2007

Monday 1 October

This Episode of the Street is
Written by Peter Whalley
Direct by Tony Prescott
Produced by Steve Frost
Sponsored by Harveys
Coronation Street is Copyright ITV Productions

PART 1

Outside Vikki tells Liam she is glad to have a job. Liam says Kelly loves coming to work. Cilla shows Fizz the necklace Frank has given her. Fizz asks if she is sure he gave it to her and she didn't nick it. Audrey tells David to be nice to his sister. Liam seeing Rosie says the best is always last and tells her Carla is not in at the moment and asks if they will manage.

Duckworth's; Tyrone is going on about not taking the money. Molly tells him to leave it. Vera comes in and asks why they are still going on about it. Jack says he didn't bring it up. Tyrone says he would never take money from them. Vera asks what he was doing. Tyrone says making sure no one stole from them. He says they should check and see who else has been in the tin.

Cafe; Becky tells Blanch she is not expecting miracles and tells her to do what she can because she is old and decrepit. Blanch says she is going as does not want to be insulted. Becky says sorry. Blanch says she needs to sit down and wants cup of tea.

Factory; the girls ask Liam about Carla. He says she is not in. They say he really hates her and more then ever. Vikki says it's always the same, one family member dies and the rest blame each other. Kelly thinks he has murdered her. Liam asks Rosie if she has phoned. She says no. Liam says he is not going to phone, as she will think they are checking up on her love life.

Salon; David goes to talk to Sarah but she tells him she does not want to talk. Maria tells him to give her time and she will have to talk to him. Claire comes in and Audrey asks how she is. Claire says she is back to work and her mum is looking after Freddie. David tries again to talk to Sarah but she tells him to go away.

Cafe; Lloyd asks where Roy is. Becky says he is away camping. Lloyd does not like the idea of creepy Crawlies and asks Blanch if she camped. Blanch who is sitting down at a table says not since she was a Girl Guide. Lloyd goes and she asks if they are really camping. Becky says yes and asks if she is going to help.

Corner shop; Tyrone comes in and Molly asks if he is in a better mood. He says he hates being accused of stealing when he didn't. Molly says Jack and Vera get mixed up. Tyrone says cos Paul wants them to. Cilla comes. Tyrone asks if he believes her. She says yes and Tyrone starts again saying it must be Paul then. He leaves the shop in a huff when Molly tells him to stop going on about it. Cilla says he is not in the best of moods. Molly says she is not either.

Outside Carla pulls up in her car. Liam says he thought he'd speak to her outside. She asks about what. He says her coming from Tony's bed. Carla says she came from her own bed and was late cos she wanted to give him some space.

Factory; Liam tells Rosie to go for a wander then tells Carla he should not have said what he just said. He says it's not very smart going out with someone they are doing a big order for. Carla says she is not going out with him and thinks cos he is Paul's brother he has a duty to look after her. She tells him she does not need looking after.

Duckworth's; Jack and Vera are talking about the money. Paul just comes in asking if Tyrone was saying it was him. Jack says not in so many words. Paul asks if they think Tyrone took the money and trying to make out it was him. Vera is not sure. Paul says they have the money back so they should forget about it. Jack agrees. Paul goes. Vera says he would agree as he always forgets.

Outside Tyrone says he knows he took the money. Paul says yeah. Tyrone asks if he is admitting it. Paul says yes and tells him he took the money for the restaurant. Then says he didn't speak up cos he is sick of him trying to find out things about him. Paul then says he should think twice before telling Jack and Vera as it might just cause more trouble.

Cafe; Becky's thinking. She then tells Blanch she is closing the cafe. Blanch asks why. Becky says she can't run it alone and is doing this for Hayley and Roy. Becky says she can't say why and for her not to ask, as she is not going to tell her. Fizz comes in asking for 4 cakes but is told the cafe is closed. Becky then tells everyone to eat up as they are closing.

Corner shop; Tyrone comes running in and tells Molly what Paul just told him. Tyrone thinks Molly does not believe him. Molly says she does. Fizz comes in asking if this is the only cake. Molly says yes and then asks Tyrone what he is going to go. He does not know. Molly tells him to do nothing and they will talk later. Tyrone goes and Fizz says they will have to do.

Streetcars; Lloyd says to Claire she will have her work cut out. Claire says she does but finds it's better that way. She thinks Lloyd is thinking she should forgive and forget. Lloyd says no. Claire says she should but can't. Becky comes in asking for a cab. Lloyd says yes and the charming driver too. Becky says she does not want chitchat and for him just to drive.

Factory; Kelly asks Rosie what is going on in the office. Vikki says she does not have to answer that. Rosie says they don't like working with each other. She gives Carla her cakes saying the cafe was closed. Liam says he is going for a walk. Carla tells Rosie that he wants her to dress like a nun and never talk to a guy again. Carla asks if she should do that. Rosie says no.

Record shop; Becky comes marching in. She runs up to Christian and starts hitting him. She lays into him asking how he likes it and tells him to hit her back. Christian tells her to stop it and calls her mad. He holds her back and Becky asks to be let go. He finally lets her go and Becky says that hurt.

Salon; David has made Sarah tea. She does not want it and especially from him. David says, at least you are speaking to me. Sarah goes and Maria tells David to give her time. David says he has said sorry lots of times. Audrey comes in and says with no raised voices she tells Maria she thinks the worst is over between Sarah and David.

Record shop; Becky says Hayley is the nicest person and she'd be grateful if she found out that was her mum or dad. Christian says he didn't hit a woman, he hit his dad. He asks if Hayley sent her. Becky says she does not know she is here and says Hayley would have stopped her coming and would not want to hurt him even though he hurt her cos she is a nice person. Becky then goes.

Factory; they say they will go to the Rovers as the cafe is shut. Liam goes in the office. Carla says he knows he was only looking out for her. Liam does not want to know. She asks what do they do now but he does not reply. She says it's like there is an invisible wall. She calls his name but he says invisible wall. She storms out saying he is making it hard for them to work together.

Outside Molly sees Tyrone and says she will keep him company. Tyrone says he is going to tell Jack and Vera what Paul said. Molly says that's good and if he doesn't she will. Carla is standing at the factory door she paces then goes back in side.

Factory; Carla says cos she is the widow of Paul he is trying to be faithful to his memory. He says he's not and she does not have to throw herself at every man. Carla says Paul went off with prostitutes. Liam asks if she is getting her own back. Carla says she is trying to get her life back together. Liam then quickly kisses her.

Episode rating 6/10

This Report is Copyright M@nda

Amanda Souter

At Underworld we interrupt lucky Carla and lovely Liam in their lip-lock. Carla pulls away after a while and asks Liam what he thought he was doing. Liam is suspicious of Carla and asks if she's going to start telling people he forced herself on her because he didn't see it that way. Carla declares that Liam thinks every woman fancies him but tells him she definitely doesn't. Liam claims that he's very glad to hear that. Carla tells him not to ever dare try to kiss him again. "Funny," Liam says, "I was just going to say the same thing." The phone rings while they tidy themselves up. Carla answers after a few rings and it's Tony Gordon. Liam leaves Carla to her phone call.

In the Rovers, Fizz, Kelly and Vicki are gossiping about what they think will happen to their jobs if Carla and Liam dislike each other so much that they can't work together. Kelly sees Liam come into the pub and thinks one of them should go over and ask him exactly what the story is. At the bar, Michelle gets Liam a drink and sees he's in a mood. Meanwhile, Audrey is apologising to Maria for the Sarah/David debacle at the Salon and thanks her for trying to keep the peace between the two of them. Maria sides with David, she thinks he's really trying but Sarah just won't even give him an inch. Audrey says Sarah is stubborn like her mother. They congratulate each other on having survived the morning and will be pleased when they've managed the whole day.

At the Duckworth's Molly brings home some shopping to Jack and Vera. She happens to mention what Paul had said to Tyrone earlier in the day. Jack, exasperated, asks Molly to not start with that whole business again. Molly can't believe Tyrone has not said anything. She tells Jack and Vera about Paul confessing to Tyrone that he took the money but Jack and Vera still don't believe it. They won't believe it until Paul says so himself.

Steve and Lloyd are leaning over the bar, gasbagging like old men about women. Kelly clip-clops in her high heels over to Liam and Michelle in a booth, Vicki and Fizz behind her, and ask Liam if there's any truth in the rumour (one they just made up themselves!) that she and Carla are about to sell up because they can't work together. Liam says there's no truth in the rumour but even if there was, he wouldn't tell them. Michelle says she didn't know things were that bad but Liam reassures her not to go listening to "that lot". He can tell her however that he thinks Carla has lost it and that she is spending too much time fussing over Tony Gordon, that she's forgotten who Paul was. He tells Michelle that Carla needs to ditch Tony Gordon because if she doesn't he's got no idea what is going to happen.

In the Salon, David is trying to sweep up around Sarah Lou. Sarah, on the other hand, is not having any of it. She doesn't want David near her. David argues that he has a job to do. Sarah tells him she can't even look at him. She leaves her client, gets her coat on and tells her Gran she's sorry but she can't work with David. Audrey asks David what he did to upset her but David protests innocence. Maria tells Audrey she knew it wouldn't work and David tells Audrey she has to make a decision to sack one of her grandchildren so which one is it going to be?

Sarah Lou heads over the builder's yard where she whines at Jason that she is unable to work with David. Bill, who has been listening agrees with her, he wouldn't be able to work with him either. Jason asks what her Gran thinks. Bill thinks that Audrey thinks Sarah Lou can handle working with David and that Sarah Lou needs a cup of tea to help her calm down. Jason leads her off for a cuppa and time to talk it all through. Sarah tells Jason she definitely can't work with David and she doesn't care if it costs her her job any more.

Carla pops into the Rovers to ask Michelle if she has seen Liam. Carla sits down for a sneaky red wine and has a bit of a moan about Liam sticking his oar in her life while she's trying to piece things back together after Paul. Carla wonders why men have to be so difficult. She says she's sick of all men. She asks Michelle if Liam said anything "about her" meaning, but not mentioning, their kiss. Michelle tells her no.

In the street, Ashley walks past the garage and hears Molly calling out for Tyrone. In the garage, Molly has told Tyrone that she spilled the beans to Jack and Vera about what Paul had said. Tyrone is angry because he had decided not to tell Vera and Jack thinking that they won't believe him anyway. Molly tells Tyrone he needs to make Paul tell them because Jack and Vera will have to believe it if it comes directly from him.

In Roy's Rolls, Becky is asked by Blanche if Becky will have any more sudden closures of the cafe planned. She says she knew that working with Becky would be a challenge but she didn't realise it would be on a part-time basis. Audrey comes in to the cafe to see Sarah Lou and Jason. She tells Sarah she's sure that David won't cause any more trouble and will keep his mouth shut in future. Audrey is disappointed because not only will Sarah not budge but she's at a loss as to how to handle things from now on.

In Streetcars, Lloyd and Claire are chatting as Ashley comes in to speak to Claire. Lloyd leaves them to themselves as he heads out to do the school run.

Carla comes back to Underworld where Rosie tells her that Liam has taken the afternoon off but if Carla needs him for anything, she can call him at home. Carla thinks he should just stay at home for ever. Rosie tells her that the workers have been asking if Carla and Liam have fallen out but she doesn't know what to tell them. Carla tells Rosie the next time they ask she's just to tell them whatever she pleases.

Liam is sat in his back yard, all tortured and lovely, throwing a ball against a wall, Steve McQueen/Great Escape style.

Ashley and Claire are in Streetcars where Ashley is annoyed that Claire would have left the children with her mother instead of asking him to look after them. Claire says he needs to keep the shop open to make a living and from now on, she'll decided who looks after the children and not him. Right in the middle of Claire's rant at Ashley, Steve comes in and interrupts them. Ashley leaves in a strop.

Back at the Salon, Audrey has persuaded Sarah Lou to come back to work but needs to ask David to leave for the rest of the day. David tells Audrey that this was Sarah's game all along- to have him slung out. Audrey tells him they'll talk tomorrow before he slams the door in a huff. Audrey can see by Maria's face that she thinks Audrey has done the wrong thing. Maria thinks that David has really been trying but Audrey tells her she's a hairdresser, not a miracle worker. She can't see how else she could have handled the situation.

At Underworld, Carla lets the machinists go early. She says they'll really start to wonder what's going on if they get away early.

At the Duckworths' Tyrone comes home where Jack and Vera are making small talk with Paul. Before Tyrone goes for a bath, Molly wants Paul to tell Vera what he said this morning. Sneakily, he makes Tyrone repeat the actual conversation and then makes out that he's admitting saying those things for the sake of peace. Vera tells Tyrone she's sick of Tyrone putting words in Paul's mouth. Jack just wants to forget the whole thing. Tyrone, defeated and dejected, heads upstairs for a bath. Paul knows that Jack and Vera don't believe a word of Tyrone has told them and twists things further for Tyrone by asking, "Hey, I've admitted it, what more does he want? An apology, coz I can do that an' all!" Vera says Paul will not apologise, he has nothing to apologise for. Molly has seen through Paul's game and tells him he's very clever before leaving the room. Poor Tyrone.

Rosie rings Liam's bell. Liam is not impressed when he answers the door to find her there. He gives her short shrift and sends her on her way, not entertaining her attentions in the slightest. Rosie leaves with her tail between her legs. Liam has a second thought and runs after Rosie to ask her if Carla is still at the factory. Rosie tells him she's gone home.

In the Rovers, Bill and Audrey are drinking. Audrey tells Bill about how Maria thinks David's trying to make things better between them. Bill basically tells Audrey she and Maria are daft and that David is a bad lot- a monster. Audrey tries to argue, a lot of his clients think he's the most well-mannered lad they've met but Bill is still not having it. he points out that those old ladies don't get out much and they tip well. David knows what he's doing. Kelly, Fizz and Vicki are discussing their plans for the evening at another table. Vicki will be ironing, Kelly's iron is broken so she'll be watching telly and Fizz will be seeing her John. Michelle comes over to clear the table and Kelly asks her why Liam and Carla hate each other so much. Michelle tells them she has no clue; they probably know more about those two than she does. When Michelle leave, Kelly complains that you never get a straight answer from the Connor family. They all leave for home. Becky brings Blanche to the Rovers to buy her a drink. After hearing Blanche's request for a large G&T (my preferred tipple, just in case anyone was wondering!) she suspiciously asks Blanche if she always asks for a large one. Blanche tells her, "You can do that when you get to my age!"

Liam rings the downstairs intercom at Carla's and threatens to hang about on the street if Carla doesn't let him in. Carla buzzes him up.

In the Pub again, Audrey tells Bill she can't turn her back on her grandson. Bill tells her not to be fooled by him as they leave the pub. Tyrone and Maria are discussing how Paul has duped Jack and Vera into disbelieving what Tyrone told them about the conversation he and Paul had earlier in the day. Blanche and Becky are talking about life and how life is not to be wasted. Becky enigmatically spins a tale about someone she knows who found out they had a son and it didn't turn out well. "All I'm saying," she says, "kids are a gamble, aren't they? And some folk lose." Molly and Tyrone decide to move on from Jack and Vera's. Paul has won.

At Carla's, Liam tells Carla that he was shocked about what happened between them that morning. He doesn't want Carla to get any ideas about the two of them. Carla says she is nauseated by the mere thought of the two of them together. Except, you know they're both lying. Liam tells Carla he's leaving her from now on to get on with her life. They both say, "See you tomorrow then..." and he leaves.



Wednesday 3 October

It's a damp, dull morning and the factory girls are waiting on the step for their boss. They see him coming across the road and comment on how miserable he looks. They're worried that if he and Carla keep rowing their employment futures could be in danger. He lets them in and then Rosie appears. He apologises for being short with her the day before, and just as she goes inside Carla gets out of her car. They exchange a few, awkward, non-committal words and then Liam goes off to get a bacon buttie.

Outside the salon, Maria, Sarah and Jason are chatting at they wait for Audrey. Of course, the conversation is about the forthcoming wedding – can Sarah talk about anything else? Apparently Candice is going to attend. Audrey rushes up at that minute, accompanied by David. Sarah starts to protest at David's presence, but is quietened by Audrey who is stressed enough because her alarm didn't go off. "Enough!" she says, "you both work here so come on and do some work. And that's my last word on the subject." Looking put out and sulky, Sarah follows her into the salon.

Having spent the night, which is obviously a frequent occurrence, Steve is in Michelle's flat rushing to get ready so he can go home and pick Amy up and take her to nursery. He says it's mad her living there and him living over the road. Michelle says she'd love to have Amy there too but there's nowhere for her to sleep. Steve says that they'll just have to sort something out soon.

Cilla brings Frank his breakfast – cereal and orange juice. He's not impressed with the lateness of the hour and the content of the breakfast. He tells her she must move in, he needs someone there full time. He says he'll make it worth her while, the necklace he gave her is only the start. "You can have your pick of rooms," he says, reminding her that he can't get upstairs. "What about all me friends?" Cilla protests, "I'm a very important part of that community." Frank tells her it's a cab ride away and urges her to think about it. "You come here and what's mine is yours," he says, "and when I'm gone...well, you might never have to work again!" Cilla tells him she'll think about it.

In the factory's office, there's obvious tension between Liam and Carla. He has a leaflet for an underwear fair in Glasgow, he thought they might give it a go. Carla dismisses it straight off. Just then, Rosie comes in with a cuppa for him, as the phone starts to ring. Answering it she tells Carla it's Tony. As she takes the call, Liam picks up his mobile and calls Maria, asking her out to dinner. When she's finished her call Carla tells Liam that it's a bit pathetic – him calling Maria as Tony calls her. Liam tells her to grow up and walks out of the office.

Jerry Morton has acquired a box full of pirate things, it's Finlay's birthday on Sunday and there's a pirate party. Seeing Eileen and Violet in the Street, he asks Eileen if she'll come along.

In the cafe, Blanche is serving behind the counter. She puts a buttie in a bag for Jason, and he asks for an Eccles cake to go with it. "You don't want one of them," she tells him, "very stingy with the currants!" Jason says he doesn't really like currants. "What do you want an Eccles cake for if you don't like currants?" asks Blanche. Becky hears all this and tells her to give the customers what they want. "You take it and put it in a bag and give it to the customer," she says, demonstrating, and giving Jason his cake. Blanche, obviously put out, tells her not to take that tone with her while she's working. "Is that what you call it?" quips Becky.

As he goes to leave the café, Jason comes face to face with David who's just coming in. "All right?" says David, hopefully. "Get out me way!" snarls Jason. "Look," David starts to say, "I know you're really angry……" Jason just shoves him roughly aside and walks out.

Maria and Liam are in the pub having had their lunch. Sean comments on what a lovely looking couple they are. Carla comes in and chats to Michelle across the bar. "I see Romeo's laying it on thick then," she says, looking at the happy couple. Michelle tells her that Maria is dead nice and Liam could do a lot worse. The conversation comes round to Tony, but Carla becomes very cagey and tells Michelle to mind her business. "You are allowed to move on," Michelle tells her, "give yourself a break, we both know how short life can be."

Bill and Audrey come in. Audrey tells him to talk to her about anything except grandchildren, hospitals and the drug overdose. "How are the wedding plans coming along?" he asks. "And weddings!" says Audrey, and orders her drink.

Violet is talking to Sean, telling him that Jerry obviously hasn't realised that it's Eileen's birthday as well as Finlay's on Sunday, and she hasn't told him.

Carla looks again at Liam and Maria appearing to be very wrapped up in each other, and leaves the pub. Making a call on her mobile she calls Tony. "About that drink..." she says.

Cilla is talking to Frank. He tells her she'll never get a better offer, at her age. She tells him that if she agrees, he'll have to get a cleaner in, she doesn't intend to spend all her time dusting his knick knacks! He assures her that Mrs. Squires will come in every day. He tells her that they'll have lots of holidays. She agrees that Vegas was fun, "Never felt skinnier in me life," she says, going off to watch tv and mull over her decision.

Eileen goes into the salon to get her hair done. Audrey asks if she's any plans for the weekend. She says she hasn't, there's just the party Jerry is organising for Finlay. Sarah tells David perhaps he should consider going to the party for a load of six year olds. Audrey hushes her, and David is hurt that although he keeps trying to apologise to Sarah she won't forgive him. Audrey tells him it's going to take time. He says he feels terrible and Audrey believes him, and tells him that given a bit more time his mother might as well. David cheers up considerably at this news.

Lloyd and Steve are in the café, Lloyd is studying the property pages of the paper and tells Steve he ought to be looking for a penthouse place downtown. Steve reminds him that he's already mortgaged to the hilt with the pub and the taxi firm. As they get up to leave, Blanche snaps at them to clear their plates and bring them over. Becky is shocked, "Can you not fetch them?" she says. "With my hip?" says Blanche, curtly, as Steve and Lloyd do as their told and bring their plates to the counter. "No tip, I notice," mutter Blanche as they leave.

Liam walks into the office to find Carla changing her top, she's off for her drink with Tony.

David, who seems to be oblivious to the need to keep his head down for the next six months while time heals the wounds he's inflicted, sees Jason unloading timber from the back of the truck. He goes over to try to apologise again, saying that he's really sorry and he loves Beth. "She's probably the only one in the family I do love," he says. At this point Jason loses his temper and lunges at David, pinning him up against the door by his throat. David is saved by Bill who comes running up, shouting at Jason to let him go. As David runs off Bill tells him he knows how he feels but it won't help anything.

Carla and Tony are in the Rovers, enjoying their drink. Tony gets a phone call that he says is from his accountant. Michelle asks what happened to the snarling man-hater. Carla says she wore herself out, but hopes Michelle is ok with her seeing Tony. "If your happy, so am I," Michelle tells her. They then wonder when they both started being nice to each other!

Eileen and Jerry come in, so Sean takes Eileen to one side on the pretext of asking for a recipe, whilst Violet tips off Jerry that it's Eileen's birthday on Sunday.

Cilla takes Frank in a plate of sandwiches, telling him that she's decided to accept his offer. She then turns to wake him up, but finds that he's never going to wake up again! Frank has passed away in his chair!

Tony is in the Street, just finishing his phone call, when he spots Maria and Liam coming along and urges them to come in and join him and Carla in the Rovers.

Over at a table, Jerry asks Eileen if she'd ever like to go somewhere else. "You're not getting bored with me are you?" she asks him.

Back at Frank's, Cilla explains to the paramedics that she's not his daughter, she's his carer.

In the pub, Liam is amusing Tony and Maria with tales of Carla's cooking disasters. Carla is not amused, so Maria suggests they change the subject. Liam and Carla go to the bar to get another round. They mutter to each other, he making comments about her forgetting Paul. After a few more sharp retorts he goes and tells Maria there's a change of plan, they'll get wine and a takeaway and go back to his place. After they've gone, Carla tells Tony that as her dead husband was Liam's brother and now they're working together, it's complicated. She suggests they go back to her place.

Outside Liam's front door, Maria tells him to forget about Carla and concentrate on her. As she opens the door Liam turns and sees Carla heading off with Tony.

Anne Logan



Friday 5 October

It's Friday and we've go a double episode again because of some sort of ball game. I wish ITV would get its priorities right! Sour grapes? You betcha!

Bill's obviously planning on trying out for The Zimmers, bopping around the breakfast table singing "My Generation". Neither David nor Audrey is impressed. David's sullen and says he's going to Roy's for breakfast.

Over at the Platts', Sarah and Jason get told off by Gail for baiting David. On the other side of the street, Maria has obviously stayed the night with Liam. Jamie arrives home from work as they kiss on the doorstep.

Carla has had an overnight visitor, too. Tony. She's trying to put some distance between them, which is difficult because she's still in her robe. She tells him frankly that it's just that things are a bit strange. It's been a while.

Cilla tells Kirk that Frank dying on her like that was just typical. She seems extraordinarily cheerful as she heads off towards the job centre. Just as she leaves, the phone rings and Kirk answers. He's shocked to discover that it's a firm of solicitors.

In the factory, Rosie tells Liam it must be wonderful to have his own place. She says he must be able to do whatever he wants and be as loud as he wants. Liam says he even gets to stay up late, "but only on weekends." Rosie doesn't catch the hint of sarcasm and tells him how awful it is living at home with her parents and sister. Carla comes in, apologising for being late, and finds a bunch of roses on her desk. Rosie goes to put the flowers in water and Carla takes the chance to have a go at Liam for being against her seeing Tony.

In the salon, Sarah teases Maria about spending the night with Liam. Michelle, head backwards in a basin, is very interested. "Leading my brother astray, are you?" she asks. "I think it's a bit late for that," says Violet, who is in one of the chairs. Michelle says she thinks you know in the first five minutes whether the man is the one for you. "Like you and Steve, you mean?" asks Violet. David asks if anyone wants a hot drink. He takes orders and asks Sarah. She glares at him. "You're not to talk to me." David goes off to the tea-making corner and Audrey follows him to reassure him that he has to give Sarah time. She tells him Gail was asking after him. She says Gail still cares about him and didn't want to throw him out, but had no option.

In the factory, Kelly brings in another bunch of flowers. It looks as if it's the third bunch. Liam thinks three bunches is a bit over the top and Rosie agrees that it's not exactly playing it cool.

There are flowers on Gail's doorstep, too – David's bought them for her. He asks if he can come in and a startled Gail says he can. Sarah is very annoyed to see him there and tells Gail he's just trying to grease round her. "Well, I keep trying to apologise, only nobody listens," David tells them. Sarah scoops up her sandwiches and leads Jason out of the house.

In the kebab shop, Jerry's trying to organise someone who can't do whatever it is until six o'clock. He's quite distracted. Fizz comes in to see Kirk, who is on a seat at the window. He's worried about Cilla. She and Frank didn't get on and now there's some solicitor looking for Cilla. Kirk's worried that Cilla stole the necklace.

In the pub, Marcus comes in unexpectedly to see Sean. In conversation he tells Violet about expectant mums coming for their scans reeking of cigarettes and booze. Gail and Audrey are at a table. Gail says it's easy to forget David is just a little boy. She thinks maybe she should have a word with him.

In the kebab shop, Jerry seems quite pleased with the result of his phone calls. Lloyd comes in but doesn't want a kebab, just a coffee. Jerry asks him if he knows how hard it is to book a decent table in a restaurant these days. Ah, phone-call mystery solved. As Jody brings his coffee, Lloyd tells them he usually has no problem booking a table, though it's usually for one. "Don't go feeling sorry for me," he says. When he goes, Jerry asks Jody if she's going to take the hint. "He fancies you something rotten," he says. Lloyd only comes in when Jody's there and he comes in for coffee. "Nobody comes in here for coffee, they all go to Roy's." Jody thinks maybe Lloyd likes their coffee, but Jerry points her outside just in time to see Lloyd throwing his coffee in the bin. Never backwards in coming forwards, Jody goes out and asks Lloyd if he fancies her. Lloyd is embarrassed. She tells him what Jerry said. He admits that he likes her. She wants to know why he didn't just say, instead of coming into the shop all the time and then binning the coffee. Lloyd points out that he's only binned the coffee because he's just had a call about an urgent fare. "Oh," says a crestfallen Jody. "And the last thing you want is some madwoman wanting you to ask her out." Lloyd's face lights up. Lloyd asks her to meet him in the Rovers at 7 on Sunday. "Now, you either go in there, phone the station and get them to cancel or delay the London train, or I've got to get my fare," Lloyd says. A much more cheerful Jody goes back into the shop.

Kirk tells Fizz that Cilla might have gone on the run because she's not home. Fizz says they should go in and wait for her, and they might be able to persuade her to give the necklace back.

Gail goes into the salon and asks for Gail. She asks him if he wants to come out for his tea. Sarah hopes Gail's not letting David get round her with one lousy bunch of flowers. "Sarah," says Gail, "you might be happy with the way things are, but nobody else is." David's getting his jacket on. "If he comes home, I'm leaving," Sarah mutters as Gail and David go off.

Cilla arrives home. She's still quite cheerful. Kirk tells her that Dead Frank's solicitors are after her, though he didn't get a number. As Cilla rings 1471 to find out who the last caller was ("If they're not last caller, you're dead meat," she tells Kirk), Fizz tells her it's not too late to give back the necklace. Cilla can't work out what for, because Frank gave it to her. "And he said there'd be a lot more where that came from – then, clogs popped, back to square one. I didn't think he'd had time to change his will."

In the pub, Carla tells Michelle that Tony was a gentleman. Jamie wants to know whether Liam's seeing Maria tonight. He probably is. Sean comes and greets Violet. He asks her whether Marcus is a keeper. He is, she thinks. Maria comes in to see Liam. Michelle tells them that things seem to be moving on with Carla and Tony. Liam isn't impressed.

David and Gail are at dinner. She tells him she believes he is genuinely sorry. "But you just don't seem to realise that what seems like a big joke to you – other people get hurt." He repeats his assertion that he's sorry. He's learnt his lesson. Gail says she knows David was hurt when he found out she considered having an abortion, but from the minute she met him she was so glad she had him. "I have always loved you." And despite all the terrible things he's done, she still does.

Back in the pub, Maria's puzzled by why Liam keeps looking over towards Carla and Maria. Liam suggests they go back to his for some privacy. Cilla, Fizz and Kirk come in. Cilla tells Fizz she can buy her mum a drink, "but don't come to me with your hand out on Monday when I've got my inheritance." Marcus comes in to meet Sean. He plans to take him to meet some friends. Violet reminds him that he's covering a shift for her on Sunday. Sean says he's got it tattooed on the inside of his eyelids.

In the restaurant, David and Gail are still talking. He has a bit of a moan about Bill and says the sooner he's out of there the better. "Where will you go?" asks Gail. It seems David thought the dinner was a way of asking him to come home. She tells him that a few apologies and a bunch of flowers do not come close to making things right. The dinner is about them talking and trying to understand each other. David's upset that she can say she loves him and then do this. "You don't understand how much you're hurting me," he says. "And how many times could I have said that to you?" David protests and promises, but Gail says promises from him aren't enough. "This is as hard for me as it is for you." "No it isn't," says David. "Nowhere near." He grabs his jacket and storms out.

The End, for now. Richard will be along with Part Two.
Margaret Carr

Now although this was broadcast on the Friday evening it seems to me that it was really intended for Sunday.

Written by Mark Wadlow and directed by Tony Prescott the episode opens with Lloyd meeting Jodie in the Street. She is all dressed up for a pirate party that afternoon - Lloyd declines an invitation to join them as there will be 20 children between 6 and 8. He is however looking forward to seeing her later.

Jason and Sarah return from their walk and they have been talking about the wedding and as they tell Gail they have made a major decision - they will be having a chocolate fountain. Gail was rather hoping that they might fix a few of the other million and one things. Gail suggests they need to start making decisions. Indeed if Jason goes and gets Eileen then they can sit down with the fish pie and discuss and agree the details. On one condition says Sarah - that David is excluded.

At the Rovers Sean has failed to turn up for his shift and Violet is conscripted for the shift.

Audrey is phoned to join the witches planning coven and David overhears the phone call. David knows they were talking about him. Bill does not like David's backchat. Bill wants to get out of the discussion as well - but Gail wants the family. Audrey does not like the lying.

The party is in flow with kids arriving - Jelly Roll Morton tells the delivering parents to collect at 7 or any time thereafter (they will of course be much later collecting them - and we all know that Jodie has a hot date in the Rovers at 7 - anyone spot the impending clash, no I thought not). Jelly Roll has not made the sandwiches either citing his hook in defence.

In the Rovers there is discussion between Carla and her fancy man who has provided four bouquets each of a dozen red roses. She suggests he might be going over the top ever so slightly.

At the bar Liz notes that Vi is not looking great - she bent down for some mixers and came over all weird (lucky she did not use the "q" word). Jamie notices and offers to run her to the hospital. Better safe than sorry.

In the Street David and Darryl discuss life when Audrey and Bill arrive and go into Gail's. Inside the table is being laid and Sarah just wants to discuss the wedding and then Gail remembers it is Eileen's birthday, so Gail suggests opening the wine.

Sean arrives full of excuses (he has been transported to another world) so it is several minutes before Liz is able to get through his think head that Violet is unwell and has gone to the hospital. His phone is flat. Liz suggests that Vi felt queasy - and she has gone to the General. Sean runs out telling Liz she has to cope.

Back at the Platts they open another bottle or three of wine to continue the discussion during lunch. David is peering through the window to try and work out what is going on. Sarah refuses to allow David to have anything to do with it and pulls the curtains. Eventually Eileen has to depart as she is spending time with Jelly Roll. The flowers are ordered and David has gone when Gail pulls back the curtains.

Eileen arrives at the party which is still happening. Jelly Roll is playing the part of the captain and the kids and Eileen are all in complete rapture. Both Claire and Ash are present - she claims it has to be for the kids. The party continues going strong for some time - indeed the place is getting trashed although Jodie has a date ass she admits to her sister. Ashley takes Freddie home. Jelly Roll and Eileen depart - first to the best Indian Dining Experience in Cheshire plus there is a nice little hotel next door and he has a reservation. Jodie asks who will be looking after the terrors - especially Billie. Jelly Roll cannot believe that Jodie has something important on and she caves in within seconds.

At the hospital Sean arrives to meet Vi and Jamie coming the other way. She reassures him that there is nothing wrong with the baby. Although the baby is not keen spag bol as that seems to be the cause of the upset. Anyway all seems well now.

Sarah explains the chocolate fountain to Audrey - she suggests that instead of champagne she and Jason will toast each other in liquid chocolate!! Behind them David is once again peering in through the window. Gail goes out to talk to him. David sits on the wall when Gail (wearing by the way an unbelievable see through top, heaven alone knows what wardrobe were thinking of when they put that on her - I mean at her age do we really want her breasts in our face?). She asks what he was doing. He wanted to see what was going on. He reckons they were talking about him. She invites him in to see what is really going on.

Gail ushers David in and she tells him that they are discussing the wedding. David finally starts to get the message that he is not welcome to certainly family matters. Gail handles the matter quietly pointing out that Sarah has a right for there to be no interference. David apologises for freaking them all out. He then asks David about the stag do. Jason makes it clear that he is not invited to the stag do and then Sarah makes it equally clear that he is not wanted at the wedding. David cannot believe it - he has said he is sorry (about one fraction of how sorry he needs to be for all that he has done - and yet he cannot see that). Even in a thousand years Sarah might be able to forgive him.

Claire returns home and finds Ash asleep on the sofa. He wakes and makes to leave. She tells him to stay the night on the sofa - she will throw a duvet down.

Jodie gets one of the collecting mothers to look after the remaining party people for a few minutes and she dashes across to the Rovers to apologise to Lloyd. She calls her father selfish and goes off on a rant - she did all the hard work and she got no thanks. She says she is sorry then gives Lloyd a great big dirty snog before departing.

David claims he has learnt his lesson and he will never do it again. Against both Gail and Audrey Sarah stands her ground and refuses to have anything to do with David. David tells Sarah that the wedding is simply not going to happen. And we close on Sarah's unhappy face.

See you next week.

Kosmo Richard W



Sunday 7 October



Monday 8 October

This is a report prepared by our new reporter, Erica Houston.

SPOILER – Monday 8th October. Part 1.

Jerry and Eileen arrive back on the street in a cab after Eileen's birthday trip. Jerry is annoyed to see that the kebab shop is closed and immediately blames Jodie.

In the Battersby house Cilla is gloating about the millions of pounds she is sure she'll receive later that day. Kirk tries to advise her against making it public knowledge before she has seen the solicitor. Cilla declares she won't be doing that and will very much enjoy spreading the good news. Kirk seems concerned.

Sarah and Jason are having a kiss and cuddle in the street when they see David looking at them. Sarah says he's spooking her. Jason promptly reassures her and says she should ignore him.

In the factory office Liam is acting overly cheerful and telling Carla all about his fantastic weekend with Maria. He then notices there are no flowers decorating the office and assumes this means that Carla has split up with Tony and he hasn't bought her any. He also thinks this means they have lost Tony as a client. She informs him otherwise and tells him how great things are between them.

Jodie completely ignores Jerry when he arrives back home. He confronts her. She is still very annoyed about being left to clear up after Fin's birthday party and missing her day with Lloyd. Jerry promises her the whole of next weekend off work. Jodie is skeptical up accepts his offer.

Cilla goes into the cabin and picks up a posh and expensive magazine. She takes it to the counter where Norris is intrigued. He enquires why she is wearing black to which she goes into her whole "oh my poor dear Frank" routine. She then makes sure Norris knows all about the huge amount of money she will receive by way of inheritance. She tells him that Chesney will no longer be doing his paper round and that they will be moving away once he has the money.

Becky is flirting with Jason over the cafe counter, Sarah jokingly tells her to keep her hands off. Sarah then asks Jason for his address book so she can send out invites for the wedding. He's worried about how she'll react to there being other girls numbers in there. She isn't at all worried she says as after all she's the one he's going to marry.

In the Rovers Sean is confiding in Jamie about Violet and the baby. He is feeling guilty for not being then when she went to the hospital ill. He thanks Jason for being there in his absence, Jason reassures him.

Sarah arrives back at work. David says he'll get out of her way and go to the café. She stops him and makes him stay at work. He keeps making cryptic comments about Sarah and Jason's wedding not going ahead. Sarah starts to prepare her wedding invitations ready for posting. David informs her that she'll be "wasting her stamps. But then again" he goes on " every show needs an audience doesn't it?"

Back in the cafe Becky is on the phone to Blanche asking if she is going to show up for work today. She tells Becky she wont be in, her aches and pains are playing up. Becky goes over to Cilla's table and notices the magazine she bought from Norris earlier. "That's out of your league" she states. Cilla informs her is will be right in her league later that afternoon.

Back over at the factory Carla is having problem sending e-mail with an attachment. Liam steps in to help and it works first time which he is very cocky about. He makes a sexist comment about women and computers not mixing. Tony then arrives to take her out for lunch. Liam then goes on to claim that Carla is not the one in control of her and Tony's relationship like she earlier claimed.

Lloyd goes to see Jerry in the kebab shop. They're singing rather loudly and rather badly along to the radio! Jerry apologises about Lloyd and Jodie's ruined date. He offers Lloyd money to take Jodie out another time. He refuses.

In the salon David is alone. Sarah has gone to the post box to send some wedding invitations. David looks through Jason's address book that Sarah has left there. He looks up Todd's number.

Lloyd goes round to see Jodie. He tells her about Jerry's offer of money which she is very angry about.

We then see David addressing an envelope to Todd and putting a wedding invitation inside.

Cilla is at the bar in the Rovers. She tells Violet and Liz rather loudly that she expects to receive at least £1 million from Frank's inheritance.

Sean is still feeling very guilty about not being around for Violet and his child. He says he shouldn't have gone out. Violet says it was nothing and he shouldn't worry so much.

Cilla goes to the cab office and asks for a driver for the afternoon. She pulls out £50 from her purse and hands it over like it were nothing. Lloyd offers to take the job.

Jodie catches up with her dad and is still angry that he tried to offer money to Lloyd. She lets him know how humiliated she feels by his actions. Jerry tries to calm Jodie down with no success. She is fed up of him interfering in her life and says from now on Kayleigh and Fin are his problem.

Cilla and Lloyd arrive at the solicitor's office in the taxi. Cilla takes no notice when Lloyd tells her they have arrived and continues to top up her make-up and complain about all the people she expects will come and befriend her now she's wealthy. She insists Lloyd opens the door for her "I could get used to this" she says as she gets out of the taxi.

Cilla enters the solicitor's reception. She impatiently asks the receptionist how long it will take. However she then changes her mind and informs the receptionist "my driver is outside but he can wait".

Erica Houston

Cilla is waiting in her finery at the solicitor's office asking how much longer it will take for the solicitor to see her. The solicitor brings Mrs Battersby-Brown into his office to sign a couple of documents. Cilla reckons she's in a "proper signing mood".

In the Rovers Jerry is talking on his mobile phone while Eileen stands at the bar with him. Michelle is pulling him a pint. Jerry explains that he's got the chance to take a Boy's Weekend trip to Milan and he's going. Eileen points out that he has promised Jodie that she can have a weekend off- or maybe he should take Jodie with him. Jerry says he'll bring Jodie a cornetto ice cream back and she'll be fine and gets on the blower to Mel to look for some cheap flights. Eileen mentions to Michelle on the side that maybe Jerry could take her but Michelle points out that it'll be a drunken boy's weekend and she'd not like it. Eileen thinks she would enjoy a "drunken shopping weekend"! Sean's hospital boyfriend comes in and asks Michelle if she's seen Sean. He says it's no big deal if he doesn't see him but Michelle says he should text Sean because for Sean, it is a big deal.

Cilla is sitting in the solicitor's office making many inappropriate remarks about how much money she expects to inherit from Frank. When the solicitor tells her the inheritance is only £500 she is disappointed. It soon becomes clear that there have been many women/carers like Cilla in Frank's life, all of whom have come in to claim their inheritances. Cilla leaves the office in a mood and tells the next of Frank's beneficiaries, "Don't get yer 'opes up, love. There's another coach load coming in after you!"

Jason is up on the roof at the builder's yard where Sarah comes up to see him hanging over the rail eating his sandwich. She has another whine about David, wishing she could sack him. Jason tells her she should try it, maybe Audrey won't notice. He is supportive of her and they have a kiss and a cuddle.

Liam, wearing what looks like a harrington jacket (remember them?) is at the bar in the Rovers glaring at Carla and Tony Gordon in one of the booths. He moves away to the other side of the pub. Sean walks in and asks his boyfriend (whose name escapes me completely at the moment) what he's doing here. They have a drink together. Sean is glad to see him as he thinks they have been moving too fast and need to slow down a bit so he can pay more attention to Vi and be around a bit more for him. Jerry and Eileen are still at the bar. Jerry sees Kevin come in and asks Kevin if he wants to join him on his trip to Milan. Kevin is keen and tells Jerry he's up for it but needs half an hour to sort it out with Sally. Tony notices Liam glaring and mentions to Carla that Liam, while he doesn't want to join them, doesn't mind checking them out. Carla defends Liam before Liam comes over to tell Carla he's headed back to the factory. Tony tries to get Carla to bunk off for the afternoon but then his phone rings and he leaves Carla to take the business call. Michelle comes over to chat with Carla. Carla mentions that Tony is all a bit too much too soon and she needs a bit of space. Michelle tells her she should tell him and if he's really interested, he'll be back when Carla has sorted out her feelings.

In the Salon, David is on the phone when Sarah comes in and hangs up her coat. She knows that the phone call was for her- David tells her it was the florist. Sarah is suspicious of why David wouldn't have handed the phone over when he saw her come in but David just makes an excuse. Sarah tells him David doesn't trust him because he's an evil little creep.

At Underworld, Kevin comes to ask Sally for a weekend leave pass for Milan. Liam is keen to join them but Kevin explains that there's only one extra spot. Sally doesn't seem keen to let him go drinking for a weekend but relents. Liam tells Kevin that if he can't go, Liam will be glad to step in. Sally eventually relents to Kevin going "haring off to a foreign country with a bunch of hooligans he's never met before" when Kevin points out that his weekend will be cheaper than her English lessons.

Cilla is moping at home with some cans of beer when Kirkeh comes tearing in the door with a joint of expensive beef. She tells Kirk about how she was left only "five 'undred flamin' quid". She's feeling very sorry for herself as she thought her life was about to change but this disappointment is par for the course. "It's the story of my life," she says.

Back in the Salon, Sarah has reconfirmed her flowers for her wedding. David fakes interest in the wedding but Sarah can see through it all. She tells David she knows that he has an evil plan to ruin her wedding. David tells Sarah that she won't need any help from him ruining the wedding, she and Jason will do it all by themselves. All in front of a customer. David puts his coat on, with an envelope in the pocket, he tells Sarah he's going out for milk and posts a letter to a Mr Todd Grimshaw in Stoke Newington.

Cilla is taking the joint of beef back to Ashley's Butcher shop saying she wants to return it because she can't afford frivolous expenditure. Ashley refuses to take the beef back. Kirk is embarrassed and tries to explain to Ashley that he did tell her she can't return it- she's having a bad day. He takes the joint of beef home with him.

In the Rovers, Jodie joins Lloyd at the bar and asks if they're still on for a date later on that evening. At the other end of the bar, Eileen is trying to get Jerry to tell Jodie of his plans for the weekend but Jerry refuses, he buys Lloyd and Jodie a drink instead. Sean and his boyfriend (whose name I still cannot remember!) are at a booth where Sean is worried that by asking his new boyfriend for a bit of space, he's scared him off. The new b/f is fine about it and tells Sean he's genuinely quite happy to slow things down if that's what Sean needs. They leave the pub but not before Sean leans over the bar to Michelle and says, "I think I'm in love!" Jodie and Lloyd can't fathom why Jerry would have bought them a drink. They think maybe he's not feeling very well.

Kirk is trying to make Cilla feel better by telling her she's still got £500 and there's a big joint of beef in the oven. Things could be worse. Cilla won't be cheered though. She's got no job, no money and no idea when Les is coming home. All of a sudden she's got a new lease of life and decides she's going on an economy drive. Starting with getting rid of the "pile of junk" necklace Frank gave her. She puts her shoes on and leaves the house in a hurry.

Liam sees Carla in the office at Underworld. Carla tells her she's booking a business trip looking for suppliers- one she canceled earlier but has decided she's going. Liam thinks that she's going with her new boyfriend but Carla tells him she's going alone. She refuses to open up any further and asks Liam if he has no work he could be getting on with.

Cilla is at an antique dealer of sorts where the dealer is examining her necklace. "If you're looking for "made in Taiwan" it's generally on 'tclasp," she tells him. The dealer tells her that cash is tight right now but he could probably give her "40" for her unusual, fascinating piece. She tries to get the price up to £50 and reminds him as he goes to ask his partner that he gets the box as well for that price.

In the Salon, Sarah asks David if he's nicked any of her stamps. David denies it, of course and asks if it could have been their Gran who was in earlier doing her bills. Sarah tells David she's going out to post the invitations. David offers to do it but Sarah refuses, telling him she knows he'd do something untoward with them and no one would turn up at the wedding. A client comes in for a hair do. David smarms all over the elderly lady as Sarah goes out to the post box. Sarah asking David to stop smiling. "You're doing my head in!" she tells him.

Cilla is rejoined by the dealer who has spoken with his associate. He offers Cilla "45 "who is happy to take that. Cilla tells him to sort out the cash so she can get on her bus. The dealer tells her £45,000 is a lot of cash to get his hands on at such short notice. "£45,000?" Cilla is taken aback but then regains her composure. "Did I say bus?" she asks, "I meant taxi obviously. Me driver's had to take t'limo into t'garage today. You know what it's like." I love Cilla, I'll be sorry to see the back of her.

Chesney and Kirk are at home where Chesney can't understand how someone can be miserable about having been given £500. Kirk explains to him it was all the money she didn't get given that had upset Cilla and reminds him not to say anything about the beef. "...you can say, like, "nice beef" coz that's just manners. But not, "nice beef, aren't we lucky?" coz then she'll start chucking herself about again." Cilla comes through the door singing, "If I were a rich man....." and in a decidedly better mood than when she left. She tells Kirkeh and Chesney how much money she got for the necklace and everyone is happy. "45 grand?" asks Kirk, "that's like, millions!" Cilla sends Kirk off to Dev's for some more cans of beer, they're celebrating. Alone, Cilla looks to the heavens and says, "You know what, Frank? You can come back and pinch my backside any time! Cheers!"

Stella McLoughlin



Wednesday 10 October

We open with Kirk asleep on the sofa, surrounded by empty lager cans and the remains of a takeaway. Cilla breezes downstairs, all sweetness and light, but Kirk is suffering. Just then Chesney comes in, most indignant that Cilla lost him his paper-round. "Norris called me Little Lord someone-or-other," he moans, "why did you do that? I love my paper-round, what did you say to him?" Cilla can't really remember, but is sure he'll get his job back if he flashes an angelic smile. Not amused, Chesney goes off to school, and Kirk eases himself off the sofa and says he's going to line his belly with a fry-up. Cilla is cock-a-hoop about her ‘forty-five thousand smackers' and wants to know who's going to celebrate with her.

Jack tells Tyrone that Vera is very down over his falling out with Paul and all the business with the biscuit tin. Tyrone decides to make her tea and toast to cheer her up.

Over in the cafe, Becky is serving Fizz when Kirk comes in. Becky comments that it was a mean trick of Frank's, to promise Cilla the earth and then giving her five hundred pounds. Kirk butts in, "Forty-five thousand," he says, but no-one appears to hear. Blanche says she knows a few pensioners who wouldn't say no to five hundred pounds. Kirk repeats himself, and Fizz turns round and tells him to stop going on about forty-five thousand. "That's what she got," he says, and explains that was for the necklace. "What is she playing at now?" says Fizz, and is convinced that Kirk has got it wrong, and he must tell her that whatever her game is none of them are going to be daft enough to fall for it. "It's that special bond between mother and daughter," mutters Blanche as Fizz storms out.

Over at the Duckworth's, Tyrone has just finished making the tea and toast for Vera when Paul comes down and says he's going to take Jack and Vera out for a full English breakfast. Tyrone puts the tray down and goes off to work in a huff.

Leanne, Janice and Roger set off to work, Janice is moaning because she didn't get time for a shower as Leanne was in the bathroom at the wrong time. Leanne says it was Roger's fault, he took too long. He says he was shaving, and that takes time. Leanne says she'll buy him an electric razor but he says she shouldn't be buying anything until she's paid back the money she owes him.

With the money already burning a hole, Cilla is watching the shopping channel. Kirk has come home from work, feeling ill.

It's lunchtime and Janice and Roger have gone for lunch at Leanne's restaurant, but have been kept waiting for quite a long time. Leanne comes out says that they have a problem with the plumbing in the gent's loo, and begs him to have a look. Disgruntled, he eventually goes off to see, saying, "Is this how you treat all your customers?" "Only those who don't pay!" she quips. Janice turns to her, "I think all your life savings for a bit of lukewarm pasta should cover it, don't you?" Leanne quickly says that she was only joking.

Back at Cilla's, she's still watching the shopping channel, trying to work out what to spend her money on. Kirk suggests she buy the house. "What? Waste good money on a pile of old bricks? Talk sense!" she scolds. Just then Fizz arrives, wanting to know if it's true about the money. "Good news travels fast," says Cilla. Fizz is annoyed that half the factory girls knew before she did, but wants to know if it's true. "I'm what you'd call a woman of substance," says Cilla, smugly. Fizz wants to know how long it'll take her to muck it all up. "You know what you're like, the more you've got the bigger the cock-up!" she tells her mother, and adds that she can't stand watching while she throws it all away. "Then don't look!" snaps Cilla, then adds more softly that she won't throw it all away, she'll be very, very careful. "How'd you fancy another designer handbag?" Fizz storms out in disgust.

At Leanne's restaurant, Roger comes out of the gents brandishing something. "Ballcock!" he says, sitting back at the table where Janice is waiting. Leanne puts food down on the table, saying it's on the house. Roger tells her she owes thirty pounds for the call out charge, thirty pounds for the labour and ten pounds for the part. "Seventy quid!" Leanne looks horrified. Roger says that he'll take thirty. "Don't forget your free lunch," says Leanne. Incensed, Roger tells her to give him the full seventy and they'll go somewhere else. Janice tries to calm the situation by saying that the food is there now, and Leanne hastily says that she was only joking, and rushes off to get the cash. Janice turns to Roger and asks if he was really going to charge Leanne the full whack. He says he's not a charity and can't afford to be giving freebies to someone who already owes him thousands.

Back at the Battersby-Brown residence (funny how Les never gets mentioned at all these days, and who is paying the rent?) Cilla is still trying to find something to blow all her dosh on. Kirk has a few suggestions – she could swim with the dolphins, or buy her own fruit machine, or she could sponsor a donkey down at the refuge, or a bird of prey in Snowdonia….. "That's it!" cries Cilla. "What, a bird or a donkey?" asks Kirk. She turns to him, "Where's the happiest I've ever been?" she says, "when did I feel that this is what life's all about? Where did I really feel at home?" Kirk looks at her blankly. "Vegas wasn't it? Down casino in Vegas, that's where I belong!" Kirk says that she could go for a month this time. "Forever, Kirky-boy! I'm going to Vegas forever!" She says how she'll be beside the pool all day and in the casino all night. "And Ches, he'll have a girlfriend with white socks and a pony tail, like in Grease," says Kirk, getting all excited. That brings Cilla back to earth with a bump, it seems she had forgotten all about her son, her face falls. "Chesney!" she sighs.

Jack has called in at the restaurant to see where his grandson works. Paul tells him he should bring his grandma next time. "If she's up to it," sighs Jack. Paul says it's not right Vera being cooped up all the time in the house and suggests that Jack takes her away for a few days for a complete break. Jack admits that they haven't been to see the Horton's in Blackpool for a while. "There you go then," says Paul (I can't help but like him, he seems to be such a thoughtful boy) "she could do with the sea breezes!" He encourages Jack to go home and make all the arrangements. "You could be walking along that prom first thing tomorrow morning," he says with a grin.

Chesney comes back in from school and seeing Norris to get his paper round back, and, finding Cilla cooking sausages, is worried that she's in shock. "Is it that post-traumatic thing?" he asks. Cilla laughs as Kirk tells him that she wants to go to Vegas. "No I don't! Shut up Kirk!" Cilla tries to brush it off. "Is that right? Are we going to America?" Chesney wants to know. "What, me on fruit machines and you outside with a bottle of pop?" says Cilla, "no love." She tells him to stop looking so worried and gives him the money for a bottle of pop.

Eileen and Jerry have met up for a midday drink in the Rovers. "Meeting up in a dinner-time, says something that," comments Vernon, and tells them that there's just three months to go before his wedding to Liz and it can't come soon enough. Jerry sees Jodie and Lloyd sitting at a table and goes over to join them. Jodie tells him that Lloyd's mate is going to get them tickets for a concert in Preston on Saturday. "Saturday?" says Eileen, looking at Jerry, who looks the other way. "What's up?" asks Jodie, but Jerry isn't saying, and then it's forgotten as she and Lloyd get up to go back to work. When they've left, Eileen reminds Jerry that on Saturday he's be in an Italian pub. Jerry tells her that they might not even get the tickets to the concert, but Eileen says he should have warned them.

Chesney and Cilla are sitting at the table. He looks very glum, and tells her Fizz was right, the money won't make her happy. She tells him it's all fresh starts. Fizz was a new start for her, she was going to be such a great mum…and then there was him, she was going to be such a good mum – but she wasn't. "You were all right," says Chesney. She tells him she fell in love with Vegas because no one knew her, and every time she put a token in a fruit machine she was close to a fortune. "You want to go to Vegas," says Chesney. Cilla denies it, and says they'll make a fresh start somewhere else.

Carla is off on a trip, and giving Liam and Rosie some last minute instructions when Tony arrives. "You didn't say you were going anywhere," he says. "I didn't know I had to," she replies. He insists on driving her to the airport and off they go.

At the Duckworth's, Jack has just bid a fond farewell to his pigeons and Tyrone has the hump because Paul is going to be looking after them whilst Jack's away. "But I look after them while he's away!" he pouts. Paul says that a few weeks by the sea will do them both good. "Weeks?" Tyrone is horrified. "They can stay as long as they want now they've got me to look after the place," says Paul. Jack says that they can all do their bit. As he goes off to feed the pigeons, Jack turns to Tyrone and Molly. "How I managed all these years without that lad I'll never know."

Liam and Rosie follow Carla out of the factory. As he's locking the door he turns and sees Carla and Tony getting into the car, and sharing a kiss. Rosie is wittering on about a local Tapas bar but Liam isn't really paying attention. "Good idea," he mutters, watching Carla being driven away. Rosie of course thinks that she's finally got a date with the gorgeous Liam. "It won't take me long, I'll just have a quick shower and a change," she giggles. "Yeah, whatever," says Liam, "have a good evening," and he wander off, leaving Rosie looking extremely deflated.

In the kebab shop, Jodie is serving with Jerry when Lloyd comes in with the sought after concert tickets and the promise of a night in a top hotel. Jerry butts in and says they might have to press the pause on that bit. "What bit?" Jodie demands to know. He tells them that as he's going to Milan and the kids will be in Weatherfield, she can't go to Preston. "But it's my weekend off!" she yells. He tells her it's been booked for ages. "How often do I get a chance like this?" he says. "How often do I get a chance like this?" she yells back at him, and points out that they're not even her kids, they're not her responsibility. "I know you're upset, but I am going to Milan and that is it!" Jerry shouts. Jodie takes off her apron and walks out.

Paul comes in to pick up his whites and tells Molly and Tyrone that Jack and Vera got off to Blackpool fine. "You got shot of them, more like," says Molly. "Hey, feet!" says Paul, tapping Molly's shoes as she lays across Tyrone's lap on the sofa. "What?" she says in disbelief. He says that his granddad told him to look after the house. As he goes out the door Tyrone turns to Molly. "Now we'll see who the real Paul is," he says, "Jack and Vera are probably best off out of it." "I wish we were," she replies.

Chesney tells Cilla he doesn't want to go and live anywhere else. He can't leave Schmeichel, and Fizz and Kirk and everyone. "I want you to go on your own," he says, "Vegas, you should go to Vegas." He says he's got Fizz and Kirk, and his job, and Uncle Les won't be away for much longer. "No I can't," says Cilla, "what will people say?" Chesney points out that she'll be in Vegas, so what will she care? Eventually he persuades her to go. "I'll miss you," she says, smiling, "and when I find a millionaire I'll send for you." Chesney grins, "That's it then, sorted!" he says, and they hug.

Anne Logan.



Friday 12 October

With any luck, we're back to normal scheduling here in the UK, but this report covers the first of two episodes on Friday, October 12.

Cilla's packing when Chesney comes downstairs in his school uniform. He asks if she's going today and she tells him not till tonight. She doesn't want him going to school, either, and says they can have a chat while she's packing. She looks at his mournful little face and tells him she can put her dream on hold, if he likes, because she hasn't paid for her ticket yet (if that's true, the price won't be much less than the £45,000 she got for the jewelry!). "No, yer right," says Chesney. "You wouldn't be happy if you stopped round here." Cilla takes a good look at his face and is shocked by the shadows under his eyes. "From now on, I want you in bed by half eleven on a school night," she orders. She tells him it's "Goodbye, Uncle Les – Hello, Uncle Sam!" "You got another boyfriend already?" Chesney asks. She tells him she'll make the toast if he makes a list of all the presents he wants. She's over-cheerful and it's clear they're both close to tears.

Molly's organising a viewing for a flat. Paul comes downstairs and she and Tyrone instantly become sullen. Paul mocks them about living at Jack and Vera's. "Cheap and cheerful – without the cheerful!" Molly has a go at him about never doing the cooking, cleaning or washing up.

Eileen goes into the kebab shop. Jody and Jerry are arguing about the weekend. Favours were called in Jody and Lloyd could get their hands on the Ian Brown tickets, Jody tells her dad. "There'll be other gigs," he says. She calls him a selfish, sexist, caveman and says if she was bloke there's no way he would expect her to skivvy round the shop. She points out that she's 28, has no kids and should be out there living it up. She's sick and tired of being sick and tired. "You're melodramatic, just like your mother," mutters Jerry. "Do you want me to hit him for you?" asks Eileen. Jerry offers her an early finish tonight and Eileen asks why he doesn't just cancel the trip to Milan – "she does get a raw deal," she points out. "What? Free board and lodging and a regular income?" asks Jerry. "For a 60-hour week!" shouts Jody. "Eighty including childcare!"

Kevin's telling Tyrone about his plans for the weekend in Milan when Sally comes in. There's a letter from Oak Hill School, setting a deadline for Rosie to come back to school or lose her place.

Cilla sends Chesney off to get some sweets. Then she gives Kirk two envelopes, with a grand in each – one for Fizz and one for Chesney. Kirk realises Cilla hasn't told Fizz she's going. Cilla tells him not to give Fizz the envelope until the plane's taken off. "Don't let Ches get his mitts on it," Cilla warns Kirk. "He'll only spend the whole lot on chewy cola bottles. And make sure he has the odd bath. Best get Fizz to iron his school shirts – no offence."

Tyrone's doing the washing up, though Molly thinks they should leave it so Jack and Vera can see what Paul's really like. The phone goes and Molly answers. It's Jack. He tells Molly he's won £50 quid on the horses. She tells him Paul's not there, but Tyrone is. Jack says he has to get back to Vera. Molly tells Tyrone she's sure Jack just ran out of change or something. She takes the tea-towel off him and tells him to leave the rest to Golden Boy – they've got a flat to view.

Cilla's in the taxi office trading insults with Lloyd. She tells them about her legacy and the plans for Vegas. She tells them the drinks are on her from 6pm. But Lloyd had better stick to orange-ade, "I'm your precious cargo."

Leanne stops Roger in the street to read him a good review in a What's On guide. She thinks she might get some new flyers done and take out an ad in the Gazette. But Roger reminds her that she still owes him a lot of money.

Molly and Tyrone have been to see the flat. Molly says they'd only have to set off half an hour earlier each day. Tyrone says if they move, Paul will have won, but Molly says they've got better things to do than try to score points off Paul all day. Tyrone agrees they should go for it.

In the pub, Blanche gives credit where credit is due. "Those toilets are pristine!" she says. Lloyd tells her and Liz about Cilla's plans to pay for the drinks and about her windfall. Blanche points out that Cilla abused their generosity, so it's only fair if they do the same. She goes home to rest up ready. In a booth, Janice has read the review and thinks it's brilliant. Leanne agrees, but says Roger has taken all the joy out of it by going on about the money all the time. She says every conversation with him comes around to money. Janice hadn't noticed. "I'm starting to wonder if that's all he's sticking around for," Leanne says. "Thanks very much," says Janice.

Cilla is reminiscing about the life she and Chesney have had. "Seen off a few social workers!" she points out. She tells Chesney she's too selfish to be a good mother and he'd be better off with Fizz. "I wouldn't swap you," says Ches. Cilla beams and tells him that when she sends for him, she'll hire a Mustang and they'll go wherever Chesney wants. "I'll stand in arrivals with your name on a big bit of card. I'll do you eggy bread every morning. I'll make it up to you, Ches. Once I've had some Me time, I'll be ready to give." She's crying now.

Paul comes into the cafe while Tyrone and Molly are there. Molly tells him they've decided against the flat. They can't abandon Jack and Vera. Nearby, John and Fizz chat and John reveals that Chesney wasn't at school today. "If he's been skiving, he's dead meat!" says Fizz. She tells him that Sally was singing his praises today. "I love it when your nostrils flare," he says.

In the Rovers, Cilla is in the chair. Not that Norris and others are very grateful. "Such largesse," sneers Norris. Cilla points out that "over there" she's willowy, and she'll have him know she's only a 16, which is the same size as was Marilyn Monroe. LOL! Vernon tells her good luck and gets "a cheeky double" out of Cilla. She doesn't care. "Nevada – Nirvana!" she says. Rita asks how long she's going for and Norris says, "till the money runs out." Nearby, Roger tells Janice the beer tastes better when it's free. He points out that everyone's ordering doubles, even the landlady, which he thinks is a bit off because Liz is coining it already. Janice asks him to stop talking about money all the time. She heads for the bar just as Cilla toasts high rollers and absent friends.

Fizz comes round to see why Chesney didn't go to school. She spots the air ticket and Kirk tells her Cilla's going to Vegas, but only on her jollies. "Uncle Les is due back soon," says Chesney. "She's only going for a month." Fizz looks closely at the ticket and asks whether Cilla's in the pub. "You've got to let her go. It's her dream," says Chesney. "And I," says Fizz, "am her worst nightmare!" She slams the door on her way out.

In the pub, Roger's been to get more drinks and is astounded by the bar bill. But Janice isn't interested. She tells him she should go home and get her chequebook and settle up for Leanne, "so you can stop pretending you're remotely interested in this relationship." Roger looks very puzzled, but Janice gets up and flees the building.

Fizz comes in and confronts her mother with the air ticket. "You hard-faced bitch!" she says. "Shall I pop back and fetch Deirdre?" Blanche asks Rita. Fizz tells Cilla that she had a lonely, miserable childhood and now she's doing the same thing to Chesney. Cilla protests that she's just going on an extended holiday, but Fizz points out that the ticket is one-way. "He needs his mum! Even you're marginally better than nothing." Cilla says Chesney's had 13 years of her life and she needs a breather. "I double he's had 13 hours," says Blanche. "Go and play on your stair lift!" snaps Cilla. Fizz says she doesn't know how any of them can take drinks off Cilla. Blanche and Rita had over the money for their drinks, as do Norris and Eileen.

Jerry's trying to talk to Jody, who is doing the ironing in a very passive-aggressive sort of way. He says the trip is a one-off. "How am I supposed to get any kind of relationship going when you can just pull the rug under me like this?" she asks. Jerry tells her that after Milan it will be Year Zero. Jody doesn't believe him.

Back home, Cilla is fuming. Well, more than fuming. Blazing. As Chesney and Kirk look on, she tells them she's been stabbed in the front by her own daughter. Kirk points out that Fizz has had a hard life. Cilla says it was the making of her. "She's feisty, obnoxious and can fend for herself, Not some little namby pamby who phones home every five minutes." She snatches back the envelope with the cash for Fizz and stuffs it in her purse. She rants on until the taxi toots and Kirk says never mind all that. Cilla looks at Chesney. "Let's not get all lovey dovey," she says. "You're practically an adult, else I wouldn't be going." She gives him some advice – work hard at school, but don't go overboard. Try to get good grades. "You will eat the odd vegetable, won't you?" "Only tangerines," says Chesney.

Janice is on Maxine's seat eating a take-away meal. Roger finds her and tells her he gets it from his father, talking about money all the time. "I don't even know I'm doing it," he says. He tells her she can zap him with a cattle prod when he does it. He says he should be offended that she thought he was just putting in time until pay day. "I'm nuts about you," he says. He jokes and Janice has no option but to put down her fork and give him a hug.

"Fizz will tell you that I don't love you," Cilla tells Chesney on the pavement beside the taxi. "But you and I know different." She says Fizz will make a much better parent. Chesney says they've both got their pluses and minuses. "Treat others as you'd like to be treated, but when in doubt, knee 'em in the unmentionables," Cilla says. "Your advice is so rubbish, Mum," Ches tells her. Cilla tells him he's the apple of her eye. There's a clip-clop along the pavement. It's Vernon, in his cowboy boots, come to tell Cilla there's £24 outstanding on the bar tab. A stiff Cilla hands over some money. Looks like a fifty and she tells him to keep the change. She gets into the taxi and Lloyd asks if she's really not coming back. "Who knows. When I get sick of non-stop sun, cocktails by the pool and jackpot payouts I might just an ‘ankering for wet January afternoons where it's dark by half three." Lloyd asks about Chesney and Cilla says little Chesney Eric is better off without her. Lloyd starts the engine and Cilla fumbles for something in her purse. It's a piece of paper torn from a notepad. "I've got your list," she tells Chesney as the car moves off and her face crumples like the piece of paper she's holding. "She'll be back when the money runs out," Kirk says, hugging Chesney.

The End
The second half an hour will come from Richard.

Margaret Carr
(Go, the Springboks!!!)

Again this is really the Sunday episode being transmitted early.

I am having trouble with writing updates at present. The tv in the study is not working. Anyway ITV have a wonderful facility that allows UK viewers to catch up on line for 30 days after the event, so now I am watching again on line. Tonight was written by Martin Allen and directed by Alan Wareing. Sponsorship from Harveys the Furniture store.

We open at the Duck Eggs with Paul suggesting to Ty and Molly that they put their names down for a council house - but he has just read that 1.5 million already have their names on the list. They argue over the cleaning - with Ty getting the task even though it is mainly Paul's mess. He suggests the solution is that they move out. Molly is not impressed.

Becky delivers two "full English" (breakfasts) to Chesney and Kirk at the cafe and the latter tells the former to get that down him. Blanche asks for payment. Blanche wonders how Cilla could leave Chesney. Becky observes that if you have been damaged it comes out eventually and Blanche says that she would know! Blanche is not exactly doing much of any use by the way. Kirk suggests the pictures or bowling. Chesney realises the money will not last for ever.

At the Italian two rough looking characters arrive and although they are not open they want to have a bottle of wine and claim they have come because of the review in the papers. Paul comes into the restaurant un-noticed by the visitors and Leanne and hears them asking her questions about the restaurant and the review and how they were doing. Leanne seems quite open (shows no suspicions at all). However Paul slides gently back out the way he came in and appears to know the two men.

At the Mortons Jelly Roll is preparing to depart to Milan whilst Jodie is bossing the kids around. Jodie is ignoring Jelly Roll - apart from calling him a selfish git.

Sarah and Jason arrive at the cafe asking for a bacon butty and porridge. Becky says no porridge so Sarah orders an omelet instead. Sarah wants to do the seating arrangements. Jason is not bothered.

Paul returns home and claims he made a mistake. Molly suggests he can do some cleaning and she goes off to work. Paul tells Tyrone to get off - he will be OK - but he looks very worried about something.

Back at the restaurant the two visitors ask Leanne where the chef is - she is surprised he is not in and is thinking of phoning him - they suggest that if he does not live far they can go and get him - after all he wants his money. Paul turned his place over. He took £500 out of the till and committed other indiscretions. They threaten Leanne unless she tells them where he lives.

Paul is vacuuming away like mad and cannot hear his mobile ringing - no doubt Leanne trying to phone him. Tyrone comes in and answers the main house phone - he hands the phone to Paul - Leanne tells him that the two men are on their way round - she has been trying to reach him for 20 minutes.

Kevin is packing to go to Milan when John arrives to discuss literature. Sally finishes the ironing. John asks to use the bathroom. Lloyd collects Jelly Roll and notes two men getting out of a car. Kevin runs along the road and they get into Lloyd's car and depart. The Mortons see them off.

The two men knock on the Duck Eggs door. Paul asks Tyrone for his help - or else he is dead. Ty checks the back and Paul disappears that way. Then Ty goes to the front door and answers it. The two men ask after Paul Clayton - Ty denies all knowledge. Becky walks past and asks if they are alright. One of the men tells Ty that when he sees Paul to tell him to return the money -- he can have his wife she is neither here nor there. Ty nods. They turn round but know that Tyrone was lying.

Along at the Webster's John and Sally are talking - Sal is worried about Rosie - she can go back to Oakhill if she goes back by the end of the month. Sal wants her to go back to school. Kevin is not interested. John offers to try and talk to her. He thinks he may get through to her. They go back to literature.

The two men return to the restaurant and take the takings, champagne, kitchen knives and some other bits and pieces. Leanne does not stand a chance.

At the Grimshaw's Jason, Sarah and Vi await Eileen coming down the stairs. She tells them not to laugh. Violet and Jason both congratulate her. Even Sarah thinks she is fantastic - but it is almost identical to the outfit that Gail has bought. Eileen is going to have to take it all back (except shoes and handbag).

Kirk and Chesney are playing a new game when Fiz arrives. It cost over £300 out of the money left by Cilla. Fiz suggests they hang onto the rest of the money. Kirk says that Cilla had let Fiz some money as well but asked for it back after Fiz laid into her in the Rovers. Fiz is astounded they handed over the money. They had no choice. Fiz departs.

In the Rovers Eileen tells Vi that Gail must have it in for her. Todd phones. Apparently he is coming to the wedding because he has been invited by Jason - and to the stag night. She phones Jason but he rejects the call.

Fiz and John arrive and discuss the Chesney and Kirk situation. Fiz knows that Chesney would go into care. Fiz is determined that will not happen.

Jason and Sarah are still trying to organise the wedding seating plan. The two of them bicker, but Sarah calms down and cuddles her man.

Tyrone tells Molly what happened earlier. Paul sticks his head around the door and checks the coast is clear. Paul asks them not to tell the Duck Eggs. Paul cracks a joke and Molly smacks him around the face and she tells him things are going to be very different around here.

Next week it is back to Sunday.

K Richard W



Sunday 14 October

No episode aired tonight.


Monday 15 October

Sarah answers her mobile phone and has a short conversation "I'll let him know" she says. As she hangs up she notices David down the street holding his side as if in pain. She looks a little concerned. He claims with much sarcasm that it's the pain he feels because he hasn't been invited to Jason's stag party. Sarah walks away rather annoyed. David finds the whole thing rather funny.

At the builders yard Bill and Jason are chatting about the stag night celebrations. Bill reckons Jason should have gone for an all weekend party to a European city like Berlin. Sarah appears just as Jason says "well if I ever get married again I'll consider it". She looks a little confused but is in too much of a rush to be upset. She lets Jason know his suit is ready for collection. She also informs Bill he'd better behave on the stag night that evening.

In the Webster house Sophie is drinking the milk from her cereal bowl rather loudly, to which Rosie is less than impressed. Sophie notices a difference in Rosie's hair style. "you look like what's-her-name from the factory" says Sophie. Rosie looks really pleased "who? Carla Connor?" Laughing, Sophie claims she looks more like Janice Battersby! Sally notices an attractive man in the magazine Rosie is reading and ask who it is. Rosie accuses Sally of trying to recreate her youth.

Sean and Violet are sat on Eileen's sofa chatting about what's on TV and eating crisps. Eileen enters the room and says she's got hold of Jason and he's coming round later. She is going to break the news about Todd coming to the Stag do. "If Jason wanted fireworks on his stag night he's going the right way about it" says Eileen.

Tyrone is chatting to Jack on the phone. When he hangs up, Molly questions why he told Jack that everything is OK and that Paul is fine. Tyrone claims it's because they wouldn't believe Paul would do anything wrong like steal from his previous employers.

John and Fiz are having lunch in the cafe and making plans for their evening meal of jacket Potatoes with butter. John tells her he might be late back because he's going to see Rosie about her going back to school. Becky comes over to get the low down on Cilla going of to the States without Chez. John is very short with her and tells her to keep her nose out of other peoples business.

Kirk and Chez, leave the house. Kirk shouts back into the empty house as if someone where there. He says it's something his Dad used to do to make any potential burglars think there's someone at home. While walking down the street they discuss their breakfast of cold tinned curry and both agree it perhaps wasn't the best choice as they are both beginning to feel a bit ill.

Jason arrives home and Eileen gives him the news about Todd's arrival later that day. Jason asks Sean if he's told Todd but he "hasn't text him in months". Jason's confirms it was neither him nor Sarah who invited his brother. He tries to phone Todd but as Eileen said it would the phone goes dead. He's very keen to solve the problem as he knows how much it will upset Sarah.

Paul arrives at work to face the wrath of Leanne. She isn't best pleased that the guys who were looking for him took her stock and money from the restaurant. Paul explains the men weren't the reason for his black eye though. That was Molly.

In the Kabin Norris is on the phone arranging a meeting of the ex husbands club, or the ex wives club as Rita proceeds to call it! She also make joke about his friend Ivor's name. She states she may well dress up as a man so she can gatecrash the meeting.

Polish Wicki wonders if Sean is feeling any better. He is, in fact, in town buying a shirt to wear for Jason's stag do! The girls go on to discuss Cilla going off to America leaving poor Chesney behind. Fiz looks a little offended by the conversation. Wicki says they should not jump to conclusions, there may be more to the situation than they know. The others however, know Cilla better and aren't so sympathetic.

Sarah is alone in the salon when Jason arrives. His intension to tell Sarah about the arrival of Todd disappears when he sees how upset she is. She's been trying to get in touch with Candice without any luck. She's worried they will have no matron of honour. Jason tells her that the reason he came in is that he was having trouble deciding on a best man. "Have who you want" she says "I don't even care if it was your Todd". "Really?" Jason asks. "Of course not, as if we want him there to ruining our day" she replies. Just then David walks in. He notices that Sarah is upset. "What's the matter?" he asks "Has something gone wrong?" he says looking very pleased with himself.

Part 2 opens with a taxi coming round the corner and stopping on Coronation Street. Out steps Todd. Looking very reminiscent he unlocks him Mums front door just as she arrives back home with a bottle of wine. She's more than excited to see him.

Back at the factory Sally is boring Wicki to sleep talking about how wonderful John is. Kelly tells Fiz she thinks Sally fancies John. Which is quite obvious to the viewer but Fiz isn't sure.

Back at Eileen's Todd is finding it a bit strange to be back on the street. He tells Eileen about an argument he had with his boyfriend who apparently threw his mobile phone into the dog's water bowl! Eileen stops Todd going across to see Jason by offering him more wine and saying "I want you to myself for a while".

At the restraint Paul brings out food from the kitchen and places in from of Leanne saying "away" as if she were one of the waiting staff. She has a few words with him about her missing stock and lost money. He points out that she doesn't have a squeaky clean past either.

Doreen enters the Kabin complaining about a bus conductor she has just encountered "it's OK love we know you're a pensioner we don't need to see your bus pass" he had told her. She's feeling down about her age and the fact she can no longer get her feet behind her ears! To cheer her up Rita tells her about Norris's ex husbands club which they doth find very amusing.

Eileen sees Jason in the street and tells him that Todd is back. He asks if she told him he wasn't invited which she obviously hasn't. Jason will go over to the house later to talk about it. He still doesn't know what to tell Sarah.

Fiz and Kirk are walking down the street talking about Chesney. Fiz thinks it'd be best if Chez moved in with her instead of letting Kirk take care of him. She says she will come round that evening and tell him. Kirk looks disappointed before having to rush off to the toilet. Cold curry for breakfast is not a good thing!

In the factory office Rosie is desperately trying to hold a conversation with Liam but he couldn't seem, to care less. She takes a phone call from John who she arranges to meet later. Liam doesn't even flinch then she says "it's a date" very loudly.

Jason arrives back at Eileen's to be greeted by the sight of a half naked, dripping wet Todd fresh from the shower. Todd immediately thanks Jason for the invitation. Jason gets straight to the point and says he isn't invited. Todd, feeling very humiliated, can't quite believe what he's hearing. Jason claims he knows who invited Todd, David Platt. Eileen is rather impressed by David's forged invite "he's got your hand writing down to a T" she says. She also points out they should thank David for getting Todd back from London not kill him which was Jason's suggestion.

Sarah crosses the street whilst talking on her phone. She is having an argument with someone at the wedding venue. She is very agitated. She barges her way into Eileen's and passes the phone to Jason. "Speak to the hotel. They've double booked us, we haven't got a reception!" At that moment she turns round and sees Todd standing in front of her. She throws herself toward Todd pushing him. Eileen tells her to "get out" and points out that Todd is her son and can visit whenever he likes. Sarah goes out into the street slamming the door behind her and SCREAMS! at the top of her lungs.

Erica Houston

Out on the cobbles, we rejoin Sarah stomping down the street with a face like thunder. Jason chases after her only to find that Sarah blames him for Todd's sudden appearance. Jason protests his innocence and tells Sarah it's David's doing. Sarah rushes over the street to confront David but Jason stops her. Eileen sticks her head out her front door, glass of wine in hand and asks if Sarah Lou is OK only to be told by Sarah to go back to her cauldron. Eileen reminds Sarah that she's capable to pack a mean punch. Gail shows her face and thus ensues a mini-slanging match. Eileen confirms that David was the one who invited Todd to the wedding. David comes to find out what all the kerfuffle is about but Gail refuses to be drawn into an argument with him, turns his back on him with her arm around Sarah and walks away with Sarah and Jason, calming Sarah down.

At Underworld, Vicki is explaining a Polish recipe to Fizz. "Polish people, we love our food!" says Vicki and behind them, Kelly makes a catty remark about Vicki's size. Vicki retorts by telling Kelly, "If you are what you eat, Kelly, I believe you eat toilet brushes!" Rosie stamps way over to Sally's machine and accuses her of putting John up to trying to talk Rosie into going back to school. Sally urges her to listen to John but Rosie is not interested and turns and leaves with a huff. Fizz complains to Vicki about Sally monopolising so much of John's time. Vicki tells Fizz a story about an English teacher she used to have a crush on. She tried to kiss him once at an English Study Group Christmas Disco. His wife wasn't very happy and Vicki had to find another college.

At Gail's house, Gail, Sarah and Jason try to work out a plan to foil David's plans to ruin their wedding. Jason tells Sarah not to let it show to David how upset she is that Todd has come up for the wedding. In fact she should make it look like she's really happy making sure David thinks his plan to ruin her wedding is failing completely.

At Underworld, Liam picks up the phone and calls Maria, asking her to go out with him that night. Maria tells him she needs to talk to Audrey about swapping some overtime but she'll call him back. all the while, Rosie is in the background, jealousy oozing from her pores.

Jason is with Bill at Gail's, getting ready for his stag night/buck's turn/bachelor party. Sarah reminds him not to head to any sleazy strip joints and tells him while he's out, she'll be unveiling her wedding dress for Eileen and Gail. Bill tries to rush Jason out of the house but Sarah has some more words. Bill points out that their car has arrived and is outside. She looks out the window to see a long, white, stretch limo on the street and then glimpses David's head over the top of it. She tells Jason to get going. Out on the street, Kirk and Chesney are impressed with the limo and Sean and Jamie (Jamie wearing some dreadful granddad collared style shirt) greet Todd, ready for the big night. Jason, Bill and the rest pile into the limo and start the stag night.

At Underworld, Rosie answers the phone to Maria. Maria wants to speak to Liam but he's out of the office right now so Rosie takes the message; Maria will meet him at 8pm in Milk Bar that night. Rosie promises to pass the message on. As she hangs up the phone, Liam walks into the office and asks if anyone called for him. She tells him no and she sneakily takes his mobile phone off his desk, switches it off and slips it in her bag. Oh, Rosie!

At Kirk and Chesney's, Kirk and Chesney are playing more Xbox. They're living in squalor with dishes and rubbish strewn around the house. Kirk tells Ches that he knows Fizz is coming round later but he's forgotten what for. Back to the Xbox.

Maria and Fizz are both putting on make-up for their fellas at their flat. Maria asks Fizz if she's sure she's not taking on too much, trying to look after Chesney now Cilla's not in town. Fizz is sure she's doing the right thing. Fizz asks about Maria and Liam and where they're going. Maria tells her about their date but she thinks there's something not right between her and Liam. She can't put her finger on it but there's something. Fizz thinks that Maria is just not used to being with someone nice. Maria tells Fizz she's just waiting for it all to go wrong.

At Gail's, Sally is fawning all over Sarah Lou, thanking Sarah for letting her do the alterations to her dress. Before Eileen turns up, Gail has a go at Todd who she says will be sure to be flaunting his sexuality all over the place. Eileen arrives with an apology and Gail and Sarah seem happy to accept it. Sally mentions to Eileen how it must be quite different for her now she has a gay son. She tells an astonished Eileen that Oscar Wilde was gay. "Oscar Wilde- he was known for it..." she says. Eileen can hardly believe it. "And not just for littriture!"

The stag night limo is raucous and racing through the streets while Sally is still talking about gay celebrities at Gail's house. Sarah comes downstairs very regally in her dress as the women turn to drink in the vision of the bride to be. Sarah promptly trips down the last two or three stairs in her beautiful dress. She gets up and shouts, "I'm fine!"

The stags enter a pub and head to the bar. Jason answers a text message from Sarah who wants to know if he picked up his trousers like she told him to. In a quiet moment, Todd asks Jason if he's sure it's OK that Todd is there. Jason says he's pleased that they're talking again; it's a good thing that he's there.

In the cafe, Rosie is making her excuses to John as to why she definitely doesn't want to go back to school. She says she sees Carla and thinks she wants to be just like her. John reminds her that Carla inherited her business and Rosie tells him she'll have to marry well. John tells her that if she wants to be bigger than Carla which is what she'd told him before, she should go back to school and get some more education behind her. He encourages her to go and get a degree in business studies. It's falling on deaf ears.

Fizz is at Kirk's place asking Chesney to come and live with her. Chesney wants to stay with Kirk. Kirk is happy to have him but Fizz points out that the place is filthy. Kirk promises to tidy up and he and Chesney plead with Fizz to let him stay there. After all, her flat is too small for Schmeichel and he won't leave without him. Fizz gives in and lets Chesney stay for a bit longer, to see how they manage.

At Gail's Sarah is having Sally pin the alterations while they talk about alternative arrangements for the reception. Sally suggests Leanne's new Italian restaurant. Sarah Lou is reluctant, not wanting her reception to be catered by a "hooker" but she comes around eventually and it's decided; the reception will be at the new Italian place. David is sitting outside the house, music blaring from his car. Sarah heads outside to tell "Donnie Darko" to get lost but Gail pulls her back, grabbing hold of the top of Sarah's train. The dress rips down the back. Eileen tries not to laugh and Sarah is dismayed.

At Leanne's restaurant, Evil Paul is on the blower to the bank, pretending to be Jack and asking for more money against Jack and Vera's house.

At a bar across town, the stags are laughing around a table, having a great time. Jason and Todd are having a great brother-bonding time when the phone rings. Everyone knows it's going to be Sarah. "She's a nightmare," says Bill. While Jason is on the phone, the boys talk about who's got a partner and so on. Todd explains his situation's complicated and Jason comes back to the table to tell his friends he has to leave, Sarah is on the phone crying so hard he can't understand her. Bill sends Jason and Todd off home to Gail's in the limo.

At Leanne's Restaurant, Paul comes to tell Leanne the good news that he'll have some cash from the bank soon to cover what Stuart took from her. Plus, he'll have enough for her to pay off Roger. Leanne is happy that she's got her first wedding reception booked.

At Fizz & Maria's Fizz is trying to make John understand that she's feeling neglected since he seems to be pre-occupied with Sally and her family these days. She tells him he should be worrying about her and Chesney more and Sally and Rosie less.

Poor Maria's being stood up something shocking at Milk Bar and can't get a hold of Liam to ask where he is. When she's the object of some unwanted attention, she packs her mobile back in her bag and leaves without drinking her drink.

Jason and Todd arrive back at Gail's. Todd is reluctant to go into Gail's but Jason talks him into coming inside reasoning that Eileen's in there to stick up for him. Inside, Sarah is crying while Sally is trying to tell her she'll be able to fix with some invisible stitching. Sarah tells her to shut up. The boys come in the house and all hell breaks loose. Sally seems pleased to stay and watch the chaos unfold. Sarah screams at Jason about the bad luck of seeing her in her wedding dress before the big day. Jason make futile efforts to reason with her. Everyone starts shouting at each other which culminates in Sarah walking into Sally holding a glass of red wine which is spilled all down the front of her dress. When she turns around, Eileen throws her glass of white wine over her dress as well. When everyone shrieks about Eileen's action, Eileen explains that white wine will get the red wine out. Gail tells her that's for carpets not for wedding dresses. Sarah is absolutely hysterical and shouts that never wants to see any of them ever again before stamping up the stairs. "Much as it pains me to say," Gail tries to reassure everyone, "I'm sure she'll be fine in the morning."

Stella McLoughlin



Wednesday 17 October

Bill goes round to Gail's to pick up Jason, only to be told that he isn't there, and is told by Gail that Eileen's couch was more inviting. Bill goes off to find him. Sarah then comes downstairs and panics when she sees Gail standing near the wedding dress holding a coffee mug. Gail assures her that she's being careful. "That's what Sally Webster said before she poured half a pint of Merlot down the front of it," says Sarah. She's waiting for the dry cleaners to open so she can take the dress in. Gail tries to persuade her to eat some breakfast but Sarah says she's not hungry. Gail tells her to keep things in perspective, all the things that have happened have been accidents, they're not personal. Sarah tells her that inviting Todd behind their backs was personal, she's starting to believe that David will wreck the wedding.

Over at Eileen's, Jason is tucking into breakfast when Bill arrives, and he asks what happened to him, they were all waiting. Todd comes down then and explains that Sarah went into meltdown. "She's got a lot on at the moment, nothing's going right for her," says Jason, loyally. Bill hopes that Jason being sober on his stag night is not an omen for his married life.

David meets Gail and Sarah in the Street, and Sarah tells him that they'll be saying thank you to him for sending Todd the invitation, they had such a laugh on the stag do that he wasn't invited on. Sarah walks off and Gail tells him he's a stupid boy who's shot himself in the foot.

Fizz and John step outside of Fizz's front door, they're running late and John is worried he's going to miss registration. Just then Sally comes out of her front door and sees them and comes running over. "Oh, she's like a heat seeking missile, that one!" mutters Fizz. Sally thanks John for having a word with Rosie, but Fizz interrupts saying that they're late. Sally says she'll give him a lift in. "But then you'll be late!" says Fizz. Sally doesn't seem to care, "What's a few pairs of knickers compared to a class room of hungry minds?" she smiles, and drags John off.

Bill and Jason are at the yard when David appears. Jason congratulates him for getting Todd there all the way from London. "Me?" asks David, all innocent. "Who else sent the invitation?" asks Jason, and David asks who else would know that it might upset Sarah? Jason says he might think he's clever now, messing around with people's lives, but one day it might all blow up in his face. Just then Todd comes around the corner, and greets David. "Long time no see," he says, shaking David's hand. David looks down at the handshake. "My, my, Toddy," he says, "that's a firm handshake, I suppose you must feel you have to compensate somehow." Todd ignores the jibe and takes his brother off for some catching up.

Back from Italy, Kevin gets out of Lloyd's taxi and Sally comes running over, pleased to see him. "You're minging!" she says, "when did you last have a wash?" Kevin tells her he has to go and have a word with Jodie.

Todd tells Jason he knows that he doesn't really want him there, so he feels the best wedding present he can give him would be to get himself out of Weatherfield. They hug, and Todd tells him to get back to work.

Kevin breaks the news to Jodie that her father has been arrested for dancing naked in a fountain in Milan. Kevin gives her the address of the police station the police took her father to, and Jodie isn't happy.

Maria sees Fizz in the Street and asks whether Liam was late for work this morning, and whether he came in smelling of perfume. She tells Fizz that Liam stood her up, left her sitting in the bar looking ‘like a right lemon'. Fizz wants to know what his excuse was, but Maria says huffily that she wasn't going to ring him and beg for crumbs. Fizz is sure there must have been a reason, and Maria agrees – he's found someone else. Fizz won't believe it, but Maria is convinced it'll be someone younger and better looking. "Maria," says Fizz, "excuse me, that woman doesn't exist!"

Sarah is alone in the salon when Todd comes in. Sarah isn't at all pleased to see him and tells him that she's got customers due. "They think I'm a nice person," she tells him. He says they should have seen her last night, tantrums in a toddler are cute, but tantrums in a twenty year old? The reminds her that he didn't invite himself, he's taken time off work and spent money on train fare, and been royally stitched up by her brother. He then tells her some home truths – Jason missing his stag do because she rang him in a state, barring his own brother from his wedding, so that she doesn't get in a state. "He's prepared to sacrifice a lot," he says, "how much would you give up for him?" Sarah wants to know what it's got to do with him, she tells him that after his track record with weddings he's a hypocrite and a phoney. "Get out me sight!" she shouts.

Bill walks into the kebab shop and finds Jodie hanging on the phone. She's not having much luck so she hands the phone to him while she gets his order ready. "How hard can it be to find a fat bloke from Runcorn?" she asks, trying to wash her hands but she's having trouble with the boiler and the hot water.

Sarah and Todd are still in the salon, having a heart to heart. She tells Todd that she can't wait to be Jason's wife, she doesn't care about putting on a show she'd be happy getting married under a tree on the Red Rec. "So calm down you silly cow!" says Todd, "you're driving everyone up the wall, yourself included!" Sarah points out that her first wedding didn't happen because the groom did a runner with another man, her second wedding didn't happen because the groom did a runner through the toilet window and her brother's probably making bombs for number three and he expects her to be calm? Todd starts to smile. "Don't laugh!" says Sarah, and then starts to see the funny side herself. The pair of them end up laughing together.

In the factory, Liam is hunting for his phone. Rosie sits looking all innocent and the ‘finds' it for him. "I could kiss you if I didn't think it would wind me up in a tribunal!" says Liam. "Well," says Rosie sidling up to him, lips pouted, "I won't tell if you don't!" Liam gives her a scornful look and moves away.

Kirk and Chesney have been shopping and have arrived home in Lloyd's taxi. As he helps them get the bags out he comments on the vast quantity of pop tarts and pot noodles they've bought. "When you find a winning formula, stick to it," says Chesney.

Liam sees Maria walking across the road and catches up to her, telling her that when he eventually found his phone he thought he would find all sorts of text messages from her saying how much she had missed him. "Can we just rewind?" asks Maria, and tells him how she rang and left a message with Rosie for him to meet her. He swears he never got it. "You actually waited in a bar?" he says, adding that Rosie must have got mixed up. "Liam, she's supposed to be a brain box, I don't think she'd have got mixed up," says Maria, "how hard is it to remember – tonight at 8 o'clock?"

Maria walks off and into Kirk and Chesney's house. "What's that smell?" she asks, walking in and then decides it's the kitchen. Chesney asks if she'd like to stay for tea, but, wisely perhaps, she declines. She tells them that if Social Services saw the state of the place they'd take Chesney into care. "You need to get this place cleaned up!"

It's home time at the factory, but Liam asks Rosie if she's got a minute. He asks Kelly to stay too. "What have I done?" asks Kelly, and as Rosie goes into the office she sits on a chair outside. In the office, Rosie offers Liam her last Rolo. "Cheers," says Liam, "I'll give it to Maria shall I, by way of apology?" He tells her he knows she forgot the message on purpose and has a feeling his mobile didn't go walkies by itself. "Let me set the record straight, I don't go out with staff," he says. Rosie protests that he was seeing Joanne. "And I don't go out with teenage girls no matter how big their crush is." He tells her that if she thinks she can spike his and Maria's relationship she can think again. He adds that he was joking before when he mentioned tribunal, he's not joking now. He glances in Kelly's direction. "What's she, your bodyguard?" asks Rosie. "Bodyguard, witness…." Rosie tells him he's made his point, and asks if she can go. He agrees and she rushes off. "We start tomorrow with a clean slate," he calls after her, and throws the last Rolo into the bin.

In the Webster's house, Sophie is cooking and Kevin is sampling. Rosie comes in and rushes straight upstairs until Sally calls her down. They joke about Kevin and Sally going away and Sophie says that with her skill in the kitchen and Rosie bringing in a decent wage they'd never notice their parents gone. "Don't bank on my wages," pouts Rosie, "I don't intend to slave away the rest of my life in that dump!"

Kirk opens the oven and reels backwards, he's found the source of the bad smell, and Chesney thinks it might be the tortoise he lost once.

Fizz and John are in the pub, he's got tickets for a pop concert. Violet asks where his shadow is, but, staring at Fizz, he says he's found his soulmate, he's looking at her.

Jodie is talking to Eileen, she's found a solicitor who says he'll see if he can get Jerry's charge commuted to a fine.

David is sitting in his car, listening to loud music when a taxi draws up and out step Sarah and Todd! Jason comes along, amazed to see his brother not only still in Weatherfield, but also with Sarah. They've been shopping together. Jason is delighted and hugs them both, as Eileen comes along. They all decide to go to the pub together watched by David who gets out of the car and stands there looking astounded.

Anne Logan



Friday 19 October

The episode started with John leaving for work. He mentions to Fiz that he has a lot of marking that he must do; Fiz had plans to go out but to add more to her misery he tells her that he is seeing Sally for more lessons that evening.

The girls are heading for the factory, and Vicky remarks to Fiz that John is a very nice man. Kelly sees Sally coming out of her house and jokes that they are not the only ones to think so.

In the factory Sally tells Liam that Rosie is feeling under the weather. He takes her into the office and explains that Rosie was trying to make a pass at him by getting rid of Maria. Sally wondered if Liam had been leading her on, but he said he treated her like anyone else in the factory. He wondered if he had been a bit harsh and should he apologise. Sally said no, and that she would have a word with her.

Sarah is chatting to Rita and Doreen in the Kabin. She is telling them how much she is looking forward to the wedding in a church. She says it makes it more special. Doreen said that she has a friend who works at the Registry Office and one groom was scared about getting married that he did a bunk out of the toilet window !! Rita and Sarah looked astonished and Sarah left. Doreen looked at Rita and asked what the problem was, but Rita just told her she would tell her later.

Hayley and Roy return early from holiday to the Kabin! Hayley said they wanted to get back as Roy was missing the cafe. When they arrive there, Roy checks with Becky that everything was alright. She tells them that the place has burnt down and nobody has been poisoned. Then Roy realises that Blanche isn't around. Becky says the only way she would be there would be on the menu as "deep friend old bat" !!! He then checks whether she has been cleaning out the fridge. She confirms it is spotless and that he can even put his food in there ! As usual, the joke is missed on Roy.

Over at Jerry's kebab shop, Roger is there having inspected the boiler. He tells Jodie that the technical term for it is "knackered" ! She said it was new, but Roger confirms they stopped making those boilers years ago because they were rubbish. She asks him if he could fix it today.

David goes into the Kabin to buy a car magazine. Norris suggests that the money would be better invested in saving to buy a new car stereo. He tells David that the present one doesn't seem to have a volume control. David says he will wind the windows down so he can hear it better ! Then David tells Norris that he hasn't got enough money for the magazine. He says he will bring the money later. Norris tells him that he can have the magazine at that time. Eileen comes into the shop and finding out what the problem is offers to pay for the magazine. David says he will pay her back later, but she says there is no need, because if he hadn't invited Todd to the wedding, Jason wouldn't have had him as his Best Man. She then pinched his cheek and called him a little ray of sunshine !! (not the usual description of David!).

Back at Roy's Rolls, Hayley asks Becky if she has seen Christian. She says she would have told her if she had. However Becky asks if everything is okay between her and Roy now. Hayley confirms all is well and said she realises she wants to help children. She tells Becky that they have been in touch with an organisation that helps build schools in Africa.

Sally and Rosie are in the cafe and Sally tells her that she knows what has happened. Rosie denies everything saying that he fancies himself too much. Sally says she was sixteen once (!) and that her and her friends used to fancy older men. Rosie retorts that because she forgets to pass on a phone message from Maria, means in Liam's eyes that she must fancy him. At that moment Maria walks into the cafe and has a go at Rosie accusing her of pretending that she forgot the phone call. Sally said Liam had spoken with Rosie and that should be the end of it. Maria asks whether she expected Liam to come around to her house to play with her Barbie dolls? Rosie responds by saying that he is going out with one, but Maria has the last word by saying he prefers women to stupid little kids.

Hayley goes to the factory to see Liam. She tells him of their plans to go to Africa for six months. She says she doesn't know when they will be in touch, it could be months.

Eileen goes into Jerry's kebab shop and tells Jodie that she has a message from her dad to phone him, something about a favour. Jodie is annoyed that he rang Eileen and not her. Eileen says he thought she would be too busy to answer the phone.

John arrives at Sally's house to cancel that night's lesson. Rosie is there and tells him that Sally isn't in. He notices that she has been crying. She tells him that both her boss and her mum had called her "a stupid kid". He asks if she wants to talk about it, but suspects her mother has put him up to it, but John assures her that she doesn't even know he is there.

Becky asks Roy what is going to the cafe when he and Hayley go off to Africa. He tells her that it is only in the planning stage so far. He tells her that as it is only a temporary thing that he wants to keep the cafe going, and hopes that she will continue. She is overjoyed. He then says that he also wants to talk to her about Christian. He thinks he was rather tactless regarding him. He believes Hayley would appreciate it if he tried to make amends. Becky thinks that he ought to ask Hayley first, but he wasn't to go straight in and speak to him, and hopes that Becky would act as a go-between.

Back over at Sally's house, John reassures Rosie that she should be flattered about Maria's remarks. It shows that she is jealous and recognises you as a threat. As for your mother; she will always think of you as her "little girl". As for Liam, he is just not wanting to see her as an attractive proposition! John tells her that she is really gorgeous, (oh dear!), within moments she is kissing him on the lips. She pulls back and starts to apologise. After a moment of embarrassment she kisses him again.

Jodie makes her call to Jerry. It seems he needs more money to be sent to him to pay his fine. She says she will get it to him, if there is any money left after getting a new boiler. She tells Darryl that by the time he gets a new hotel and a new flight, it will cost around £1000. Then Darryl shows her Roger's bill. Roger says that is the cheapest he could do the job for. Eileen apologises on behalf of Jerry, saying he really feels stupid. Jodie wonders who is more stupid, him staying in Milan or her working all hours until he gets back.

Well it is all happening with Rosie and John. Neither of them say they wanted it to happen, and as Rosie moves in for another kiss, they hear the key in the front door turn. Sally arrives home and calls to Rosie hoping she has the tea on. Sally was surprised to see John there, and wondered if she was late. He explains that he came round to cancel their appointment for tonight. Sally says that wasn't a problem, and John said he would rearrange the lesson. Sally thought Rosie looked better, and said she should get over Liam. To which Rosie asked "Liam, who?"

Gail was pleased to note that Todd and Sarah had patched things up between them. She then invited them all out for Early Bird deal at the restaurant. Seeing Eileen, she invited her to come as well. As they all walked off, Jason asked Sarah had her mother been drinking?! Sarah said she was just getting in the wedding mood. As they were walking Sarah spots David. She calls out to him if he would like to join them, but then retracts by saying that they will be talking about the wedding, to which he is not invited. So there is no point in him coming along.

In the Rovers the gentlemen of the ex-husbands club ask Norris about his proposal to Rita. They want to know whether she had turned him down. He said he had decided against it. Doreen turns up and much to the annoyance of Norris, the others invite her to join them. She orders a G and T and Norris tells her slyly that the others were probably too polite to tell her, but he doesn't like her gatecrashing their evening. She replied that the best parties are those that you not invited to.

Back at Fiz's, John is coming out of the shower (to cool off ?!). Fiz was surprised to hear that he had canceled Sally's lesson so they could go out. He asks if she was jealous of Sally. Fiz tells him that she has been told that Sally is "forty, fit and fanciable" She is making herself look available. John assures her that Sally is the last person she should worry about.

Martin Rosen



Sunday 21 October

Events in Weatherfield are now sponsored by Harveys the furniture stores.

Tonight the writer was Peter Whalley and the director was Tim Dowd.

The programme opens with Fiz and John reading the Sunday papers and drinking coffee. They are going to the cinema and Fiz goes off to get Chesney whilst John uses the opportunity to fish his mobile out of his pocket and make a call.

Jason and Sarah emerge from the Tilsley / Platt / Hillman household and studiously ignore David sat in his car playing music at high volume. Jason tells Sarah that ignoring David is the best solution because he cannot stand it - but Sarah walks around to the driver's window and knocks. David opens the window and Sarah taunts David - how was getting Todd down for the wedding supposed to cause a problem? Perhaps Jason and Todd would start fighting over her and Todd would kill Jason. Sarah tells David that because they are older that it was not going to happen and now perhaps he could stop being childish and get a life. She and Jason walk off and David is let looking disgruntled.

At the Websters Rosie receives a call and wanting it to be private heads out the back. Sophie observes that she much be speaking to a boy. Sally says that she is allowed to keep some things private. The caller asks to see her in an hour. Rosie knows somewhere much better to meet than where-ever was suggested.

At the cafe Roy is heading off out to the shop where Christian works - on his own and he knows it is open because he has consulted the web site. Apparently a number 18 bus covers the 24 route on a Sunday and it will take him all the way. Becky tries to stop him and fails, Hayley does not even try. Roy departs on his own. Jason and Sarah arrive at the cafe, they phone Todd to join them.

Fiz and Chesney come into the flat. John is telling some tall story about needing to do some work ready for school - he will do it whilst they go to the cinema and then they can have a nice meal when they get back from pictures. Chesney does not want to be seen out with his teacher so it works out to everyone's satisfaction.

At the Mortons Jelly Roll is on the phone to Jodie and cannot get a flight back for another week.

Rita is selling Lloyd a newspaper when Doreen arrives to invite her to the Rovers for a drink. Norris agrees to join them. Doreen asks if the ex-husbands club is turning up - but apparently not. Doreen is not sure which of the two is most interesting and she rather hopes that Norris might make her mind up for her.

Roy arrives at the record shop. He asks after Christian - but he has apparently left and no-one knows where he is. A woman came in and set about him. Roy asks for a description.

Darryl is talking to David Platt who tells him to get in the car. David points out Todd walking across the Street. David then asks Darryl if he wants a ride. Darryl responds - do I want to go for a drive with someone with no tax no insurance and does not know how top drive - sarcastically - of course he does. David drops the car into gear and accelerates away into the commercial break with Darryl hanging on for dear life.

After the break the Fiesta re-appears at the other end of the Street in one piece and backs into the parking space. Darryl has to admit that David can drive. Darryl is told that he is on duty later by his sisters who point out to David that he should not have the engine running as he is not taxed or anything. If Darryl could look any more uncomfortable he would.

Rosie invites John into Carla's flat that she is keeping an eye on. Rosie is wearing a white top that resolutely fails to cover a black bra which in is also struggling to contain two puppies that have recently appeared out of nowhere. One can sense that John is uneasy at the whole situation, particularly as he wants to discuss their recent kiss. he says it could get him into a lot of trouble. Sally would not be pleased, nor would Kevin. And of course he is a teacher, as Rosie observes. John would rather no-one finds out about it. She offers him a drink - a glass of water. And as Rosie then observes kissing her is a nothing compared with meeting her at this flat, just the two of them all on their own. John looks even more uncomfortable. Rosie smiles. John sighs.

At the cafe Becky is chatting to Sarah, Jason and Todd telling her that once she has decided which one Sarah is marrying she will have the one left over. (No-one has advised her that Todd is unavailable). Roy returns and reports that Christian has left following a visit from, as it turns out, Becky who had meted out her own retribution. No-one knows where he has gone. Later Becky says she is sorry - but then Roy apologises. Hayley tells him to stop. They need to look forward - not backwards. They need to help others - once she has listened to Gardeners' Question Time.

Returning to the flat Rosie is assuring John that she can keep a secret. She offers to show him around the flat - particularly the bedroom. Which is where she goes and invites him in.

Lloyd arrives at the kebab shop and invites Jodie out - but she cannot leave the shop as Jelly Roll is not back. She wants to go out - but she is sorry. Lloyd says he will be back.

In the Rovers Sarah and Todd discuss David - even Gail might want to move out to get away from David. In which case perhaps David might want to move out as well. Todd suggests getting a suitably large flat with plenty of bedrooms.

On the other side of the Rovers Doreen, Norris and Rita discuss Ivor and George. Norris is bored. Doreen feels a man should be able to entertain - Rita asks why she cannot keep going out with both of them and not choose between them.

Rosie returns home and in answer to Sophie admits she has been seeing a boy, called "John". "John who?" You want a second name? His second name is Stape - Sally looks round grimly and Sophie grasps that she is talking about Mr Stape - the teacher. Sophie accuses her of lying. Rosie says she has seen him. Sally is certain it is a joke. Rosie says she just bumped into him and Sally guesses that he was on his way to see Fiz. Rosie thinks that if she goes back to school she will see him all the time. A plan starts to form.

In the Rovers Jason is suggesting that to buy some peace they should invite David to the Wedding - but Sarah will not hear of it.

Lloyd is talking to Vi about Jodie wondering if her excuses are real reasons or simply excuses.

Sally and Rosie head off to the shops waving at Fiz and John as they cross the Street. Rosie smiles at John who almost grimaces before following Fiz into the Rovers.

Well he should be taken out and shot for doing that to Fiz. And where are the Barlows? They seem to have vanished completely. And please I realise that having Keith Barron on the Street is a wonderful idea - but sadly under utilised and I just cannot stand the Doreen woman.

See you all next week.

K Richard W



Monday 22 October

Hayley is chatting on the phone in the cafe while Roy is getting everything ready for opening time. When she's finished her conversation Roy says "it's a bit early for a double glazing sales man isn't it?" She reveals it was someone from a volunteer group they have been in touch with offering them a place to travel to Mozambique that evening. Roy decides that it would be imposable to pack up their lives and leave in 24 hours. Hayley agrees but is unconvinced. Roy the suggests they use it as a dummy run for when another opportunity comes up when they will be able to leave. The volunteer group had told Hayley the next project wouldn't go ahead until 2014.

Sarah and Jason are walking down the street chatting about which car they would buy if they won the lottery when they pass David. As ever cross words are exchanged and they go their separate ways.

Kirk and Chesney are preparing to have their breakfast but Kirk can't find a clean bowl for his cereal. Chesney points to an unwashed one on the sofa and points out that the dried on corn flakes from last week will enhance the flavour! They both agree that they need to tidy the house but neither makes an attempt to begin.

Sean is sitting on the sofa watching kids TV. He is apparently trying to "get in tune with kids culture", after all that's what his and violets child will be watching. Violet then flinches and looks a little uncomfortable. Sean sits her down net to him. She thinks it was the baby kicking for the first time. They both sit with hands on Violets bump hoping to feel more.

Roy goes to see Ken about his plans of leaving for Africa. Ken agrees he will help out however he can but is a little concerned as to whether Roy has thought it through. His reply is no he hasn't thought it through but he knows how much it means to Hayley and he can't miss the opportunity.

John is also on the street when his phone rings, it's Rosie. He claims he can't talk because he's in the staff room at work. Rosie is suspicious as it's half term holidays but John lies once again by saying he's doing paper work. Rosie's suspicions are confirmed when she steps out of her front door and stops him outside Fiz's door.

In the factory Liam offers Kelly and Wicki over time, which they accept but Liam has then answering to him like his servants. Rosie then arrives to work as if nothing had ever happened between her and Liam. She promptly gets on with her work. Hayley rushes into the factory to talk to Liam about her trip to Africa. Liam urges her to sit down and catch her breath first.

Bill and Jason are up on a scaffold at the builders yard. Bill whistles down at Gail and passes the blame onto Jason. Gail takes it in good humour and says it's been a long time since she's been whistled at like that.

Gail enters the cafe and sits down at a table where David is eating his breakfast. She tries to talk to him but gets little back. He just claims that he doesn't care about the wedding or any of hi family at all, he's happy on his own.

Behind the counter Roy has broken the news about the possible trip to Becky. She becomes very excited and seems to think it's all been finalised. She also enquires about the possibility of a pay rise seen as her new role means more responsibility.

Back at the factory Liam is very understanding about Hayley's plans. He does mention how much they will miss her but says she has to do what she has to do. On the factory floor Sally is boring Wicki with more talk about John. Sean and Fiz over hear her and Sean thinks that Sally is obsessed with John and tells Fiz so. Kelly and Janice then point out that he's earning good money from teaching Sally and as long as he spends it on Fiz she should be happy. They also comment that Sally must be bad at English to need so many lessons!

In the Rovers Violet is looking a bit upset. Michelle asks what's wrong. Violet explains that she thought she felt a kick earlier but hasn't since and is worried. Michelle reassures her by saying it's still only early in the pregnancy. Gail and Sarah are also in the Rovers for a drink. Sarah is on the phone making yet more wedding plans and trying her best to get Jason evolved in the decision making.

Back in the cafe Roy and Hayley reconvene to see how the plans for the 'possible' trip are going. It seems that they have covered everything and Hayley becomes quite excited as she realises they may actually be able to go.

David is sitting on a wall at the side of the street eating his lunch out of newspaper when Gail comes to see him. She tells him she has been unable to get Sarah to change her mind about inviting him to the wedding. He reiterates the fact that he doesn't care about any of them. Bill and Jason drive past in the van raring with laughter, which furthers David's anger.

Fiz and Maria are walking down the street talking about how Roy and Hayley are just going to disappear off to Africa. Maria is very interested whether she might see Liam in the pub at lunchtime, her feelings for him are very clear. Liam comes out of the factory with a blonde lady whom he kisses goodbye and waves off before he notices Maria. Before he has chance to go over and explain to Maria he is called back in the factory to answer a phone call.

David wonders up to the builders yard looking around him very shiftily. He tries the gate, which has been left unlocked. "Bad move boys," he says to himself as he goes inside.

Part 2 begins with David wandering around the office of the builders. He 'accidentally' deletes a message from a man who needs Bill and Jason to go round and fit a leak for him.

Maria and Fiz are having lunch in the cafe. Maria is feeling very stupid as she thinks Liam is seeing the woman he kissed outside the factory. Fiz, being more rational, says she shouldn't jump to conclusions and she should talk to him before she gets upset about it. Maria feels that Liam should be talking to her not the other way round.

Hayley hangs up the phone after talking to the volunteers group looking very disappointer. One of the places on the trip has been taken meaning there is only one available. Becky is also disappointed as she doesn't get to "be the boss now" at the cafe.

Sarah is in the Rovers agonizing over wedding plans and moaning to Michelle about how it's all down to her. Jamie and Sean are also in the pub talking about the baby's first kick. San points out the possibility that it could have been trapped wind but Violet is certain it was a kick. When Violet walks away Sean confides in Jamie. He is falling in love with the idea of being a Daddy and wants to be more involved than just being a sperm donor.

Back at the yard David picks up a spanner as if he's not sure what he's going to do with it yet. He hears a van out on the street and rushes out to check it's not Bill and Jason returning. I it's to his relief. He's not stood on the scaffold that gives him an idea. He begins to loosen the nuts and bolts of the scaffolding with the spanner.

Kirk and Chez are sat on the sofa eating chips off their knees. They discuss the state of the house. They decide that seen as it's now October it's too late fore spring-cleaning and so that will have to wait until next year. Their plan instead is to not let anyone, especially Fiz, into the house. If no one sees how messy the house is they will never know.

David leaves the builders yard looking very smug and as if nothing had happened at all.

Maria enters the Rovers and speaks to Michelle. She asks if her and Liam have any blonde, mid twenties, female relatives. Michelle says they haven't but does look a little confused by the question. Liam then enters the pub. He explains the woman was a buyer who he's trying to keep happy and it was a business meeting. Maria initially acts as if she doesn't mind. Liam then seems concerned. He says he would be upset if he'd seen Maria kiss another man. She does admit that it did bother her and Liam tells her he'll do anything to make it up to her starting with diner that evening.

Sarah is once again on the phone to Jason trying to get his input for the wedding plans. Bill and Jason then drive past in the van, which cheers her up. This doesn't last long as David is stood behind her listening in. She goes back to work in the salon.

Hayley is sat drinking tea in the cafe. Roy goes over to her as she looks very down. He suggests she should go on her own. Hayley doesn't entertain the idea for a second. She will go nowhere without Roy she says but he still urges her to think about it.

Bill and Jason return from lunch to find no messages have been let on their answering machine. Jason goes out onto the scaffolding and is leaning on the part that David has loosened whilst giving directions to a sorry driver below. Bill is on the phone to the man whose message was deleted by David. He's trying to instruct the man to turn off his water supply but the foreign gentleman doesn't seem to understand him very well.

Erica Houston

We join Bill and Jason in the builders' yard, upstairs where Bill leaves Jason to do some paperwork while he heads out to do a quote.

Todd meets Becky having a smoke at the front of the cafe where Becky tells Todd her woes about not being boss after she came so close. Inside, Roy and Hayley are discussing the trip. Roy is happy to let Hayley go alone. He wasn't sure with such short notice but is sure that if Hayley goes alone, they both get what they want and in the long run, their relationship will be stronger.

At Underworld, Liam is teasing the girls with a huge bouquet of flowers- who has sent them and who is the lucky lady? Sally knows they're not for her. Janice thinks they might be from Roger. Fizz doesn't think they're for her. Liam finally reveals the lucky lady is Fizz. He requests that their partners not send flowers to the workplace any more as the girls all fawn around Fizz and her lovely bunch of flowers.

At the Salon, Maria, David and Sarah hear a bang outside. They look up as David asks, "What wur that?" David rushes outside to see a skip being dropped off across the street.

Meanwhile, Jason is leaning over the dodgy scaffolding bigging himself up to Becky and Todd who are outside the cafe at the expense of Bill. He's completely unaware that Bill is within earshot and is egging Becky and Todd on to make Jason dig himself into a bigger and bigger hole. Bill heads upstairs to where Jason is.

Inside the cafe again and Hayley and Roy are still going over the opportunity for Hayley to go on her charity trip alone. Roy tries to make Hayley see that he only wants to make her happy and that's why he's prepared to let her go alone. Hayley wants them to go together but Roy tells her if she is to go at all she needs to make up her mind about going alone because time is not on her side.

Jason, still talking about Bill and, by this time, his disastrous record when it comes to marriage, is still hanging over the dodgy scaffolding. David watches from below, looking decidedly worried. Bill surprises Jason and threatens he wants a word with him. Jason, taken aback, puts his weight on the scaffolding which gives way from behind him and he falls to the ground. Hayley, who has heard the noise outside, rushes over to administer her first aid while David gets on the mobile to call an ambulance. Jason appears to be unconscious. Sarah runs over to see her fiance lying on the ground. Jason moves his eyes momentarily while Sarah, Bill, Hayley, Todd, Becky and David fuss around him.

After the commercial break, the paramedics have arrived and are taking Jason off to hospital in the ambulance. David is explaining to Gail what he saw and how he called an ambulance while Becky is stating her amateur diagnosis of paralysis to Hayley and Roy. Roy sends Becky to take the afternoon off as she claims she's shaken up and she heads off for a brandy. Eileen sees Jason and is worried. David is comforted by Maria who tells David that Jason will be all right. Roy congratulates Hayley on doing so well in the first aid while Hayley makes up her mind to go on her trip. She kisses Roy and tells him that he's the very best.

In the Rovers, Violet asks Liam to go and tell Sean what's just happened. Becky is in a booth telling Kevin, Kirkeh, Jamie and Tyrone what happened. There's some confusion about whether Bill made Jason jump or not but Becky clarifies that the scaffolding gave way and Tyrone tells Kevin, "I 'ope your Dad's well insured!" Oh dear!

In the hospital, the paramedics are running down Jason's condition to the doctors. The doctor manages to make Jason come round a little and he tells Jason he's definitely going to be in hospital for the afternoon at least to get lots and lots of tests to make sure he's ok.

In the ginnel, Rosie meets John who tells her they can't keep meeting like this. Rosie points out that he's the one doing the running. She tells John his worst nightmare. She's going back to school but she's not going back the private school- she's going back to his school. He points out that he could lose his job. When he tells Rosie they have to stop seeing each other, Rosie manipulates him further by telling him they can still keep seeing each other but they can't get caught. Sophie catches Rosie coming out onto the street and questions her while John looks on.

Back at the hospital, Gail asks how things are. Jason is off for a CT scan but the good news is that he can move his legs. Todd tells Bill that it wasn't his fault. Bill knows that but he still feels terrible.

Becky returns to the cafe where she hears that Hayley is off to Africa on her own. The realisation dawns that it'll be just Becky and Roy while she's gone and she's disappointed not to be getting a pay rise.

At the Websters' Kevin is telling Sally about Jason's condition. They sit at the table to have tea- summat 'n' chips- and Rosie tells her parents about her decision about returning to Weatherfield High. Sally is disappointed but Kevin is proud that Rosie is mature enough to make the right decision about her future. Rosie tells Sally she's going to get better grades in her A-level English than Sally. Sally says, "We'll see about that!"

In the Rovers, Violet is talking to Jamie. Jamie asks how the "arrangement" is going with Sean. Violet tells him it's going well, better than expected. So far, Sean has failed to make it all about "his baby" but Jamie tells Violet that he thinks Sean wants to be more involved but feels like he can't be. Violet tells Jamie she'll ask Sean to join her for the scan later on in the week. Fizz leaves Kelly, Tyrone, Janice and Vicki to put her flowers in water and check on Chesney. Kelly asks Tyrone about Paul, she thinks he's cute. Janice says Kelly would eat him alive. Kelly says she wouldn't mind a "little nibble!" Tyrone refuses to set them up on a date. Kirk brings a tray of drinks over from the bar and asks where Fizz has gone. When Janice tells him she's gone to check on Chesney he panics and runs straight out of the pub. As he rushes out, Maria comes in, all dolled up. Liam greets her, wearing his work clothes and Maria thinks she's too dressed up.

Outside, Fizz is talking to David and asks him to tell Jason they're all thinking of him. Kirk catches up with Fizz outside the house and tries to stall Fizz from going in. Chesney opens the door and asks Fizz inside. To Kirkeh's surprise, Chesney has does a great clean and the place is spick and span. Kirk is relieved to say the least.

Maria convinces Liam to change into something more dressy. Liam doesn't mind because Maria looks so gorgeous tonight. Maria tells Liam she likes him in navy blue after which lots of suggestive talk ensues- there's a chance they might even miss their table at the restaurant! Liam tells her there's a pizza in the fridge- how romantic!

John and Fizz catch up with each other. John is out of sorts but Fizz tells him she'll share her dinner with him and he cheers up. They go up to Fizz's flat.

Out the back of Kirk & Chesney's, the two boys make a resolution to be clean and tidy after Kirk sees the amount of rubbish Chesney has cleaned out of their house and dumped in the yard. Chesney shows Kirk a bag of change £9.82 which he found when he was cleaning. They decide on kebabs for dinner.

In the hospital, Jason is awake. He says the first thing he saw when he fell off the roof was David's face. Bill tells that David did good, calling the ambulance. Gail is relieved to hear good things about David for a change. Jason reckons he could do with a pint just as the doctor comes in and tells him he should be fine but he won't be able to walk for a while. They're waiting for the CT scans to know just how long it'll be before Jason can be back on his two feet again.

Outside the Cafe, Becky is wishing Hayles a teary farewell. Becky tells her to take care and mind out for them elephants. She leaves Hayley and Roy to say good bye. Hayley promises to Roy that she'll write every day and she'll come home safe but she wants Roy to do something for her- to come with her to the station and wave her off. Roy is glad to go and gets in the taxi which drives off into the night.

David is hanging around, all guilty like, outside the hospital room. Gail falls for his concerned act and brings him in to see David. Jason seems happy to see him and when David asks how he is tells him, "I'll live." David is visibly relieved.

Stella McLoughlin



Wednesday 24 October

Roy seems to be wandering aimlessly around the cafe when Becky arrives, full of chat about a guy she's just seen in a terrible wig. Then she stops for breath and sees Roy's face, and assures him it won't be long until Hayley is walking in through the door with her smile and her sensible shoes.

Gail and Eileen arrive at the hospital where Jason is sitting on edge of the bed, all dressed and ready to go. He teases them at first, saying that he's been told he may never walk again. "And then they may have to take my brain out…." (what brain? We may ask). He bursts out laughing, and Sarah tells them that he's fine, no permanent damage, and the CT scan came back all clear, they can still get married. Jason, however, has to have eight weeks off work and Eileen comments she can get him some word searches and he might even manage to finish one. He's been discharged, so, as they stand to leave, Sarah comments that what's even better is that this time he can't climb out of the window!

In the Kabin, Norris is muttering to Rita about Doreen being interested in his two friends, and them being interested her. Rita thinks he's jealous.

Just then, Violet and Sean come in, she's off for her scan and Sean wants little envelopes to send all the photos of the baby off to all his friends. "And what will people DO with a photo of an unborn child?" enquires Norris. Sean says they can do what they want with it, put one on the wall or wonder at the miracle of life.

Jason arrives back in the Street and breaks the news to Bill that he's going to be off work for eight weeks. Just then, David comes up looking genuinely pleased to see Jason and glad that the CT scan was ok. Gail smiles benevolently at him but Sarah doesn't seem impressed.

Rosie gives her notice in to Liam at the factory, she tells him she's going back to school and he promises her a good reference if she ever needs one.

Sean and Violet have gone to the hospital for the scan, and are sitting in the waiting room.

Sarah and Jason are making their way down the Street, Jason somewhat precarious on his crutches. Todd comes and takes him away for a drink, just as Sarah's phone rings. It's Candice, at last.

Back at the hospital, Sean's boyfriend is carrying out the scan on Violet, and points out to them the baby's arms and legs and heart on the screen. "Do you want to know the sex?" he asks. "Yes!" says Sean and "No!" says Violet at the same time, so Marcus doesn't tell them and says he'll just take some measurements and he turns the screen away from them.

Norris walks into the Rovers to find his two friends George and Ivor already there. "What are you two doing here?" he asks in surprise. They tell him they have a date with Doreen. "Are you drunk?" he asks, astonished. "Not drunk, giddy!" they tell him, and admit to having other dates lined up next Friday. "Both of you?" he says. "Think of it as a Doreen sandwich," they tell him. Norris mutters that he'd rather not, and goes to the bar to order his drink.

Bill goes into the Rovers to find Jason and Todd. He asks Jason if he often leans on the rail, and tells him that it couldn't have just collapsed, it would need to have the bolts unscrewed and the whole thing would have to be loosened. "Bill, I never touched the bolts," says Jason. "I never touched the bolts either," says Bill, "but somebody did." He tells Jason that they left the gate opened yesterday, but nothing was taken, the petty cash box wasn't even locked. Todd is puzzled. "You think someone snuck into the yard and tampered with the bolts so Jason could break his neck?" Jason and Bill stare at each other. "Do you think he's mad enough?" asks Bill, "because I believe he is." "Who?" asks Todd, but neither of them answer him. Eventually Todd works out that they're talking about David. "Are you serious?" he says, half laughing. "What do you reckon?" asks Bill. Jason says he doesn't know, but reckons he feels sick.

At the hospital, as Violet leaves the room clutching the photos of her baby, Sean tries to get Marcus to tell him whether the baby is a Wayne or a Waynetta. "Don't put me in that situation," says Marcus and refuses to divulge. "You'll tell me later," whispers Sean, but Marcus says he won't, it's not fair.

Jason is still in the Rovers, pondering the realisation that David could have killed him. Todd asks if he's being paranoid, but Jason tells him he doesn't know what David's like and he wouldn't put it past him. Bill, who has been talking on his phone, comes over to say that he has a job to do, shifting a load of gravel. Todd offers to go with him and help but Bill tells him to stay with his brother.

George and Ivor, still sitting in their corner, see Doreen coming in. They discuss together how they're going to watch Norris's expression when he sees her, convinced that Doreen is the one he has set his sights upon. As Norris comes back from the gents he looks somewhat dismayed to see Doreen, but adjusts his glasses as he looks at her. "She's the one," says George

.

John has gone to the Webster's house, only to be told by Rosie that it's bad news, her mum isn't in. "What a terrible shame," says John.

In the gents', Todd tries to persuade Jason to tell Gail and Sarah what David has done. Jason asks what he's supposed to say – "By the way your brother tried to kill me, what's for tea?" Todd says he should find David, but Jason doesn't think that would do any good. Todd then suggests going to the police, but Jason reminds him that they are just a couple of days from the wedding. "Do you think I need all this?" he asks his brother, "police, attempted murder...I know he's nuts but he wouldn't kill anyone."

Out in the Street, Liam is chatting to Roy about Hayley – or at least he's talking and Roy is standing beside him looking like he's listening. He tells Roy she's a very special lady, and Roy agrees that she is. "I bet you slept diagonally across the bed last night though, Roy," says Liam, and tells him that lots of men would kill to be in his shoes. He says that whenever Carla went away Paul used to run wild, out with the lads every night, going to casinos, strip joints. "And think of the tan she's going to have," he says, but Roy is no longer listening, he's turned around and walked away.

Jodie and Lloyd are outside the Rovers, talking about Jerry and Lloyd tells her that Eileen spoke to him on the phone and had a go at him because he'd abandoned Jodie and been shirking his responsibilities. "I don't need Eileen to fight my battles for me," says Jodie, indignantly. Lloyd then tells her that Eileen has offered to babysit on Friday night so that they can go out.

Rosie and John are kissing on the sofa when Sally comes in the front door. They don't hear her until she trips over one of Rosie's shoes left on the floor so they jump up guiltily and Rosie rushes out of the room telling her mother that John is there and she's just offered him a cup of tea. (That's not the only thing she's offered him, it would seem!) Sally is quite unsuspecting of anything and tells him she'll just get her folder. "Isn't Keats a treat?" she smiles.

Roy gets back into the cafe to be told by Becky that he would never guess who had been in there, even if she gave him a million guesses. "Go on then, have a guess," she says. Roy says that the odds are stacked against him, but then guesses it was the man she saw earlier with the bad wig. "How did you know?" says Becky, open mouthed. She then decides that Roy must be psychic, but he assures her he doesn't believe in any sort of clairvoyance or telepathy, and is not in any way superstitious. Becky can't believe that he doesn't think that rabbits feet, horse-shoes or four-leafed clovers are lucky. Becky then tells him that the wig was actually the man's real hair. She then grows serious, "She'd be home now, wouldn't she?" she says. Roy agrees that she would. "What will you do tonight?" she asks. Roy tells her that he's reading up on Africa, it makes him seem closer.

Doreen is still in the Rovers, telling Rita, Norris, George and Ivor a wild tale about her trip on a cruise ship.

Eileen and her sons are over at another table, and Todd is having a go at walking with Jason's crutches. As Eileen starts to get all nostalgic about losing her son to another woman, Jason and Todd decide to get up and go. "What's going on?" asks Eileen. "Nothing!" they chorus.

Over at the Platt's, Jason and Todd arrive as Sarah is moaning to Gail about the fact that Candice can't come to her wedding as she's just got a new job. Sarah says that David probably got her the job, just to spoil the wedding. Gail says she can't blame David for everything. "Can't I?" says Sarah. Jason sits down and tells Gail that Bill has checked out the rail and they know that it couldn't have come loose by accident. "Well you didn't jump," says Gail, "so what does he think happened?" Jason tells him that someone undid the tube clamps. "David!" says Sarah, instantly. Gail is furious. "Have you completely lost your mind?" she snaps, and points out that even if it's true about the tube clamps it doesn't mean that David did it. She says that there's no evidence. Jason then tells her about the time he was on the factory roof with David and he said that he wished his family was all dead, and then he made a gun shape with his finger. "How ridiculous!" says Gail. "Mainly, Gail," says Jason, "he was pointing it at you!"

Back at the Webster's, Sally is trying to read a poem out loud to John over the noise of Rosie's music. Eventually she gets up to go and tell her daughter to turn it down. "She must have a brand new crush," she says to John.

Gail is still furious at the allegations about David, but Sarah can't see what the sticking point is. "The sticking point is that he's a sixteen year old boy and nobody saw him do it!" cries Gail and says that David had behaved commendably when Jason fell and she insists that what he said on the factory roof was good old-fashioned adolescence. "Mum," says Sarah gently, "you know it's him, don't you?" Gail stops in her tracks, lost for words.

Anne Logan



Friday 26 October

We start off in the street where Audrey, Bill and David arrive outside the hairdressers. (They arrive by car, but you never see the car parked anywhere!). David muses that he is about to start hairdressing college, and whether he would be allowed to use the scissors as he is a "murdering psychopath". Bill gets angry and says that he turns everything into a joke. However, David responds by calling him "Billy Boy" and dismisses the suggestion that he tried to murder Jason. Bill calls him evil, as Audrey tries to defuse the situation by taking David into the salon.

Over at the Platts', Sarah tells her mother that she doesn't fancy her hen night. She asks her to phone round to everybody and say that she has a tummy bug. Gail says she doesn't like lying, so Sarah tells her to tell them the truth that her brother tried to murder my fiance and anyone of us might be next. Sarah tells her mum that she is leaving the salon because she cannot work with David anymore. Gail says she will speak to Audrey about it.

Doreen tells Rita that she is going to meet up with Ivor for elevensies, and George for dinner. Seeing Liam go by, she suggests that Doreen asks him as well so she can make it a hat trick. Doreen remarks that if she was ten years younger to which Rita replies, more like thirty ! Doreen tells her that she had two glucose tablets for breakfast that morning and she is ready to take on anyone.

Gail and Sarah turn up at the salon to confront David about wanting to kill the whole family. Of course David denies it and tries to make a joke of it, but Sarah says that Jason wouldn't make it up. She tells Audrey that she can't work with him anymore, and she is leaving. Audrey tells David to keep a low profile for the next few days, and to go home. He responds that he presumes she means her home rather than his real home.

Liam picks up a message on his answering machine from Carla. She says her trip is going well, but doesn't know when she will get back. This reminds Rosie to go and check her flat, but Liam says as it is on his way home, he will check. Rosie gives him the keys but asks for them back so that she can do it the next time.

Meanwhile Bill, Todd and Jason are chatting about last night in the cafe. Bill says that he and Audrey were at it hammer and tong ! The other two look askance at each other, until Bill clarifies that they were discussing David Platt. Bill complains that women don't believe anything even if it is staring them in the face. Maria comes in to buy some cakes for Sarah, because she is upset. Becky asks how upset; puzzled Maria asks why. Becky explains, depending on how upset she is, the bigger the cake ! (I am very upset !!!!!!!!!!). Todd suggests that they all take her to The Rovers.

In the Rovers, Sean is talking to Marcus about Violet and the baby. He wants to know the baby's sex, but Violet doesn't want to know.. He tells Violet that if you swing a needle over her tummy depending on which way it goes it is either a boy or a girl (wow!!). However, he can't remember which way round it is supposed to be !! Violet goes to the bar. He then says to Marcus if he says "girl", all he has to do is say "yes" or "no". Marcus said "no", but Sean asks does that it mean it is not a girl, but Marcus refuses to say anything.

As the "wedding group" leave The Rovers, David comes running over. Bill tells him to keep away. Sarah tells him to go to his car, it is the only place left for him to go, nobody wants him. Jason prods his crutch (that is a walking aid!) at David and accuses David of causing his fall. David drops his halo for a moment and says that if it were down to him, Jason would be six feet under.

Gail tells Sarah that she has rung round and canceled the hen night. Gail suggested that inviting all the family including Todd and Eileen for a Sunday lunch would get everyone in a party mood (?!).

Eileen has arrived at the Morton's to babysit for Kayleigh and Finlay. Kayleigh said she didn't need a babysitter and went upstairs. Lloyd comes round to take Jodie out. Eileen jokes with him that they can kiss, but no tongues! Lloyd replied "yes Mum". Jodie gives Eileen a slip of paper with her mobile (cell-phone) number on it, just in case ...

Liam and Maria meet in the Rovers. She says that she tried to contact him during the day, to no avail. He tells her that he had been shopping and had bought her ... a small box. She opens it and inside is a silver locket. Overwhelmed, she says it is gorgeous. He tells her that he has the receipt if she wants to take it back. She said she loved it.

Sean and Marcus are still talking about the baby. Sean said he envied him, how he saw the miracle of life. But Marcus responded that it isn't all hearts and flowers, because the baby could be picking its nose (!), or even weeing in her womb (!!!!!!) [I am not going to have a baby .... oh that's right I can't !!]. Marcus continued that it was a typical boy who would do it anywhere. Suddenly, Sean gasped with delight and Marcus looked horrified, he realised he had inadvertently given away the secret of the baby's sex.

Young Kayleigh who looks as if she may become a new minx, comes crawling down the drainpipe. Eileen hears the noise and investigates. Kayleigh says she is going out and Eileen cannot stop her. Eileen grabs her arm and prevents her from going anywhere. Kayleigh says she will tell Jodie that Eileen hit her. So Jodie and Lloyd are enjoying a meal in the restaurant and her phone rings. It is Kayleigh. Annoyed, she tells Lloyd she had better go home to investigate what has happened, despite Lloyd suggesting she ring Eileen.

Back in The Rovers, Marcus is ready to leave. He is annoyed that Sean tricked him into revealing the baby's sex (I don't think Sean tricked him). He tells Sean it is disrespectful to Violet. However, Sean argues that she didn't want to know, he did, and she is none the wiser, so what is the problem?

Jodie arrives home and hears the truth from Eileen, and virtually explodes at Kayleigh. She calls her a "selfish mare" She tells Kayleigh that she has ruined her night out.

Gail goes out to put out the milk bottles, and sees David in his car. He tells her he is trying to sleep there, but Gail tells him he can't sleep in the car and invites him inside. She reads him the 'riot act', and says she was almost about to call the police. David goads her to hit him, but she manages to control herself. She tells him that she would like to believe he was not involved, but she knows what he is like. She tells him to wipe the smug smile off his face. She says that he terrifies her at times. She asks what is wrong with him. David says he doesn't know. She tells him that on the news there are reports that kids who walk into a school or cafe and just shoot everyone dead. He then asks his mother for help.

Rita and Doreen are in the pub and Rita wants to know how Doreen's dates were. She says they both seem keen but they both think that she has a secret admirer. Rita thinks it must be Liam, but Doreen corrects her and says they think it is Norris. Rita said Norris doesn't like her. However, Doreen says they think he is ready to propose. Rita tells her that Norris had proposed to her. Doreen suggests that she is being a spoilsport and doesn't believe her, and suggests it maybe jealousy.

Violet tells Sean that she saw Marcus go and wonders if they had had a falling out. Sean tells her that he had to rush back for an emergency, but Violet doesn't believe anyone would need an ultrasound scan urgently. He admits he is lying, but refuses to tell her what the reason was other than he did something stupid.

The conversation at the Platts' continues. David is telling Gail that he doesn't know how to be happy. Gail says when she sees him smile she worries because the only time she sees him smile is when he is hurting someone. She says as his mother she will always love him, but can't keep turning a blind eye. David says he can't change, because it is the way he is. In desperation, Gail says it upsets her, but she wants him to stay away, and in particular to stay away from the wedding. David promises he will stay away from all of them. He won't come near them, and they won't have to worry about him again.

Very dramatic as we build up to the wedding next week. Will David keep away? Will Sarah and Jason finally get married? You will have to read through another three episodes before you find out for sure !!

Martin Rosen



Sunday 28 October

Here we are again. Sorry to say that I was not ready to publish the minute the Friday episode hit your mailbox but as we glide down the path to Sarah's wedding things are really going well with the wedding preparations and it is going to be a grand event comes Wednesday with a full hour episode to watch.

Meantime the episode tonight is sponsored by Harveys, written by Jayne Hollinson and directed by Michael Kerr.

Eileen is complaining that they going for dinner at the Platts. Now can someone explain the bedroom arrangements in the Grimshaw household: Eileen, Sean, Violet (and baby) and Todd visiting, in at most a two bedroom house. What happens when Jason comes home the night before the wedding? Anyway Todd reckons that it will be fun - Gail will dig out the old photos of Sarah. Eileen still cannot believe that they will be linked to the family - but Sean tells her to look on the bright side Jason might do another runner. Eileen would rather have Gail as a mother in law than Jason doing another runner. Marcus has not been in touch but Sean refuses to tell Violet why. He leaves a voicemail message for Marcus as he leaves.

Gail is bringing home the shopping and chats with Jason and Sarah until David casts an unwelcome shadow over the jokes and they go indoors quietly. Once inside Sarah reckons that he will turn up at lunchtime and ruin the meal. Anyway Jason, Sarah and Gail agree that for the rest of the day David does not exist.

Maria looks at a rather nice locket given her by Liam whilst John is marking umpteen essays whilst Fiz hangs around his neck. Fiz turns her temper on Maria at being ignored, whilst Maria thinks she needs to get Liam a present in return Fiz tries to say sorry to John. He says he will do the marking later. John and Fiz are begged by Maria to give her a lift into town.

Doreen comes into the Kabin for a fishing magazine. A present for George as a thank you for the meal yesterday. She apologises to Rita and they discuss Norris - Doreen cannot believe that Doris does not like her. If Norris did propose she would turn him down. Rita reckons they are always bickering, but Doreen says she has not recognised the passion underlying the words and the attraction that goes with it. Rita is not convinced.

At the Platts' Audrey and Bill arrive with the cake which is duly admired and thanks offered. Beth wants to add candles to the top of the cake but Audrey says there should be a bride and groom. They have vanished (Bill took them off because the cake box would not close) and so Bill checks the car but they cannot be found. They are pouring out a lot of alcohol. Audrey reminds Bill that he is driving. Eileen emerges with Todd with a full box of wine - to help her get through the ordeal ahead. Todd guides his mother across the road and into the Platt household.

Sean is failing to get through to Marcus as he returns to the Rovers to get a drink. Inside he sits down with Jamie who looks at the purchases from the shopping trip - blue baby clothes. Jamie is worried. Sean admits to Jamie that he knows it is a boy - and they agree not to tell Violet.

Fiz and John arrive in the Rovers - where Kev and Sal are having a drink. Fiz asks if they can go elsewhere to get some time on their own but Kev insists on buying the drinks as thanks for getting Rosie to resume her studies. Sophie suggests that they do not join the family party and gets told off by Sal. Sal and Rosie agree that they cannot understand what John sees in Fiz (obviously compared with their own ineffable charms).

At the Platts' the boys and Eileen are drinking and laughing, the girls are cooking. Bill has decided on getting a taxi home. The alcohol is having a very positive impact on relationships - much laughter at very little. Eileen tries to sit between he sons but ends up sitting next to Gail who starts "For what we are about to receive ..." and gets a great look from Eileen before collapsing into laughter, along with everyone else.

Darryl and David are next door in the shed. Dave looks grimly at the sounds of laughter and merriment.

Marcus turns up in the pub for a drink and Sean rushes to the bar. Violet tells Marcus to make it up with Sean. Sean returns from the toilet and Sean is sorry - he does not deserve either of them. Although he only came for one drink he offers to buy a second round.

Maria arrives, kisses Liam and says can they go back to his place - she has a surprise.

Rosie admits that she is taking up English specifically to be in John's class on her return to school. John is going to do his marking even though Maria is out.

The Platt household echoes to the sound of laughter and the parties all seem to be getting on very well - Todd has to open another bottle. Sarah wants to know how Jason will put a ring on her finger. She takes a hula hoop from Beth, gives it to Todd who gives it to Jason, he misses her finger. They kiss.

Back in the Rovers Doreen arrives, followed by Doris and Rita and Doreen starts flirting with poor Doris. They fall to discussing stock in the shop - with Doreen siding with Doris against Rita. Doris is wondering what Doreen is up to. Rita tells Doris that Doreen is expecting a proposal. Rita thinks the whole thing funny - but Doris is actually struck by the idea and when Doreen waves at him he nods nicely backa t her. Rita can hardly believe what she is seeing.

In Liam's back yard Maria tells him to cover his eyes she dashes around the corner and comes back carrying a delightful black Labrador puppy. Liam is not impressed - she knew he had one as a kid. Maria has a huge smile on her face. She passes the puppy over - it needs to eat three times a day.

In the Morton back garden the air rifle is out and they are taking pot shots at cans. David thinks the family are all laughing at him. Darryl tries to reason with him - but David is not listening. David tells Darryl that Gail wanted him aborted. Darryl goes to get some chips - although he is starting to think David is off his rocker.

Eileen and Gail are washing up. Eileen says she always thought that Sarah was a bit of an airhead - no offence meant. Gail responds that she thought Jason was thick and they both start laughing when they see they agree. Eileen and Gail in agreement - will it ever happen again. Jason says they will have a great wedding day and everyone looks on when Bill raises a toast - Sarah and Jason.

Next door the little bride and groom from the cake are on the firing range and David shoots both models destroying them - just as he plans to destroy the wedding day.

See you next week.

K Richard W



Monday 29 October

Part 1

It's the day before Sarah and Jason's wedding and David is feeling particularly pushed out as he watches everyone leave for the rehearsal. Sarah has had an upsetting phone call from Martin saying he can't make the wedding because his baby daughter is ill. She doesn't feel like going to the rehearsal at all. However with plenty of words of encouragement from her mother and grandmother she changes her mind. "You have to do it for Jason" they tell her.

David is under the impression that when his dad, Martin Platt, arrives he will make the family see sense and invite him to the wedding. When everyone arrives back from the rehearsal in high spirits Gal had to break the news to David about his dad's earlier phone call, this further fuels his anger, especially seen as Martin has phoned Sarah and not him. Gail sticks to her guns and maintains that he must stay away.

David lets himself into his Mothers empty house seeming very distraught. After generally throwing a few things around he sits down at the table with pen and paper and begins to write.

Later when Maria and Sarah return back to the house they are horrified to find David's suicide note on the kitchen table. Sarah is convinced that it's just another trick to stop the wedding and hides the note. She makes Maria agree not to tell anyone and just ignore it.

Meanwhile in the pub everyone is discussing the sex of violets baby. As Sean has told Jamie that the baby is a boy he feel very awkward lying to Violet, especially when Sean deliberately drags him into the conversation. Later Jamie lets Sean know just how annoyed he is and asks him to avoid involving him in future.

Liam, though trying his best, is finding it difficult to adjust to having a puppy around. After he is turned away from the Rovers, the café and the Kebab shop he takes the dog home and goes back to work at the factory. Only to have Molly come round and complain about the noise the dog is making in his flat. He sends Molly over to bring the dog to the factory.

Michelle is doing her very best to convince Steve to talk to Liz and Vern about them moving out so Steve and his new family can have the living quarters of the Rovers to them selves. Steve just can't seem to find the right moment and is generally avoiding the subject.

Elsewhere, Paul has manages to get hold of £10,000 which he gives to Leanne toward the restaurant. Leanne is pleased as she will now be able to give some of the money to Roger to repay his loan.

Erica Houston

Part 2

Maria and Sarah Lou are in Gail's kitchen where Maria is reading through David's suicide note. "If I don't have a family, then I don't have a life. I am sorry for all the hurt I have caused. At least this way I will never cause you any trouble ever again." Sarah takes the letter from a shocked Maria and tells Maria that David's playing tricks. This is another way he'll stop the wedding which is why he's addressed it to Gail. Sarah calls and leaves a message on David's voicemail, "Hiya David. Just to let you know we got the note. But it's not gonna work because everybody knows you're a big, fat liar. And quite frankly, if you're stood on the edge of a cliff right now, all I want to say to you is- Jump!" Maria is shocked, worried that the note is genuine but Sarah Lou is unrepentant, reminding Maria of everything he's done so far to try and stop the wedding. Gail comes through the door and Sarah hides the note in her handbag. Gail reminds Sarah that everyone's waiting for her in the pub. Sarah tells her she'll be there soon and drags Maria upstairs to get changed with her. Maria is nonplussed.

Fizz, Kelly & Vicki enter the Rovers as Michelle is talking to Steve at the bar. Michelle wants to know what Vernon and Steve are planning for Liz's 50th birthday (really? Only 50? How old is Steve supposed to be?) Steve has no clue what Vernon's planning. Michelle tells him he and Vernon had better think of something because other wise Liz is not going to be a happy bunny. Enter Dev who asks about the happy bunny. When he's told it's Liz's 50th coming up, Dev makes an incredulous little snort about how old 50 is. Steve and Michelle remind him that he'll be 50 one day but Dev argues, not for many, many years. Steve and Michelle clearly don't believe him. Dev is a little insulted by this. In a booth, Audrey is reminding Todd not to let Jason out of his sight the night before his wedding. Todd jokes that Sarah and Maria have been gone a long time and maybe Sarah has had second thoughts. Audrey says that with Sarah, any thing's possible and Todd takes it a step further by joking that the whole wedding business could be an elaborate plot by Sarah to stand Jason up on his wedding day and humiliate him. But, as Sarah walks into the pub to a chorus of Here Comes the Bride from the girls in the pub, they see it's not. Sarah gives Jason a passionate kiss, happy to see him. Audrey asks if Sarah is nervous but she's not and can't see why she should be and Todd goes to the bar to get the drinks in. Meanwhile, Roger is being miserable over on the other side of the pub with Janice. Janice has asked him if he'll come to dinner at Leanne's restaurant but he wants to stay in the pub with beer and crisps. Roger wonders what Leanne wants now, what with the money she owes him and the couple of free call-outs he's done for her. Janice gets a bit snippy with him, saying, "Nobody is forcing you to have a lovely meal in a nice restaurant with a beautiful woman. I'll tell you what, why don't I just leave you to your beer and crisps?" She was referring to herself with the beautiful woman remark, I imagine. Janice leaves him, Roger follows her, resigned to eating at the restaurant for the evening, Miserable old so & so. Maria and Audrey chat for a bit and Maria asks Audrey if she's seen David and was he OK. Audrey tells him she saw him but who knows if David's OK, he's so changeable. Maria is worried and Sarah throws her a look from the booth.

In the back of the pub, Steve asks Vernon what he's planning for Liz's 50th. Vernon is keeping it secret and won't tell him, Steve tries to needle it out of him but Vernon won't tell. All he'll say is that it's better than a party. Liz interrupts and knows that they've been talking about her birthday. Vernon tells Liz in his own way that he knows her b'day is coming up and that it's special. After Vernon leaves, Liz tells Steve she thinks she knows that Vernon is throwing a party for her. Steve doesn't answer.

In the ladies loo at the Rovers, which is far larger than I imagined or remembered, Sarah and Maria talk about David. Maria wants Sarah to tell someone about David's note, wondering what will happen if it's a real cry for help. Sarah refuses, knowing that it's just David playing games,. She tells Maria to stop thinking about it and start thinking about nice things. They are interrupted by Audrey who sends Sarah back out to enjoy her party.

Liam is home from taking his new puppy for a walk. Jamie has built a barrier to stop the puppy from getting in the kitchen. Jamie argues that it's not hygienic, having a dog in the kitchen. They argue about the puppy and Jamie asks Liam if he can get rid of it in some way. Liam can't see a way to get rid of the puppy and you can tell Liam is becoming a little attached to his puppy after Jamie callously suggests " a little accident" to get rid of him.

In the pub, Fizz is asking Maria what ever possessed her to buy a puppy for Liam. Maria is now wracked with doubt about whether or not she has done the right thing. Sarah, Jason, Todd, Audrey and Gail are talking in a booth about how happy Sarah is. Audrey tells Sarah that Gail has a surprise for her. Gail reveals she has booked Sarah and Jason a honeymoon in a fabulous hotel in the Lakes. Sarah and Jason are stoked. Sarah says, "This has been the best day of my life, and do you know the best bit? Tomorrow is going to be even better!" They all drink to that while Maria looks on, worried.

Violet and Maria are round at Liam's where Violet is playing with puppy and Maria asks Liam in the kitchen if she has made a terrible mistake by buying him a puppy. Liam reassures her that it's great, "Who wouldn't love a puppeh?" he asks.

In Leanne's restaurant, Leanne and Paul are serving a dressed up Janice and Roger linguine with herbs and lemon. Roger has a moan about not being hungry. Janice is a bit sick of his whinging and asks Roger if everything is so bad, has Leanne asked him for anything so far? Roger replies by telling Janice that his dinner is flamin' delicious and tucks in. Janice warns him to watch out before he starts enjoying himself.

Maria and Violet leave Liam's as Darryl Morton pulls up in his car. Maria tells Violet to go on while she talks to Darryl, asking if he's seen David Platt today. Darryl says he has and he seemed fine to him, not fussed about missing out on the wedding. Darryl reassure Maria that David seemed absolutely fine. Before he heads off, he asks Maria incredulously if she bought her boyfriend a puppy.

Sarah tells Jason in the pub that it's time to go home and get a good night's sleep. She takes him home. Dev is at the bar with Steve where Dev is trying to massage his wrinkles away. Dev tells Steve it's his duty to step into Vernon's shoes and give Liz a party so as to not let her down. Steve is convinced that Vernon is going to let her down though and thinks that Liz should learn a lesson. Michelle asks him how hard can it be for a man who owns a pub to have a party for his mum and what was he going to get her anyway? Steve tells he had plans to get her a pair of slippers. "You know, sometimes I wonder what I see in this man!" says Michelle and wanders off.

Jason and Sarah are kissing before saying good night on the street. Sarah asks Jason to make her a promise, "Promise me we'll never stop snogging in doorways..." Maria is down the street ringing Liam's doorbell. Liam, who is playing with the puppy, lets her in. Maria comes to tell Liam she can take the puppy back but Liam tells her he wants the puppy and has decided on a name for him. Because he's scruffy, clumsy and a bit of a shambles, he's decided on Ozzie. Maria likes it.

Jason gets home to loud music (Shirley Bassey singing Let's Get This Party Started) and opens the door to the living room in Eileen's to see Sean parading up and down the room in front of Marcus in his wedding suit. Todd arrives and makes Marcus and Sean show off their suits and do a twirl. Jason, the only straight the room is having a laugh and Todd tells him that living with Sean has done Jason the world of good.

Out on the street, Audrey and Gail are running towards and talking to Sarah. they turn and realise that David's car is gone, Seeing Darryl, Gail asks him if he knows where David's car has gone. Darryl pleads ignorance and Gail and Audrey forget about it and head inside. Sarah lingers outside a little longer, wondering what's going on.

In the restaurant, Roger and Janice have had a great meal and are enjoying themselves. Until the waiter brings over the bill for £200! Roger is furious and asks that Leanne tallies it all up again. Roger has a good old whine while waiting for the new bill. Leanne brings the "bill" over apologising for giving him somebody else's bill. When Roger opens up the folder he sees it's not a bill but a cheque for him for £8000. Janice is pleased and proud of Leanne, Roger is suddenly back in a celebrating mood and invites Leanne and Paul to have a drink with them on him.

Gail is in her house worrying with Audrey about the where....abouts.... of David's car. Sarah tries to point out that David is probably just playing games and that he's just trying to get Gail to call off the wedding. Gail asks her if she's heard anything from David but Sarah just shouts about how everything is all about David, even on the eve of her wedding. Audrey gives Sarah a hug and tells nothing will spoil Sarah's big day and they go to open a bottle of wine. Maria comes in and chats with Sarah in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Gail tells Audrey she's worried but doesn't want to ring the police about David because of what happened last time. Audrey agrees it's probably better not to call the cops. In the kitchen, Maria tells Sarah what Darryl told her. When Sarah tells Maria about David's missing car, Maria is worried all over again. Sarah takes the suicide note and tears it up into the bin. When asked by Maria what she's doing, Sarah simply says, "This time, I win!"

Stella McLoughlin



Wednesday 31 October

Hi everyone, here's the update for the first part of the hour long episode on Wednesday 31st October.

We open with a rare view of rooftops through treetops. Down on the ground is David's car, parked under the branches. We then see him walking away from the car across the grass.

Gail is sitting on her stairs, on the phone to the police, reporting David missing. She tells them that they don't know where he is, and he's got a car.

In the Grimshaw residence, there's a flurry of excitement as they all get ready for the big day. Eileen is cooking, but Sean can't manage to eat breakfast, his tummy's turning over. Violet points out that it's not him who's going to be walking down the aisle in a white frock. "One day, eh Sean?" says Jason.

Over at the salon, Maria is doing Sarah's hair, and is still very concerned about the note that David left. "What if he means it?" she asks. Sarah assures her that he doesn't, he just wants to spoil everything like he said he would do.

Outside, David is on the roof of the factory, and watches as Todd and Jason head off to the Rovers, dressed in their suits and buttonholes.

At the restaurant, Leanne is giving her staff a pep talk. She has (for some inexplicable reason) re-employed the head waiter that left some months ago. She tells them all that she wants people to be so impressed with the catering that others decide to have their wedding celebrations there.

Back in Coronation Street, David watches from his lofty perch as the police arrive and Gail lets them inside. He turns away, smirking.

In the Rovers, Eileen has now joined the groom and his best man for a drink. Liz comments that weddings bring families together, it's brought Todd back. Todd tells her that it's just to make sure Jason goes through with it this time. Just then, Sean and Marcus come in, and Sean makes yet another joke about Jason doing a runner again.

Sarah's hair is done and she and Audrey set off across the road to the Platt's house but are stopped in their tracks at the sight of the police car parked outside. They rush inside, watched, of course, by David, from on high. They get inside to find the police just leaving and Gail assuring them that nothing has happened, she's just been worrying. "Enjoy your day," says one of the officers as they leave. After they've gone, Sarah is furious. "We said we weren't going to let David ruin things," she hisses at Gail though clenched teeth. Audrey tells her she can't blame her mum for worrying, so Sarah goes off to get her dress on.

Jamie arrives to pick up Violet, as Sean and Marcus come out of the pub. Sean doesn't know which church the wedding is taking place at, but is assured by Violet that it's at St. Christopher's.

In the house, Gail is waiting with Sarah and her bridesmaids, Maria and Bethany. Then the car arrives and they all set off for the church. Norris and Doreen are waiting on the pavement for a sight of the bride, and Emily comes out too and tells Sarah she looks lovely.

As the car drives off down the road, David stares down from the roof of Underworld.

In the church the congregation, who mostly seem to be dressed in black for some unknown reason, are sitting and waiting for the bride and groom to arrive. Blanche moans about the cold, as Sean and Marcus hurry in. The minutes tick by and Jason looks anxiously down the aisle and then down at his watch. The vicar tells him not to worry, in his experience brides are always late but they always arrive.

Back in Coronation Street, the Platt's phone is ringing. The answer-phone cuts in, and David's voice can be heard leaving a message. "Did you think I didn't mean what I said?" he says and asks if that is why they're all carrying on with the wedding. He assures them it's not a trick or a game, and we see him, sitting in his car, parked beside the canal. He goes on to tell Gail that she even wanted to kill him before he was born. "You couldn't quite manage it, could you?" he says, "now I can, so happy days, you're finally going to get what you always wanted." He puts down his phone and starts the engine.

Outside the church, Sarah, Gail and the bridesmaids are posing for photographs. Gail comments that she thought they might find David there. "Well, we haven't!" snaps Sarah. "So where is he?" Gail wonders. "I don't know and quite frankly I don't care!" says Sarah, losing what little patience she had. A few moments pass and then she sees Gail staring around. "Are you still thinking about him?" she demands to know. Gail assures her she's not, "I'm thinking about you," she says. They link arms and go into the church.

Inside, the Wedding March starts up and Sarah walks down the aisle on Gail's arm.

Back at the canal, David reverses his car up the road and then, at the top, revs hard. A man, walking his dog across a footbridge, stops to stare. David pushes a cd into the player and drives forward, fast, towards the water. The car seems to fly into the air and then splashes down into the water, and with a few ripples and one or two bubbles, it disappears beneath the surface.

In the church, Jason and Sarah are standing at the altar and the vicar begins the service. Sarah is beaming and looks up at Jason.

At the canalside, the witness is describing the car that he saw sink to the police, as an ambulance arrives, siren blaring.

As Jason begins his vows two police officers appear at the back of the church and tell Steve they need to speak to Mrs. Platt. Steve goes to tell her and Gail leaves her pew and walks over to them. They ask if she'd like to sit down. "Just tell me," she says. They break the news that a car like David's was seen being driven into the canal. Poor Sarah and Jason try to carry on with their vows, but they keep staring at what is going on at the back of the church. Audrey goes to see what's happening and is told the news. Gail then goes up to the altar and tells Sarah and Jason what has happened. Sarah is furious and says it's just one of David's jokes, but Gail says she has to go. "What you do, I don't know," she says, close to tears, "but I can't think of anything else. I'm sorry." And she goes. The vicar asks Jason and Sarah if they'd like to take a short break, and whilst Jason thinks they can't carry on under the circumstances, Sarah is adamant that they continue. "You know as well as I do that David would do anything to stop us getting married, he said he would," she whispers to Jason. She tells Jason that they can't let him win, they have to carry on. Jason wants to stop until they know what has happened, but Sarah insists they carry on. "Jason, you walked out on me once," she hisses, "you do it again and I promise you won't get another chance." In the end Jason agrees so they tell the vicar to carry on. At this point Maria leaps from her seat and runs outside. She catches Gail and Audrey as they're getting in a car and tells them about the note. "Where is it now, this note?" asks Gail. Maria says that Sarah tore it up and told her not to tell anyone. Audrey is furious. "How could you do such a thing?" she asks. Bill hustles them all into the car and they drive off, leaving Maria standing there, crying.

In the church, Jason and Sarah are proclaimed husband and wife, but whilst Sarah smiles, Jason looks stony faced.

Anne Logan.

Wednesday 31st October (continued)

Sarah and Jason carry on with their traditional wedding day as nothing had happened. They sign the register and have their photos taken. Sarah insists they carry on and have the reception as planned, Jason reluctantly agrees. She also asks Todd to make an announcement to the rest of the guests saying the reception is still on.

Part of the canal bank is cordoned off with police tape, police cars and ambulances at the ready. Gail, very panicky, gets out of the car looking very shaky. It's the same place that Richard Hillman drove them all in to the canal previously. A diver surfaces only to shake is head and then dives back down into the water. Audrey tries to reassure Gail by pointing out they don't even know for sure it was David. Gail dismisses this quickly "Of course it's him. Who else would think of coming here!?"

The wedding party leave the church in traditional fashion but the only smile for the photographer is on Sarah's face, even that is very subdued. Maria tells Sarah that Gail knows about the note David left. The new quickly spreads round the congregation about David, the suicide note and the car in the canal. Despite everything Sarah is more determined than ever to carry on with her wedding day.

Back at the canal David's car is hoisted up out of the water with water gushing out of it from every angle. Audrey and Bill persuade Gail they should take her home, standing on the bank side will do no one any good. The police promised to contact her as soon as there's any news.

Everyone arrives at Leanne's restaurant for the wedding reception meal. The guests are all sharing information and things they've over heard about what may or may not have happened to David. Eileen's comment is "I know I shouldn't say this but isn't in typical of that family to ruin my son's wedding day!?" When the bride and groom enter Sarah takes the limelight and leave Jason to struggle down the steps on his crutches. When the time comes for Jason's speech he begins as planned making a joke of the fact he was going to use the speech he wrote for their last attempt at a wedding day. He then decides he can't carry on, as all he can think about is David, Sarah looks very annoyed that he isn't ignoring the situation like she has chosen to do.

Back on the street Gail arrives home. She finds the message that David had left earlier on the answering machine. She breaks down in tears listening to it No amount of brandy or tea offered by Audrey can console her.

Everyone leave the reception congratulating Sarah while Jason is on the phone to Bill. Bill tells him all about the note and how Sarah tore it up. He asks her about it but she doesn't say a lot. They head back home. When they get out of the taxi on the street Emily and Doreen rush out to confetti them. They look a little bemused when Sarah walks away without a word.

When Sarah and Jason get into the house Sarah starts shouting at her Mum immediately. She says she knows Gail blames her and tries to justify tearing up the note and not telling anyone. She explains she assumed it was one of David's games. Someone comes to the door, it turns out to be a trick or treater, dressed as a skeleton but Sarah doesn't stop to check and assumes it's David. She throws herself at the poor child knocking him to the floor.

At the restaurant Leanne is upset that the wedding reception went so badly. She's not worried about David only her business. As she is complaining to Paul he inadvertently kisses and walks off. Looking a little confused she doesn't say a word and carries on tidying up.

Back at the Platt's there's another ring of the doorbell. Sarah goes to answer it assuming more trick or treater but is shocked to find David standing there looking very much worse for wear. Gail is almost hysterical when she sees him. She stops Sarah from questioning him and takes him off upstairs so he can get cleaned up. Sarah, now feeling she has been proved right and this has all been a game, turns on Audrey and her new husband. They criticise her lack of concern for David but she sees no need at all to be concerned. Bill suggests they should do the sensible things first and inform the police of David's return.

Everyone in the Rovers is speculating about what David has done. Wondering if it was suicide and why he might do something like that. Bill comes in the pub looking like he's had a long day. He gives everyone the good news that David is alive but also says he doubt anyone will ever find out exactly what happened.

Sarah is rather keen to find out if Gail has found out anything from David She's rather annoyed that Sarah would ask and tells her in no uncertain terms that at the moment she is just overjoyed that David is alive and that she couldn't care less about anything at just now That makes up Sarah's mind that her and Jason should go on their honeymoon. Jason isn't sure and would rather wait but Sarah orders him to get his things, they ARE going.

As Leanne is about to leave the restaurant she asks Paul about the kiss. He was it was intended to cheer her up. He also says "it doesn't just have to be the one".

Jamie helps Sarah and Jason load their suitcases into the taxi. Sarah realises she has forgotten her phone and goes back inside to get it. David is in the living room watching her. She is about to leave when she decides to ask if it was a genuine suicide attempt or a ploy to ruin the wedding. His smirk tells her all she needs to know. As the taxi drives off David looks out of the upstairs window, he looks rather pleased with himself.

Erica Houston




Updates written by K Richard Whitbread, Joanne McCartney, Martin Rosen, Ann Logan, Sue Haasler, Margaret Carr, Duncan Lindsay, Amanda Souter.