Reg has gone - Alf helps out Maud for free whilst Maureen is helpingReg
to get settled in his new home. Audrey thinks that Alf is getting
paid, but he says that is something that they should all keep
secret! A couple of days later in the Rovers, Maureen tells Curly
that Reg believed that Curly was a dead cert to take over from
Reg, but Curly explains that he is having to apply and that it
will not be a foregone conclusion. Maud and Maureen offer Dierdre
a job helping out. Alf seems put out when he comes into the shop
to help out!
Sean Skinner picks up on the atmosphere in the Weatherfield branch
of his bookies, takes the two of them out to lunch to sort the
problems out. He refuses Des's request for a transfer. Vicky and
Steve just happen to be in the same pub as the work's "outing"
- Sean and Steve meet, Sean is very complimentary to Steve, calling
him "little Stevie wonder boy and his child bride" and
in front of Liz!! Vicky tells Steve that she is to go to see one
of her old friends from school to get some work for the print
shop - Steve won't come with her as he doesn't particularly like
her frineds. Vicky is annoyed with his attitude because this is
good work coming in.
Fiona and the new Garage mechanic, Tony Horrocks, go out bowling
with some of the Rovers' Football team. She has been encouraged
by Denise, who thinks that they would make a good couple. Baldwin
also meets Tony for the first time, and questions Kevin about
the terms of his employment! Baldwin wants Kevin to look at the
car. Kevin says that he can't do it before lunchtime, but cunning
Tony, eager to impress the new boss, offers to have a look immediately,
creating the right impression!
Sarah Louise and David are in their school plays, Alice in Wonderland
and the Nativity respectively. Sarah Louise is caught by Martin
scrubbing out Don's face from the family photos. She explains
that he is no longer part of the family. This action and thoughts
of Christmas cause Gail to think that they all need to come around
the table together. Gail suggests "buying Don out" for
£5000, and he has to move out when Nick decides what he
wants to do with the house when he is 18. In the mean time Don
would have to pay rent to Nicky, as acknowledgement of Nick's
claim to the house. Don storms out, with Josie, disgusted with
the offer and insistant that Gail is trying to con him out of
what is rightly his.
Bill wants a new flat, encouraged by Vera who would ideally like
him out of the Rovers. It is suggested that he ask Denise about
the flat over the shop. Denise refuses to let it out for reasons
to follow! Denise and her accountant Brother-in-Law who has "come
to do the books" of the last two years. Denise locks the
doors of the Salon. She remenisces of the sex that they once had
together, that they concealed from their respective relatives.
Their remeniscing turns to reality, as they re-enact the passion
of that after-party shag! Denise re-counts her boring sexlife
in the last 2 years - Ken is boring, especially in bed! She admits
to herself that she is a "bad lot." Scenes that remind
us of Elsie Tanner are in evidence. There is talk that they would
like the affair to continue, but maybe in a safer place. This
is the reason for refusing to let the flat to Bill - a place to
writhe in the heat of passion! On top of all of this, Denise reaches
the age of 40 - Ken suggests that this is the age when women go
on the rampage! It seems that he is right...
Bill asks Jim to help him with some repairs at Mike Baldwin's
flats. Roy Cropper helps or should that be hinders the operation.
The two men ponder as to whether they could make this a full time
venture, with a yard and a van possibly as well as local advertising
by leaflet drops. Whilst getting paid for the job, Baldwin offers
Bill a flat there, so his problems are beginning to be solved.
Vera has to go to Blackpool to see little Tommy who has contracted
German Measles. Vera has doubts about the pub and the workload
involved. Raquel says they need extra help behind the bar now
that Betty has gone. Jack asks the employment agency to send people.
He gets a barmaid called Carol Starkey and decides to give her
a try. After a couple of hours neither Jack nor Carol are keen
on her staying on! She decides that the people are too wierd!
Betty comes into the bar whilst carol is still there, and is served
by her. Carol gets a frosty reception from Betty! Raquel explains
that that is just Betty! Jack finally strikes a deal with Newton
and Ridleys about the Mild and the Bitter - even Raquel see that
he is a good negotiator! Lorraine Ramsden is the next Barmaid
that turns up for a try-out! She is very attractive, much to Raquel's
annoyance! She is also extremely inexperienced, and very clumsy,
giving huge measures! How long can she last?
The new residents in the Street, the Mallets, have housewarming
party. Mavis and Derek are annoyed when their noisey friends turn
up in a big van and some very loud Heavy Metal music starts up!
It is clearly a very high class party! Fiona and Tony end up snogging,
despite the teething troubles that they had the night before when
they were bowling!
Rita gets a mysterious cheque from a life assurance company. Rita
invites Mavis to come with her on a holiday - a cruise in fact!
Derek doesn't want Mavis to go, and wants her to come with him
to the Lake District on his leave that he needs to take before
Christmas. And that's about it! The next week looks like being
a corker - Friday's episode is the big 35th Anniversary One hour
special! Despite the fact that she hasn't been proposed to yet,
it seems that raquel is going to get married! I'll let you know
what happens this time next week! Quote of the week. After Jack
slaps Raquel's bottom whilst behind the bar : "And may I
point out that my backside is not for slapping, not during working
hours..."
Realising the error of her quote she turns aside and mutters "oh,
what have I said?
Lorraine is behind the bar still, Raquel remarks that "She
has a brain like a sieve, and that's saying something coming from
me." Jack insists that she'll pick it up soon and he gives
her some intimate beer-pulling lessons just as Vera arrives back.
Jack explains his rationale for employing her to Vera, "if
fellers want to ogle someone behind the bar, they can ogle me
and Raquel," comments Vera! Lorraine is given the push, she
is just no use - "You can stick your lousy job, and your
lousy pub." Jack tells Raquel that he has seen a side of
her that he doesn't much like! In the meantime, Vera goes around
to Betty's place to beg her to come back. Betty argues about what
happened before and lays down new terms and conditions - common
courtesy and respect for a start.
Jim and Bill get Vicky to print some leaflets for their new business
and they distribute them around the streets (it turns out to be
a pub crawl - a pint for every leaflet!). Vicky tells Jim that
she is off to see one of her friends to drum up some business,
but that Steve is not happy about it. And while the cat's away,
Steve is off to the hairdressers to get his hair cut by Fiona
- no-one else is suitable to cut his hair. She is quite calm about
the whole thing telling him that a trip down memory lane is not
part of the service when he insists on talking about their past
life. Back to Bill Webster and he gets a back-tax demand. 1400
pounds. He doesn't have that kind of money.
Rita picks up the tickets for the cruise from the travel agents,
much to Derek's annoyance - he continues to try to dissuade Mavis
- "There's no such thing as a free lunch Mavis." She
agrees to refuse the offer from Rita, but just can't do it when
it comes to the crunch, particularly when it would mean closing
the shop for so long since Emily can't take over full time due
to the homeless project that she is involved with.
Brian turns up at Denise's salon to "sort out some problems
with the books." Denise gets Maxine to look after her appointment
(Audrey) whilst she takes Brian upstairs. Ken comes to the Salon
to discuss the shopping and makes his way upstairs. At the last
minute he decides to be decisive and to get the shopping without
consultation - good job else he would have caught them at it.
When Denise learns this, she looks horrified.
Don comes to the Roberts' house to drive them to the train station.
They are off to Buckingham Palace to pick up the OBE. Alf tells
Don of his concerns over not deserving it. Don explains that Alf
has done Weatherfield proud. Audrey has lost her Diamond Earring
that she bought off the shopping channel! This means that they
are running late for the train. They arrive just as the train
pulls away. They miss the last train to London - the next one
departs the next day! "Hold it - Stop the train!"
Wednesday The next-morning preparations for the trip to the palace
begin. Alf tries to fix Audrey's shoes, putting a hole in her
tights in the process! Don gets dolled up, as he is driving the
pair of them there. Gail saves Audrey's life with a new pair of
tights. Don arrives at the house to a frosty reception from Gail.
This all gives Audrey the excuse for starting an arguement with
Don. This continues in the cab on the journey. Don pulls off the
Motorway so that he can give Audrey a proper talking to without
the hassle of driving. "I don't have to sit here listening
to this," says Audrey. She gets out of the car, and Don pulls
away and leaves her there at the service station - stranded! It
seems that Alf can do nothing about this!
Audrey hitches a lift with a woman and her dog, Claymore! She
is driven through London in a van. The tyre bursts, and the two
of them have to change it causing more delay, and distress to
Audrey! Don and Alf try to go back and find her, but with no success.
Cancellation becomes a possibility for the cruise. Mavis DOES
want to go, but Derek is making things intollerable for her. She
eventually decides to go along when Rita starts laying things
on the line. Mavis comes up with a marvellous solution to all
of the problems - she will go with Rita, and Derek will look after
the shop whilst on his leave. Initially he doesn't want to do
it, Rita tricks him into it however by telling him that he is
virtually incapable of doing it! "Oh Rita, you are living
in a cocoon, a bubble of self-delusion...." They are all
set for the off!
Des's problems begin again. He cuts Maxine dead in the cafe, cancelling
his huge breakfast (much to Alma's annoyance) He is later propping
up the bar in the Rovers, drinking Whiskey. When Liz comes into
the pub, Des aproaches her and tells her that he needs her. She
is told to come into work an hour early tomorrow.
Bill is given the cash to pay off the tax by Kevin and Sally,
and he accepts. Alf arrives in the Mall and runs out of the car
- he has spotted something or someone. Audrey arrives with avengeance,
running down the Mall in her high heals! The policeman refuses
to let her into the Palace without her pass. She is left to watch
from the gates - she explains to some Japanese tourists what has
happened. She spots Alf, usuing the Japanese tourit's binoculars.
She sees that Alf is with BETTY WILLIAMS! That was who Alf spotted
from the car! Seeing them having their photo taken, Audrey remarks
that she will kill him!
"You engineered this Alf Roberts, you ditched me so that
she could get her face in.... I have never been so humiliated.
The greatest day of my life ruined, I'll never forgive you for
this."
Alf shouts at Don when he comes along and Don deserts the pair
of them. Then they hear a little Japanese voice - "May I
take a photo please?" The two of them smile for the camera!
The day has ended in the bookies, and Liz and Des are left on
their own together. Des grabs Liz and sticks his tongue down her
throat (!) Liz is clearly uncomfortable and keeps fending him
off. "We'd be mad to start anything.... get yourself a girl
Des, you can't have me, find someone you can have." He leaves
Liz to lock up, slams the door behind him and seems genuinely
upset at his rejection. He goes off to the pub and asks Raquel
to have a drink and a chat with him. This, he explains, is what
he misses most of all - talking with Raquel.... Later he tells
her that he wishes that he could turn the clock back to when they
were still together. Raquel looks confused, yet hopeful.
Morning comes and Raquel, Vera and Betty are all together in the
Rovers having a cup of tea. Raquel seems distant, and asks Vera
whether she and Jack ever fell out before they were married? She
is clearly in need of advice. Later Raquel quizzes Phyllis about
Des. When they see Diedre coming in the discussion moves on -
Phyllis says that "if you like somebody it pays you to get
a move on while you've got a chance." It is obvious that
this hits a raw nerve with Raquel.
Bill asks Rita if she'd like to come out for a meal with him tomorrow
night. He explains to her that Kevin and Sally have lent him ther
cash to clear the tax demand. Rita is horrified that they are
using "her" money. She storms into the Corner Shop,
where Sally is working, to have an arguement. "You're chucking
it down the drain - I thought that you'd have had more wit than
to hand it over to a sponger." Sally, is angry and lays down
the law. She argues that Bill is part of her family AND that the
money was given to her - there were no conditions. She also harshly
tells Rita that she was only trying to buy some grandchildren
and that they are NOT for sale! There is no answer to this and
Rita leaves without saying a word, clearly embarrassed.
Des is back in the Rovers. Today he is talking of the pain that
he gets whenever he sees her. Des suggests that they just be freinds
again - Raquel agrees. Des invites her back for a bite of supper
at his place, as a friend. She goes along with it. It isn't long
before they kiss.....
Another morning dawns and Raquel is seen bringing Des a cup of
tea up to Des. Once again, they embrace in bed. Raquel has ideas
about moving into Des's place. Before she shares them with him,
she realises that he doesn't share these ideas. This is particularly
obvious when he asks her what she is doing tonight... "oh
no, I'm stuck tonight, how about next thursday?" The realisation
and disappointment dawns on Raquel's face.
Derek is starting his "training" in the Kabin. Mavis
warns him of the pitfalls (recounting what happened last time
he looked after the Kabin). Mavis tells Rita that Sally has been
in to cancel her papers. Bill Webster also arrives to tell Rita
that them going out is obviously not going to take place. Rita
realises that she should have just kept her mouth shut. She explains
to Mavis that she can't go over and make it up. Things were said
that can't be unsaid.
Harvey Nuttall from Nuttall's Breweries turns up to the Rovers
to invite Vera to the Licencees party. Jack thinks it should be
him going, but it's licencees only! In the back room Raquel is
crying. Betty sees this and comforts her. "Oh Betty, I'm
such a fool, I'm just so stupid.... All me life, I've kidded meself,
I was going to have a wonderful career modelling.... modelling!
I never had a hope Betty. And when it comes to men...." She
explains that it's all about Des and how she thought that he was
sorry, and that he truly wanted her back. "He just wanted
the use of me..... I never learn Betty, and now I just feel cheap
and dirty, and second-hand and more than anything, so stupid."
Raquel then becomes hard and says that she will never trust anyone
again. Betty warns against this and suggests that there are people
out there that you can bank on, "what you have to do my love
is go and find them."
When Curly comes into the Rovers, Maud says to Raquel that he
is a very decent lad. Raquel then sees Des, and thinks deeply.
She pops out of the Rovers and knocks on Curly's door.
"You remember when we got engaged? Do you still want to Marry
me?"
Curly thinks it's a joke, but Raquel persists. "You've always
known that I wanted to Marry you, it wasn't me that broke it off,
rememeber? And the answer to your question is yes - I would marry
you tomorrow if you'd have me."
"Let's get married!" says Raquel.
And so yet another day arrives with Curly knocking on the back
door of the Rovers. They confirm the arrangement. Raquel wants
it to be as soon as possible. She doesn't want a reception and
there are to be no guests. She doesn't want Curly to tell anyone
either - not until after the wedding.
Curly goes into the Corner Shop and talks to Maureen. He confides
in her and asks for advice. He tells Maureen that he *is* in love
with her. He says that he wants to spend the rest of his life
with her. "Well, there's your answer then, and I think that
she is a really lucky woman."
Curly sets the date for Friday afternoon at 3pm, at the registry
office. And he says that they will have a honeymoon, and that
she should take her holiday entitlement. Raquel seems to be having
doubts. Des comes over to her and says that he has Friday afternoon
off and he asks Raquel if she would "like to come round for
a quick session." She says that she thinks that she is busy.
Curly phones Alec Gilroy at Sun Liners, he asks for a decent cabin
for two for around the a thousand pound mark.....
Friday arrives. Mavis is packing and Derek asks why she is taking
a dance dress! She gets rid of Derek to the Kabin. He says "I
still think you should take your anorak - you'll probably have
vile weather!" Rita and Mavis eventually leave the Street
- Sally sees them and cuts Rita dead. Derek assures Mavis that
he'll listen to the Shipping Forecast! Maureen comes round to
Curly's place and wishes him luck and brings him some flowers
for the wedding. He talks of his doubts as to whether she will
turn up. Curly waits for Raquel. She does arrive. They talk about
the sleep they had, about food, and about trusting each other.
She also continues her obsession with local people not knowing
about it. Whilst Curly arranges for some witnesses, Raquel sits
quietly contemplating the day's events. She looks worried. She
goes to the toilet, and seems to be spending rather a long time
in there. We see Raquel crying her eyes out in front of the mirror.
One of the registry office workers notices this and tells her
colleage, Curly wonders what they are talking about.
Vera comes back from the Nuttalls Brewery Party. And she is drunk
beyond belief! It seems she has love on her mind and has big plans
for Jack. Des looks over to the Rovers and realises that Raquel
is not going to come over for a "session" after all.
Raquel returns to Curly just as the registrar returns with the
witnesses. We are still unsure as to whether she will go through
with it. In a deserted, sad and lonely room the vows are exchanged
: "I call upon these persons here present to witness that
I, Norman Watts, do take thee Raquel Catherine Wolstenhume to
be my lawful wedded wife." "I call upon these persons
here present to witness that I, Raquel Catherine Wolstenhume..........
do take thee.... Norman Watts...... to be....." Raquel is
unsure and waits, she then apparently decides..... "to be
my lawful wedded husband."
Curly's face is beaming, Raquel looks as though she feels she
has made a mistake......
Jim tells Liz that he is is very encouraged by the jobs that
are coming in. He kisses Liz goodbye on the doorstep, much to
Des's disappointment as he looks on from the other side of the
street. Liz tells Andy how lucky he is that he has a future ahead
of him, something his father would give anything for right now.
Liz is clearly uncomfortable at work in Des's company. Des brags
that he has got himself a girl, following Liz's advice. Later
on, Liz quizzes Des as to who it is, thinking that it is Maxine.
She appears to be jealous. Des explains that it was Raquel, and
says that he used her and feels bad about it. Liz realises that
she was just filling in time until Raquel was ready to come back
to Des. Sean comes into the shop and wonders why there is a queue
outside when the two of them are talking in the back office! When
Sean asks, Des tells him that he doesn't have a problem with Liz.
Vicky confronts Steve about the state of their Joint account,
him having spent almost six hundred pounds last month. Steve is
very annoyed about the whole thing, Vicky retorts back that she
set up the account and can just as easily stop it again.
Bill apologises to both Sally and Kevin for causing trouble ever
since he arrived, and especially for the problems that he has
caused with Rita. He wonders if he should have ever come back
to Coronation Street. Bill asks Kevin if he can borrow the van
for his job tomorrow. Baldwin has put a block on it, however.
This puts Bill in a bit of a fix. Basically, by the time they
have hired a van - they'll be working for practically nothing.
Don and Josie are Christmas shopping for Josie's young relatives.
They talk of the old times at Christmas and the things that children
have today. Josie wonders what Don is going to buy for his Grandchildren.
Don says that he doesn't have any kids to buy for. Josie gets
on one of the bicycles in the shop, they seem to be having fun!
In the pub, Josie suggests that Don should buy them a present.
The Mallets have got a new satellite dish. Gary invites the lads
in the pub to come in and watch the football. Judy is not impressed.
Vera is not happy with Gary turning up in the Rovers in his working
clothes, and they walk out disgusted!
Liz decides to go off to aerobics, and explains that it is just
what she needs after the day she has had. Jim can't understand
this but says that he'll be in the Rovers if she wants to meet
him later. WHen she comes back from aerobics she decides to go
and see Des. Liz admits her jealousy of Raquel despite what the
tow of them had decided. Liz says she is sorry, that she still
has to put Jim and her family first, Des promises that he won't
do anything about his attraction to her if that is what she wants.
The two of them are upset. Des says he will try to get a transfer
again. Liz goes upstairs to freshen herself up, and then she'll
have a coffee with Des. Andy arrives home from the pub to see
Liz coming downstairs. Andy storms out without saying a word....
Bill Webster asks, in desperation, if Derek could lend him the
paperclip mobile for his job today. He later discusses with Jim
the possibility of borrowing Steve's van but it just isn't on.
Andy comes home to Des's place and has it out with him. Des covers
up, saying that the whole thing was innocent and work related.
Andy answers the door when Liz comes knocking at Des's door. He
is offhand with his mother who suggests that he come round for
lunch so that they can talk. He arrives and Liz explains herself
to a frosty reception. "We are not having it off, and I will
not have you talking to me like that." He reminds her that
she has already had it off with Des's brother - "what were
you trying to do? Keep it in the family?" He talks of his
disappointment and of whether she really is a whore, like Jim
had said to him after the affair with Colin Barnes. She screams
blue murder about the state of her marriage and how she has had
enough. She tells Andy that Des listened and that she was attracted
to him - she is very honest with him. She then turns the situation
around to Andy and to whether he has ever found himself fancying
one of Steve's girlfriends. He has to admit it. Liz explains that
she still loves Jim and that she wil try to work at the marriage.
Derek hasn't had a postcard from Mavis yet. He is upset.
Tony has switched alleigance to the Rovers football team, and
he and Fiona fix a dinner date which Maxine tries (unsuccessfully)
to gatecrash.
Judy Mallett drags her husband into the salon for a haircut and
lays down the law about how short they are to cut it. She has
already explained to Derek and Emily how he wants a portable TV
in the bedroom. She says that it's not as though he doesn't get
enough entertainment in the bedroom as it is!
Alma and Audrey are going to go out for a girls night out and
Maureen Holdsworth wants to come along. Audrey is not happy -
the OBE incident still hurts! They go to a Greek restaurant, and
Audrey is not in a good mood. She eventually livens up and they
get fully involved (after much oozo!) in a plate-smashing wedding
celebration!
Jim arrives home on his motorbike to be greeted by Gary Mallett
who shows interest in the bike. He decides to buy it from Jim.
This solves Jim's problems in that it gives him some money for
the new van that he needs. Despite Derek's interjection that Judy
would not like the bike, "she can't get enough of it - and
she quite likes the bike as well!"
Exhibit A - One postcard from Mavis postmarked Southampton, Exhibit
B - one postcard from Arthur's Kidnappers postmarked Southampton
: QED. Derek concludes that the kidnapper is Rita - the one who
has always had a warped sense of humour as far as he is concerned!
Emily tries to calm him down saying that it's just coincidence.
Derek considers the possibility that Mavis is in on the joke too....
Liz hugs Jim, in thanks for selling the bike, and for him being
concerned about their future life together.
In the pub, Des offers Maxine to come out with Des. She refuses,
and Des leaves the Rovers only to be stopped by a boozy Derek
who tries to apologise for accusing him of stealing Arthur. "What
you want to do mate is grow up, you're a pathetic little man with
pathetic little obsessions. You wouldn't know a real problem if
it poked you in the eye...."
Denise asks Fiona to Babysit for her and Ken, but it is really
so that she can meet up with Brian. She meets him on a side street
later in the day, but Denise spots her sister and Brian's wife,
Alison! Denise manages to cover it all up and she talks to the
distressed Alison. They go back to the salon and her sister explains
that she feels that Brian is having an affair! What can Denise
say? She can't exactly confirm it! Denise finally gets an idea
of what she is doing to her sister, and at the same time tries
to put her mind at ease.
Liz decides not to go into the bookies today and makes the excuse
that she is sick when Des phones. He knows that she is lying.
Jim and Bill buy an old van for their new job and check it out
in Baldwin's garage, much to Kevin's distress! The job is in full
swing. Jim explains to Andy that Liz and Des have had a bit of
a barney.... he knows different.
Norris visits the Kabin to come and see "Dirk" but sees
Emily instead. "I first knew him as Dirk, he was a wild,
lone spirit in those days, and then he introduced me to the partially
glamorous Mavis and seemed to change." Derek arrives back
and Norris asks (or even press-gangs) him out to lunch. "I
hate him so much," says Derek. They have a marvellous conversation
in the Rovers about Cling Film. Norris then asks Dirk to be his
best man when he gets married to ANGELA! "Good Grief!"
Derek explains that it can never be right that he could be at
the alter of his ex-wife. Norris persuades Derek that he has agreed
to do it!
Vicky and Steve's marraige seems to fall further onto the rocks
as they have an arguement in the print shop. He accuses her of
being worse than his probation officer!
Brian arrives at the salon. From what Brian says we wonder that
the only reason he is having an affair is to perk up his marriage.
It seems that Denise is giving him the cold shoulder. Coming to
her senses....?
The Mallets light up their house with fairy lights and a neon
sign "Santa's Nookie Nest." How common!
Sean corners Des in the office. Des wants to move to another branch,
he uses umpteen excuses including the fact that he is sick of
the job. Des has to admit what has happened to Sean - who says
that he will sack her, "she's been nothing but trouble since
the start...." argues Sean.
Hello folks, Glenda here, back from 3 weeks R & R in Hawaii
where I was married. Many thanks to Chris Colcombe for looking
after the weekly Coronation Street updates in my absence. Also,
many thanks for the ton of congratulations messages I received.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous
New Year.
This update takes into account the 1 hour special which was shown
yesterday on Christmas Day.
Des sacks Liz from the betting shop. When Jim finds out, he is
really angry with Des, and goes hunting for him to give him a
good hiding. When he does eventually find Des, Liz is there in
time to stop Jim from hurting Des, but they manage to keep their
affair secret. Liz tells Jim that Des sacked her as the betting
shop was over staffed. It seems that Andy McDonald knows that
his mum and Des had an affair, and Liz confides in Andy.
Curly and Racquel arrive back from their honeymoon cruise. Curly
points out the star in the sky "Mrs. Racquel Watts"
and they are being very romantic together. Curly's boss, Eric
Firman, invites the newly weds to dinner at his house and Racquel
doesn't make too good an impression on Mr. Firman's wife when
she spills red wine all over Mrs. Firman's dress. Curly and Racquel
go home feeling terrible about it all but the next day Mr. Firman
tells Curly that Mrs. Firman is a terrible snob and hates to be
reminded that she was also, once a barmaid in a pub so Curly feels
ok now. The next night is the Firman's Freezers Christmas Party
and Curly takes Racquel, where Eric Firman makes a special announcement
- Curly is promoted! (he gets Reg's old job as manager). Christmas
Day brings its own problems for Curly and Racquel though when
both sets of parents arrive for Christmas dinner. It's a very
awkward dinner as its the first time they have all met each other
and their new daughter and son in law and assume that Racquel
must be pregnant and can't understand why they didn't invite any
one to the wedding. The only person who shows any thing bordering
on niceness to them is Racquel's mum, although Racquel's dad does
say sorry and give his daughter a hug.
Bet sends Christmas cards to Betty and a wedding card to Racquel.
In the message, she tells Racquel to throw out her clothes from
the Rovers and Racquel does this, she takes the outfits to a charity
shop.
Norris and Angela are to be married ! and Norris has asked Derek
to be the best man.
Jack comes down with glandular fever on Christmas Day and leaves
Vera to run the Rovers on her own, she is worn out. "Annie
Walker, how did you do it?" she wonders.
Relations are still strained between Rita and Bill although Bill
makes an attempt to talk to Rita in the Rovers, and offers to
buy her a drink. Rita wants to be alone over Christmas, despite
being offered lunch with Mavis and Derek. Alf goes to Gail and
Martin's house for Christmas lunch, Audrey doesn't go. She is
still very upset with Alf over what happened in London when Betty
was with Alf instead of her. Audrey gets drunk in the Rovers and
tells Alma she is going to lead Alf a dog's life from now on.
Don buys Josie a bike for Christmas and doesn't buy Nick a present,
although he buys the other children a present.
Steve McDonald gets some cheap whisky and gives them as presents.
The police come around to the print shop and ask him where the
whisky came from, they suspect it's been stolen. They take Steve
down to the police station for questioning and leave him there
overnight in a cell before they talk to him. Vicky and his parents
are frantic, they don't know where he has gone to. When he does
eventually call Vicky he tells her to let his parents know that
he has gone nightclubbing and begs her not to tell them that his
is at the police station. When Steve does eventually come home
to Vicky, he finds his car has been broken into and his car stereo
has gone. Vicky is really upset with him, and as Steve lazes around
the house the next day, she has to go out and do the shopping
and buy presents from him for his family. The McDonald's are gathered
at Steve and Vicky's flat on Christmas Day enjoying their Christmas
lunch when the police come in to the flat with a search warrant.
Ooopss! Liz vows never to speak to Steve again and Vicky dissolves
in a flood of tears.
