Episode reviews

Fred comes in and asks them if they would like to move into the pub, because he wants to move over with Ashley and baby Josh, Shelley is very keen cos of the saving on rent and there is a lot more room, again Peter isnt really interested, but she persuades him and then runs off to tell Fred the good news..................she is so excited about this coming wedding, she tells Peter that she is so happy, and its all because of him, (poor deluded girl)

Over at Audreys, the police come round to tell Gail and the kids that its safe for them to move back home..............Gail and the children are all for it, but Audrey has her reservations, she doesnt think it is safe.

Curly and Emma are still bickering about this 2 week course for her to become an inspector.........Curly knows she has to do it, but he is not happy about spending 2 weeks without her.

At the flower shop, Lucy is in a good mood, she tells Tracy, that she has decided to marry her baby's father. Tracy congratulates her, then leaves for an early lunch, so she can go and buy Devs birthday prezzie.

Curly sees Emma off on her course, while Rita sends a reporter away with a flea in her ear!!!!!

Gail and the children go home, the locks have been changed and alarms and panic buttons fitted..............Gail is still very insistant that Richard wouldn't hurt them......another deluded woman???? Audrey and Martin are not at all happy about her moving back in.

Lucy and Peter are in bed...............Tracy knocks at the door, she has brought the shop takings for the day.......... wow close call there!!!!! He still hasnt told Shelley!!

Gail is acting very strange...she is washing everything, cleaning everything...........she says that Richard is on everything she touches. Martin is worried, he offers to stay over but she tells him and her mam to go home.

At Ashleys, Fred wants to move the furniture around, but Ashley wants to leave it as Maxine had it...............and he talks to Joshua about his mummy. Awwwwwww

Todd and Jason are in the pub having a drink.............When Jasons dad walks in with his girlfriend, Jason stays in his seat..............but then Eileen walks in and sees Tony (Jasons dad). She is not happy and wont even take a drink from him.....Jason walks over to see if she is ok, and his dad offers him a drink too.........Eileen walks out with Todd....Jason follows, Back at home Eileen is so upset, but Jason tells her to forget it!

Meanwhile.....Tracy has just realised she has left Devs prezzie at work.....silly girl...............

Lucy and Peter are in bed, STILL???? he decides he has better get going, and Just as he is going out the door, guess who is stood there?????????? Tracey................wow the cat is well and truly among the pigeons now isnt it????????/

Gail's house [formerly the Hillmans'] in early morning, and the family is still reeling from the events of the last few days. Naturally, Gail hasn't slept much, but she feels safe, and things have to revert to normal as soon as possible, with the kids going to school, for starters. The doorbell goes, and Gail realises that the press are camped outside, en masse.

Peter is frantically trying to contact Tracy on his mobile, but is interrupted by Shelley, who is organising their move into the Rovers' flat today.

The girls gather at the factory door, and Janice thinks that Gail must have known what Richard was up to all along.

One of the journalists tries to interview Kevin at the garage, but Kevin chases him off.

Once more, the spineless Peter is on his mobile, this time to Lucy, and once more he's interrupted by Shelley. Peter is sorry that he has to go off to a meeting [that what they call it these days?] but he'll be back later, planting a Judas' kiss on Shelley's cheek.

In the Corner Shop, Tracy arrives to see Dev, who tells her that a rather edgy Peter is looking for her. Dev suspects that something is afoot...

Martin arrives in his car to collect the kids for school, but the poor kids have to run the gauntlet of the gentlemen of the press, while Norris and Ken look on, Norris remarking to Ken that he's almost ashamed of being in the same business as these vultures. Vera and Jack look on too, and begin to wonder if their investment with Richard is safe.

A journalist calls at Ashley's house, just as Fred is telling little Josh that he's kept his Granpa up most of the night. Jack Nichols, the journalist, doesn't receive a good reception!

Peter calls to see his favourite florist - not to see her, of course, for he's still searching vainly for Tracy, who may just blab at any time. Peter decides to wait for Tracy, who's late for work.

Martin arrives back from ferrying the kids to school, and is none too pleased that Gail should have put them through that spat with the press. Gail confesses that Richard loved the kids - as she did - and that they loved him too. [Does Martin ever work?] Gail is so sorry that her world has collapsed, and her kids' world as well, but she has to force herself to continue, although her life will never be the same again.

Back at the flower shop, and the errant Tracy breezes in and tells Lucy that she ought to have been honest about whom she was seeing, since they're friends. Peter accuses Tracy of interfering. [This is one of the rare occasions where Peter isn't on his mobile!]

Ashley tells his Dad that he contemplated selling his story to the press, for revenge.

Back at Gail's, and Audrey has disconnected the phone and the doorbell, but Gail admits to her Mum that she wants her kids away from her at the moment. Audrey will help her daughter.

Again at the florist's, and Lucy leaves Tracy in charge while she and Peter go off to the Registrar's to arrange for their imminent wedding, but not before Tracy warns her duplicitous brother that she may well let Shelley know his 'little secret'!

Chez Duckworth, and Vera and Jack learn the unpalatable truth that their financial firm, which holds their investment, does not exist.

Rosie is preparing to go out to her friend's, Stacey, for a sleepover, but Kevin is not pleased to see his little daughter as a Brittany look-alike, complete with make-up and a bare midriff, and he orders her upstairs to change.

The Nelson home, and Tommy warns his kids, Craig and Katy, to keep a low profile while the press are around. Mum Angela notices that Katy is unusually quiet, but Katy remains, er, quiet...

Ashley meets up with Ken in the street, and apologises for what he said to him a few days ago. Ken forgives him, and their friendship is re-cemented. Dev meets Tracy in a hurry - she's got urgent business in the Rovers, which may prove interesting. David, on his way home from school, is assaulted by one of his fellow pupils, and is rescued by Todd, Sarah and Candice. This boy then turns on Gail and accuses her of being the wife of a murderer, then spits in her face before running off.

The Nelson home again, and Katy is going for a lie-down. [Angela wonders why. So do I!] Craig rushes downstairs to say that there's someone in the garden.

Tracy calls in at the Rovers to see Shelley, who's reading in the back room. Of course, she has no wish to be malicious, but she tells Shelley that there's something she should know about Peter....

In the back room of the Rovers, Tracy's attempt to spill the beans about her brother is interrupted by the phone - it's Shelley's Mum.

Tommy Nelson and his son, Craig, plus Martin, collar a photographer in the back garden and 'politely' warn him off.

Lucy and Peter discuss babies, but Peter is more concerned that Tracy will tell all before he does. [Will he summon up the courage to tell Shelley before he weds Lucy in three weeks' time?] Peter promises to sort out the mess, and Lucy apparently believes him.

Gail's house, and they all wonder where the elusive Richard can be, while the press keeps up a vigil outside.

The Websters' happy home, and Rosie comes downstairs, having [ostensibly!] changed into a dreary buttoned-up cardigan, of which Kevin approves. Rosie has gone off Harry Potter, and she tells Sophie that she's welcome to her videos of Harry. Kevin smiles at his daughter's munificence toward her little sister, and Sally reminds Kevin that his daughter is just growing up.

Boris, the butcher [the real one!], calls to see Fred and reminds him that he needs help at the shop. Boris' fingers display a few sticking plasters [blue, of course, which are used in shops and restaurants] and Fred will be happy to do some time at the shop. Fred passes little Josh to Ashley - his nappy needs changing.

Rosie and her friend Stacey jump into Stacey's Dad's car for her sleepover at Stacey's house. The resourceful Rosie immediately removes her cardigan to reveal - what else? - her original get-up, with the ubiquitous bare midriff.

In the Rovers, Ken confirms to Jack his and Vera's worst suspicions - the financial firm they thought they had invested with does not exist. [Ken has contacted Companies' House.]

The cheating Peter [hiss!! boo!!] arrives to chat to Shelley and, as he approaches the door of the back room, he hears weeping and assumes [wrongly] that Tracy has blabbed. She hasn't. [But not for want of trying!] Peter begins a stuttering apology to a distraught Shelley, but he soon learns that her tears are not for him and his wayward ways - her sister is in hospital. Peter apologises to Shelley for his being 'held up', and Tracy leaves, promising Shelley that they'll talk again, soon. Peter embraces Shelley and asks her to trust him. [She seems to, yeugh!!]

The CID arrive at Gail's and tell her that they've had sightings of Mr Hillman, but they haven't caught him yet. Gail has another drink and contemplates the mess her life is in. Martin offers to stay [on the couch, of course].

Vera and Jack discuss their financial plight, after Ken's devastating discovery. Vera thinks back to when she was happy - Terry was a little boy then. Happy days. "And then he grew up!" mutters Jack.

In the Rovers, Peter again makes a half-hearted attempt to reveal all to Shelley, but procrastinates. Again! One of the 'gentlemen of the press' comes in for a drink, and overhears the conversation of Norris, Ken and Emily, who all reckon that Gail was blinkered and knew nothing of Richard's dastardly deeds. Peter sees what the journalist is doing, and throws him out of the pub, very violently, much to Ken's surprise at his son's behaviour. [He's got things on his mind, Ken.]

Martin calls in to the Nelsons', to thank Tommy for his co-operation in getting rid of the photographer. Martin opines that the Nelsons are a 'normal' family, not like his dysfunctional one! Katy is, once more, tired and Martin is reminded that Sarah was that way a couple of years ago. [Mmmm, do we put two and two together here?]

Ashley tells Fred that their job-share is not working, for Fred would rather be at the pub or his butcher's shop than with wee Josh. Ashley wants to get back to work, and Fred 'thinks on'...

Gail has another bottle of wine. [Can you blame her?] She confides that she wishes that Richard would commit suicide - maybe then her life would revert to some sort of normality, but she doubts that...

Tracy gives her errant brother an ultimatum - either he tells Shelley the truth, or she will.

Wednesday 5 March
Gosh it is March already. It doesn't seem a week ago it was February! Let me transport you now to the place where nobody is shivering, they haven't got flu bugs, not worried about how they can afford to heat their houses, well money is a concern to two families this week.

We start with Vera who is downstairs first thing in the morning twitching her thumbs. She tells Jack that she hasn't been able to sleep because she is so upset that her £20,000 has gone. Jack notices she has even started smoking again. Jack says he is going to call the police.

Sarah and Todd are out, and are harassed by press photographers.

Ashley is on his way to work. He has left Fred in charge of baby Joshua. As they leave the house, Joshua starts crying. Ashley turns to Fred and says he probably needs a nappy change, and leaves him to get on with it.

Ken is reading the newspaper. He remarks that he thinks it is about time Aiden came out of prison. He says he will ring his father to see if he has any news.

Betty is chatting to Shelley in the back room of the Rovers and asks about her sister. She says she has heard no more news. Peter is listening in the doorway.

Peter comes in and asks Betty to leave so he can have a private chat with Shelley. Shelley actually starts the conversation by wanting to talk about the wedding. Peter thinks she wants to put it back because of her sister. On the contrary, Shelley tells him that she wants to bring it forward, before her sister "goes". She breaks down and cries.

Peter cannot tell her what he wanted to talk about, but manages to say that he will keep an eye on the place when she goes to her mother's. Shelley wonders what she would ever do without him!

Blanche and Betty are in the supermarket's meat counter. They see Ashley there. Blanche tells him that she is glad he is back, and then launches into a moan about Boris.

Fred comes into the shop with the pram and Joshua. Betty and Blanche dote over Joshua.

The police officer comes round to see Jack and Vera. He is surprised when Vera tells him that they made the cheque payable to Richard Hillman personally. Vera says they trusted him becuase of Gail who they have known for years.

Gail is thumbing throw a photo album of pictures of her and Richard. Sarah and Todd come in and they haven't bought any shopping. Sarah explains that when she went to use the cashcard it wouldn't work. She went into the bank and the manager saw her. He gave her a letter to give to Gail. Gail reads it, and it says the police have been in touch, and they are closing her account. Gail realises that her wages are paid into it, they have no money and is now worried how she is going to be able to pay the bills, and generally cope.

Ken speaks to Aiden's father. It seems he was let out last Saturday. He hasn't been in contact with Ken and didn't want to speak to him then.

Tracy and Lucy are chatting away in the flower shop (there are, of course, no customers!). Tracy talks about her step-sister Susan. Lucy invites Tracy to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. Then Tracy explains about her family, how her mother and father were married, how many relationships they have been in. How Mike Baldwin's son, was almost Ken's daughter's son etc. It all sounded very complicated and unbelivable, and even Lucy thought that Tracy was having her on.

Vera is worried about the future without her savings. Jack tries to reassure her by saying they are not living on their savings. He says there is still life in him yet.

In the Rovers Betty tries to pump Todd for information about Gail and her family. Todd is not talking.

Shelley leaves to go to her mother's.

Gail is visited by the police officer. She is annoyed that he is not doing more to catch Richard. He tells her that everyone is under suspicion. He asks Gail about her financial situtation. She shows him the bank's letter. The Officer reminds her that she was partners with Richard for some deals. That makes it very suspicious.

Peter calls to the shop to see Lucy. Tracy asks her if he has told Shelley. Peter tells her to shut up.

Peter explains to Lucy that he will be staying overnight with her while Shelley is away.

Vera believes that Gail must have known about Richard's financial dealings. Jack is sure that Gail is not to blame.

Vera marches off with Jack to Gail's. Sarah answers the door and Vera demands to see her mother. When Gail comes to the door, Vera starts shouting across the street for all the neighbours to hear that she believes Gail has spent her life savings. Despite Sarah's protestations that her mother is completely innocent, Vera decides not to believe her. Gail breaks down crying.

See you Friday!

Martin Rosen