell condoms but Chesney dismisses that possibility.

Molly's going out with Sally to the theatre and is a very nervous first-time-out-of-the-house new mother. She issues enormous loads of instructions. Sally assures her that Tyrone and both Jacks will be fine. When they've gone, Tyrone sits down and Jack opens his mouth to talk but the baby cries and Ty dashes upstairs.

Peter and Leanne are in the pub. Leanne asks him if they can change the location they've planned for the wedding reception. Leanne turns the conversation to the name for the bar. Peter has no problem with it being called The Joinery.

Tyrone's back downstairs. Jack says he's got something to tell him. "I am here because this is where I want to be at the end." He tells Tyrone he wasn't well and kept putting off going to the doctor. "Anyway, enough of the ins and outs. What it boils down to is, they can't do nowt for me. I'm . . . I'm dying ... simple as that."

The end of the first episode.
Margaret Carr

Here we go with episode two

Tyrone can't quite believe what he is hearing from Jack but he repeats it so that there is no doubt…he's dying. Tyrone splutters that there must be something that can be done but Jack says it's cancer which he didn't catch on time…it's too late.

Michelle finds Ryan in the café and asks him if it's true that he passed up the opportunity to go to Glasgow uni. He admits that he did it as he was worried about her. She tells him he's an idiot for missing an opportunity like that. He said it's still open…but it would mean leaving tonight.

Jack tells Tyrone that everyone has to go through death somehow. Tyrone asks him if he can't have radiotherapy like Sally did. Jack said it would only prolong his life for a matter of months and the quality would be good…besides, he's had a good innings.

Fiz bumps into Kirk as he comes out of the clinic and he drops packs of condoms everywhere. Izzy shoots him a dirty look as she passes.

Molly and Sally are arriving at the theatre. Sally is saying that she feels funny leaving Sophie and Sian home alone together. Talk then turns to baby Jack and Sally admits that seeing him has made her feel broody herself but Kevin would never want a baby. She says that after her cancer, she wouldn't put her body through any more turmoil anyway. She smiles and reflects that if it weren't for Kevin, she'd have never got through that terrible time. Molly looks distinctly uncomfortable.

Katy checks with Owen that he is still going out but he crushes her plans for the evening by telling her he is having mates round for a poker game.

Jack tells Tyrone that he will get used to not having him around, like he did Vera. Tyrone tells him that they both miss Vera, and well he knows it. He asks how Connie is taking things. Jack says that she isn't doing too well…Jack had asked her to help him die if the pain became too much. Tyrone is horrified and says he hopes he doesn't want him to do something like that. Jack assures him that the only thing he wants from him is to help him enjoy his last few weeks.

Katy comes round and tells a disappointed Chesney that Owen is staying in. She asks if his place will be empty and at that point, John and Fiz burst in and excitedly announce that they're having a Chinese and DVD night and they're welcome to join them.

Michelle thanks Ciaran for looking out for Ryan. He says that he is glad to have done something right at last.

Peter wishes Ken a happy birthday as they sit for drinks. As talk turns to Leanne and Peter's wedding, Leanne invites Carla to join them. She seems awkward but is eventually persuaded.

Ryan comes in and tells Michelle that his cab is here. She tells him that she is proud of him and he sets off for his new adventure. Ciaran asks if she is okay and she gets emotional and accepts a hug.

Chesney and Katy are sitting miserably in the van. Chesney suggests that they go to the Red Rec and do it in the back of the van but Katy says that they will have to forget it for the night.

It's the half way point at the musical and Sally suggests to Molly that they be naughty and bunk off from the second half. Molly agrees to go for a drink and admits she hasn't been very popular since she left Tyrone. Sally tells her that everyone deserves a second chance.

Bryan phones John but he pretends it's a kitchen salesman when Fiz comes in. She says she has a craving for garlic sausage and he reluctantly agrees to take her into town for some. Katy and Chesney share a look which says: Jackpot!

Jack and Tyrone have got a feast of chips, pork scratchings and beer. Jack rubs his hands together and says that it's to die for before he realises the enormity of what he's said. Tyrone asks how it will happen and Jack says that he doesn't want them to talk about that but focus on fitting as much happiness as possible into his final weeks

Chesney and Katy have their moment but suddenly their nerves take over. They are just about to lock lips when a noise at the door startles them. It's just a pizza delivery but they both agree that too many things keep interrupting. But as they look at eachother, they change their minds and share a loving kiss.

Ryan phones Michelle to let her know he got there safe. Michelle thanks Ciaran again.

Katy and Chesney lie in eachother's arms. Chesney asks her if she was disappointed, she tells him that it was much different from the last time she did it. He's shocked to learn that she is not a virgin but she said the other time was with a creep and this was the first time it ever meant anything.

Michelle and Ciaran are walking down the street and they share a moment before Michelle pulls away. Ciaran says that he doesn't know what she wants but she says it doesn't matter as he has a job. He says he'd drop everything for her as it's her he wants, not the job. She tells him she doesn't want to be a notch on his bed post before kissing him.

A drunken Molly and Sally come home and Molly thanks her for a good night before sincerely apologising. Sally laughs and says she has nothing to be sorry for. Molly tells her Kevin is a lucky man before she comes home. As she goes to see baby Jack, Jack senior urges Tyrone not to ruin her night by telling her the bad news. Molly comes back with her crying son and Jack takes the tot, who almost instantly stops crying. Molly says he can be chief babysitter…she hopes he isn't planning on going anywhere. Jack mutters that he isn't at the minute before exchanging a significant look with a sad looking Tyrone.

No observations tonight; I couldn't find much funny in an episode where the legendary Jack Duckworth says he is dying!

Until next time!

Duncan Lindsay

Written By Joe Turner Directed by Noreen Kershaw

It's the morning after Chesney and Katy's "sleepover". He's trying to sneak her out the back but she's wanting some breakfast first. She steals one of the yogurts from the fridge and kisses him. He declares he had the best night of his life before he ushers her out the back door. Just in time too, John and Fiz come downstairs, John bragging about his day off, where he's going to do nothing but skive on the sofa and read. Fiz thinks Chesney looks different somehow. He protests that he's the same as always and pretends it was him that took her yogurt.

Molly is nursing a bit of a hangover and says it was a bit weird having a night out with Sally. Tyrone says his night was weird too but doesn't elaborate.

Outside, Owen comes across the road as Izzy is wheeling by on her way to work. He had a great night last night, won at poker. Immediately he realizes that Izzy might be lying about Katy staying at hers but says nothing. He gives her a bit of his winnings to spend.

Tyrone finds Jack ironing a shirt (!). Jack wants to go to a lap dancing club and wants Tyrone to go with him. He gives Tyrone a card for it. Tyrone is shocked. He can't go lap dancing at lunchtime! Jack points out he could be dead soon and wants to go today. Tyrone reluctantly says he'll sort something.

Gail is peering through Audrey's blinds watching Deirdre smoke outside the clinic and is sniffy about it. David offers to book her in for a hair cut but she won't have charity even if Audrey does it as her treat. Maybe she should see if she is entitled to benefits, she muses. (That would have been the first place i went the day after but Gail's been spying on Deirdre for a couple of weeks instead!) Graeme runs into the Salon, all out of breath after the 20 yard dash to see what David is doing at lunchtime. Gail takes the opportunity to cancel the window cleaning as a saved expense. Graeme is heartbroken.

Norris is still growling about Graeme. He acts dumb but he's very clever. Norris is still convinced of his guilt. He takes a text from Mary about a new competition. Win your weight in bananas. No thank you. He continues on his rant about Graeme's criminal past and Tina is a gullible pawn. She reminds him they reported it to the police but Norris doesn't think they're doing anything about it. Just then the phone rings, it's the police.

Katy passes by the yard and her father hollers at her and pulls her in. She had a free period before lunch and insists she's not lying but he's not sure anymore. He grills her on her evening with Izzy and tries to get out of her what they did and what they talked about and says he has already caught her in a lie. He's determined to get the truth about where she was so she shouts that she was at Chesney's. He hollers at her to get up them stairs and runs up after her. Oh dear.

Jack and Tyrone are in the Rovers in jackets and ties and Tyrone is nervous that he's going to get caught. Jack says he wants to do this as one of the things he's never done. Emily arrives just then and asks where they're going. Jack covers and says he's taking Tyrone out for a posh lunch. Emily is carrying a blue donation can to raise money for the leaky church roof. Jack puts in a couple of quid and passes it to Tyrone for the same for which Emily is grateful. STeve pops over to let the lads know their cab is waiting. Emily assures Tyrone he'll be fine, just do what Jack does and begins reminiscing about her first time. Steve, of course, does not realize what Emily is remembering (post restaurants, remember?) and his face is a treasure as he thinks she's talking about lap dancing clubs.Outside, Molly is returning with the baby after a walk and sees them get into a cab. Hmm....

Owen confronts Katy and she shouts back at him. He's never around and she's just doing what all sixteen year olds do. He blusters but is clearly losing the argument so brings Izzy into the argument. She pouts, wonders if that means she's got to be the low maintenance daughter. Yep. He tells her she's the sensible one and the strong one and she has responsibilities to the family. She cries that this is the longest conversation she's had with him for years and goes out sobbing. Owen looks a bit flummoxed.

John is lying on the sofa reading H. G. Wells (The Invisible Man), eating biscuits and listening to soft music when there's a knock on the door. It turns out to be Brian, the fella he worked with when he was "Colin". And it also turns out that Colin's mother has been trying to reach him. Brian covered but came to let his former employee know. John pulls him inside.

Katy and Izzy are in the cafe. Izzy tells Katy she should have let her know she was Katy's alibi. Izzy isn't bothered that Katy was with Chesney but wants to help. She's only concerned that Katy did it because she likes Chesney not to get back at their dad. They giggle over it. Katy admits she wants to keep seeing Chesney and they agree Owen is a rubbish dad. Izzy says she'll talk to Owen.

Brian is telling John how he put off Mrs. Fishwick. John starts to spin lies again, something he's very good at. He says his mother hates Fiz and they tried their best. She didn't even come to their wedding. He weaves a story about an evil mother and he wants nothing to do with her.

Sally came to see Molly is ok after their evening out. Molly admits to a bit of a hangover and tells Sally that she saw Tyrone get into Steve's taxi. Sally says it was a dentist appointment. Molly says it wasn't a dentist appointment because she went with him for one three weeks ago and Tyrone was also wearing his best shirt. Sally doesn't think that Tyrone would *ever* cheat on Molly. (unlike some people we know that would cheat on Tyrone!) Molly also found the lap dancing card and she's not happy that Tyrone is spending their money on naked women.

Owen has been summoned to the cafe by Izzy. She points out that Katy needs support, not a reason to hate her father. They talk about the inequality of fatherly attention (Izzy gets more than she needs and wants and Katy doesn't get enough) and how Chesney is a good lad. Izzy warns Owen not to go round and punch out Katy's first proper boyfriend because it will only make things worse. Owen thinks that's not a bad idea and jumps up and leaves Izzy to frantically text Katy.

In the pub, Graeme is down in the dumps as David joins him. All his jobs are slowly disappearing and he feels bad as he wants to take care of Tina.

Norris verifies to Mary that they are entering a new competition as Rita and Emily listen in. He rings off and then asks. How many bananas do you think I weigh? Rita insists that Norris tell Emily the news. Turns out that Graeme is innocent after all. No surprise there. Turns out that the guilty party is the computer repair guy that Norris sent the laptop to. Rita makes Norris admit the whole fiasco was his fault but when he does, she reckons it's not good enough. Grovel? he asks. Oh yes please. Emily agrees with a cheerful smile. Actually it's Graeme and Tina that need the groveling and he needs to beg Tina to come back to work.

John chats to Brian about the school. He says he didn't have a choice, he had to leave the job. Later on John tries to get Brian out the door but someone's knocking. It's Owen hollering for Chesney. John reluctantly answers it. Outside Steve is back from a job and Molly orders him over for an explanation. John lets Owen in and in the process of Owen telling John about Chesney and Katy spending the night together, calls him "John" about 15 times and makes it clear he's not happy about it with Brian listening carefully. John? Who's John?

Tvor

We open at the Stape residence where John is trying to explain why he is called John instead of Colin. John claims it is a mess and he comes up with another pack of lies to put Brian off the scent about his different identities. He told his former boss he'd witnessed a murder which is why he was going under different guises. He tells Brian that although he is Colin Fishwick he is "John" - his middle name and "Stape" his mother's maiden name. John is not in a witness protection programme - it would put Fiz in danger if "Mr Big" ever identified him. Brian assures John that he can trust him, no staff room gossip.

In the Rovers Tina rescues Graeme from drinking with David - she wants help decorating the flat. Graeme returns to the flat and criticises her paintwork and also tells Tina off for being rude to David in the Rovers. He tries to tell her that David is not as bad as she thinks. She says that she is not going to be friends with David - there is too much history.

Ty returns and with Molly upstairs puts his overalls on. She asks if he has got up to anything exciting. She sees he has a tie on under his overalls. Molly gives the two of them a tongue lashing over their afternoon in a strip club. Ty claims he only went to keep Jack company. Jack is now sorry he suggested it - Jack and Ty both go out.

Chesney and Katy are in the cafe and Chesney presents her with a watch and she claims to have told Owen but after a snog admits she is winding him up.

John explains to Brian that they met in a warehouse, not in a school. Brian now feels there is a link between the two of them. With Fiz there she is assured that Brian will also never let a word slip. Fiz is close to committing a murder, looking at John. A satisfied Brian left but then bumped into Julie in the Street. As he helped her to pick up her shopping, there was an instant chemistry between them, particularly when they discovered a shared love of Neil Diamond. He has seen Neil Diamond live seven times and Julie is in absolute awe.

In the kebab shop Graeme and David discuss Tina being difficult and jumpy and David confirms that she is mad about Graeme - but leave him out of it - he is bad for the relationship.

John and Fiz argue about Brian and John tries to re-assure her that Brian is an ally. John keeps assuring Fiz that his only concerns are her and the baby. They cuddle and will go to the Rovers later. Later when John and Fiz get to the Rovers they are not happy to see Brian and Julie enjoying a drink together and still discussing Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand. Julie and Brian sing each other "You don't bring me flowers any more".

Elsewhere, Owen threatened Chesney when the lad turned up with flowers for Katy. He throws the flowers to the ground and Owen pins Chesney to the wall and tells him to be extremely careful with his baby daughter. Chesney is worried as they go out for the evening. When they return Chesney tells Katy and then they decide to go upstairs together.

Molly is still giving Ty a telling off - but he had to do it for Jack in the little time he has let. Ty realises he has let the secret slip and tells her it in full. Molly now understands that Jack has come home to die - weeks rather than months and no chance of getting better. Jack just wants to enjoy himself and he wanted to go to a lap dancing club and why he gave them money. Molly is upset by all she has said. Jack returns and Molly gives him a big hug - Ty admits he has told her.

Brian and Julie are getting on well together and John and Fiz join them. John tries to point out that help with picking up groceries his hardly the basis of a relationship. Brian invites Julie out for dinner on Thursday evening.

Molly jokingly suggests having a knees up - and Jack says that is precisely what he wants - they can cry once he has gone. And Jack wants the secret kept. They promise not to mope or break the secret - but they will enjoy every second of their time together.

John and Fiz agree that they need to stop Brian and Julie getting involved.

K Richard W

While the rest of the workers chat in the kitchen area, a dreamy Julie sits at her workstation, staring into space. Fiz takes her a cuppa, and hears how Julie is thinking about Brian. She's got a good feeling, fate has brought them together, this could be the start of something big. Fiz is obviously alarmed. "Dreary old Brian? He's got a clicky hip," she says. Julie is not put off. "We clickied very nicely thank you," she says, adding that she's always admired teachers. Fiz sits down. "Don't you think he's a bit old for you?" she asks. Julie's always liked the man to be older. "And do you like the man to be married?" asks Fiz. Julie insists they're separated, Margaret has left him. "I wonder why?" says Fiz. Julie says that the spark has gone, people change. Fiz plays her trump card. "There were rumours he'd slept with a pupil," she whispers. "No!" exclaims Julie, "then no wonder he and John get on so well!" She walks off, leaving Fiz with nothing to say.

Claire and Ashley are at home. She's cross because their house isn't 'Property of the Week' in the local paper. Ashley thinks it's the wrong time of year to sell and they should take it off the market till the spring. She thinks the agents aren't marketing the house or the shop properly. Ashley says the books speak for themselves, his dad would turn in his grave if he knew how little they took last week. Claire thinks it's all down to Ashley not brushing up his sales techniques. Ash reckons there's no point, whoever buys it will turn it into a nail bar or something. Claire doesn't care what they turn it into, they'll take the money and run. She plans to call into the agents and give them some constructive criticism.

John summons Brian to see him, to talk about Julie. "What? My Julie?" asks Brian. "The woman you've known for all of 24 hours, yes," says John. "Luminous smile, hourglass figure, I've only hit the jackpot," says Brian. John reminds him he has a wife, but Brian scoffs and says he's been in the box room since Whitsun. John says he knows it's a big ask, but he wants him to cancel his date with Julie. She only knows him as John Stape, Brian slipped up and nearly called him Colin, the whole thing is just too risky for him and Fiz. Brian isn't having any of it, he's ironed his shirt and polished his shoes. Brian protests, Julie fancies him rotten and he isn't exactly beating them off with a stick. "What happens if you call me Colin again? What if you get drunk? I'm begging you here," John pleads. Eventually, reluctantly, Brian agrees. "Only for you, John boy."

Tyrone arrives home. Molly tells him both Jacks are asleep. Tyrone asks her not to mention his being upset the evening before. They share a kiss just as the back door opens and big Jack comes in, he's been to The Kabin for ciggies. Molly says she could've got those for him, and they're both concerned that he hasn't had any lunch. "Don't wrap me in cotton wool," he tells them, "I just want to do what I like, when I like, in whatever time I've got left." He says he's as happy as Larry there with the three of them and life full of memories. Tyrone looks very tearful.

Fiz meets up with John, bemoaning the fact that she couldn't put Julie off Brian. John tells her that when she switches her phone on she'll find Brian has blown her out. Fiz is greatly relieved and tells John to make sure Brian stays away, her blood pressure can't cope.

Graeme sees David outside the salon and asks if he'll help him later to construct some flat packed furniture he's bought, he's useless at that sort of thing. David eventually agrees to give him half an hour.

In the Rovers, Betty serves Jack with one of her hotpots. He tells her he would take one of them to his desert island. He kisses her hand. "You silly beggar," she says, obviously pleased.

Fiz rings Julie to invite her to the Rovers as she's sure she'll be feeling fed up, but only gets the voicemail.

Molly is now sitting with Jack when Emily comes in, looking for Rita. She's had wonderful news - an unknown benefactor has donated two thousand pounds to the church roof fund! Jack looks very uncomfortable as Emily goes on to say that now they can get the repairs done before winter sets in. She wanders off to the bar and Molly turns to Jack. "An unknown benefactor, eh? Can you move your head a bit to the side, your halo's blinding me!" Jack says he just wants to get into God's good books before he goes up there. "And tell the lad about me, will you," he says to Molly. "Every day," she says. He tells her that will bore him silly, just a mention in dispatches every now and again will be fine. Molly says people defy the doctors all the time, he could live for years yet. She read about a woman who went into complete remission. "I baffled our Vera for years," says Jack, "no reason why I couldn't do the same to the men in white coats, eh?"

At the bar, Fiz's phone rings. "It could be Julie," she says to John, looking at it. "Oh no, it's Maria." Betty asks if it's factory Julie they're looking for, only she's gone out on a date. Done up lovely she was! John remembers where John was planning to take Julie. "Come on!" he says, and drags Fiz off!

David and Graeme are attempting to put the flat packed furniture together, without much success until Graeme remembers Joe's tool kit and goes to fetch it. Just then Tina comes home and is shocked to see David sitting there. "Get out!" she snaps, so David gets up and goes quickly. "What was all that about?" asks Graeme, puzzled. Without answering, she goes into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

Julie and Brian have arrived at the posh restaurant and are shown to a table. Just then John and Fiz arrive and are given the table next to Brian and Julie.

In the flat, Graeme is trying to make sense of Tina's behaviour. He thinks it's because he was using Joe's tool kit. She tells him she over reacted and she's sorry, he should just ignore her. He starts to wonder why she was so hard on David, he doesn't understand. He asks if she wants to finish with him, he feels like he's making her unhappy. He thinks she still has feelings for David and begs her to tell him what's going on in her head. "The only thing we owe each other is the truth, so, is it David?" he asks. She's crying by now and she nods at him. "I knew it!" he says, not knowing at all.

In the restaurant, Julie tells Brian she wasn't expecting to double-date. Brian says he wasn't either. John leans over and tells them he and Fiz had the munchies and thought it would be fun. Julie tells him that Fiz spent most of the day trying to put her off him. Brian and Julie then go off to the toilets, and John tells them that he and Fiz will be gone when they return. Brian has, however, left his phone on the table and it starts to ring. John sees that it's Brian's wife and answers it, saying he's a waiter. He tells the caller the name of the restaurant, and that Brian is not alone, he's with a blonde. He and Fiz then make a hasty getaway.

Tina tells Graeme that she doesn't not love David, she hates him. She tells Graeme how she met Gail at her dad's grave and went back to Gail's house. She says that David walked her home and came in for a brew and then got all nostalgic and then started saying how he and Tina were meant for each other. She says how she told David that she's with Graeme now, but how he tried to kiss her and pushed her back on the sofa, grabbing her wrists. She swears that she didn't give David one bit of encouragement. Graeme has a look of fury on his face. "What did he do to you?" he wants to know. Tina says how he frightened the life out of her, and for a nano second she thought he might rape her, but he didn't.

In the restaurant, Julie and Brian are still having a fabulous evening, and finding lots of things in common. They clasp hands across the table, and as he kisses her hand his wife arrives! It takes Julie only about ten seconds to realise that Brian is not separated as he told her. She stands up and tells Margaret she's sorry, but she's not in the habit of dating married men. "I'd say you were welcome to him but you seem quite nice," says Margaret. Fighting back the tears, Julie leaves. Margaret drops Brian's phone into a glass of wine and leaves as well.

Tyrone and Molly are discussing Jack's condition. Molly says there are things they can do, get in touch with the Macmillan nurses and also find a hospice in case they need it later. Tyrone is adamant they won't need a hospice, they can look after him at home. "Jack dies here, he dies at home," he says.

Fiz and John are at home. She wants him to stop giving her migraines. He tells her the disaster was diverted. "Only just," Fiz reminds him. Just then there's a knocking at the door. Fiz thinks it will be Julie in distress, but it isn't, it's Brian, Margaret has kicked him out. Fiz tells him he must fight for his marriage, but Brian reckons that he and Margaret really are finished this time.

Graeme is becoming more furious with every passing moment. "I'll kill him," he says, "he needs to pay!" He then lists all manner of horrible things he would like to do to David. Tina tells him that now he's frightening her and begs him to leave it. She doesn't want Graeme getting hurt or getting into trouble. "I need you to promise me that you're not going to say or do anything," she says, adding that she doesn't want him banged up in a cell. "Ok, promise," he says, eventually, drawing her close to him, but staring thoughtfully over her head.

Anne Logan

Hello. This update comes to you with the news that there are just six weeks left until the days start getting longer here in the northern hemisphere - or shorter, in the case of you Kiwis and Ockers . . .

We begin this Friday night with Tina waking to discover Graeme is missing.

In the Stape household they've got the opposite problem - an extra (snoring) mouth. Fiz is spraying air freshener at Brian's stockinged feet as he sleeps on the sofa. There's a loud knocking at the front door and, of course, it's Julie. She's upset to see Brian is there but Fiz and John say they're not taking sides. Fiz hustles Julie off to work. It turns out Brian was playing possum and heard every word.

Graeme's hard at work, taking his anger out on an innocent window. He doesn't see why David should get off scot free but Tina assures him David has learned his lesson.

Across the road, Sophie and Sian discuss Sally and Kevin going off to Madrid for the weekend. Sophie doesn't see it so much as her mother giving them the freedom of the house as her mother setting traps for them. She insists Sally will be looking for clues of any rule-breaking at all.

Rita's giving Sally instructions on what to do in Madrid. She thinks it's the perfect time of year for Madrid but Sally prefers spring. Rita would love to be going away but she's without Norris. He's cooped up in Mary's motor home as they compose comedy captions for a competition. Sally admits she's worried about the girls - mainly because Sian is with Sophie this time. Rita tells her the anniversary is a cause worth celebrating and promises to check the house.

Brian questions John about his relationship with Fiz. He starts going on about his own boring marriage. He says he's only allowed out with the husbands of her friends. She managed to see off all of his. He's not having much luck remembering to call "Colin" John.

Claire dashes into the butcher shop where Graeme is cutting chops with a cleaver the size of Sussex. Claire's trying to tell Ashley something about her mother's mid-life crisis but keeps getting distracted by the ferocity of Graeme's attack. Her mother is moving in with her new man and they're buying a longhouse in Brittany. "Eight bedrooms, six bathrooms and an indoor swimming pool!" she trills. "Back of the net!" says Ashley, his mind on cheap holidays. He thinks it means they won't have to move away from Coronation Street now because Claire wanted to move to be closer to her mother. Claire tells him they were moving to get away from here, not for any other reason. As Claire leaves, Graeme silently hands Ashley the cleaver and he lays into the meat with just as much effort as Graeme's.

In the salon, David's giving an orgasmic head massage to someone at the basins. Gail comes in and peers out through the blinds, commenting on the amount of luggage they're taking and on the filthy state of Audrey's blinds. The blind falls on her.

Fiz and Julie are in the factory dealing with the tea dishes. Fiz thinks Julie's scraping the bottom of the barrel with Brian. Julie insists she felt a connection. She's always thought of herself as someone who will bounce back after a kick but there are only so many kicks a girl can take before she turns into Eileen. "I'm lonely," she admits. "And I think Brian's lonely too."

In the pub, David has somehow persuaded Dev to see how many spoons he can balance on his face. Steve helps. David sees Graeme come in and goes to the bar, greeting him in the usual matey way. Graeme steps away from the arm around his shoulder and pins David's arm to the counter. "I know what you did," he tells him in a low voice. "And if it weren't for Tina I'd hack your legs off with a size two cleaver. Now just stay away from us. All right?"

He pushes David away and tries to leave the pub but is stopped by Rosie, who is sure a butcher will know whether you can cook sausages in water. She tells Graeme she needs a drink, takes his arm and turns him back to the bar but Graeme glares at David and says he's fussy about who he drinks with. Rosie admits that she is too. "But for today I'll make an exception." Her agent rings just then and she answers but then goes on at Graeme about how annoying Sophie is, trying to give her instruction on how to cook.

Graeme sighs, tells her Sophie is right and Rosie needs a frying pan or a grill, then he leaves. Behind him, Rosie wonders whether gravy is the water sausages have been cooked in. David waylays him before the door and tells him it's all a misunderstanding and Tina stumbled. Graeme points out that David held Tina down. "You were gonna rape her!" he cries, pushing David back into Dev and the spoons. David screams that he loved Tina and would never hurt her as Dev tries to hold Graeme back.

As the argument spills out into the street Tina and Claire sees what's happening and run up as Dev and Steve let Graeme go. Claire tells him he's in no fit state to handle knives and sends him home. Tina tells him he's broken his promise that there will be no recriminations.

John's in the betting shop when Fiz comes in. She's surprised to discover Brian is with him and has been hanging around the betting shop all day. He's got compassionate leave from school. Fiz suggests he make it up with Margaret, his wife, but Brian says he's smitten with Julie. "You lied to her," points out Fiz. "Made a fool of her in front of a shop full of people." Brian dismisses that, so Fiz changes tack, telling him Julie is a "bunny boiler," and John backs her up.

Graeme's trying to explain the situation to Tina but she can't understand why it got physical when she was able to deflect David's aggression towards her using words only. She says she had things sorted but now Graeme's made her feel like nothing. She says it's Graeme's problem if he can't feel like a proper man without hitting David.

Claire's explained the Graeme problem to Ashley. She's pleased because they've finally got a viewing on the house. She warns him he has to be home by 5.30 so he can dust and put things in the loft. She won't take any arguments. "We are definitely selling this house."

A sullen David is visited at the salon by his mother. She wants to know about a supposed punch-up in the pub. "Ooh!" is all David says before he snatches a bunch of keys and storms out, pursued by Gail and by Audrey's shouts of "Put those keys back!"

Outside he gets into Audrey's car and drives off at high speed. "Nice one, Gail," says Audrey.

Brian's sitting drinking tea when Julie hammers on the windows. He rushes to duck down out of sight, spilling his tea and burning himself as he does so. He crawls to the kitchen and reaches for the cold water tap but there's Julie at the kitchen window now. She tries to tell him she knows he's there. She doesn't care what he's done. She's done things she's not proud of. But she knows the two of them could be good together. She suggests they make a fresh start. Brian's hiding down by the stove.

Ashley's finishing up at the shop, moaning to Graeme as they work. He hands Graeme some fillet steak and tells him "A few sauteed spuds and a nice bottle of red. You'll be back in Tina's good books before you know it."

Gail and Audrey are at Gail's and having no success getting David to answer his phone (well, he's driving!). Audrey takes the phone. She wants to ring the police. He took the car and she wants to report him. Gail points out that David's not even there and he's got them at each other's throats. So much for her shiny new start when she got out of prison. "No wonder Sarah left the country!"

Rosie's bamboozled by the kitchen. She tells Sophie she has to meet her agent, Alfie, to discuss something that's going to take her career to a whole new level. She's just taken a frozen pie out of the oven and doesn't have time to wait for it to warm through. She wants Sophie to cook but Sophie points out they agreed to take turns and it's Rosie's turn. Sian has grabbed the sausages out of the fridge and tells Rosie they can have an all-day cooked breakfast. If Rosie gets cooking, Sian and Sophie will go to Dev's for some eggs.

There's chaos in the Peacock household as the boys fight over toys and Claire tries to get flowers into vases before the potential buyers arrive. The doorbell goes and Josh races to answer it. Claire thinks it's Ashley. Of course it's the buyers, who enter the room in time to hear Claire say "What time do you call this? You said you'd hang that picture over the damp patch. I'm sweating like a pig in here." Mr and Mrs Withers look aghast at the mess and when they ask if there's been much interest in the house, Josh quickly tells them No.

Rita's kept her promise and is at the Websters' door, chatting with Rosie. In the kitchen, Rosie's left a towel in handy reach of the flames coming from the oven. She tells Rita that she knows time weighs heavily on someone of Rita's age, but she's trying to multi-task. "You're holding a hairbrush and having a conversation," Rita points out (most viewers will realise this level of multi-tasking would be a strain for Rosie). Rosie says she's got 27 other things to do if she's to get to town before seven . . . She suddenly stops as a thought hits her. "You haven't got a car, have you?" Rita says she's not the only busy bee round here. "Well buzz off then," says Rosie - and steps back as Rita suddenly advances on her. "I beg your pardon! I'm here because I promised your mother. She worries about you. God knows why!" Rosie says there's no need. They're fine.

In the kitchen, the flames have finished with the towel and started on the oven cloths and recipe books. Rosie screams as she goes back and discovers the fire.

Claire shows the visitors into the lounge (or lounge room if you're Australian). At the same time, she desperately tries to get through to Ashley's mobile. He pauses to answer it just as he and Graeme step out of the shop. He watched in horror as Graeme steps off the pavement and is thrown into the air by a speeding car. Tina sees it happen and is frozen to the spot as Ashley screams at her to call 999 and get an ambulance. Graeme lies very still. Ashley discovers the driver is David, now apparently unconscious. "And the police," he shouts.

The End.
Some nice comic touches in this episode, written by Jan McVerry.
Margaret Carr

Hi, here is the second episode update for Friday 15th.

Tina is screaming for Graeme and David is beginning to stir in the still car. Both Roy and Ashley phone for ambulance as a crowd gathers.

Sophie and Sian enter the Webster kitchen to find the walls charcoal black and a hysterical Rosie frantic over the state of her clothes. Sophie exclaims that it doesn't matter about the clothes, the kitchen is ruined!

Lloyd bangs on Gail's door and tells her David has been in an accident. As they rush to the scene, David has come out of the car and explains that he doesn't know what has happened. Tina yells at him that he knows exactly what he did as Graeme is led into an ambulance after paramedics check that he is still breathing.

Claire is showing a couple around the house as the boys misbehave. The couple are unimpressed with the decoration and the kitchen. The meeting is interrupted as Ashley phones Claire to tell her about the accident.

As the ambulance departs for the hospital, David is breathalised.

Ashley is being interviewed by police in the cafe. He says it all happened too fast for him to know what happened. Hayley rushes in, panicked, upon seeing the police cars outside and is relived to see that Roy is okay. Audrey asks Lloyd what happened and he tells her that he didn't see. Meanwhile, David assures police that he doesn't remember the accident as he was unconscious. Paramedics urge him to go to the hospital. Claire arrives too and hugs a shaken Ashley, glad that he is unharmed.

As Rosie moans that she can't go out, Sian and Sophie try and wash the blackness from the walls but it isn't working. Sophie warns Rosie that she'll have to use the money she has saved for the handbag she wants to pay for the damage but Rosie has other ideas... namely using the hangers on (boys who fancy her but don't stand a chance) to help out as she thinks she can make them do anything.

Julie rushes in to John and Fiz's house uninvited and begins gossiping about the crash. She asks where Bryan is and Fiz assumes that he has gone home. Julie's face drops and she sighs that he obviously wasn't the one. After she goes, however, Fiz and John are about to relax when Bryan comes out of hiding from the cupboard.

Graeme is rushed into hospital as paramedics and nurses shout emergency style medical jargon that even I, as the single most intelligent person on earth, couldn't understand. Tina stands by looking worried.

Bryan, Fiz and John are tucking into fish and chips. Bryan sighs that Julie is a fruit cake. Fiz urges him to get in contact with his wife but he refuses.

Gail and Audrey are sitting in the hospital. As Ashley and Claire walk by, Gail asks what they know but they reply nothing. Gail is wondering why Tina seems so sure that David deliberately ran over Graeme (maybe because he's a jealous psychopath?) but Audrey puts it down to distress.

Rosie is on the phone to hanger on number 5 who has just said he will help her with the kitchen if she agrees to put out. Surprisingly, she doesn't agree to this, Sian and Sophie are unimpressed with her abilities to get men to do what she wants. I wonder if she phoned Martin Rosen…?

Roy is telling Hayley that the sight of Graeme was very disturbing and he worried that he was dead. After admitting to feeling helpless, Hayley assures him that he did all he could.

David tells the nurse that he can't remember anything that happened. After refusing the invite to stay overnight, he tells Gail he has to find Tina and explain that it was an accident.

After Bryan charmingly announces that he is going to deposit some faecal matter into the toilet, Fiz rummages through his coat and finds his phone. She calls his wife and tells her he is desperately sorry and has talked of nothing but of pining for her. The sounds of Bryan singing upstairs (really, who sings on the toilet?) can be heard so John hastily closes the door to block it out. Bryan's missus tells Fiz she has to think on it.

Tina is being interviewed by police. She tells them that David drove the car straight at him...she is in no doubt that he tried to kill him. The surgeon takes Tina aside and says she can see Graeme before he goes into surgery. He is still in a critical condition and there is a risk of a spinal injury. Tina sobs as she looks at Graeme.

Bryan's wife has phoned him and agreed to give him another chance. With Fiz and John's encouragement he packs his bags.

Claire and Ashley are sitting together. Ashley tells her that this accident has put things into perspective for him. It's not bricks and mortar that it is important, but his family. He finally agrees to move away.

Rosie is whining that her modelling career will have gone up in smoke as she missed going out. Sophie says that it better not have... she will need all the money she can find to repair the damage in the kitchen.

Bryan has just left and Fiz and John are elated...until Julie bursts in in tears, clutching a bottle of wine. She can't cope with her loss. John looks exasperated as Fiz is forced to comfort her friend.

Audrey is being interviewed now and they are interested to hear that David didn't have permission to take the car. David is passing by and Tina reaches them. He asks how Graeme is and she spits that he shouldn't pretend to care, she knows what he has done. And if she loses Graeme, she will make sure he goes down for murder. Poor Gail is having a sense of deja vu…

That's all from me.
I couldn't bear to make any observations this week on an episode related to car crash injuries. Actually, I'm lying this time, I lost my notes!

More soon
Duncan Lindsay

Written By Mark Burt Directed by Pip Short

Ashley attacked David for what he believes he did to Graeme. He shouts at him and then points the police in David's direction. David still seems a bit stunned at the whole situation. Meanwhile, Graeme is hooked up to a ventilator while Tina waits anxiously by his bedside.

Becky has got Max dressed and fixed his hair and is squeezing him to bits, enjoying and loving him. Steve looks on bemused. Kylie staggers in, hung over and helps herself to Becky's tea. Becky is planning to take care of Max today and Kylie lies and says Roy gave her the morning off. She slopes back off to bed while Steve lifts an eyebrow. Don't even say it.

Rosie is calling a builder, Owen it turns out, while desperately trying to keep her top up and private bits covered with it. I think she's losing the battle. Anyway he's sending someone over to assess the job later. Sophie and Sian are making a list of supplies they need to get started back at college. Sophie questions Rosie's skimpy clothing. Rosie figures she will wow the builder into giving her a discount on the work. Sophie is gobsmacked. Sian asks what she'll do it it's a fat, sweaty bloke. Rosie simpers that will get an even bigger discount and she'll have enough left over to buy her designer bag. Who says feminism is dead, Sophie quips. Sophie insists that the wallpaper match exactly.

Ashley tells Claire that there's no change in Graeme's condition. Claire wants to go for a drive house hunting but Ashley says he's too distracted. Claire points out that this latest tragedy just adds to all their bad memories of Weatherfield. Ashley's resisting. Claire gets a text from her mother who's coming over.

Leanne is schmoozing a supplier by bluetooth mobile phone. Nick comes out and she tells him she's managed a great deal on the fancy coffee machine for the bar. She passes over some invoices to approve. He balks a bit at the cost but she points out that you have to spend it to make it. He sighs and eventually authorizes the payments. Carla pulls up behind them. Peter approaches her. They chat about how much Leanne is enjoying herself and how much she misses the buzz of starting a new project. She says she isn't going to start hitting the bottle again, has more things to worry about than that.

Claire and her mother are in the cafe. Her mother is telling Claire about where she is going to move in France. There's a lovely cafe/delicatessen there as well, far superior in atmosphere than Roy's Rolls. Claire takes a quick call off to one side and her mother declines Roy's offer of another coffee. Claire tells her mother they have a possible buyer for the house. Her mother makes an offer. Move to France with her and help her run the cafe/deli.

One of the detectives comes to hospital to talk to Tina to clarify her statement. Tina isn't really forthcoming but he insists. She gives Graeme a kiss on his forehead and follows him out the door.

David gets off the phone with the hospital and tells Gail that Graeme is still critical but stable. He'd lied and said he was Graeme's brother in America. David is still upset because he can't remember a thing. It's completely blank. Gail offers to fill in the blanks and urges him to tell her about the fight he and Graeme had in the pub, knowing he was upset when he took Audrey's car. David gets angry and shouts "What do you think I am? a psycho?" (um, yes, going on past experience!) Gail ignores that. David assures her he would never hurt Graeme and Gail says she believes him.

But Tina is telling the cop that David drove straight at Graeme without stopping. She believes it had to do with the fight and after being prodded she tells him the whole story about the near-assault. She admits David didn't hurt her but he did scare her. Graeme only just found out and reacted badly.

Jason is the builder that Owen sent. Rosie's face falls. She doesn't think she'll be able to impress him much.

In the corner shop, Gail and Audrey talk about how upset David is. Dev is highly sarcastic and obnoxious, he's got no sympathy whatsoever and clearly believes the worst of David. (Excuse me, who was it that was generating all the false accusations against Claire, Sophie and Sian just a few weeks ago? I wish someone would point that out to him! And what does it have to do with him anyway?) Gail defends David stoutly even though Dev insists there's a lot of personal bad blood between David and Graeme.

Tina sobs that she's lost so much and now might lose Graeme too. She paints David as a poison-spreader, someone that causes destruction and devastation all around him. The DC asks again if David hurt her that night but she just wipes a tear and shakes her head, "No more than usual" she says softly as she leaves.

Jason has had a look at the burned kitchen and they start haggling over the price, settling at 325 pounds. He's not above getting an eyeful, though.

Ciaran chats to Nick and Leanne in the cafe and ends up getting a job offer as a chef in the new bar. He says he's interested and gets off just as Peter arrives. Leanne sends Nick off to talk to Carla about the money and Peter smiles at her. She admits she's having a great time and thanks him for being understanding. Kylie finally shows up. Roy tells her she could have called. Becky and Max come in after their morning out. Kylie helps herself to a sticky bun for the lad and objects to having to pay for it. Becky hears him refer to Kylie's unexpected absence and tries to make Kylie apologize. None forthcoming and in fact, her attitude is so high and mighty that Roy asks her to leave and not bother working the rest of her shift. He was that close to sacking her too! Becky is mortified as Kylie takes the bun from Max and tosses it back at Roy.

Carla is finagling on the phone with the bank manager, the one whose meeting she ditched when she was drunk. Nick comes in looking for his money and wants it today. She stonewalls and he says he'll just sell his shares to someone else. She figures he's bluffing but he says he's not. He gives her until the end of the day.

Claire and her mother are at home now as her mother explains all the plans. Ashley will be the one running the deli as that's his area of expertise. Claire loves the idea. Ashley comes home and sees two smiling faces ready to gang up on him.

David slopes around the house, clearly worried. Gail and Audrey confront him with what Dev had told them about how bad the pub fight really was, far more serious than David had let on. He tells them his version of the night with Tina. In his version, they had a few drinks and everything was relaxed and he says he tried to kiss her, misread the signs. He says she went ballistic and he left and when Graeme found out, he came after David. David implies that Graeme thinks he tried to rape Tina but swears it never came close to that and Tina has blown it out of proportion. (Well, it wasn't that close but it was enough to scare her at the time, wasn't it? He says She says.) Gail is shocked but someone comes to the door. It's the police. David admits to his Gran he's really scared and they approach and arrest him on charges of attempted murder. Oh crap!

Tvor

Written by Mark Burt and directed by Pip Short.

David climbs into the back of a police car with Gail promising to follow him to the station.

Tina is telling the unconscious Graeme how David is going down based on what she has told the police. She tells the nurse she feels useless but she re-assures her that talking to Graeme is good. Apparently Graeme's brother has phoned - from America and he is having difficulties getting a flight over. This news surprised Tina who is unaware of a brother.

Ashley is telling Claire they cannot speak French and whilst he can be a butcher anywhere he does not want to be a butcher in France. Claire accuses him of being a little Englander - and Ashley admits to be guilty as charged and he leaves Claire and Yvonne.

In the Rovers Kylie is getting a telling off from Becky and Steve joins in. Disrespecting Roy is not allowed.

Jason is busy decorating and Rosie has virtually no clothes on. Jason takes his top of and Rosie claims his body is not good - he defends himself. She accuses him of loving himself, which he denies.

David's solicitor is talking David through the events - the earlier exchange, the use of the car and David is still claiming he can remember nothing. He has been charged with attempted murder - and there does appear to be a solid motive.

In the Rovers Ashley, Lloyd and Steve are discussing the move to France and suggest that Ashley puts the pantaloons on and takes charge. Steve and Lloyd take the mickey - but will not take on Claire as she is really scary.

Gail and Audrey discuss David's plight. Gail decides to go and see Tina.

After the break David is being interviewed by the police - David still has no recollection of the accident and the policeman confirms that there was no drink or drugs involved and there was no significant trauma - possibly mild concussion. So the police have a problem - which means David must be lying.

At the hospital Gail finds Tina and says "hello love" and then asks after Graeme. Tina has worked out that David was posing as the American brother. Gail just wants the truth.

Kylie is marched into the cafe and apologises to Roy - she is not keen on the 9 to 5 routine. She knows that really Roy does not want someone unreliable like here working for him so she accepts that she cannot be unsacked and the position is unchanged. Roy applauds her honesty but less so her attitude and application. However he feels people can reform and tells her to turn up at 8 o'clock sharp. Becky gives ROy a huge hug and calls him a star. She hustles Kylie out.

Claire and Yvonne discuss the way to get Ashley to change his mind and anyway Claire makes the decisions - this is going to happen because Claire deserves "happy ever after". Later Claire and Ashley discuss the situation - but Ashley calls Yvonne a nutcase and he wants Claire to agree that they will not swap countries and they argue.

Gail and Tina continue to discuss the events - with Gail not believing the story. Tina tells Gail about the time David attacked her and forced her onto the couch - which was why Graeme attacked David. Tina says however that David could not go through with a rape - but a murder is a different matter. Tina tells Gail that David is obsessed with her and therefore makes life difficult for her boyfriends. Tina saw what happened and she wants him to pay for it.

Jason has got the wallpaper - but it is close and not close enough. He has to go and get the right colour.

In the Rovers Leanne and Nick are discussing music for the bar - sophisticated and unobtrusive. Nick offers Michelle a job - but she will only leave for something completely different. Carla comes in and hands over £125k for his share in the business - it is £5k short and whilst Nick considers it a stitch up he takes the papers and goes to see his solicitor.

In the back room Steve and Becky are playing a console game when Kylie arrives and is clearly going out for the night as Max is fast asleep upstairs. They tell her not to make it a late one. Becky reminds her she is expected at work at 8. Becky tells Steve she is simply trying to be a good sister and no sooner has Kylie gone than we hear Max over the baby monitor.

In the bar Carla, Michelle and Leanne discuss matters and Carla appears to be in a bad way. She has got the money by borrowing more against the flat.

David returns home - released on bail. Even David is starting to doubt his story and Gail admits she knows - but again David cannot remember - Gail wants to believe him - but it is proving difficult. Like David believed in Gail?

See you next week.
K Richard W

We open with a shot of Graeme lying in his hospital bed attached to monitors. Tina sits beside him, but is asleep, leaning on the bed.

In the Platt household, David wanders into the kitchen. Gail says she's trying to understand what happened. So is David. Gail thinks he ought to have something better to say when he talks to the police, but David is adamant he can't remember a thing. Gail says that people saw what happened, there were witnesses. David loses his temper and flings the kettle across the worktop. "Are you not listening to me?" he snaps, "I don't remember anything, how many ways would you like me to say it?" Gail flinches, but carries on regardless. She understands how hard it's been for him, seeing Tina with Graeme... He stops her, says his best friend is in hospital and he thinks he, David, might be losing it. "You best friend is in hospital because you attacked his girl friend and ran him over!" shouts Gail. David says it wasn't like that, he knows Gail doesn't believe a word he says. Gail says it doesn't matter what she thinks. "You're my mother, of course it does," he says, and storms out.

The Peacocks are still battling over the house move. Ashley says that when he agreed to move he thought she meant Oldham or somewhere in Cheshire. "It's France, not Fiji," says Claire, "it's an hour away by plane." Ashley can't see why she wants to move hundreds of miles away from all their mates.

Tina, who's obviously been out, goes back in to see Graeme and is overjoyed as he starts to come round and talk to her. She rushes out of the room screaming for a nurse.

Breakfast time at the pub. Steve is a bit put out with Becky because Max slept in their bed while Kylie went out clubbing. He feels Kylie's taking advantage. Just then Kylie wanders in and tells them how while she was out last night she ran into her old friend Cassie who's asked her to go to Aiya Napa with her and a load of mates. Kylie's really excited and is off to meet her friend at the travel agents to put down a deposit. Becky and Steve look stunned as Kylie rushes off to work.

Graeme has fallen back to sleep but the doctor checks him over and says it's a natural sleep, they've stopped the sedatives so he's well on the road to recovery. It'll take some time but he's a very lucky lad. Just then Graeme wakes up again and calls for Tina. She rushes to his side. He asks where he is, what happened. She tells him he's in hospital, he was in an accident. "What happened?" he asks again. She tries to fob him off but he persists. "What happened?" Eventually she tells him it was David.

Jason is busy decorating the Webster's kitchen, when Rosie gets a call to go for a modelling job. Someone's dropped out and she's needed right away. She rings Eileen and asks for a cab to come straight away, but is told that it'll be 40 minutes. "I can't wait that long, it's an emergency!" she says. As it's not a medical emergency, Eileen is not impressed and ends up hanging up on her. Rosie starts to panic, she has to be there in half an hour, and starts looking for the number of another taxi firm. Calmly pasting wallpaper, Jason tells her to calm down. "But this could be my big break," she cries, "I'm modelling this amazing new sexy range of underwear!" Jason suddenly gives her all his attention. "Where is it you need to get to?" he asks.

Carla is talking to Michelle in the Rovers. She asks where Ciaran is. Michelle tells her that she's sure Liz is fixing the rota so they can't work together. Carla thinks she probably doesn't want them groping each other behind the bar. They discuss work, and Michelle tells Carla about a T-shirt that Ryan used to have with a Velcro strip across the front and detachable letters so he could change the slogan. Carla likes the idea.

Becky tells Steve she's taking Max into town for some new shoes. He asks if she's not bothered that his mum is flitting off and leaving him. Becky points out it's only for a couple of weeks. Steve says that of course, during that time Becky will get to be full time mummy, which she'll love, and he wonders if she's squared it with Roy that Kylie's having all this time off. Becky says maybe she'll do a couple of shifts herself. "You're a fool," says Steve.

Tina is sitting at Graeme's bedside when David opens the door. "What are you doing here?" snaps Tina, "come to finish off the job? Put a pillow over his face?" David says he doesn't know what happened and swears he would never have intentionally hurt Graeme. Graeme however, doesn't seem convinced and tells David he's going to make sure he's sent down for this.

Audrey and Gail are in the salon, discussing the situation. Audrey is convinced that Tina has had it in for David for months and will say anything to get him into trouble. Gail isn't so sure of David's innocence, however. Just then David comes in and tells them he's been to see Graeme. "He thinks I did it an' all, same as her," he says, pointing at Gail. Audrey is shocked. "David! You're on bail," she says. David says he went because he thought Graeme might be able to tell him what happened, or would tell the police that he'd never to anything like that. "Why would I want to kill one of the few people in my life who actually cares about me?" he says.

Jason has taken Rosie to her modelling job. (What a surprise!) As she waits in her dressing gown, the photographer, Flash, comes in. Apparently the male model has had a better offer and isn't coming, so the job is off. Rosie is devastated, this job was going to pay for her new handbag. "I need that handbag!" she wails. "And I need a male model," says Flash. Suddenly Rosie's gaze falls upon Jason.....

As Claire brings the children home from school she finds Ashley and Kirk taking down the For Sale sign that's fixed to the front of their house. She's furious. "Put it back," she cries, "this house is half mine!" "Fine," says Ashley, "you sell your half, and good luck to you." Ashley says he's sick of her dictating what can and can't happen with their family. He doesn't want to move and neither do the boys. She points out that he agreed. He admits he did agree to move, but not to emigrate. Claire orders Kirk not to take the sign down. Ashley tells her that won't do any good, he's taken the house off the market.

Back at the studio, Flash is asking a scantily clad Rosie if she's sure Jason is up to the job. "Of course," she says, "he's the reigning Mr Gay Weatherfield!" Just then Jason emerges wearing only a pair of underpants. "I can't believe I'm doing this," he mutters. Rosie tells him to keep smiling and remember he's earning 200 quid. The shoot begins, with Jason looking a little awkward at first, but then, as Rosie drapes herself all over him, he starts to get into it.

Gail and Audrey are now in Gail's kitchen talking about David. Audrey tells Gail how hard David fought when she was on remand. She wonders if he's had a kind of breakdown from the strain of it all. Just then David comes downstairs with a packed hold all, telling them he's not going back inside. Audrey tells him not to be ridiculous, this isn't The Fugitive. "My best friend thinks I did it, my own mother thinks I did it, what chance have I got with a jury of strangers?" he says. Audrey says that the police will put out a warrant for his arrest and he'll be ten times worse off than he is already. Gail tells him he has to face this. "Tell the truth," she says. David starts to cry. "I am telling the truth but nobody is listening, I don't remember anything," he sobs. Audrey puts her arm round him and helps him to a chair. "Nobody is this good an actor," she says to Gail.

Carla is in the Rovers again. She tells Michelle that she put the Velcro T-shirt idea to a customer who then ordered ten thousand. She asks Michelle to come and work for her.

Steve and Becky are discussing the Max and Kylie situation when Kylie comes in. She says she's got her tickets and sorted her passport, so she's ready to go. They point out that she's only just got Max back, and the last thing he needs is for his mum to abandon him again. "Abandon him? He's coming with me!" says Kylie, adding that her friend Cassie is bringing her two little ones as well. He'll love it. (I find it hard to believe that she's got a passport for Max all sorted out in an afternoon!)

David is being interviewed by the police. He is still adamant that he has no recollection of what happened, Graeme is his mate and he'd never hurt him. The police aren't convinced, they've spoken to Graeme and he's confirmed what Tina already told them - that they had a big fight and a few hours later he drove at him, full pelt, in his gran's car. David says he doesn't even remember seeing him. The police say that the report on the car shows no sign of mechanical failure. David puts his head in his hands.

Jason and Rosie arrive back home. Jason says he'll be back in the morning to carry on with the decorating. "Thanks for today," says Rosie. They look at each other for a few seconds and then he kisses her, and within moments they're ripping each other's clothes off!

Back at the police station, the police officially charge David with the attempted murder of Graeme Proctor. "This can't be happening," cries David, "why won't anyone believe me?"

Anne Logan

We begin at Gail's, where David sits glumly downstairs, breakfastless. He tells Gail he's going out for a walk while he still has that choice. "What time are we going?" she asks. He tells her she's not going. He doesn't want her "doing that big teary-eyed thing" and getting sympathy for what her son's done now. Gail wants to be there but David points out she doesn't believe him. "Tell them it was an accident," she says, proving it.

Rosie comes downstairs in some pretty nightwear and Sophie tells her the kettle's just boiled. Rosie wonders if it ever occurred to Sophie to make her a cuppa but Sophie points out it didn't, because Rosie's never up at this time. "And Rosie, what are you doing with a face full of make-up?" The doorbell goes just as Rosie says she's just trying out some new colour combinations. Yeah, right. Of course it's Jason, who barely seems to notice what Rosie's wearing. Sophie asks her sister: "Has it ever occurred to you that being totally transparent isn't necessarily a good thing?"

Chris finds Cheryl out in the street calling for Lloyd and Russ to hurry up. He seems annoyed as he sees Lloyd bonding with his son. He says he knows it's not his weekend but he's got tickets for the game tomorrow. Cheryl points out they've got plans to go bowling but Russ eagerly points out they can go bowling another time. As they stand round, Maria crosses the road and drops her shopping as she tries to get the stroller up to the pavement. Chris rushes to her help and Cheryl tells Lloyd that's what Chris was like when she first met him.

Jason and Rosie chat, with Rosie all hair-tossing and glistening lips. He says he enjoyed yesterday and she starts going on about how it always is the first time and that next time he'll be more relaxed . . . it takes him a minute to click that she's talking about the photo shoot.

Becky's setting up the bar with Kylie helping. That makes Becky suspicious. Becky tells her Liz has been going on about the new bar. Kylie's about to go off to Roy's and Becky won't let her go until she's given a lecture on how unfair it would be to take Max to Ayia Napa. She points out that Social Services will never agree to it, so it doesn't matter. Kylie argues that Social Services won't know unless someone tells them and it's the chance of a holiday. Becky says if she can afford to go to Cyprus then she can afford to go somewhere more suitable for Max. "Get off me case, will ya!" says Kylie, wondering if it would suit Becky more if she left Max behind.

Graeme's realise he's got a Get Well card from Rita and Norris and one from Emily and Norris. Tina kisses him. Graeme says he's been thinking that if David had been driving a bigger car he'd be dead. He says how lucky he is to have Tina by his bedside.

Cheryl and Lloyd are in the cafe. Cheryl doesn't like Chris being around and doesn't like being manipulated by him. Anna's clearing tables and doesn't hear Lloyd ask after Gary - but that's because she's listening to the news through an earpiece. Kylie's also listening to something and doesn't hear Roy tell her to serve Dev. Steve comes in and sits with Dev and Kylie rushes to serve Steve. Dev demands to be served first, before he dies of caffeine withdrawal. Kylie asks Steve if Becky sent him but he denies it. Kylie tells him her idea about leaving Max behind. "If I go to Spain on my own, everybody's happy." Steve points out that Ayia Napa is in Greece. Dev corrects him, saying it's in Cyprus. Steve doesn't like the idea of her leaving Max.

David's looking glum in his going-to-court clothes. Gail wants to go and support him as he supported her. David says he supported her because he thought she was innocent, not because he thought he should. Audrey arrives. He says at least if he's locked up he won't have to live with Gail. Audrey tells Gail she should have kept her mouth shut and not been so thoughtless. Gail wonders if Audrey was being thoughtless when she accused Gail of killing her husband.

Chris is in the cafe and meets Maria who thanks him for coming to her rescue. Liz watches as he chats up Maria. Kylie takes Maria's payment and also takes a wodge of notes from the till as she does so. Liz asks Maria about Chris and bets her he's going to ask her out. Kylie takes off her apron, ready for a quick exit but Roy stops her for another telling off. Kylie endures it and Roy tells her tomorrow is her last chance. "You don't have to worry about me tomorrow, I promise," she grins, barely getting outside the cafe before checking on just how much she's nicked.

Tina's still at the hospital. Graeme wonders if there's any possibility that it really was an accident. After all, David's her friend. Tina's sure David deliberately drove the car straight at Graeme. She thinks David's just trying to save his own neck. She reminds Graeme about David sending flowers and a text after her dad dies. She plans to go to court to watch his appearance.

Maria meets Chris in the street again and they flirt.

As Audrey and David get into a taxi Dev shouts that it's lucky he's not behind the wheel. Lloyd and Gail shout back.

Sophie's asked what she thinks as Jason finishes up his work in the kitchen. She approves but points out "the only thing that'll make them suspicious is that we've cleaned up." Jason asks Rosie if she's happy with the job. She is but she rebuffs Jason's attempt at a hug - she asks if he can see himself out because she's got things to do.

Becky and Steve give Max his tea and Steve says there's no way Kylie is swanning off and leaving them with the boy and he told her so. Roy arrives. He's discovered there's money missing from the till. Becky barges out and comes back saying all Kylie's stuff is gone. Roy's a bit put out. Kylie's on the rota to work tomorrow. Becky apologises and Max asks for his mummy.

Audrey and David wait and talk to his lawyer who says the court is running a little late. David sees Tina arrive and wants to have a word but Audrey holds him back.

Chris goes into the salon and sees Maria. He tells her he's got a problem with this gorgeous woman stalking him. He wonders if his hair could do with a tidy up. This is odd, since his hair is about half a centimeter long all over. Maria says she'll try but she points out that if she makes him even more irresistible then his stalker might not be able to restrain herself. "That's the plan," he says. He says the wonderful job Maria will do on his hair will give him enough confidence to ask the stalker out for a drink. "Do you think that will work?" Maria thinks it just might.

Jason's in the shop and says it could easily have been Jason whom David tried to kill. In fact, Dev thinks David looked at him in a funny way, too. As Jason leaves, Rosie comes in and Jason says he forgot to ask her about payment for the kitchen job. "You want paying as well?" she demands. Jason's a bit taken aback by that. Rosie says he earned a lot of extra money yesterday, thanks to her, and he got to work with one of the top models in the area. "That'd be me." She says he got paid to see her in lingerie. She slams out of the shop, very annoyed.

Becky and Steve are at home, talking about Kylie. Becky says she should have known what Kylie would do. Becky's found a note from Kylie in Max's bed. She says sorry and wants them to apologise to Roy and says she was forced to nick the money because Steve wouldn't lend it to her.

David's a bit twitchy and Audrey asks if he's OK. The lawyer comes to fetch them. David stands up but falls to the fall unconscious.

The end of the first episode.
Margaret Carr

We are back in the courtroom with David unconscious on the floor. As Audrey panics over him, Tina commends his acting abilities, confident that he is faking his collapse.

Becky is having a go at Steve, asking him why he didn't follow Kylie to the airport. He reminds her that it would be impossible to get through security...besides, the thought of a fortnight without Kylie is quite appealing. You said it!

David has come round and doesn't appear to know what's going on. Tina is fuming when it emerges that the trial has been adjourned. She yells at David that he can't escape justice forever.

Becky thrusts a wad of cash on Roy and Hayley. Roy tells her that the debt is not hers to pay but Becky eventually puts it into the till herself.

David is in hospital and a nurse asks if he has a history of collapsing. He remembers passing out while helping Graeme move in and then suddenly clicks that it was the same feeling as when he passed out at the wheel of the car. The nurse says that the symptoms seem to describe epilepsy.

Steve tells Becky that she had better not be planning to pay Roy that money back as it is not their responsibility. Becky assures him she won't...but then Roy comes in and hands her the money back, saying he can't take it. Steve looks unimpressed and says Kylie will never learn if people keep bailing her out.

Rosie comes up to the builder's yard and reluctantly hands over the money she owes Jason. She tells him that she can no longer afford the handbag she was after now. He looks amused.

The nurses are telling David that they will have to send away for an official diagnosis but David isn't as concerned about his health as he is about being proven innocent. His lawyer agrees that if it transpires he has epilepsy, it could be good for his case.

Becky and Steve are arguing over Kylie again. Steve tells her he is sick of Kylie being protected by everyone after what she did. He tells her that he caught her stealing from Becky's handbag and she even made a pass at Steve. Becky becomes insecure and assumes that Steve was tempted but he tells her in no uncertain terms that it couldn't be further from the truth.

Tina is telling Graeme about David ‘fake fainting' David bursts in and Tina tells him to get out. David tells them about the fact that he may have epilepsy, but both are disbelieving.

Jason visits Rosie and holds up a newly bought handbag. She squeals with delight until she realises that it isn't the real deal. Jason tells her that no way was he paying a grand for a handbag...and he goes on to say that it'll be their secret that it's fake.

Gail is wondering why David and Audrey haven't gotten in touch. She feels frozen out but Liz assures her that it's normal.

Dev and Lloyd are gossiping about David and, as Dev tells him to mark his words that

It'll be a long time before David walks through the door again, David comes in. Gail is speechless by his arrival

Becky wonders aloud where Kylie is now and if she has spared a thought for her son. Steve tells her to forget about her and focus on looking after Max. She agrees.

Lloyd watches with concern as Chris and Maria chat closely.

Gail is worrying about the health implications over David having epilepsy. David reminds her that he is trying to have a drink with his gran and tells her to leave them be. She reluctantly goes.

As Chris goes to the toilet, Lloyd takes Maria to one side and warns her off Chris, telling her that he used to be violent to Cheryl.

Rosie invites Jason to stay and he teases her saying he's not sure how much time he has. Eventually, they both put aside their game playing and head upstairs.

Chris wants to take the night further with Maria but she makes up a lie about Liam being unwell and leaves him alone. He looks suspiciously at Lloyd, who smirks over at him.

Gail comes back over to David and says she must be forgiven as it was only a flicker of doubt. David says that that is enough and any kind of relationship they had before is now over.

A terrible loss, I'm sure...
Until next time...
Duncan Lindsay

Written By Chris Fewtrell Directed by Durno Johnston

Eddie comes home after a shift and notices a bouquet of flowers on the step of the factory. He slips out and picks them up.

David is dressed in a shirt and tie and heading to a court hearing this morning. Gail reckons the charges will be dropped once they find out he's had a medical reason for the accident. He's not so sure. Audrey arrives and is worn to watch the eggshells! She and Gail try to be reassuring but David isn't having it. He's not so sure being diagnosed with epilepsy is any better than a jail sentence, not coping too well with the idea of having a chronic illness. He cracks a few politically incorrect jokes, much to their dismay. And what if it isn't epilepsy? Maybe it's a brain tumour! He's in a right state, poor lad. Gail can't seem to get herself together and Audrey plays tough love. He's got to face it for what it is and understand his life isn't over. He just wants to prove to his best friend that he wouldn't hurt him.

Ashley has spent the night on the too-small sofa. Claire isn't very sympathetic to his aches and pains. She ushers the boys upstairs to get ready for school and Ashley to get ready to open the shop.

Becky offers Max and Amy a trip to the zoo. That goes over as well as you'd expect with two kids jumping up and down with excitement. Max asks after his mummy but Becky fobs him off and sends the kids off to get their shoes on. Becky grudgingly apologizes for going off on one at him and admits she knows it was all Kylie's fault, trying it on with Steve. They hug and then talk about the zoo.

Graeme is trying to make bad jokes with the nurse. Tina arrives to pick him up as he's going home today. She pretends to be jealous that he's flirting with the nurse. He admits that it's all true about men loving women who wear nurse's uniforms. She laughs. Tina's off to the court to attend David's hearing later. Graeme is just looking forward to going home and getting back to their day to day rhythms. He doesn't want to go to the court.

In the cafe, Anna is sympathetic when Gail tells her that David is ill and isn't responsible for the accident. Gail hasn't gone to the hearing since David didn't want her there. She doubted him and doesn't really blame him for rejecting her at the moment. Anna pats her arm and says that he'll need her in the end, no matter how it pans out. She gets up as Eddie arrives with a big bouquet for her. Yes, the one from the factory. She's excited with his romantic works and gesture. She offers to cook him a few sausages for him as thanks, her treat and puts the flowers to one side.

Chris comes round the corner as Cheryl comes out onto the street. He whinges at her about Lloyd telling Maria bad things about her leading Maria to leave their date early. (Oh poor baby!) Chris threatens Lloyd, he'll regret it if he interferes again. Over the road, Becky and the boys come along just as the McDonald's are getting into the car to head to the zoo. Amy shows Becky a drawing she's done of an alligator that Becky guesses is Nana Deirdre! (Ha! it *does* have big round eyes on it like big specs!) She turns the paper over and reads it and her eyes widen. She snatches the letter and runs inside to make a phone call, leaving Steve gape-mouthed.

Molly tells Tyrone that the baby is asleep and Jack is singing to him. They talk about things and Molly suggests they move the christening forward under the circumstances. Tyrone offers to call the vicar and sort it out. He really wants Jack to be there.

Becky is on the phone to someone, trying to get them to change their minds about something to no avail apparently and makes an appointment, assuring the caller that "she'll" be there (meaning Kylie, not herself). Turns out Social Services is expecting to come for a visit and Kylie had put them off four times already so they won't be put off again. Oh No! What is Becky going to do with Kylie out of town on holiday! No trip to the zoo today!

Becky runs around the back room trying to tidy up. She admits to Steve she didn't tell them that Kylie has only just popped out and would be back for the meeting. Steve shouts at her but Becky didn't know what else to say. She's in a panic because she thinks that if the Social finds out that Kylie has legged it, they'll take Max away for good. Becky says she'll think of something.

Graeme and Tina have arrived home. He hobbles across the street on crutches as Gail comes out of the Kabin. Awkward words are exchanged about how he's doing. She admits David didn't want her at the hearing and tells them that David's ill and says how sorry he is. Tina is unsympathetic.

Claire answers the back door. It's Becky in a state. She asks if Claire can mind Amy and tells her about the Social and Kylie's absence. Still doesn't know what she's going to tell them.

Tyrone has rearranged the christening without a problem. Jack quips that christenings do matter. They didn't get Terry done and look how he turned out! If he tried to get christened now, he'd get third degree burns! Molly and Tyrone chuckle. Jack offers to pay for the catering and insists on it. What has he got to spend his money on, after all? He's happy Tyrone and Molly are going to benefit from it. He orders them to tell Betty not to stint on the food. It's going to be a proper celebration.

In the cafe, Lloyd is having a cuppa. Cheryl comes in and asks Lloyd to back off and stop provoking Chris so that he stays off her back. He insists he couldn't stand by and see a friend go through what Chris put Cheryl through (too right!) Eddie returns, he'd come back for a custard slice. She offers that on the house too. The flowers are still on the counter where she left them (is that allowed in a restaurant?) She picks them up and discovers that there's a card. Eddie looks a bit surprised and then highly shifty. She wants to open it right here and read his romantic words and nothing he says can deter her. What's on the card? Rest In Peace!!!! She blows up, thinking he took them from a cemetery and starts beating him with the bouquet.

Audrey joins Gail in the pub and tells her that the case will be sent for trial. They haven't got a firm diagnosis so they won't take it as read. Once there is a diagnosis, that can be presented at the trial and will likely have the similar and desired outcome, so the solicitor says. David is bailed but there's a condition. He has to stay well away from Tina and Graeme so he has to stay at Audrey's.

Becky comes out to the bar and tells Steve that Max is down for a nap. He has no idea what they're going to do. Becky is in the "wing it" camp. What else is there to do? She'll probably do something on the spur of the moment (be afraid!)

Claire is applying first aid to a bruise on Joshua's stomach. She'd face painted the kids as zoo animals and Freddie decided his lion had to chew the stomach out of Josh's Zebra because he'd seen it on telly! Ashley figures the kids are taking out the stress of them fighting. She agrees and he suggests a change of scene. She's not really up for a wet weekend in Rhyll and they start arguing again. It ends with Ashley stomping out to the Rovers.

...where Gail is astonished that Audrey never called her earlier. Audrey criticizes her for doubting him originally. Behind the bar, Becky is still trying to think of a plan. Time's running out and Steve figures the truth is the only way out. Becky figures that's the worst thing they could do because they'll lose Max. They bicker as a short, portly woman arrives to be served. But it turns out she's the Social worker, but not the regular one, Jemma, who's out with emergency dental work. Becky turns away and puts her hand over her necklace, that one that says BECKY. Uh oh........ Yep, you guessed it, she zips up the top over it and she introduces herself as...Kylie! And the fun continues next half.

Tvor

Well good evening. I see we are still behind and so without more ado over to Weatherfield where events tonight were written by Damon Rochefort and directed by Durno Johnston.

Kylie (more usually know as Becky) and Steve are entertaining the substitute social worker who thinks she is really talking to Max's mother. The social worker admits that people do not like social workers and this is just a little visit. Max is asleep after unloading the brewery dray. The social worker says she is not in a hurry. They feed Miriam the social worker and she wants to see Becky who is out shopping. The social worker then asks for a biscuit with her cuppa.

Mary and Norris are having no success in winning competitions and Mary is planning to give up - she was looking forward to the holiday. Mary suggests Doris needs a rest as well and she suggests they go away for the weekend. Tina comes in and hears Norris say he is short staffed and he asks if Tina would take up her old position. Norris almost apologises for his error and wants to put things right. Norris even gives her an extra pound an hour and she agrees to return.

Leaving the Kabin Tina and Graeme meet Gail who updates them on David who has got bail and is staying with Audrey.

In the factory they are discussing why flowers were left on the doorstep earlier and there seems no simple explanation. Eddie had picked them up and when Anna found the card saying "Rest in Peace" she went mad and beat him up all the way to factory and then dumped the flowers on Julie. There is a mad person on the loose and it is not Tony Graham.

Ashley is still moaning about the move to France - and he is refusing to learn French and move to France. Graeme and Tina reckon he should just give in - but at the moment he shows no signs of capitulating.

David is not happy at his circumstances and Audrey had hoped that she would be retired by her age and not saving her son from prison.

The social worker she a picture of Kylie/Becky and still appears not to twig. Becky brings Max down and hopes that he will not give the game away. Max confirms he likes living in the pub and the social worker departs having apparently swallowed the story - but she will need to see Becky at a later date. Becky has got away with her deception.

Molly tells Sal that the christening will be next week. Apparently Madrid was a good break. Sally can smell paint - and no-one can work out why there should be the smell of paint in the house (but we know don't we readers).

Kev returns home and is surprised to see the baby and almost gets to hold him before being sent to get out of his dirty overalls. After changing Sal talks a reluctant Molly into allowing Kev to cuddle the baby briefly before Molly departs. In the background Sophie finds an open nail varnish which is allegedly the cause of the paint smell.

Becky and Steve argue over the deception and Becky says that she will solve the problem. Steve heads out to take Amy for a pizza as re-assurance that she is part of the family.

The factory staff (well girls plus Sean) are sitting in the Rovers and are still discussing the flowers. Sean tells Michelle about the origin of the flowers. The factory staff all reckon that they are members of Scooby's gang. Michelle asks them not to tell Graeme - but Fiz and the others do tell John - who looks completely disturbed and is obviously worried about who might be doing it. Fiz reckons someone has a very sick sense of humour.

David goes to his bedroom early to play computer games and David seems extremely subdued, completely unlike his normal self. The blackouts are unsettling him and David is missing his friend Graeme.

Ashley is completely drunk as he leaves the Rovers with Tina and Graeme and they agree to take him home and sober him up as they cannot pass him onto Claire like that. They get some pizza and phone Claire who clearly extremely unhappy with Ashley - who has dropped off to sleep.

Becky and Steve bicker over the events of the day - Becky had to do what she had to do - she reacts and this was the only thing she could do. Steve asks if she could think about it - but that is not Becky's way. Becky says she just reacts - and there is no way around it. Becky says she will do anything to keep the little boy and if Steve cannot accept that he has the bigger problem. She goes to bed without him.

See you next week.
K Richard W

Morning at the pub, and Steve gets up to find Becky sitting alone in the living room. She's not happy at Kylie's behaviour, Max needs someone who'll be there for him all the time. She tells Steve she's going to get Max and Amy up and take them to the park. He says he'll dig out a football and they'll have a kick-about. "What about work?" queries Becky. "What about it?" asks Steve. Becky manages a little smile.

Ashley arrives home, and finds the boys and Claire at breakfast in the kitchen. Joshua remarks that Daddy smells funny. Claire comments that she's surprised he's managed to find his way home. "I just followed the trail of storm clouds to the front door," quips Ashley. Claire says she would have thought Graeme and Tina had enough to worry about without Ashley drunkenly foisting himself on them. As Ashley goes off for a shower, Claire says she's taking the boys to see her mum to discuss the move. "So you're still going ahead with it then?" says Ashley, stopping in the doorway. "I thought I'd made myself clear," sniffs Claire. "What about me?" says Ashley. Claire says he knows her feelings. "That's just it, I don't," says Ash, "I thought I meant something to you, I thought this marriage meant something to you. Seems like I was wrong." As he goes off upstairs, Joshua turns to Claire. "I don't like it when you and Daddy fight," he says. "Me neither," says Claire.

Graeme is on the sofa, taking painkillers and watching TV. She tells him not to overdo it. "What, like straining my thumb on the remote?" he asks. She says she's just trying to look after him, like he did to her. She likes it, she thinks she'd make a good nurse. "Why don't we get you a uniform and find out?" muses Graeme. "Enough of that!" she scolds. She tells him there's plenty of food if he gets hungry and if he wants anything else she'll be at work.

In the park, Steve and Becky are playing football while Max and Amy watch from the sidelines.

David is at Audrey's, but getting bored. She suggests he goes for a walk, but he's worried he might have another fit. He wants to know what's wrong with him, and he wants to talk to Graeme. Audrey warns him not to, and tells him he has to wait to see the neurologist and see what the matter is.

Steve and Becky have moved on to the playground, and now they're sitting watching while Amy and Max play. They remark how nice it is, to be out in the fresh air. "We should do this more often," says Steve, and they both put cigarettes to their lips and inhale! Steve says that the social workers are bound to want to come back in a few days. Becky says she knows, but doesn't want to talk about it just now.

A strange young man wanders into the pub. "Hello gorgeous," says Michelle, "what can we do for you?" However, just then Kylie comes in - the young man is her new boyfriend and he doesn't speak a word of English, except what she‘s taught him. Kylie wants to know where Becky and Max are.

Claire goes into the butcher's to see Ashley. She didn't go to her mum's, she's been thinking about what he said, they can't carry on like they are. She asks him for a couple of slices of beef, when he gets home she'll have dinner ready and they can sit and talk, with no arguing.

Steve and Becky arrive back at the pub. Becky's carrying Max and swinging him around playfully. Suddenly Kylie pipes up and Max runs over to her. "What are you doing here?" says Becky, stony faced. Kylie says she decided to come back early, and they need to talk. "Too right we do," says Becky, so Steve takes the children off upstairs. Becky then tells Kylie how the social worker came looking for her. "What did you tell ‘em?" asks Kylie, worried. "Enough to keep him from going into care," says Becky. "No harm done then," says Kylie. Becky starts to say how thick, selfish and ignorant Kylie is. "Don't talk to me like that, I'm your sister," protests Kylie, adding that all she did was go on holiday. "Big deal, get over it!" Becky stops and tells her she's right, they're family, and with that she picks up the remains of a pint that's close to hand and pours it over Kylie's head!

Claire has a candlelit dinner all prepared, and is just pouring the red wine when Ashley comes in. She's made Boeuf Bourguignonne, and the boys are upstairs watching a dvd. She thought they could have some time together to sort out this mess. She thinks he's right, they need a holiday. "Really?" says Ashley, looking pleased. However, his pleasure is short lived as she goes on to say how she's been looking at booking tickets on the Eurostar. She thinks he ought to take a look at France, he might like it. He thought they were going to talk things through, consider the options, but she is still set on going to live in France. "I get it now - French food, French wine - I'm surprised you haven't got the Greatest Hits of Edna (sic) Flamin' Piaf playing!" he shouts, and then grimaces in pain. He clutches his chest, wincing, and saying it really hurts. Claire looks really worried.

Kylie and Becky are out in the back yard of the Rovers. Kylie reckons that now she's had a pint poured over her, they're quits. "Oh yeah, what about you trying to cop off with my ‘usband," says Becky, "or robbin' off us and the café?" Kylie has the grace to look ashamed. She says the thing with Steve was a mistake and she always planned to pay back the money. Becky thinks she's come back for a reason and wants to know what it is. "I've come to say goodbye," says Kylie, "I'm leaving."

Graeme is out on his crutches, looking in the butcher's window. He sees Roy sweeping outside the café and asks if he's seen Ashley. Roy hasn't, so Graeme heads off for the pub.

Ashley has moved to the sofa and Claire gets him a drink of water. He still has pains in his chest and she asks if he has any pain in his arm. "What do you think it is?" asks Ashley. Claire thinks it might be a heart attack and wants to call an ambulance. Ashley protests so she rushes outside and stops Eddie Windass in his taxi, telling him Ashley needs help.

In the pub, Tyrone tells Jack that he wants to use the money Jack gave the baby to take him on holiday when he's older. Jack however, is admiring the view of Michelle in a low cut top, and when she turns away from Kylie's new boyfriend he leans over and slaps her backside. Michelle is outraged, but think it is Dimitri who has smacked her, and she turns round and shouts at him. He just looks bewildered.

Kylie is telling Becky of her plans to work in Dimitri's bar a couple of days a week and then spend the rest of the time on the beach. "What are you going to tell Max?" asks Becky, "do you think he won't notice if you go swanning off again?" Kylie says she's taking him with her. Becky is outraged, she points out that her sister hardly knows the bloke that she's taking her son to live with. "No way," says Becky, "he ain't coming with you." Kylie tells her it's not up to her, and she should get it through her head, they're going.

Ashley walks back into his house. (Obviously having been to the hospital, although we didn't see him go.) Claire is relieved and tearful. She's just dropped the kids off with Eileen and was on her way to see him. "It wasn't a heart attack?" she says. "No…." Ashley starts to say, but she interrupts him, saying how she's put him under all sorts of stress, going on and on about France. She was worried it was angina, like her mum gets. She stops. "Oh no, it's that isn't it?" she gasps. Ashley nods, but says it's not as bad as her mum and they've given him pills for it, but he has to take it easy for a while. "That's it then," says Claire, "the move's off, there's no way we can think about moving to another country while you're not well." She hugs him.

Tina comes and finds Graeme in the pub. She orders a drink and Audrey steps up and offers to pay for it. "You think that'll make a difference, do you?" snaps Tina. Audrey says she doesn't blame her for being angry at David, but she can't blame Audrey for wanting to help her grandson. She says that David is suffering and she's hoping they can all keep things civil. "Make it a large one then, eh?" grins Tina.

Kylie comes downstairs with Max and all his things. Becky asks if they can just talk about it, Max is happy there with her. "And he'll be happy with me," says Kylie. "Until the social find out what you've done and drag him back," says Becky. Kylie says they'll have to find him first. "Say goodbye to your Aunty Becky," says Kylie. "I don't want to," says Max, but Kylie takes him through to the bar, calling for Dimitri and going out of the front door. Becky rushes after her and grabs hold of her, hugging her. "Please don't do this," she says. Kylie says she appreciates all Becky's done, but Max is her son. "If you want a kid, have one of your own," she says. Becky pulls her back as she's getting in the taxi. "Don't you get it? I love him," she says, crying, and getting down on her knees. "Please, please, don't take him away from me, Kylie, please!" But Kylie has a hard heart and just stares at Becky. She tells Max to get in the taxi. "I'm sorry," she says, and they drive away, leaving Becky sobbing on her knees on the cobbles. Steve gets down on the ground and puts his arms around her. Oh dear, poor Becky.

Anne Logan

As I make careful plans to escape the mad build-up to Christmas, I pause to bring you another Friday episode.

Julie has called for Fiz on her way to work and is grumbling about all the best men being married or gay, or sometimes both. They're both startled to find another wreath on the factory steps. This time it's in the shape of a C. Julie thinks it might stand for Carla. Fiz wants them to call the police about it but Michelle takes the wreath from them and walks away with it. Fiz questions her right to do this but Michelle points out that Tony Gordon killed her brother.

Leanne's on her way to the new bar, chatting happily on her phone.

In back room of The Rovers, Ciaran and Steve discuss the new bar with Steve saying it won't last. Ciaran's phone goes and he says it's awkward to speak. He finishes the call and a suspicious Steve warns him not to play away on Michelle. Becky comes in looking unhappy and Steve tells her to sit down and have a brew. She refuses and heads off to clean the bar. She's in a very bad mood and has a go at Steve. He knows what the real problem is and says he's upset about Max as well but she doesn't believe him.

Claire's treating Ashley with kid gloves. He seems quite embarrassed by the fuss. She's served up prunes and low-fat yoghurt for breakfast. Ashley's appalled. He's a butcher and can't go selling up meat on a diet of prunes. Claire points out that his father died of a stroke and he's lucky she recognised the signs of angina and he got treatment. Ashley points out that his father was overweight, smoked and drank too much. Claire says what happened was a warning. She says he'll get used to the breakfast. Oh, and beer's off, too. He can have one or two glasses of red wine at most.

Becky's gone to Roy for counselling. She says she's being selfish because even if Max was going off to a life of luxury she'd still be grumpy about it. Anna comes in. She's been on the phone to the adoption people about two brothers who are available for adoption. She won't shut up and Becky gets up and leaves abruptly.

Michelle goes into the salon to see Maria. She tells her about the wreath. Maria says she hoped the first flowers were a mistake. Michelle warns her not to tell Carla. They try to work out whether it's a special anniversary or anything but it's not Tony's birthday or his wedding anniversary.

Ashley's hiding some pills in a cupboard when Graeme hobbles in on crutches. He's brought grapes but Ashley insists he's being stupid. Ashley says he's OK and that all the doctor did was give him some pills and send him home again. He' got to make an appointment with his GP on the way to work. Claire's appalled that he's thinking of going to work. She won't even let him go out for a walk on his own but Graeme says he'll keep him company.

In the pub, Anna notices Michelle's distracted. She assumes it's because she's missing Ryan. She says she hears from Gary as often as he can manage but she says if the adoption goes through she could have two little boys in the house by Christmas. Becky, moping behind the bar, storms out, telling Steve that Anna's doing it deliberately.

In the cafe, Graeme treats Ashley as if he's fragile and says he doesn't want him dropping dead. He prefers to keep Tina for his mouth-to-mouth. Roy comes over to tell them he's pleased to see them both and Ashley orders a full breakfast. Roy offers him an extra rasher of bacon with it. In a low voice, Ashley tells him he hasn't got angina. It was only indigestion. Graeme can't understand why he hasn't told Claire. "You don't have to worry about heart trouble because when she finds out she's going to rip yours right out of your chest!"

Kylie's standing in a street, smoking, when Steve zooms up in his taxi. He says Becky doesn't know he's there. She gets into the car.

Parked in a quiet street, Steve tells Kylie he's not into playing games. She's left Max with her boyfriend. Steve tells her that moving to a strange country with a bloke she's only just met won't help Max. Kylie defends her decision saying Steve's asking her to give it up for Max. Steve says parents make sacrifices for their children. "So, for the rest of his life I'll look at Max and say ‘I gave up my one big chance ‘cause of you'?" she asks. "Is that fair on him? Because that's what you're asking me to do, Steve."

Graeme's pointing out the error of Ashley's ways. Claire might find the indigestion tablets. Ashley says he's not stupid. He's taken them out of the blister pack and put them in a pot in the kitchen. "She'll never know." Graeme asks if he's fond of his love life. He reckons Claire will be careful not to get him too excited because of his dicky heart. And when she does find out he doesn't have a dicky heart, "You're not going to be riding the love train this side of the Olympics!" They're about to leave the cafe when Graeme spots Claire outside.

She's putting up a "Closed due to illness" sign, which disappoints Fiz and Julie, who wanted chops for her tea. Julie asks Claire if she saw anything strange at the factory this morning. They tell her about the wreath and John comes up and joins in the conversation. He asks if there was a card and is told Michelle took the wreath.

Kylie tries to light up in the cab, despite Steve telling her not to. He asks what would happen if she had options. Steve suggests she go on her own and send for Max when she's ready. He says he might even be able to give her some cash to make sure she's not dependent on Dmitri.

In the pub, John interrupts Maria and Michelle talking about the wreath. He gets more information and hears Michelle say the wreath has been chucked in a bin out the back.

In a booth, Ciaran and Graeme try to give advice to Ashley. Ashley, with a pint or two of Dutch courage, decides to go and tell Claire the truth. As he leaves, Ciaran tells Graeme it's a pity those pills aren't painkillers, because that's what he's going to need.

In the smoking area, Steve goes to talk to Becky and tells her about talking to Kylie. Becky can't believe Kylie's agreed. He says Kylie's on her way to drop Max off now. Becky cheers up immediately.

Claire goes into the kitchen and finds the boys in their Halloween costumes. Freddy (a skeleton) needs fattening up so Josh is giving him some pills he found in the cupboard. Claire goes right into panic mode. Ashley comes home and Claire says they have to get Freddy to hospital.

John questions Michelle about the card with the wreath. She can't remember exactly what it said.

In a booth in the pub, Ciaran and Leanne talk about food for the bar. He suggests Lancashire tapas, including mini-hotpots. He says he's waiting for the right moment to tell Liz he's leaving.

Kylie comes in and Michelle almost boots her out again. But she lets her go through. There's no sign of Max. She goes into the back room and Becky hugs her. Becky notices Max isn't with her. Kylie's had a better idea. "I want twenty grand and you get to keep Max ... for good. He'd be your kid."

The end of the first episode.
Margaret Carr

Here's the second of Friday's episodes, brought to you from snowy Newcastle.

Steve is incredulously asking Kylie what sort of a mother would try and flog her son. Becky meanwhile starts trying to bring the price down before Steve firmly tells her that there is no way that they are buying Max, even if they somehow could find the money. Kylie says they won't have long to change their minds before walking out.

Claire is panicking as she waits for Eileen while Ashley tries to calm her down. He tells her that one or two pills won't make a difference but she tells him firmly that she won't take that chance. Eileen arrives.

Steve is trying to get through to Becky that buying Max isn't an option. She reminds him that he said that Max was like part of their family and he replies that he stands by that…but Kylie is the boy's mother.

Ashley suggests to Claire that he rings the hospital in advance but she screeches that she is terrified for Freddie and she won't rest until she has taken him to the hospital. Ashley guiltily admits that the pills are actually for indigestion. Claire looks momentarily dumbstruck before deciding to take Freddie to the hospital anyway.

John is quizzing Michelle about the flowers and whether or not they could be from an ex of Tony Gordon's. She says that it's possible but the card that was left doesn't really make sense. Michelle then goes over to Ciaran to tease him over when he's going to tell Liz that he is leaving.

Becky tries to head out of the Rovers with a toy Max has left behind but Steve intervenes and tells her she will only upset herself.

Ashley tries phoning Claire but she doesn't answer. Eileen takes Joshua out trick or treating while Ashley looks troubled.

Becky is still in a state over Max. Steve tells her that it's madness as she is not his mum, no matter how much she wants to be. She starts smashing things and cries that he can easily replace them. She says it's funny how he can always find the money for things like a pub and honeymoons but he can't dig deep for Max. Steve tells her it's not about the money. She agrees…it's about the fact that they are so different. She says that she doesn't know how she expected her and Steve to work out. She can't do this anymore.

John is trying to sneak out the back of the Rovers to see what the card says but Fiz catches him to tell him that she felt the baby kick.

Steve has been out shopping for glue and filler to repair the damage Becky has done but he tells her the only thing he truly wants to fix is their marriage. She says it isn't his fault but she feels like a different person and can't be the Becky she's supposed to be. Having a child was the last piece to complete the new Becky and feeling like she can't fulfil that feels like she can never be that person. She says she wants Max to feel loved as she wishes someone had bought her. Steve pulls his wife close and tells her that they will find the money, somehow.

John sneaks outside and finds the card in the bin. It says ‘No Resting Place for a Scholar'

Steve and Becky arrive at Kylie's flat but only her foreign lover is home. They decide to wait.

Norris is going home for the night and he tells Mary that he's heading home to a nice piece of ham. She tells him he works too hard and he warns her that she better not be getting any cottage ideas. After he leaves, she flicks through a catalogue of medieval castles.

Leanne and peter come in and Ciaran is forced to admit that he hasn't handed in his notice yet. Leanne orders him to do it as soon as.

John rips up the card and throws it in the bin outside. He gets the fright of his life when Joshua springs out in a Halloween costume.

Becky finds booking confirmations for two tickets to Cyprus for that night. She worries that becky has already gone but she comes in at that point. Steve asks until Monday and he'll get the £20,000 for her. She says she has already booked the flights so he has 3 hours. Becky assumes she is blagging.

Claire comes home and Ashley apologies. She says she shouldn't have tried to force him to go to France as it's clearly not for him. He agrees and she goes on to say that she and the boys will be going without him!

Steve is forced to pay for Kylie's flights and she agrees to stay. Steve tries to get her to extend the deadline until Friday but she is adamant that they have until Monday. Becky and Steve hold eachother, wondering how on earth they can raise £20k over the weekend.

You'll have to wait on Monday's updates to see what they do!

Duncan Lindsay

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

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