2005
Friday 1 April, Episode 5993

Katy is looking out the window, she sees they have put a policeman outside to watch them. She tells her mum. Katy says that means they have taken this seriously. The inspector speaks to the policeman then knocks on the door. Angela lets him in. She says its such a relief. Then thanks him for taking the letter serious now. She does not care what happens to her but says she has to keep going for her kids. She asks when the witness protection will be going ahead. He says they are considering it, she will know by the end of the day.

Tracy is with Ray. She tells this is not the most memorable place to die. She's says look at the wall paper and surprised that had not finished you off already. He laughs. She asks him if he has a house or flat. He says an apartment, then tells a story about the girl upstairs. Thinking back of old memories of that he used to do but can't now make's him upset. He tries to hold it back, Tracy looking a bit upset too tells him to just eat his soup.

There is tension between Sally and Ian. Sally tells Ian she has scheduled a conference meeting for the Wednesday she gets back, she asks if she ok. Instead of giving her an answer he asks what perfume she is wearing, it's the usual. He says, when he touches her on her neck her hairs stand up. She says he's describing her like something out of the planet of the apes. He asks her when she's leaving them, but corrects him saying she's only going on holiday. He gives her a funny look.

Steve is walking Amy. He sees the girl he hit on the head yesterday. She stops him and asks if he will be throwing any funny shaped balls at her today, He says no. She says they have to stop meeting like this or people will be talking. He asks for her name because he didn't get it last time. She tells him Louise although she always wanted to be called Lorna. They walk and take, Steve finds out she does not live round here. Her sister works at the Airport, they way she comes here. She ask him how she can get into town, he asks she could get a taxi. Lorna says she's not made of money. Steve says he knows where she could get a freebee.

Katy and Angela are out walking. Katy tells her mum that she will never forget what she has done for her. Her mum tells her to keep it down, but Katy says, if any one is looking they are just seeing a mother talking to her daughter. They pass the factory just as everyone is coming out. They ask were she is going, she says to the shop to get drink because they might be celebrating. They might be back on witness protection. Janice asks if they have found out whom done the letter, she says no but the police will soon find out. Hayley thinks that's a good outcome. They ask her if she goes back on witness protection, when will she be leaving. Angela says it could be tonight. They agree they have to give her a good send off. Deirdre comes out of the shop and is met by Ken. He asks if she wants to go for a stroll, but she ask not now and goes on about her work. She says everyone tells her their secrets. Ken then tells her, post a bulletin says she's getting married. He wants everyone to know, she asks if he has been drinking. He says he's been thinking. Tracy comes out the door as Deirdre goes in. She asks Ken who is with Steve, he does not know. She marches over, Steve asks her what she wants. She says ok and will see him later. Steve says he's busy and won't be available later. She tells him she will text him and walks off.

At the taxi firm Steve is trying to get Eileen to stay on the switch so he can take Lorna into town, but he does not succeed. She says her hair is a mess so she has a hair appointment booked. Steve begs, says that she does not need one because her hair always looks like that. Eileen leaves and Steve tells Lorna to come through.

In the Barlow household Deirdre is preparing tea. Ray tells her he has not seen Ken today, and asks if they are having a domestic. She says no, then asks if chops are ok for tea. Ray asks if they have argued. She says that Ken is adamant about the wedding. Ray ask if she has went of the idea of getting married, the answer is no. She says it's not right when he's here. He asks her to sit down and tells her to marry Ken and be happy. He admits he likes Ken.

Sally sees a woman walking in the door, she goes up and greets her. The woman says hi and asks for Ian. Sally says he's on the phone and will just be a minute, she tells the woman to help herself to tea and coffee. Ian just comes over and tells Sally this is Lisa, she is going to be filling her shoes while she is away. He asks her to show her around and tell her everything she needs to know. He quickly then says he has to go help a customer. Sally asks her if she has any experience, she says no. We find out she used to be a model and Ian has told her if she ever wants a change of seen come and see him. Lisa asks Sally if she ok because she has a blank look on her face.

Ken and Deirdre are at the bar. Ken thinks she is going to have a go at him, but instead she says she thinks they should get married. He is so pleased, and tells her he has booked the wedding for next Friday. He wants everyone to know. They hug and kiss. Angela is says that in the house and out on the street, every car that passes. Every noise she hears. She thinks it's them and if something does not change she is going to go mad. Janice thinks she should stay with her mates, but Hayley says it's a life or death situation. They think she in depressing and they are supposed to be cheering Angela and Katy up. They decide to do a singsong.

Steve at the cab office looks very bored. Eileen enters. Steve looks at her and says she does not look any different. She says he is a man and would not recognize a hair due if it walked up to him and slapped him in the face saying am a hair due. She asks him if he is love struck. He says no but finally admits he likes her. She asks how he left thing with her; he left it at nothing. She asks him if he got her number. He says the number was on his cab in big letters. Then says he does not know if she likes him. Eileen says he has two potions and they are she calls on the radio now and gets it or he can phone his number. She wants him to call. She tells him she was coming out of the hair dresses as she was getting out of the cab. Steve says he could kiss her but is not going to.

Liz asks Tracy if she would like another drink. She just laughs and is told a yes would have been nice. She tells Liz that the guy over there has been starring at her. She thinks why can't she have a man if Steve has a lady. Tracy says she can walk him up and down the street or would keep him her little secret. Liz says she needs to keep her head straight because it's like a nodding dog. Tracy gets up and walk over to him and starts kissing him.

The inspector's has returned to the Harris's. Craig looks out his bedroom window. Then comes down and opens the door. They ask for Angela but they are told she is at the pub. He asks what's this about and do they know who killed his dad. They ignore his repeated asking while they walk too the pub. At the Rovers all the factory girls are singing loud and having a good time. Katy is with them. The inspectors come in and tell her to come outside. She does and asks if they are getting moved. She has a big smile on her face until they say Angela Harris we are placing you under arrest. She tells them they have got this all wrong. She is taken away while Craig looks in horror, and Katy looks in shock and does not move. Craig asks Katy what is going on, but she does not reply.

Amanda Souter



Sunday 3 April, Episode 5994

The episode begins with Angela in the process of being incarcerated. As become anyone upon a very serious criminal charge, she is forced to hand over her wedding ring to the custody sergeant with the steely presence of DI Pinnock and DS Smith adding to the poor woman's woe. She is then led to a cell and slightly pushed into it.

Hayley is seated and clearly in deep shock/thought. The only form of light comes from a lamp beside her, as it's only a plot-device to highlight the mood of the 'situation' she's currently part of, then we can dismiss any notion of her having Seasonal Anxiety Disorder and being in need of bulbic rays of so many watts. Just as she seems to have taken a course of action upon grabbing her handbag and coat, in comes Roy and Hayley dithers on about Angela. She eventually unravels to her dear hubby that it was she who delivered the fake death-threat in Sheffield.

At the Weatherfield Arms, Tracy is back on form as she's throwing herself at the latest questionable male to materialise himself upon the nation's favourite borough - the fact that he's black and called Nathan adds to the mystique for Tracy, I'm sure. Observing this flirtatious tryst is barmaid Liz McDonald, the only mother on Earth to have surely produced a son whose eyebrows do the talking. Liz, indirectly, with all the subtly of a swinging sledgehammer, accuses the Devil Woman of being a 'slapper'. Anyone disagree? No, I thought not. However, Tracy retorts with a few choice words regarding Liz's age. Oh meow!

At the Rovers Return, dreary adulterers Ian and Sally are having a not-so-quite drink (with their equally dreary partners) about Sally's temporary replacement Lisa. Boring! Equally uninteresting are Mike and Ken talking about the wedding and Ray & if only I cared!

The term 'tonsil-tennis' is rather apt as Toxic Tracy and Nathan are doing just such in the Barlows' hallway. He's rather eager to secure her in a room (if I had my way, the walls would be padded with 'bitch' stitched on them), but becomes increasingly aware of the baggage that the Devil Woman has and that each one of them is lurking behind a door.

Back to the Croppers: Roy, as ever, is meticulous advising Hayley about what's best to do. But Hayley feels that owning up to the police about her involvement will help Angela. Oh dear!

There then comes a very short scene of Angela in the cell.

Kayee and Marin (that's Katy and Martin to those of us who can pronounce the letter t) are standing outside Chez Harris. Katy announces that she wants to get drunk and then have Martin take her to bed. Yeah, committing patricide apparently makes this girl randy. However, this weird come-on is nothing compared to the sheer tortuous orgasm that Craig Harris is having in the back garden. The lad is venting his anger/pain with the use of a baseball bat upon a small metallic table, by the looks of it. If in doubt, swing it about & This is Shakespeare modernised and on acid, folks!

The daffodils are blooming and the milkman goes past in his float, an indication that time has passed. In comes Ken with some milk. Ray congratulates him on his impending marriage and then remarks that Deirdre listened to him for the first time. She's in the kitchen applying lipstick. Ken asks her if it was Ray who changed her mind about the wedding. She replies that she and Ray had a conversation. 'A conversation!' says Ken. Yes, Ken, that is how people communicate & you were a teacher once, remember? Anyway, Tracy enters with Nathan and introduces him to her mother and fathers. Ray isn't pleased and voices his opinion, accusing her of 'crawling for another baby' and of using the house as a 'brothel for fun'. She (typically) replies venomously (when pushed) with a declaration that he take all of his morphine.

Angela emphatically denies killing Tommy to her solicitor who informs her that it's unimportant to her, as a defence brief, whether she's guilty or not. How not to inspire confidence in you client, then, eh?

Tracy is having breakfast at Roy's Rolls with Nathan who is glad to be free, declaring Blanche as 'Gollum in a nighty'. Steve comes in; he's on the phone to Louise, asking her if it is okay for a man who's not in the immediate care of his child to ask a strange woman out for a drink - in other words, he's asking her out on a date. Tracy looks on at this bizarre seduction technique and in an effort to make Steve jealous starts round two of tonsil-tennis with Nathan. Steve is totally uninterested and leaves still talking on his phone. Nathan announces that he's a mechanic, Tracy informs him of a vacancy at Kevin Webster's.

Hayley, naively, is trying to explain to DS Smith about Angela's fear for her family's safety hence the letter, which she admits to posting. Hayley is arrested for perverting the course of justice.

It's now snowing on the Street and Tracy and Nathan emerge from his car. Nathan swaggers over to Tyrone (Kevin shortly arriving after) and starts sticking his foot in his mouth, thinking that the last mechanic (Toxic Tommy) was a slacker/lazy etc. Now, I wonder where he got that impression from. Oh yes, from Tracy, who then emerges from the Kabin with a beaming smile. Fifteen-all, I reckon - new balls, please.

Steve's at the Rovers and has already consumed three pints, he looks at his watch - he's waiting for Louise to come. Then, the twinkly- eyed Irish woman appears. She apologises for her lateness. Steve tries to make-out that he's just arrived, but the pint-glasses and Violet's use of the past tense give the game away. Steve, clearly developing loveitis, goes over to the bar to order. Violet reassures him to relax - say that to his eyebrows, love! Also at the bar are Mike and Deirdre & blah, blah, blah &

Ken asks Ray if he'd like anything. A shotgun replies Ray. Ken suggests a cup of tea. Ray asks for arsenic to be put in it. Ken then invites Ray to the wedding. Ray questions Ken's motives. Ken announces he's running out of energy for resentment and anger (about bloody time too!). Ray informs of his envy of Ken and having time to balance out his wrong-doings. Ray extends his hand and says if he's conscious, then he'll attend. Ken shakes on it.

Angela and her brief are in the Interview Room when DI Pinnock and DS Smith enter.

Out in the reception area of the station is Roy, who, after waiting for awhile for Hayley, begins to wrestle with a blob of bluetack (spelling?) on a poster. Part of the paint work comes away and he sticks it in his coat pocket. Then Hayley is seen coming down a flight of steps and rushes over to Roy, upset. She's apologetic and wishes she had listened to him. She talks of having to sign a statement, which means if there's a trial, she'll be called as a witness. She feels that she's betrayed Angela.

Steve and Louise emerge from the Rovers & blah, blah, blah & she kisses him on the cheek and asks him to call her blah, blah, blah & his eyebrows smile and he walks off

Back in the Interview Room, gruff-speaking DI Pinnock is interrogating Angela and then plays his trump card: a witness that places her at the murder scene (Kevin's garage). Angela demands to know who it is. It's not who but what, though. DI Pinnock reveals that they found one of her hairs in Tommy's blood

Written by Debbie Oates
Reviewed by Simon Robinson



Monday 4 April, Episode 5995, 5996

Hi everyone, here is the first episode for Monday 4th April.

It's early morning and Roy is sweeping the café floor. Hayley comes down in her dressing gown and he tries to persuade her to stay at home and not go to work today, but she tells him she needs to be busy, and not dwell on what happened. He tells her she did the right thing and suggests a day out later in the week, but she is concerned that they might know at work.

Over at the Harris's, Katy is frantically looking for her mum's bank card so that she can get some shopping. Craig comes down and says he isn't hungry, and she snaps at him that he's got to eat. She finds the card and is about to go out of the door when she realises she can't remember the pin number. He reminds her that it's their dad's birth date, and then says he'll come with her, he doesn't want to let her out of his sight, after what has happened to their dad and now their mum. Katy promises him that she'll be back, and goes.

Tyrone is looking after the garage while Kevin is away, and opens up with Jack and Vera as an audience. Vera is really proud of him and tells him that this is a big chance for him to make something of himself. Steve comes whistling over the road and says that the clutch has gone on his car, he needs it by 5pm as he's taking the lovely Louise out to some gaff in Cheshire. Tracy happens to be walking past at that moment and hears it all. As Steve goes off to work, Vera looks at Tyrone and tells him he's like Sterling Moss! What are you talking about? asks Jack. Just then Norris appears and remarks that he wouldn't want to work alone in the garage as the blood of the dead can't be washed away until the guilty are punished.

As he walks away he meets Janice and Fizz and asks for news of Angela. He wonders that they never had a clue. Because she didn't do it, all right! says Fizz. After Norris has gone, Fizz remarks about being innocent until proven guilty. Janice tells her that it's what a lot of folk are thinking.

Nathan sees Tracy outside her front door and calls to her and comes over. You didn't get the job then? she asks him, and he says he wouldn't have employed him either. He's back because the night before more than made up for being made to look an idiot.

In her large specs, Claire is telling Ashley how much she's looking forward to being seen in her bus driver's uniform. Fred comes in and tells them they will have an extra body with them this evening, a goddess with whom he's fallen deeply in love. He saw her at the garden centre. Claire and Ashley immediately panic, Have you proposed yet? asks Ashley. Fred explains that it's a beautiful statue, life size, and he's going to stand her by the pond.

A miserable Angela is listening as her solicitor is tells her that the police can put her at the scene, which contradicts her statement denying everything, and they need more than just her word against forensic evidence. She knows that Tommy had a reputation for being violent and tells her she needs something to work with or else Angela will be facing a murder charge.

The police arrive at the Harris's and swarm into the house with a search warrant, much to the distress of Katy and Craig.

At the police station, Angela is being questioned some more. What she is telling the police doesn't tally with the evidence. The policeman refers to the letter, and Angela insists it came from Sheffield. More lies, he says, and the policewoman tells her that Hayley Cropper put her neck on the line for Angela. The solicitor is obviously at a loss, and is told that Angela's co-conspirator has agreed to testify against her. You keep lying, says the policeman, but we keep uncovering the truth, bit by little bit.

Hayley arrives at the Harris's house, and is aghast at the chaos that meets her eyes. She's told that the police did it, and starts to help them clean up. She mutters that she wishes she'd never said anything. About what? asks Katy, and Hayley explains about the letter. Craig has trouble understanding what exactly has gone on, while Katy shrieks at Hayley that Angela is in a cell because of her, she has betrayed her. Get out! shouts Katy, and Hayley flees.

Later, over at the café, a shaken Hayley is being comforted by Roy. She weeps, saying that she's made such a mess of everything. Roy tells her that she acted with the best of intentions, although Hayley points out that if she has to give evidence she's going to hurt everybody all over again.

In the Rovers, Shelley is showing Violet and Betty her holiday snaps, which include pictures of a toned and tanned Charlie. Shelley is just saying how working on a building site does wonderful things for a body, when Charlie comes up behind them. Shelley seems a little apprehensive, as she explains that she picked up the photos this morning. I'll look forward to seeing them myself, says Charlie, as he kisses Shelley goodbye and goes.

Over at a table, the factory workers are discussing Angela's case, and how the police have turned the house upside down. Norris reckons the whole family have been trouble from day one, and adds that they never pay their paper bill without several reminders. Violet seems very concerned to hear that Katy and Craig were in the house when the police were searching.

At the police station the questioning of Angela goes on. She's not saying anything until she hears that they searched the house, and the children were there. She's told it's a murder investigation, and she is not co-operating. It could be so much easier for everyone, all it takes is the truth.

Fred is proudly showing off a grotesque, giant size head and shoulders statue of what looks like an ogress to a shocked Ashley and Claire. Tell me she's not gorgeous, chortles Fred. She's not gorgeous, says Ashley, stunned. Give over, she's perfection! says Fred, don't you think, love? he asks Claire. Claire thinks quickly, ‘Er & the eye of the beholder, Fred, she giggles nervously. Brigit Bardot comes to mind, says Fred, but Ashley says not to his mind. She'll grow on yer, says Fred, Like warts? enquires Claire. Fred starts to get the impression that they are not as struck with his work of art as he is. Ashley tells him he doesn't want to find that staring at him through the window in the mornings, it will put him off his breakfast. Claire is worried that Joshua could fall on the upturned fingers and take his eye out. Fred won't have it, until Claire says that if any of their kiddies were blinded by that, could he ever forgive himself? When Fred hears about kiddies in the plural he nods towards Claire's stomach and asks, You're not? No, she tells him, but I might be, if I could ever relax enough. Fred says he will get straight on to the garden centre and get them to take it back.

Tracy and her new man Nathan are trying to persuade a very busy Tyrone to employ him, but Ty is adamant he doesn't need him. As they walk away, they meet Steve and his new lady friend coming the other way. Tracy immediately links arms with Nathan and says hello to Steve, I'm sorry, I don't remember your name she says to Louise. Louise, Steve tells her. There' s a pause. Nice name, says Tracy, but pulls a face, and walks off.

Steve wants his car, but Tyrone has been too busy to do it. Steve is outraged, obviously wanting to impress Louise, and starts shouting. Tyrone says he can do it for Wednesday, but Steve is furious and carries on shouting about how he needs a car. (Doesn't he own a taxi firm? Surely transport can't be too much of a problem?) Louise suddenly grabs each side of Steve's face and plants a smacker of a kiss right on his lips. Tyrone stares in amazement and Steve is stunned into silence. Our first kiss, explains Louise, I felt we needed to get it out of the way. I'll pick it up Wednesday, mate, says a subdued Steve, and they walk off. Charlie appears behind Shelley in the pub. About the photos & ..she begins, nervously. I didn't mean to, but they saw me bring them in and & . Calm down, he tells her, put them in a bag and we can look at them in the restaurant. He's booked a table and arranged for Violet to cover at the pub. He tells her he knows she's been upset about Sunita, and she tells him that as long as she's got him she doesn't need anyone else.

Steve and Louise are doing the next best thing to a drink at a country pub they're eating chips out of the paper in Coronation Street. She explains that now they've got the first kiss out of the way they can get to know one another. Also, she was worried about the effect she was having on him, she was worried he was going to take Tyrone's head off. He tells her that he threw a ball in the park, and he's met someone who has shaken his world and made him feel like a different person. She says it's nice to think that a single mum can turn a guy's head once in a while.

Katy and Craig are trying to put the cushion covers back on the sofa, talking about Angela. Craig is adamant that his mum couldn't have done it, and Katy is back to her usual simpering self. You don't understand, she begins. What? demands her brother, I don't understand what? It would seem that Katy is about to tell all when they hear the front door open and close, and in comes their granddad.

The questioning of Angela goes on. The policeman tells her that her statement is a litany of lies, and the policewoman says they are going to bring Katy and Craig in and talk to them. Angela is horrified at the thought of this. OK, she says, I'll tell you what you want to know, you're right, I killed him, I killed Tommy... More to follow ...

Annie Logan

Hello, and welcome to the Harris household yet again, where Grandad is helping Katy and Craig put everything back in its right place, including the carpet. "You don't want it looking like a tip when they let your Mum out," he tells them. They see the family liaison policewoman heading for the house and meet her at the door, where Grandad shouts at her about the furniture ruined and floorboards taken up by the search team. She goes inside with them to tell them that Angela will appear in court later in the day charged with murdering Tommy. "That's rubbish!" shouts Craig. But she tells them Angela has confessed. Katy, muttering "no, no" collapses against her Grandad.

In an interview room, Angela is talking (or not talking, more precisely) to her solicitor, who wants her to explain her reasons for killing Tommy. "I killed him. Isn't that enough?" No, it's not, she's told. If there was a reason, that might be mitigating circumstances. She wants to know whether Tommy was an abusive husband, or whether he abused his children. "He never lifted a finger to me in all my married life," Angela says. "Then why?" asks her solicitor. "I'm going to keep asking you that, just as the police will." Angela then tells her that she killed Tommy because she was angry at him. He'd pushed Katy into an abortion, which Angela hadn't wanted Katy to have, but Tommy did not care and was just glad he'd got his own way. "So I just lost my temper. The wrench were there. I had hold of it in my hand. I just hit him. That's what happened. I didn't mean to kill him -- I loved him, and that's the truth." By this time she is crying uncontrollably.

In the Peacock household, Fred is annoyed because the garden centre wouldn't give him his money back on the statue (I don't blame them -- they probably danced the Dance of Joy that it was gone!). Claire suggests he donate it to a park, but Fred has no intention of giving the council anything for free. He wouldn't give those jobsworths the skin off his breakfast kipper! No, the statue is art, and not one of those marinated sharks or an unmade bed, either. "It's beauty in stone is that." Suddenly Fred gets an idea and asks Josh if he'd like a trip to see Audrey. He tells Ashley and Claire it will give them a bit of time on their own. "Why don't you make a start on them brothers and sisters you mentioned?" (Yes, Claire and Ashley almost choke!)

In the pub, Maria and Tyrone front up to the bar and Nathan offers to buy them a drink. Tyrone refuses and reiterates that he doesn't need any help. Tracy tells Nathan he can get a job somewhere else, but Nathan says he rather fancies working around here. Why? Tracy wonders. "I'm very particular what I service," he says, giving her a meaningful look.

Fred and Audrey and little Josh seem to be wandering around a garden centre, but no, it appears Audrey has a garden the size of the Red Rec. Fred tells her he has a very special gift for her -- a fine piece of statuary to enhance her garden.

In the court, the family is waiting for Angela to appear. The solicitor comes to talk to them and tells them Angela has even confessed to her. Katy doesn't want to go into the courtroom. The solicitor says she has a message for Katy from her mother: "Tell Katy she's got to be strong now. She knows what she has to do."

Back in the middle of Audrey's estate, she's gone in to put on the kettle and Fred confides in Josh that if they play their cards right, they'll earn Audrey's undying gratitude. "And that's not a bad thing to have off a woman, as you will find out when you get older." And he does a little dance with Josh in celebration -- at least, he does until he falls through the crust of the earth!

In the court, as Angela is brought in, Katy looks at her mother and then stands up, though Craig and her grandad try to stop her. Angela shakes her head slightly, and Katy screams that she hates her mother for killing her Dad. Angela shouts out that Katy is right, she did killed Tommy. "So now you all know."

Fred is in a hole. We still have no idea what kind of a hole it is, but he's in it up to his neck. And one shoulder. He's trying to persuade Josh to go and fetch his Auntie Audrey, but Josh doesn't seem to understand.

In the prisoners' visiting room, Angela tells Katy that it's up to her to look after Craig. She tries to make Katy see that if Katy does confess now, there's no way they'll set Angela free, because she's liked and tried to pervert the course of justice. And then they'll both be in prison. "Who would look after Craig then?" Katy says she's the one who should be punished, but Angela points out that she is being punished every day by having to live with the memory of killing her father. But without Tommy, Angela doesn't care what happens to her now, as long as she can keep her children safe.

Tyrone is under pressure, with Jamie Baldwin pressuring him to move some of the cars clogging up the front of the factory. "I'm moving more cars than I'm servicing here," Tyrone says. But Jamie insists, because there's a delivery due at the factory (they've obviously forgotten that we know there is a loading bay around the back. Sloppy). Nathan hears all this and offers to help out by working all afternoon for free, just to prove he can do the work.

Back in the garden, Audrey is demanding to know what Fred's done to her garden. He's trying to get her to summon help quickly. He feels he's slipping further underground.

At the Harrises', Craig hates his mother. But his Grandad points out that Tommy had a real temper and something must have happened for Angela to snap like that. "Maybe he lost his temper and hit her or something. She's your Mam. Don't think badly of her." Katy says there's no point in talking on and on about it. They should just get on with things. Her Grandad agrees, but suggests they do it back in Sheffield. "There's nothing here for you -- only bad memories." Craig and Katy agree. "Everything's gone wrong here," she says.

In the pub, Violet is asking about Angela when Katy comes in and tells them all that Angela has confessed and will plead guilty. Martin says that if there's anything he can do, she just has to ask. "It's all over, Martin. Grandad is taking us back to Sheffield. I'm never coming back. Everything's finished for me here." She explains she's come to say goodbye to those she cared about in the Street. She starts to sob and runs out into the street, with Martin following. He tells her she'd be better stopping round here with friends she knows, but Katy doesn't want to be near people who know her (They've obviously got REALLY short memories in Sheffield). She says goodbye and walks away, and we look down on Martin from a height as he stands in an empty street -- just as if it was the closing shot for the episode.

But no, in a lawn not so very far away, Fred has been given a hard hat to wear, possibly in case the fire brigade drops something on him. Ashley is there, and the firefighters have somehow managed to get a harness of some kind around Fred. Audrey is still not sympathetic. She tells Ashley the fire brigade guys have been taking bets on Fred's weight. "What's his weight got to do with it?" Ashley asks. Audrey points out that Alfie never fell through the lawn, "and Alfie were no lightweight." The firefighters are ready and start winching. You know all those pictures you've seen of cows and horses being lifted out of bogs and drains . . .

At the garage, Nathan is doing a good job. Tyrone asks why Nathan keeps calling him chief. "'Cause you haven't got any Indians, have you?" he says. Tyrone offers him a temporary job until the real chief comes back. Nathan has a quick word with Tracy and then tells Tyrone he's got himself a tribe.

In her cell, Angela is hugging her pillow, rocking slightly and weeping copious tears. She is muttering quietly, apparently telling Tommy why she's done what she's done.

Her father is loading her children and their belongings into his car. Katy sees Martin watching, and Maria, Hayley and Violet come out of the pub to say goodbye. Katy casts a last look inside the garage, gets into the car and it drives off.

The end.

Margaret Carr







Wednesday 6 April, Episode 5997

Written by: Stephen Russell
Directed by: Neil Alderton

In which Ken and Deirdre celebrate their good luck, Martin contemplates his bad luck, and Danny experiences a bit of both.

Fizz and her factory mates (Hayley, Sean, Kelly and Janice) have had a hard day and are in need of "emergency swill," as Fizz so nicely puts it. But Hayley's not in the mood for the pub and goes home. When she's gone, the others discuss how she shouldn't have become involved in Angela's note-writing scheme. Janice says she wasn't surprised when Angela confessed to the murder, because the police don't arrest people for nothing. On reflection she changes her mind: "Course they do. Let's get a pint."

Fred is putting a sign outside the Rovers saying "Betty's Hotpot: Best in the north." I think we knew that already, Fred. Dev comes over and teases Fred about falling down the hole in Audrey's garden. Fred says the wound is to his pride, "and ribald comments from so-called friends do not help."

It's busy out in the Street. The next people we see are Jack Duckworth and Danny Baldwin. Danny is blaming Jack's pigeons for messing on his jacket, and they've certainly done a good job – the back of it looks like something by Jackson Pollock. Jack says that pigeon droppings are lucky, and Danny says he fails to see the correlation between "outrageous fortune and a shed load of pidge poop." He wants £10 to get the suit cleaned.

Tracy, Liz and Frankie are in Ken and Deirdre's house, showing off their hen night T shirts. These show images of Deirdre during various bad hair and bad specs phases of her life, and presumably when 7 people are wearing them they'll spell out the word Deirdre (currently Liz is I, Frankie is E and Tracy is a D). Liz says they got them where Camilla had hers done (the first of what's bound to be quite a few Chas and Cammie jokes in the next couple of episodes). Liz, Frankie and Tracy are showing off the T shirts, and as they've moved around, they now spell the word "DIE." Ray, who has been sitting quietly, says they don't have to rub it in because it'll happen soon enough. The happy atmosphere evaporates, and Tracy turns on Ray: "You have to turn everything round to you, don't you?" Trying to lighten the tension, Ray asks when the other girls are arriving, because he's looking forward to a bit of a flirt. Tracy says they're at Emily's, and they're close enough to the grave as it is without needing any help from Ray. Deirdre remonstrates with her, but Ray says he likes it because Tracy isn't being a hypocrite. Tracy says Ray doesn't see anything unless he thinks it's flattering to him, and walks out.

At Roy's Rolls, Roy is telling Hayley that Cilla has been in touch about sending for Chesney soon. Chesney appears, having prepared himself for a new life in Spain by dressing as a bullfighter (plastic sword, tea towel round the shoulders, drawn-on moustache). Roy says there's more to Spain than bullfighting, which he believes is confined to the southern and Basque regions. "I'm not going there, am I?" says a disappointed Chesney, "They don't have ‘em where I'm going." He goes back upstairs, and Hayley tells Roy she feels really sorry for the boy.

Ken is watching a documentary on penguins, which Ray interrupts by sitting down next to him and making some quip about dying. Ken asks him why he keeps making jokes about his own death. Ray says that's how he's been his whole life, and it would be pathetic to change now: "I'll die like I've lived – " he says, and a bout of coughing stops him from speaking. We hear the sound of the front door, and Danny comes in, accompanied by Ken's grandson Adam, who informs Ken that his stag night escorts have arrived. Ken allows himself to be persuaded away from his penguin documentary, and says he'll get his coat. "Get mine an'all, Ken," Ray says, and Ken doesn't look exactly thrilled. "I wouldn't miss it for me life," says Ray.

A bullfighting scene is being enacted at Roy's Rolls, with matador Chesney finishing off Hayley with his sword. Roy jokes that they aren't allowed to kill animals on the premises so he'd be grateful if Chesney kept quiet about it. "My lips are sealed, Senor," says Chesney, "As are ze bull's." Hayley says she thinks Chesney might enjoy Spain, as he has "a Latin swagger" about him. But Chesney doesn't think he's going to like it – he'll miss his mates. He looks very gloomy.

The hen night is in full swing in a pub that isn't the Rovers. Tracy is knocking the drinks back. Sunita, Emily, Eileen and Rita have joined the happy band of T shirt wearers.

It's a lot quieter at the Rovers, where Tyrone is grudgingly conceding to Nathan that he's a good mechanic. At a table, Ken's stag night looks so dull that the participants are probably all regretting they didn't stay in with the penguin documentary after all. "This is lively, isn't it?" comments Ray in lugubrious tones. Mike says he's been to livelier funerals, and Ray says his will be one of them. Ken wishes Ray would stop making these jokes, and he looks irritated when Mike makes the standard comment about it being his last night of freedom. Danny is surprised to hear that Ken and Deirdre will be spending the night under the same roof – it's supposed to be bad luck, "And I bet Charlie boy won't be staying under the same roof as Camilla." Ken doesn't think the situation is comparable, but apparently it is: Danny: "Both going down the registry office." Ray: "Both marrying long-term on/off girlfriends." Mike: "Both keen on the environment." Ray: "If you weren't so exciting and interesting, you'd be exactly the same." Ken says he doesn't want to waste money on a hotel, so Adam says he can stay with him and Mike, which causes Mike to splutter in his whisky. Ken reluctantly agrees when Ray says he has to prove that he's put old grudges behind him, but neither he nor Mike look thrilled at the prospect.

The factory workers are also in the Rovers, and still talking about Angela. A typically glum-looking Martin is brooding separately at the bar. The talk among Sean, Janice etc turns to the new mechanic, whom they think is a bit of alright, and they all have a giggle about him. Martin goes over. "It's all a bit of gossip to you, isn't it?" he says, "Something to pass the time till you're all distracted by some mechanic's backside?" They look chastened. "It's not that easy for some of us," Martin continues, "Some people's lives are wrecked. Ruined." He goes out.

The stag party is going from strength to strength when Dev comes into the pub and is asked over by Danny. Can there have been a stag night where so many of the attendees (Ken, Ray, Mike, Dev) have formerly had intimate relations with the bride to be? Ken is clearly uncomfortable, but they're all distracted by the arrival of Audrey and Fred, who has of course got to be teased again about falling down the hole.

Martin is outside morosely eating fish and chips. He's joined by Janice, who wants to say sorry for talking about Angela. She suggests they both go to Martin's for a cup of tea. He's not sure, but she promises not to make a pass at him – though she isn't above nicking his chips.

Chesney is not enjoying learning Spanish with the Croppers, and says Spain is pants before he even gets there. Anyway, Chesney already knows how to ask for beer in Spanish – Les taught him. He can ask for beer in French and German too. Chesney is worried that his mother might run off with someone else and he'll be left in the care of Spanish social workers. Roy has prepared for this and hands Chesney a piece of paper bearing in Spanish a very long sentence which Roy translates as: "My parents have proven somewhat unsatisfactory and I need your help. Please can you direct me to the nearest British Consulate." Chesney isn't cheered by this, and he's pessimistic generally, thinking he'll never see his mum or Les ever again.

By contrast, all is raucous laughter at a restaurant where the hen party is getting bawdy. Deirdre has been given a pair of handcuffs, and Tracy comments that after all this time her parents' love life is bound to need spicing up. Deirdre says she and Ken muddle along very nicely, so she'll save them for emergencies (more use for keeping Blanche under control, I would have thought, on the subject of whom, she's noticeably absent tonight). Rita proposes a toast to the blushing bride ("Deirdre and Ken – may they be even happier married than they were unmarried"). Tracy tells her mum that she thinks she'll go home, as there's something she needs to do.

In the Rovers, Fred is telling Roy and Ken that he was told the hole in Audrey's lawn might have been an old well. Roy recalls reading that Audrey's street was built on the site of an ancient Saxon settlement, and Ken remembers this too, and also that a mythical well with healing waters was reputed to be located in the area. Fred's eyes gleam with a new enthusiasm.

Danny shows Jack a wallet he's just found in the Gents, so apparently the pigeon muck was lucky after all. The problem is, there isn't enough in the wallet to cover the cost of Danny's dry cleaning bill. It's Jack's wallet anyway!

Nathan is just about to leave the Rovers, having had enough of Tyrone for one evening, when Tracy comes in, telling him he's a lucky lottery winner and she's the prize. She sees Ray looking grimly at her, and deliberately snogs the mechanic.

Janice and Martin are having a glass of wine in his flat, and he thanks her for not shunning him. He says he's to blame for everything that's happened to the Harris's and should never have gone near Katy. He breaks down, and goes off to another room.

Back at the restaurant, Deirdre is making a speech. "A wedding day is the most important day of a girl's life. And tomorrow I shall be having the fourth most important day of my life." She says she's marrying "the kindest, most sensitive, most intelligent man; the love of my life. I am a very lucky woman to have re-found my Ken."

Her Ken is surrounded by all her former admirers, as Mike is pointing out: "It's not every groom that would have a stag night made up with blokes that have slept with his wife." "Apart from me," Adam points out (Danny being currently away from the table). "I don't think that's funny," mutters Ken. "We're only having a laugh," Ray says. "It must be a good laugh, trying to needle me," says Ken, "But I know who's having the last laugh. I am. I'm the cat with the cream for once, because I've got something none of you will ever have – Deirdre's love, respect, and tomorrow her hand in marriage. Nothing's going to spoil that!" he grins (doesn't he realise he's in a soap? Has he never seen a soap wedding?). He proposes a toast to himself: "The luckiest man in the world."

Sue Haasler






Friday 8 April, Episode 5998

Here we on Friday night, with one wedding that was not delayed by the Pope's funeral.

Nathan is at the bottom of the Barlows' stairs, saying goodbye to Tracy. He doesn't want to stop for breakfast, telling her "next time" he might. "So there will be a next time?" she asks, grabbing him and sticking her tongue down his throat when she sees Ray watching (I'm sure Freud would have had a lot to say about this!). Nathan rushes away and Ray comments that he seemed to be in a hurry. "Men are always in a hurry to walk out on me, aren't they?" comments Tracy. "Was that the door?" asks Blanche, interrupting the hostilities. Ray asks if there's a chance of a cup of tea and Blanche says she'll just add it to her list of 101 things to do. "MORNING!!!!" she shouts at Deirdre, causing the inside of her daughter's head to explode. And six million British smokers immediately pledge to give up as they see Deirdre puffing away first thing in the morning after her hen night. Blanche tells her off for smoking in the house, saying she co-operated with Ken by smoking outside for years, but now that they're marrying, Deirdre's just going to do what she wants. "Mother, it's just one cigarette," Deirdre says. "I thought it might kick start my brain." Blanche asks where "the other one" is -- the one that was laid out on the sofa. "Skirt no bigger than a belt, too much eyeliner and roots as dark as her soul." Liz is now in the bathroom it seems. "Well, I hope she's keeping her hands off my chamomile and mimosa!" Blanch huffs. Emily comes in. She's been to collect the flowers and Blanche gushes over them. No, I don't know why Tracy isn't doing the flowers. Emily comes over all emotional and tells Deirdre how happy she is for them both. Blanche suddenly bustles around getting everyone organized, telling Deirdre to get herself upstairs and make herself decent. "We don't want Ken taking one look at you and changing his mind!"

There are legs waving in the air. It's our Chesney, head down in the back of the sofa as he hunts for cash. Once he's right-side up, he asks Uncle Roy if he can change a whole lot of shrapnel into pound coins. "I just need 'em for summat."

Back at the Barlows', Audrey is trying to do Deirdre's make-up, but there's so much taking Deirdre's attention she won't keep her face still. She's obviously not heard of the effect of smoking on the complexion and the earlier "It's only one cigarette" was a lie, as she's still puffing away. Emily is reminiscing about Ken and Deirdre's first wedding and Alf giving Deirdre away. Blanche, looking excellent in blues and purple, is trying to keep things organized. As Emily gets a bit loud, she mutters that she knew it was a mistake to offer Emily that sherry. "Any chance of another gin?" chirps up Liz. "You've had two already!" Blanche says. "It's a wedding, isn't it? Anyway, hair of the dog and all that," says Liz. She raves over the nail varnish Deirdre has -- Crushed Strawberry, it's called, and Liz used to have some knickers just that colour. Which, according to Blanche, probably ended up "pinned on the roof of some trucker's cab." Deirdre is told off for moving and says its because she's nervous. But it's not as if she's not married Ken before, she's told. "And Ray, and the foreigner," Blanche points out. It seems Deirdre is nervous because she hasn't written her vows yet. Which is very strange, because she was due to get married a few weeks back and even got as far as the register office. Tracy comes in, very annoyed because Steve is late getting Amy back. Liz defends her son and they discuss Steve's new girlfriend. "Losing your touch, are you, Tracy?" Liz asks. "I should have thought it were your job to make sure Louise doesn't get her claws into Steve. Or have I been backing the wrong horse all along?" Tracy spits back that it's a one-horse race, because she's going to make glue of Louise. The front door bangs. "It's only me," calls Ken, causing a whisking away of the dress and a phalanx of females shielding Deirdre from view. Blanche and Tracy ask what he's doing there. He couldn't stick it at Baldwin's any longer, he tells them. They shove him into the front room and tell him to wait there.

Ray is struggling to get dressed and asks Ken for help with his cufflinks. "It's finally happened," he tells Ken. He woke up today feeling he's aged 20 years overnight. "I've stopped seeing the funny side," he says. "It took me 10 minutes to button my shirt." He didn't want to ask for help. He's been sitting there listening to the women in the next room laughing. "I didn't want them to remember I was here -- death's in the next room." He thinks Ken must be enjoying this. But Ken says he wouldn't wish this on his worst enemy. "I thought I was," says Ray. "You've got a high opinion of yourself, haven't you?" Ken retorts. Ray says Tracy isn't talking to him and he doesn't understand her. Ken tells him he's spent the last 20 years not understanding Tracy. She'll come round, he says. Ray says he's arranged to go into a hospice tomorrow, but asks Ken not to tell Deirdre and Tracy until after the wedding. "Ken, I don't have to tell you you're a lucky man, do I?" Then he asks for help getting his trousers on.

Steve and Louise knock at the door, returning Amy. Tracy snatches her from Louise's arms. "She's a little angel," says Louise. Tracy pointedly asks if Louise stayed the night, but is told Louise only had a babysitter until midnight.

In the garage, Lena is telling Tyrone he seems a little young to be in charge. She wants him to give an MoT to the car she's had for 30 years. "Just write me out the certificate and I'll be on my way," she says. When Tyrone says he can't do that without checking over the car, she accused him of having Short Man syndrome. Tyrone protests that he's not short, but she says he's not exactly Charlton Heston. Or George Clooney. She tells him she's not going to the wedding because watching it would be like watching a car crash. Ken had his chance . . .

At the Barlows', Blanche pops back for her handbag and Deirdre suggests she also takes off her pinny. "Do you mind if I say something?" asks Blanche. "Try to hang on to him this time." She tells Deirdre she's proud of her. "I know I don't say it often, but you know, don't you." Deirdre says she could do with being told more often. Blanche admits she married Deirdre's father thinking love would come, and when it didn't, she resented him for it. She admires Deirdre for making choices and following her heart. She says that if she's ever in the way, she wants to be told, but Deirdre says she's part of the family. "Ken's lucky to have you," Deirdre says. "You're a good daughter, Deirdre."

Outside the register office we see Mike and Penny and Jack and Vera arriving. Jack is pleading that he's got a phobia about weddings. "Since the day I married you," he tells V. Ray and Rita arrive and he tells her he hasn't been there since the day he married Deirdre -- July 7, 1975.

In the garage, Maria comes in. They discuss the wedding and Tyrone suggests that since Jack and Vera are at the wedding, they could take advantage of the empty house. But Maria has a more adventurous idea. Why don't they take advantage of the empty garage, since it's Nathan's day off. She suggests the office.

In an office of the register kind, Adam is teasing his father. Sunita is wishing they had more friends so they could go to more weddings, thus making her an older-wed rather than a newly-wed. Betty is in tears already. Ken tells Deirdre she looks sensational (pale spring green with some kind of small bird trapped in her hair -- my mother always said it was unlucky to wear green to a wedding, but surely everything will go perfectly for K&D?). Ray asks Tracy if she will sit with him, but she refuses. Adam joins her and asks how come in Weatherfield he's always surrounded by old people. "Weatherfield's like the land that time forgot," she tells him. Smile a lot and laugh at all their jokes and they might leave him something when they pop their clogs, she advises. Ken is getting all gooey over Deirdre, telling her he wants to leave the past behind. He never wants to forget the way she looks today. "I never want to forget this moment. I never want to forget how much I love you." As they walk into the room where they are to be married, everyone smiles broadly except for Ray. As the marriage ceremony starts, Norris mutters under his breath that Ken can probably say these words in his sleep.

In a shopping centre, Chesney and Schmeichel are going into a photo booth together.

Ken is part way through his vows. "And whatever life holds for us in times of hurt and times of happiness, I only want to be by your side. I vow to always love and cherish you.

Things are not going well in the photo booth, where co-ordinating Schmeichel and the flashes is not going well. "Don't you want to go to Spain?" a frustrated young man asks his best pal.

Deirdre begins her vows with the words "I'm sorry," and for a moment Ken thinks he's about to be jilted. "I'm sorry for all the hurt and pain I have caused you over the years," she continues. "I have been stupid and selfish. I've pulled against you, and why? You have never stopped loving me. You've always been there and I have taken you for granted. Ken, I love you more than any man I've ever known. I've done some foolish things but I vow in front of our friends and in front of our daughter and granddaughter, I will spend the rest of my life putting you and your happiness first, to be loving and faithful and the wife you deserve. You are the reason I wake up in the morning and the reason I sleep at night, happy and secure. I will love you for eternity." And Vera keeps nudging Jack, who keeps shaking her off.

Personally, I think there's more love between our pair in the photo booth, where things are still not going well. In fact, Schmeichel has left.

Back in the register office: "Ken and Deirdre, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife."

Ches is down to his last pound. "You're facing the wrong way," he tells the dog. "Blinkin' 'eck!"

Ken and Deirdre kiss and beam at their guests, who beam back. All except Ray, who looks like thunder. But only Rita notices.

The End
Margaret Carr





Sunday 10 April, Episode 5999

It's a happy and sad day in Weatherfield tonight as one long standing couple celebrate matrimony in the most heartfelt of occasions, while another long standing favourite departs in a most heart breaking but touching endings...get those Kleenex out!

There are grins aplenty and raucous yells of congratulation, particularly coming from Fred as the blushing bride (not that you could tell through the layer of make up) and the excitable groom (well he's just smiling but that IS exciting for Ken) make their way out of the registry office followed by the Corrie rabble of dignified guests and Liz. Rita comments that it's a long time since she's been at a wedding that felt so right, obviously not forgetting the double arrest when Maya showed up at Dev and Sunita's nuptials. Ray offers his congratulations and asks if it's okay if he kisses Deirdre. Had his visit been more permanent this would've been the start of Deirdre's next affair, but Ken's safe in the knowledge he won't be around for long, albeit a rather grim fact. Fred ushers the guests around to make the photo look presentable. "I can't see Sunita!" He crows, making everyone wonder why that is relevant to making the picture look good. With a yell of sausages, the photo is snapped...and Deirdre and ken can slap it into an album, never for it to be seen again!

Lena returns to the garage of doom hoping to see Tyrone finishing work on her car only to glimpse him starting work on Maria...and it's quite an awkward situation needless to say! Tyrone blusters excuses but no matter how inventive he could've been, there was not really much way he could cover up what he had been doing! Lena comments that she needs a brandy...she also needs something else in my opinion, but I won't be mean.

In the pub, Shelley is anticipant that Sunita will be at the wedding reception. Charlie uses his skills of psychological manipulation and destruction of the mind by telling her to make it up to Sunita and she'll be glad she made the first move.

Across the bar, Steve is with Louise and rightly worried about the arrival of Tracy. Louise, however, is not the least bit scared, obviously not knowing the extent of Karen's breakdown and near death experience due to Tracy's jealousy

The wedding party does indeed crash through the doors and a jubilant Ken offers drinks all round, but Ray is adamant he'll get them. He tells Deirdre to make sure this marriage is for keeps (Does he know the rules of soap marriages!?)

In the cafe, Chesney is looking down, due to Schmeichal's unsuccessful passport photos. Roy offers to help him and use his own camera and the lad's face brightens up as he thanks Roy for being the best uncle ever!

Lena is making the most of the situation of catching Tyrone and Maria and wants her MOT for free....and a haircut to boot! It's plain to see why this woman is friends with Blanche!

Shelley asks Deirdre about Peter's absence but Deirdre, in polite terms of saying the actor wasn't interested, says he thought it was too soon to return after everything that happened. This conversation is watched by Charlie.

Ray is telling Rita about his regrets of leaving his family but Rita tells him at least he's made up for it now and that he has done all that he can. She also tells him he's lucky to have the chance to make amends, knowing when he was going to die.

Louise catches Tracy giving her a venomous glare and tells her it isn't a zoo. (My my so much to learn about the street, newcomer!) She tells Tracy she needs to move on (thoughts shared by 16 million viewers!) and she leaves with Steve after a carefully ignored mouthful!

Rita, Blanche and Emily are discussing the happy couple and Blanche comments she's sure Deirdre will muck it up again. Rita tells her not to worry. Blanche replies that she isn't worried, she's just saying, but Rita has seen through her . "There's no need to pretend with us, we know you love her" Blanche smiles. (Awwww! Don't you just love this woman!)

Luckily for us, we only have to hear the end of Ken's speech and the party gets started...on Cliff Richard, ironically the celebration tune that Charles and Camilla left the registry office to. Though typically theirs was from a posher brass band but still, it's another similarity to add to the list!

Ray, fast getting through all the regulars, has stopped at Mike and the pair share laughs at 'boring Barlow's' expense! They decide that not much goes on to make the bed rattle...thank god, perish the thought!

In an awkward meeting, Shelley proposes to Sunita that they have a talk and arrange to meet for a drink the next day.

Jack is refusing to dance with a furious Vera, who feels he is showing her up! By using the phrase 'dead pigeons' she has soon managed to get him on the dance floor!

Tracy is apologizing to Ray about being a bitch earlier. She says she hasn't always been like this (only the past 3 years, but for a normal person everything she's done is enough to spread out over a lifetime of bad mistakes). Ray apologises again then asks her for a dance. She soon agrees.

Adam, rather cleverly, is telling Blanche that she is his great gran and asks if she plans to get him anything for his birthday (hoho you are a naughty boy aren't you Adam...*slow applause*) He tells her he won't call her great gran anymore if she does and Blanche is impressed by his ways.

Ray is done in after his dance and Tracy offers to get him a drink. As he goes to sit down, he tells her she's still a good girl.

Mike and Penny, who's eyes are glowing as red as her hair, offer their congratulations to the couple. As soon as Deirdre is out of earshot, Penny states Deirdre is nothing special and she doesn't know what Mike ever saw in her. Mike merely says that they were both younger then.

Deirdre sits down with Ray and offers him a drink but Tracy is already getting him one. She comments it was weird him being there, but she's still glad her came. Ray smiles warmly at her and tells her that so is he. As Deirdre leaps up to join the hokey kokey as the locals embark on the annual make a fool of yourselves challenge, Ray clutches his chest in pain and groans...after a while, Blanche sits down and talks to him, not caring if it was a brick wall sitting there. Starting on the line 'I don't like you Ray' and ending on 'you're not such a bad un after all' (which he should feel privileged by, that is as complimentary as Blanche gets!) Blanche finally realises that something is amiss...as the life passes out of Ray and his hand flops down to his side, the party are alerted to it and gather around in a deadly hush as a tearful Tracy embraces her dead father, weeping 'not yet...Dad'

oooh...too sad to do my little bits at the end (well that's my excuse anyway) but the drama is not over yet...no way! Tomorrow (Monday) is the show's 6000th episode and a hint could be that Ray's won't be the only funeral to prepare for if someone gets their way....don't miss it! Simon will be here to cover next week's episode.

Duncan Lindsay





Monday 11 April, Episode 6000, 6001

Hi everyone, here is the first episode from Monday 11th April.

In the Barlow household, Tracy is setting the table with a special breakfast of croissants and fruit for the newlyweds. Ken comes in and reminds her that a man died yesterday. She sniffs a bit, but tells him that another one got married, and urges him to sit down. Ken says he's not sure it's appropriate, and then Deirdre comes in a sobs into her hanky. She tells Tracy that it's lovely, but when urged to sit down says that she can't. Tracy is most put out. "Oh well, it's all been a waste of time then, hasn't it," she says. Ken tells her it's a lovely gesture but it's Ray they should be thinking about. Tracy thinks that there's no reason that they can't remember Ray and celebrate Ken and Deirdre's wedding, but Deirdre says she can't be happy and sad at the same time. Tracy starts to cry and says that Ray wouldn't want them to be sad, and then collapses into Deirdre's arms.

In the Rovers, Charlie and Ciaran are urging each other to sit in the seat that Ray was sitting in the night before. Then Shelley comes in, tells them she wants a word, and plonks herself down in the very same seat. She tells them they need to be sensitive about what happened, no silly jokes, Ray had a lot of good friends around there and she doesn't want them upset. "Besides," she adds, "it's not exactly good for business when somebody pegs it in your pub." Ciaran looks very apprehensive and she tells him to look a bit happier, they might have had a death in the bar but people still expect a smile. He forces a silly grin.

Mike has called at the Barlow's, and is amazed to hear that Ken and Deirdre are canceling their honeymoon. "Then Ray gets the last laugh," he says. Ken tells him that nobody is laughing. Mike reckons that Ken should stand up to him. Ken reminds him that Ray's dead. "Are you sure?" asks Mike, grinning, "did you check for a pulse?" Just then Tracy and Deirdre wander in. Tracy is telling Deirdre that she wants to arrange the funeral, she was his daughter after all, so Ken and Deirdre can go off on their honeymoon after all.

In the café, Leanne is moaning at Jamie, who has broken a promise to her because he has to go to Carlisle. He tells her he'll be back at six o'clock with lots of money and will take her out, so they arrange to meet later in the Rovers.

Ken and Deirdre are packing for their honeymoon. Ken asks if she's sure this is what she wants. She says that she's not, she feels that they are running away and leaving Tracy to sort everything out. He asks if that's the only reason. She tells him that she did love Ray once, but that was a long time ago and now she loves him. They kiss as Tracy appears in the doorway. "Can't you two wait until you get to the bridal suite!" she says.

Out on the busy road to Carlisle, Jamie stops to pick up a young girl hitchhiker who just happens to be going to Carlisle too.

Ken and Deirdre get in the taxi and say goodbye to Tracy as they go off on their long awaited honeymoon.

In the corner shop, Charlie has called in to see Sunita. He asks her to be nice to Shelley when they meet up later. Sunita tells him she wasn't planning on being nasty to her, and he says that when the two of them get together Shelley always ends up getting upset. He says he only wants what is best for Shell, and Sunita rather curtly says that she does too. "Look," he says, "I know you don't approve of me." Sunita is rather taken aback, "I never said that," she replies. "I know what you think," he says, "but maybe if we all tried a bit harder to get on, then everything would be ok." He goes out, leaving Sunita looking rather puzzled.

Louise, minus child, has gone to the taxi office to see Steve. He is pleased to see her and says that they can spend the day together. Just then Tracy comes in and asks if he can look after Amy for a couple of hours. He refuses point blank, telling her that they have plans, however when he hears about Ray his attitude changes and he agrees to look after Amy. Louise shoots him a look, but he takes Amy anyway.

In the Rovers, Fred is looking at a bottle of water. He explains to Ashley that the chap who owns that company was a farmer who didn't have many acres but had a spring in the corner of one field that his cattle used to drink from. One day he got it tested and found it contained all sorts of minerals and electro-whatsits, and the next thing was that he had bottling plant instead of a farm and now he's a multi-millionaire. Ashley points out that Fred can't put a bottling plant in Audrey's garden.

Leanne rushes in, all dressed up, and goes and sits down next to Danny who is reading the paper. She asks if he's seen Jamie, he was supposed to meet her an hour ago. Danny says that he hasn't.

Fred is still talking to Ashley about bottling water, saying he could pipe it into tankers and take it to a bottling plant. Ashley tells him it's not his well. Fred reckons he found it and recognizes the potential. Ashley points out it's in Audrey's garden, Audrey's water and Audrey's well. Fred says he will just have to make her an offer she can't refuse.

Danny's phone rings – it's Jamie, the hitch-hiker has driven off in the van when he stopped for a pee. Danny is furious and tells him to call the police and sort it all out. Leanne is furious when she finds out that Jamie picked up a girl hitch-hiker, "I'll kill him!" she snarls. "Get in line, love," says Danny, "because he's lost my wheels." "What's he doing picking up hitch-hikers anyway?" she rants, "no wonder he didn't want me going with him." Danny realises that she knew about Jamie's trip and isn't pleased. "What am I going to do now," moans Leanne, "I'm all dressed up for going out." "Well, that's the pair of us inconvenienced then, isn't it," says Danny. They sit in silence for a few moments, then he asks her, "Are you hungry?" She tells him she's starving and he asks her if she fancies a pizza. "Pizza?" she's less than impressed, and tells him that Jamie was going to take her to The Clock. "All right then your Majesty," he says, "The Clock it is," and off they go.

Shelley goes into the back room to find Charlie reading the paper. She reminds him that Sunita is coming. He then starts to manipulate the situation, by telling her he ‘bumped into her' at the shop earlier. "You would do," says Shelley, "she works there." He says that he thinks he's done something to upset Sunita, she was funny with him, he thinks that she thinks he's not good enough for Shelley, after all she's got ‘7-shops Dev' and he's just a scummy builder. (True!) Shelley insists that Sunita likes him, and he tells her to make sure she patches things up tonight. Just then there's a knock on the door and Sunita comes in. Charlie goes off as the two girls hug.

In the restaurant Danny is unburdening his worries about Jamie to Leanne. He feels that if he doesn't know what to do for the best. If he supports him Jamie resents him, if he lets him get on with it, he thinks Danny doesn't care.

Shelley and Sunita are drinking red wine in the back room of the pub. Shelley asks Sunita if she likes Charlie. Sunita says that of course she does, and Shelley goes on to say that he's ‘The One'. "Really?" asks Sunita, "are you sure?" This is obviously a sensitive area and Shelley is immediately on the defensive, "Course I'm sure, why shouldn't I be sure?" she snaps, and Sunita tries to placate her, "I'm happy for you," she says. Shelley demands to know why Sunita asked if she was sure and a row breaks out. "You don't like him do you?" she says, and Sunita replies that she doesn't want them to fall out over a bloke. Shelley claims that she is getting between herself and Charlie and tells her to go. Charlie opens the door and asks if everything is ok, Sunita gets up and walks out.

Martin comes out of the Rovers and sees Louise and Steve at the bus-stop. She's telling Steve she had a really nice day, but should get back. They kiss, and he persuades her to stay longer. She says she will call her sister and ask her to keep Ben overnight. He tells her to go and call, and go to the Rovers and he will just take Amy home and then meet her.

Leanne and Danny are enjoying their meal and telling each other about their pasts. She then tells him she's never been out with a more mature bloke, but if she ever did it would be someone just like him. He tells her that if he was thinking of getting involved with a woman a tad younger than himself, it would be someone just like her. They carry on flirting outrageously with each other.

Steve has taken Amy home and Tracy has put her straight to bed. She tells Steve she never knew how much work their was in organizing a funeral. She then starts crying and Steve gives her a hug.

Martin is standing in the street, outside Gail's house. She brings the milk bottles out and sees him, and invites him in for coffee.

Danny and Leanne get out of a taxi, just as Jamie draws up in the van. The police found it a couple of miles up the road. He takes Leanne off to the Rovers to catch last orders.

Another taxi comes round the corner – it's Katy, come back home.

More in episode 2…..

Annie Logan

Monday's Second Part

Katy is in her house. She sits on the floor and take's stuff out from a cabinet. She comes across a photo album. She looks at the photos. There is a picture of her dad. She starts sobbing holding the album tight in her hands.

Gail tells Sarah to turn down the TV, she says she did but Gail says she can still hear it. Sarah gives a small huff. Scooter is telling David how to fix a plug. He says brown is earth because earth is brown. David asks if blue is water. Scooter says no its neutral. He then realizes green and yellow is earth. Martin comes over and says Red is live. Scooter agrees with him. He sorts it. Gail tells David to go to bed, but he says they are just about done. He gives the plug to David and tells him to plug it in. Sarah comes over. Everyone gets the torches ready. Martin asks why and is told he has fused the lights twice now. Scooter puts the lamp on, but it fuses all the lights again. Gail says there is only three wires how many times can you get it wrong. Martin says he'll go look at the fuses.

Katy sobbing puts all her insulin in the sink. Then uses a can and crushes them. She turns on the tap to wash them down the sink. She takes a drink of water and walks over to the cupboard and takes out the bag of sugar.

Tracy is wiping away tears while talking to Steve. She says she should not be upset because she didn't really know him. Tracy says he's not really my dad, Ken was. She thanks him for looking after Amy. Steve in a very low voice says its ok. She even then apologies for messing up his plans with Louise, then tells him to go see her. She thinks Ray has had an affected on her. She says he made her like this, cold and hard. Then she says its hard to find out you have feelings. She wipes her eyes as Steve's phone goes off. It's a text, Tracy tells him she is fine now and to go. She thinks she could do with being on her own for a bit anyway.

Danny comes through with tea for Frankie and Warren. He asks if everyone is happy. Frankie asks him where he has been. Danny says he's been making the cups of tea. She says she didn't mean now, then says tonight. He tells her he was working late. She says to him that he said he would be home for dinner. He puts on a puzzled face. Frankie asks Warren at breakfast did he say he was going to be home for tea. Warren says he can't remember. He does not really care because he does not look interested. Danny says to earn a living he has to work hard. He then asks if they saved him any dinner. He is told no, and thanks them. Frankie then says, maybe you did say you were working late, then asks if he got any thing to eat. He says, yes thankfully I got a snack. He then goes to get his cup of tea.

At the Rover Leanne and Jamie are talking. He asks why she was with his dad, she says she was in the same place as him. He then asks if she was with him all night. She tells him that he's the one in the doghouse and not to change the subject. He says he's really sorry for picking up the hitchhiker. He was being a Good Samaritan. She asks how old the woman was; he says late 50's. She then says that she thought he said it was a student. Jamie says it was a very mature student. He then says that she just be starving and asks her if she would like to go get some chips. Leanne says it's ok because she got a snack. Violet rings the bell and says last orders. Steve comes in the door, and is told his pint is flat by Louise. She then asks how Tracy is. Steve says she's ok. Louise thinks his life is complicated, and she is going to be back in Ireland tomorrow. He begs her not to change her mind. Louise says she could go home and watch a movie with her sister but she does not want to do that. She says Tracy dad has just die. Steve says Tracy is ok and if she goes home now he will be on his own. Violet tells them to go home. Louise with a smile says why not.

Katy is righting something on a peace of paper. She takes the pen and scribbles over a bit of it and then continues to right.

Scooter is on his fourth attempt at getting the lava lamp working. They try it again. Success it works. Everyone cheers. Gail tells David to go to bed now. As he goes he asks his dad if anything is going on, because he normally goes home by now. Martin reassures him. Scooter changes the TV channel and Sarah running over says she was watching that, she jumps on top of him and tries to get the remote control. Gail tells them to keep it down. Martin asks her where the lamp came from, she says Scooter found it in the skip. She asks him if he is ok. Martin says he's fine but he does not belong here. He thinks he's just a visitor. Everything had a point when he was with Katy. Gail tells him he's not a visitor. Sarah and Scooter come over and say they are going to bed, and go. Martin asks her if she is happy about that arrangement. She says that Sarah is 18, he's a nice lad and Bethany likes him. She then says it's nice to have her family close than watch it fall apart.

Katy has finished writing her letter so she licks it down and puts it on the arm of the sofa. She then puts sugar in her drink, and it fizzes over. She drinks half of it. The candle blows out. She takes the bag of sugar and lie's down on the sofa, using the spoon she starts filling herself with the sugar.

Martin says he better be going home. Gail tells him he can stay the night. He says going down that road is not going to help anyone. Gail says he may be feeling sorry for him self but its not affected his ego, she was only offering him the sofa. Martin asks why he would want to stay here when he has a cold, empty flat. She thinks him waking up in a house full of people would do him good. He says he cant imagine what they kids would think. Gail says he would leave before they wake, she tells him to think about it while she puts the kettle on.

Katy on the sofa makes small noises. She is unconscious. The TV is playing a tape of Angela and Tommy singing.

Its morning and Katy continues to make small groaning noises.

Sarah and Beth are at the table as Gail asks them if they would like any more toast, they are fine. She asks Martin. David comes down, looks at his dad and says still here. He then asks if he stayed over and why. Martin says yes and to wind him up. Scooter comes down saying the bathroom is free. Sarah says about time. Scooter looks just as shocked to see Martin. Gail is very organized as she says toast is on the table. She does not want to come home to a load of dishes, Martin says he will do them. Then Gail asks if Beth is ready for school and reminds Sarah that she is picking her up. Then asks Scooter if he is staying for tea, yes. Gail says its chops at 6.30.

Blanche and Tracy is going through Ray's clothes. Blanch says we keep his best suit to bury him in and give the rest to charity. Blanch finds an envelope at the bottom of the case. It's address to Deirdre. She thinks it could be filled with secrets and stuff he could not say when he was alive. Tracy asks if there is one for her, nope. Blanch says they should open it. Tracy says she will go get the Kettle, but Blanch says no need because she has had years of practice. She says she never opened any thing of hers. She opens it. The letter is just what songs and hums he wants for the funeral.

At the salon Audrey says what time do you call this? Its Fred with flowers. She says sorry she was thinking it was Maria because she it late again. She asks why he has bought her flowers, he wants to take her out to dinner. She agrees if Maria ever turns up. Fred says he wants to discuss something with her, she says the death trap in my garden. He says it's the well of opportunity. She says there no such thing as a free lunch. He asks her to keep an open mind. He tells her that this restaurant has 5 different types of water. Then says none of them are local.

Katy is lying on the sofa encounters. She makes slight moaning noises. She lifts her hand slightly and knocks the remote control on the floor. Then it hits the floors it turns the TV on and is loud. It's Angela and Tommy again singing.

Sarah asks Martin why he's not at work, he says he starts later. Sarah says it's her day off. Martin think they were hoping to get the house for them self's, she says yes, laughing says he spoiled it. He says he will go but she says its ok. Sarah asks Martin why he stayed over last night, if any thing happened and if it will be a regular thing. He says he felt down and staying in a house with his daughter, her boyfriend, grand daughter, son and ex wife cheered him up. Scooter is humming. Sarah asks what that is; he asks her if she has ever started humming some thing she has heard. Martin comes over as Scooter says he thinks its John Travolta and, but is stopped as Martin says I thought you had the TV on. Sarah says its coming from next door; they think its kids and rush next door. Sarah puts her ear to the door and says that's Angela and Tommy singing. Martin looks through the window. The curtains are closed but not completely. He sees Katy then bangs on the door. Sarah looking through the windows says she's not moving. Scooter says he could kick the door in, so he does. After he does he says he always wanted to do that. They find Katy on the sofa. Sarah pleads to god saying please don't let her be dead. Martin tells them to phone and ambulance. Sarah asks how long has she been like that, Martin thinks all night by the look of things. He holds her.

Amanda Souter





Wednesday 13 April, Episode 6002


Written by: Peter Whalley
Directed by: Terry Dyddgen-Jones

In which various people discover things that spoil their day, Norris and Emily indulge in a spot of DIY, and Audrey agrees to have her water tested.

The episode begins exactly where we left things on Monday, in the Harris house with Martin desperately trying to get a response from a comatose Katy. Scooter has discovered the smashed insulin cartridges in the sink. "So she's done this on purpose?" Sarah says, and Martin says not to jump to conclusions. Then Sarah finds an envelope marked "The Truth." Martin takes it, and sends her and Scooter outside to wait for the ambulance, and tells them to say that all they know is that Katy had a problem taking her insulin. He puts the letter in the inside pocket of his jacket, and we hear an ambulance siren. Outside, the ambulance's arrival is watched by Liz, Tracy and Violet, who wonder who it's for.

Steve and Louise are sad because, after their night together, she now has to leave and go back to Ireland. Steve says he'll be seeing her again, "And again. And again. If that's alright." She replies that she'd have him in her bed again that night if she had a choice. He says she does have a choice and they're both free agents, but she points out that she has a child who has family in Ireland, and Steve isn't without responsibilities of his own. She says they ought to just wait and see what happens.

Katy is being taken out of her house on a stretcher. Martin says he's going to go to the hospital, and again tells Sarah and Scooter not to mention that Katy may have deliberately tried to kill herself. He reassures Sarah that Katy will be alright once her sugar levels are back to normal. Liz, Tracy and Violet wonder what happened to Katy. Tracy thinks it'll be because of the diabetes: "They're always collapsing, diabetics," she says in her typically sympathetic way. Liz goes indoors with Tracy, and a tearful Violet goes over to ask Sarah what happened. Sarah and Scooter tell her that Katy probably just forgot her insulin.

Tracy is complaining to Liz that she'd been letting Steve have some space, but all that's achieved is that he's moved "Molly Malone" in with him. Liz says Louise hasn't moved in, and in fact is off back to Ireland, but Tracy thinks that makes it worse, because it wasn't even serious. "What is wrong with me that he would go with any woman before me?" Tracy wants to know. Liz has a complicated theory that Steve finds Tracy very attractive but couldn't admit it while he was with Karen, so he built a wall between himself and Tracy – only now Karen is gone, the wall's still there. Tracy says in that case she might as well give up, and isn't pleased when Liz agrees with her.

In the street, Louise and Steve are talking about Tracy. He says he doesn't want Tracy and he never will, because he's got Louise. They have a lingering last kiss as her bus approaches.

A man is delivering a parcel to Emily's house. It's shaped like a coffin lid. He rests it against the wall while he rings the bell. Norris answers. "Ray Langton?" the man asks. Norris explains that Mr Langton is deceased, so the man says in that case Norris will have to sign for him, and hands him a clipboard. Emily appears while Norris is signing, and the man informs her that the parcel is a self-assembly coffin; the instructions are inside. With some difficulty, Norris and Emily carry it into the house.

At the hospital, a nurse whom Martin knows tells him off the record that the doctor is worried Katy might have cerebral oedema. He looks very worried. The nurse asks Martin about Katy's next of kin and he tells her it's Angela, but that the situation is "a bit complicated."

Fred is wining and dining Audrey in a posh restaurant, but she isn't going to be easily persuaded about the "holy" well. He says planning permission wouldn't be a problem, as he has friends on t'council, and he'll sort out all the finances himself. Audrey says what if no-one wants to buy the water? He says everyone will want it, because people can't get enough of water! He asks her to think about it.

Martin is keeping watch beside Katy's bed. She's still unconscious and is on a ventilator. He takes out the note they found in her house, and tells her that she's had a terrible time and no-one has been looking after her, but they will from now on, if she'll only get better. He says he'll keep the note safe for her, and puts it back into his pocket unopened.

Back at the restaurant, Fred thinks that Audrey only has reservations about the well because she thinks it's Fred's way of bringing them together romantically. He assures her it would be purely business. She agrees that they can have the water tested to see if it is indeed an "elixir which can benefit all mankind," as Fred believes it to be.

In the Rovers, Warren is telling a thrilled Candice and a more skeptical Leanne and Jamie that he's being watched by two Premiership scouts. Leanne bursts Candice's bubble by saying that if Warren ever did make it in the Premiership he "wouldn't want to drag a backstreet hairdresser along." Candice says that isn't true, but the look on Warren's face suggests it is. Danny and Mike come into the pub, and Danny exchanges A Meaningful Glance with Leanne. The next person to walk through the door of the Rovers is Martin, and Violet asks him how Katy is. She wonders if Katy did it deliberately, because she was in such a state last time Violet saw her, but Martin tells her to be very careful about saying that sort of thing.

Angela is in her cell, looking at photos of Craig and Katy, and a warder comes to tell her the Governor wants to see her.

Back at the Rovers, Leanne goes to the bar, and is joined there by Danny, who asks her if she's mentioned anything to Jamie about their night out together. She says she hasn't, and he's relieved – he says he hasn't mentioned it to Frankie either and they should keep it as their little secret. She agrees, and smiles to herself.

Norris, Emily and Tracy are contemplating some coffin shaped pieces of wood, glue, string and various nails and screws. Tracy says that in the letter Ray left he said he'd made arrangements and he hoped it would arrive on time. "He was always liable to do the unusual, was Ray," Emily observes. Norris says that when *he* goes he wants a decent bit of oak around him with gold fittings, not plywood and bits of string. Emily says she'll bear it in mind! Tracy thinks they should do exactly what Ray wanted, and bury him in the DIY coffin.

Martin is at Sarah's house, again telling her and Scooter not to mention the letter. He says when Katy gets better he's going to give it back to her and she can do what she likes with it. He says he'd rather not know whether Katy deliberately tried to kill herself.

The Prison Governor has broken the news to Angela; the hospital have told him that Katy is unconscious but stable. Angela is convinced Katy must have done it on purpose because she never forgets her insulin. She says she wants to see her daughter, and is distraught when the Governor says he can't allow it.

Lunchtime in the Rovers, and Charlie is telling Shelley that he feels sorry for all the men in the world who aren't as lucky as he is. Shelley giggles girlishly at him, and he goes out. A grinning Shelley tells Violet that everything is going so well with Charlie she has the feeling that something will come along and spoil it. "Everything seems too good to be true!" she says.

Fred and Audrey come into the pub, and Fred offers to buy Mike and Danny a drink. Danny declines because "someone has to oversee the nation's knicker production." Audrey also decides to keep a clear head by only drinking mineral water. On seeing Audrey, Candice realises it's time she was back at the salon. Leanne can't resist winding her up some more: "When Warren's off playing for Liverpool or Spurs, or maybe both if he's that good, you'll still be sat here worrying about Audrey seeing you." After Candice has gone, Jamie tells Leanne she was being cruel, but Leanne says she's only trying to help Candice by giving her a reality check. She tells Warren there's no way he'd take "dim as a 2 watt bulb Candice" with him if he moved on to better things, and again the look on Warren's face says he agrees. Danny comes over to tell Jamie to get back to work and Warren to get going as well. They go, and Leanne grins at Danny: "You're in a bossy mood! Got any orders for me?" "Maybe some other time," Danny says. "I'm not saying I'd take any notice, though," Leanne says, giggling.

Angela is in her cell, clutching her rosary beads and praying silently.

At the hospital, Martin is exasperated to hear that there's been no change in Katy's condition. The nurse, Jenny, tries to tell him that different people react in different ways, but he's a nurse himself and he knows the reassuring things they say. "From what you tell me, she's not reacting at all," he says. Reluctantly she agrees. She says Martin can go in and see Katy in a while, and says she understands that he's worried. He sits down to wait, and again takes out the envelope. This time, he opens it.

In the Rovers, Fred is outlining his mineral water bottling scheme to Mike, who tells Fred and Audrey that the costs and risk involved in setting up such a scheme would be enormous. Audrey looks worried, but Fred tells her to pay no attention, because "businessmen are always trying to put off new, thrusting entrepreneurs, because they can't bear the thought of anybody taking a risk they daren't." After Audrey has left, Mike again tries to tell Fred that it's a crazy scheme, and asks him how he would propose raising the money. "To start with," says Fred, "I intend to sell this establishment. The pub in which we are now standing'll be on t'market by the end of the week." Shelley has overheard this, and looks stunned. Mike leaves Fred to face the music. Shelley tells Violet, and they both ask Fred again if he's serious. He says he's sorry they had to hear it like that, but it's true – he's selling the Rovers.

In the hospital, Martin has read the letter. He sniffs back a tear, and then goes to Katy's bedside. "Look," he says, "I don't believe this, and if you want me to, you're just going to have to wake up and tell me yourself, aren't you?" Katy is still deeply unconscious.

Sue Haasler





Friday 15 April, Episode 6003

It's Friday night again and Katy is still in intensive care. I'm not sure if it's normal these days for the patient to still be covered with a survival blanket several days after being admitted, but perhaps heating is one of the things they've cut back on in the NHS. Martin is told there is no change in her condition. He pulls the letter out of his pocket, looks at it and puts it away again.

Liz bursts into the taxi office wanting to know how Steve is, now that Louise has gone. "Just come for a nose, then?" he asks. Eileen tells him that's unfair. It's called caring, and that's what mothers do. "What's it called when they go and tell their friends all the gory details?" he asks. "A shared understanding of another person's problems," Eileen says. "Nowt gory, were there?" asks a confused Liz. She keeps asking him questions. Eileen suddenly remembers he's half Irish and points out that "they" say we all return to our origins. Liz thinks he's been looking happier, anyway.

At the hair salon, Emily is commenting that she saw Warren's picture in the paper again this week. Candice is miles away and Audrey has to practically wake her up to get her to say something in reply. They tell her that one day there might be a blue plaque outside saying that Candice Stowe worked here. Then Audrey and Emily reminisce about a footballer called Billy Wright, who married one of the Beverly Sisters, who were the Spice Girls of their day. "So they were already famous?" asks Candice. "Oh, yes," says Audrey. "Famous footballers don't just marry anybody."

In the butcher's shop, Fred has a bottle of water and Ashley has doubts. Fred says he is definitely going to sell the Rovers. He has visions of lorries, all bearing his name, spreading out across the nation and maybe even across Europe, where they only drink bottled water because their own is full of microbes. Ashley still thinks it's one of the looniest ideas Fred's ever had. He points out that Fred doesn't even know if the water is drinkable. Fred takes a swig from the bottle to prove his point and pronounces it fresh as a mountain stream. "I feel ten years younger already."

At the Barlows', Tracy and Blanche are puzzling over the whereabouts of dowel hole G. Blanche thinks its ridiculous for Tracy to even try to put the coffin together. After all, it takes the undertakers a week to make one. Tracy points out that it takes them a week to do everything, not just make the coffin*. Liz comes in, but she's not much help and thinks it's a bit ghoulish to be making a coffin. Tracy wants to do it because that's what Ray wanted. Blanche thinks she ought to get a move on, because there's still the music tape to make. Tracy reads from the instruction sheet: "This casket can be assembled by anyone with a basic knowledge of DIY," she says. "That rules me out, then." "Casket?" asks Blanche. "I might have know it was American!"

In the cafe, Norris, Emily and the Croppers are discussing the next book for the book club. Roy thinks that since the last couple of books had adult themes, they should read one that explores childhood. Emily suggests Huckleberry Finn, but Norris says that's OK if you like paddle steamers. Hayley enjoyed the movie About A Boy and would love to read the book. Her favourite childhood movie was Oliver. Emily loved that, too, even the first version. Roy snaps. He can't understand how they could like a film which took a dark, highly politicised novel and turned it into a cockney dancing romp.

Gail, Audrey and Sarah are discussing Katy when they hear a noise outside. It's Craig, who seems to think Katy is in their old house. The women go out and break the news to him that she's in hospital and take him back into Gail's house.

In the Kabin, Norris is telling Blanche that Roy wants them to read Dickens' Oliver Twist. Blanche is disappointed that it's not another steamy romp, but Rita suggests it might be good to have a chance to cool down. A bit of quality might do them good. Norris points out that it's over 500 pages, and that shuts up Rita and Blanche. Norris wants to read another Mel Hutchwright. "The man's a genius." He and Blanche then bicker about Mel's sex. Blanche thinks it must be a woman, because only a woman could understand Grace Blatchfield's agony when her ebony hair turned white. But Norris insists that only a man would have been able to go into detail of the rack that killed Grace's husband and exactly how it worked. He suggests Blanche write to the publisher to settle the argument.

In the salon, Maria and Audrey both have a go at Candice for her lack of work today. When Maria is out of the room, Candice admits she is worried that Warren will dump her when he's famous. Audrey is appalled. There's a young girl in a coma in Weatherfield hospital, with her father dead and her mother in prison, and here's Candice worrying about the umpteenth boyfriend she's had in the last couple of years. If Candice really is worried about Warren needing a famous girlfriend, she'll just have to go out and get famous herself. Candice, bless her, thinks this is a brilliant idea.

Craig goes to visit his sister in the hospital. He asks if he can put Tommy's chain round Katy's neck, but the nurse says she can't be moved. So he gets permission to hang it on the bed rail. "It'll mean a lot when she wakes up," he says.

At the prison, Martin has gone to see Angela. She asks for reassurance about Katy, but he tells her that Katy is in a critical condition and there's no guarantee she'll survive. He takes out the letter and tells Angela that it's labeled The Truth. He says it details what happened the night Tommy died. "I am writing this to set the record straight," he begins reading.

In the Rovers, Shelley asks Fred if he really is planning to sell the pub. Yes, he is, and he expects it to take a couple of months tops. Shelley complains to Charlie that she'll have nowhere to live and manager's jobs are hard to come by. Charlie thinks something will turn up. She suggests that maybe they could buy the Rovers. She almost starts apologising for having the idea. It wouldn't necessarily mean they were making a commitment to each other, but it would be a straight business deal. Surprisingly, he says it's not such a bad idea.

At the prison, Martin is still reading. Katy has gone through the argument with her father and how he laughed and said that breaking up her and Martin and persuading her to have an abortion was like winning the lottery. She describes how she hit him and thought she'd just hurt him until her mother came in. "I hope after reading this the police will release her immediately." The letter finishes with the PS to tell Craig she's sorry, and that she doesn't deserve to live after what she's done. Angela tells Martin she's never heard so much rubbish. Katy must have been delirious from not taking her insulin when she wrote it.

In the pub, Tracy approaches Charlie and tells him of the trouble she's having with the coffin. "I'll send Jason round," he says without any discussion. Then tells her that as long as it's straightforward, there'll be no charge. On the way out, she talks to Steve. She tells him it'll be weird not having her mother at the funeral, but she'll have her gran, who is "a dab hand at funerals". She tells him he can come if he wants, but he declines. Steve seems a bit startled when Tracy just accepts this and goes off home.

Angela wants Martin to burn the letter. She thinks Martin can save Katy, marry her, give her a baby and look after her. But he points out that Katy would still feel guilty, and they both know she can't handle that. "She is not going to prison!" Angela screams, bringing a hush to the whole visiting room. Martin calmly points out that if Katy dies, Craig will be on him own. The only solution is for Angela to tell the truth.

The End
Margaret Carr

*Actually, it takes a lot less than that -- in NZ the funeral takes place about three days after the death. In the UK, it's my understanding that lack of capacity in funeral homes and crematoriums is the real reason why so many British funerals don't happen until a week or more after the death.






Sunday 17 April, Episode 6004

The episode begins with a sliding shot through the Platts' fish tank. David is on the couch (What? No sacrificing of small, hairy mammals to be done on the Red Rec?) and Craig is coming down the stairs. Gail approaches him and inquires how he slept. David then asks if Angela (still incarcerated – the only woman to suffer a miscarriage of justice at the hands of herself) gets a cup of tea of a morning, like Gail is making. Craig says he doesn't know. Then David announces that it must be brilliant being a fish (does anyone else think that this lad's got some form of attention disorder?), floating around, chilling…! Craig replies with 'No memory'. Gail returns to announce 'bacon butties', she then informs Craig that she rang his granddad. Craig says he doesn't know him like he knows them (the Platts). David suddenly asks his mother for some money to buy some new goldfish (!), what an insensitive weirdo he's becoming. Gail chastises him with a 'Daveed' and Craig starts to go back upstairs, the doorbell rings, David goes to answer the door. Is a child psychologist? Has Richard returned from the dead? No, it's Martin (the thinking woman's lethal injection). He's upset; the swelling of Kayee's brain hasn't gone down – yippy! (Break out the bubbly, we're gonna be burying Devil Children tonight!) Craig, though, is upset. David hugs Martin, Gail hugs Craig and my flesh is now crawling at the sight of this. Run, Craig, flee!

Stupid Shelly and Evil Charlie are walking down t'Street and she's talking about some cottage she saw in the New Forest with her sister Sharon (another character who met their maker, albeit off-screen). Basically, she's making the point that's what she would've wanted to achieve, but now sees the Rovers as her home. As she and her deviously malicious boyfriend stand opposite it, a car with a coffin passes by. The wreaths spell out Ray.

The Three Stooges of the hairdressing profession (Audrey, Candice and Maria) are talking nonsensically about celebrity-dom. Enter Stereotypical Homosexual Sean *the cop-out 'safe' gay character that writers plum for because heterosexuals don't find them threatening and so they're constantly used, which, really annoys me as I'd like to always see every gay man in Drama/Soap with an ounce of Average Joe-ness without having to see one flounce of a flicked wrist.* Sean has a date…blah, blah, blah…

At the Rovers, Fred walks in and announces he needs a 'QS' (quick sale) for it. Shelly mentions about having it taken off the market as she could match the asking price for it. They shake hands. He'll get a 'QS' 'ASAP'.

Back at the Salon: Audrey, Candice, Maria and Sean are doing/taking girly things. Blah!

Martin is at the police station and hands over to Detective Inspector Pinnock Kayee's suicide note. He proclaims that this means that Angela is innocent. Though Pinnock isn't convinced and just wants to photocopy it. Martin is bemused. I don't care. I just want Kayee to die – oh hurry up, Wednesday!

Cut to Ray's funeral, somewhere where there's land, leafless trees and a folly (I think, in the background). Emily, Norris, Rita and Mike are walking away from the grave whereas Blanche and Tracy (with Amy) remain. They talk. Uttering the expected 'Oh at least he came back' crap. If I had my way of handling Ray's demise, it would have been in the form of that rolling white ball from The Prisoner chasing him…Then Blanche leaves. Then Steve arrives for one of those 'hug my not-so-girlfriend whose child I fathered and made my mad wife leave and then start divorce proceedings' moments.

Martin and Gail are having a cup of tea. He tells her that Katy deliberately didn't take her insulin because of her guilt over killing Tommy. Gail is shocked.

Back to the Rovers and Shelly is talking to Charlie about getting a surveyor to overlook the pub. Charlie announces that it's fine (he would). She's adamant that they're going to do this properly. She's also drying her nails – they're as black as Charlie's soul.

Salon: Candice is drowning (how I wish!) Sean verbally and physically with the aid of her mouth and a tan-spray…

At Chez Platt, Gail has gone into Despondent Hamster Mode. She tells Martin that she's never liked Katy and that her reckless actions always mean that everyone else has to pick up the pieces. She tells Martin that Angela and Craig are the innocent ones – how true! Free the Weatherfield One! How will Asda or Morrison survive without Saint Angela buying their 3 for 2 offers?!

Tracy and Steve do some talking. Blah!

Sean emerges from his spray looking like a right tit – good! His face is totally orange and then he receives a text from Spencer (his date) saying that he's dumped – even better! Even worse for him is having spent over £86 for nothing – ha!

Keith Appleyard – Craig's granddad, which means Angela Harris was once Angela Appleyard – is at the Platts telling Craig that he's decided to stay next door for awhile. Craig then sees Keith holding Tommy's chain and Craig is upset, talking about having left it over Katy's bedside…blah, blah, blah…Gail goes over to him and tells him that he should keep it as he can draw comfort from Tommy that way.

Tracy and Steve do some more talking and then some making out. Ew!

Written by Jonathan Harvey
Reviewed by Simon Robinson





Monday 18 April, Episode 6005, 6006

Greetings all! Here is the first episode from Monday 18th April.

It's morning, and Steve is making coffee. Tracy comes in, wearing what appears to be Steve's dressing gown. They smile at each other somewhat self-consciously, and he offers her the coffee, asking if she takes sugar. Tracy looks pleased, but nervous. She tells him that last night meant a lot, but he just replies that he's got to get to work and reaches for his jacket. "I was thinking," he begins, "later on……" Tracy looks hopeful. "I could look after Amy for a while, give you some time to yourself." Struggling to keep the smile on her face, Tracy thanks him and says that Amy would like that. Telling her she can stay in the flat until Amy wakes up, he gives her a small kiss and departs for work. Tracy looks thoughtful and presses his dressing gown to her face.

Craig and his granddad are knocking at Gail's door. Granddad is off to Sheffield to pick up some more stuff but Craig wants to stay around Coronation Street. Gail says it's fine for him to stay with her. Granddad leaves, and Craig says, "Thanks, Gail….er…I mean Mrs. Platt."

Tracy and Amy come out into the street through Steve's front door and are spotted by Eileen on her way into the corner shop.

Audrey and Maria are over the road, opening up the salon. "Oh," says Audrey, "isn't that Craig's granddad leaving Gail's?" "Gales?" says Candice, coming round the corner, "it'll be a bit breezy today, with some strong winds coming from the north of Scotland, but no gales!" Audrey comments that she obviously still wants to be a tv weather girl.

Eileen arrives at the taxi office, whereupon Steve tells her that they need two more drivers. Eileen comments dryly that he should ask his friend Tracy Barlow, she's got her license, and they are obviously on good terms as she just saw her coming out of his flat. Steve says that next time he sees her he'll ask if she fancies doing a couple of shifts. Eileen says that it must have been an early morning visit as there's no way she would be spending the night there. Steve says that if she's applying for the position of his mother the position is already filled, and looks behind her to Liz, who has just come in. "Who spent what night where?" Liz demands to know. "Thank you," Steve mutters. Eileen informs her that she just saw Tracy coming out of Steve's flat. "You spent the night with Tracy Barlow?" asks Liz. Steve informs both of them it's none of their business. Liz is delighted, but Eileen is horrified, telling Liz that this is mad Tracy Barlow, the woman who tried to ruin his wedding, and drove his wife away. "What about Louise?" asks Eileen, "she's a lovely girl, not mad as a snake!" Liz tells her that Louise was just the warm-up act, Tracy is the main event. Steve then interrupts, telling them they are just jumping to conclusions. All right, it was one night, but doesn't want to make a big deal out of it. Liz wants to know if he's going to see her again, and he tells them that when he knows himself then he'll let them know.

At the Barlow's, Blanche walks in and sees Tracy in the kitchen. "Oh, you're back then!" Tracy tells her she did ring and say where she was. Blanche then goes on to burst Tracy's bubble - she reckons that Steve was took advantage of her when she was at her most vulnerable, and hopes Tracy had the sense to take precautions this time. "You even had your daughter with you," Blanche exclaims, "a reminder of the last night you were with him." She tells Tracy they hardly know each other, and asks if he's ever taken her to the pictures, or dancing? Tracy's face falls. "No, he's taken you to bed – twice!" The only way they know each other, she says, is in the biblical sense. Tracy protests that Steve is a good guy and a great father to Amy. Blanche says that Tracy is just a soft touch when Steve is on his own. She wants to know if the lass he's been seeing, Louise, is still around. Tracy admits that she isn't. "There you are!" Blanche goes on to say that Steve is a man with a very chequered history, married three times, once for money, once for a bet and Tracy was there the third time. He's a jail-bird with a murderer for a father, and she won't say what they would have called his mother in Blanche's day.

Over in the Rovers, Candice is telling Warren and Jamie and Leanne what she's found out about the weather reporters on the tv. She reckons they all say the same thing – wind, rain, sun, it's so simple! Jamie asks if perhaps they all say the same thing because that is what the weather is going to be like. He asks why she wants to be a weather girl. Warren says it will be all right, having a bird who's on the telly, and Candice reckons she's way prettier than the ones who are already on, she's been practicing her hand movements and everything. Leanne murmurs that she's got a hand movement in her mind right that minute. Warren thinks Candice should come round to their house and show his parents how good she is. "Oh yes," says Candice, "and they could give me tips as well, like what colour looks best in front of the map."

The police have gone to interview Angela again and want to know if she's read Katy's letter. Angela just wants to know how Katy is, and is told there is no change. Angela says she will tell them anything they want to know later, but now she wants them to let her go to Katy. The solicitor tells the police that Angela wants to retract her statement and make a new one, but the policeman asks Angela how he should know that is it she who lied, that Katy is not just sacrificing herself to save her.

Craig and Martin arrive at the hospital and find a policewoman sitting outside Katy's room. Craig asks Martin what she's doing there and he suggests that she might be waiting to talk to Katy. "Do they think she might be coming round?" asks Craig, hopefully. Martin doesn't know, but tells Craig he'll give him a few minutes alone with Katy and then come in.

A happy, smiling Tracy comes down the stairs and tells Steve, who is waiting at the bottom that he must have tired Amy out. They both seem a little awkward and embarrassed with each other, as she tells him that she really appreciated yesterday. "No problem," he replies. She thanks him for taking Amy out and then suggests meeting him in the pub later, she needs to get away from her gran who is giving her the third degree. He asks what about, and if she's just being nosey or disapproves. She tells him it's a bit of both, and offers again to buy him a drink. He tells her he's promised to go back to work, and then starts to say that Dev isn't pulling his weight and Eileen has been giving him grief. "One excuse is enough, Steve," Tracy snaps, but he assures her that is the case. There's a few awkward moments as Tracy says, "Oh, right, well, if you get a chance then……" "Sure," he says, and leaves.

Angela is still talking to the police. She tells them she couldn't do any more for Tommy so all she could do was protect Katy. It all got out of hand. The policeman says that if Martin had brought the letter to them straight away he might have been inclined to believe her, but he had shown it to her first and that's why their stories tally. Forensic evidence puts her there, not Katy. Angela faked the threatening letter, not Katy and Angela sat there and confessed. He does not have a shred of evidence that her daughter was involved. Angela sobs and tells them that the wrench might still have Katy's fingerprints on it. She tells them that it's with Tommy, she couldn't let him be cremated as he wished, it's in the coffin.

Roy and Chesney are walking up the street. Chesney is talking excitedly about living in Spain and asks if he can ring his mum.

Coming along in the other direction are Audrey, Maria and Candice. They stop Roy and Audrey asks him if a red sky at night is a shepherd's or a sailor's delight? Roy launches into a long and involved lecture on winds and storms, and then asks why they want to know. Maria explains that Candice wants to be a weather girl. Roy then starts to talk about the natural signs such as animal behaviour and the flora and fauna and Maria makes a hasty getaway, and Chesney tells Audrey that they are going to ring his mum in Spain, "Where the rain stays mainly on the plain!" Audrey and Candice walk on, with Candice wondering what she should wear that evening.

Martin brings Craig back to Gail's house and they sit him down and tell him gently that Katy left a letter. She's in a coma because she didn't take her insulin on purpose. "You mean she tried to kill herself?" asks Craig, and demands to know why he wasn't told before. Martin takes a deep breath and explains that it was about what happened to Tommy, it wasn't his mum it was Katy who killed his dad. Craig is incredulous and isn't having any of it at first and demands to read the letter. Martin explains that he gave it to the police. Craig can't believe that his dad would just stand there and let Katy hit him, and anyway, she's a girl and wouldn't be strong enough. Martin says that Katy was out of her mind, devastated with what her dad had tricked her into. Craig argues that the police have evidence against his mum, but Martin tells him that she took the blame so Katy would get away with it. Craig asks if Martin's saying that his mum and Katy have been lying to him all along, and then decides that the whole thing is all Martin's fault. He then whacks Martin hard across the face and has to be dragged off him by Gail. His anguished cries of "I hate him," as he collapses onto Gail's shoulder bring a lump to the throat.

Candice is in the Baldwin household, standing in front of a large map of the UK. She is introduced by Warren, and tells the assembled company of Danny, Frankie, Jamie, and Leanne, that tonight is going to be wet and windy with clouds coming in from Ireland. She points to a place on the map, but is told by Leanne that that is the Isle of Man. "It's the big one behind it, love," says Danny helpfully. "I knew that," says Candice. "Tomorrow it's going to be sunny showers….no it's not, it's going to be sunny with showers coming in from the west." She points to the east coast. "That's the east, dumbo!" says Leanne. Candice insists that she's right, they are in Manchester and she has relatives in West Yorkshire so that (and she points to a spot east of Manchester) has to be west! Warren leads the applause, and Frankie says, "Bless ‘er, she ain't got the foggiest!"

Tracy is sitting at home looking glum. Blanche comes in. "I thought you were going to the pub?" Tracy says she changed her mind. Blanche is annoyed because she changed her arrangements so that she could babysit. She tells Tracy that Steve is messing her about, and she can't say she wasn't warned. Tracy says that they didn't arrange anything definite, he has to work. Blanche points out that it is Steve's company, he can choose whether he's working or not. "Thanks," says Tracy, and then tries to say that she's not that bothered. Blanche tells her that she's built up her expectations that much he couldn't live up to them even if he wanted to. Tracy tells her that all she wants is for Steve to be a father to Amy, and she's happy with the way things are. "And I'm the queen of Sheba," mutters Blanche as Tracy goes out of the room.

Steve walks into the Rovers and orders a scotch. Eileen is standing at the bar and comments that Steve likes to look for trouble in his love life as well. She tells Shelley that it's not Louise, but Tracy Barlow – even her initials are a killer disease. Liz comes in then and asks Steve if he's not seeing Tracy. He says no, but thought she would be in there. Liz says that she's only next door and will mind Steve's drink if he'd like to go and fetch her. He declines, saying they hadn't arranged anything, although she did say she would be in. Steve and Liz go to a table and he tells her it's no big deal, it's not as if they are going out, he just wants to take it slow. Liz tells him if he takes it too slow she'll meet someone else and be off, with Amy. She says he knows how Tracy feels about him. Steve wonders if now perhaps, she doesn't want him, and do they really know each other? Liz tells him they've known each other since they were kids and have a beautiful baby together. He says they've had two dates in two years, hardly a whirlwind romance! He says that four months ago he told Karen he never wanted to see her again, after thinking she was the love of his life. Then he met Louise, and then he found himself in bed with Tracy. He has to admit it felt natural, it felt right.

Just then, who should walk in, but Tracy! She goes up to the bar, not seeing Steve at the table. He gets up and stands behind her. "Hello Trace," he says. Her face drops. "I thought you were busy?" He explains that Dev showed up after all. "But you couldn't be bothered to come next door and see if I fancied a drink?" He looks aghast. "What's all this about?" She tells him that he's made it clear that the previous night was a mistake, he can find the time to take Amy out, but he's too busy to take her out. He murmurs to her not to do this here, now. She tells him maybe she should have said that last night, and storms out! Poor Tracy!

More to follow!

Annie Logan

Monday's 2nd Part

Ashley is trying to get water from the well. Audrey comes with a ladle; Fred tells him to get a full ladle this time. Fred is holing his legs as Ashley leans down the hold. He comes up saying he dropped the ladle.

Martin is at Gail's, he tells her he called the hospital but there has been no change in Katy's condition. Gail tells him, "I want to help you through this Martin but it's difficult to know that to say" Martin replies, "Even if she pulls through, what sort of life has she got to look forward to? Prison for a long time? A few weeks ago she had everything to look forward to. We both did. She was having our baby. We were together". Gail just hugs him.

Angela wants to see her daughter but is told it has to go through the governor. She screams saying they don't care. Angela wonder's why she didn't stick to the plan, her solicitor says maybe it was too much strain. She then says, maybe it was the only thing she could think of doing to get you out, Angela replies, I told her not to think about me, just to think about herself. Then she tells her solicitor she's relying on her to put the record straight. She lost her baby and Tommy pushed her to it. Angela says Katy didn't mean to kill him so that's why she covered up for her. She then says she needs to get out so she can start working on Katy defense. Angela is told the police will not be in a hurry to drop the case.

Fred walks over with a small bottle of water. He is taking it to get tested. Audrey asks, if he is sure about this, he tells her that you have to take the opportunities when they come. He says it will be a house hold name. Fred says Elliot and Roberts. Audrey thinks Roberts and Elliot has a better ring to it, he looks shocked but agrees. He says he will drink to that so Fred drinks the water.

At the cab office, Tracy comes in and says Amy wants to see him. Steve asks if she called him by name, he is told it sounded like dada to me. Tracy wishes she didn't have to see him, but she's the mother of his child. He says she's more than that. He says he has got a run to do and has to go. She starts going off on one saying he is avoiding her. Eileen tells Steve he better go pick up his fare. He leaves. Eileen says he tries his best to be there for Amy, and is that not enough? Tracy says no.

At the factory Mike tells everyone he is away to a working lunch. Everyone would like a good night out. Janice says it will have to be on the cheap because she is skint. So is everyone else. Janice says she can stretch to fish and chips. Shawn says we could cut out on the chips. Kelly suggests bingo. Shawn tells everyone to raise their hands if they want to go. They all do.

At the Rovers Mike and Audrey are talking. She tells him that everyone buys water. Then says Fred is doing all the financial side of thing, she says whatever they make she is giving him half. Audrey thinks she can't lose because it's Fred money. Mike thinks she is just giving away half her fortune before she even makes any because the well is on her land. He says it's like having a gold mine and giving half of it away to someone just for providing the shovel. Audrey looks like she is having second thoughts.

Craig's granddad tells him it's a nice day and asks if he want to go out, he's told no. He then asks Craig if he would like to go to the hospital, again the answer is no. Craig says he does not care if Katy dies. He adds she wanted to kill herself and she killed my dad. His granddad says that's what it said in the letter, but they don't know its true, and he does not know what to believe any more. Craig thinks it's a dream and he tries to wake up but he can't, then realizes it's not a dream. He thinks it's his fault.

Martin is at Katy's bedside, he says he knows why she did this, the torment she was going through. He still cares about her then starts sobbing. He tells her he loves her and he hopes she can hear him.

Chesney is Roy what he thinks Les and his mum will be doing. Roy says its more so they could be lying down in the sun, he says the time is different over then and it will be getting on for 7pm. Chesney says they will be in the pub as Fred enters. He places an order then tells him he is having a celebration lunch with Audrey. Roy tells him he thinks the well is not weather well, and is more likely to be a mind shaft. Fred thinks he's making it all up and thinks he is jealous. Fred storms into the toilet.

At the rover Steve comes in and Sonia get him a drink, while Tracy looks on with her new boyfriend. She winds Steve up. Asking him if he like's Amy; then ask if he wants to go some were with Amy. Steve leaves telling Sonia he needs to do some thing in the cab office.

Shawn comes in telling Eileen he wants to talk to her. Eileen then says she has some thing to tell him. She lets Shawn go first. He asks if he can own her his rent because he is skint. Eileen apologies to him and says the landlord has put the rent up. So she says she needs this months rent of him and then from next month she needs more off him.

Angela is handcuffed to a police officer, she says it her daughter and asks to be let go. She is, she then asks Martin how she is. Martin says no good and tells her more. Martin says he will leave her to it. Angela starts sobbing. She says she needs her, then says Craig needs her.

Fred is giving Audrey dinner, telling her he has a bright idea; he wants to offer sparkling water too. Audrey asks him to sit down as she wants to talk about that with him, but he say he needs to go to the toilet.

Angela is told she has to go. She does not want too and refuses to go. The police officer says it's not up to her, and says she has a daughter to. Angela then says ok. She asks Martin to stay with her and be there when she wakes up. She kisses Katy good bye and says she's going but Martin is still here.

Audrey says she's changed her mind. Fred slightly shouting thinks Roy has got to her. She tells him to listen. She says she not going to take him into partnership. Why should she give him a cut. She says it's her garden, her well, and her water. Then says she's doing what Alfie would have done. She says bye to him then goes.

Amanda Souter





Wednesday 20 April, Episode 6007, 6008

Written by: Catherine Hayes
Directed by: Dayle Evans-Kar

Early morning, and Tracy, in a red silky dressing gown, is seeing Nathan out. They've obviously spent the night together, but it's also obvious from Tracy's behaviour that she was only doing it to get back at Steve. Nathan, however, is looking like the cat that got the cream.

Another one on her doorstep in a red dressing gown is that Candice, but she's looking a bit rough, and asks Maria to tell Audrey she's ill. Unfortunately Audrey is out in the street and overhears this and comes over. Candice explains that she was out until late at a football club do, and hasn't had much sleep. Audrey's not impressed by this and tells her to be at the salon in ten minutes.

A beaming Shelley is reading selected highlights of the surveyor's report on the Rovers to Charlie. Apparently the pub is in good condition and well worth the asking price. She's excited, and a bit daunted, at the idea of buying a business and a home. Charlie reminds her that they're partners – and not just in business. Shelley says it's just like a dream come true. "You," Charlie tells her, "deserve everything you're gonna get" (which would sound nice coming from anyone except Charlie). Shelley tells him that it wouldn't mean anything without him, and he gave her the confidence to do it.

Breakfast time at Eileen's, and Jason isn't pleased to hear that he and Violet will have to pay more towards the rent. Jason thinks Sean should pay more rent than they do, because he has a room of his own. Sean thinks they should, because they have two wages coming in. Eileen thinks they shouldn't quarrel with each other, as it's the landlord's fault.

Craig and his granddad, Keith, are visiting Angela in prison. While Keith is away from the table, Craig asks Angela why she lied to cover up what Katy had done. Angela says that Katy is just like Tommy – they both flare up suddenly and are capable of being violent, whereas Craig isn't. Angela wants him to try and understand Katy, but he says he never will, and Angela has made things worse. She tries to explain to him that she wanted to keep Katy out of trouble, both for her own sake and Craig's, and that if she'd gone to the police she'd have been arrested anyway for helping Katy, and Craig would have been on his own. He'd already lost his dad, and she couldn't bear for him to lose his mother and sister too, so she lied. "Please believe me, Craig," she sniffs, "I'm to blame for everything that happened after he died. I made her promise not to say anything." Keith comes back with cups of tea. Angela reaches her hand to her son, and begs him not to leave Katy on her own: "They won't let me go to the hospital again. She needs you. There isn't anyone else."

Candice is telling Betty about her future career as a weather-girl. Poor Betty is under the hairdryer, and can't escape. Maria teases Candice about her meteorological ambitions, and Candice gets so cross she accidentally turns the hairdryer up really high. "You're scorching me head!" Betty protests, "Your head's in the clouds!" Candice likes that: "Yeah, rain clouds," she grins. After Audrey has made sure Betty isn't on fire, she sits down with Fred, who is still trying to persuade her that she needs him as her business partner in the water venture. Audrey is not convinced.

Fiz and Janice want to know what's the matter with Sean. He's "had a sour gob on him all morning," and he doesn't want to go to t'Rovers! Imagine! He won't tell them what's up and says he just wants to be on his own. Eileen comes out of her house, and Fiz asks Eileen to tell Sean to come to the Rovers. Then she follows Janice off into the pub. "I know what this is about," Eileen tells Sean, "High finance." Sean says he can't spend Eileen's rent money at the pub, and she says she wishes Jason was as thoughtful. Then she hands some money to Sean so he can go to the pub. He's reluctant to take it but she insists, telling him not to let Jason know.

Inside the Rovers, the place is buzzing. Shelley thinks it's a good omen for her and Charlie. Sean comes in, and Jason immediately has a go at him for being there when he's supposed to be skint. He asks him where he got the money and Sean says he found it in the street. Jason accuses him of stealing it out of Eileen's purse, so Sean has to tell him Eileen gave him it. But he says it's a loan and she'll be getting it back. "She better ‘ad," says Jason, adding, "Scrounger."

To the hospital now. Martin is wearing his nurse's uniform, and looking shattered. Craig and his granddad come in, and Martin tells them Katy is still unconscious, but that she'll know Craig is there. Martin says he'll go in with them, but Craig tells them both that he wants to go in on his own – he wants to speak with Katy by himself. He pushes open the door and goes in.

Fred comes into the salon to apologise to Audrey for being too insistent earlier: "It's your water, your garden, and your business opportunity." She says there's a long way to go before she gets her first million, and Fred says the idea isn't as daft as it sounds – it could be a real opportunity. She says she was a bit greedy earlier, trying to exclude him from the venture, because without him she would have never known there was a well in her garden. He says even if he isn't involved, he's worried that she'll "get involved with some smart operator." She tells him not to worry, because the only smart operator she wants to go into partnership with is Fred, and they should get a contract drawn up. He's very pleased: "We'll have fun and make money. What could be better than that?" He wants to take her to the Rovers for a celebratory drink, but he has a sudden and urgent need for the toilet first (something he drank, perhaps?).

Tracy is on her doorstep holding Amy, and faced with a pair of grinning McDonalds, mother and son. Liz wants her to get a babysitter for Amy so she can join them for a drink, and Tracy looks understandably puzzled at this display of enthusiasm towards her.

Audrey and Fred have finally made it to the pub, but as soon as they arrive, he has to go to the bathroom again. Audrey spots Candice, who is supposed to be back at the salon instead of "trying out new lines on Warren," which is what Candice says she's been doing. Audrey says she should try out the line "get yourself over the road," but first Candice wants to show her the line: "Tomorrow's precipitation will be heavy." "You're late for work for the second day running," Audrey reminds her. "But people are late for work due to precipitation, aren't they Warren?" "Yeah," says Warren, "Especially in the winter, because it means rain or snow." "It means anything to fall out of the sky," Candice corrects him, "Like sleet or hail or anything." Audrey is not impressed by this information burst, and orders her employee back to work.

Tracy arrives at the Rovers apparently too late, as Liz and Steve are just leaving. Steve is due back at work (accounts to do), but Liz says he could leave it for half an hour. After a token protest, he agrees.

In the salon, Maria needs the hairspray, but Candice seems intent on using it all up on herself. She tells Audrey she's trying to develop a hairstyle she can go on TV with, and when Audrey says she ought to make an appointment for the salon the same as everyone else, Candice mutters that "This place is for pensioners and kids." Audrey gives her a good telling-off, saying that she's had several complaints about Candice: "You're late, you're cheeky, you ignore the customers, you've got your own face in the mirror more often than not, and Maria's doing all your work." Candice tells her that the salon is just a stepping-stone for her. Audrey tells her to step out of it and not come back – she's sacked. Candice tells Audrey that she can't sack her – because she's resigning.

At the hospital, Craig is sitting by Katy's bedside, and he wants some answers – what did Tommy say to make Katy so angry with him? A tear runs down the side of his nose. "I'm holding your hand," he says to her. "If you didn't mean to kill him, you just squeeze my fingers." He waits a moment. "Can't you do it? I don't even know if you can hear me." He strokes her cheek. "I don't understand any of this," he says, leaning over her. "Wake up!" he begs her, "Wake up." Suddenly the monitors by the bed start to bleep, an alarm sounds and people are running into the room, including Martin and Keith. Martin tells Craig to stand back, and Keith takes him out of the room, as the staff try to help Katy.

Angela is in her cell, talking to the priest. She wants him to tell the police that she told him the true story of who killed Tommy weeks ago. Then they might believe her story. He says he can't, because she told him it during a confession, which means he can't talk about it to anyone except her. All she can do is keep telling the police the truth.

The hospital staff are doing chest compressions on Katy, but nothing seems to be working. Outside, Craig is watching through the window. "What's going on?" he asks his granddad, who says they're doing their best, though we can see he's preparing himself for the worst. Katy is pronounced dead, and the staff file out of the room, some of them with a consoling touch on the shoulder for Martin, who is distraught. Craig and Keith look through the glass, speechless with shock and grief.

Part Two...

Written by: Carmel Morgan
Directed by: Dayle Evans-Kar

The Prison Governor comes to see Angela, who asks, "Has she come round?" He tells her that Katy passed away an hour ago. She slumps to the floor, crying uncontrollably, clutching a photograph of her family in her hand.

Martin is crying, too. He's at Gail's, with Gail, David and Sarah, who is also in tears. Gail tries to console Sarah by saying that Katy is at peace. Martin says Angela's dad is blaming him: "He's buried his son-in-law, his daughter's banged up, he's just watched his granddaughter die – he's got every right."

Fred is in the Rovers complaining to Shelley that the toilet roll in the gents isn't as "soft to the cheek" as he'd like. "That's an image I could've done without," Shelley remarks. Fred greets Audrey, who's just come in, but has to go straight back to the toilet again.

Angela is lying on her bed and crying. The hatch in the door slams open and a warder looks in, then closes it again.

Back to the Rovers, where Fred smilingly approaches Audrey, but has to turn around again and go back to the toilet. Nathan and Blanche are discussing music. "How about Gilbert O'Sullivan?" he asks. Blanche replies, "I don't have any truck with tank tops. They're unmanly." Steve is talking to Tracy, who tells him that Blanche won't baby-sit that night (so she can see Nathan). She asks Steve if he would do the honours. "Fine," he says, "Whatever makes you happy." "Well he doesn't make me sad," Tracy says, pointedly. "What do you care, anyway?"

In another part of Weatherfield's favourite hostelry, the factory girls are helping Sean look through the local paper for a part-time job. Fiz tells him he'll just have to sell his body, and the twins chorus, "What can you get for a fiver these days?" Hayley reminds them it's time to get back to work. Violet gets a text message, and Charlie and Shelley are joking that it'll be Jason pledging his undying love, only he'll spell it L-U-V. Violet reads the message, and looks shocked. "It's Katy. She's dead – she died this morning." Shelley takes the distressed barmaid into the back room. Hayley and Fiz have overheard the news, and also look shocked and upset. "She was only a kid," Tracy says to Nathan, and Blanche says sadly, "When it's my time to go, Tracy, please don't relay the news of my demise with a bleep bleep. Do me the courtesy of a proper telephone call."

Hayley is draping Angela's sewing machine in black cloth "as a mark of respect." Kelly says, "It's not the murderess what snuffed it, it's her daughter." Hayley says they don't know the circumstances of Tommy's death so they shouldn't jump to conclusions, and Fiz and Sean both say they feel sympathy for Angela. The twins and Janice agree with Kelly that it's an open and shut case as far as Angela is concerned. "All that witness protection rubbish, all them crocodile tears when she buried him, she's played us all for a bunch of clowns," Janice says. Danny says "Thank you very much, Judge Judy, but whatever else she is, she's a mother who's just lost her daughter."

Martin is in the pub, holding a bracelet of Katy's which he tells Liz he just found down the side of the sofa. "I might have known I'd have found something of hers. Lipstick in me jacket pocket – she left a trail of stuff wherever she went. I felt like her dad, nagging. I felt like her dad, because I was old enough to be her dad. We're back to that old chestnut." Liz says anyone could see that Martin loved Katy, but he says he wished he'd loved her enough to leave her alone: "She should have been making her own way in the world, getting drunk, getting overdrawn, getting chatted up. She was so full of life, Liz, and I sucked it all out of her, took the shine off everything, saw both sides of everything." "She was where she wanted to be," Liz says. "Yeah? On a trolley in the morgue, when she should have been mithering me about some to-die-for dress she'd seen in town." He starts to cry. "She looked drop-dead gorgeous in the summer. She lapped it up. And I'd be going on about factor 15. She always wanted to jump in at the deep end, and I always held her back. She finally jumped in though, eh?"

At the factory, Sean emerges from the bathroom to a barrage of questions from the others – why did he take his mobile in there? Why did he take 13 minutes instead of his usual 3? Sean goes into Danny's office to ask him for "an early dart" (don't know if he means he wants to leave early, or wants an advance on his wages?).

Candice comes to the salon for her wages, and Maria taunts her that MTV obviously haven't been on the phone yet with a job offer. Candice tells her that Katy's death has made her realise that life's too short to be in a job you hate. "Thank you," says Audrey icily. Candice apologises for the way that came out, and says Audrey has been like a mum to her, but she has to take her chance because she has a figure most girls would kill for ("That's not all they'd kill you for," remarks Maria) and her time is now. Candice hugs Audrey, "I won't forget the people that helped me on the way up," she says. "I'd rather die young than be old and scrimping and…" "And slumming it in a back street hell-hole like this?" Audrey snaps. "Don't let me delay you a minute longer you silly, selfish girl." She shows Candice the door.

Angela's father has come to see her in prison. She walks up to him, her face not able to settle on an expression, until he stands and puts his arms around her and she sobs uncontrollably.

Eileen, Violet and Jason are sitting round the table at their house, and Sean's voice from another room instructs them to keep their eyes closed. He comes into the room wearing a lilac-coloured, sequinned jacket. "All the fours, forty four!" he says – he's got a job as a bingo caller. "Fancy you getting a job that involves a sparkly purple jacket," says Jason. "Spangly lilac, if you please," says Sean (I was right about the lilac, then).

Audrey is in the pub telling Clare about Candice. Yet again, Fred is emerging from the bathroom, looking ill. He introduces Clare and Audrey to a man called Frank Middleford, who works for the Water Board and has been testing the well water. "What's the verdict on nature's elixir?" Fred asks him. Frank sits down. "That it's… *human* nature's elixir," he says. "It's raw sewage, Fred. It's no well, it's an old sewer pipe." He says he has a full analysis of the water "and its life-enhancing properties, notably cholera and typhoid." Audrey says she'd better get back to work, as they're obviously not going to get rich any other way, and Fred had better get back to the butcher's shop and shift some meat. "Typhoid?" Clare says. "Nonsense, that water's fit for a queen," Fred says, rubbing his stomach queasily. "You've been knocking it back like there's no tomorrow – and now there might not be!" She tells him he'd better get himself checked out, in case he has anything he might pass on to Joshua. He says his recent tummy troubles are the result of his time of life and Clare not washing vegetables properly.

A

t the prison, Keith and Angela have the visiting room to themselves. He's telling her that Craig won't come out of his room and just listens to his records all the time. He's left Emily to keep an eye on him. "My baby's dead," Angela says. "She was very peaceful," her father reassures her. "She's with her dad." Angela sobs, "She loved him so much, you mustn't think that she didn't love him. They just wound each other up." She's angry and looking for someone to blame, so she lashes out at her father, for bringing her up to tell the truth. "Look where your truth's got me now!" She blames the whole thing on telling the truth about the murder she witnessed in Sheffield – if she'd lied then, they wouldn't have moved to Weatherfield, Katy would never have met Martin and she and Tommy would still be alive. She tells him that she made Katy lie, even though she knew they should have gone to the police. "How could I be so stupid?" Keith tells her she did what she thought was right, but now she has to do right by the living, and think of Craig. She says she'll be out of prison soon, and she'll find a way to make Craig understand. Then she asks her father if he'll take Craig back to Sheffield in the meantime. He replies that Craig has had enough upheaval, so he'll move to Coronation Street and live with Craig there, "Keep the home fires burning till his mother walks through that door." Angela looks like there might be a spark of hope in her life after all. Then she says she needs to see Katy, to say goodbye.

Tracy is dropping Amy off at Steve's. "We'll be fine," Steve says, "Nathan doesn't know what he's missing." "I could say the same thing about you," Tracy says.

Maria, Tyrone, Candice and Sarah are putting flowers on the wall outside Katy's house; all the girls are crying. Martin joins them, and Tyrone tells him they didn't know what else to do. There are eighteen yellow roses – one for every year of Katy's life. Sarah kisses Martin's cheek, and they leave him there. Vera comes over, saying that the Harris family have had no luck since the day they moved in. Martin picks up the card which was on the flowers, which says "To our dear friend Katy, miss you loads, love you loads." His tears fall on it, and smudge the ink.

Sue Haasler





Friday 22 April, Episode 6009, 6010

Here we are with another double helping of the Street. ITV has obviously heard the Canadians are making a bid to catch up and won't let that happen!

Hayley, Janice and Sean catch up to walk to work together and Sean tells the ladies he's found himself an evening job and he's all jittery with nerves. He's going to be a Bingo caller. You never know where it might lead, he tells them. "This time next year I could be on Hell's Kitchen." (I'd try to explain the concept of that, which is like a televised bake-off that goes on until we've all had enough, but explaining it would be as pointless as the show) Anyway, the little troupe passes the Harris's house and look at all the flowers left in memory of Katy. Sean comments that Angela must be going through hell. "Good!" snaps Janice. "She deserves it." She says Katy never would have killed herself if her Mum hadn't killed her Dad. Hayley looks distinctly uncomfortable. She explains that Angela has asked her to visit and she's agreed. Janice is appalled. It was Angela who got Hayley into trouble with the police. "Do you think a sequinned bow tie is too much?" asks Sean.

Emily is visiting what used to be the Harris home and is asking Craig's Granddad if there's anything she can do -- shopping, food? He says there isn't, what with having a chippie at the end of the street. But Emily says she's making a shepherd's pie and can just as easily make two. "That's very Christian of you," he says. He tells her that he never thought he'd see his daughter in prison and confesses he doesn't know what to do for Craig. He can't get his grandson to talk to him.

In the Kabin, Fred tells Rita he's made a fool of himself and lost a good friend because of his greed. Audrey will never talk to him again and it's all his own fault. He doesn't know that Audrey has come in behind him and hears this. She comes forward and tells him he's lost nothing but his dignity. But whatever possessed him to drink the water? "You drank it?" asks an astounded Rita. Yes, he says, the doctor told him he was a minor miracle. "By rights I should have spent the last couple of weeks with a drip stuck in me arm. I had to give him my phone number in case he wanted to follow it up with an article in a medical journal." He promises Audrey he will fill in the hole and make her lawn as new.

On a sofa I don't recognise, possibly in Leanne and Janice's flat, Leanne has a dreadful cold and has decided not to go to work. Jamie isn't a lot of use as a nurse, but tells her he will stick around because needs someone to make her soup. "Since when have you been able to make soup," she asks him. Well, never, but Jamie says he can open a can and heat up some soup. She asks for a kiss, but he doesn't want to go near her "filthy germs".

At the Barlows', Tracy and Blanche are looking at some old photos. Blanche is explaining that she has no idea who is in one of them, but she doesn't want to throw it out in case it's her Granddad Rudgely. Tracy's pointing out that there is now way Blanche will ever know and there is a noise at the door. It's Ken and Deirdre home from their honeymoon. "So," asks Tracy, "did you spend all your time sunbathing or were you busy making me a little brother or sister?" LOL! Deirdre confesses that she has a nicotine patch on one arm and an HRT patch on the other. She's giving up smoking, she says, though the other patch doesn't get any explanation. I would have thought she was a bit young yet for hormone replacement therapy, but who knows. Deirdre is asking how the funeral went and Blanche thinks it's a good opportunity to let Deirdre know about Tracy sleeping with Steve again. "Just like a boomerang. Don't worry, I told her what a fool she's been."

Back on the sofa, Leanne appears to be talking about Australia and it's clear Jamie would also like to go traveling one day. He wants to escape, but Leanne says he'd just miss the place, like she did.

Craig knocks on the door to Martin's flat. He wants to go in and Martin reluctantly agrees. Craig says he had to get out of the house and away from his Granddad, who keeps following him round the house. "Can I talk to you?" he asks Martin. "Can we just talk about Katy and my Dad and that?" He says even though he and his Dad hated Martin, it's like Martin is still part of the family. He starts to get upset as he tells Martin he can't understand why everything has happened. Martin suggests he calm down and talk it over with his Granddad. "Why?" asks Craig. "Why should I calm down? I miss them so much!"

In the prison, Hayley has gone to see Angela. She reassures Angela that no matter what's happened, she's still a friend. She says everyone is rallying around though they're all very upset. Angela says she's been put on pills to calm her down after she got upset yesterday. She didn't want to, but "they" stand over you until you take them. She wants to know which undertaker has Katy and what arrangements are being made. Is she having a proper funeral with a priest despite the way she died? "I don't want to think of her being burned."

Deirdre is putting out the rubbish and talking to Tracy about the fake cigarette she has which is supposed to help her stop smoking. "I know you used to go outside to smoke," Tracy says. "But you used to stink of smoke when you came back inside, and so did Amy when you'd been looking after her. It wasn't nice." Deirdre says she'll get fat and crabby now, "and see if that's nice!" They discuss Steve and Deirdre blames herself for not being there for Tracy when she needed comfort. Tracy tells her Nathan is still around. "But Nathan's not Steve."

Craig's Granddad is upset that he didn't know where Craig was. Martin has come back with Craig and says Craig wants to visit Tommy's grave. Craig says he wants Martin to take him, but Martin suggests his Granddad would be more appropriate and Craig agrees he can come along, but he wants to be on his own with his Dad.

In the pub's back room, Fred tells Shelley he won't be selling after all. "It turns out the water were not what I thought it were," he confesses, telling Shelley it was an old sewer. Charlie, who is sitting nearby, chuckles. "No hard feelings?" asks Fred. No, says Shelley. "I suppose you want us to keep schtum about the sewer?" asks Charlie. Fred confesses he drank quite a bit of the water and repeats his story about being a minor medical miracle. "You must have a gut like a Sherman tank!" Charlie says. "Very probably," Fred admits, leaving the room. Charlie sits down with Shelley and tells her she mustn't blame herself too much. Shelley obviously hadn't thought of blaming herself at all, but Charlie points out that if she hadn't insisted on the rigmarole of getting a proper survey, they would have had Fred tied down with an agreement on paper by now. "I mean, I did point out at the time I'd a builder," he says. "You could have had a bit more faith in me."

In the prison, Angela is telling Hayley the true story of what happened. "I did what any mother would do," she says. Hayley is first indignant that Angela is still in prison even though the police have seen the letter. Then she tells Angela that she had been thinking Angela had used her to cover her tracks. "But you were just protecting Katy."

Jamie is making Leanne something to eat. Leanne is reading out a story from the Gazette, one which says Candice was sacked for having ambition. "Candice, girlfriend of County's golden boy Warren Baldwin, said 'All I want to do is tell people about the weather so they can decide what to wear.' Candice's boss, Audrey . . ."

". . . Roberts, 67 -- do I look 67?" We've switched scenes now to the pub, where said boss is also reading the Gazette. She goes on: "67, fired the crimper because of her ambitions." She shuts it in disgust. "I fired her because she got her head in the clouds and needed to be brought back down to earth." Blanche says she always prefers to tap a barometer. Audrey ignores her and carries on, saying she took Blanche in, gave her somewhere to live and a job. She ever preferred her over her own granddaughter. She was going to take Candice back, but not now. Blanche says that in her day everyone wanted to be an air hostess. But Audrey says now everyone wants to be on TV. Charlie comes in and Shelley tells him he was right. She should not have dragged her heels and now she's ruined everything. Charlie tells her he's been thinking and there's nothing to stop them looking for another pub. He suggests they look for a little pub in the country with a beer garden and maybe enough room for a family.

In a dark street, Martin, Craig and his Granddad head for the cemetery. His Granddad won't go any further because cemeteries give him the creeps. Craig doesn't want him there anyway. Apparently he overheard his Granddad talking to Emily and calling Tommy pigheaded and controlling and blaming him for what happened. "He didn't like you, either," he says to his Granddad. He shouts at Martin and his Granddad that he hates them both, and runs off into the cemetery. They follow but are brought to a halt by lights, a tent and the police apparently digging up Tommy.

The End.
The second episode will follow.

Margaret Carr

Some hours have passed and here we are with episode two from Friday night.

Craig is back home now and his Granddad (I'm going to call him Keith from now on, OK?) and Martin can't explain what the police were doing at the cemetery. Craig is so angry he smashes a cup from Keith's hand. "It's like they're hurting him all over again," Craig says. "He was a living, breathing person and now they are just treating him like he was nothing." He wants to go to the police station and stay there till he gets some answers. Keith says the police need to tie up loose ends before they can let Angela come home. That stops Craig in his tracks. "Will they really let her come home?"

Leanne is sneezing and coughing all over the Rovers and all over Warren. Candice comes in. She's late because she's been reading her fan mail. She tells a skeptical Leanne that the newspaper rang and said there were a couple of letters for her, "and I so didn't write them myself!" she says. She'd never use green ink and they're not in her handwriting. Warren takes a look at the letters. "There're no smiley faces over the letter I, so now, Candice, it's not your writing," he confirms. Jamie asks if Candice is looking for another job. But no, now that her picture has been in the paper she plans to sit and wait to see what offers come in and to do a few haircuts. In fact, she has a guy coming round for a haircut today. Leanne and the boys are horrified. She can't invite strange men to her flat. He could be a sicko. "I hope not," she says. "He's coming round in half an hour."

Also in the pub, Deirdre is telling Liz that Blanche couldn't wait to tell her about Tracy and Steve. "He's treating our Tracy like a piece of dirt," Deirdre says. Liz points out that it takes two to tango, but Deirdre says Tracy was vulnerable and Steve took advantage of her. This annoys Liz. "She virtually stalked him for I don't know how long," she says. "She's not blameless in all this." Deirdre doesn't fight but wonders if they even know what Steve thinks about it all. "At the end of the day, he's a bloke and he'd rather cut his arms off than talk about his feelings," Liz says. Deirdre points out that if he messes Tracy around she'll cut off his arms for him.

The others are still worried about Candice having strange men come to her flat, but she says she'll be fine. She knows what to do. She's seen it on Charlie's Angels. There's a spot at the back of the neck, "and if you press it like that . . ." she demonstrates on Jamie, "the bloke just keels over .

. ." "JAMIE!!!" shrieks Leanne as he does, indeed, keel over. "Call an ambulance!" she screams at Candice. Candice, not seeing the smile which flits over Leanne's face, scrabbles in her bag for her mobile phone. Warren calmly tells his brother to sit up and Candice realises she's been tricked. Warren tells her he'll be her bodyguard.

In a Bingo-hall dressing room, Eileen is moaning about the sequins falling from her top as Sean agonises about his new job. He doesn't think he can do it, he can't take the stress. Eileen points out that a brain surgeon or a bomb disposal expert can talk about stress, but he's a Bingo caller. He thinks he's hyperventilating and wonders if Eileen has a paper bag. Of course she hasn't. She suggests he put his head into her handbag to see if that helps. His boss comes in and gives him some advice, or it might be job training. "Speak loudly and clearly at all times," he says. "Get into the rhythm of calling and find yourself at one with the balls. Then you'll be in the zone." He tells Sean to listen for the magic words. What are they? House! Bingo! I've won! "If somebody wins and you miss it, they'll flay you alive." Sean probably can't hear him properly. He's up to his ears in a handbag.

Roy goes into the Rovers where Janice and Fizz ask if he'll be going to the Bingo. He won't. He's read studies into the comparative heart rates of those playing Bingo and those about to do a bungee jump. Janice doesn't want to visualize Vera standing up on a high bridge wearing a crash hat, but Roy carries on. He tells them that a Bingo player's heart rate increases from 60 beats per minute to 138 -- 140 if they've got just one more number to get. "I'm beginning to regret starting this conversation," Janice mutters. Roy says he won't go to Bingo because he couldn't bear the excitement. "I take my hat off to anyone who would venture inside a Bingo parlour," he says. Ciaran nods wisely. "Adrenalin junkies," he agrees. Roy tells Ciaran he wants to try something different tonight. "Tequila slammer?" suggests Ciaran. "Cocktail?" Roy makes up his mind. "Bitter lemon, no ice."

Kelly joins the other Bingo-goers. She's wearing her lucky knickers. Janice says she waited so long for hers to bring her luck she's now using them as a duster. Maria is annoyed that they have to go to the Bingo, but Tyrone has promised to go with Vera. Vera's regular partner won't be there because she's got a runner bean stuck up her nose. (Yes, I did replay the tape. That's definitely what he said.) Ciaran wants to know how the girls felt about working with a murderer. Kelly says she always knew there was something odd about Angela because of the way she wore her scarf. Roy protests, saying you can't judge someone by their clothes. Janice asks if Hayley went to see Angela and Hayley tells them Angela was really in a state. "Not everything is black and white," she tells them. "Diddums," says Janice. "She let you post that letter knowing full well you could be sent to prison." Hayley takes a deep breath and starts to tell them about Katy's note and why Katy really killed herself.

Martin is leaving. "I should go," he tells Craig and Keith. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do," Craig says. "Go and see one of your mates," Keith advises. But Craig is not talking about just today. Keith gives him some money, advising him to go into town and treat himself. "If you give into self pity, lad, I'm telling you, you've had it." He says Craig has his whole life ahead. "Life? What life?" Craig asks. "I'm 14 years old and I've got no future. He says he's lost his family, whom he took for granted. "I've got nothing."

Outside, the factory girls and Violet have stopped to look at all the flowers, cards and little gifts left for Katy. They are talking about what Hayley has told them. One card wishes Katy sweet dreams. "There won't be any of those if she really is a murderer," Janice says in a very ugly voice. "She'll go straight to hell." Violet is appalled at her tone. "How can you be so hard on her?" Janice says it's because she feels stupid. She cried for Katy when she heard she'd killed herself. "I broke my heart for her. Now I hear she murdered her own father and left her mother to take the blame, and that poor lad left on his own -- I should never have wasted my tears on her." The factory girls leave, with Violet left on her own looking at a small teddy-bear left for Katy.

In the pub, Amy's two grannies are sitting with Tracy discussing how gorgeous Amy is, when Amy's Dad comes in. He doesn't want to sit with them, but Liz orders his drink to their table so he sits down. "Take off your coat or you won't feel the benefit," Liz says. Deirdre comments that Liz will be spitting on her hanky and wiping his face next. Liz says no matter how old they are, your children are always your children. There is an awkward pause and Liz comments that it's nice they're all sitting together like a family. "The Addams family," says Tracy. "Well, as long as I don't have to be the short, fat, bald one with the weird face," Steve says. He and Tracy exchange small smiles, then Steve gets up and leaves. Liz thinks he's nervous because he still has a soft spot for Tracy. "Oh, for God's sake, just grow up!" Tracy snaps at her.

"Not everyone can say they have had their hair done by an up and coming star," Candice is telling a strange little middle-aged man who has a purple cape round his shoulders. He asks if he can take a picture but Warren rules it out. Candice tells him he can watch out for her in Heat magazine and on the telly, and he can tell people he's met Candice Stowe. He asks if he can make another appointment and just as Candice says yes, Audrey comes up behind him and says No, snatching the cape from his shoulders. Candice protests that she only borrowed it from the salon. "Candice, you can't set up in opposition to me above my salon in my flat," Audrey says. "It'll just be for a couple of weeks until I hit the big time," Candice protests. "No, Candice. You can't. I forbid it," Audrey says. Candice says she pays rent and can do what she wants in her flat, but Audrey tells her to pack her bags and be out of the flat by noon tomorrow.

Vera isn't happy to see Sean's support squad turn up at the Bingo. Janice asks Tyrone if he's a Bingo virgin. "Would you like me to show you what to do with your dabber?" It turns out that Vera has a lucky doll with her. It's supposed to be Sir Cliff Richard, though I personally thought it looked more like Ringo Starr. She could have chosen Daniel O'Donnell, but he had a wonky eye. "My friend Doris makes 'em," she tells Maria. If Maria wants one, there's a lovely Eamon Holmes. (UK TV host, for those who don't know).

The junior Baldwin family is just settling down for pizza in front of the telly when Candice and Warren arrive, with Candice carrying rather a lot of carrier bags. "I see you've brought your make-up," says Danny. Warren asks if Candice can stay over and Danny agrees. Jamie says that in that case, Leanne's staying over, too. Frankie thinks it's rather a lot of stuff for one night. "Ah," says Warren. "When I asked if she could stay over, I meant forever." Danny goes berserk. "You can watch the film, eat the pizza, then get out," he rules. "Nobody's staying over." Leanne offers Candice a bed in the skip at the back of her flat.

Sean emerges into the main Bingo auditorium to cheers. "No, no, you're too kind," he says modestly, and the applause and cheers go on. "No, no, you're being more than kind now. You're being patronising!" He gets up to his seat, turns on the microphone and he's off. It's all going well from his point of view, but the novices are getting very excited by the numbers. "Number one, Kelly's eye," has Kelly screeching. "Forty-four, droopy drawers," sets off one of the twins. Vera tells them off for lowering the tone.

Hayley has not gone to the Bingo but is getting her feet massaged by Roy. She remembers back to when she was first accepted by the crowd at the factory and how good it felt to be part of the group. "Tonight I feel ashamed to be associated with them." She also feels bad because when she found out the truth about Katy, her first reaction was a selfish one. She felt relief because she hadn't helped cover up Angela's crime, but had done a good deed for someone in need.

At the Bingo, Vera is exhorting Sir Cliff to bring her luck. But it's Fizz who shouts "I've won!" The twins want her to share her good fortune, but she doesn't think £30 shared among the six of them will go far. Sean hardly reacts. "We have a win claimed on number 30," he says. "Enid, could we have a card check please?" Vera tells Sir Cliff the next board is for a £200 jackpot.

At the Baldwins', Danny puts a cold beer bottle on Frankie's arm. He asks for a snog. "What? A miserable old sod like you?" she asks. "No chance." Danny tells her Candice should have thought about the consequences before she mouthed off at Audrey, and Frankie tells him she goes right off him when he's mean. Danny relents and says Candice can stay for one night.

Back at the Bingo, Vera and Sir Cliff are out of luck as Eileen takes the £200 jackpot. "There's something fishy going on," protests Vera, as we hear Sean call very professionally for Eileen's card to be checked before she can be declared the jackpot winner. Once it's checked, Sean rushes the cheque down to Eileen, giving her a big hug. "You're no better than a common thief!" Vera shouts at him. "It's a fix." Sean tells her there's no way he could cheat because the system is automated. "Automated my backside!" Vera spits. "It's a fix. It's a fix." She starts to chant this. Maria tries to shut her up and Tyrone promises her a cheese and onion pasty on the way home to cheer her up. But Vera plans to stay until there's been a proper investigation. The manager and a security man head her way, and for a moment I think Sean is going to be sacked on the spot. But no. The security man drags Vera from her table. She whacks him with Sir Cliff, whose head comes off. "Now look what you've done," Vera screeches. "He's a proper sir, you know! He won't take kindly to this." As she is dragged away, Vera shouts: "And [whack! She hits him with Sir Cliff again] I'll [whack!] have you [whack!] for assault [whack!] and [whack!] battery." And as she's removed the manager shouts after her that she's barred.

The End.

Margaret Carr



Sunday 24 April, Episode 6011

Good evening everyone! Hope you didn't miss me too much in my absence. No, of course you didn't! Onto tonight's episode...

...where we open in the Grimshaw household and Sean has spent an...interesting evening with a 'bingo winged' bouncer from the previous night's bingo much to the surprise of Eileen. Eileen warns Sean that Friday night's bingo was nothing...he should see how het up people get over it at the weekend!

Steve calls round to Tracy's, who, in contrast to Sean, has had a passion-less evening, to Steve's oh-so-subtle relief. Tracy asks if he would've been jealous but he tells her that he is just round to ask if he can take Amy to the park.

There's a rather humorous breakfast at the Baldwin household as Candice is being tested on cloud formations in preparation for her bid to be a weathergirl! After only being able to supply the adjective 'fluffy' she concludes she doesn't need to know 'all that stuff' but she thinks her name is not good for the job and that Candice doesn't sound right!

Tracy arrives at Steve's to pick up Amy and he offers her a coffee. Tracy checks on Amy before heading through to the kitchen with Steve where the atmosphere is decisively awkward. But Tracy makes the move and tells him that she is having those feelings again and she can tell he has them too and that she isn't imagining it. Typically that's when the phone rings and he answers it. He hastily puts them off and hangs up but Tracy is already on her way out with Amy. He asks her what she was about to say but, embarrassed, she walks out without another word.

Sophie, back from holiday, calls round to Chesney's to pick up her guinea pig and tells him she missed him. But he informs her that he can't be her boyfriend as Cilla and Les will be phoning to send for him to live in Spain with them any day now. Right on cue, the phone rings but they hang up when Roy answers.

Tracy is ranting to her family about Steve. She has led herself to believe it was another woman on the phone but Deirdre is not so sure. "It was obvious!" wails Tracy in despair! She decides to face up to the fact that Steve doesn't want her. Taking action, she picks up the phone and calls Peter, arranging to go and live with him! She then breaks down in tears as her concerned mother embraces her

As Frankie and Danny head out for lunch, Candice tries to come up with more alter-egos for her weather persona. As Warren goes to the shower, she calls the Weatherfield Gazette...

Vera trots into the Rovers and confronts Sean and Eileen over their apparent bingo dabbling! She warns the rest of the pub of this scam they have concocted. Sean gets to his feet and demands she apologises for her accusations. Naturally she refuses but he tells her if she cant prove it she should shut her mouth, causing her to storm out in fury!

At the bar, Steve orders a drink but receives a mouthful as Liz tells him Tracy has decided to move away-with Amy!

Chesney is still waiting for a phone call yet still miraculously making excuses for his errant mother.

Kevin and Sally are telling Gail about their holiday and as Kevin goes for drinks, Sally discusses Katy Harris' death with Gail only for Gail to put the blame on Sally's affair with Ian. Sally brushes off this blame and storms out, wishing she was back in Greece, an opinion shared probably with Gail herself.

Steve tells Tracy that she can't use Amy as a pawn in her games and eventually agrees to go out with her, for everyone's sake. Tracy can't believe what she's hearing and tells him not to do this but he insists its genuine. Tracy walks away from him and turns him down.

Chesney is convinced Cilla and Les have forgotten about him and nothing Hayley can say will reassure him.

Steve catches up with Tracy and tells her the time he woke up with her recently felt right but she doesn't believe him as he made her feel cheap and used. He promises he won't again and she also makes him promise he'll make a real go of it so as not to hurt her. Reassured, Tracy shares a kiss with her new boyfriend. It can only end in tears!

That's all from me for the time being!

Duncan Lindsay



Monday 25 April, Episode 6012, 6013

Hiya all, here is the first episode of Monday 25th April.

We open with an aerial view of Angela, asleep in her prison bed. She wakes to find her arm up against the brick wall. She slaps the wall methodically, and looks bleak.

Over at Steve's flat, it's a happy family morning. He has Amy on his lap and is feeding her breakfast, as Tracy wanders in wearing his dressing gown. He doesn't think the novelty of looking after Amy will ever wear off, and Tracy tells him that's how she feels waking up next to him. He says he couldn't be more happy, and has no regrets. She says she'll put the kettle on.

Over at the Platt's, Gail is making Martin a cup of tea. She tells him that David went off to school thinking of him, Gail didn't think it appropriate for him to go to the funeral as well. She gently tells Martin that they would have all been with him, but for the murder. She didn't want to put the kids through it. He says she doesn't have to explain, it was always just him and Katy before, no reason to change that now. He let her down often enough when she was alive, he won't let her down today.

Over at the Baldwin's, the whole family is round the breakfast table when Candice comes in through the front door with an armful of newspapers. She tells them to turn to page 27, and opens the paper wide to show them. We get a quick glimpse of a photo of Candice in a bikini top and large yellow rain hat. She starts to read out the piece, which refers to the fact that she was sacked from her hairdressing job and evicted from her flat for no reason at all by her employer, ex-Mayoress Audrey Roberts. "Audrey'll be pleased, won't she?" comments Danny. Candice continues, saying how she's the girlfriend of county hot-shot Warren Baldwin (Frankie beams with pride!) and is set for a new career as a weathergirl. The Gazette predicts a bright future for Candice. She then jumps up, saying she's going to go and dish out the papers and get maximum exposure, and, snatching the paper he's reading from a startled Danny, rushes off out of the front door.

In the Harris's house, a miserable looking Craig is staring out of the window. His grandfather tells him he's made him a fry-up. Craig says he doesn't want it. His grandfather then prattles on and on about camping and going to football matches, trying to cheer him up, until Craig turns round and shouts at him to shut up. Granddad is a trifle affronted and tells him there's no need to talk to him like that, he knows it's not easy for him…. "Not easy?" shouts poor Craig, "I'm burying me sister today, the sister that murdered me dad and then committed suicide, and me mum can't help me 'cos she's in prison, and you're talking to me about the pies at Sheffield United?" Granddad says he's sorry he upset him, but he doesn't know what to say to him half the time. Craig tells him not to say anything, he doesn't have to talk or do anything.

The Websters are back from their holiday, and Kevin is wondering aloud to Sally what he's going to find when he gets back to the garage. Sally is sure Tyrone will have managed, she feels that she's the one who has worries about her job, what if the stand-in is better than her? (Well, she's younger and more attractive which, knowing Ian, is plenty to worry about!) She doesn't think she can face the humiliation of being sacked and considers ringing in and quitting right now. Kevin tells her that she's done a fantastic job in that garage and hasn't put a foot wrong. She tells him he doesn't understand, and he tells her she doesn't understand her own value. He hugs her and tells her to start believing in herself, he does and so does Ian.

In the Barlow household, Blanche, Deirdre, Ken and Liz Macdonald are sitting around the table. Liz is sure that Tracy is with Steve, she wouldn't have gone to Portsmouth without her stuff. "Portsmouth or Steve!" says Deirdre, "talk about the devil or the deep blue sea!" Liz says that her son is no devil, and Tracy has driven all of this. Blanche interrupts them and tells them to give over and stop pawing over other people's love lives for their own amusement - she can't hear a word of 'Tricia' on the tv. (Bit like the Jerry Springer show for those who haven't heard of it!) Blanche says that there's no sadder spectacle in this world than a mother meddling in the life of her child. Ken grins wryly, and then they hear the front door slam. He tells them quickly to spare Tracy the inquisition in case she's upset. The door opens and in walks a smiling Tracy carrying Amy and followed by Steve. Those at the table are stunned into silence! Then Deirdre asks, "Are you all right?" "Fine!" says Tracy. Liz asks if they had a nice evening. "Not bad as it goes," grins Tracy, glancing at Steve.

In the prison, Angela is putting Tommy's wedding ring on a chain around her neck. The warder asks if she's ready and puts a handcuff on her wrist.

Back in Coronation Street, Tyrone is working under the bonnet of a car. Maria comes along and asks if he's going to come for some dinner. Ty feels that he should wait for Kevin to come back, so that he can explain about Nathan. Nathan looks up from the other side of the car and assures him that it will be fine, and says that if he doesn't take Maria for some nosh, then he will.

Nathan then turns and sees Tracy coming out of the Kabin. He goes over to her but she gives him the brush-off, saying she's with Steve now.

As Maria and Tyrone are crossing the street, the hearse carrying Katy's coffin comes past. Maria points out that Katy was her mate, and Tyrone says that Tommy was his. Maria says that Katy had had an abortion and didn't know what she was doing. Tyrone rather angrily says that it didn't look like that when he and Kevin found Tommy where she had left him, all night.

Craig and his granddad come out of their front door and get into the funeral car. Just then a group of the Underworld workers come by. Kelly reckons they shouldn't shed any tears, "An eye for an eye, and all that!" Sean tells her she's a hard faced cow, Katy was only eighteen. Janice says it's Craig she feels sorry for.

They go towards the pub and Martin comes around the corner. He looks thoughtful as he watches the girls go giggling into the pub, Jamie and Leanne come laughing round the corner, and Nathan busy getting on with work at the garage. He gets into the car and they drive off slowly down the road.

Kevin arrives at the garage, and seeing overall-clad legs sticking out from under a car, assumes it's Tyrone. He gets quite a surprise when out comes Nathan. "What are you doing here?" he demands to know. Nathan explains that Tyrone took him on because he was swamped with work, but Kevin is not impressed and tells him to go when he's finished the job he's working on.

Tracy brings Deirdre a plate of food from the kitchen. Deirdre comments that she could get used to this, but Tracy tells her to make the most of it, she may not be around to do it for much longer. Ken expresses doubts, but Tracy is sure she has finally made the breakthrough with Steve. Ken tells her she is throwing herself into a relationship without ever having been on a proper date. Deirdre thinks that Tracy could be right this time, and points out that Tracy's love for Steve has never altered. Ken says he always looked on it as an infatuation and hoped she would get it out of her system. Tracy says he makes it sound like her mam and her fags, but sorry, there isn't a patch she can wear. She loves him and he's good for her and good for Amy, and the sooner he accepts that, the better.

Over in the Rovers, Kevin and Tyrone are arguing over Nathan. Tyrone says he knew the two of them had had a bit of a barney, but, (and here he's prompted by Maria) says he was just using his initiative. Kevin says he was afraid of that when he went on holiday. Maria tells Kevin that Tyrone has worked himself to a standstill while Kevin was away, he's done the work of two men. Kevin says that he's back now, so Tyrone can get across the road and give 'that comedian' his cards. Tyrone refuses, he says he's a good mechanic and they need a replacement for Tommy, Kevin should give him a chance. Getting the bit between his teeth he carries on: "If he goes, I'll think about things as well!" "Eh?" Kevin looks a bit surprised, and eventually says that he will look over what work has been done, but he's not promising anything.

At Ian's car showroom, the temporary secretary comes in. Sally tells her she's been gone two hours, but just gets the reply that 'a girl's gotta have lunch!' Sally comments that she spent half the morning on the phone and the other half doing her nails and wonders if that's how she usually carries on when the boss is not around. She's told that it doesn't matter if Ian is there or not, things have changed since her day. "My day?" asks Sally, looking stunned, and the girl tells her that she and Ian have developed 'an understanding', she's very flexible and does a lot of her work out of hours, Ian likes it like that. (I'll bet he does!)

At the cemetery, Angela is waiting at the graveside with the prison warder and a policeman. She reels a little as the coffin is brought near. She asks if she can have the handcuff removed. Walking behind the coffin are Haley and Violet. Hayley is aggrieved because the church was almost empty, she feels that people should have been there. Violet tells her that people like things black and white, it's easier to judge than to forgive. (What a lovely girl Violet is!) Martin is weeping and Hayley tries to comfort him. "She was only eighteen," he says, "where's the consolation when you're burying a future?" Beside the grave, Craig comes up and hugs his mum.

Leanne and Jamie walk into the Rovers to find Warren and Candice there. "Well, if it isn't our page 27 weathergirl!" says Leanne, and Candice replies that she hasn't seen Leanne's picture in the paper lately. Leanne says that she's never had her photo next to the dog results, and reckons that someone at the paper has got a sense of humour. Candice says that she won't be laughing when she's a weathergirl on tv. "Weathergirl?" scoffs Leanne, and says she thought the photo was of a trawlerman. "It was definitely a weathergirl," says Candice, "and she was forecasting sudden showers!" and with that she throws her drink all over Leanne. A fight nearly breaks out and has to stopped by Danny. Frankie tells warren to get Candice out of there, but Candice says she's not going, Leanne started it. Danny tells Warren that as soon as Candice has a job he wants her out of the house. "Call it a wind of change, love," he says to Candice. A dripping wet Leanne stands at the bar and smirks.

In the taxi office, Steve is cautiously trying a dish that Tracy has prepared. He likes it, "I didn't know you could cook," he says. She says there's lots he doesn't know about her, and lots she doesn't know about him, so they arrange to go out for a meal that evening.

In the pub, Fizz asks Candice what all the trouble was about. Candice explains that Leanne was winding her up about the piece in the Gazette. "Oh yes," says Fizz, "you're going to be the next Ulrika" She then shows her an ad in the paper for a workshop for would-be tv presenters. "Is it kosher?" asks Warren, but Candice reckons that as it's in a national newspaper it's not just a coincidence, it's a sign, she's going on this course, and then the sky is her oyster!

Katy is being buried, with her granddad being the first to throw the soil on the coffin. When it's Angela's turn, she stops, "I'm not saying goodbye," she says, and then starts talking to Katy, telling her that all she did was for Katy's sake. Then she looks at Martin, "Why did you do it, eh?" she sneers, "we'd suffered enough." Her father tries to tell her that this isn't the time, "When is the right time?" she asks, and says that Martin poisoned Katy's life, if it wasn't for him she'd be well on the way to university by now. Martin protests that he loved Katy. Angela cries out that she has no life left now, she doesn't ask her heart to beat. Craig looks up, "Mum…." He says, and she tells him not to take it wrong, if it wasn't for him she'd be long gone. The warder tells her that time is up, and they try to take her away. She pleads for a few minutes with her son, and as they take her off he runs after her and they hug, both weeping.

More in episode 2.

Annie Logan

Monday's 2nd Part

Tracy comes through the door. She asks everyone how she looks. Liz tells her that if her son is not impressed tonight he needs his head testing. Deirdre says she looks stunning. Liz tells her not to expect much from Steve because he just opens the first door and hopes for the best. Tracy says she does not care as long as he turns up, then she says she's never been this happy since she was a kid.

At the garage Kevin is looking over the books. Tyrone tells Nathan he tried his best with Kevin, he says its ok. Tyrone then says he does not know if it's worth him staying around either, Nathan tells him to explain. He says he told Kevin if he sacked you then he would leave too, but he was just playing the big man in front of Maria. Kevin comes out telling Tyrone he is not to fill out the book in his lunch hour, he apologies and says he was really busy. Kevin turns to Nathan, "You obviously know your way round an engine." Nathan replies, "Well, it was a toss up between you and the Ferrari racing team but Tyrone makes a better cup of tea than Schumacher." Kevin agrees to a trial period with him.

Tracy has gone round to Steve's. He says she is keen, she replies saying she has come to check the time the table is book for. He tells her its 7 but he though they could meet up in the bar at 6. She agrees. Steve says she's lucky to catch him because he only came back to get sorted out for tonight, look who's keen now she says. He then asks what's that small. Tracy says Amy is every excited to see her daddy, then asks if he would like to change her. He says no and explains he has a taxi run to do. He tells Tracy she can sort Amy out here and then let her self-out.

At the Rovers Violet is telling Janice and Fizz about Angela. She thinks she was like a wild animal waiting to lash out. Fizz tells her to come to the bingo and get some beer down her because it will make her feel better. She does not want to go. Fizz says it will be a laugh. Martin who has over heard this tells them, "You have a good laugh. Make a night of it why don't you. I mean, it's not as if anyone's died, is it?" He walks away from the bar over to the seats. Keith who has just come in has seen this.

At Davenport's Sally asks Lisa, "Weekend's must be very boring for you. I mean how do you tell the difference between a weekend and the working week?" she is told that would be telling. Sally then ask her if Ian is coming in, she is told, "He didn't say anything on Friday night, but then he had his hands full as I recall." The phone rings and Lisa gets it. Sally then approaches her asking if that was Ian. Lisa says, "Yes. He's coming in. He wants a word with you" there's a pause, then says, "Before you leave!".

At the Café Chesney is stuck with his math's homework. Roy sets about explaining the principles of Venn diagrams and sets to his young charge, "Imagine we have two sets, one called salt and one called vinegar. Where the circles intersect, that's where salt and vinegar crisps would go." Chesney gets the idea so they add cheese and onion. Roy uses Fred as an example; "Fred is a perfect Venn diagram!" then tells him, "Imagine, put all the butchers in Weatherfield in one room, and all the pub landlords in one room. What do you do with Fred?" Chesney replies, "He would be in-between both rooms!" Roy continues, "Likewise, if you took all the cafe owners and railway enthusiasts, I would be at the intersection because I belong to both sets." Chesney looks sad and says, "I'm in a set of me own. I'm not in me Mam's set and me Uncle Les don't want me in his any more. I'm on me own."

Tracy comes over to Amy, who is drawing a picture. She says, "Amy I told you to draw a picture of me, you and daddy. Daddy looks more like an orangutan" She sorts it and takes Amy, closing the door. She goes down the steps and puts her daughter in the pram. When she goes out of the front door she sees it locked. She uses her mobile, but grunts. She says, "Steve, you idiot".

Ian and his wife Justine come storming up to Sally and Lisa. Ian says, "Are you determined to humiliate me?" Justine thinks it's no more than he deserves, after he has humiliated her in the office time and again. She tells him to admit to having an affair. Sally looks shocked. Lisa just stands there. Ian does not say any thing.

Steve is now at the Clock restaurant. The waiter greets him. He tells him that he is waiting for someone and he will have a drink while he does.

Back to Tracy stuck in the hallway. She looks out the hallway window, then starts banging and shouting at the front door. Amy starts to cry. Tracy tells her that she is trying to get them out. She looks at her watch and does not look very happy.

Sally says, "Justine, I don't know what to say" but she is quickly stopped by her. She wants to let Ian finish what he has to say. Ian tells her he was weak and that she set her stall out. He then says, "clear your desk and get out" to Lisa. Sally is shocked. Lisa argues but then leaves. Ian goes to the office to get a drink. Justine tells Sally, "I'm sorry you had to see that. I just wanted him to feel some of the shame that I did." Sally reassures her that she has not done anything wrong, she thinks she has other wise he would not off had an affair.

At the Rover's Shawn is knocking back his drink. He says he needs some Dutch Courage in case Vera kicks off again. Janice tells him to stead on or Vera till kick off. Violet says, "She's right you need to be on the ball". Shawn agrees. Keith sits next to Martin telling him not to take to heart what Angela said, then explains she had to vent at somebody. Martin asks to whom he is meant to vent at. Keith says, "Grief is like water. It finds it's own path, but don't lash out at your friends. Sympathy's quicker lost then gained." Martin is angry because her friends passed her coffin as if nothing had happened. Keith says they have to keep her memory going. Keith sees her cared for her. Martin says, "Care doesn't even come close. They talk about couples finishing each other's sentences. She never let me start half of mine. She made me look forward; she lifted my head up. I'll probably never lift it up again" Keith tells him a story about a cousin that died at 18. His granddad after the funeral said he lived too long, Keith now understands what he meant. Martin asks if he wants another drink.

Steve is still waiting at the Clock restaurant for Tracy. The waiter comes over and ask if he is waiting for his table, he says five more minutes please. He gets his mobile and phones Tracy, but all he gets is her voice mail.

Tracy's tries to get her mobile to work. The mobile is flat, so she screams and throws it off the wall. The mobile breaks.

At the bingo Vera has a go at the factory girls. They wind her up saying Fizz is away giving Shawn their numbers. She says they are cheaters. The manager tells her to keep it down and not to say the c word in here. He then tells Vera she had better be on her best behavior tonight, because her golden balls are hanging up a thread. Vera looks shocked and puts her hand over a badge.

Steve opens his door and gets a shock. Steve says, "What the hell" Tracy says, "You locked me in you great pillock. I tried to call you, my mobile was flat and I've been stuck on the stairs ever since" Tracy shouts saying she was thinking he was never going to come home. He has a small grin on his face, Tracy quickly tells him not to laugh. They both hug and Tracy start's to get a small grin on her face.

Chesney is on the computer as Hayley and Roy come over. She asks what that is. They want to know what he is looking at. Hayley hopes it's not any thing inappropriate. Roy says no all the security stuff is on. Chesney shows them, its cheap flights to Spain. He says he's sorry. Roy says that's a booking form and how is he going to pay for it. He lifts a piece of paper and shows them their credit card. He says sorry again and runs to him room. Hayley says its ok.

Back at the bingo Shawn is calling out the numbers. Vera just needs one number to win. Violet jumps and says; "I've won! I mean House" Shawn says we have a claim. Vera comes over to their table and starts having a go at them. Janice tells her to stop making a show of her self. The manager approaches Vera telling her to sit down. She refuses. He then takes her badge off her and tells her to go.

Roy is doing some thing at his table. He picks up the piece of paper and walks over to the bedroom door. He goes to knock on the door up stops because he can hear crying, so he slips it under the door. We see it's a Venn diagram. Roy and Hayley are the Salt and Vinegar, with Chesney being in the middle of their circle.

Angela washes her hands in the sink. She then starts crying in her cell.

Amanda Souter



Wednesday 27 April, Episode 6014, 6015

Written by: Damon Rochefort
Directed by: Daniel Wilson

In which Vera makes trouble, Roy makes plans, Metallic Ian makes an offer, and Clare stands up to "a big scary Goth"

Sally is in her pyjamas at the breakfast table, looking preoccupied. Kevin, coming into the room with the post, comments that she was up early – so early the teapot is stone cold. She tells him that while they've been away, Ian has been sleeping with Sally's replacement, Lisa. He looks shocked.

Danny's having trouble finding some space on his table to put his breakfast down – Candice has got most of the space covered with application papers for her presenters' course. Danny has a look at her application. She's listed as her interests: fishing ("that should be fashion"), canoeing ("because you've got to be all outdoorsy") and meteors. Yes, meteors. Because of the meteorology, of course. Warren and Jamie try as best they can to stifle the giggles, and Danny comments that "somewhere out there a village is missing its idiot." Only Frankie is kind enough to point out Candice's mistake. Danny won't lend Warren any money to take Candice out. "Don't worry, babe," she tells him, applying Tip-ex to her application form, "When I'm a big TV star we'll go out and get bladdered every night." "And they say kids ain't ambitious any more!" says Danny. "Okay," says the indefatigable Candice, pen poised over application form, "How do you spell… tornadoes?"

At Eileen's, Sean is worrying he's going to get the sack from the bingo hall, following Vera's outburst. Eileen reassures him that no-one will listen to Vera. Violet offers Eileen half of her winnings, towards the rent increase, but Eileen refuses. Until Violet says she was thinking about giving it to Vera – and that's enough to persuade Eileen to take it. Jason, meanwhile, is annoyed because he can't find his jeans and everyone else is too busy worrying about Sean to take his wardrobe crisis seriously.

Breakfast is being served at Roy's Rolls, and Vera is complaining to Frankie about the (as she sees it) fiddling going on at the bingo. Frankie doesn't think Sean would cheat, but Vera is humiliated at being thrown out of the bingo hall twice. She says there's a £25,000 "golden pot" on Friday, and she's determined to go. Hayley asks Roy to try ringing Les and Cilla, because Chesney's been in tears all morning. Roy makes the call, and is told that Cilla and Les aren't in, but he says he's almost certain he could hear Les singing ‘Viva Espana' in the background.

At Clare and Ashley's, Clare is humming a tune, with the cheerful lyrics, "A coffin is my only home, the only place I can be alone." The song apparently kept her awake all night – coming from next door, and the lovely Craig's CD collection. Craig has been playing it over and over, she says. It's driving her mad: "Wouldn't be so bad if it was the Carpenters or something." Ashley, bless him, says they should just put up with it for a while, because Craig has been through such a lot.

Kevin and Sally are having a row about her job. He's clutching a handful of bills and says they've been spending money like water and need her to be earning. She says she's "not working for that two-timing rat." She's pretending to be all angry with Ian on Justine's behalf, and not surprisingly Kevin thinks she's over-reacting. She says she feels too uncomfortable to work at Davenport's any more, but Kevin angrily says she's better get over it, because they need the money.

Eileen has been brave enough to venture into Roy's Rolls, where Vera immediately has a go at her about "fiddling" the bingo. Eileen says that bingo is a game of chance, and it's all down to the finger of fate. "You know what you can do with your ‘finger of fate,'" Vera snaps, and puts her scarf on. "I've had enough of this," she says, despite Roy's protestations. "I'm going to that Alhambra, and I'm going to have a word with t'manager." She points at Eileen: "And that'll wipe the smirk off your face, eh?"

The lovely Craig and his grandfather are in Roy's Rolls too, discussing whether Craig should go back to school. Keith says he promised to Angela that he'd look after Craig. "Look after me?" his grandson replies, "How could things get any worse?" Craig storms out. Roy asks Keith how Angela is, and the two men discover they have a mutual interest in trains.

Janice is outside Underworld, ogling Nathan, and is joined by Kelly. Nathan says they're both welcome to ogle him any time they like, and says that Kelly is quite fit herself. "I treat my body like a temple," she says. "Open to anybody," adds Janice, "Day and night." Kevin, who is still tetchy, tells Nathan to concentrate on his work. Then Kevin cheers up a bit when he sees Sally leave the house, apparently on her way to work. But she looks so gloomy that he's not cheered for long.

Clare is getting off a bus, and sees Craig walking towards her eating chips. She tells him she's sorry about all that's happened, but she is being disturbed at night by his music. "My music's all I've got left," he says, "All I've got to escape from people like you. And you're moaning cos it's too loud?" He walks away.

Sean, Janice, Kelly and Hayley are in the Rovers. Sean gets a call from the Alhambra on his mobile, and goes outside to take the call. Danny and Frankie, Jamie and Leanne are in the pub too. Jamie and Danny are playing on a fruit machine. Leanne tells Frankie that Jamie is taking her out somewhere special to show how much he cares about her – he's more romantic than he looks, apparently. She's betting it'll be dinner at the Clock (the restaurant she went to with Danny, remember).

Sean comes back in, and tells the others that his boss has suspended him, because Vera went down there and made such a fuss that two coachloads of pensioners left early. The others are sympathetic and Kelly says Vera has a "right lot to answer for."

Jamie and Danny join Frankie and Leanne again, and Jamie tells Leanne that he has booked them a table at the Clock. She says, "They're going to think I'm a regular up there soon…" Her words falter and Danny looks worried. "You've only been there once," Jamie says. "Yeah," she says, "And now we're going back. So that makes us regulars." Frankie says they'll love it, and Danny changes the subject. Leanne looks very interested at how flustered Danny got.

Clare has come to Craig's house to apologise to him, but she repeats that the music has been driving them mad, and neither she nor Josh can sleep because of it.

"Boo flamin' hoo," he says. She sits down, and tells him that she lost her dad when she was exactly his age, so she understands something of what he's going through. "Unless he was killed by your sister, you've got no idea," he says, and tells her not to come round playing the caring social worker – she's really there to complain about the music. "I just want to be left alone." She gives him A Look. "Is there a part of you that's enjoying this?" she asks him, and he looks shocked and like he's really listening for the first time. "You're the big Goth, all death and misery. Now you've got what you want, haven't you? A miserable life, and a damn good reason to be miserable about it." "My whole family's gone," he says. "And you're still here." She says everyone wants to help, but nobody knows how. "I don't need help," he says, but he's crying now, "Nobody knows what this is like for me." "Don't they?" she says. "Ashley's wife – Joshua's mum – was murdered next door. Do you think there's a day goes by that Ashley doesn't think about that? Joshua will never know his mum. At least you've had 14 years with your dad." He breaks down and cries properly, and Clare is worried she's gone too far: "My heart breaks for you, honest it does, Craig. I didn't come round here to shout." She rummages in a carrier bag she brought with her, and produces a pair of headphones. "I came to give you these," she says, and makes out they're a wedding present she doesn't need, but he sees they still have the price tag on. She tells him that if he gets sick of people being nice to him, he can always pop to see them. "So you can tell me what a miserable git I really am," he says, and manages a little smile. Awwwwww…..

Now, is that the sound of little wheels gliding across a polished surface I hear? It can only be Metallic Ian, the robot/posh car vendor/ladies' man. He's with a female customer, but Sally "borrows" him to sign some papers, and mutters to him, "Lining up the next one, now Justine's rumbled you and your tart?"

Keith is back from the supermarket, and is quite surprised when Craig offers to help put things away. Craig accidentally drops a box of eggs, and crouches down to clear it up, but bursts into tears. "I just want ‘em back," he says. He doesn't mean the eggs, bless him. "Me too," says Keith, ruffling Craig's hair, "But we'll just have to look out for each other now, won't we?"

Janice is complaining to Hayley that there's £15 missing from her pay packet. Hayley says she'll try and get in touch with Danny on his mobile to find out why Janice's pay is wrong. Roy comes in to the factory as Janice is leaving. He tells Hayley he's going to book a flight to Spain; he's going to confront Cilla and Les face to face.

Back to the shimmering palace of luxury vehicles that is Davenports. Sally and Metallic Ian are both in the office, and he's grumbling that she has no right to "play the woman scorned" because she ended the affair and he's moved on. She says she isn't jealous, and is glad to be out of the relationship. He wonders why she bothers coming in to work if he's so appalling, and she replies that she shouldn't have to be out of work "just because of what you've been doing with that… slut!" (See? Not jealous at all). He says that one option is that they carry on as they were – "Justine is even more clueless about you and me now," he reasons, and even adds an incentive: "I could even think about giving you a raise. It means that much to me!" "You must think I'm an easy touch," Sally says (I'm sure Gail would have another word for it). "I like you, Sal," he says. "You mean a lot to me. The time we spent together, well… it was fantastic." He places his hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Sal. Whaddya say? The easiest thing in the world would be for you and me to go back to the way we were. Come on, eh? Whaddya say?" She ponders.

Sue Haasler

Having had around two hours to think, Sally comes back in to Ian and tells him that she's not interested in carrying on with him since he had the affair with Lisa. Ian can't see how his having a ‘fling' should affect them at all, and tells Sally that Justine is now even more in the dark about the two of them and there should be no problem about getting caught. Sally thinks this is the most arrogant thing she's ever heard. 'Just because your wife has found out about you, doesn't mean I want my husband to find out about me,' she tells him.

Just at that moment, Justine arrives and refuses to take 'no' for an answer when she tells Sally that she needs to talk to her - away from Ian. Sally and Justine go off together... ...leaving a fearful Ian to suck a thoughtful tooth and chew on a handy thumb.

At Underworld, Danny finds Hayley sitting at his desk, trying to find out what's gone wrong with Janice's overtime pay. He agrees to sort it out immediately and then asks how Roy is. She tells him that Roy's been worried about Chesney, who has been so let down by his mum. Roy is so concerned that he's flying to Spain to take to find Les and Cilla.

Sally and Justine have gone to a bar, and Justine apologises and tells Sally that shes sure this is the last thing she wants to be doing. "No, no," says Sally, not very convincingly! Justine is terribly upset with Ian, and telling Sally all about is the only way she's going to start feeling better. She tells Sally that this isn't the first time that she's caught Ian straying, and it isn't the first time she's taken him back, but she took him back because he promised her it was a one-off and that he would never, ever hurt her again, but although he's told her that Lisa was a spur of the moment thing she noticed that for weeks he was coming home late and getting straight in the shower, so she wouldn't be surprised if he had someone else on the go. Sally asks if she ever said anything to him. Justine says no, that would have been the brave thing to do, but she was scared in case she got the truth. She feels she's had nothing but lies from Ian since the day they were married. She asks Sally how she coped when it happened with her and Kevin. Sally tells Justine that for a very long time she didn't think she would trust anyone again and she lost all her self-confidence. Justine says that Ian might have built the business, but she built the family, but she thinks she's failed as a wife and mother because Gemma turned on her last night and said that she must have done something wrong to make her dad want to go elsewhere.

Hayley tells Roy that he needs to be careful not to build Chesney's hopes up that life with Cilla in Spain is going to be good. Hayley reckons Cilla isn't worthy of the name Mother. She asks him, short of dangling a bunch of duty free in front of Cilla, how he's going to get her to come home. Roy tells Hayley that he's going to be taking Chesney with him to Spain. Hayley looks stunned.

Steve and Tracy are talking about going out again and while Steve suggests going into town, Tracy's happy with the Rovers. She tells him that she can't wait to see all the dirty looks thrown her way when she walks in with him, but Steve tells her that's in the past, all he cares about is him and her enjoying each other's company.

Liz arrives to babysit and tells Steve that she can't help beaming at the way things are going with him and Tracy. Steve tells her he doesn't want her to stop, but that he and Tracy are taking things at their own pace. 'Yes, well at least this time you're going in the right direction, for Amy's sake,' Liz reminds him.

As Norris takes the rubbish out to the wheelie bin in the back yard he suddenly finds himself re-enacting the scene from 'The Birds' where Tippi Hedren is surrounded by birds, as pigeons appear from all directions, and the birds seem to enjoy his distress, fluttering close over his head.

Finding Janice not in the Rovers so that he can give her the extra wages, Danny leaves Frankie and goes to see Janice...or perhaps a certain someone who just happens to live with Janice?

Having tried to do battle against the pigeons (and lost), Norris's caterwauling brings Emily out into the yard. 'Norris, are you all right? I could swear I just heard a young girl scream,' Emily says. Norris assures her he's fine and it was just some kids passing.

He tells her that he's just seen off Jack Duckworth's pigeons and she should be grateful, otherwise her newly washed bedspread would be covered in droppings. He tells her that they're flying vermin. Emily tells Norris that pigeons have been a part of the area for as long as she can remember, but Norris reminds her that outside lavatories have been too, only if Jack Duckworth making his way to the privy every morning she'd soon find the charm wearing thin. "It's anti-social," he says, "Pigeons are nothing but flying vermin and it's time to get rid of them!"

Danny arrives at Janice's flat to find her not there either, but Leanne getting ready to go out wearing a satin dressing gown with her hair wrapped in a towel. Hesitantly, he tells Leanne he's looking for Janice to give her some money. Leanne tells him that Janice isn't in, and asks if he came over specially. He asks if he's picked a bad time, and then tells her she scrubs up well. "Which bit are you looking at?" she coos. "Er…yer face," he stammers. He tries to give Leanne the money to pass on to Janice, but Leanne tells him to give it to her himself, she'll be back soon. She flirts outrageously with him, and does her best to make Danny feel uncomfortable. She invites him in to wait, but when he refuses she tells him that he clearly can't trust himself.

Back at the Rovers, Jamie waits for Leanne to show, and he constantly fiddles with his collar. Frankie tells him he must have put on some weight...or he's incredibly nervous. It turns out it's the latter as he tells Frankie that he just wants everything to go well this evening.

As Tracy and Steve arrive in the Rovers, Ciaran says to them, 'Peace in our time. I never thought I'd live to see it.' Steve places a drink order and Ciaran says to Tracy, 'So what did he do? Come waving the white flag?' Tracy says that it took them both by surprise. 'I'll say it did, but you're a braver man than me, that's for sure,' Ciaran laughs. Steve asks what he means by that. 'Well you're not exactly being surrounded by well-wishers are you? Janice, Fiz…. I could go on,' Ciaran tells Steve. 'Well, if they want to live in the past, that's their problem. Same goes for you and all,' Steve replies. Nodding to Tracy, Ciaran replies, 'Trust me mate, that's one part of me life I don't want to revisit.' 'Yeah well we've all done things we've regretted haven't we Ciaran?' Tracy says. 'Ah, but you've got one advantage over me. You can't say you didn't know what you were getting into,' Ciaran tells Steve. 'I'm sorry?' Steve asks. 'Oh just leave it Steve, it really doesn't matter,' Tracy says, clearly not happy that Steve might find out something else that she's done.

Over at a table Norris is sitting with Emily, but he has got a bee in his bonnet over Jack's pigeons and wants to get rid of them. Emily has a much more romantic memory of them. 'My uncle used to race pigeons and I remember them as being clean, intelligent birds. Once my uncle gave me a digestive biscuit and told me to hold it in my mouth and close my eyes. He called his favourite bird, Walter, and all of a sudden I felt a piece of the biscuit being taken, and Walter brushed my cheek with his wing, as if to say thank you. The next time I couldn't resist opening my eyes and I can still remember to this day the sight of his little eye just an inch from mine,' Emily recounts. Norris suddenly comes over all faint and decides he needs a brandy.

Home from school, Chesney is first presented with a strawberry sundae, and then the tale of Lassie returning to his family in Yorkshire after being sold to a duke in Scotland. 'Why are you telling me this Uncle Roy?' Chesney asks. Roy tells Chesney that he is like Lassie and he needs to go on a long journey to be with the ones he loves, in this case, Cilla. Roy tells Chesney that he is going to Spain to find Les and Cilla and he would be very honoured if Chesney would accompany him. Proving that blood is definitely thicker than water, Chesney is thrilled at the thought of seeing his mother again.

Finally ready for her evening out, Leanne emerges from her room wearing...well, it has to be said...not a lot. She immediately notices that Danny looked below her neck and tells him that could get him in trouble. 'Oh yeah, and I bet you'd know and all,' Danny says. 'Not really, I can talk me way out of anything, me,' Leanne boasts. 'Then we're two of a kind aren't we?' Danny asks, moving closer on the couch. 'Hmm, I don't know. I reckon you're a babbler,' Leanne replies. 'Oh I can keep schtum with the best of them,' Danny says, moving in for a kiss......but Leanne stops him, saying, 'Well there's only one way to find out, isn't there?' As Danny again leans in for a kiss, this time with Leanne shadowing his movements... ...Janice bursts into the flat. 'What the flamin' heck is he doing here?' she bellows. Danny jumps up from the sofa rather breathlessly, and tells Janice that he's there to give her her fifteen pounds and he apologises for any inconvenience caused. He then runs out of the flat like a scalded cat, leaving a suspicious Janice and an amused Leanne behind.

Sally returns from her drink with Justine to find Ian still in his office. She tells him he should go home, but he wants to know what was said, and more importantly, does Justine know about he and Sally. Sally starts to cry, telling Ian that it would be better if she did know instead of Justine confiding in her and having to comfort her. Sally tells Ian that Justine thinks her life is over but Ian simply sneers that Justine is making the most of it. 'I sort of think of today as my penance, paying for my sins,' Sally tells Ian. 'We could all do with a bit of that now and then,' Ian replies, but Sally's had enough and she tells him she's going home.

In the Rovers, Frankie is telling Tracy and Steve not to worry about what anyone else says, they are all just jealous, and then she turns to Ciaran and tells him he's just as bad and should get himself a girlfriend. Ciaran wishes them both the best of luck.

Leanne finally arrives for her night out with Jamie and tells him how good he looks in his suit. 'Tell me about it,' Frankie agrees. 'And I get to see mine in a suit every day' 'Well you know how it is, I like to make an impression,' Danny chunters awkwardly. Jamie tells him he's the lucky one, with a trophy wife. Leanne tells Frankie she's a lucky woman, Danny has rugged good looks and a nice bum! Frankie tells Danny not to listen to Leanne, he's the lucky one. Danny seems incredibly awkward and embarrassed, and desperately suggests that he and Frankie go and get something to eat. Just as they are going, Leanne asks, "Does anyone fancy a foursome?" and without giving anyone a chance to reply, looks at Danny and adds, "well my door's always open if you change your mind!"

End.

Annie Logan





Friday 29 April,Episode 6016

Friday night and we are back in the Street.

In the flat above the cafe, Hayley and Roy are waiting when Chesney gets back from school. He's ecstatic. He's finished with that school. Roy points out that when he gets to Spain, "attendance will be required at a Spanish educational establishment." Chesney doesn't really care, at this stage. He tells them how everyone was cheering and his mates carried him off, shoulder high and then waved him off. Hayley and Roy point out that not everyone gets on well at school and they certainly didn't. Chesney admits that he wagged off so much that half his class had no idea who he was, and when the teacher said Chesney was off to Spain, they turned around to see who she was talking about. Ohhhhhhhhhhh.

In the street, Danny and Jack are talking about Jack's pigeons, which have been waking up Danny at 5am. Jack loves the sound they make, but Danny wants them muzzled, or given sleeping pills, or paper bags put over their heads, "whatever it takes". He tells Jack: "If they was human, they would have been Asboed by now!" [Asbo: Anti-social behaviour order -- legal way of stopping humans waking their neighbours at 5am with excessive cooing] Vera arrives and tells Danny she thinks the birds should be put a pie. He agrees with the sentiment. "My fuse is almost burnt down, then I will explode!" He leaves and Vera says to Jack: "Guess who's round our house!" Jack answers: "Not that flaming Omar Sharif again! How many times do I have to tell him? 'No, you can't have Vera,' I said. 'She's mine'." But Vera tells him it's not Mr Sharif, it's Big Jim, from the Alhambra Bingo Hall. Vera's been reinstated and she's getting back her golden balls.

A sports car positively whizzes by and the horn beeps at the Duckies. It's Tyrone. After a bit of banter with Nathan, in which we discover that Nathan finds it astounding that Tyrone should have a girlfriend as good-looking as Maria, Tyrone tells Kevin he's been asked to check out the sports car by Ian Davenport, who's thinking of buying it. Tyrone tells his workmates he's checked it out and it seems fine. Nathan takes that as a challenge and wants to check it himself.

At the Junior Baldwins', Frankie worried that her new top makes her look like a slapper. She tells Danny she thinks it makes her look like Leanne. Jamie, who is in the kitchen, hears this and is deeply offended. Danny is startled that he should take such offence. "It's not like it's something serious," he says. "Of course it is," Jamie says. "She's fun, but she's not just a bit of fun. Me and Leanne are solid." He asks his parents to treat her with some respect.

Jack is seeing to his pigeons and Vera comes to say something to him. But they are interrupted by Emily and Norris, who display a shirt which has been messed on by birds. "What do you suggest we do about it?" asks Norris. Jack suggests they change their washing powder. "It's guano, as well you know!" Norris says. Jack disputes that it's his pigeons who are to blame. They do their business in their coop. He wants to demonstrate what nice birds they are and takes one out to show them. "Why don't you hold it?" He holds it out towards Norris, who by this stage is squeaking like a demented hamster.

Danny has gone to the cafe and has got as far as telling Leanne that he needs a word before two strong hands grip his shoulders, moving him to one side and then another. It's Kirk, trying to get a look at what's in the display cabinet. Danny makes an excuse and leaves.

At the garage, Nathan tells the others the car is a ringer. The VIN plate has new rivets and there's no sign of respraying, but all the windows are new. The old number was probably etched on to them. In arrives and Nathan tells him that whoever sold him the car is well dodgy. Ian says he knows that, but the guy's a mate. He invites Kev to go for a drink.

In the street, Sean is telling Eileen that he won't be reinstated. "They would have given me a tinkle by now." He was really looking forward to tonight, because he had a whole new set of calls to use. He does admit he felt like a meanie when Vera was kicked out, because it's her second home. Ian is telling Kevin he's in the dog house, but it will pass, as it always does. They discover Justine is at Kev's place, and the two couples head for the pub together. Behind them, Sean's phone rings -- he's hosting the Golden Pot at 7pm!

In the pub, the Davenports and the Websters are drinking in silence, so Ian suggests he and Kev go to drink at the bar. "Cheating pig!" says Justine when they've gone. Sally can't understand why Justine stays with Ian. "Leave him? I wouldn't give him the satisfaction," Justine says. "Not till I am ready."

Frankie and Danny and Leanne and Jamie are sitting in awkward silence. Danny says he's off for an early night because those flying alarm clocks are doing his brain in. But Frankie goes to the bar to get more drinks in. Danny, who is carefully avoiding looking at Leanne, tells Jamie to go and give Frankie a hand. "It's only four drinks," he says. "She hardly needs a Sherpa." Leanne gives Danny a sideways looks. Norris is refusing to talk about it, but Emily says "You are scared of them, aren't you?" "Pigeons? What's there to be scared about?" Norris asks, but Emily isn't fooled and he admits it. She asks what exactly is it he's scared of. It's the way their beady little eyes stare at you. And they bob about, and oh, oh, the feathers and they, they go around in packs and suddenly they're up in the air, and ohhhh." And poor Norris is almost incoherent just thinking about them. "Sounds like a phobia," Emily tells him. "Oh, don't dignify it with a name. It's just silly old Norris who's afraid of birds," he says.

At the Bingo, Janice is giving Vera a hard time for getting Sean the sack. Big Jim comes on and welcomes them all to Golden Pot night, which is being held at all Alhambras, over 300 venues, all with a chance of winning 25 big ones (£25,000 we were told previously). He calls Vera up and publicly returns her golden balls. "About time, 'n'all," she says ungraciously. "Now I know how the Birmingham Six felt." Then Big Jim announces the caller, back by popular demand, is Sean Tully. "That twister? You can't have him!" says Vera. "Off the stage, Duckworth. I choose the callers," Big Jim says. He tells Sean: "Not too camp tonight." Sean starts off the calling, using his new set of calls, such as "Two fat queens, 88", and "Brad Pitt at the door, 24". "Do it straight!" shouts Vera. "I don't do anything straight," Sean says.

In the pub, Kevin tells Ian he seems to be taking things very calmly. Ian thinks it will all blow over as it usually does. Kev asks if it's happened before, and Ian tells him, "Slightly more than I'd want her to know about." Kev asks if he's scared of Justine leaving and Ian says his accountant worries about that, but he doesn't. He details the usual sequence of events, going from shouting to frosty silence to jewelry or a holiday. He says homes are for putting your feet up, and wives put food in your belly, not fire. He says any man with a sense of adventure will stray. Kev would rather opt for the quiet life.

It's the second time Justine has caught out Ian, though she knows there have been more women. He's just very good at covering his tracks. Justine is telling Sal that she's been suspicious for some time and even thought of hiring a private investigator to follow Ian. Instead, she did it herself, only to discover than Ian was, quite legitimately, working late with Sally. "Has he ever tried it on with you?" Justine asks. Sally says no. "I would have noticed." That ruins Justine's theory that Ian tries it on with every woman because he's scared of missing one. Jamie and Leanne and his parents are sitting making very small talk. "How was your day?" Frankie asks Leanne. "Frying stuff and avoiding talking to Roy," Leanne says, "pretty average." She is disturbed that Frankie seems to be being nice to her, and tells her so. "It's creeping me out." They are soon snapping at each other again. Jamie says they're leaving. As Leanne is putting on her coat, Danny manages a quick word with her. "We both know what nearly went on. That's it. Nothing's going to happen," he tells her.

At the Bingo, Vera needs just one more number, but Sean's new calls are distracting her. "Cut the queer stuff, you little poof, and give us a two!" she calls out. Sean is deeply offended and the others tell Vera she can't say that. But she refuses to apologise and Sean refuses to carry on.

In the pub, Norris asks the Junior Baldwins to do something about the pigeons in their yard. Frankie refuses. Ciaran offers to get him a drink. "It's my tweet," he chuckles. Danny has a quiet word, telling "Nozza" he just picked a bad moment and he should have talked to Danny first. "I don't like the poxy pigeons any more than you do." Justine is telling Sally that Ian thinks she's a pushover, but she has her own accountant, who has a full list of their assets, and her own solicitor. "I'm waiting for him to slip up again." She wants Sally to stay at the car yard and keep an eye on Ian.

At the Bingo the standoff continues. Janice warns Vera that things are at boiling point. Big Jim agrees. "These girls turn and even Larry won't be able to help you." Bouncer Larry agrees. A well-aimed handbag could take him out. "All right," Vera says grudgingly. "I'm sorry." Sean carries on. "And we do have a winner -- a Mrs Leach in Clydebank." He goes on to announce that he won't be back as their caller. "You don't deserve me," he tells the bingo players. "So you can kiss my derriere. Je suis out of here." He goes and Big Jim takes over the microphone. "Elvis has flounced out of the building," he announces.

At the Croppers' flat, Hayley is saying it's not fair. They'd be good parents. And they've tried so hard to prove this. But there's a woman like Cilla who pops them out at will. "We deserve a child," she says. She realises Chesney has not packed his exercise book and opens it to read his essay, "My holiday with Uncle Roy and Auntie Hayley." It goes: "They don't watch much telly and they don't get drunk and they always go to bed early." Hayley says that's what they are -- a holiday. "A happy holiday," says Roy. "That's important for any child. We do make a difference, Hayley, we do."

The End.
Margaret Carr







Updates written by K Richard Whitbread, Martin Rosen, Ann Logan, Peter Webb, Margaret Carr, Mary Earlam, Amanda Souter.