Adrian's updates - June 1997

Monday 2 June 1997
Jack and Vera triumphantly returned from Vegas today with the joys of the world in their veins. They didn't realise there would be problems ahead in the pub following their hooky holiday. Other people in the Street were getting on with their lives as well tonight. Steve McDonald was one person who was getting himself back into the swing of normal life following his prison term.

He still refused to accept his father's invitation to join the family firm. Jim was still annoyed about this but there was little he could do about it. Everyone told him to let Steve choose his own path as he couldn't be forced into doing something he didn't want to do.

Jack recounted tales of the gambling tables in Vegas to his regular customers and word soon got back to Alec Gilroy. Alec was still stinging over losing money in the Sunliners holiday "swindle" which had got them their holiday. He decided he would get some compensation for his efforts in the matter.

Jack and Vera meanwhile were getting up to date with pub matters during their absence. Sam revealed she had handed over a package from Alec Gilroy during their absence. She also revealed they would soon be getting a visit from the VATman, the next day. Jack went to speak to Alec about the money that had been handed over to Emily and found himself on the receiving end of one of Alec's little blackmail plots. If he didn't hand over some money the details of his dodgy holiday would be made public.

Mike was back in the driving seat arranging things within his new firm. He was unhappy with the recruitment of certain staff members like Ida and her mouthy friends. However Angie dug her heels in and insisted that the staff employment she had instigated remained as it was. Also to further annoy Mike, Alma was starting her new job stacking shelves at Firman's. This was something he found particularly distasteful much to Alma's delight.

Once again Kevin and Natalie's by now bloody ridiculous love affair was *on* again. After a stint of flirting with Chris she managed to stir jealous feelings in Kevin to the point where he manifested interest in the happy home wrecker once again. The two of them were once again kissing in his home by nightfall.

Dreary thought she was going to be stood up by her dashing pilot chap tonight, however he turned up late after delays and thus begun a very cordial evening for them. Pilot John explained his recent life including his amicable divorce and spoke of himself in quite a negative manner. Dreary didn't seem to mind though it was clear she was interested in him.

Steve and Andy drank in the Rovers, however they left very quickly when Fiona walked in to the pub. Andy was nonplussed as to what was going on and when he asked what Steve's game was discovered that his younger brother was playing hard to get with his ex. He vowed he was going to win Fiona back in to his life again.

Wednesday 4 June 1997
The VAT man cometh to the Rovers tonight, and a most agreeable sort he looked as well as he strolled in rather late to the Rovers back room to do the returns. Andy had been in earlier and had given the books the once over and in his views everything seemed kosher. The Duckworths thought they were on a plain sailing boat as well because the inspector had just become a grandfather that morning and was literally over the moon.

The Mallets nervously waited for the golden moment when they set off for the Doctors to have their tests for fertility. Both were apprehensive about the act and had second thoughts before going to find out the truth of their future. They did go in the end under something of a veil of secrecy and the test results would be found in a fortnight. The only other person who would know what was going on was Curly who found out in conversation from Gary.

Angie and the workforce were getting on well and this annoyed Mike a little, his view was that an employer should talk down to his staff rather than cajole them along like Angie was doing. Her approach looked like winning her some constructive friendship from the likes of Ida and Co. Another visitor to the shop was none other than Steve McDonald who came to survey his old premises. He talked big and Mike Baldwin didn't take him seriously at all as he spoke of his plans and his 'contacts'.

The VAT meanwhile was getting the star treatment from the Duckworths as he eat the finest Hot Pot Betty could muster and drank whatever was available top him. Jack and Vera of course were the congenial hosts who smiled at every opportunity and couldn't do enough for their visitor.

Meanwhile Steve had other plans afoot as well as the ones he had been planning for getting work, he discovered Fiona's boyfriend Alan was away and as a result began to make his move on her. he went round with a bottle of wine to have a chat and it was clear as he spoke he made it clear where his attractions lay. Fiona in fact rather than dismissing Steve out of hand actually gave him the time of day could it be she still held a torch for the ex-con of Weatherfield.

Dreary was out bragging her new flame the pilot to all and sundry including Ken who reacted without a hint of bitterness. Meanwhile Maureen was spending more and more time with Fred who wasn ow inviting her to the ballet of all places. Maureen accepted his invite and this looked like an other comic pairing for the twosome.

There was trouble brewing for Kevin and Natalie as their latest little tryst in Coronation Street got under way. Bill was let into the house by an unsuspecting Rosie and he wandered into the house to discovered Kevin and Natalie holding hands over a glass of red wine. He made his excuses and left but Rita saw the troubled look in his eyes as he left and the red BMW outside the house and when in the Rovers she quizzed Bill as to what he thought might be going on.

Alan returned home from the training course earlier than he had expected to do so and came home to find Fiona alone but with two glasses of wine out on the table. She lied and said Maxine had been round the house feeling in need of a chat. This of course was a simple side step from the truth but as Alan held her close she looked like someone with a preoccupied mind and those thoughts looked like they might indeed be on Steve.

Jack and Vera allowed the VAT man to sum up what he had found in their books, the smiles which had lived on their faces all day began to fade as he spoke. It would seem that they had been paying an inappropriate amount of VAT for quite some time now and as a result they now owed £17,000 back pay.

Friday 6 June 1997
A £17,500 debt around their necks and The Duckworth's still seemed fairly chipper. A bout of misplaced confidence from Jack as he figured recouping the money from the bank in the form of a loan would be plain sailing didn't help matters either. He started the day by making plans to see the bank manager about extending his loan with Vera backing him all the way.

Roy began the day with a ridiculous obsession with his knob, before anybody says 'Ooer Missus' it was the knob on one of his cookers. The problem being that it was missing and it was affecting the symmetry of the appearance of his kitchen. Gail quickly got exasperated with her partner's obsessive behaviour as he sought out ways and means to get a replacement for the missing item.

Bill meanwhile played detective with Kevin and grilled him with questions about his relationship with Natalie. He turned up the heat and asked if they were having an affair. Kevin had the bareface cheek to lie his way (fairly convincingly) through the matter. He did eventually hit stumbling blocks though when quizzed about where he had spent the night with Sally.

Steve cockily thought he could drift out of prison and back into the high life. His plans were blown clean out of the water when he discovered from a once trusted friend that his prison term would cause him problems getting work now. Steve bluffed and reckoned he had work on the horizon to keep him busy.

Roy still hadn't found the knob which was causing him so much trouble, he now went as far as to visit a junk shop to find a replacement. When this little ploy yielded no fruit then he rang the manufacturer of the cooker who told him to get the serial number from the back of the oven.

Roy quickly ventured behind the over digging his way through all the accumulated bits that go behind cookers (I'm sure we can all associate with that as well). After finding the serial number he left Audrey to her own devices behind the counter. She turned on the cooker and BANG!... the cafe was fused.

Roy had obviously upset something in the back of the cooker and now the cafe was wholly out of action. The customers left in droves after all what good is a cafe when there is no hot food. Eventually Alec Gilroy ventured by and mentioned that Jim McDonald might be a good idea to help fix the problem.

Meanwhile Jack went to the bank, he looked the part in suit and tie and the meeting began by going very well. Jack explained he needed to expand his loan with the bank. Now that was something which they appeared willing to do until they asked for more concrete details of what the money was to be used for. Jack bluffed it out claiming it was money for pub refurbishment which went down O.K. The manager then asked for a breakdown of costs and Jack panicked a little. He explained he had got into a few V.A.T difficulties and the manager put two and two together. The loan would be to bail him out of difficulties.

Roy found the knob, it was under the cooker all the time. Looking very pleased with himself he pushed it back on to the spindle and admired his handiwork. He then turned it and looked on in horror as the cooker began to shake and then explode in sparks. Realising the knob was leading to nothing but trouble he pulled it off and threw it behind the cooker never to be seen again.

Steve stood in the Rovers fancying his chances with Fiona, he reckoned it would only be a matter of time before they were back on as an item again. Andy reckoned he would be wasting his time due to her love of Alan but he was sure he could do the impossible...

Jack returned to the Rovers all smiles, the poor man was really papering over all the cracks though. Vera had just spoke to Tricia on the phone so it looked like she would be going to visit them in the next week or so. Jack assured the visit to the bank had gone well but the pained expression on his face showed him as a man with the weight of the world or at the least the weight of a pub on his shoulders.

Bill met Rita, it was important they speak for the sake of Kevin and Sally because everything hung in the balance until she returned. As a result Bill made the all important call to her to come home......

Sunday 8 June 1997
Jack packed Vera off to the sea side to see Tricia and Co. he returned alone to the Rovers Return with an immediate and pressing problem on his mind. The VAT man's voice was still ringing in his ears to the tune of £17,000 pounds. He found a confidant in Betty who he swore to secrecy about the matter. Despite everything though he still seemed as chipper as possible and even went hunting for a loan through the papers although it pained him to do so.

Meanwhile Dreary was moving into her new flat with the assistance of John the pilot. Liz was around making eyes at him but he paid little attention to her being as he was more interested in the bespectacled one. However he would soon cool off towards Dreary when Ken nipped around to stick his hooter into matters. When John saw how close Ken still was to his ex wife it made him run a mile very quickly. Dreary was confused and a little upset as she confided with Liz later.

Sally was due to return today, that would be the big news in Kevin's life if he was aware of it. Bill and Rita had set up her early homecoming but now Bill was wondering if he had done the right thing in contacting her. Rita was sure that if it saved the marriage then it would indeed be the right thing.

Speaking of Kevin he was over at the garage with Tony working away on cars to his hearts content. Natalie as ever was drifting around in the background attempting to lure him away for an hour or so of passion. She was doubly more insistent now though because Sally was coming home and her chances to get her man would be sorely limited.

Still she persisted and convinced Kevin to close up the garage a little earlier than usual so they could nip across the road to "do the books" as it were. Kevin didn't take much convincing to do the deed and before long he was leaving Chris to lock up.

Jack was rebuffed by a loan company who he spoke to on the phone, things were looking increasingly desperate as every avenue he explorer turned out to be a dead end for his efforts. As Jack lamented on his problems the camera drifted to Alec drinking alone at the bar. Could he be the answer to the Duckworth problems. Even Mike Baldwin spoke ill of VAT problems explaining how they could destroy a business overnight.

A phone call went unanswered at the home of Kevin Webster as he took his mistress up stairs to bed. The caller then tried the garage where Chris was just finishing off working on a car and had the engine running so loudly he couldn't hear the phone. It was Sally (bless her) ringing from the train station to inform Kevin she was going to surprise him by coming home early. It all looked very precarious at this point....

Chris eventually came into the office part of the garage after finishing his job and checked the answering machine. Upon hearing Sally's message he looked horrified and ran across to the Webster residence and began frantically pounding on the door.

Kevin eventually looked out of the bedroom window with no shirt on, which I thought looked a bit dodgy especially when your lover's BMW is parked just outside the house. He told Kevin the situation quickly again for all the Street to hear which put Kevin into a panic.

As Chris spun round he saw a black cab coming trundling into Coronation Street bearing Sally and the kids. Chris now had to delay while Kev and Nat got off the bed springs and covered their tracks. Thankfully Natalie was a quick dresser and as she was leaving through the back door Sally was just coming in through the front door. It had to be seen to appreciate how close a call this was with Chris following Sally in with an expression of bewilderment on his face.

Sally was all smiles as she walked back into Kevin's life and she was also a paragon of regret as she apologised for leaving Kevin for so long. He sat in her presence looking every inch the naughty school boy.

Meanwhile Chris was busy doing the follow up work on his relationship with Angie. She was wondering why he hadn't followed up his night of passion with such acts of love like red roses etc. Chris explained he was a subtle worker who liked to drink beer and then surprise his women. That little move worked just before the end of the episode....

Monday 9 June 1997
Sally's homecoming had thrown up all manner of complications for Kevin, rather than being the sweetness and light reunion that she had hoped for it was all something of a dour atmosphere in the Webster household.

First thing in the morning clingy Natalie was round to collect some keys she had left behind the day before. Kevin looked like a cat that had lost all it's nine lives as she stood impassively on the doorstep. Of course Sally still suspected nothing at all.

Meanwhile Dreary received a bunch of flowers from John the pilot proving that he wasn't as disinterested as she thought he was. He seemed keen to rekindle the romantic side of their relationship as well and a dinner date was set for the evening. This time without the intervention of Ken to hinder their progress.

Word was leaking out courtesy of the ears of Alec Gilroy that Jack was under some monetary pressure from the VAT office. Alec was quick to spread the rumours to the Kabin where the wealthy widow Rita of course spent her days.

Kevin bumped into Natalie in the Rovers at lunch time again, she was showing signs of frustration at the fact that Kevin was no longer in her arms all the time now that Sally was home. Kevin insisted that he was sick of lying to Sally about how happy he was with her when he in fact wanted to be with Natalie. He promised that he would spend a day with her that weekend, how he was going to sort it out heaven knew but a promise was a promise.

The morning had been a traumatic one for Judy Mallett as she and Gary had been to the clinic to speak to the Doctor about her fertility checks. She tearfully recounted a story about her younger years where she had fell pregnant and had in fact had a termination. This preyed on her conscience now that she indeed wanted a child with her husband Gary. The additional worry to her was that her marriage might break down as a result of their inability to have a child.

The evening showed promise for John and Dreary, the meal was spicy and so was Dreary's mood. As the meal and the conversation drew to a close she was keen to get the pilot in between the sheets. He however showed a little more hesitation but Dreary made sure he would be staying the night.

Bill and Rita conspired to give Sally and Kevin a weekend alone by arranging to babysit for them. Bill came to see Sally about the matter but Kevin was angry at the suggestion. How could he appease the two women in his life as they both wanted him for the weekend.

Jack swallowed his pride and spoke privately to Rita about the money he owed the VAT man. He nervously visited her at home and she listened to his problems with sympathy. However her jaw dropped when she discovered just how much Jack actually owed to the VAT man.

Wednesday 11 June 1997
A real quality episode tonight filled with the touches that make Corrie shine when it's on form. Starting with Dreary kissing John goodbye before packing him off on his travels for another long haul flight. Ken was coming out of his house and caught a glimpse of them and his emotions faired boiled to the surface as a result. The jealous scowl was priceless especially as Dreary waved at him somewhat cockily making the situation worse.

Judy was going to the hospital today for her series of tests, she was going with Sally but had not told Gary what she was doing and where she was going. In his eyes she was going on a simple shopping excursion. As chipper as ever Gary toddled off to work leaving Judy waiting nervously for her friend to arrive. She was as ever keeping everything quiet because telling the truth in her eyes would mean explaining about her abortion in her younger years.

Natalie was sailing close to the wind at the garage with Weatherfield's witless wonder Kevin. She tried to get amorous with her little love toy in the garage while Chris was working outside. Kevin of course had to break the news to her that their little weekend tryst was off.

Meanwhile Jack was still pondering the bleak nature of his future, his last hope was Rita Sullivan and he was pinning everything on her agreement to lending out a large sum of money. Unfortunately it didn't look good because Rita came into the pub with bad news. She explained her reservations about lending Jack the money fearing it would dent their friendship badly as these little arrangements had a habit of coming apart at the scenes.

Judy and Sally went to the hospital, the procedures involved in Judy's examination were going to be fairly lengthy and involved not to mention painful. Judy approached the situation with a lot of understandable apprehension.

Mike was causing Angie some annoyances with his sales ploy for her new underwear line. He wanted to hawk her wares around some of the local car boot sales which was an idea which filled her with horror. The thought that her precious designs could be rummaged through by the masses at a Sunday market *indeed*. Also Janice (one of the impending "new family" to hit the Street) was not so much dipping her hands in the till at the factory but more a case dipping her hand in the knicker drawer. She was taking home samples for her bloke.

Judy meanwhile was groggily coming round after her tests, she was in obvious pain and was going to be relying on Sally to get home. She insisted the doctor tell her if anything had been found as a result of his exploration. He initially didn't want to say anything about what he had found but Judy was persistent. He revealed he had found a blockage in one of her fallopian tubes.

When Sally got Judy home she sat and chatted with her about what had happened. Sally of course reckoned she should tell Gary about where she had been. She and Kevin of course had no secrets at all (snigger) which was her basis of insisting that Judy do the right thing.

Maureen and Fred were in the Rovers discussing Maud and her dislike for their relationship and all things Fred related. Fred ever playing the lovable buffoon decided to take the bull by the horns and ask out of the blue if Maureen would marry him. Maureen rebuffed Fred gently and kindly insisting that she was happy as they were and would like to keep it that way for now. Fred was grizzled for all of two minutes before his indestructible pride picked itself up and dusted itself down.

Natalie played a very dangerous game tonight in the shop with Sally. She explained how she would be dining alone and was in the shop buying her tea (a bottle of vodka, now that's a girl with a problem). Sally ever sweetness and light did the decent thing and invited her round to share some food, some drink and some good old fashioned Weatherfield hospitality.

Of course when Kevin got home and viewed the blonde bombshell sat in his living room the bottom fell out of his world, or should that be the world fell out of his bottom. Natalie's games terrified him and never more so than now. She explained to Sally she knew of a good hotel to visit when she went away with Kevin for the weekend. The hotel in question was the one she had been to with Kevin already. Kevin was forced to sit and bear his torture for the evening with Natalie even managing to plant a kiss on him while Sally was out of the room.

Meanwhile Steve sloped into the Rovers, he was really putting the sob story show on Fiona. He explained that he was going to try and get a job in Birmingham at a printing firm. He explained however he couldn't afford the fare and so Fiona decided she would lend him the money. I can't see how he thought that would get him in the good books of his ex lover though.

Jack spoke again to Rita, this time he had another plan of action to save his and Vera's necks. He asked Rita if she would be interested in buying a share of the pub. Rita seemed to warm to the idea straight away and said she would like to hear more.

Friday 13 June 1997
Kevin started the day as he meant to go, his attitude had gone from a tad on the uncaring side to downright unpleasant. Sally was left treading on eggshells as everything she said left him almost snapping her head off. They stormed off to work leaving a lot of things unsaid between them.

Steve McDonald was supposed to be on his way to Birmingham, he was still making cow eyes at Fiona and that obviously affected his decision to go. He arrived at the coach terminus and after thinking about getting on the coach for a moment decided against it and tore up his ticket.

Jack was hovering around the Kabin wondering if Rita had yet to come to a decision about the Rovers Return. She was not a woman to be rushed and told Jack that holding his horses would be the best thing he could while she sought out some advice on the matter. Jack respectfully backed off even though doing so made his curiosity to her decision burn more fiercely than ever.

Mouthy Janice almost lost her job tonight thanks to her bragging and bravado about the underwear she had pinched from the factory. Angie overheard the comments she made and pulled her on the subject. Janice tried to bluff her way out of the matter with Ida's help but Angie was not to be swayed. She received a slap on the wrists for her misdemeanour and was thankful that Mike hadn't dealt with her.

Needless to say he would get wind of what had happened in the pub at lunch time. Angie mentioned the incident in passing and Mike insisted that a harder approach to Janice's actions was needed. In an effort to keep Janice her job she issued a more strict rollicking to the staff that afternoon with an assist from the gargoyle of the shop floor Mike Baldwin himself.

Sally arranged a mid day rendez vous with Kevin to try and have a chat with her about what was wrong with him. It became little more than a continuation of the morning argument. Kevin was even more annoyed to discover that Sally had been contacted by Bill in her absence in an effort to bring her home from her mother's house.

The afternoon was to bring a painful occurrence to Judy and Gary as she came clean to him about where she had been the other day. She explained to Gary about the tests she had endured and what they had discovered. Gary was shocked but not as shocked as he was when he learned of his wife's teenage abortion.

The two of them sat outside on the back porch in silence before Gary asked if it was certain she would never be able to bear children. Judy explained that because of her blocked tubes pregnancy could be more or less ruled out unless she had treatment and even then there was no guarantee the results would be favourable. After this the stunned silence continued between them.

Rita sought advice from Alec with regard to buying a share in the Rovers Return. The two of them pulled up a chair in the pub and began to talk about what the Rovers might entail. Alec did a firm job of persuading Rita not to get involved in the pub at all for fear of losing the shirt of her back. It looked most like a plot to ensure he would be the third partner in the Rovers triangle by my estimation.

Steve drifted back into the Rovers, he told Andy and Fiona that he had not had a good day in Birmingham and the job was more than likely not going to be his in the end. He had of course not been to Birmingham, his real reason for sticking around was Fiona, he had told his mother that he felt he still had a chance of winning her back from Alan. Liz of course being thick stupid was gullible enough to think this was going to be as easy as pie and went along with Steve's way of thinking.

The night ended in yet another argument this time with Kevin having a dig at Bill. Father and Son screamed and shouted at each other with Bill declaring he was trying to save the marriage while Kevin seemed determined to wreck it. God only knows how Sally didn't hear two grown men shouting loudly about Kevin's affair when she was only upstairs. When she did come down Bill was gone and she would be Kevin's next verbal target. He effectively accused her of damaging their marriage by not being around when she was needed.

Sunday 15 June 1997
I never thought I would see things as bad as they are between Gary and Judy Mallett. Following her revelations about her teenage abortion Gary was treating her like a leper. He resented the fact she had not been truthful with him and from the immediate look of things didn't look ready to forgive.

Kevin was being a bit nicer to Sally tonight even going as far as apologising for his rude and somewhat nasty behaviour towards her the other night. Sally of course still didn't suspect that anything was wrong between their marriage. Kevin continued his act of niceness by trying to cement the family bond by offering them a night out for a pizza with the kids. He even offered them the holiday away that Sally had so badly craved, she now declined the offer though realising Kevin had so much work to plough through.

Jack meanwhile was all dressed up with nowhere to go, he was behind the bar and awaiting the magic visit from Rita Sullivan which would either make him or break him. As the doors of the Rovers kept opening he was like a cat on a hot tin roof watching for the next customer and hoping it would be everyone's favourite ginger rich widow.

Alec of course drifted and could be seen keeping a close eye on proceedings. His agenda so far remaining hidden but when Rita did eventually enter the pub his interest level was raised even further. Jack invited Rita through to the back to hear what she had to say and whether it would make him a happy man or not.

The truth of what Rita had to say would alas hurt Jack as the answer she had for him was a resolute 'no'. She was not prepared to invest her money in the pub. She claimed it was down to the fact that she didn't feel comfortable with such and investment after all. Jack however surmised correctly that she had been nobbled by none other than shady Alec. Despite the rejection there was no hard feelings between them.

As Rita left Jack put on a brave face and came out into the bar once again wearing the facade of a man who didn't have a care in the world. In truth though he was a man with the worries of the world bearing down on him.

Kevin moped around in the spray shop part of his garage doing nothing but mulling thoughts over in his mind. He confided in Chris that he was caught between a rock and a hard place as he thought of Sally and then the passionate charms of Natalie. He didn't know where to turn and frustration caused him to start appointing blame where ever he could lay it. The first target was Chris who was apparently responsible for their initial liaison at the night club. Chris was angry he should be blamed and claimed he wanted nothing to do with Kevin's private life.

In fact Chris was on the receiving end of a lot of grief today as after lunch he went to see his new girlfriend Angie at the print shop. She was just concluding a blazing row with Mike over quality control in their garments. As a result when Chris tried to talk to her he got his head bitten off for his troubles.

Steve McDonald hung around Fiona and Alan like a bad smell constantly turning up when they were due to go out together. Alan looked a bit peeved but managed to keep his calm in the presence of the Weatherfield Jerk.

Kevin meanwhile went to see Natalie for the afternoon, it was not a mission for an afternoon of sex but instead an afternoon to talk and conclude their relationship. Kevin was in tears (bad acting alert) as he knew he had to throw cold water on the embers of their passion. However he was in love with Natalie and his feelings were nigh on impossible to control. Natalie was in agreement to ending their fling, mainly because she didn't want to see the man she cared for tearing himself apart.

Angie got home to find Chris sulking after his dinner time chewing out. She tried to explain her motives for shouting at him and an argument began with Angie trying to justify her reasons for being rude. This included one of the worst lines I have ever heard in soap land. When Angie spoke of her work she pleaded "Bad design trashes lives...". (Snigger). I was thinking more along the lines of bad designer needs to climb down out of her own back passage.

Eventually Kevin wandered home late claiming he had been on a breakdown recovery call. He seemed as cool as milk as he walked through the door appearing perfectly ordinary. Bill obviously suspected where Kevin had been with his grunts and sour looks towards Kevin.

Steve decided to make life a little complicated by giving Fiona back the money he owed her in front of Alan. Fiona looked mortified, Alan looked pi*sed off, Steve looked smug...and a bit greasy.

Meanwhile Jack sat down like the defeated man he was. Betty trying to console him that everything could still come up roses. Jack was being realistic though as he sank a glass of Scotch. It was time to sell the Rovers Return.

Monday 16 June 1997
The ebb and flow of the Street's trickier relationships continued tonight with Gary finding it within himself to apologise to Judy for is unpleasant behaviour the night before. He explained to her that he would be by her side come what may in the time to come. Safe in this knowledge they set off to the Doctor's to find out about their future in more detail....

Jack was starting the day in what had become his usual despondent manner. Betty was offering her usual brand of pointless comfort trying to reassure Jack things would be O.K even though that was the furthest thing from the truth at the moment.

Steve was still hanging around Fiona, now it was becoming annoying to her as she was on the verge of getting into grievance with her husband to be Alan. It has to be said to his credit he took the McDonald intrusion with great calm.

Kevin was keeping on the good side of Sally tonight with his playing with the kids and generally keeping a happy demeanour. For now he seemed to be keeping Natalie well and truly under wraps which is just the way he wanted things.

The factory was the cause of some friction between Angie and Mike again as their ideas of how a business should be run ran into conflict. Mike clinched a deal to mass produce garments for the Dutch Army. This of course was beneath the hoity toity Angie who wanted to supply the pinnacle of the fashion world and not the more "human" accounts.

Judy and Gary emerged from the Doctor's greeted with bad news which had left Judy heartbroken. She would need an operation to correct the damage to her fallopian tubes and even that was not guaranteed to work. She worried if Gary might leave her now she might not be able to bear him children. Gary reassured his wife though that they were together for keeps and they would try and get through this problem together.

Kevin went to see Natalie, he acted under the pretence that he was going to see his ex partner Tony when in truth he was off to see Tony's mother. The two of them stood in her kitchen and planned how they would keep their relationship alive now that Sally was back from her mothers.

Steve finally relented to working with Bill and his father Jim, his job efforts were coming to nothing other wise and this would be his ideal opportunity to finally earn some money and still be near Fiona.

Alec came sniffing round the Rovers with a view to assisting his old friend Jack Duckworth. In truth he was looking to get the Rovers for a snip taking care of Jack's financial problems in the process. Jack was offended by Alec's paltry offer and told him to get out of the pub.

Wednesday 18 June 1997
Steve McDonald was kicking off the day playing king of the wind up merchants with his rapidly becoming arch enemy Alan. He cajoled around the surly copper trying to make him rise to the bait. The trouble was his efforts were successful as Alan stood looking down at the grinning idiot with his temple throbbing and temperature rising.

Elsewhere Alec made an early appearance in the Rovers with a revised offer to help bail Jack out of the mess he was in with the VAT. He was no longer looking to buy into the pub but instead looking to invest on a partnership basis. He wanted a fifty percent share for £17,000 but Jack began to play a bartering game starting at £30,000 which was eventually whittled down to a more manageable sum of £25,000. Alec decided it would be prudent to hammer out the details with his solicitor and see if the move was really as wise as he thought. He would return later to let Jack know what was going on.

Angie and Chris had something of a rethink about their relationship and decided to head back to Square one and live as a lodger and landlady once again. They both concluded life would be much simpler for them if things worked on that basis. Angie concluded by saying if things didn't work out then she would have to kick him out. Apart from that little matter there was also the issue of Angie's impending birthday on the horizon and Chris wanted to arrange a party for her. Not that she was looking forward to it as she deemed 30 as the age where life ends.

Kevin was still playing the happily married man although Sally while ever the gullible idiot did have an inkling that something was amiss with her husband. She asked him to come home at dinner time so they could have a chat, Kevin not suspecting anything wrong agreed and set off for work where as usual Natalie was hanging around. Kevin told Natalie to keep a lower profile but she seemed intent on being around as much as possible despite promising not to ruin his marriage.

Alan came home to the flat for lunch and took the opportunity to off load some of his hurt pride on Fiona. Liz and Andy McDonald had been driving him to distraction recently what with the boy's cocky impudent behaviour and his mother's blatant pot stirring. Alan was hurt to discover that Steve had actually been in the flat with Fiona despite nothing happening.

After a chat and a chance to iron out whatever problems the McDonald's might be causing Alan's jealousy was laid aside by Fiona's reassurance that she would be loyal to him and only him.

Meanwhile Kevin came home for lunch to be confronted by a serious looking Saly who was convinced something had been going in her absence. Kevin swallowed hard thinking his game was up. However Sally after a promising start proved she had missed the mark by a mile yet again. She was of the opinion that Natalie fancied Kevin and had been trying to get her claws into him by coming round to the house all the time while she had been at her mother's house.

Kevin explained that he indeed was an innocent party in all this and that Natalie might indeed have the hots for him. Sally was happy with his explanation and life went on as usual for the Webster household despite the fact that Kevin was digging a hole so deep for himself he would need Swampy's pit props before too long.

Later in the Rovers, Fiona confronted a cocky Liz about the verbal she had been laying at Alan's door. As was normal for Liz these days a cocky retort was all Fiona was worth in her eyes. Also in the Rovers, Dreary thought she had been stood by her pilot boyfriend John when in fact his plane had been detoured to the West Midlands due to a technical problem.

Maureen and Fred were busy trying to arrange another one of their clandestine meetings away from old battle axe Maud Grimes. The venue was to be Fred's house. The meal was to be of the slap up variety and according to Maud, Maureen's attitude to sex would be as always gullible.

Kevin and Sally went out for a game of darts and a few drinks in the Rovers tonight. The mood between them was happy and made for an enjoyable night with no Natalie in sight for them. Jack meanwhile was counting the minutes to closing time as Alec still hadn't returned to the pub with a firm offer and a handshake to seal the deal.

Closing time came and went with Jack slinging all the regulars including a worse for wear Mike Baldwin out for the night. As Jack was about to close up for the night a tentative knock came at the back door. Alec wheedled into the pub clutching a piece of paper for Jack to sign and waving a cheque under his nose. Jack with nowhere else to turn signed the paper looking very much like a man selling his soul to the devil.

In turn Alec wandered behind the bar and surveyed his new half a domain before triumphantly pouring himself a fine whisky while pulling something a little cheaper from the optics for Jack while he was out of the room. Could that little touch be an indication of the working relationship to come ?

Friday 20 June 1997
A very strong episode tonight with a fair portion of it being taken up with the brand new partnership of Duckworth and Gilroy. A fresh head behind the bar meant fresh ideas which didn't settle entirely well with Jack. Amongst the new ideas was the sale of Alcopops which Alec was sure would be a winner while Jack was convinced otherwise.

Meanwhile it was Angie's 30th birthday and she started the day wishing she wasn't leaving her twenties behind. Chris was on hand to cheer her up with a gift and a card. He also announced he would be stocking the house with booze for the party tonight. This cheered Angie's spirits a little more.

Meanwhile in the shop Maud continued to bad mouth Maureen's new close friend Fred Elliott. She was convinced he was a man with the morals of a guttersnipe and his intents towards Maureen were hardly what she was worthy of. Maureen of course treat these comments with disdain and wouldn't be persuaded to dump Fred like a hot coal.

Back at the Rovers, Alec quickly eased himself into the co-pilot seat and began getting reacquainted with his customers. There was a few surprised faces gazing across at him including Jim and Bill who were surprised to see him running a pub again. There was of course the inevitable showdown with Rita to come though.

She came in cheerily asking what Alec was doing behind the bar and Alec with no thought to compose some convenient story came out and said he had bought into the pub. Rita of course had been Jack's first port of call for the money to bail him out but Alec had talked her out of the prospect. Seeing him jumping into her proverbial shoes upset her greatly and she stormed out in anger.

Sally was in heaven as her nice little life seemed to have slotted back together with the minimum of fuss or so she thought. Why only across the road at the salon her secret love rival Natalie was wheedling her way towards an invite to the party which she would be attending with her husband Kevin that night.

The day rolled on and before long the party was getting under way, Steve was amongst the first there with a joint in his hand. Chris was interested as to find out where he had got the stuff but the conversation quickly ended when Alan walked in with Fiona. She saw Steve and his recreational ciggie and quickly made him hide it for fear he would be arrested if Alan saw what he was doing.

This all of course seemed to be another "pity me and show you still love me" scheme to get Fiona's attention. It's effect was limited and as a result the attention was soon shifted away from them.

Meanwhile Maureen was at Fred's house, the table was groaning under the weight of a resplendent feast all prepared by the masterful hand of Fred Elliot. Maureen savoured every mouthful of Fred's cooking and drank from his array of fine wines making this a definite meal to remember. It was all topped off with Fred waxing lyrical and showering his guest with compliments in an almost constant stream.

Back at the party, even Mike had made an effort to show up for the night with his wife Alma. The drink was flowing and Natalie picked her way through the masses to be with Kevin and Sally. Within moments she was dancing with a very nervous Kevin who feared the beans being well and truly spilt on this occasion.

Kevin was mercifully saved on this occasion because nothing untoward happened to arouse any more suspicion from Sally. However elsewhere in the party Angie despite the resolutions to keep things on a strictly lodger and landlady basis decided she couldn't keep her hands off her man and fell into his arms in the garden.

Meanwhile at Fred's house the meal was over and rather than anything sordid happening which is what usually transpires after Maureen and red wine mix in large quantities Fred was continuing his eloquent behaviour. There was a greater depth to this man than at first met the eye and he was showing it tonight. He appeared to be a man of the written word and this literacy seemed to make Maureen melt before him. He ended the night by inviting her away to a wholesaler's convention on a strictly professional basis.

The party winded down with Chris navigating the more drunken revellers down the Street and off to their homes. The Rovers had enjoyed a successful night thanks partially to Alec's Alcopops idea. Jack of course still hadn't revealed to Vera what he had done with Alec but then that would now have to wait until the morning. Meanwhile back at the house as Chris got rid of some more people a figured approached from the darkness and in somewhat shirty fashion demanded to know what the hell was going on...

Sunday 22 June 1997
The episode started with the morning after the night before at Des's house with a few straggling revellers sprawled out across the settee and floors of chez Barnes. Des himself was in surprisingly good form considering the potential temper he looked set to throw upon arriving home the night before.

He spoke to Angie and even gave her a birthday present which consisted of a somewhat risque nautical diary which he had never got round to using while he was away on the water. Angie didn't look too impressed with the gift so Des quickly took it back while she wasn't looking and found another use for it.

He dropped it through the letter box of The Wiltons household thinking his return could herald the start of another round of good humoured banter and practical tomfoolery between them. Nobody had remembered to tell him that his old sparring partner was now digging the big allotment in the sky.

No sooner had he dropped the book through the letter box and returned home then no sooner did he find out from Angie about Derek's death and he was horrified to think that the widowed Mavis would be exposed to such reading material. He quickly set about tracking down the keyholder Emily and getting access to the house to get the book back.

Meanwhile Alec was swanning in and out of his newly acquired pub like the lord of the manor. Jack meanwhile was fending off the phone call of Vera who was returning to the Street today following her little holiday with Tricia and Brad. He asked Alec to stay away while he broke the news to her and calmed down what would inevitably be a massive explosion of a reaction to the news.

As it happened Jack would not be the one to break the news as that would come from the mouth of Rita Sullivan in the Kabin as she greeted Vera coming home a couple of hours later. Needless to say Vera's face would be a portent of doom for any who would cross her.

If the Mallett household were full of people they would inevitably be shouting "Haircut!". The reason being that Gary had suddenly returned home with his shaved very short compared to his usual unruly (wig) barnet. He and Judy were out to spice up their social life which had taken something of a battering recently thanks to their troubles in trying to have a child.

Judy had some tickets for a "Lazer Tag" event and Gary reckoned it might be a good idea to assemble a team of people to go and play one evening. Judy thought it might be good fun getting togged up to shoot people and left Gary to arrange the couples who would go with them.

After seeing Alec in the Street and chewing him out about his involvement in buying chunks of the Rovers, Vera stormed into the bar of the Rovers like a roving whirlwind with her sights and fury set on Jack. The poor man could hardly plead his innocence before Vera had launched into him with a verbal tirade that came second to none. When words failed her and she could abuse him no more she gave him a nasty smack round the head which very quickly turned into a nasty bruise.

In the Rovers at dinner time Steve was once again trying his best with Fiona. She was in the house hunting market with her hubby to be Alan and as a result she was all ears when Steve mentioned a property he was working on might be up for sale very soon. Fiona agreed to accompany him to the house for a look see that lunch time. Nothing untoward happened but you could see the motive plain as day was to make Alan jealous.

Des was hanging round Emily in an effort to get the key from her so she could gain access to the Wilton residence. The book hung just out of reach on the inner flap of the letter box leaving Des no other option but to use the key to gain entrance.

Little did he know that Emily had conspired with Rita to play one last little trick in Des. Almost in a one more for the road type tradition for Derek now he was gone. Emily rigidly refused to allow Des access to the house claiming she was the first line of defence to dissuade any unwanted intruders from coming into the house in her absence. This without doubt set Des on edge as he knew Mavis could return at any time. The trickster had been faced with taste of his own medicine.

In the back room of the Rovers, Jack and Vera were still getting down to brass tacks and hammering out the details of the new merger. Vera was still angry but she was slowly coming round to the idea or so it seemed.

Angie and Chris decided to cement their relationship by moving into one room in Des's house. This wasn't the ideal setup in Des's eyes but he didn't seem to be making to many waves from what we could see.

Meanwhile the evening came and Jack and Vera appeared to have sorted their differences. She sent him out for a fish supper from the local chip shop but upon returning to the pub the doors were locked. As punishment for the crime of keeping Vera in the dark, Jack was being locked out.

Monday 23 June 1997
Vera is still annoyed at being kept in the dark regarding the hand over of half the pub to Alex. She is imposing a lockout on both her husband and her new but unsought business partner. Alex arrives in the morning to try and get into the premises but has as much joy as Jack, that is none at all. Jack, incidentally, seems to have had spent the night in the Mallet's outhouse. Gary found him there, sniggered, took pity on him and invited him in for breakfast. Alex hammers at the door and he and Vera splutter and rage at each other through it. Vera had already got Jim to change the locks. Alex threatens to knock the door down.

He sees Jack coming out the Malletts. Jack tries to sidle back in from whence he came, unseen. He realises he will not manage to get away as Alex orders him to stay put. We next see the partners in the Malletts trying to enlist Judy to their cause. Judy won't play ball. Alex wonders if she wants to keep her job and says as much. Jack is not so hasty having been just had breakfast there. Alex leaves in a huff with Jack following and telling Judy not to worry. Later we see the publicans, Jim and Percy at a legionish looking place drinking. Percy wonders why the Rovers is not open. He is given a reason: it is Vera's odd behaviour. Percy comes up with a plan based on the Trojan horse metaphor. Jack does not grasp this, his Greek mythology evidently rusty. Alex is delighted at Percy's military thinking having a use.

Meanwhile Vera is nattering away to Betty and Sam (perfectly featured and as alluring as ever) and moaning about her treatment. Betty and Sam think that shutting the pub down is probably not the wisest course of action. All the same they give Vera their support. The brewery wagon arrives and Vera panics. She does not want to let them unload in case Jack and Alex sneak in. Betty tells her not to be so stupid; she must allow them to deliver. Vera reluctantly agrees. The cellar doors have already opened and Jack and Alex have taken the opportunity to get into the Rovers. Vera is shocked to see them appear. Later, we see Jack and Vera discussing things. Jack says he realise Vera is upset about events but that he really had no choice and they have to make the best of it. Vera acknowledges this, grudgingly. Alex is surprised to see her come in the bar in far better fettle and in sprightly form.

Des is still fretting about the saucy post waiting for Mavis upon her return. He is determined to retrieve this item. Rita and Emily are still teasing him. Er, Emily being a humorous tease just does not work in my opinion, but never mind. Emily goes around to Des's home with the naughty book. In an embarrassing scene (not because of the material but because of the acting) Emily pretends to want to know what certain pictures in the saucy diary mean. Des feigns/has a look of embarrassment. Des then realises he has been the victim of a prank as Emily half giggles at him weakly and tries to show she is not a prude. I am in agreement with adi's point about Des's acting at the moment. Perhaps he is not yet in the swing of things after his extended break.

Steve is still sniffing around Fiona and Fiona, it seems, is willing to be sniffed around. Her rebuffs are not exactly strong. Steve complains to Fiona about how her boyfriend told him to back off and threatened him with a return to jail. Fiona appears a little annoyed at this. Jim tells Steve that working Alan might not be a good idea as the policeman is a nasty piece of work and could easily put him back inside. Later, Fiona asks Alan what he was doing and Alan, with his strange Geordie accent, often sounding like he is underwater, and eerie to listen to, just told her he never threatened him at all.

The Malletts, Des, Chris and Angie, as well as Fiona and Alan all went off for a laser fight. Chris was reluctant to go - as he does not think gun games are frivolous and has a moral objection - but was eventually persuaded, mostly by Angie. Des mocked the lad for his disapproval. Des is not too happy with the Chris and Angie arrangement, the hint being that Des would prefer it was a Des and Angie arrangement. It turns out that Chris is the hero of laser game and beats everyone else into the ground. All are happily impressed with this display of prowess except Des who sulks. Chris and Angie depart early, ostensibly because Chris has to be up with the larks. Des sulks some more and trails off after the rest of the group. Judy spots a wretched waif in the doorway who begs for money. It is the girlfriend of the amusement arcade extortionist. It turns out that the blackmailer had done a runner leaving the waif up the duff and without money for the previously planned abortion. Judy, soft hearted soul, takes pity on her and gives her a tenner. Gary sees this, makes a remark but does not give his wife too hard a time.

Wednesday 25 June 1997
Starting off with Des and Chris that morning over breakfast in their now shared home. The atmosphere was almost palpable with Des lobbing jokes at Chris regarding his exploits in Africa. More to the point his lack of belief that these events ever happened.

The Rovers was still a hotbed of discontent as well with Vera still cursing the day that Alec ever jumped on board the good ship Rovers Return. Jack insisted that if the two of them pulled together Alec would never get the opportunity to try any "funny business". However as always Alec had a knack of proving people wrong.

Des was spending the day trying his level best to get back in Sam's good books. Her cast iron exterior was doing an excellent job of keeping the not so wily Barnes at bay. It was almost painful to watch as his impassioned pleas for some attention from the barmaid fell on deaf ears.

The Mallets looked like becoming baby sitter to the waif and stray Zoe who had previously been such a pain in the neck for them. Judy came across the young girl on her doorstep and her better nature took over and she invited the girl in for a bite to eat and a chance to clean herself up. She explained that she was in no direct way responsible for the grievance that Gary had suffered at the hands of her boyfriend. This unfortunately cut little ice with Gary who was more than a little angry about the situation when he returned home from work.

Meanwhile Steve was making a nuisance of himself again tonight as he sauntered into Fiona's salon for a trim. No sooner had he relaxed and allowed Fiona to massage his scalp than Alan walked in with some brochures for houses. He saw Steve and instantly stormed out of the shop in a jealous anger. Steve had accomplished his mission for the day.

Fiona tried to hammer the situation out in conversation with Jim a short while later. Neither could be sure if Steve was telling the truth about his accusations of harassment from Alan. As Fiona said someone was telling lies and who would it turn out to be....

Alan spent a while in Alec's company tonight discussing the troublesome McDonald Junior. In conversation he discovered that Steve had effectively dumped Fiona for Vicky and promptly fleeced her of her cash shortly after marrying her. Alan's new found knowledge made him beam with glee but unfortunately it didn't do anything for the state of his acting ability.

Alec meanwhile was making peace with his "enemies" namely Rita and Vera were both recipients of some cheap potted plants by way of peace offerings. Vera was easily impressed and thus was over the moon with her little gift while Rita wasn't so easily charmed by the old dog Gilroy.

The night ended on a bad note for Chris and Angie, Des came home to find them canoodling on the sofa and that was the final straw for him. Totally peeved at the fact that he had been rejected by Sam he was now taking out his anger on all around him. Chris was effectively being given his marching orders.

Friday 27 June 1997
The Rovers was a scene of conflict tonight as the usually smooth machinations of Weatherfield's most famous pub ground to a halt over a relatively simple matter. Alec had decided to install some fresh fixtures and fittings in the Rovers without consulting his erstwhile partners Jack and Vera.

Jack of course was fuming that Alec had made changes behind his back and decided to stop him in his tracks by being awkward. He elected that a meeting between the shareholders be called and a vote be called to resolve the matter. Jack was relying on Vera's support in the matter but was astonished when she backed Alec's plans to install the new fixtures and fittings.

The hostility in the Barnes household looked like boiling over tonight as Des and Chris clashed yet again. Des still wanted Chris out of his house and made his demands quite verbal with the two of them almost coming to blows. Angie was sure however she would be capable of changing Des's mind and getting Chris reinstated as the lodger in the household.

Judy and Gary were still babysitting their house guest Zoe much to Gary's annoyance. Judy was attending Zoe's every need while Gary sat and grizzled at her wishing she were someone else. It was clear that Zoe's predicament had tugged at Judy's heartstrings because she was having thoughts about adopting the teenager's unborn child. Gary wanted to see to it though that Zoe didn't out stay her welcome and for the sake of the Mallett household and especially Judy arranged for the social services to find her a place to stay. Zoe didn't look happy with this but there was little she could do.

Doubt was forming in Sally's mind, she was beginning to have thoughts about Kevin and how he might not have been as true to her as she thought he would have been. Sally being Sally though she tried to cast it all to the back of her head even after coming across Kevin and Natalie in the Rovers *almost* holding hands (Kevin saw her and quickly recoiled from Natalie).

Jim forced to Steve to see the cold light of the truth, he explained how Fiona had told him to have a word with steve and stop him trying to see her all the time. Steve reacted badly to this and stormed out of the Rovers the truth it would seem had indeed hurt him.

Kevin told Sally he was going to Oldham on a breakdown call, he explained he would not be back in the house until around 9 p.m that night. The real reason for this was the fact that he wanted to go and see Natalie.

Angie had something of a lunch time pep talk with Des Barnes. She told him if Chris went from the house then she would leave as well. Des didn't relish the idea of being alone in the house so he relented and Chris and Angie were allowed to stay.

In celebration Chris went to the shop to buy some chocolate for his girlfriend. He enjoyed some casual banter with Sally until the subject of Kevin's breakdown call came up. Chris mentioned that it was a local leading Sally to finally realise Kevin had been lying to her. With tears in her eyes she shut the shop and decided what to do next....

Sunday 29 June 1997
This episode should have been titled Kevin Webster journey's to the centre of the earth courtesy of digging his own hole. The episode was themed around the Websters. Sally's suspicion about her husband had been brewing for some time now and as of tonight her suspicions were just about confirmed.

Finally taking a firm grasp of the situation she decided to take action and see if she could prove once and for all Kevin's infidelity. She rang Natalie's house where she was greeted with just a recorded answering machine message.

The reason for this was down to the fact that Kevin and Natalie were frolicking on the settee as a prelude to some seedy bedroom romp. As they played the phone rang out and Sally on the other end became more tearful.

She decided to go one step further and head for Natalie's house and catch Kevin in the act. Leaving Rosie and Sophie with Dreary who happened to be passing by on the way to the cinema with Liz she sped off in her car to find the illicit love nest.

Having Rosie and Sophie on her hands pretty much put the kibosh on any plans for the night that Dreary and Liz may have had so they simply went back to Dreary's flat and waited to see what was going to happen next.

Sally turned up at Natalie's after trawling the streets with a Manchester A-Z. As she jumped out of the car and ran up the drive Natalie peered out of the window and informed Kevin of their visitor. Kevin panicked and reckoned they should hide but it was too late because Sally had already seen him in front of the window with no shirt on. Also the fact his breakdown truck was on the road outside was something of a giveaway as well.

Natalie felt she had no choice but to let Sally into the house, Kevin was just coming downstairs as she did so and was faced with her fury. She launched herself at her husband pummelling him and screaming incoherently at him as he stood there with a dumbstruck look on his face. She then turned on her heels and marched out of the house and got back in the car.

Kevin ran out and tried to stop her begging for her to listen him, however it wasn't happening and she simply put her foot down and sped away from the house with Coronation Street once again her destination in mind. Kevin set off after her despite the protests of Natalie who told him to stay.

Back in the Street it was time for a showdown once again only this time in the more familiar territory of their front room. Sally's face was reddened and tear streaked as she tried to make sense of the situation. Kevin meanwhile was begging forgiveness repeating how sorry he was. At this point we got to realise what an insensitive sod he really was. You could hear in the tone of his voice that he seemed to think a simple apology would put things right between them.

Kevin even went as far as to apportion blame to Sally for being absent so long from the marital home. He said her absence had made him lonely and as a result he had strayed to Natalie. Once again he tried to make it sound better with insistence that it was his first offence and that other blokes do it all the time. Quite unbelievable that even he could be so thick really.

Sally heaped the scorn on him though showing this time she wasn't just going to crumble and break as you would expect. She told him to get out of the house and he surprisingly he did leave pretty much without a fight. Outside the house the children were stood with Bill and Dreary and Liz waiting to come inside. Kevin gave them a hug and told the onlookers to stop gawking before driving off.

Monday 30 June 1997
The dust was settling in Weatherfield after the explosive confrontation between Kevin and Sally. The two of them had thrown up a wall of silence between themselves with Kevin at work and Sally hiding herself away at home for the day. Neither of them prepared to give an inch when it came to making the first move in getting back together. In fact Kevin had the audacity to still believe that he had very little to be sorry for.

The rest of the episode took up a new theme and that was golf, Fred Elliott was getting ready to hit the green with his young protege Ashley. The intention was to groom him in the ways of the game so that he would be able to mix in higher social circles later on. Ashley was of course more interested in going out with Maxine but Fred was insistent and when he makes his mind up it usually stays made.

There was another new face on the golf course tonight as well and that was none other than Curly Watts. He too was being prepared for a game by none other than an old golfing stalwart like Mike Baldwin. He picked Curly up from Firman's Freezers whilst dropping Alma off to begin her shift on the tills.

These two parties then happened to meet each other in the club house as they went for a drink before playing. Both Mike and Fred fancied themselves as something of golfers and as a result they couldn't resist having a game and putting a little wager on the outcome. Over a drink Mike reckoned they should bet £50 on the outcome.

The day ended with Sally speaking to Dreary about how upset she was that Kevin had not contacted her during the day. She decided that the best thing she could do was to leave Weatherfield as she felt Kevin had no interest in her anymore.

As a final gesture she went to see Kevin at natalie's house where he had been staying. She beeped the horn of the car outside and waited till Kevin came out where she informed him he had best say goodbye to his children as she was returning to Scarborough. She then drove off with the children with her mother's home as the destination.

Kevin was shell shocked by this news and it showed, he rejected every attempt by Natalie to get close to him. She tried to explain that he would get access to his children but it was no good he looked like a man getting cold feet.

On the golf course there was all manner of shenanigans going on, Mike was hitting shots with the best of them while Curly was also proving to be a proficient learner. Fred meanwhile was getting frustrated at his inability to beat Mike at his own game. In the end courtesy of some fluke work by Curly Watts, Fred and Ashley lost the game.

£50 down and rather upset Fred flung a club into the woods in frustration, this little incident backfired because he was the one left alone to find it after Ashley, Mike and Curly went home. As Fred clambered around through the bushes looking for his club he slipped and fell quite badly and was left stranded in the woods with a possible broken leg. The last we saw he had been sufficiently late to stand up a very annoyed Maureen at a local restaurant.

Meanwhile Kevin could stand the strain no longer and decided to set off for Scarborough. He began a night time drive to try and patch things up with his wife who had already arrived at her mother's house and tearfully explained to her mother what had happened.


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