2008

Monday 1 December

Just the one episode aired tonight.

Tony and Carla arrive at the factory. Leanne is waiting for them because she and Carla have some serious shopping to do. Tony makes the appropriate remarks about women and shopping though he's not that serious. The ladies go off and he unlocks the factory door. Carla promises to spend an obscene amount of money on a wedding dress. They meet Maria who seems quite pleased to see them. Carla even makes sure Maria is still coming to the wedding and Maria smiles and says she wouldn't miss it. (I missed something, though. Since when are Carla and Maria on non-daggers terms?) Carla seems to be really looking forward to the wedding, eager for a fresh start. So much for burying the love of your life a few weeks ago, then?

Steve peeks around the back door of the pub, whispering to Becky on his mobile. Operation Bad Boy is on! Liz gives him a hard time because she was the one that had to get up and take Amy to school. Steve complains about Michelle and makes everything a big deal, including the plans for a good bye drink for her parents, making it seem like it's something he could well do without. Liz is mystified at his attitude.

Simon doesn't want to go to school, his first day at the new school. He's arguing with his dad but Ken and Deirdre come along and Ken manages to make school sound like fun so Simon agrees to it. Peter mumbles a quick thanks and gets in the car to take Simon to Bessie Street.

Sally makes tea and greets Rosie, who's on her first day back. Sally can't remember what everyone takes in their tea (in spite of taking her turn at tea break for how many years?) Rosie crows that she's going to be in charge when Carla and Tony go on honeymoon. Ooops she wasn't supposed to say anything but tries hard not to squeal in excitement when she tells her mother the deal Tony had made with her. Sally points out that Rosie has no experience and it should be someone more mature, with experience. "What? Like the tea girl?" Rosie puts her mother down firmly and totters away.

In the Kabin, Jed brings a parcel to Norris. He's curious but Norris isn't keen on revealing what's in it. Jed and Rita reminisce about an old ad for a contest that used to air on Radio Luxemburg. Jed avers that he's had lots of luck in his life, all bad. Norris smugly announces Jed's luck hasn't changed, the parcel stays unopened but he gets his back up when Jed implies the parcel must be from his new girlfriend. Because she's not, Mary is just a friend. Rita winds him up, too, though. (Because it's so easy!). Well! The door opens and who should walk in but Tony Gordon. If he's shocked to see Jed, he doesn't let it show. He's cool and calm and contradicts Jed's rant about someone that chucked him out of the house, his things in a skip and left him to die with the news that he was the one that called the ambulance. Jed says they have unfinished business but Tony dismisses him and leaves. Norris is extremely interested in this turn of events. Outside, Tony looks a bit grimmer but changes back to his happy mask when Barry comes across to invite Tony and Carla across to the goodbye drinks do in the pub. He's trying to get Carla and Helen to make peace, it seems. Jed comes along and warns Barry that Tony will have his wallet if he's not careful. Barry laughs and Tony accepts the invite. After Barry leaves, Tony grits his teeth. Jed demands his house, life and cat back. He thinks it's worth a lot more than Tony paid him. Tony angrily orders Jed to take his disgusting hand off his arm. Jed is cocky and hollers across the street at Tony's quickly receding back, "Bring your chequebook next time!" Tony's face reflects the rage that's starting to boil up inside.

In the pub, Carla and Leanne have arrived. Leanne tells Michelle and Liz that you're supposed to check out every shop possible when looking for your wedding outfit. Carla checked bought the first dress in the first shop!!! Michelle and Liz are horrified! Carla defends her choice. It's the perfect dress! Leanne agrees but that's not how it's done! Michelle and Liz agree. You should have the store hold on to it, check out all the other dresses and come back for it! Carla holds up her hands as guilty and buys a round of drinks. Leanne does admit Carla looks stunning in that dress. It's in a garment bag, though, so we don't see it!

In the factory, Tony is staring off into space, his face like stone. (pun. geddit?) Rosie sashays in and announces a visitor. Tony assumes it's Jed Stone and asks her to tell the old fool to go away. Except it's not Jed, it's a nice looking man with a Scottish accent who just happens to be Tony's brother, Pat! The men hug joyfully and accept the offer of coffee (Tony) and tea (Pat) from a simpering Miss Webster. Pat is apparently a surprise that Carla had arranged. Pat was surprised himself to get the call since he was bumped off the last wedding, though thinking how that turned out, it's just as well. Tony slides over that and they again hug. Doesn't look like he and his brother have fallen out at all, which was the excuse he gave Liam for asking him to be best man. But you probably knew it was just another lie in the grand scheme. Over Pat's shoulder, Tony's smile fades and he's definitely got that "Oh 'eck" look about him.

After the break, we're in the bookies. Jed is chuntering to Peter. Leanne rushes in laden with bags. Peter hopes she's going to be able to keep an eye on Simon for a few minutes rather than mind the shop. He's in the office playing with a Transformer. He says his mummy bought it for him. She's bright and cheerful and Peter watches them with a bit of a smile. He asks to meet her for a drink and when she asks about the little 'un he suggests Ashley can mind him and asks Simon if he'd like to play with Joshua. Leanne gently points out that he should have found out first if Ashley was free else Josh could get disappointed and Peter admits she's right.

Becky jumps in Steve's cab. They confer about the Bad Boyfriend plan while pledging their undying desire for each other. He figures it won't be long, he's already getting on Michelle's nerves. Becky doesn't think what he's done so far is all that bad at all. He realizes he's going to have to try a bit harder (and she's right. He's got a long way to go if that's as hard as he's going to try, minor annoyances like that!) Becky expresses her doubts about the plan but Steve thinks it's a great plan. Trust me.

Norris is inspecting his new prize, a new phone, the first prize in a competition that he'd hoped to win second price, which was a top of the line foot spa. Rosie comes in and admires the phone and extols the virtues of it. Rosie pays for whatever it was she'd bought and leaves and then Norris' current phone rings (Cliff Richards... Living Doll!) It's a text from Mary who won the foot spa. Rita kicks off about the song, realizing that, these days, it's not really very respectful of women, is it? This offends Norris and he figures she's criticizing the Peter Pan of Pop and it's just going too far!!

In the pub, Becky is serving Peter. Carla is coming in with Tony and Pat. They make a few jokes. Maria and Helen come in and Tony wants he and Carla to go speak to her. Carla doesn't really want to but Helen spots them and thanks them for coming. She apologizes for how she went off on one after the funeral and she and Barry wish them the best on their wedding. Steve seems to be missing but Barry jokes that Michelle ought to be putting a little subtle pressure on Steve since weddings are in the air. Becky, at the back of the bar, doesn't look impressed, listening in and decides it's a good time for her break. Ken and Deirdre enter and notice Peter in a booth, soon joined by Leanne. We find out that Simon is at Ashley's. On the other side, Kevin is making sour remarks about Tony and Jed overhears, calling him Flash Gordon. Jed seems set to tell Kevin and Sal his experiences with FG.

Steve is out the back of the pub in the smoking shelter when Becky joins him. She seems to think that he's already asked Michelle to marry her and wonders why he was such a coward about not dumping her. Or was he just hoping she'd be his bit on the side? He promises he's going to leave Michelle. She accuses him of saying what people want to hear (which is true!). She says doesn't want to be the bit on the side and it doesn't sound like there will be any more rumpeh pumpeh until he's all free and clear of baggage so he'd better get cracking!

Inside the pub, Leanne and Peter are schmoozing and she lets him know she's heard all about his past. (has he heard about hers?) She goes for drinks and Ken comes over to find out where Simon is. His answer is sarcastic but finally admits where Simon is. Ken doesn't linger. Leanne organizes a toast to Tony and Carla. Meanwhile Kevin makes a few snide remarks. Tony keeps his temper. Sally assures him Kevin will be on his best behaviour at the wedding. "How would you even know" is Tony's come back and he just glares at Jed who's managing to get the story spread around wherever he can. Tony's brother is giving Maria his sympathies. Pat reveals that he and Tony never did fall out, puzzling Maria but the toast is proposed and glasses are raised. Maria sucks a thoughtful tooth over her glass of orange juice.

Tvor



Wednesday 3 December

Another hour-long episode tonight, so I am covering the first half and Richard has kindly offered to cover the second.

It's the day of the wedding, and we open with Leanne coming along the street with a large, pink bag over her shoulder.

We then see Tony and his brother coming out of the factory carrying suit bags. Kevin looks up from the car he's working on and calls out that he hopes Tony's got plenty of booze in, he's looking forward to getting hammered later. They walk past Maria's house, where she's talking to Tom on the doorstep, who asks Tony if he's been working this morning. Tony explains that he had the suits delivered there, he didn't want Carla to see them before the big day. The next person they pass is Sally who cheerfully tells Tony that she's looking forward to the wedding and spent a week's wages on her outfit, but not to tell Kevin! Around the corner they meet Leanne standing at the bus stop for a bus over to Carla's. Tony offers to pay for a cab but she won't hear of it, saying she's fine on the bus. Tony then introduces her to Pat, his brother, and then they walk on and go to Roy's for a cooked breakfast.

Peter comes out of the flat door and goes over to talk to Leanne. He says it's a shame he's not going to see her all glammed up and offers to take her to town at the weekend to give her outfit another outing. She tells him she's off bookies at the moment.

Sally has gone over to the garage and warns Kevin to behave himself at the wedding. She says they don't often get invited to occasions like this and she wants to enjoy it.

Tom and Maria discuss the baby and she says she's pleased that the scan showed no problems. He tells her that if she needs him today, he'll be right there, and she says she'll be there for him. They hug.

Michelle gets back to find that Steve hasn't even showered yet. She tells him to get a move on and get bottling up, Becky is going to be on her own in the bar this afternoon. Steve then says he needs to go and get fags, and Michelle gets really cross, she tells him she had to take Amy to school because he wouldn't get out of bed and there's lots to do. When she's stormed off, Steve rubs his hands - his plan is working.

Leanne arrives at Carla's bearing a large bouquet of flowers. They're from Tony, she met the delivery guy downstairs. Carla offers her coffee, "What, no champagne?" says Leanne. She asks how Carla's feeling, knowing that she's been through so much and is probably still grieving. Carla tells her she knows what she's doing, it would probably never have worked out between her and Liam anyway. They then decide to open the champagne!

Tony and Pat come out of the cafe. Pat is puzzled because Roy kept talking about bats. Tony says he just a nutter and anyway, he didn't notice. "Talking of nutters..." says Tony, looking up as Jed Stone is walking towards them. He gives his suit to Pat and asks him to take them up to the flat and then pulls two twenty pound notes out of his wallet and hands them to Jed. "I don't want to see you again today, old man," he says.

Blanche is moaning because they weren't invited to the wedding. Deirdre points out that they don't know them. Blanche tells her that Amy's father is living with Carla's ex sister in law. "We're practically family!" she says.

Deirdre and Ken then start discussing Peter and Simon, but Blanche is still thinking about the wedding. "They'll be knee deep in lobster," she says, "it'll be champagne all the way, and not your cheap stuff either." Deirdre tells her she's got some white wine in the fridge, she'll put a fizzy aspirin in it and Blanche can put a hat on and pretend she's there. "You've mean streak in you, Deirdre Barlow," says Blanche, bitterly, "I don't know where you get it from."

Michelle walks into the kitchen all dressed up to the nines, to find Steve tinkering with the oven. She tells him the cab will be arriving in ten minutes and he hasn't even shaved. He says he'll get in the shower in a minute but a row develops, in the end Michelle tells him to stay and fiddle with his pilot light, she'll go without him. "Liam would be disgusted with you," she says.

Over the road, Tom and Ryan are waiting for Michelle to arrive. Ryan tells him that his mum and Steve have been rowing all morning. Just then Michelle arrives and tells them that Steve isn't coming. Maria comes downstairs, saying that it's been ages since she got dressed up. She's wearing a necklace that Liam bought her and starts to get emotional when the taxi arrives. As they step outside the door (with Maria in a short, sleeveless dress and this is Manchester in December!) they see Tony across the road. He explains that Pat left the buttonholes in the factory, but tells Maria that she looks gorgeous.

As Pat fiddles with Tony's buttonhole, the Websters come out of their house. "See you there!" Sally calls across the road. As they drive away Pat remarks that he doesn't get a very friendly vibe from the garage guy. "He's a Neanderthal," says Tony. Jed Stone then appears and looks across at them. "Who's that guy?" asks Pat. "No one," says Tony, "no one at all."

At the wedding venue, the guests are being offered pink champagne, much to Sally's delight. She turns to Kevin and asks him to be a bit classy, for once in his life. Just then the rest of the factory girls arrive and Sally comments that the place is dead classy, she feels right at home. "I bet you do," says Janice, as she passes, "with ‘im drinking beer straight from the bottle." Kevin then embarrasses Sally still further, by giving her his bottle to hold while he goes for a pee.

Just then Tony and his brother arrive, and Tony introduces him to the workers. Somebody remarks that Tony scrubs up well and Janice says that if Carla doesn't turn up she'll step in. There are hoots of laughter at this. "What?" she says, "women like me don't grow on trees you know." "They just swing in them," quips Sally to more laughter. Kelly hands Tony a small, foil wrapped package. It's bread and salt from Wiki, a custom in her country, so that they never go hungry. Kevin comes back from the gents and looks at Tony's kilt. "Nice skirt!" he says. Tony and Pat move away and Tony tells his brother that to most people there he's the big, bad, fat-cat boss, and Pat will probably hear a few stories about him later, but he should just ignore them.

Becky arrives for her shift at the pub and finds Steve fiddling with the insides of the juke box. "Shouldn't you be somewhere necking bubbly and doing the conga by now?" she asks him. He tells her the bad boyfriend act worked and Michelle has gone without him, that way they can spend the day together, like a date, even though they'll be pulling pints. She tells him they can't have a date without tunes and pushes him to one side and gives the jukebox a hefty whack. It immediately bursts into life and she starts dancing around in front of him. Steve just starts to join in when who should walk in but Blanche! "Just the two of you on today, is it?" she asks.

The wedding guests are all seated, waiting for the bride to arrive. Tony worries that she's going to stand him up when, to the sound of bagpipes, Carla walks in.

Back in the pub, Becky is lining up pints on the bar for a game of Round the Board. They link arms to start on their first pint when Blanche comes back to the bar. "I'd like some service please!" she calls. Becky is just serving her when Jed arrives and offers to buy Blanche a drink. At first she refuses but eventually she accepts. "Go on then, twist my arm," she says. "Don't tempt me!" mutters Becky.

Tony and Carla exchange their vows in front of their guests. The registrar pronounces them man and wife while Maria looks on, tearfully.

Graeme goes into the bookies and tells Peter he wants a fiver on an accumulator. He doesn't have any particular horses in mind so Peter hands him the paper and tells him to pick three.

Back at the wedding, the reception is in full swing, with the bagpipes playing in the background. Sally compliments Carla on her dress, and tells her that her own outfit cost an arm and a leg. "You said it was from Primark!" says Kevin, who by now is rather inebriated. He pulls at the neck of Sally's dress to get a look at the label and in doing so jerks her forward and her plate of guacamole slides down the front of Carla's dress. She turns to Sally and tells her that while she appreciates that her family doesn't usually go to places that use metal cutlery but if they can't behave at least half civilized perhaps they'd better go to the pub across the road. She storms off, leaving Sally humiliated and angry. "How dare she talk about my family like that," she says, downing her glass of champagne, "if people knew half the things that dirty cow has been up to…….!"

Annie Logan

Norris is surprised when Mary, ace competition winner turns up at the Kabin and Tina makes herself scarce by heading out to get cakes all round. Anyway Mary's mother is enjoying the foot spa and Mary has come to see Norris about another competition prize. They go to the Rovers where Mary and Norris join Blanche and Jed. Mary has won some cufflinks which she has passed over to Norris - and claims they are gold - Blanche retorts that in that case she must be Catherine the Great - to which Mary replies that she is Mary the Magnificent. Is Blanche about to be surpassed?

Meanwhile another little drama is played out at the bookies. Graeme is winning big on a three horse accumulator and Peter does not hear his mobile ringing. Either from the school or from Deirdre who is under the drier (how did she hear her mobile). She phones Ken to rescue poor Simon. Later Simon is with doting grandparents when Peter, having rushed to school and back is re-united. They point out that you can never be late for a child.

Right back at the wedding Carla asks Maria if the service was alright and Carla congratulates her on holding it together - but indeed Liam should have been there. Carla hugs her even though she knows that if Liam were alive there would have been no wedding. Rosie and Sally cannot believe their eyes and the latter calls Carla a "two faced hypocritical tart" and is sure that Liam went much further than a simple kiss with a woman like that. Sally is so upset that she tries to drown her anger with another glass of champagne.

No speeches was the edict, but Tony decides that he must say that it has been a difficult year for a number of reasons (Kevin observes that he knows who is to blame - and Carla suggests he should show some respect simply for himself if not everyone else present). Anyway Tony says they must raise a glass to the person not present - Liam - he will never be forgotten. This proves too much for Maria who heads out with tears running down her face. Sally watches her go and says that her heart would not be breaking if she knew the truth about precious Liam.

Tony announces to Carla that they are off on a surprise honeymoon - a suitcase packed with new gear and a car waiting - although he cannot tell her where. As they kiss Sally marches out of the room with a very stone faced expression. She finds Maria at the top of some stairs, sobbing her heart out and Sally is about to leave it alone and then changes her mind and marches up to Maria. She comforts Maria who says that she thought she never deserved Liam - she always thought he would leave her - just not like this. Sally tells her that he does not deserve her tears, she does not want to be the one to tell her but it is important that she knows the truth. Rosie comes racing up the stairs to hear Sally tell Maria that Liam was having an affair with Carla. Sally says she knows the truth because Rosie has it on her mobile phone - and proceeds to show the recording to Maria who is having trouble understanding what is going on. Maria watches the recording and then she throws the phone to the floor and runs downstairs. Rosie asks Sally what has she done and Sally realises that just maybe knowing the truth is not always the best policy.

Maria searches the hotel looking for Carla - rooms, toilets but hears voices outside - where she arrives just as the happy couple depart in the car on their honeymoon. She asks where they have gone - but Tom tells her that no-one knows it is a complete surprise. He asks if she is alright. Maria asks him if he knew that the bitch was screwing her husband - Leanne takes to studying the ground very intently. Tom tells her that she must be mistaken. Leanne grabs Ryan and sends him to get Michelle and a taxi so that they can go home.

Inside Kev tells Sally who is still looking rather down in the mouth that it is time they went home - now. She looks rather sheepish.

Steve and Becky are still progressing their little drinking competition and are about to kiss when the pub door bursts open and the crowd enter noisily. Steve asks what is going on and Maria answers that her precious husband has been sleeping with Carla Connor (Maria - incorrect lose 5 points she is now Carla Graham for her sins). Michelle tries to get her to go through the back and Maria accuses her of knowing - which Michelle denies. Maria accuses Tom of knowing - after all he knew everything that Liam did. Steve tries to get her through to the back as well but Maria is having none of it.

Maria races out into the Street and across to the Webster residence. She screams that she wants Rosie's phone and she wants it now. Sally goes indoors, gets the phone and hands it over saying that she wished she had never said anything. Maria takes the phone and storms back to her house. Inside she watches the video play again as Liam smooches Carla on the latter's doorstep - the woman Maria always suspected had wanted her Liam.

K Richard W


Friday 5 December

There was only one episode on Friday, December 5, though no-one told the programme makers and Sunday's "extra" episode's scenes were as if it screened on the same night.

We open with Maria waking fully dressed on the sofa. She picks up Rosie's phone and watches Carla and Liam kissing again.

The phone's owner, meanwhile, orders her mother to go and get her phone. She's very angry. Kevin tells her to shut up. Rosie, nasty little cow that she is, tells Sally in a low voice: "If you're late, it's going in the book. ‘Sally Webster - hangover'." She picks up her keys and stomps out.

Michelle's on the phone to Maria, who is apologising for treating Michelle badly.

Joe and David struggle into Gail's with a new made-to-measure marble worktop. Tina's furious and isn't impressed when her dad tries to give her a marble trinket box. Darryl gets a call from some letting agent, asking him to do an inventory. He tells them to call his dad, then tells David that Jerry is letting the house.

Sally's off to work and Kevin asks about Rosie's phone. He's annoyed at what Sally did.

Across the road, Michelle arrives at Maria's. She tells Maria she has to stop torturing herself with Rosie's phone. Kevin arrives and tells Maria he needs Rosie's phone back. Maria tells him she needs the charger for it. She says she'll give it back when she's seen Carla, but Kevin points out that's a fortnight away. Maria demands to know what else Rosie knows. A combined attack from Michelle and Kevin sees the phone snatched from her grasp and given to Kevin, who says that as soon as he gets home the video is being deleted.

In the cafe, Tina snaps at David when he tells her that her dad is paying for the butties. She tells David there's nothing wrong, then accuses him and his family of taking advantage. At a table, Tyrone's on the phone to someone complaining about a delivery of perfume. He hastily ends the call when Molly comes in. She can't work out why he smells of perfume and why he's lugging his gym bag with him. Molly wants to know whether Kevin's said anything about what happened at the wedding. She can't believe Sally would be that cruel. Becky, already very tense, suddenly throws a strop when Molly asks whether Roy's got any spare till rolls. Becky's already been accused of getting Tina's order wrong, and now Molly fails to say "please". "Royston!" Becky screams up the stairs. "You better get yourself down here or I'm going to be lamping one of your customers! I'm taking me break!" She storms out.

Deirdre knocks on Peter's door and asks whether he needs anything. Simon tells her they had three alarm clocks this morning so they can get into a routine.

Becky sucks on a cigarette and watches Steve cleaning the inside of a taxi. He signals for her to come and chat. She's grumpy about him and Michelle and tells him he should tell the truth. He says it's much kinder if he can provoke Michelle into finishing with him, because then her pride won't be hurt. Becky tells him the idea is cute. "A touch stupid. But cute." She throws her butt into the taxi. "Oops, you've missed a bit," she says, heading back to the cafe. Steve stops her to say, "I do want us to happen, you know." She doesn't answer him.

Maria's on the phone asking someone to do something for her. She tells Michelle it was Tom. She thinks he was lying about being the person who asked Carla to get involved in the business. The trip to New York was a "perk" to keep him quiet. Michelle points out that the video could have been from before she and Liam sorted themselves out. "You can't know that that kiss meant an affair. Liam loved you and he married you because you were what he wanted for the rest of his life." Maria bursts into tears and Michelle hugs her.

Becky tells Minnie she's parked in the wrong place. "That's a funny uniform for a traffic vulture," says Minnie. "And that's a funny attitude for someone who doesn't want a smack in the chops," says Becky. Minnie tells her the mini is broken down. Darryl comes out and rages at Minnie for being late. Then he accuses Becky of taking money from Steve or Lloyd to guard their step. Becky flounces back into the cafe. Ashley comes out to sweep his bit of pavement (I'm pretty sure environmental health officers would say he's not supposed to be doing this while wearing the apron etc that he uses when he's cutting meat). Darryl, pretty fed up, tells him the sad story of his day so far. Ashley says that at least Darryl's staff doesn't spend ten minutes staring at a meat slicer and then ask whether you can see Wayne Rooney's face in it. "You win," says Darryl.

Tom, laden with flowers, arrives at Maria's. He hasn't heard from Carla and Tony. Maria asks whether he gave them alibis. He didn't. He's sure there was nothing going on. Maria's sure he must know more, but Tom denies it. He says he didn't suspect anything, though he did wonder once, early on in the business stuff. "I was wrong. I'm positive," he says. "I know it's hard, but please, let's not think bad of him." He leaves. Even though he denied everything, Maria hangs on to the idea that he wondered - leaving Michelle frustrated that she won't listen to anyone.

Tom's only gone as far as the pub, where Michelle finds him and tells him off for mentioning that he once "wondered". Michelle wants a coffee, but Steve tells Liz he's busy. Michelle snaps and storms out. Liz follows her and tells her they'll have the upstairs to themselves tonight. Maria storms past with a face like thunder and Michelle races after her. Becky comes along and Liz asks if she can work tonight because Steve's just lost her another pair of hands. Becky's face lights up. Liz says she doesn't know what's got into Steve, but she wouldn't put up with that behaviour for long.

Maria's in the bookies', demanding to know where Leanne is. Leanne comes in behind her and Maria asks whether Carla's phoned her. Leanne says Sally was drunk last night. Maria says Rosie has film of them kissing. (How long do you think before we stop saying "video" and "film" about digital recordings that aren't video or film?) Peter tells Maria that she's disrupting the business and asks her to leave. Once Maria and Michelle are gone, Leanne points out that Simon's left his schoolbag behind. Peter says it's got Simon's lunch, homework and everything in it, so he'll have to take it to the school.

Deirdre's at the bus stop but he doesn't reply to her greeting as he rushes around to the flat. Deirdre complains to Molly about work, though says she should appreciate it because she'll miss it when she's eventually stuck at home with her mother. Molly offers to swap, so Deirdre can work for Dev. "God bless the city council," says Deirdre. Peter ignores her again as he rushes to his car with the bag. She asks Leanne what he's up to and Leanne admits Peter didn't want his parents to find out about the bag and criticize him. Deirdre's exasperated that he thinks he has to hide every little mistake.

Nearby, Minnie's talking to Tyrone about her mini. He takes the opportunity to push some of the perfume, though when he realises Molly has seen him talking to Minnie, he hurriedly finishes the conversation.

In Gail's back yard, Tina is still hacked off at her dad. "I'm all right, love. I wouldn't do this else. I'm not stupid." He says he got the box as a freebie with the worktop. He manages to tease her back into a better mood.

Maria's hiding outside the factory. She approaches Rosie. "If you have a go at me I'll shout for my dad," says Rosie. Maria points out that Kevin's not in the garage, so Rosie goes on the attack, telling Maria that Kevin's deleted the video now. "So you've got no reason to talk to me." Maria wants to know everything that Rosie knows. Rosie whines that she only saw Liam and Carla the once. Maria threatens that she'll be in real trouble once Tony gets back. "What do you think he'll say when he finds out you've been spying on his wife?" Rosie can't help herself. She sneers that Tony knows. He's seen the video. Maria's stunned. "When?" She follows Rosie across the road demanding to know when he saw it. "Was it before he married Carla?" "Of course it was!" snaps Rosie. "He only married her yesterday, didn't he?"

As Maria stands, stunned, the credits roll.

The End
Margaret Carr


Sunday 7 December

Maria sees Rosie on the cobbles and marches up to her and starts screeching, "You can't tell me something like that and just walk away.... I don't think Tony does know at all. Why would he marry Carla if he knew she'd been with Liam?" Rosie tells Maria she has no idea what Tony would have been thinking but she alerts Maria to the fact that Tony has known since the day John Stape abducted her. Maria asks her why Tony didn't do anything about it. Rosie thinks perhaps he thought nothing of it. "Nothing?" Shrieks Maria, "She wasn't even dressed!" Rosie tells her to talk to Tony about it and leave her alone.

Steve is reading the paper at a booth in the Rovers while Becky and Liz look on. Liz tells Steve that Michelle is cooking a lovely meal for them to spend some alone time that night. Liz asks Becky if she can do a shift in the bar this evening so that she doesn't have to miss her Brazilian Crunch class. Becky is reluctant but agrees eventually. When Liz goes to answer the phone, Becky looks at Steve and says, "Well I hope you have a lovely time tonight!" all sarcastic and walks off, not best pleased. Liz has answered the phone to Maria who seems to be agitated and wants to speak to Michelle. Liz goes to get Michelle to the phone.

Darryl gets a phone call from his Dad in the Kebab shop. Wait, Darryl is in the kebab shop, not Jerry. Anyway, it's about Darryl having two days to vacate the house. Darryl talks to Tina about it afterwards when Tina asks him where he's going to stay. Darryl thinks he can probably stay with David's but Tina knows that Gail won't be best pleased and tells Darryl that there wont be any room for him, especially since Gail only just got rid of Graeme.

We cut to Maria and Michelle chatting in Maria's house. Michelle asks Maria if she is absolutely sure of what she saw. Maria tells her that she feels like she has lost everything since she discovered that Liam had spent at least one night with Carla. "All my memories poisoned. I don't know now if he loved me or her!" she says to Liam's sister. Maria cannot understand why Tony hasn't been affected in the same way as she has since he found out about Liam and Carla's affair. She remembers something Pat was saying about Liam being best man at Tony's wedding. She can't quite remember exactly what it was but she remembers that Tony interrupted him before he could finish. Michelle tells her that she needs to ask Tony about it when he comes back from his honeymoon but she is sure that Liam loved her. Maria says she thought he loved her too but that now she feels robbed. Michelle leaves and reminds Maria to think about that lovely little baby she's going to have. Maria gets on the phone and leaves a message on Tony's voicemail to call her back. "It's about Liam. I think you know what."

Minnie comes to see Tyrone about getting more of the dodgy perfume he's been flogging. Tyrone is anxious that Kevin doesn't find out what he's been doing and lies to Kevin, telling him that he needs to take Minnie's car for a test drive since she has an "intermittent banging". Minnie flirts with him a little. "You're mad, you are!" says Tyrone and tells her to get in before they drive off.

Steve and Becky are in the Rovers. Becky is upset about his romantic dinner with Michelle. Steve tells her it's not his idea to have a romantic dinner. "I don't want dinner for two with Michelle!" She tells him she wasn't worried about dinner: "I'm worried about what you'll have for pudding! You and her with candles and music and a great big rack of lamb.... Just make sure you have a really really horrible evening please!" Becky gets upset and thinks there something sick and twisted about her working so that he and Michelle can have a romantic evening together. He promises to have a rubbish time with Michelle, cut his heart and hope to die. "Cut your throat!" Becky threatens him.

Molly sees Tyrone and Minnie in Minnie's car together.In the car. Tyrone tells Minnie that it's no wonder that her car is not running properly, she's got no oil. They make a joke about Minnie being a dipstick. Tyrone takes her off for a drive to see just how bad the damage to the engine is and they drive off to the red rec. Molly sees them and looks a little suspicious.

Peter brings Simon back to the bookies. He thanks Leanne for the support she's given him over the past couple of days. He asks Leanne if she would like to go out for a meal or a drink and they make a date for later although he tells her that it's not so much about thanking her as it is about the two of them having a nice time together because they like each other. He tells Simon he will be able to stay with his Gran and Grandad for the evening. Leanne sends him off to ask Ken and Deirdre if they can babysit and leaves Simon in the care of Leanne.

Tom is out walking Ozzie with Maria. Maria is obsessed about the video she has watched 50 times. She knows that Liam must have been at Carla's all night that night. She asks Tom now, why does Tony not have any problems with knowing about Carla and Liam's affair. She puts two and two together and wonders why Tony would have asked Liam to be his best man even though he had seen the video. "Something's not right, Tom," Maria is onto something!

In the garage, Kevin nearly trips over Tyrone's bag. He's not chuffed that Tyrone is storing dodgy gear in his place of work and tells Tyrone that he's spending too much time putting time and effort into flogging Aunty Pam's stuff and if he put more energy into his work, they wouldn't be two days behind in their jobs.

In the pub, Maria is still carrying on about Tony making Liam his best man. Tom reckons that Tony must have told Carla that he knew about the video of Carla and Liam kissing. Maria says, "Liam never liked Tony. Tony must have known that. That's why that best man thing was so weird." Tom thinks that eventually Tony and Liam got on but Maria tells him that they were polite but never pally. She keeps pondering.

Peter comes back to the bookies where he tells Leanne and Simon that Ken and Deirdre can't babysit Simon tonight. He asks Leanne if she wants to spend the evening in with the to of them, they'll have an Indian or something. Leanne tells him she'll settle for a night in but only on the condition that she gets to read Simon his bedtime story.

Steve and Michelle are having their romantic evening together. Michelle is telling Steve how hard it's been for her and how much she is missing her brother. She thinks that Steve might have thought she'd forgotten about him but that "You and me, Amy and Ryan, we're a family." She tells Steve that she knows how good he was when her parents came for their visit and she wants them to be together for ever. They have a little kiss, as Liz looks on from the doorway. Liz slinks off.

Molly and Tyrone are having something to eat in their place. Molly asks Tyrone about the little trip with "Minnie stupid Mouse". Tyrone tells her about how she's a dough-brain who doesn't know how to look after her car. Molly still seems suspicious of him.

Becky and Liz are talking in the bar. Liz tells Becky that she sneaked upstairs to grab her exercise gear but that she didn't want to interrupt Michelle and Steve's romantic evening. Just what Becky doesn't want to hear. Steve comes down and ducks between them to grab some mineral water from the bar. Becky corners him on the way back upstairs and she's angry. She tells him to tell Michelle tonight and thinks that Steve can't wait to get back upstairs with Michelle. Oh, that green-eyed monster, Becky! Maria shouts after Steve, "Steve, you were mates with Liam, weren't you?" She wants to know if Steve knew there was something going on with Liam and Carla and if there was any arguing on the stag night. She's not getting any answers and starts to go home. Pat comes into the pub to say his goodbyes. He asks Maria if he can get her anything. Maria changes her mind about going home and sits down with Pat for another interrogation.

Darryl and Teresa are in their house. Darryl breaks the news that the new tenants are moving in on Monday. Teresa wonders where she's supposed to go with two days warning. Darryl assures her that he'll be ok. Teresa assures Darryl that she'll be ok.

At Peter's things are winding down for the evening. Simon is in bed and Peter and Leanne are having a laugh about what Blanche would say if she found out that the to of them were enjoying each other's company. They go to kiss but Simon interrupts them because a giant is looking through the window. Peter tries to put Simon to bed. Leanne thinks this is a good time to leave. Peter asks her not to leave but Leanne tells him she'll see him in the morning.

In the Rovers, Pat's taxi has arrived. Just as Pat leaves, Maria asks him why Tony didn't ask him to be best man. Maria lets slip that Tony told everyone that Pat and Tony had fallen out. Pat denies tat they'd fallen out. She asks him what Tony told him about Liam. She asks him if Tony told him that Liam and Carla were having an affair. She asks him why Tony would ask Liam to be his best man when he knew that? Pat says, "If he thought that anything was going on between Liam and Carla he wouldn't have gone up the aisle unless he'd killed him first." Oh dear. Maria is left to think about that as Pat speeds off up the street.

Stella McLoughlin


Monday 8 December

It's Monday again and time for another edition of Coronation Street, Part 1!

Darryl is trying to get through to the leccy (or gas) people to report their meter reading. Teresa is in a surly mood over having to move. She's not going to take this lying down, I can guarantee you. Teresa is pissed and figures there's got to be a law. The Geneva Convention. A clause. They've got a clause for everything! Darryl is resigned to it all and just wishes she'd settle down and get her stuff packed. She's not even supposed to be there anyway. Teresa slyly empties her cig pack and then tells Darryl she's almost out so he offers to go get her more. She lights her "last one" but when he leaves, she's got a shifty look on her face.

Maria is rabbiting on to the newly arrived Tom about the conspiracy theories, murder mysteries and frustration because she can't get hold of Tony. Doh. He's on honeymoon. He's not likely going to answer his phone! He tries to divert her attention but she's not having his patronizing attitude. She just wants help getting to the truth. Tom repeats that Pat had said Liam got the best man nod to make up for losing their baby. But Tony had said he and Pat fell out, remember? Tom really doesn't have a good explanation. Maria can't fathom why Tony would ask Liam after he'd seen the video of Liam and Carla kissing. Tom reminds Maria that Liam chose her.

Darryl comes back across the road only to find the door locked from the inside. She pops her head out the upstairs windows and tells him she's refusing to budge. She's acting the sitting tenant (with no contract!) Doesn't matter what Darryl says, she's not listening. Even complaints about it being cold don't work. She throws down a jumper and reveals she's got plenty of smokes to see her through the siege, and all!

Emily is booking a cab and it seems like a painful process of deciding what time would be best. Eileen patiently works with her to find the best possible time. Emily doesn't want to be late because she's got a new volunteer starting today, someone that's doing community service (Oh I wonder who that could be!) This isn't Emily's usual job but she's covering someone who's out sick. Emily is looking forward to helping the unfortunate woman have a life affirming, positive experience. (pouring tea and selling tat in the charity shop?)

Teresa tosses Darryl a backpack of his stuff. David and Tina are watching with a giggle now. She's embarrassing Darryl by shouting down how he was a greedy baby when she was breast feeding he and Mel, must to David's delight. Joe and Gail come by to see what's going on, too and are filled in on the news. Everyone keeps telling her there's no sense causing trouble, she's going to have to give way to the new tenants. Tina reckons he could bribe her down. David figures he is going to have to break down the door.

Inside, Gail and Joe are snogging in the kitchen. She wonders how much longer the rest of the kitchen fittings will take to install. They can hear Teresa shouting through the walls. Joe and Gail decide to take the opportunity of having the house to themselves and make their way up the stairs (they left the kettle boiling! Hope it's got auto-shut off!) Outside, Darryl is still moaning through the door at his mother who's gone away from the window.

Not far away, Minnie totters over to Tyrone to chat about the perfume she's bought. She's a bit confused about the list of ingredients, one of which isn't a thing but the name of a place! Tyrone is mystified and Molly watches suspiciously from across the road.

Just then, we have a flashback to 1997. A clapped out van comes round the corner blasting Queen on the stereo. The engine grinds, the brakes squeal and the only thing it doesn't do is backfire. A ginger waster gets out of the car with a short, dark haired woman. No, it's not the Battersbys, it's the Windasses. Guess who's rented Jerry's house!! Aggghh!!! *More* neighbours from hell! Where do they find them? Darryl doesn't know who they are and says he's on top of the situation.

After the break, there's no progress. Len arrives to help with the move. Anna is skriking at her husband but doesn't want Gary to kick in the door. Everyone is hollering and shouting and pleading. Darryl is told he's got an hour or he unleashes the ginger beast (Gary).

Janice arrives at the desk in the hospital cracking jokes and taking her community service very lightly. When she discovers Emily will be taking charge, she's chuffed to little mint balls to see a pushover....er... familiar face. Emily looks somewhat less enthusiastic. Janice is hoping for blood and gore but Emily has something tougher in mind. Working in the charity tea shop.

Amber is back from Finland and Darryl is just coming by. He's glad to see her but is preoccupied by his situation. He's got cash out of the bank hoping to bribe his mum. Amber tells him his accommodations are sorted. He shoves some money through the letterbox but there's no response from his mother. Anna Windass has kindly brought him a hot coffee. Seems she knows it's not his fault.

Back in the tea shop, Emily is showing Janice the ropes. Janice seems a bit disappointed she's not going to be in the thick of drama in A&E like in Casualty. Emily tries to make the tea shop sound like an ashram in some peaceful meadow but it's not, is it? Janice still thinks she's got an easy ride but I figure serving tea and cake is not going to be a piece of cake. Janice is shocked to discover Emily has to make a performance report on her.

Dev is greeting Amber with a big hug. Molly tells Amber that Darryl and Dev seem to be good buddies so Amber takes the opportunity to broach her boyfriend's housing crisis. To stave off Amber's threat to get a flat together with Darryl, he reluctantly says the lad can use the spare room. Temporarily. With house rules. Which is probably what Amber wanted all along. Minnie arrives to greet her new BFF with air kisses. Molly leaves but throw Minnie a sharp glance over her shoulder.

Maria is sitting on the bench by the salon. Tom brings Ozzie over. She tells Tom that Liam used to be gone for hours and come home happy. Probably at Carla's. She's sure Tony hated Liam and relates Kevin's extremely negative opinion of Tony. She assures Tom she's not losing the plot. She knows they were having an affair and she knows Tony knew.

The Windasses are back and there's nothing Darryl can do. Gary smashes the glass in the front door and they all rush in. Where's Teresa? She's sat on the floor in the kitchen handcuffed to both the oven and a cupboard door!!! She's used cuffs that belonged to Mel (as if Mel would have left *two* pairs behind when she moved out!) Teresa starts shouting protest songs. Theresa says there wasn't any key, either.

Tyrone is scarfing down some food when Molly gets home. Molly wonders if his cheese on toast is going to reverse all his hard work at the gym, you know, the one you spend so much time going to? Where is it again? New one at the precinct? The questions are fired hard and fast and poor Tyrone is pretty much just gibbering and agreeing with whatever she's asking. He panics when she decides she wants to go see the gym, maybe join herself.

Theresa is being carried out bodily, oven door panel dangling from one wrist and cupboard door dangling from the other, neither seeming to be very heavy. She's unceremoniously deposited on the curb and Anna brings out her packed suitcase. The two women shout in each other's face furiously. Darryl holds his mother back as she struggles to get her hands on any of the Windasses she can. Gail and Joe emerge, adjusting their clothes (recently reclothed, no doubt). David and Tina come round the corner and they all realize just who the new neighbours are about the same time. No way! It looks very much like this was a deliberate move by the new family to get up Joe and David's noses judging from the smirks on a few of the faces.

Tvor

There's a showdown in the street, Gail and her lot vs the Windasses. Neither party can believe who their new neighbours are to be. Joe tells the Windasses in no uncertain terms, "I've got news for you. This is a decent street with decent people so put your scummy gear back in your scummy van and gerroutofhere!". The young lad Windass takes a swing at Joe for talking to his dad like that. Tina separates them as Graeme joins them all. He says, "Best we all calm down. Now, why don't I put the kettle on?"

A taxi pulls up in the street for Teresa who is going to casualty to get rid of her new charm bracelets of the oven door and a cupboard door. The Windasses and Platts are still shouting the odds in the street. Tyrone and Kevin look on from the garage. Kevin takes the opportunity to tell Tyrone that Molly is suspicious of what he's up to while he's out selling dodgy gear from Aunty Pam. Tyrone is not listening to Kevin though.

The Windasses unload their scummy gear from their scummy van. The thuggy uncle shouts after the Platts to mind how they talk to his family. Another argument ensues in which the Windasses tell the Platts that they got evicted because of the kitchen incidents. Joe reminds them that the kitchen didn't belong to them, they hadn't paid for it. The Windass mum tells Gail how David came into her home and threatened her. Gary Windass threatens them some more. The Windass dad tells Gary to leave it, he's had enough and the Platts are not worth it.

Tyrone goes to a local gym to find out about joining the gym to cover up his lies to Molly. He is horrified at the prices.

The Platt gang are at home, moaning about the Windasses. David tells them he will talk to Darryl and see if they can't get Jerry to boot them out. They can't believe that Jerry has rented the house to them. Joe tells her that they probably provided a load of false references and cash in hand. They fooled him as well, after all. Gail wonders what their arrival will do to the house prices, Joe wonders what it'll do to the neighbourhood. Snobs, all of them! Gail warns David not to wind Gary up, he looks like a lunatic. Tina reminds them all that it's because David is a lunatic that they're all in this position now. Graeme says that in a straight fight, he puts his money on Gary Windass every time.

In the new Windass home, the mother moans to her husband, Ed, how she is 41 and has nowt, "All worldly goods in a few black bin bags.". She wants a nice new settee and a plasma screen tv. Ed Windass tells his wife that this is a new start for them. She is upset that their family has been labeled from day one as a pack of trouble-makers. She wonders if she should even unpack her few possessions since they way things have gone so far, they'll be moving on again at this rate. Ed promises his wife that they won't be moving for another year. She digs a tile from a previous apartment they had in Spain out of her belongings. It is cracked and she's upset. She tells her husband that she loved that apartment. She thinks they should never have come back to England because they've had nothing but bad luck since they came back.

Out in the street, Maria asks Dev if she noticed anything suspicious went on the night of Liam's death. Dev is unable to tell her anything that will help her. Tyrone, who has been watching, tells her she should speak to Jason since he reckoned that the driver of the car didn't look like he was about to slow down at any time as he knocked Liam over. "Its like he drove straight at Liam..... I'm just telling you what Jason told me." Maria is grateful and gives Tyrone a hug.

Darryl and David are chatting in Dev's shop as Mrs Windass comes in to buy some glue. "For your Gary, is it?" asks David. She wants two tubes, one to clamp David's gob shut and the other for the tile. She gives Darryl a list of faults with the house that Jerry needs to have fixed. Darryl tells her to speak to the agent but she hates speaking to the stuck-up agents. Looks like Darryl's work is going to be cut out for him. Dev gives the glue to her and she proceeds to open one of them to glue her tile back together. Dev asks her what she thinks she's doing, "I'm not paying for it unless I know that it works."

Kevin and Tyrone are in the garage talking about how much the gym costs. Molly comes over to ask him what time they'll be working out. "Whenever you like," he says.

Leanne and Janice come into the pub. Janice is moaning about the complete dragon of a supervisor she has. When Leanne finds out that the dragon is Emily Bishop, Leanne laughs her head off. Janice insists that "That woman is power mad!"

Outside the front door of the Windasses, Anna, the mum, has had her beloved tile put up by her husband. She tells them they can go to the pub. Gail looks on as the tile falls straight off the wall again. She laughs unkindly. Anna is upset. She runs after Gail. "I don't want to fight with you, Gail. It is Gail, in't it?" She asks Gail if they can sit down like grown ups and sort the mess between the to families out. Gail goes in her house and leaves the door open for Anna to follow her inside.

Tyrone and Molly are in the gym. Molly tells Tyrone that she is amazed- she never thought Tyrone would be the kind of bloke to work out in a place as flash as this. She tells him to show her his routine. Tyrone fumbles his way towards a machine.

In Gail's kitchen, Anna and Gail are talking. She tells Gail how scary David was when he came to threaten her with a great big crowbar in his hand. She explains that she and Ed were waiting for an insurance payout from a fall that Ed had in Spain which is why they hadn't paid for the kitchen that Joe put in. She tells Gail how persuasive a salesman Joe is as well. "Oh, so it's Joe fault?" asks Gail who is not really being taken in by the sob story. Anna asks her if the kettle is just boiled.

In the gym, Tyrone has an accident with a treadmill. Molly is concerned for him and a staff member comes over with the contract for the membership. Molly sees how much the gym is going to cost. She is astounded. "How much?" she cries.

In Gail's kitchen, Gail is listening to Anna talking. Anna thinks she and Gail are very alike. Gail's not so sure about that. They talk about their boys. Anna tells Gail that they've moved five times in the past two years. Gail looks hopeful and asks her if she thinks they might move on from Coronation St soon. Anna disappoints Gail by telling her that she wants them to settle down now. Gail tries to put the tea on but Ann doesn't take the hint to leave. Anna wants to tell Gail about her apartment in Spain that she loved so much. Anna tells her how Ed knew how much she didn't want to leave Spain and Ed tried to placate her by ordering the new kitchen. Anna asks Gail if the pub at the end of the road is any good and does Gail want to get the two families together for a drink. She railroads Gail into accepting and they agree to meet at 7:30. Anna surprises Gail by giving her a big hug. David and Tina come in to hear Anna saying to Gail, "Do you know what? I think we've clicked! I'll see you later on." She leaves, saying to goodbye to Tina and David. David looks at his mum and says, "The pub?" He's not happy about this date for later.

Emily comes into the Rovers. "The Gestapo's in!" says Janice. She is horrified when she realises that Emily is coming over. Emily just wants to say how one of the gentlemen on George Formby ward thinks very highly of her. Leanne is amused by the fact that the hospital has a ward named after George Formby.

Gail is in her kitchen with Tina and David talking about the Windasses. She tries to explain that Anna was trying to hold out an olive branch. While she's talking, she is trying to open a jar of tomato paste. She hands it David who can't open it. He hands it to Tina who opens it on first twist. Gail breaks the news that it's not just her that will be having a drink with the Windasses, the whole clan is expected to show up.

Maria and Michelle are in the downstairs living room at the Rovers. Michelle asks Maria what's on her mind. Maria tells Michelle that she doesn't think that Liam's death was an accident. Michelle gets upset and tells Maria to shut up. She doesn't want to hear any more about it. She tells Maria that she has ridiculous ideas about Liam's death and tells her to get them out of her head.

The Windasses come into the Rovers where Gail's gang are not looking forward to having to spend any time with them. Gail warns them all not to do or say anything to upset them.

Darryl and Teresa are talking about having to leave the street. She knows that she got herself into the mess she's in now. Darryl gives him mum a hug before she leaves the pub.

At the Windass/Platt summit, Gail and Anna make their significant others shake hands. The men do so reluctantly. Gail tells David and Gary to shake hands. David refuses saying "If you lot wanna play happy families, that's fine. You can count me out." He leaves the pub with Tina. Gail and Joe are left non-plussed.

Stella McLoughlin


Wednesday 10 December

We open with Molly being very angry with Tyrone following their visit to the gym. He didn't know where the changing rooms were, or how to work the equipment. It's obvious to her that he's never been near the place before. Pam arrives and asks how the gym was. Molly replies that it was deeply suspicious. Ty makes a hasty exit to go to work.

Joe is not happy at being made to shake hands with Eddie Windass. Gail thinks it's best that at least they're talking, but Joe thinks David has got it right.

Next door, Eddie Windass and wife Anna are arguing over who was in the film Alien. Eddie tells her that it wasn't Meryl Streep, but Anna is sure it was. Then she tells him to get down to the cab office and look for a job because she wants a new sofa.

Outside, he sees Joe and remarks that it's good they've got a couple of women between them. Joe replies that Thatcher was a woman and look where that got them! Eddie agrees and asks if he'd like to have a pint with him later, but Joe declines.

Audrey tells her assistant, Natasha that Maria is coming back to work today, she couldn't talk her out of it. She also tells her that they're going to ignore Maria's theory about what happened to Liam, saying that she's just looking for someone to blame. Just then Maria arrives and Natasha starts to tell her how she's become an auntie, but Maria just launches into what's on her mind - Tony's involvement in Liam's death.

Eddie Windass starts up a conversation with Tyrone, all about laying down ground rules early in married life. "Who are you again?" asks Tyrone.

Across the road, Anna Windass emerges from her front door and Eddie jumps and immediately hides behind the car Ty is working on. Anna knocks on Gail's front door and Eddie picks up his crutches and tells Tyrone he's off to the pub.

Molly comes along and asks Tyrone what he's doing at lunch time. He says he'll probably grab a sandwich and work through. He then babbles on about a woman customer and Molly wants to know who she is and how old she is. He then suggests they have ‘Tonight's the Night' as their first dance at the wedding. "Maybe," sniffs Molly.

Anna has gone to borrow Gail's vacuum cleaner, and while she's there she asks who it was in the film Alien. Gail reckons it was Sigourney Weaver. Anna tells her that Eddie thought it was Meryl Streep. "Only a complete idiot would think Meryl Streep starred in Alien," scoffs Gail. Anna's smile becomes a little fixed as she thanks Gail for the cleaner explaining that Eddie booted theirs down the stairs because it was in his way.

Pam shows her latest stock items to Tyrone and tells him that people always want T-shirts, saris and socks. Just then Molly comes in and she hastily stuffs them back in the bag, but she sees the T-shirt in Tyrone's hand and demands to know what it is. Pam quickly says it's his new gym T-shirt. "Oh, the gym you joined yesterday?" It turns out she's phoned them to check. Pam, thinking fast again, says that the first few months were free. Tyrone then rushes off back to work, with Molly telling him not to be late home as they're going to her dad's to see the prototype wedding cake.

Eileen walks into Audrey's salon talking into her mobile phone, telling someone she'll see then tomorrow and not to be late. She then tells Audrey it's her dad, he's going to a retirement home. She adds that they don't see a lot of each other, they don't communicate well. As soon as she sits down, Maria asks her if she thinks Tony is capable of murder. Eileen tells her that if all the streets in Manchester had speed bumps they wouldn't be having this conversation.

Over at Emily's, Norris is polishing his shoes. Jed asks if he'd like to do his and Norris snorts and asks if he thinks he's his valet. They then argue over who can polish shoes the best.

Minnie sees Tyrone in the Street and asks if he's got any more perfume. He hasn't, but he ends up selling her a T-shirt but warns her that Molly must not know about it.

Eddie Windass arrives home and Anna explains that she's borrowed the hoover from Gail. He mumbles that theirs needs a new belt. He then tells her that the boss in the taxi office wasn't there, so the woman on the switchboard told him to come back tomorrow. She asks what woman and he tells her she's a brunette who comes on to all the drivers, a proper homewrecker. Then he says that all the drivers were hanging about outside, it's always quiet and they gamble a lot. She tells him he must think she was born yesterday!

Maria doesn't seem to have had her mind on her work when she was doing Eileen's hair and Audrey quietly tells her to pop back later and get it put right.

Jed and Norris seem to be deciding who is best at shoe polishing by playing Snakes and Ladders! However, according to Jed's rules, it's up snakes and down ladders. Norris is enraged and with much huffing and puffing, leaves the room.

Molly tells Pam she thinks Tyrone is having an affair. "Who'd have an affair with Tyrone!" exclaims Pam. "Oh thanks!" says Molly. Pam hastily tells her that Tyrone is too loyal and no one would get an opportunity. Molly tells her that minx Minnie would, she's seen them laughing and joking together. "And why is his phone switched off?" she wants to know and starts looking for the phone number for the gym.

Jed tells Norris they should let Emily decide the result of their shoe polishing contest. Norris sniffs that Emily has better things to do. Norris sighs and says he finds the whole thing juvenile, and he used to enjoy his Wednesday afternoons off. Jed says he supposes his being there ruins it and Norris agrees. "I suppose you want me to thank Emily, pack my bags and leave?" he asks, and then goes on to say that he's not going to, Emily threw him a lifeline and he doesn't intend to let go of it yet. "You'll just have to get used to me, ok?" he says.

Tyrone is late back and Molly sets off to her dad's without him but is startled to see Minnie wearing the T-shirt she had seen Ty holding earlier on. She goes over and demands to know where Minnie got it from. Minnie tells her she bought it earlier but couldn't remember exactly where from. Molly asks her if she's seen Tyrone but Minnie tells her she hasn't. "Listen, I know what he's been doing so you needn't bother lying," she says and asks her again if that T-shirt is one of Tyrone's. Minnie then admits that it is. "Are you happy now?" she asks her. Molly then tells Minnie to tell Tyrone that she's going to her dad's and he needn't bother following. "Oh, and you can tell him I'm stopping the night!" she says and gets into a taxi.

Just as the taxi drives off, Tyrone comes along. He sees Minnie and tells her, "Nice T-shirt!" Minnie then tells him that Molly said she's going to her dad's and she'll be all right on her own. He doesn't have to follow and she'll be staying over. Tyrone blissfully unaware of Molly's mood, smiles and is delighted that he doesn't have to go. "Hey, you never told her where you got that T-shirt did you?" he asks as he turns to go. "Me? No, of course not," says Minnie.

Anne Logan


Friday 12 December

As we begin, a taxi pulls up and Molly gets out and lets herself into the house. She walks in to find Tyrone happily tucking into his breakfast and reading the paper. She is appalled. She's been up all night with her head churning her stomach, going over things, wondering if Tyrone didn't come over because he was too ashamed. Tyrone is quite stumped by all this. He assumed she'd stopped over because her dad wasn't well. Molly realises Minnie didn't pass on the full message. She tells him she knows about the fake workouts. "You've broken my heart! What you've done disgusts me!" Tyrone says it's not as if he's killed someone. Lots of people do it. "Pam's been doing it all of her life," he says. Molly tells him to leave her auntie out of this. "This is about you and me and your fancy piece from the kebab shop!" Now Tyrone is really confused.

In the pub, Steve's reading the paper over breakfast, with the paper held up high between him and Michelle. She says she's beginning to think there are three of them in this relationship: "You, me and Wayne Rooney." She indicates the back-page sports story. Her attempt to start a conversation falls flat. Steve's engrossed. Or pretending to be. Though when she asks what he's up to today, he takes offence. Michelle tells him she's sick of the atmosphere. "I thought we were a family. Why are you being like this?" Steve says he thinks that if you've got nothing worthwhile to say, you should say nothing. "You should try it some time." Michelle slams out of the room.

Tyrone has finally realised what Molly's on about. He tells Molly he'd never cheat on her, but Molly knows he's not been going to the gym. He's been lying to her for months. "Heaviest thing you've lifted lately is a chunky Kit Kat!" Tyrone tries to bluster his way out of it, but Molly lists the evidence against him: She saw him chatting to Minnie, he reeked of her perfume and Minnie was wearing his T-shirt. Tyrone tries to protest his innocence, but it doesn't help when he says, "As if a cracking bird like her's ever going to give me a second look." The words are no sooner out of his mouth than he realises his mistake, but it's too late. Molly is more offended than ever. "Thank you very much!" she says and storms out, telling him she'll pick up her stuff after work.

Outside the salon, Anna Windass apologises to Gail for the noise last night. When Eddie can't sleep, he puts Greatest Fights of the 70s on the video player with the volume turned right up. Gail introduces them to Audrey and Anna wastes no time asking for a job. But not before she's told Gail that she'll have a word with Eddie about the volume. "I'd keep a jar of cotton-wool balls by the bed just in case." Gail's face is suddenly thunderous. Eddie's sitting on Maxine's bench, smoking. He throws the butt on to the ground and when he says he can't bend down to pick it up, Audrey does - and throws it right into his lap. "There's a bin there," she points out through gritted teeth. Anna blames him for ruining her chance of a job. She tells him to get round the cab office. "And don't come back without a job."

Sean and Eileen leave the house together. Sean's excited about meeting her father, but Eileen's trying to play down the whole thing. Though Sean points out she's been spring-cleaning the house.

Maria makes a cuppa for Tom and tells him she's not mad, she just wants answers. Tom says she's had them, but they're just not the ones she wants to hear. Maria wants to hear the story of the stag night again, despite having heard it repeatedly. Maria finds out that it was Tony who booked the strip club, and that it was Tony who sent Liam back for the kitty. Maria realises that this was why Tony asked Liam to be the best man. "He made sure that Liam was on that street right in the path of that car." She says Tony had Liam killed. Tom tries to stop her when she goes to call the police. "You can convince yourself of anything if you try hard enough. Let this go," he urges her.

Pam calls at the garage and Tyrone tells her Molly thinks he's been having an affair. Pam is less than sympathetic. She doesn't want him to ruin Molly's surprise. Molly will probably want to cancel everything they've organised and because it's all only half paid-for, they won't get their money back. All their hard graft will be for nowt. Pam says she's talked her way out of tougher spots. "You trust your Auntie Pam." (Except, of course, she's Molly's Auntie Pam!)

Pam and Tyrone are in the shop explaining that Tyrone was out flogging Pam's gear. Pam assures Molly she's not making it up. "May the lord strike him dead if I'm not telling the truth." Poor Tyrone. Molly asks why he'd sell stuff for Pam and lie about it. Molly demands to know where the cash is. Pam jumps in and tells Molly Tyrone was selling to help her after she's got into debt with some bad people. "Them as did for Billy Three-Fingers." She knew she'd be in for a similar fate if she didn't stump up, "No pun intended," she says. Every time she pulls on a pair of gloves she'll be grateful to Tyrone. She says Tyrone wouldn't stop until he'd pulled her out of the mire. "The same as you were with his mum." Molly tells Tyrone she needs time to think about what she's going to do.

Outside, Tyrone tells Pam he feels like a rat. "So she can feel like a princess on her wedding day," Pam points out. She says they have to sell like Trojans to pay for the rest of it. Tyrone tells her he's only going to sell as much as it takes to pay off the rest of what he owes. Then he's stopping.

The factory machinists are startled to see a determined Maria pass them in a blur, heading for the office. Inside, she asks Rosie if she's got a bag because she's going to take all the files. "You are not taking anything," screeches Rosie. "Get out!" When Maria ignores her and keeps gathering files, Rosie calls for help. "Mum!" Sally, Sean and Fiz come in to see what's going on. Fiz persuades Rosie not to call the police. Maria demands the key to a locked drawer. "Tony killed Liam. I just need more proof," she says in a matter-of-fact voice." When Rosie doesn't have the key, Maria starts to force the drawer. Fiz tells her to wait while the others look for the key. "While they hunt round, we'll go over the road." Maria agrees.

Steve and Eileen make paper chains and Steve asks how Amy seems. Eileen thinks she's been a bit quiet lately. Steve's thinking of holding a Christmas party for Amy. "Did you get visited by three ghosts last night?" Eileen asks. Eddie Windass comes in and tries to talk them out of giving him a job. Steve's not put off by the fact that Eddie can't put his hands on the proper paperwork for driving a cab, and when Eddie says he'd want cash in hand, Eileen's not put off by that. Steve offers him a trial.

In the pub, Michelle's complaining about how Steve's changed. Unfortunately, she's telling Becky about it. Michelle says that she knows deep down Steve is still the guy she fell in love with. Becky tells her she could do a lot better, but Michelle says she doesn't want Brad Pitt. "I just want my Steve back. I miss him."

Eddie and Anna head for the medical centre. She reminds him to use his crutches before they go in. Anna's surprised to see Gail working there. They want to register at the health centre and have the paperwork already done. Anna asks if they can get Eddie booked in for a health check next week for his disability allowance. Gail suddenly can't hear anything. Anna realises what's going on and tells Gail she won't need any cotton-wool balls in the future.

A man rushes into the bookies' and asks if he's still got time to put on a bet before a particular race. Peter says he has. The man's phone rings, playing Elvis's Hound Dog. When Peter hears him say to someone that he's on his way and is on the bus, he helpfully mutes the sound. The man tells the person on the other end of the phone that he'll be about an hour because traffic is heavy.

Audrey arrives at Maria's, presumably summoned by Fiz. Maria explains tearfully that she knows now that Tony did kill Liam. Audrey offers to put the kettle on and Fiz says she'll give her a hand.

In the kitchen, Audrey tells Fiz Maria needs professional help. She tells Fiz they might have to take that decision into their own hands. She nips out the back door to go over to the health centre to get someone to help. Maria is at the front window.

Tyrone gets home to find Molly packing. She's still upset that Tyrone lied to her. "I don't' care why. It's the fact that you could do it at all." She says she should have realised something was up when she found out about the wedding dress. That should have made her think that the man she loved couldn't have lied so well about that. "I don't know you. I'm not sure I can marry a stranger."

The End.
Margaret Carr

Well that seems to be about it for Tyrone and Molly we resume where we let with Ty begging Molly not to go - after all they had been happy- but she cannot trust him - what other secrets does he have? She is sick of talking. She asks when she will be returning but she does not know - and what is he to tell people - she tells him to make something up - after all he is good at that.

Maria is close to losing it and she finds a screwdriver and plans to break into Tony's drawers - because if he has nothing to hide then there is no reason for it to be locked. Maria realises that as supervisor Julie will have keys so she suggests to Fiz that the latter steals them from her bag. Fiz tells her to wait. But Fiz heads to the medical centre where she finds Audrey and updates the latter on Maria's agitation, Gail calls the doctor and interrupts his consultation with the explanation that there is an emergency psychiatric need. Maria phones and Fiz lies to her telling that the locked drawer merely has the petty cash tin, but Maria simply hangs up on her.

Becky and Steve are discussing the length of time that "bad boyfriend" as taking to get dumped. Becky is close to opening her gob anyway but promises to keep it shut a little longer - but it may need wiring up and she will have to drink chocolate through a straw.

Colin Grimshaw is chatting to Liz - in his youth he was a teddy boy and the local answer to Elvis. We hear him making excuses to Eileen alleging he is on a bus stuck under a bridge, but Liz loudly asks Steve to get some crisps up from the cellar. Outside Eileen ends the call and tells Sean she knows he is in the Rovers. Anyway time for mountain to go to Mohammed, or at least his dinner. And a few minutes later Eileen steams in to the Rovers with a "Father, how lovely to see you" and dumps the congealed dinner on the bar. He tells her it looks absolutely delicious, any chance of cutlery? Liz finds some and after he makes a crack about the poor quality of his wife's gravy, Eileen opens the salt cellar and pours the contents over the plate and then departs.

Kev tries to re-assure Ty and takes him for a pint to cheer him up as apparently Molly is no longer taking messages on her phone.

Maria arrives at the Rovers and asks Michelle for the keys to the Gordon's flat. Maria denies she has them. Michelle suggests she goes through to the back but Maria says that she is the only who cares about what happened to Liam and she storms out of the pub.

Colin spots Rita and Liz tells him of her present - running the Kabin and her past as a nightclub signer - and Colin then recognizes her - Rita Littlewood, voice of an angel and a body built for sin. Colin decides to start chatting her up. he calls himself Colin Postlethwaite and tries to make Rita pretend that they had a week of passion in Blackpool in 1962. Rita is certain that was not her - she was a good girl and Liz admits that she told Colin who Rita used to be. Rita thought she had been losing her marbles for a moment but Colin simply laughs at the joke.

Pam arrives with flowers and suggests that Ty uses them, chocolate and bling and all will be well - but Ty says it is all too late. Pam does not believe him. And indeed thinks that the problem has been entirely caused by Pam. Apparently his recent life of petty crime has cost him the love of his life and it is Pam's fault and he asks her to go, as she does he throws the flowers down on the floor. Colin picks them up and hides them under his coat. Then after a polite conversation with Rita he bids au revoir and heads out.

In the Street the doctor, Audrey and Fiz are lying in wait for Maria as she returns - Maria tells Fiz and Michelle to get lost and the doctor and Audrey go inside. The doc suggests prescribing some sedatives but Maria knows that they think she has gone off her trolley but she knows that Tony killed Liam and they will have to admit when she has proof. The doc suggests a quiet talk but Maria throws them both out of the house.

In the back room at the Rovers Michelle complains to Ryan about his smelly unwashed games kit - and she makes the point that she likes her men squeaky clean. It a generating station moment - the lights come on in Steve's eyes and it looks as though he has been handed a solution on a plate.

Tyrone stares at a photo of his engagement day - how come they were so happy then and so unhappy now? Tears roll down his face - has Molly gone forever?

And close by there are more tears as Maria holds a picture of her wedding day and cries over her loss.

In the Rovers bar Steve is clearing up - pork scratchings in his pockets and then wipes his hands in his armpits. Then there is a spill and Steve mops it up with his shirt rather than a cloth. He reckons by the end of the shift he will stink to high heaven and Michelle will hate it - so Mission Impossible will become Mission Accomplished.

Elsewhere we see the return of Tony and Carla from the honeymoon - and it appears that Tony is delighted to be back.

Colin is threading the roses he picked up earlier through the Grimshaw letterbox - watched by Rita on her way home. He tells her that he is not courting - it is his daughter's house. He calls through the letter box that the Siberian wind means he does not know how long he can control his bladder. Eileen opens the door and he claims the flowers cost him a week's pension. Eileen lets him in - but does not seem keen about it.

Well Tony was glad to be back until he started checking his messages - Maria's voice is heard "Tony I want to speak to you, it's urgent". He turns it off when Carla appears and he claims to be in demand. He tells her to take a shower and he will make something lovely to eat. She trots off happily to the bathroom. Tony listens to the next message - Maria again and even more angry than before - and she ends the message with "I know exactly what you've done Tony. I know what you are."

And that would be it for this week. See you same time same place next week.

K Richard W


Monday 15 December

Tony is frowning at his mobile, showing 6 calls from Maria. Carla wanders out of the bedroom, still looking sleepy. Tony thinks she should just go back to bed and sleep off the jet lag. They have a cuddle but he does have a meeting so he can't join her. He suggests a sleeping tablet would help the jet lag (I don't think she'll really need one unless he just wants to make sure she stays put.) He promises to buy her a new mobile to replace the perplexingly missing old one and hands her a tablet and glass of water. She goes off to bed and he watches to make sure she's in the bedroom and leaves.

On Coronation Street, the factory bees are waiting for Rosie to unlock the factory. Maria is watching from the window and heads out when she sees the door being opened. Next door, Tyrone is trying to talk to Molly but she's not having it and closes the shop door in his face. "Happy Birthday, Ty" he mutters. Maria is chatting to Fiz in front of Underworld, wondering if anyone has heard from Tony yet. Not due back for another week, she's told. Fiz tries to soothe her mate but her patronizing doesn't go over well. Maria assures her she's not mad and she goes back home, probably to leave more obsessive messages on Tony's voice mail.

Steve is instructed to give Amy a kiss before Liz takes her out. He's unshaven and smelly, both of which do not go unnoticed by his mother and his daughter. He does promise to smarten up for Amy's party later on. She's hoping for Father Christmas. She's going to get General Custard and Hialowa, who were cheap and available. Liz rolls her eyes over that one and Amy probably would too except she's not looking up or at any of the other actors while she mumbles her lines.

In the factory (where there seems to be a few more machinists than usual - non speaking extras) everyone stops, shocked, to see Tony arrive. He's not in a good mood and is looking for Rosie. Janice says she wiggled off in the direction of the warehouse *snork* Tony is not amused. Find her. Kelly and Janice reckon the marriage has already gone bust and Maria might have been right all along. Fiz takes umbrage at this.

In the cafe, decorations are going up. Hayley's sporting a bobbly thingy on her head, Roy is just grateful Hayley's back and Becky figures there will be something more interesting in her stocking than her own leg. She's anticipating good things this Christmas. Pam comes in and greets a very glum Tyrone. He relates the story of his 12th birthday when his mother got nicked for shoplifting and he spent it hiding from the Social. All in all, that was a better birthday this this one. She orders tea for them but Tyrone leaves. Hayley lifts her head quickly and nearly takes Roy's eye out with the deelybobber bouncing off her head. It took me by surprise and was so neatly done that I laughed out loud. She reckons they should open the cafe to the homeless this year. Roy doesn't look happy about it but you know he'd do anything she wants.

Steve looks a bit cleaner now. He's lugging crates when Michelle comes in and wonders where she can hide Ryan's Christmas pressie, basically trying to find out where Steve's hidden hers. He admits he's not got it yet and probably isn't going to buy for anyone. Except yes, he's bought already for his mother (and Amy, I should hope!) His point is that he and Michelle spend too much on each other and end up with a big load of debt after. Michelle and Liz exchange frustrated glances.

In Underworld's office, someone has found Rosie. She admits that she'd kept a copy of the incriminating video and Tony's face goes stone-still.

Back in the pub, Michelle opens a bag of crisps so Steve takes the opportunity to insult her for eating too much junk food, figuring a tent for a dress will soon be in order. She's had enough of his nasty gob and tells him off, turning her back on him, no doubt to mask her hurt. Liz tells him off too for treating Michelle like he has been and if he's not careful, she warns, he'll lose her. She stalks off too, leaving him elated that his plan is working.

I don't know where Sally's been or how long she's been gone but she has only just found out that Tony's back and is calling Rosie on the carpet. She heads straight to the office and confesses it was her that had showed Maria the video. She offers a few lame excuses in her defense. Tony dismisses them both without a further word but Sally backs up to warn Tony that Maria is in a terrible state and saying shocking things. Tony assures her it won't go any further. (It doesn't matter, everyone's talking about it anyway!). So what's Tony going to do about it? We'll find out soon enough.

After the break, we're back in the cafe and Hayley is in full organizational mode, designing posters to bring in the punters for the Christmas day free feast. Roy realizes it's what she really wants. That and a kiss under the mistletoe, Hayley adds with a giggle. Roy's reaction? "Who am I to argue!" (sweet! though he was probably referring to the open house). Liz arrives, and ends up expressing her disappointment with Steve's attitude, which is upsetting Amy. She and Michelle at least will make sure the little one gets a good holiday. It all gives Becky something to think about since she knows why Steve is playing up the attitude.

Outside, Pam meets up with Molly who's looking almost as glum as Tyrone. Pam apologizes and defends Tyrone but Molly is adamant about not being able to trust a liar. Pam keeps trying, asserting that Tyrone could be trusted with her life if need be! (I really do think Molly is going a bit over the top with this. It's a first offence, and not as serious as she thought it was i.e. not an affair) Molly still isn't really inclined to forgive him even though Pam reminds her that it's Tyrone's birthday. She looks a little unsettled after that. Will she forgive him? Tony is seen in the background walking down the street.

And in the next seen we hear a knock on Maria's back door. She's still not dressed and still wearing that manky dressing gown, her hair unwashed and the dog slobbering on her leg. It's Tony, of course, who used the back door to be discreet. She tries to shut the door on him but he prevents it. He's there for a chat. She backs up and decides to get dressed for the occasion. He takes the opportunity to lock the back door and remove the key, with a handkerchief covering his hand. He notices a box of Liam's things with a belt on the top. He picks it up and winds it around his hands as you see Snidely Whiplash doing when he's about to strangle someone.

The factory girls are surprised nobody got the sack. Everyone wonders if the revelation of the affair is why Tony and Carla are back early and Fiz wonders if she should tell Maria that Tony is back.

She knows. She's dressed and returns downstairs. He admits he knew about Liam and Carla but that it was only the one night, back when Maria and Liam were split up after the baby died. That shocks Maria, the timing of it. Tony says he and Carla have already worked through it all. Maria doesn't take the news well, that Liam turned to Carla in his grief. He has his best "Sincere Face" on and admits "to his shame" that it's all a case of loving someone so much that you do things you can't even explain to yourself. Does she buy it? Don't know yet.

Steve is serving behind the bar when a dapper looking fellow in a Confederate General's uniform comes in . Ok, it's probably not authentic but he does look quite good. He's the entertainment act, and his name is Jesse. Kelly, stood at the bar, is a bit incredulous. Steve teases him "Is that Jesse as in 'you great big..' or as in 'James'". Jesse doesn't seem to have a sense of humour, not a good thing in an child's entertainer and admits that his middle name is James, yes. (Hey, same as Steve's middle name!) The reason for Jesse's sense of humour desertion turns out to be the desertion of his wife, who was also his partner. He can't very well put on the act without Hiyalowa. She's run off with a drains inspector and dumped him by text. (which gives Steve a thoughtful moment. No not that he could dump Michelle by text but just the idea of how difficult it is to do something you know is unpleasant) Jesse never even suspected.

Elsewhere, Fiz decides she should go see Maria but Janice and Kelly dissuade her.

Too bad. Maria isn't buying Tony's story but he is smooth, this one. She confronts him with his lies about Pat and his stories about ruining business partners' lives as a subtle threat to Liam and Carla. She starts to ramble about her deductions, and he pretends to be mystified at her reasoning and points out the holes in her logic. She's determined. He realizes that she really has got all the details figured out and he actually is a bit shaken by the memories. He has tears rolling down his face when she grabs his hand and presses it to her bump, asking him to swear on the unborn baby's life. He can't and she realizes she is right about everything. Tony just looks up at her as the end credits roll.

Tvor

This is my last report for the year. I'm headed off to Scotland where I'll be watching Coronation St with my Mum for the next two weeks. I love watching telly with my Mum but making notes throughout for a report is an impossibility since she talks the whole way through! Just one of the many reasons I love my Mum! :-)

Thanks to Diane for posting this for me and thanks also to Martin and Diane for covering for me while I'm gone. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year. See you all again soon!

In Maria's house, Maria is finding out entirely too much about Tony's involvement in her husband's death. Tony denies any wrongdoing but Maria knows he's lying, "You liar! I saw your face, you couldn't swear!" She accuses him of being a coward, not even able to do his own dirty work and having to have someone else bump off Liam for him. Tony gets angry and asks Maria what would have happened if someone had burst her little bubble, if some had told her that her precious Liam was having an affair with Carla, what would she have done. Maria can't speak. "It's all so black and white in your little world, isn't it Maria?" Tony asks her, "With big, bad Tony, man hungry Carla and poor innocent Liam... who spent the entire evening, on my stag night remember, on the phone to my fiancee!" Tony is properly angry by this time, frightening Maria who flees to the back door only to find Tony has locked it behind himself. He claims not to have wanted any interruptions. He grabs Maria as she tries to run away and says, "Maria, one million pounds......."

In the Rovers, General Custard aka Jessie is heartbroken at the bar. Liz asks Steve what he's doing there. Steve tries to tell Liz about General Custard's wife having left him and how she was HighaLowa but Liz has no sympathy and tells Steve if Jessie won't entertain the kids at Amy's party, then Steve will have to do it. Steve asks Jessie if he will do the turn but the poor bloke is distraught since HighaLowa was the star, after all. She was the one the kids loved and he was the straight man. He bursts into tears and flings himself on Steve for a comforting hug. Eileen walks into the bar and asks, "What's this then? Street Theater production of Brokeback Mountain?"

Back with Maria and Tony and Tony is telling Maria that he feels responsible for Liam's death since it was while he was on Tony's stag night that Liam died. Oh, nice cover-up there, Tony! He tells Maria that a million quid would set her and the baby up for life. Maria shouts at him she doesn't want his blood money. She turns away from him and Tony reaches into his pocket and brings out a belt which he flexes menacingly. Fizz knocks on the front door for Maria, foiling Tony's dastardly plan to do away with Maria. He runs to the back door and wipes the back door key clean of his prints with his hanky, unlocking the door while he's at it. Maria answers the door to Fizz and shouts at her to get Tony out of the house. Tony leaves quietly but has a word with Fizz outside the front door. He tells Fizz that he thinks Maria needs to see a doctor, accusing Maria of being a fantasist. Fizz assures him that nobody believes her and she goes back inside to see to her best friend.

"He admitted it, Fizz!" blurts Maria, "He couldn't deny it! He said that I'd have wanted Carla dead if I'd known what he knew. He forced his way in and locked the doors...." She takes Fizz through to the back door to prove to her what a psycho Tony is but of course, Tony has unlocked the door, making Maria look ever so slightly deranged. Maria tells Fizz that Tony offered her a million quid to keep quiet about it.

Outside the bookies, Leanne sees Peter having a cigarette. She tells him a pointless story of a bookie her Dad knew once. Peter asks Leanne out on a date, a kind of works Christmas party. He thinks he's gonna have a chance of a snog if they go out together but Leanne is playing a little hard to get. (Is anyone else sick of Leanne? Ughh, smug smirks constantly and no real purpose, what's the point in her?)

Liz, Michelle and Eileen are blowing up balloons in the back room at the Rovers while Jessie moans about his wife. He thinks he should have seen her running away with a drains inspector coming since all of a sudden she seemed to know everything there is to know about rats. Liz and Michelle struggle to keep their faces straight. He tells a bit of history about how they became to be General Custard and HighaLowa as Becky walks in and is roped into blowing up the balloons with them all. Liz asks Jessie if there's no chance that he could persuade his wife to come back just for the party and Jessie strikes upon the idea of asking Eileen to stand in instead. Eileen is manipulated into not being able to say no.

Tony watches Maria's house from his car, in the rear-view mirror, holding his belt tightly and waiting for Fizz to leave Maria so he can get back in there and finish the job of getting rid of her. He sees Fizz talking to Maria. He overhears them talking about how Maria is going to the police against the advice of Fizz. Maria knows that Fizz doesn't believe her and Fizz urges her not to do anything silly. Maria is determined to go the police. Tony drives off.

At Amy's party, Eileen is all dressed up as HighaLowa. Isn't it amazing that Jessie's wife is the same size as Eileen? He coaches Eileen in her part, "Right, I say Higher!, you say Lower! I say Higher! only, lower..." Becky remarks on his comic genius. Jessie assures them that the kids love it and that the parents in the pub will be doing it too. He and Eileen enter the party and start their piece. Jessie's right, the kids love it.

Maria goes to the police station and asks to speak to someone. She needs to report a murder!

Jessie and Eileen are having a ball at the party with all the kids. Liz asks Steve if he's apologises to Michelle for being so awful. She doesn't want Steve ruining Christmas for everyone.Jessie comes over to them and tells a terribly un-PC joke, "How do Indians say Hello?" Steve asks, "How?" Jessie says, "That's right." Steve doesn't get it.

Jed is prattling on at Tyrone at the Garage about how he should be recycling chip oil or something and how somebody is running a fleet of vans on a load of chip oil. Tyrone is not interested (God, neither was I, Tyrone. Jed's someone else I simply don't see the point of) but Aunty Pam seems to think it's a good idea. Tyrone is more interested in saving his wedding which has been ruined by Aunty Pam in the first place. Aunty Pam urges Ty to talk to Molly. he says he will but he needs Pam to keep her big nose out.

Tony arrives home to Carla who tells him that she has missed him. Tony seems to be in a bad mood. She asks him what's wrong. "You're married to a murderer.... according to Maria, I killed Liam...... she's been telling anyone who will listen." He tells Carla that Maria and everybody knows about her and Liam.

Peter is having a drink at the bar with Leanne- the works Christmas party- and Ashley. Liz tells him not to get too cosy at the bar since the party's nearly over. He tells Liz to line him up a whisky as well as his pint. Oh dear.

Norris, Jed and Emily are having a discussion in a booth about creatures of habit. Norris accuses Jed of having stolen his favourite hot chocolate mug which he has a drink from every night before bed. Anyway, the point of the conversation is to remind Jed that maybe one day his cat will turn up, as a creature of habit if Jed goes to his old house at the same time every day rattling a box of cat food or whatever. Jed thinks Norris is just trying to get rid of him. Norris's friend Mary turns up. She has sneaked out from her mother and asks for creme de menthe when Norris asks if he can buy her a drink since she's being naughty. Norris tells her that there's nothing wrong with a bit of naughtiness between friends. Mary giggles and says to Emily when Norris has gone to the bar, "He's got such a wicked sense of humour, hasn't he?" Emily agrees but not before slyly looking at Jed.

Tony and Carla are at home. Carla tells Tony that her thing with Liam was only one night of madness when Liam and Carla had had their big bust up. She says she knew that Rosie had seen him leave and she assures that it was only just that once and that as soon as it happened they regretted it straight away. She needs him to believe that she knew she loved him and that's all that mattered. "What I believe doesn't matter," says Tony, "It's what the police believe that counts."

Tyrone sees Molly leaving the shop and runs over to talk to her. He pleads with her to let him apologise. Molly is not receptive to him. She tells him that saying sorry won't make everything better. Tyrone tells her that he hates Aunty Pam for what she's done to them. Molly reminds him that he is a grown man and that they split up because he lied to her and betrayed her trust. Tyrone wants to know what he will tell jack when he gets home this week. Molly tells him that he needs to just admit to jack what he has done. She tells him to go home and have his dinner. She tells him there are some pies in the freezer.

Emily and Norris are talking about him and Mary. "There is no me and Mary!" says Norris, reluctant to admit his feelings. Jed reckons that Norris is not the only lady killer round there and shouts to Mary to come and sit next to him. He tells Mary to stay away from Norris and if she's looking for a bloke to look for someone with a touch of maturity. "His get up and go," he says, referring to Norris, "has got up and gone!" Mary thinks Jed is much mistaken. Norris blushes a little.

Steve and Becky are snatching a couple of moments talking alone at the bar. Becky asks Steve to drop the bad boyfriend bit. She doesn't want anyone to have a bad Christmas, especially not Amy. Steve asks her about what kind of Christmas she will have. Becky tells him that she's spent many Christmases alone so far, another one won't kill her.

Back with Tony and Carla, Carla asks Tony why, if he's known about the video of her kissing Liam for so long, did he not say anything sooner. She tells him they could have talked. "You chose me, that's all that's important to me. I love you," he replies. The buzzer from their front door is going mad. Carla goes to answer it. Liam asks her if she believes him. "Like you said," says Carla, "It's what the police believe that counts."

Stella McLoughlin


Wednesday 17 December

The police have arrived to speak to Tony. It's our old friend Detective Weller accompanied by a uniformed officer. Tony lets them in and tells them there are no secrets between him and Carla.

Over in Coronation Street, Peter and Simon are decorating the Christmas tree, helped by Leanne.

Audrey's assistant, Natasha, is shutting up the salon when Fiz comes along and asks if she's seen Maria, but she hasn't. Just then Anna Windass comes along and expresses surprise that the salon is shut so early. Natasha tells her they always close at six, but Anna says she would have thought they would have stayed open later around Christmas.

Tony is explaining to the police how he sent Liam back to the bar. "But not so some hit-man could come screaming round the corner and run into him, that's what she's saying isn't it?" he says. The police officer tells him that Maria's saying he's more or less confessed to doing just that. "You did go and see her today, didn't you?" Tony admits to going to see her, to ask why she was making these accusations. "She's been wandering round the streets in her pyjamas, raving on about me like some madwoman," he says. The policewoman then wants to know about Carla's affair with Liam. Carla is quick to point out that it was hardly an affair, they only slept together once. Tony is asked when he found out about it and he says it was about two months before he and Carla got married. Detective Weller says it was very forgiving of him, asking Liam to be his best man when he knew about that. "I'm not sure I would have had him at my wedding, let alone ask him to be best man," she says. Tony says he saw it as a way of putting it all behind them, Carla had chosen him, not Liam, so end of story. "If I wanted to kill him I'd have done something smarter than had him run down in front of witnesses where any number of things could have gone wrong," says Tony. Detective Weller looks at him thoughtfully.

In the Rovers, Jessie, the children's entertainer is having a drink with Eileen. He tells her she was very good with the children, and has the making of a pro. "I bet you say that to all the squaws," she says. She tells him she's sorry about his wife. The chat for a while and then he tells her it's a shame he has to go, but he's got a big casino job on the East Coast. "What, like Atlantic City?" asks Eileen. "Great Yarmouth," he replies, "got to keep the wolf from the door." He says it's only a few hours drive - if she's at a loose end. She says she'll bear it in mind. He gives her the red feather she wore and then leaves.

Peter, Simon and Leanne have finished decorating the tree, and then Simon asks if Leanne can read him a story.

In the Rovers, Betty tells Michelle she's going to stay with Gordon over Christmas and needs the time off. Just then Liz comes in, accompanied by a lady she introduces as Poppy, her friend from Brazilian Crunch. (Her exercise class). It turns out she's a barmaid, and Liz raves on about how she's one of the best barmaids in Weatherfield.

Detective Weller is leaving Tony's flat and turns and asks him if it's true that he offered Maria a million pounds, over five years, to keep quiet. "Is it true?" she asks. Tony tells her he can hardly afford to pay the factory wages, let alone throw bungs like that around. He says she can check his bank accounts if she likes. Tony then says that he's starting to think there's some sort of curse on him, after all it was only a short time ago he was in the frame for Rosie Webster's disappearance. "I didn't do that and I didn't do this, either," he says.

Eddie Windass is up a ladder putting up Christmas lights on the outside of their house. Anna is worried that if Gail sees him she'll tell the doctors and that will be the end of his incapacity benefit. Just then Gail comes along. "Nice to have a few lights up at Christmas," says Anna. "A few, yes," says Gail, adding that she didn't know Eddie was a handyman. Eddie offers to help if there's anything she needs doing. "I've got Joe for that, thank you very much," says Gail, "providing his tools don't go missing again."

Pam goes into the kebab shop and asks Darryl what he does with the used cooking oil. He tells her he pays someone to take it away, so she tells him she'll take it off his hands. He asks what she wants it for and she says it's to make fat balls for the birds.

Simon has gone to bed, and Peter and Leanne are enjoying a drink and a chat.

Back at Tony's, Carla is wondering why Tony never said anything about her and Liam when he first found out about them. "It's not like you to let something like that go," she says. She asks if he said anything to Liam, but he says he didn't. "It was a dilemma," he says, adding that he didn't want to kick up a stink as he might have lost her, so he didn't say anything to anyone.

Michelle invites Becky to have Christmas dinner with them all, but she declines, saying she's promised to help Roy and Hayley with the soup kitchen.

Betty tells Liz that she wants to go to visit Gordon over Christmas, although Steve has put her on the work rota. Liz tells her if she wants to go, she must go.

Back at Peter's flat, he's playing old records and drinking a lot. He asks Leanne if she'd like a takeaway, saying that if they didn't have Simon they could have gone out. "Still, it's cosier in here, isn't it?" he says, sidling up close to her. She sits up and asks curtly if he's got any menus, so he gets up to get them, saying he'll open another bottle while he's at it. She tells him not to, she's had enough.

Joe and Gail are talking about David's 18th birthday on Christmas day. Just then they're interrupted by loud music and flashing lights and rush outside to investigate. It seems that the Windasses have not only lit up their own house with a lavish display of Christmas lights, but put a lot of lights on the front of Gail's house as well. They tell Gail they had some left over so they thought she'd like them, and it's not costing her a penny in electricity. "How are we supposed to get to sleep with those lights flashing through the curtains all night?" cries Gail, adding that she wants them taken down. Eddie says he can't take them down in the dark. "If you don't take them down, I will," says Joe, but in the end Anna says that they'll turn them off when it gets late and they'll keep the music off as well. "How's that for a compromise?" she says, adding, "go on Gail, it's Christmas!"

Peter is waiting for his takeaway to arrive, pouring yet another drink. He then starts grabbing and pawing at Leanne and she gets very angry and picks up her bag to leave. He grabs her arm and she shouts at him to get off her. She pushes him hard and he falls back against the Christmas tree, landing in a heap. "I'll see you in the morning when you're sober," she says as she storms out.

Carla tells Tony she now realises that's why they came home early, he knew about Maria and what she was saying, on their honeymoon. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asks. He says he didn't want to spoil anything. "When were you going to tell me?" she asks. He says after he'd talked to Maria and got to the bottom of it. She says she can't get her head around how he could forgive her and Liam so easily. "It was either that or risk losing you," he says. She points out that he nearly drove Kevin out of business when he wouldn't give in to him, so why wouldn't he go further with her or Liam. He replies that driving someone out of business is one thing, it's just business, but killing? "Do you really think I'm capable of that?" He assures her he had nothing to do with Liam's death. She says she believes him, but tells him there's to be no more lies in the future.

Anne Logan.


Friday 19 December

We open with Simon playing instead of hurrying to get ready for school. When Peter chides him, he reveals that he needs a towel - not for swimming, but because he's the innkeeper in the school nativity play. A search of his schoolbag reveals notices to parents going back weeks! Peter is horrified to discover the performance is 2.30 today! He promises to be in the audience.

Maria stalks across the street to confront Tony. She can't believe the police would let a murderer go without charging him. Carla warns Maria not to make those claims in public. "You lying, cheating whore!" Maria shouts in her face. Carla has the grace to look ashamed as Fiz pulls Maria away.

In the factory, the workers listen to Rosie going on about a zit on her chin. There's nothing obvious, but Rosie says that's because she's got sticks of concealer on it. "So vain," sighs Wiki in an amused tone. Seeing Carla and Tony enter the office, Rosie goes in there with some trepidation. Tony asks her to give them a couple of minutes and Rosie goes off to fetch coffee. "Remind me why I can't sack her," Carla asks him. Tony says he'd have to sack Sally too, which would fan the flames. "So let it go." Tony thanks her for the defense outside. He tries to kiss her but she pulls back.

In the bookies', Leanne is in the short of mood that means she's doing things at double speed and talking abruptly. She obviously doesn't have any cupboard doors to slam. Peter tries to apologise for last night but Leanne doesn't want to talk about it.

Jack's back and talking to Tyrone at the garage. He can see the lights across the Windass's house and Gail's and reckons he needn't have bothered with Blackpool's illuminations. (Er... I don't want to be picky, but aren't they only on in late summer-autumn?) He asks how Tyrone is and laughs when Tyrone says the wedding is off and Molly's left him. "I'm not joking, Jack," says Tyrone.

Mary tries to put a card through the door for Norris, but the door is opened by Jed. He asks if she can help him untangle the fairy lights and invites her in.

Peter tells Leanne about Simon's nativity play. He invites her along, but she's arranged to go shopping with Janice. He declares it's time for a clear-the-air talk and invites her to the Rovers for lunch. He also plans to shut the shop when he goes to the play, so clearly has no plans to make a profit.

Rosie's trying to pluck up the courage to give her zit a good squeeze. She's sitting at one of the machinists' tables, behind a rack of clothes. Click. Carla takes a picture of the operation on her phone. "Not very nice when people creep up on you, is it?" she asks. Rosie looks horrified.

Peter has bought a bottle of wine for them to drink with their hotpot. Leanne asks if it's wise. He admits he feels lousy. He doesn't mean he's hungover. He means he feels bad that he offended her. He seems to think an apology is all it will take and tries to pour Leanne a glass of wine. She refuses and he tries to persuade her, asking if she's worried he'll get all amorous again. Leanne warns him that if he does he'll get a fat lip. She just doesn't want a drink. "It's only 12 o'clock," she points out. Behind the bar, Liz sets her friend to work. Michelle seems to be giving her the cold shoulder. Liz tells her she's given her friend a shift tonight and Michelle's a bit miffed she wasn't asked.

"You betrayed me," Carla tells Rosie, "after everything I did for you." She took Rosie under her wing, promoted her, trusted her. "I know I messed up," Rosie says. Carla points out that photocopying the wrong invoice would be messing up. Rosie's been spying on her. Rosie protests but Carla calls her a scheming little witch. She says Rosie did it because she thought she could get one up on Carla and blackmail her, but she's so stupid she showed it to Maria. "It was my mum's fault," Rosie says. Carla reminds her that she took the pictures. She says the repercussions of this are huge. "My marriage is in tatters and it's all your fault." Rosie tries to apologise and asks if Carla is going to sack her. Carla isn't. She's going to make Rosie's life a complete misery. She demands Rosie' keys back. When Rosie extends an arm to hand them over, Carla grabs it, twisting it until it hurts. With her face close to Rosie's she hisses: "Cross me again and I'll make you into a handbag. Got it?" She shoves Rosie away and leaves the room.

Michelle tries to get Steve to do something about Liz hiring her mate, but Steve reckons he can't undermine his mother.

Peter's pouring more wine and tells Leanne he likes a drink at lunchtime. He assures her he can take his booze and will be fine to go to the school later. Leanne tells him she didn't enjoy being mauled by someone who was slurring his words. "Well, you should know," says Peter. Leanne says that's the truth - he thinks she's an easy touch because of her past. Almost in tears she decides to go and Peter protests that he was just trying to wind her up. She tells him she resigns. She can't believe he thinks a hotpot and a garbled apology make up for last night. Peter, suddenly serious, tells her he's already apologises twice but clearly he's underestimated the seriousness of the situation. "Sit down. Let's talk," he says, still swigging back wine.

Jed and Mary work on the fairy lights. She's just winding a string of them under his arm to unknot them. He jokes that it's like Twister and Mary tells him her mother was very good at Twister before she became infirm. "Now she can only sit and watch and cheer." The door opens and Norris says he hopes he's not interrupting anything. Jed tries to explain but Norris clearly does not believe him.

Peter assures Leanne that he doesn't hold her past against her. If he did, he wouldn't have employed her in the first place. Leanne suggests he thought she'd be easy because she's an ex-hooker. Simon says she's done wonders for the place and points out how much Simon likes her. "That's blackmail," Leanne points out. He says hiring her was the best decision he made. Leanne gets up to go and meet Janice and agrees she'll be back at the bookies' later. Once she's gone, Peter goes to the bar and orders a Scotch.

Norris reads the card from Mary and tells her he doesn't do cards any more. Working in the Kabin and seeing how many cards they sell, he's decided it's such a waste that they will all end up in the bin. Jed goes off to buy some spare bulbs for the lights. Norris asks Mary if Jed was pestering her. He thinks Mary looked embarrassed when he arrived, but Mary says she was just embarrassed because she knew what it must look like. She likes Jed, though. "Not in that way," she says. Norris says Jed's old enough to be her father, then looks suddenly embarrassed himself. Mary hastily tells him she thinks age is irrelevant when two people are attracted to each other.

Carla crosses the street and knocks on Maria's door. "There's a lot of nonsense flying round about me and Liam," she tells Maria. "I thought you might like to hear the truth, straight from the whore's mouth.

At the school, the audience, including Ken, Blanche and Steve, get settled. Ashley is forced to sit in another row because Blanche is saving a seat for Deirdre. She arrives just in time. "Where's Peter?" she asks. Nobody knows. Ken thinks Peter just wanted them to be there so it was less obvious that he wasn't.

Carla isn't sure how to do this. Does Maria want to ask her questions or should she just talk? Maria's very hostile so Carla makes to leave, but Maria asks, "How long was it going on?" Carla says it wasn't a full-blown affair. She thinks Maria deserves to know the truth. She assures her that nothing happened in Birmingham and nothing happened the night Liam and Maria went to dinner. They slept together just once, after Liam and Maria split. Maria is hostile and crying. She thinks Carla is just trying to do Tony's dirty work. "He tried to bribe me with a million quid!" Carla leaves, with Maria on the doorstep shouting after her," Go on then! Get back to your murdering husband!" Jed hears this.

Peter's car zooms into a parking slot and stops quickly. He races to the door, but it's locked. A teacher opens it and says he's not late - Mary's had a little accident. Peter makes the mistake of talking too much, telling the teacher the school should tell people about the nativity play a lot sooner. "Have you been drinking, Mr Barlow?" the teacher asks. "Well, it's hard not to at this time of year," Peter says. The teacher says he can't let Peter go in.

Jack tells Tyrone he's fed Molly a story and she'll be coming round later, though she thinks Tyrone won't be home. Jack thinks Molly wants to get together again but wants to teach Tyrone a lesson.

Peter tries to push his way past the teacher, who points out they have a policy of refusing entry to anyone who is drunk or appears go be drink. Peter signed up to that policy when he enrolled Simon. Peter tries to argue loudly. They're interrupted by Steve coming out with Amy, who's had an accident.

In the school hall, the wise men are following the star. The ensemble starts to sing Away In A Manger. Simon and Joshua are both there, singing away, when the back door is flung open and Peter storms in, shouting that nobody is going to stop him from watching his son! Blanche turns to Shush whoever is making the noise. The piano stops and a hush falls across the hall.

More later in episode two.
The End for now.
Margaret Carr

Well I have never seen the like at any of the children's plays but Peter Barlow completely disrupts the nativity and Simon the innkeeper is unable to demonstrate his acting ability. Ken and Ashley and the teacher escort the less than entirely sober Peter from the school. The rest of the audience is less than amused. Dreary tries to take Simon's mind of events behind her by going to the stage and re-assuring him that he looks good - but Simon is worried that his Dad may not have seen his lantern (and boy does it look big ... oh sorry I seem to have lost the plot). Blanche gets her pound's worth in telling Peter off as he is more or less dragged from the hall.

In the Rovers Carla is giving Leanne an update - apparently Tony had known about her and Liam for two months and he had said nothing because he did not want a row (does that sound like Tony to you?, me neither). Carla claims that Tony has been amazing - which surprises blonde Leanne as she did not have Tony down as the forgiving type. Michelle wants a word with Carla. They go through to the back where Michelle hands Carla a piece of her mind (yes I know I have been watching too many episodes of Heroes - but you know what it is like one soap is simply not enough I have to have the full dose). Anyway Michelle thinks that sleeping with two of her brothers is one too many (go for the lesbian clinch Carla and you get the full set). Carla tries to explain but Michelle is not really listening and now she has had her say enough is enough and she hopes this is the end of the nasty surprises.

Rosie is "negotiating" a deal to sell her story to the local paper, given that it has already appeared on prime time television I am not sure they will pay her very much.

Outside the school we get another scene of the Barlow family love in. Peter is clearly unfit to drive and Ken refuses to hand Simon over. Blanche tells the gawpers to go and look at something more interesting. Ken manages to grab Peter's car keys and although Simon wants to go with his Daddy, Ken and Deirdre take him off.

Molly appears to cook Jack's dinner - which she does and one for herself - but there is nothing for Ty who makes his own sandwiches. Best bit is that Ty is trying to hide behind a book (can he even read?) called "Homes cures for PMT". Why on earth anyone would want a home cure for Potteries Motor Traction (a joke which will only be appreciated by bus enthusiasts) I am not sure. And of course I suspect our American readers have no idea what PMT is - however I think it may be called PMS. Anyway it becomes clear later that the attempt at peace has failed as Molly tells Jack and Ty that she has moved on and is out of the latter's life for good.

Peter is in the Rovers trying to get a drink out of Poppy - the new barmaid. Do we need a new barmaid - I think the Rovers is overstaffed if you ask me - Liz, Steve, Michelle, Becky, Betty, Sean is surely enough? Anyway Poppy stands her ground. Peter calls Liz over and she confirms that they will not serve him - and if he causes a fuzz he will get barred. Peter rolls out of the Rovers.

At the Barlows Ken takes a lot of care setting down a cup of tea for Blanche - holding her hand and making sure she knows where it is. She is crying and he wants to disown Peter - but Blanche is sad for both Peter and Simon.

In the factory Tony is clearing up when Jed comes in and they exchange something other than pleasantries. Tony tells him to scurry back under his stone and Jed starts to depart when he turns and tells Tony that Maria was onto him as well and Jed suggests that he will see Maria and they can compare notes.

Peter arrives at the bookies and tells her what has happened - she suggests that he leaves Simon where he is but Peter is insistent that he is going to recover his son. He arrives at the back door of number one with a bottle in one hand and a teddy bear in the other. Dreary is putting Simon to bed and Peter knows he will want his teddy and he wants to hand it over himself. Ken refuses to let him in the house and he does not take the teddy away from Peter who says he will not hand it over. Ken tells him to go home but Peter cannot be moved. Upstairs Simon starts crying and Blanche comes to the door, Peter tries to push in but Ken shoves him away into the corner of the yard. He shouts up at the window above. Blanche comes over all dizzy (and is clearly distressed - whilst we all love Blanche is the actress finding it all a bit much - I am not sure how much of this was acting, she is often finding it hard to move around). Ken lays into Peter verbally calling him poisonous, a wrecked, damaging everything he touches - he must go away.

Rosie is being Rosie in the Kabin. She thinks she is a celebrity, but then she never thinks small. She thinks she will be in one of the celebrity magazines very soon. Jed arrives and teases Norris about his friendship with Mary. Doris does not believe that Mary will spend time with Jed - but Rita points out that he has approved it!

Peter is now at the Barlows' front door and even more drunk and demanding. Ken threatens him with social services. At the top of their voices they all agree that Simon would be better in his own bed and Deirdre wants to call the police but Peter reckons that the mother of a murderer might not be seen as a suitable carer. Leanne is watching from along the Street and slowly approaches. Simon has said that he does not want to see his father because he shouts too much. Ken tells him to go home and come back tomorrow when he is sober and the will see what can be salvaged. Peter turns on Ken, attacking him physically. Leanne tries to restrain Peter and the argument continues. peter pulls back his fist as though to hit Ken - but does not go through with it after Leanne shouts. He picks up his scotch and says that he wants to get Christmas right - but he failed. Peter tells them that they can all rot in hell and walks away.

K Richard W


Monday 22 December

It's the morning after the night before. Peter hasn't opened up the betting shop and Leanne doesn't have a key. She's banging on the door and ringing his bell to no avail. Phone calls go unanswered. Deirdre comes across the road gunning for him too, after his performance last (Friday) night and angry because when Peter walked away, he had Simon's bear with him and the poor little lad is bereft without his teddy.

The detective rings Maria's doorbell, which catches the eye of a very curious Jed who's picking up the milk from the doorstep. Maria lets her in. She's here to inform Maria that the investigation has turned up no evidence that Tony murdered Liam. Of course, Maria goes off on one. The detective is polite even when Maria shouts at her hysterically, baffled that nobody believes her. Even when she accuses the police of taking a bribe, the detective is professional, leaving Maria sputtering in rage. When the door closes, Maria dashes a tea mug against it.

Over in the cafe, Ken is scurrying around serving folk. Blanche is having a cuppa and Leanne is there as well. Still hasn't found Peter. Ken is worried about Peter, and Blanche is bitter. She figures it would serve Peter right if Social Services took the little boy away. She calls Peter a feckless drunken waste of space and disavows any blood relation.

Finally, Leanne discovers Peter who's unlocking his door. Looks like he's been out all night on a bender and he's very hungover. Leanne quizzes him on where the teddy bear is seeing as he's the last one that had it. Peter just leans against the doorway, in that "oh crap" sort of way.

In the corner shop, Vikki is singing the Polish version of Silent Night, very nicely and her audience, Rita and Norris applaud. However, she and Norris get into a bit of an argument over whether the carol is traditional Polish or English. Norris is very patronizing but Rita correctly points out that it is, in fact, originally German. Emily arrives toting a huge hamper from Harrod's that Norris has won. Why does she keep bringing his prizes over to the Kabin rather than just leave them home for him to see when he gets off work? Because then there would be no scenes for Emily to be in! Anyway, it turns out that although it's a Harrod's hamper that Norris has one, it's filled with Polish Christmas treats! Vikki recognizes everything. Norris offers to sell it to her but Emily is inspired. She invites Vikki for Christmas and says they'll have a Polish feast by way of a change and Vikki, delighted, offers to cook some things as well since she won't be able to afford to fly home for the holidays. Norris is not happy at turfing the traditional sprouts but is somewhat mollified when Mary is invited. Rita thinks Mary would love to come, and points out she's much more adventurous than Norris.

Leanne is pouring coffee down Peter's neck and quizzing him on which bars he went to last night. Peter is upset he's lost the bear and recalls that Simon even took it to hospital when he was visiting his mother. Little by little, some details are coming back to Peter but not enough. Leanne gives him hell and does not accept any of his apologies. Why not do something you don't have to apologize for, she hollers. Peter remembers one or two more pubs that he visited but he really can't recall whether he had the bear then or not. Leanne is going to try to call them.

In Underworld, Vikki is excitedly telling everyone about the Polish feast though worried she won't have time to cook all 12 required courses. Carla arrives and is actually smiling and brings glad tidings. She's heard from the lottery company and breaks the good news. The winners will be getting the lottery money very soon (minus Janice, of course) and she's going to foot the bill for a Christmas party for the staff as well. Everyone's quite pleased at all the good news. Janice is a bit glum but happy for her coworkers who will get the money she tried to scam and again apologizes. In the office, Rosie is making arrangements for her photo shoot for the newspaper. Carla is still in a good mood and Rosie takes advantage and asks to go for an early lunch. Permission granted. Kelly observes all this with a frown.

Leanne is on the phone with a pub describing the bear and wanting to be called if it turns up. Peter is just moaning and feeling sorry for himself. Leanne crosses another pub name off the list. Peter wonders why she's doing all this. She says she's done more than her share of stupid things and likes helping people. She admits, no, she's never broken a child's heart yet. Peter decides he ought to face the music and go see Simon but she tells him to go clean up first. When he heads to the shower, she calls yet another pub.

After the break, we're in Streetcars. Lloyd is unwrapping a meat pie. Steve looks like your pet dog sitting under the dinner table, sniffing the air and cocking his head, with puppy dog eyes, "Gissa bite?" Eileen is making paper chains for decorations (yay! I didn't know anyone still did those!). Lloyd isn't sharing. Steve tries Eileen. "Tell him to give me a bite?" No way. She reckons the pair of them don't need any more pies. Leanne nips in to see if there are any cabs available. She takes the mick out of the lads by inferring they're too lardy to get out of their chair. Lloyd complies by pretending to strain to break free of the chair. Eileen drolly observes "Fat men have to be funny. It's the only way they get the girls". Lloyd gets up and as he does, Eileen steals the pie out of his hand.

Rosie is slipping out of her house with a bag of clothes and makeup. She checks the coast is clear and gets into the cab, asking to be taken to the Weatherfield Gazette. Not far away, Jed is lurking outside the factory when Tony comes out. They exchange a few cryptic words and when Carla comes out, Tony urges Jed to wrap up warm. Don't want to catch a chill! He gets into the car with his new wife, leaving Jed watching with a calculating look on his face.

Peter comes out of the shower, lovely tattoos on display. There's a little brown teddy bear sat on the table sporting a note "Gone to work. Go see Simon. Leanne". That's where she was off to in the cab earlier. Peter picks up the obviously well loved bear and sighs with relief.

Back in the cab office, Lloyd is insisting he's only a little over his "fighting weight" of about 11 stone. Eileen has a good step on scale there and it turns out Lloyd is 12 st. 8. Steve hops on, figuring he's in better shape but he weighs 13 st. even. He figures that's still better because he's taller than Lloyd. The two men start bragging about how easy it would be for either of them to lose weight and this escalates into a contest. Whoever loses the most weight by Valentine's Day, wins. The slimming duel is on! The prize is a year's supply of pork pies. Nice. Lose weight, reward with food. Mixed messages, anyone?

Peter walks towards Number 1 though hesitates at the door of the pub. He resists the urge and knocks on the intended door. Deirdre opens the door. He starts apologizing and asks to see Simon. She shakes her head in disgust but lets him in.

Over in the pub, Norris says Mary will be able to come for Christmas dinner as her mother has made other plans. He's quite pleased and thinks maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all... until Emily says Jed has accepted the invitation as well which puts a knot back into Norris' face. (well he's staying there, why wouldn't he be invited? A point that seems to have passed Norris by completely). At the bar, Lloyd has bought a packet of crisps out of habit and then gives them back to Liz again. She's already heard of the contest and reckons all Lloyd needs to do is get some exercise. She invites her to her Brazilian Crunch exercise class (a combination of Salsa dancing and aerobics, high energy low impact apparently). He's not that keen but when he thinks she'll get Steve to go instead, the prospect of Steve getting the jump on him, quite literally as well as figuratively, he says he'll go but it's to be a secret. He doesn't want people to know, Steve especially, that he's going to a women's exercise class. She laughs but says she won't tell.

Peter is at the table with Blanche and the bear. Ken brings Simon in and the little lad is equally excited to see both his dad and Teddy. More apologies. Ken says that Simon wants to recreate his part in the play for Peter so they set it up. He goes behind the door as the Innkeeper, while Ken and Deirdre play Joseph and Mary. Peter jokes that Blanche can be the donkey but she takes the opportunity to get in another dig at his drunkenness. KDeirdre swiftly gets the subject back to the one at hand. The lad brightly says his lines, including the classic "There's no room at the inn" after "Joseph" knocks on the door and pleads for a room". (I'm telling you that little actor is a real find!) The performance is duly applauded and Simon returns to the room for a bow. Peter is moved and praises his boy but is overwhelmed and teary eyed and pops out the back yard for a smoke. Ken watches and seems to know what's going on in his son's head.

In the pub, Kelly is griping about Rosie. She figures she could do Rosie's job but when Fiz points out she can't add up and can't come up with the answer to 8x7, reckons that's what calculators are for. Molly comes into the pub to find Tyrone. She's laying down the new rules. She's moving back in but insists they aren't getting back together and he's sleeping on the sofa. This isn't to affect Jack either, and don't get any ideas. Tyrone just nods and goes along with it all. After she leaves, though, Liz asks Tyrone if he really does have "ideas". Yep. He is.

Peter lights up a smoke in the back and Ken comes out. Peter is so ashamed and can't understand how Simon just forgives him and acts like nothing happened. He loves you, Ken says, "He doesn't know you well enough not to. You're all he's got". He's not being nasty, he's just stating facts. Peter seems ready to give up, he's really finding it hard to cope. He can't get it right and feels like he's drowning. Ken points out nobody said it would be easy. Peter might not deserve the son he's got but Simon deserves a dad and Ken reckons Simon needs Peter and Peter needs Simon just as much. Peter breaks down and his father holds him close. (*gulp*)

On the street, Jed looks to see if anyone notices and then knocks on Maria's door. They need to have a chat about a murderer, he tells her.

And with that, we must wait for part two.

Can I just say that the return of Peter Barlow has been blowing me away. They really having examined the effects of alcohol on your job and family like they are doing this time around and the performances are just (to me, anyway) stunning. They're finally really getting into the roots of Ken and Peter's relationship too, which has been a long time coming.

Tvor

Martin (standing in for Stella) dons a wig of long flowing blonde hair, a short skirt and a push-up bra, (cough, cough) "Hello folks, I am Stella and here is tonight's part two update !!"

Starting off tonight with Peter and Ken in the backyard. Peter is wiping away his tears. Ken tries to comfort him and says that he knows how he feels. He says that he was terrified when Peter's mother died and didn't think that he was going to cope. Peter replies that he had never mentioned this before, but Ken tells him that there are a lot of things that he has never talked about.

Jed turns up at Maria's house. He knocks on the door (obviously no doorbell). He invites himself in and says that he wants to talk about a murderer. He asks for a drink to start with. Jed tells her that he thinks she is right in her assumption that Tony killed her husband. He tells her of the time that Tony wanted to evict him from his house. He says he was shoved around, and eventually he had a stroke. He goes on to say that he believes he knows who Tony arranged to actually kill her husband. It was the same thug that came and evicted him. At this point there is a knock at the door. This time it is Audrey with some fruit that she has just picked up. Jed leaves and says that they will talk again.

Peter tells Ken and Deirdre that after Christmas he will go and see Simon's teacher to apologise for his behaviour. He wants to be a proper father to his son. He tells Simon when they get back home, he will help him to write some last minute requests to Santa. Ken and Deirdre offer to look after Simon over the Christmas period, to help Peter sort himself out. Deirdre assures him that he will be able to come and go and visit Simon as often as he likes. Peter says he is going to change. Blanche bets him £10 that he can't keep off alcohol during the Christmas period. Peter suggested making it £20. They agreed and Blanche gives him an early Christmas present - a breathalyser (so thoughtful is Our Blanche !).

Back over at Maria's house, she tells Audrey about how Tony caused Jed to have a stroke. She thinks he is therefore being vindictive against him, and he is just out for revenge in anyway he can think of. He is looking for someone to blame she tells Maria.

Michelle tells Steve that JD had contacted her and wants her to do a gig on Christmas Eve. Steve is initially reluctant, but in an instant, puts two and two together, realising the advantage and says it is okay for her to go.

Becky is chatting to Lloyd. She tells him how lonely she is gong to be over Christmas, all on her own with a turkey for one !

Rosie gets out of the taxi and bumps into Gary Windass who tells her that he is dazzled by her beauty. Flattered she invited him to him to her 18th birthday party on Christmas Eve.

In Audrey's salon, Natasha suggests to Audrey that they remain open late on 3 or 4 nights a week and call it 'Natasha at Audrey's. She would do all the work, but Audrey would get money for the use of her premises. Audrey is preoccupied worrying about Maria, but she agrees to give it a trial.

Jed is lurking around and sees Tony coming home. He tells him that he and Maria are going to start a public awareness campaign to alert the public that he is a murdering swine. (He has obviously been reading "How to win friends, and influence people" !!). Tony then gets into a waiting car. Inside is Jimmy (the thug that evicted Jed and killed Liam). Jimmy wanted to know why Tony had summoned him. He says it was to give him an update. Tony tells him that Maria went to the police, but he had convinced them that she was 'losing it'. Jimmy says he is isn't interested unless the police were interested in him. Suddenly a torch shone through the windscreen. Jimmy recognizes him as the guy they evicted recently. Tony said it wasn't a problem, but Jimmy was worried that they had been seen together, and tells Tony to get out of the car and not to contact him again, and then speeds off.

Over in the Rovers, Michelle invites Carla and Tony to join them on Christmas Day. Carla wonders if it would be too much for Michelle, but she says it would be okay. Carla asks if she should bring a bottle of bubbly, but Michelle assures her as a pub they have no need for any drinks!

Sitting over in a corner is Eileen, her father and Rita. Eileen's father compares Rita to Audrey Hepburn. Eileen is feeling decidedly unwell at the thought of her father chatting up Rita.

Liz suggests to Lloyd that they both go to a fitness class together to help him loose weight. He is a bit reluctant, because he thinks the other women there would laugh at him. However, when Liz suggest she takes Steve instead, Lloyd says he will come.

Peter meets up with Leanne and he thanks her for finding Simon's teddy bear. She says she is pleased to be of help. She tells him that when she was six she left her bunny (wabbit) on a bus. She asks Peter if everything was alright with Ken and Deirdre. Peter confirms that it was and that they would be looking after Simon over Christmas.

Jed wanders over to Tony, in the bar, saying that they didn't finish their conversation. Tony says he isn't interested, but Jed offers to tell everyone in the pub how bad his friend's driving is. Tony realises he must stop the situation and offers to meet Jed at the back of the pub in an hour.

Norris comes into the pub, and Jed offers to buy him a drink, much to Norris's surprise. He wants to call him "Nozza", but Norris doesn't like that. Jed asks Norris where his lady friend was. Norris confirms that she is a lady and she is a friend. He tells Jed that she looking after to her invalid mum. Jed tells Norris that he thinks Mary thinks that Norris is just a "sugar daddy". Norris thinks he is more akin to being a Renaissance Man, someone who has excelled themselves in many fields, to which Jed responds by saying that he runs a newsagents, enters competitions and spies on neighbours.

Peter is alone in his flat, and is about to pour himself a drink. He picks up the bottle, and thinks for a moment and then pours the contents down the sink.

Liz and Lloyd come out of the exercise class. Lloyd is almost doubled up in pain. He says he is aching all over. He even refuses Liz's offer of a drink. He says he wants to go home to die !

Eileen's Dad invites himself round to his daughter's for Christmas dinner, much to Eileen's annoyance. When she leaves, he asks Norris what he can buy her as a gift. Norris suggests some perfume (pity his shop doesn't sell it !). Eileen's father thinks it would have to be very up-market, something similar to what Rita would wear. Rita then told him her favourite perfumes. (We can all see where this is leading !).

In an alleyway, Jed is lurking in the shadows and waits for Tony to come by. Jed calls out for Mr Gordon. When he approaches him, Tony asks whether Jed is still pursuing a vendetta against him. Jed says that he has his number "666". It is the number that he called for an ambulance, upside down. (999 is the emergency number in the UK). Tony recognizes that the number is the sign of the devil. Jed tells him he is not frightened. He says that he and Maria believe that he paid the thug to kill Liam. Tony tells him he is a fool and nobody will believe him. However as it is Christmas, and the season of goodwill, he pushed some money into his hand. As Tony walks away, Jed calls after him suggesting that he is admitting his guilt. He warns Tony that it will take more for him to keep his mouth shut.

That is it. I'll put the wig etc away. Tvor will be covering this slot next week, while Stella enjoys a couple of weeks in Scotland. I go back under a bush only to resurface when called !

As I am writing this report the news shows extremely bad weather conditions in Canada, particularly in Nova Scotia. I remember when I was over in Halifax a few years ago, they were just recovering from a big storm which pulled down a number of trees in the parks and the roadways. Obviously there are extremes of weather there.

Hopefully you all had a great Christmas, and hope all your wishes come true for 2009.

Martin Rosen


Wednesday 24 December

Carla tells the factory girls to drop their knickers, it's Christmas! They rush off to get ready for their party and she tells them to be back there for half past six. She turns to Rosie and tells her that if her do gets a bit boring she can always come back to theirs. Tony tells Carla he won't be nipping home to get changed, he'll stay and get things ready - he's got a bit of wrapping to do.

Emily and Norris are chatting when Jed arrives, carrying two carrier bags, saying he brings gifts and glad tidings. He goes on to say he's about to come into some money and will soon be out of their hair.

Kevin and Sally are about to go out, leaving Rosie and Sophie getting ready for their own celebration, a party in honour of Rosie's 18th birthday. Sally tells her eldest daughter they'll be back by twelve and she wants the place emptied, cleaned and tidied so they can sit down and raise a glass to see Christmas in and celebrate her birthday.

Jed comes up behind Tony in the factory. Tony turns and tells him he's now getting on his wick and isn't impressed by his drunken attempt at blackmail. "My, my," says Jed, "you're not as stupid as you look."

In the Rovers, Rosie tells Becky that being 18 doesn't feel any different. Just then Gary Windass comes in and Rosie asks him if he's looked at her My Space page on the internet yet. He tells her he doesn't even know what a My Space page is, he can't be doing with computers. She asks if he's going to come to her party but he says a house full of drunken teenagers isn't really his scene. Rosie pouts a little and flutters her eyelashes flirtatiously. "You know, I'll be there," she purrs, shrugging one shoulder. He looks at her for a moment. "Bring my knife and fork shall I?" he asks. "Don't forget your napkin," she murmurs.

Michelle bids farewell to Steve as she goes off with JD to the gig, watched by Becky who's pretending to be busy behind the bar. As Michelle disappears Becky asks Steve if he'd be jealous if Michelle gave JD a little peck under the mistletoe. He assures her that he wouldn't be, not one iota, all he wants to do is to get her under there. "Publicly?" asks Becky. "I can't wait," says Steve. Becky's not so sure. "By the looks of things, you can," she says.

Jed is still in the factory talking to Tony, who tells him that if he'd co-operated his eviction might have gone more smoothly. Jed mentions the man who came round to his house, the same man that he saw Tony with just the other day. "Jimmy had nothing to do with this," says Tony, sharply. Jed is delighted, now he's got a name and a face. "That pretty little girl who everyone thinks is mad, she's not really mad, is she?" he says, "Because she knows you got someone to kill her husband, and I know who that someone is." Tony reckons that if Jed's theory had any merit he'd be down the station, but Jed says he doesn't want to see him charged, he doesn't want to see justice, he wants to be fed and housed and to have security. "You took my home away, I want some real justice, you stole my self respect." Tony tells him he'll get nothing more from him, so Jed threatens to go to the police, he's not going to get away with it. At that, Tony lunges at Jed and grabs him round the neck from behind and after a short struggle Jed goes quiet and his arm flops limply at his side.

In the Rovers, Gail is having a drink with Kevin and Sally when Joe turns up saying he got stuck in a lift.

Back at the factory, Jed lies lifeless on the floor while a breathless Tony walks off.

David, Tina and Graeme have arrived on Rosie's doorstep but she tells them the party is cancelled, a houseful of drunken teenagers is not really her scene.

Kelly meets up with Sean in the Street, they're off to the Underworld party, but inside the factory Tony hauls Jed's limp body across the floor and into a hamper. They all meet up with the others and walk into the factory just as Tony puts a lid on the hamper, covers it with a tablecloth, and arranges bottles of champagne and glasses on the top. They are all delighted at the scene that meets their eyes and give him three cheers.

Gail invites Kevin and Sally round for a drink to celebrate David's birthday on Christmas day and is overheard by Anna Windass. "What's this?" she asks. Kevin and Joe try to brush it off as nothing but Gail obviously feels obliged to repeat the invitation. Anna is delighted.

Over at another table, Eileen's dad is talking to Rita. He asks if she likes the company of Norris and Emily and she replies that company is company. When she goes off to the ladies he pulls out a gift bag with Eileen's name on it and takes the tag off.

Over at Underworld the party is in full swing. Wiki is nostalgic about her childhood in Poland and Carla is in the mood for dancing.

Joe and Kevin are outside at the back of the Rovers, having a cigar. Kevin asks if he's ok and Joe confesses that he's been evicted - his flat has been repossessed. Kevin tells him to tell Gail, she's a good sort and would put him up but Joe tells him not to say anything to anybody.

Back at the party someone suggests playing Hide and Seek, but of course Tony doesn't want anybody stumbling across Jed in the hamper, so he offers to pay for everyone to go on into town and continue partying there. They're all delighted so off they go. Sally says she's going to the Rovers to collect Kevin and then they're going home to the girls, and Carla asks Tony if he fancies going to the Rovers for a nightcap. He tells her to go on ahead, he's going to tidy up a bit. When everyone has gone he makes a phone call to Jimmy telling him he needs him right away, but Jimmy says something about a carol service and hangs up. Just then Carla comes back with her coat on and tells him to leave the clearing up. Then she tells him that no-one believe Maria, and she hugs him.

Michelle has come back to the Rovers with JD and is singing along to Kirsty Mcoll's Fairy Tale of New York.

Anna Windass asks Sally if she's seen the racy photos Rosie has put of herself on the internet. From Sally's expression it would seem that she hasn't.

Eileen's dad has given Rita the gift (it seems to be perfume) and asks what she'd say if he invited her out for Christmas dinner at a restaurant he knows. She says she thought he was spending Christmas with Eileen, but he tells her not to worry about that, so she accepts.

Kevin and Sally arrive home wondering why there seems to have been no party, and Sophie tells them that Rosie cancelled it. They call her down and she comes, giggling drunkenly, followed by Gary Windass. They're horrified!

Back at the Rovers, Emily is reciting The Night Before Christmas to a hushed crowd. Michelle asks JD why he didn't get off with a girl who threw herself at him, but he tells her he likes someone else but she's spoken for. Becky turns to Steve. "Next year then, eh?" she murmurs. "Definitely next year," says Steve, adding quietly, "definitely next week!"

As the credits roll the camera takes us to the factory where the hamper sits, still and silent.

Anne Logan


Thursday 25 December

Well, I hope you all had yourselves a merry little Christmas. Over at Coronation Street they took a traditional approach to the festive season. Yes, lots of fighting!

We open in the middle of the night in Gail's kitchen, where Joe is busy measuring the splash-back and cutting tiles. Oh, and his finger! He sucks the blood and wipes it from the tiles in a fed-up sort of way.

Tony has given Carla a dark green negligee for Christmas. She's not getting to test-drive it, though, because Tony's going out. He says one of his properties has been broken into.

The noise of Joe vacuuming the kitchen has woken David and Tina. Though David appears to have had his birthday present already! Gail comes downstairs and is amazed not only that Joe has finished the tiles, but that they're tumbled marble. Joe says they're not expensive if you're in the trade. And when he gives Gail an expensive watch, Tina looks like thunder. Eventually Gail gets round to giving David a birthday hug. Joe says that now he's 18, David will be able to vote and to serve on a jury. Though David points out that with his record he's not allowed on a jury. But he says he can legally get ratted, get a tattoo, go into both kinds of porn/pawn shops, gamble.

Rosie might also be 18, but she's still a spoilt child. She's moaning because she's not getting her own way and her parents don't want Gary Windass in the house. Sally says Rosie should not be hanging around with that sort of boy. Rosie tells them she's grown up now so her parents should just concentrate on making Sophie's life a misery. Kevin suggests he might sort out Gary Windass on his own. "Gary's younger, fitter and boxes, so unless you want to have your turkey through a straw, keep well clear," warns Rosie.

Preparations are going ahead at the cafe for the charity Christmas dinner. Roy's deconstructing the words of Do They Know It's Christmas and a large turkey at the same time. Hayley points out that it doesn't matter if the lyrics are accurate - Feed the World is the message of the song. She also criticises the way he's carving the turkey meat very thinly. Becky tells Hayley quietly not to be too hard on him. "While you were mooning over Lake Mugabe, ("Malawi" corrects Hayley) he were mooning round waiting for the phone, just desperate to hear your voice. You're spending Christmas with a bloke who loves the bones of you. You don't know how lucky you are, Hails." Hailey gives Roy an unexpected kiss and Becky smiles.

In the pub, it's present-opening time. Amy reckons she saw Santa this morning. He was tall and fat with a bit red coat. Michelle and Liz go into hysterics of laughter as Ryan points out that Steve was wearing his red dressing gown with the hood up this morning. The phone goes and Michelle goes to answer it. Steve gets a text but tells Liz it's from Lloyd. Michelle wants Steve to talk to her parents on the phone.

As Joe sprinkles hundreds and thousands on to a trifle, Tina has a go at him about another sort of hundreds and thousands - the sort that paid for Gail's tiles and the watch. "She liked them. That's all that counts," he says. Tina tries to tell him that Gail thinks the world of him and would have liked whatever he gave her, but Joe asks her not to spoil Christmas.

Norris has been examining Wiki's Polish groceries, but scuttles back to his chair as Emily comes in and tells him Jed's bed hasn't been slept in. Norris thinks Jed will have got drunk.

The camera focuses on the large bin in the factory as Tony comes in. He pulls off the tablecloth and starts to drag the heavy bin, only to hear groans coming from inside it. He takes off the lid and, yes, Jed is still alive.

When we return, Jed sits tied to a chair as Tony puts his Santa hat back on and spins the chair. Jed's mouth is taped. Tony talks to him about his options. He says he didn't mean to kill him, but Jed pushed him too far. He says he feels like Scrooge on Christmas morning, getting a second chance. "I'm not a cold-blooded murderer - well, not yet, anyway. . ."

Wiki tells Norris about the Polish Christmas dinner. They'll be having beetroot soup first. Norris is horrified. You can't eat beetroot in a soup. He wants to open a nice tin of cock-a-leekie. He doesn't like the sound of the dish that translates as "little ears," either. Emily suggests they get out of Wiki's way. Norris doesn't want to get to church too early because it's cold there. But he doesn't want to be too late, either. Last year he spent the whole service pressed up against the font. He had scenes from the life on St Chad impressed on his backside for days! "You could have done a rubbing," he says, to the obvious horror of Wiki. Emily bustles him out of the room.

Tony tells Jed there are three says this could go. He could finish him off and get rid of the problem. Though Jed points out he'd have to look him in the eye, and get rid of the body. Tony then says he could move Jed into one of his vacant properties. He could live there rent free and with a few thousand to get set up. But he'd have to forget about everything.

Carla arrives at the pub and tells Michelle Tony's gone out. Michelle says Steve is lying low. They'd agreed not to get each other presents, but she did because she thought he would. He hadn't, and she thinks he's now hunting down a gift.

Steve, meanwhile, rather smug at making his escape, is in the ginnel, talking to Becky about meeting at the cab office later on.

Lunch is in full swing at the cafe. Roy's panicking at how many homeless people have come along. Becky's busy trying to stop them nicking the cutlery.

Jed asks what the third option is. It's Jed taking up the offer but then betraying Tony. But Tony says that in that case, he'll tell the police Jed tried to blackmail him. He searches Jed's pockets and finds his house keys. He plans to fetch Jed's belongings so Emily doesn't get suspicious when he doesn't return. Jed thinks he should go and get them because Emily will be suspicious if Tony goes. But Tony knows that Emily and Norris will be out at church. He tapes Jed's mouth and wheels him into a side room.

Steve's back at the pub but plans to go out again because his father has called. Jim wants to meet him for a Christmas drink, so he does. At least, so Steve says. Liz and Michelle protest but Steve points out he hasn't seen his dad for a year. He says he has to take over from Lloyd, anyway. Michelle says she understands and asks him not to come back too late.

In Emily's house, Tony is almost at the foot of the stairs with some plastic bags containing all Tony's worldly goods. He hears a key in the door and just manages to zip upstairs and out of sight again before Wiki comes back into the house. She takes off her coat and starts busily working at the table in the front room, with the door open. Tony looks at his watch and sighs.

The End of the first half
Diane will be along later with the second half.
Margaret Carr

After the mid-episode break, we're transferred to the taxi office. Steve is leading Becky in with his hands over her eyes to prepare her for the surprise. He's got blue flashing lights up, Santa faces hanging, there's wine and glasses and music and she's just blown away. You know nobody's ever done anything nice like that for her before. She grabs the mistletoe off the little cut out window and they share a tender kiss. He promises that he wants to spend every Christmas forever with her. Wow, is her response. "I guess he really does mean this" is in her eyes and it takes her aback for a minute as he hugs her. Right. Wine. She figures they don't have much time but he tells her he's lied through his teeth and they have a couple of hours. Who needs mistletoe! She jumps into his arms and wraps herself around him and they get down to business.

Fiz is in the kitchen and Maria is playing with the balls on the snooker table. Maria gets the placemats and napkins out to help set the table. Fiz offers to accompany her later to the cemetery as Maria had planned on going on her own. The offer is accepted. Maria discovered a Christmas card in the sideboard. Fiz admits it's from John and she'd just stashed it away when it arrived. Maria realizes it may just mean more to Fiz than she's letting on even though she says he'll be spending a long time in prison and that's an end of it. Her face tells a different story, full of regrets and perhaps a little lingering feeling?

Through all this, we're sitting here wondering if Tony is going to manage to get out of Dodge, er... Emily's house after clearing up Jed's stuff out of the upstairs bedroom (but Emily's only got two bedrooms. I can't imagine Norris is happy sharing with Jed. I'm sure I remember her offering her the front sitting room as a temporary guest room). He quietly makes his way back down the stairs and we can near Norris in the other room. Damn! There's a knock on the door so the rat scurries back up stairs. It's like a Panto, isn't it? Norris answers the door and it's Mary on the other side, a tad early. They stand in the doorway chatting for a few minutes until Emily urges them inside. After another few frustrating seconds where Mary presents Emily with a gift bag containing sherry and Norris takes her coat, they finally go into the other room and Tony can finally make his way out unnoticed.

Over at the Platt house, crackers are cracked and paper crowns are donned, at least on MacIntyre heads. Joe decides to make a speech and after some ribbing, he does, and it's very nice, full of gratitude and thanks to his new little family. Just as he's proposing the final toast, the back door bursts open and Anna and Eddie come bopping through the door in full party mode, much to the astonishment of all. Seems when they were told "afternoonish", they took that to mean the crack of noon, not after lunch as Gail had intended but they aren't about to leave. They offer to make themselves comfy in the living room and graze on the finger foods they've brought (thinking it was a buffet, or pot luck as we call it here in Canada) while the rest finish their dinner but Gail, ever polite, invites them to table to Joe's horror. Anna roughly hugs Gail, applauding the Christmas spirit (and invitation which was issued, much as the Windasses had intended) and they all get stuck in again. Anna heads for the table and Eddie heads for the television. Gary isn't with them as he'd gone to his Gran's but will be there later.

Tony has Jed in the back of a van and he tosses the binbags in with him. He untapes Jed's mouth and asks what he's decided to do. Jed has agreed to the new flat and silence. Tony isn't so sure and threatens him and says he won't be so squeamish this time. Jed sputters that he's got nothing to gain by going to the cops and it's not his style anyway. Tony offers him a studio flat in Wigan and 3 grand. Jed won't haggle over the amount but whines that he doesn't know anyone in Wigan. Too bad, Tony doesn't want him around, with the possibility of anything slipping out when Jed is in the drink. Tony won't let him say his goodbyes to Emily, not now, not looking the way he does (pretty rough, it has to be said, and with throttle marks around his neck and voice all raspy. Probably best, really.) Jed asks "How do I know you're not going to take me to a quiet place and do me in anyway") Tony leans in quietly. "You don't. You're just going to have to trust me!" Yes, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, too! He retapes Jed's mouth and shuts the van door and that's the last we see of Jed Stone. Is he alive? I think probably yes. If Tony really had wanted him dead, he'd have smothered him or something when he discovered Jed still alive and groggy that morning. He's a loose thread but also an old man and Jed knows Tony won't hesitate to kill him.

In the pub, Michelle still can't get hold of Steve. Carla says she's not been able to get hold of Tony either. Michelle is going to head to the cab office, Carla teases Liz about the "Love for One" cd from Vernon and heads to the kitchen to check the veg for Michelle. The phone rings and when Liz answers it, it seems clear that it's Jim on the other end, drunk and looking for Steve. Hang on, Steve just spent the morning with you didn't he? No? Well where is he then, Liz wonders. Where he is, is in the cab office trying on new faux suede slippers that Becky's given him. They are tiddly with wine and giddy with after-glow (you didn't think they were having a singalong to the radio, did you? After all, Becky's hair is now down over her shoulders and all tangly!) Steve presents her with a gift and it's a plaid blanket. He says it's an "emergency night in" blanket and it's wrapped around crisps, a tin of cider, a face mask (One of those mud packs or something) which throws her. *That* she's not as keen on so he offers to spend more money. That doesn't bother her either, she doesn't care about the cost. She hops on his lap and covers them both with the blanket but just then, someone pounds on the door and they hear Michelle's voice hollering for Steve. "I know you're in there!"

After the break, Becky's hid behind the chair and Steve has let Michelle in. He says he had locked the door because of the excess of vagrants wandering around outside by the cafe and the decos and wine glasses were Lloyd's. He's pulled and they're upstairs in the flat now. He tries to stall coming home for dinner but it's no use, he leaves and Becky is not caught.

In Emily's Vikki is telling stories. Nobody seems to get her jokes unfortunately. Her dessert is complimented. "Needs more alcohol" she mumbles "I know how it feels!" She's got just the ticket and it's a very strong Polish liqueur. It'll put "hairs on your dog" she says. Norris corrects her. "Hairs on your chest, hair *of* the dog" Emily goes to get the tiny sherry glasses which are pronounced perfect. At 45% proof, you don't want pint pots. Oh my! And Mary knows all about the liqueur. She spouts off all the bits of history and trivia she knows about it, to Norris' astonishment. As she witters on about all the regional specialities, the others get ready to down their shots and Vikki stands up to make a Polish toast in order to cut Mary's stream of consciousness off. It translates to "Eat, Drink, and loosen your belt" Cheers everyone! *Cough* *Sputter* Vikki is all smiles, Norris and Emily are huffing and puffing but Mary seems to be analysing the taste unless she's just paralysed! Vikki smiles cheerfully and offers "Another?"

At the Platts', Eddie is dozing in a chair. The Websters have arrived for the party and are taken aback to see the Windasses. Rosie's first words are "MerryChristmasIsGaryHere?" this is the first David's heard that Gary will indeed be here later and he's not happy and neither is Kevin. Sally warns him to behave and Gail warns DAvid to grin and bear it rather than ruin another Christmas. Joe has a whinge too but Gail's taking it all in stride at the moment. Joe necks another glass of wine. You can see where this is headed, can't you? David and Joe hate the intruders and adding booze to the mix is going to make for a potential explosion.

At the cemetery, Maria has a little black stuffed dog for the grave for Paul, a reminder of Ozzy. There are fresh flowers already there but when Maria realizes they're from Tony and Carla she loses the plot. She tears the flowers up and starts screaming hysterically. She thought the cemetery might be the one place she could get some peace and Tony's ruined that too. Fiz tries to calm her down but she's not having it. Even her best friend doesn't believe that Tony could have had Liam killed.

Back at Gail's, things are rubbing along fairly well. Kevin assures Joe he's not said anything to Sally about Joe's predicament and Joe admits he's not said anything to Gail yet. The doorbell rings and Gary is let in. Rosie hops up to flash her cleavage at him and gush over him but he doesn't really seem to care. He treats her like he's never even met her before but allows her to get him a beer anyway. It's a major brush off and she doesn't have a clue. Things are starting to go downhill. Kevin glares, and Anna realizes the temperature in the air has just plummeted. Eddie is instructed to go get the pressies they've got for the Platts.

Meanwhile, Gary has wedged himself on the end of the sofa by Tina and has started his lame chat up lines with David on the other side. Uh oh. Rosie brings the beer but he cooly sends her back again to find a cold one. Tina is derogatory about it, implying Rosie's his little lap dog but Gary insists he's free and single and, staring at Tina, admits he's got his eye on someone. David's shooting daggers in his 10 yard glare.

Tony is cleaning up any lingering evidence out of the van and spots the Santa hat so picks that up.

Kevin is moaning to Sally. Anna thanks the Platts and hands over gifts to Joe and Gail. Joe unwraps his to discover a tool belt. Apparently the Windasses didn't see the irony but Joe takes great offence at a gift of a toolbelt from someone that had stolen his tools and put a big dent in his livelihood. Gail smooths things over and asks David to put some music on. Gary is about to light up a fag but David orders him outside. No smoking in here. With another pointed remark to Tina he heads to the back door. Tina really is just ignoring him but David is getting more and more wound up. He jumps up to go after Gary and Rosie moves in to warn Tina off Gary. In the kitchen, David confronts Gary and tells him to leave Tina alone and Gary warns David to back off. Gary might be tougher but David has pure fury on his side. Gary brags that he knows Tina wants him and in the background we can hear Tina and Rosie arguing. It's not long before the fists are flying in the kitchen and hair is being pulled in the living room between the girls. I think I'd back Tina in that fight. Kevin breaks up the girls,

Joe pulls Gary off David and throws everyone out. He's screaming and shouting. Gail is cringing. Anna is screaming and saying it's only the ale. Joe hollers at them that he only wanted a nice day with his family, one day away from it all and the Windasses have turned it into a free for all. He shouts that nobody wanted them here, nobody likes them and tells them to sling their hook. NOW! He starts throwing food at them until they scurry out the front door. The Websters take their leave as well, a bemused Sophie thanking them all for the buffet. Tina and David are looking shocked at Joe's temper. Joe goes out to the backyard where it's softly snowing and Gail follows him. He paces and cries that he knew "they" would ruin things. Gail points out that he was the one that went over the top. He was out of control and it scares her. It's a side she's not seen before and she doesn't like it. He realizes he's scared her and he gets upset, basically saying you just can't always have what you want. She knows there's more to his melt down than meets the eye but he won't talk about it. He apologizes, walks back in the house and straight through to the front door, apologizes again and leaves. Another Platt Christmas ruined.

Outside he walks down the street as Tony gets out of his car and crosses to the Rovers door. Maria comes round the corner just then and spots him. She marches up to him and wallops him. It's not just a slap either. He warns her never to do that again. She confronts him about the flowers but he says it was probably Carla. She warns both of them away from the cemetery. She wants him to pay for what he's done. Tony, having had a very bad day already, has reached the end of his tether. She's not afraid of him but he leans in, in that way he has, and hisses "If you think I'm a killer, you should be" and warns Maria that there's room in the cemetery for all three of her little family. "Merry Christmas, by the way" he smirks and goes inside, leaving Maria on the pavement, blood running cold with the realization that he's again admitted what he's done and has threatened her with the same and she's standing there alone. Very alone.

Tvor


Friday 26 December

After the Boxing Day episodes, I expect Maria to land a role as the first Mrs Rochester any day now.

The first episode begins with Maria freaking out and smashing Ozzie's dog bowl, dropping it when she hears a knock at the door. She's almost too frightened to see who it is, but Fiz shouts through the letterbox that it's her. Maria lets her in and assures her that everything's all right.

Tony sits on the sofa in his flat and stares at his own wedding pictures (clearly the wedding photographers in Weatherfield are VERY fast!). Carla wants to go out but Tony is reluctant.

Steve meets Becky in the street. She says she can't go into the Kabin if he's there. "That Rita, she can smell sexual chemistry from 40 yards. Is it true she were a stripper?" Steve says she wasn't. They split up as Michelle and Liz come out of the pub. They pass Norris and Emily, who are just leaving the house. Emily tells off Norris for slamming the front door, but he is not apologetic. "I've only your word for it that Jed's back." Emily assures him that she left Jed's door open and now it's closed, so he must be in there sleeping. Norris isn't impressed if Jed's behaving like an errant student. Michelle and Liz greet Steve outside the Kabin. Michelle goes inside and Liz stops for a work with Steve about his day out with his dad. She let's him know that Jim rang and Steve hastily says Jim was knocked off the list by the need to buy Michelle a present. "So what did you get her?" Liz asks. "How do you two make me feel so oppressed?" Steve replies.

Fiz helps Maria clear up the broken crockery. Maria asks Fiz to come with her to the police station. "He's evil, Fiz." Fiz points out that she can't go marching into the police station saying that Tony seems normal to her so he's probably dangerous. Maria cuts herself but refuses Fiz's help. If Fiz isn't going to support her, she'd rather be on her own.

In the corner shop, Liz discusses Steve with Amber, Molly and Lloyd. They talk about his weight-loss challenge and Liz tells Lloyd there's a Boxing Day burn-off Brazilian Crunch session on today. "I can't see Lloyd in Lycra," points out Molly.

Maria watches from an upstairs window as Audrey and Gail discuss Joe and the disastrous Christmas Day. Audrey says it means that Gail's seen Joe's true colours now. This annoys Gail.

Fiz comes rushing over to see Audrey to tell her about Maria's claim that Tony threatened her.

Joe's arrived. "I feel . . ." he starts. "Thirsty?" asks Gail, smiling.

Audrey sees Maria and shouts to her that she's coming over.

In the new kitchen, Gail is being gentle with Joe, who feels very foolish after yesterday. But she tells him that up until now he's been the only one in the whole kitchen nonsense who hasn't smashed anything. But now she's worried in case it's not a one-off. Joe promises he's not a liar and he's not a kick-off merchant. They hug.

Maria, upset, tells Audrey that if she were stronger she'd stand up to Tony and tell him she won't be intimidated. Audrey begins to say "Whatever Tony's said . . ." and Maria screeches that Tony said he'd kill her. "Why will nobody listen to me?" Audrey assures her that everyone is listening to her. They all want her back in the world, working in the salon, sleeping in her own bed instead of on the sofa and eating properly."

Lloyd's on the phone trying to tell Steve he's miles away and can't do a job, but Steve's behind him! Steve tries to persuade him to work because they're short of drivers. Lloyd points out that he's driving later. They're interrupted by Michelle who wants to know who the mystery woman is. She knows Steve and Lloyd wouldn't be on a health kick unless there's a woman involved and asks Lloyd who the winter wonderland set-up in the office was for. Diplomatically, Lloyd tells her that the mystery woman was not interested in him. Then he grumpily tells Steve that he's borrowing a car to go to the gym. He stomps off. "How could she not fall for him when he'd gone to all that trouble?" Michelle asks. "Bet she's a right cow, whoever she is."

Maria marches out of her house, ignoring Dev, who tries to say Hello, and straight across to the factory. She has an envelope marked for Tony, but can't get it through the letter box. "Are you OK?" calls Dev. Maria's distressed. "What's wrong with it? What's he done to it? It won't go through!" she cries. She starts to shake the doors violently as Dev hurries over, but he's too late. The burglar alarm starts up, really panicking Maria, who grabs Dev. "Make it stop!" she cries. Distraught she asks for his help. "You don't understand. Tony will kill me!"

The alarm is still going. Amber follows Dev out of the shop. She doesn't understand why Maria setting off the alarm means that Dev has to take Maria for a drink. "No, because I couldn't possibly be doing something for the good of someone else, could I?" asks Dev sarcastically. He walks off and Amber takes out her phone and calls Tara, telling her that she and Darryl are having problems.

Dev calls Tony and tells him it's nothing to rush over for.

Poppy (the friend Liz has hired for the bar) and Liz are in the Brazilian Crunch class talking about the leader. She has a history of not turning up for the Boxing Day class. They all vote for Liz to lead today's class. Lloyd turns up, too.

In the pub, Dev tells Maria that Tony says the inner flap on the letter box sometimes sticks. He doesn't count on Maria's reaction. He's trying to be reassuring, but she panics at the thought that Dev told Tony she was the person who set off the alarm. "He understands what an accident is," Dev tells her. "Liam was an accident," she says, pushing her way out of the pub past everyone.

Over at the Brazilian Crunch class, Liz is leading, though when she stops to talk to Lloyd, who is doing the music, the others carry on – clearly they know the moves anyway. Poppy gives Lloyd some very interested looks as he plays DJ.

"I see Joe's van's parked outside Gail's," Norris says to Audrey in the Kabin. "What are you now? Air traffic control?" Audrey asks him. Norris says he hopes the neighbours don't see it. "Yes, well, maybe their radar isn't as sensitive as yours," says Audrey. Emily comes in. She's just discovered Jed isn't there and all his things are gone. Norris is annoyed and Emily is just worried. Becky comes in and is snapped at by Norris. She didn't know browsing was a crime. But if it is, then she hates to think what stretch Maria will get for what she's doing outside.

Audrey leads the way as the others rush out to see Maria painting "Muderer!" on the front of the factory. "Oh dear, oh dear, she's not even spelt it right!" mutters Norris. Becky realises he's right. "Some criminal damage you should only do with a clear head," she says. Audrey struggles to take the brush away from Maria. Maria thinks that if everyone sees the word, Tony won't dare to hurt her. Emily says she's sure Audrey will sort everything out. She leaves and Norris goes back into the Kabin. "Oi!" says Becky as he passes. "You better not be grassing her up!" Norris scuttles away.

Maria sits on the factory steps and tells Audrey that if she dies, even if it looks like an accident, she wants Audrey to have it properly looked into. "What sort of talk is this, Maria, with a little baby inside you? Nobody is going to die. Nobody."

Poppy and Liz are both giving Lloyd the eye as they exercise. He's giving everyone cheek. The class ends with him the most popular member of it.

Steve pulls up in the taxi and Becky tells him about Maria. He gives her the sweets he bought for her earlier.

"I'm so scared, Audrey," Maria says, still sitting on the steps. Audrey knows she is and persuades her to go home. As they leave, Becky strolls towards the factory.

Tyrone finds Pam in the yard, just finishing another deal. He demands to know what Pam has hidden in the privy. Pam tells him she has to clear what stock she's got. He agrees to carry on for another fortnight, but no longer. They hear Maria shouting "Murderer!" and head into the house to investigate.

In the street, Maria stands in front of Tony's car, shouting at him as Audrey tries to hold her back. She can't, and Maria empties what's left of the red paint all over the car. As the street fills with spectators, Carla, very annoyed, shouts at Maria. Audrey tries to get Maria to go inside and Tony tells her she should listen. Norris is outside the Kabin as a police car rolls up. Maria's still raging at Tony. She tells him the police will make a note of this. It'll all go down on record. "Look at all the witnesses!" she says. Carla shouts that even if Maria has been through a lot, Tony can't just keep rolling over. Maria will pay for the damage to the car, she says. The police find Becky strolling away from the factory, where "Murderer" is now spelt correctly. "Did you do that?" asks one constable. Becky says she didn't. Maria, head high, hair flying, comes over and says she did it. "Because no-one believes me. He killed my Liam!" She is promptly arrested, to her great surprise. "Did you not hear what I said?" she asks incredulously.

Oooh, I'm enjoying this.
The second episode will follow shortly.
Margaret Carr

Episode written by Mark Burt and Directed by John Anderson. I note I have been slovenly in recent months in not giving due credit to the team on the Street and I would like to apologise - I shall try harder!

Maria is telling the police what she thinks of Tony and now the police are arresting her. The policewoman is taken to one side by Tony who tells the officer that he is not willing to press charges and that the woman (Maria is not herself). Kirk arrives and starts trying to find out what is going on. Tony explains about Maria's losses - the baby and the hit and run. Tony says that Maria is pregnant - and the officer nods understandingly. Carla comes over and almost ruins it - but not quite. Despite the mutterings from Doris and others in the background the police confirm to Kirk that following the explanation from Tony Maria will be released. However there must be no repeat and she wishes Kirk a Merry Christmas. Audrey is trying to clean the paint on Maria's hands. Tony thanks the officer who tells Carla she has a saint there. Kirk passes on the good news and Audrey is pleased to hear it. Tony approaches - he wants to put everything behind them and Audrey restrains Maria who apologises - but refuses to apologise to Tony. Maria, Fiz, Audrey and Kirk head indoors.

In the Rovers Lloyd is reporting on his activities at the gym and also complaining that he is having to answer all the questions again following the events in the cab office on Christmas day.

In the Rovers Ty is complaining about his back and says he might sleep on the floor. Tara enters the bar looking for Amber but finds Dev. Dev's mobile tweets - apparently Amber set them up - she tells Dev to buy Tara a cocktail and to be charming - but it had to be done.

Maria is still going on about Tony - she is not mad but as Audrey says everyone is worried about her. Maria continues sounding off until Audrey reminds her about the baby and she goes off to have a bath.

At the Kabin Eileen is rather surprised to find that her ailing father had shared his Christmas with Rita. Rita apologises as Colin sneaks in and they both give him dirty looks.

Tara has been in a B&B for two months. Apparently her father is pretending nothing happened - her mother has moved back in and Tara herself is moving to Edinburgh to join a business started by a friend. Dev says Scotland is a long way away - but it is not just her parents she wants to escape. Dev wishes her well.

In the Rovers Tony and Carla arrives and suggests to Kirk that Maria should get away - there is family in Cyprus and indeed Tony even offers to pay the fare - she needs to get away. Carla rewards Tony with a small kiss under the mistletoe, but the new bar maid Poppy points out that it is not much of a kiss. Tony asks if she can do better and she grabs Lloyds and snogs the face off him (as I believe they say). Liz observes and can be seen scowling in the background - jealousy perhaps?

After the break we will be back with the second half.

Oh the sales are on now that Christmas is over - indeed everything seems to be half price!

Molly gives Ty his present - which he unwraps - it is an Aston Martin DB5, supposedly with ejector seat - but careful inspection of the recording shows no sun roof! Props people you failed on this one! Ty's back is still playing up so Molly says that if they go home she will give him a massage but he is not to get any ideas! Strictly medicinal.

Dev has a bright idea - would Tara like to occupy the flat over the shop until she goes - this will prevent Amber and Darryl setting up home together and she agrees to think about it. Dev then gives her a very heartfelt apology and they briefly hold hands.

Ty is lying face down flat on the floor with Molly astride him massaging his back and he is enjoying it when Pam comes in at high volume, takes one look and departs.

Amber refuses to apologise to Dev - he claims he was embarrassed. Amber says she was partly responsible for the break up - but Dev says he was the one who blew it - and there is not a good enough reason to make her stay. He hugs Amber.

In the gloom of the Connor residence the assembled friends finally convince Maria to go to Cyprus where she can get some sun - and she finally realises how worried they are about her and she agrees to go.

Colin is handling Rita many compliments, even though he is in the dog house she is enjoying the barking. Becky tells Eileen she has had a great Christmas and that Jason does not stand a chance.

In his flat Dev behind shades and with a tie as a bandana is playing along to some guitar hero computer game when the door bell goes and he opens the door to Tara. Although she has trouble recognising him - and he is doing some urgent paperwork it appears that she has decided to accept his offer of the flat - and will move in tomorrow if possible - at midday. They both seem slightly surprised - and she giggles as she goes. He continues to play in celebration.

Emily leaves Rita and Colin - she and Norris are due to watch "Its a Wonderful Life". On her way out she thanks Tony on the kind and wonderful thing he did today. Carla wants to know what he is up to. He claims he feels sorry for Maria - she needs treatment. Carla asks for water as he can apparently now turn water into wine. She drags him home for a little late present.

Liz tells Lloyd he can DJ the New Year do - traditional Brazilian beach wear. Lloyd appears to be enjoying all of the female attention.

At home Emily finds Jed's cap hanging on a hook in the hall. They are both surprised that he has gone out without it - they have never seen him without it. Neither can understand why the hat is there. Emily resolves that in the morning she will start looking for Jed - something unpleasant could have happened to him.

Carla and Tony kiss in the Street and as they walk off he observes that he must have been a very good boy this year.

See you all next week.

K Richard W


Monday 29 December

Tonight you've got me for the whole hour as Stella is off on her Christmas hols.

Part 1

Liz is anticipating the party this afternoon. I wonder what you do at a party for an exercise class? Do you do more of it? Steve thinks it's called Mexican crush. Tsk. Anyway, Liz might get her hair done but Steve is complaining because Lloyd's going as well and he's got to cover the taxi office and the pub. Steve reckons Lloyd fancies Poppy and this seems to deflate Liz somewhat. Steve can get Betty to cover in the pub but she's got to do her own hair so he can cover Streetcars.

Blanche is minding Simon who's having his eggs and soldiers. Peter arrives to take him to Ashley's but he's too busy dipping. Ken and Deirdre have gone to visit Tracy who's got her hand out for money for makeup which baffles Blanche. Peter suggests it just might make her feel better about herself. "In a 'I'm a murderer' sort of way?" Blanche huffs, to which, of course, little ears have picked up and Simon pipes up "Who's a murderer?". Nobody, is the stock answer, with a pointed look at Blanche who figures the lad has to find out sometime. Peter says Amy and Simon will be told about the skeletons in the Barlow closet when he and Steve think it's the right time and not before. Peter then pulls out the handy dandy pocket breathalyser and blows into it, showing Blanche the "zero" results triumphantly. Probably faulty, she grumps, having pretty much lost the bet she had with Peter on the length of his sobriety.

Emily has been calling round checking up on Jed to no avail. Norris, probably wishing the subject would disappear much as Jed has, says Emily is probably overreacting to finding Jed's cap. Jed did say he'd come into money so has probably just done a bunk. Emily has planned to go look for Jed round where he used to live and Norris had promised to go and is likely trying to get out of it but when he realizes she's going anyway, he is honour bound to go with her for her own safety.

There's someone scrubbing the red MU^RDERER sign off Underworld (you'll notice it's now been augmented by the missing R)> The workers are watching with amusement. They recall that Tony has paid for Maria's ticket to Cypress and Janice figures that's the mark of a guilty conscience. Fiz strenuously objects to that sentiment and reminds Janice that she's the one doing community service for a crime. Ouch.

Ty and Molly are having breakfast. Tyrone keeps smirking at Molly and the pair of them are most definitely making eyes at each other. He says his back is still sore from sleeping on the sofa. She decides he is allowed to sleep in the bed, but that's all he gets to do. She flutters her eyelashes at him and leaves for work. He thrashes the air triumphantly but then grabs hold of his sore back. So he wasn't faking it after all!

Lloyd arrives at the pub with the playlist for the party that he's spent all night working on, with the emphasis appearing to be on Northern Soul music. This pleases Liz though Poppy doesn't seem quite as keen but they're all looking forward to the afternoon's delights. He takes a call from someone named Danielle who turns out to be another member of the Crunch class, a young and delectable someone apparently, judging from the teasing he takes off Liz and Poppy. He leaves and Poppy mentions to Liz that he's quite cute. Liz instructs her to go for it. "I would.... if I were 10 years younger"... hmmmm. Seems like Miss Lizzie has taken a fancy to Lloyd.

In the Kabin, Emily tells Rita that Jed used to go to a working men's club and she's planning to go there and see if anyone there has seen him. Emily worries that Jed didn't feel welcome. Norris figures he did his part by playing Snakes and Ladders with Jed (and accusing him of cheating!). Through all this, Darryl is buying some sweets and annoying Norris by adding to his order after Norris has totaled it. He's got a funny idea of customer service, does Norris, a fact pointed out by Emily. She reckons it's no wonder Jed scarpered and is seriously considering it herself!

Peter's looking over a bottle of whiskey longingly. It was given to him by a punter. Leanne sees him with dismay but he defends himself, saying he proved he could stop drinking by doing it over Christmas (for what? 2 weeks? If that!) and besides, it was a gift.

Outside the taxi office, Eddie is told he can work later, as Steve is busy and Lloyd is skiving. Steve rags Lloyd about Poppy but Lloyd brags about having a the lovely Danielle after him. Steve is skeptical. Eddie notices a lycra-clad Liz coming down Victoria Street and slobbers over the sight of her legs, That earns him a swat on the shoulder from Steve. Oy! That's my mother! he spits. Eddie just shrugs, thinking Liz was only an employee. Lloyd points out that Liz exercises but they both drink in a good look after Steve leaves. Eddie takes off too and Liz comes over to tease Lloyd about his new bird and tells him Poppy likes him too. He is flattered but isn't interested in Poppy. His eyes seem to be taking Liz in and he hesitantly says that he won't see Danielle if Liz has objections. She says, somewhat too casually, that it's not down to her and he should go for it. She goes around the corner towards the pub and Lloyd takes a call on his mobile. Danielle. He makes a lunch date with her. Liz hears him as she walks away and looks a bit regretful. Oh you all know where this is going, it's just too obvious!

After the break, Tyrone comes home. Molly is coming down the stairs with a long pillow-thing called a bolster (or body pillow). She informs him that is going to be the barrier between them in bed to keep him on his side. His poor little face falls in disappointment.

A wide eyed, round faced bottle blonde teeters into the pub on very high heels, all bright and cheerful and perky. This is Danielle and she's tickled to find out Lloyd had told his friends about her and has already got her a drink in. Blanche observes her with Poppy and Liz, assessing the younger woman. The usual vaguely catty remarks are made though they do admire the girl's body. Peter arrives with Leanne for lunch (who's minding the shop!?) and greets them. Blanche pays up her bet and Leanne orders lunch with just an orange juice for a bevvy. Over at Lloyd's table, the blonde one has accepted a compliment from Lloyd by proceeding to run down the price list and label of every stitch she's wearing. (Ohmygod it's Candice all grown up only she's not as much fun!) Danielle is a bit disconcerted to discover that Lloyd drives a cab for a living but cheers up a bit when he tells her he owns the company and is even more interested when she finds out one of their cars is a Mercedes. He'll definitely arrange a ride for her, in that case. Blanche has joined Peter and Leanne in a booth. She's surprised Peter's also drinking orange juice.

Janice is furiously scraping the black bits off the toast that she's burned, much to Emily's consternation. Janice even lets the customer put her own butter on it. Emily is just leaving but seems reluctant. Janice doesn't seem to have learned much about customer service! She shusshes Emily on her way and as soon as the older woman's back is turned, she shoves a cream cake in her gob.

Back to the pub, Lloyd is looking bored out of his skull as Danielle witters on about celebrities and telly shows. Liz and Poppy watch with amusement and decline to rescue him. He doesn't really need their help and manages to "remember" a meeting with his accountant. He escorts his date out, after which, Liz and Poppy have a giggle together at his expense.

Out behind the hospital, Janice is having a smoke break. A man who seems to be a patient joins her. He's in a robe and pyjamas and huddles coughing over his fag end. Apparently he was in for pneumonia but doesn't seem to have realized that smoking isn't really helping him. His name is Mike and they shake hands. She tells him she's there on community service for a fraud conviction and working in the cafe. They share a laugh and seem to get on quite well. He heads back inside and says he'll see her on her next break.

Liz and Poppy enter the bar, all dressed in their gear for the party. Liz, naturally, is wearing something tight and is spilling out over the top (I swear her chest is getting bigger as she gets older, or the Wonderbra is now more like armour!) and Poppy is wearing something loose and silky. Betty wonders if Liz really wants to wear what she's wearing but doesn't push the issue. Liz and Poppy get off and Betty turns to Fiz and barks "Two Words! Mutton. and Lamb!" (It's so good to see Betty back again!)

Norris and Emily arrive back in the Kabin with a pet carrier. They've found Sunny Jim!! Seems one of Jed's mates from the club had found the cat and took him in. Norris has certainly retrieve the cat under duress, since he was the one that is covered in scratches trying to get that "monstrosity" into the carrier! Norris is getting no sympathy from Rita and Emily. Now all they can do is hope Jed gets in touch.

The party is well under way. Lloyd is having a great time playing tunes. Danielle drags him onto the dance floor but he can't take his eyes off Liz who's bopping with Poppy to the beat of Tina Turner (Nutbush City Limits, in case you were wondering).

Pam has arrived at the kebab shop looking for more oil. Darryl isn't forthcoming unless she tells him what it's for. She admits it's for a bio-diesel. He wants in and they haggle over the percentage. 50/50. Turns out she's storing it in the outside cludgy at Number 9!

Liz is sweating to the oldies and Lloyd sees her head off the dance floor for a rest. He makes excuses and leaves Danielle there to join Liz in a quiet corner. He admits that Danielle, while attractive, isn't really one you can have a conversation with, her of the running monologue. He's tired of being on his best behaviour. They get onto the subject of age and naturally, Lloyd compliments her on looking so good for being 50something. Even slips out a line that her wrinkles are just love and laughter. Oh, smooth. He flatters her some more and she kisses him on the cheek. In true soap style, this turns into a snog as the credits roll for the half hour break.

Part 2.

We continue mid snog, just where we left off. They slowly part just as Danielle comes hopping round the corner to drag Lloyd off to the dance floor again. Liz decides to leave them to it and takes her cleavage to the bar.

Tony takes a call from his accountant with good news. Two more flats to Victoria Court have sold. Carla hints for jewelry, but Tony says the money is going to the next development, at Nightingale Terrace. As they drive away, Pam and Darryl are humping barrels of oil across the street. Down the road, Molly comes out of the shop and Tyrone comes up behind her and greets her. He startles her and with a startled scream she rounds on him and thwacks him with the loaf of bread she's carrying. Geez! All he wanted was to walk her home! She calms down and describes a new recipe she's going to try. Something Mexican. She even allows Tyrone to eat with her and Jack. She's softening, you can tell. But don't get any ideas.

Back to the party, Danielle is telling everyone she's saving up for a boob job. The bigger the better. Liz decides she'll stick to what Mother Nature gave her. Lloyd tears his eyes away from what Mother Nature gave her and says you can't improve on perfection. This only serves to make Danielle all gushy at how nice he's being. Liz is clearly uncomfortable with the blonde one hanging all over Lloyd and Lloyd doesn't seem to keen either. He tries to excuse himself but he can't seem to untangle himself from her affections. He tries another tactic, but it doesn't seem like he's going to be able to shake her off. Liz invites them all back to the Rovers with the offer of champagne. That suits them all though Lloyd looks a bit scared at the prospect of three champagne-hopped up women and him!

Pam and Darryl pour the oil into something else but Jack comes outside and catches them. They get the bog door closed in time and Pam makes out like Darryl was trying to sneak around down the ginnel but Jack isn't about to believe it, aided by Darryl's completely perplexed expression. Pam gets her and Darryl out of the yard but Jack notices a shiny new lock on the bog door.

Blanche has discovered that Peter has devoured her favourite chocolates out of the box. Ken and Deirdre arrive home, looking a bit glum after their visit to the prison. Deirdre is upset because some people have had their kids visiting as well and it's a horrible place for them, Chrimbo decorations notwithstanding. Ken reckoned Tracy wasn't too bad. Deirdre, of course, figures Tracy was only putting a brave face on it. I'm going with Ken's assessment, knowing Tracy. And knowing Deirdre. Blanche tells them that Peter is still off the booze. Deirdre reckons that's a good sign.

Steve and Betty exchange words behind the bar, Betty being on her break. The partiers come in giggling. STeve's jaw hangs open at the sight of the blonde one draped over Lloyd's arm, having thought Lloyd may have just made her up for bragging about it. No such luck. Lloyd of course, is in for a stiff razzing from Steve and from Liz when she realizes the back of the bar is a mess. She assures Betty she's not blaming her. Steve suggests that Lloyd has hired Danielle but really, he's just a bit jealous. So is Liz.

Switching back to the Barlows, Deirdre is making ham sandwiches. Simon has been put into bed. Blanche recalls Christmases in her day when you got an orange, some nuts and a sixpence for your pressies. Peter teases her about how far a sixpence would stretch back in the olde days. Blanche will not be mocked and takes her sandwich and tea to her room to read. Ken informs Peter that he and Deirdre have decided that after two whole weeks of sobriety, Peter is to be rewarded with the return of the prodigal son, Simon. All that boozing was just a bad habit, nothing serious, and now he's sorted it, everything is ok again. But they didn't seen how lovingly he was holding that bottle earlier, either. I don't think Peter's battle with the bottle is over quite yet.

Pam and Darryl are taking sustenance in the pub, to a raised eyebrow from Liz. Pam corrects her assumption, she's no Mrs. Robinson, she's just looking out for the lad as promised to his mam. Tony and Carla arrive and Fiz offers to buy them a drink to say thanks but he says, aw shucks ma'am, it were nothing. Fiz returns to the booth with Janice, Sean, Kelly, Leanne and Vikki.She is in a good mood and they can't dig the reason out of her. It's definitely not down to the joys of helping others.

Elsewhere Lloyd is being teased again. Poppy asks how long Steve and Lloyd have known each other (years) and Danielle asks Liz if she's got a photo of Lloyd in a school uniform. Huh? That's pretty much Liz's reaction too. Danielle grabs the mistletoe and waves it over Lloyd's head. He pecks her cheek, she sucks his face. Steve gurns in astonishment and Liz, disgusted, decides she's off to bed. Steve doesn't want to be on his own but Liz turns on a heel and heads out the back.

After the break, Pam and Darryl are getting ready to leave. They're going to get some more oil off a mate of Darryl's from another shop. Poppy's getting ready to leave, Danielle nips off to the Ladies', so Lloyd takes the opportunity to go out back. He implores Steve to lie to Danielle and say he's gone home when he's really going out back for a smoke. Steve assumes he's dumping Danielle to pick up Poppy and Lloyd lets him think it. Outback, he joins Liz who's having a smoke as well. Alone at last. She's awkward but he and says she only kissed him because she had too many G&Ts. He's almost put off, but she retracts and he sits down again. She is still reluctant, citing the fact that he's Steve's best friend. What he don't know won't hurt him, is Lloyd's statement and that seems to win her over because when he leans in for a kiss, she goes for it and leads him inside and upstairs!!! Out in the bar, Danielle emerges from the loo and is dismayed to find Lloyd gone. Steve lies for his mate, as mates do, but pays Lloyd back by telling Danielle that Lloyd really *really* fancies her. However, he then makes it sound like Lloyd gets secret obsessions on television celebrities, complete with restraining orders so Danielle doesn't seem to know what to believe!

Peter asks Leanne if she wants to go into town and tells her that Simon is coming home. He's looking forward to it. He really wants to have a better relationship with his son than he had with his own father. He orders another non-alcoholic drink. So far so good.

More oil is being poured out the back by the pigeon loft. Inside, Jack is looking uncertainly at the Mexican tortillas. Jack whispers to Tyrone that he's in there. Molly's feeding him and he's back in the bed. Won't be long before normal service is resumed. Ty is hopeful. Jack takes a bite of the food and chokes, and runs for a glass of water. Molly is deflated that it's too hot. The recipe was torn and she wasn't sure if it was 1/4 teaspoon or 4 teaspoons of chile powder! Sounds like she erred in the wrong direction. Jack goes out the back to get some air on his burning mouth and discovers Pam and Darryl. They scurry but it's too late. Jack isn't as green as he is cabbage looking. Darryl hasn't got a clue what he means! "I'm not thick!" Jack asserts. They admit the plan and assure him it's safe and legal. Jack orders her to get rid. It's her fault Molly and Tyrone are nearly split up and he's not having any more of her schemes around. She promises to get rid of it tomorrow first thing.

Carla is making frothy coffee but the froth maker is broken. He's surfing the net on the laptop and offers her New Year in Scotland, for Hogmany. He'll even wear his kilt. It's his favourite holiday. She is talked into it when he talks about seeing a fresh new year in.

Molly and Tyrone are watching television and Tyrone takes the chance and moves in for a kiss but is rebuffed. He is confused, she fed him, even said chile is an aphrodisiac. She also said he is to keep his hands to himself. She's the one in control. He jumps over to a chair and is a bit stroppy with her so she says he's not sleeping in the bed. He complains about the bed so she says she'll have the sofa. Not the reaction he was hoping for.

Lloyd and Liz sneak down the back stairs. They agree this is a one off, and nobody must know.

So that's yer lot for Monday night. I'll be back next week and in the meantime, have a happy and peaceful new year!!!

Tvor


Wednesday 31 December

Michelle and Liz are at the breakfast table talking about Lloyd's popularity with the ladies from the Brazillian Crunch class. Then Liz opens a card – it's an anniversary card from Vernon.

Pam meets Tyrone in the Street and tells him to turn his frown upside down, it's New Year's Eve and that means a new start. Tyrone isn't convinced, however and goes off. She then meets Darryl and tells him that she's promised Jack she'd move the used chip oil from the back of Molly and Tyrone's house so they decide to put it at the back of the kebab shop and arrange to move it there later, when it's dark, as they don't want Molly finding out about it.

Tyrone sees Molly on her way in to work at Dev's shop and runs over. He tells her that the way they're living now is killing him, he loves her. She tells him to stop pushing her, so he comes out with Pam's line about it being a New Year and a New Start. Molly hesitates and then tells him she might be in the Rovers later if he happens to be there and wants to buy her a drink. She goes off to take her jacket off and he turns to Dev excitedly. "She wants me back!" he says. Dev tells him he's going about it all wrong, he should be making Molly do the running. Just then Tara comes in and tells Dev there's something wrong with the electrics upstairs in the flat. He immediately rushes off with her to sort it out. "Yeah, you're right," says Tyrone, "let them do the running!"

In the taxi office, Steve tells Eileen that Lloyd has got both Danielle and Poppy after him. Just then Steve gets a phone call, it's Fat Brenda, apparently pulling a sickie, she can't work tonight – the busiest night of the year. Steve and Lloyd look at Eileen and even offer her quadruple time, but she refuses, she has other plans, she and Deirdre are going to keep Liz company as it's her anniversary. Lloyd says he'd forgotten and wonders if Liz is all right. "Never mind about my mother," says Steve, "what about this place?" Eileen tells the two men that it's down to them.

Leanne asks Peter if he's going to the Rovers later but he tells her that it's Simon's first night back he's going to stay in with him. Blanche comes in and asks if they'll take other bets, like who'll win Eurovision or who'll win races in the next Olympics. Peter tells her he'll take anything, and asks why. She says she's thinking of getting something for Deirdre, something fun she can keep til after she's gone. She says she might get one for Simon too, he didn't look too pleased when he opened her Christmas present. Leanne asks what she gave him. "Handkerchiefs," says Blanche. "That's nice," says Leanne, suppressing a smile.

Steve and Lloyd are ringing round trying to find cover for the taxi office, but they don't have any luck. Lloyd says it seems like it's down to either him or Steve, but neither of them want to give up their evening, so they decide to close the office.

In the shop, Dev tells Molly that Amber is going to a party and he asks what she's doing. She says she was going to the Rovers, but now she doesn't feel much in the mood for celebrating. Just then Tara comes in and Dev asks if she'd like to come to his place and he'll cook a meal. She says she'd love to, so Dev rushes off shopping for the ingredients. As he leaves, Jason walks in and asks Molly if she and Tyrone would like to join him in the Rovers later as he's on his own. At that moment, Tyrone walks into the shop just in time to hear her accept. Jason says he'll see her later and leaves. "What's all this then?" Tyrone demands to know, "you going out with Jason?" She tells him he just said he'll be in the Rovers if she wanted a drink. "But I thought you and me was going out!" says Tyrone. Molly corrects him, she just said she'd be in the Rovers later if he wanted to buy her a drink. "So is this some plan to make me all jealous?" says Tyrone, angrily. Molly says she doesn't have to explain herself to him, Jason was being kind and he's come in shouting the odds. She tells him to get out and he storms off, kicking over the flower buckets that are outside the door.

Lloyd runs into the Liz in the doorway of the Kabin and, although they're a bit awkward with each other, he says he'll see her later in the pub.

It's busy in the Rovers as balloons are being blown up and decorations put up. Liz comes into the bar and tells the staff they're going to be busy but to give the punters a night to remember! Deirdre and Eileen tell Liz they've come in to look after her but she tells them she couldn't be happier that she's on her own.

Gail, Joe, David and Tina come in. David is delighted that at last he can buy and drink alcohol. "Not everyone needs booze to have a good time," remarks Joe. "Not when there's such a wide range of recreational drugs available," jokes Tina. David sees Gary Windass along the bar and Gail tells him and Joe there's not going to be any trouble.

Pam and Darryl are in the back yard of Molly and Ty's house, but there's a problem, Pam can't find the key to the padlock that she's locked the door of the outside loo up with, and the used cooking oil is inside. "We need power tools," she says, and tells Darryl that they'll have to sneak back there later when Molly and Tyrone have gone out. Darryl isn't too pleased, he's in a hurry to get to the party where Amber is waiting for him.

Inside the house, Tyrone and Molly are still rowing about her arranging to see Jason in the pub. Molly thinks there's no hope for them, if they're rowing now, what are they going to be like 5 or 10 years down the line. "Haven't I been in the dog house long enough?" asks Tyrone. She tells him it's not about her punishing him and goes off to have a bath.

In the pub, the festivities are getting under way. Jason and Becky reminisce about last new year's eve, and Peter and Leanne are sitting with Deirdre, Blanche and Eileen. Peter, who's only been drinking orange juice, gets up to leave, to go and pick up Simon and Leanne jumps up and gives him a kiss under the mistletoe. "An ex prostitute and an alcoholic," says Blanche, "Jerry Springer would do cartwheels."

Tina tells David she wants to go to the same party that Amber and Darryl are going to so that she can have a proper drink, so David goes to phone Darryl to ask the address. While he's gone Gary Windass approaches Tina. "All right gorgeous?" he says, and asks if she'd like some vodka in her drink. "Don't start," says Tina and then Joe sees this and angrily tells him to leave Tina alone.

Blanche then gives Deirdre the betting slip she got earlier. "It can remind you of me in the years to come." Eileen takes the slip and reads it. "If they land a monkey on the moon before the year 2030 you'll be a very wealthy woman," she says laughing.

Steve and Lloyd come into the pub. Steve tells Michelle they've got staffing problems and orders champagne for his mother and her friends. He jokes about Lloyd and Poppy, so Lloyd, embarrassed, goes off to the gents. Becky comes over and Steve quietly says that at least they can spend new year's eve together. "Yeah, with your mum and your girlfriend and a pub full of punters," says Becky.

Tara is seated at the dining table and Dev, dressed up to the nines in a dark suit and bow tie, serves up what is, apparently, a typical English meal. (Chicken pie!) He pours the wine. "Here's to a happier new year."

Back in the pub, Steve tells Becky he'd give anything for the two of them to spend the evening together. "Well there's always next year," says Becky, "or if that's too soon for you, the year after."

Jack asks Pam if she's shifted the chip oil yet. Just then Darryl comes over and the two of them go off to move the oil.

Michelle goes over to Steve and kisses him, saying that she knows this past year has been horrible, but they're a family and the new year will be a fresh start for them all. Becky watches this and doesn't look happy.

Tyrone is gloomy because Molly hasn't come to the Rovers and he thinks she must be avoiding him, but Jack suggests that she's probably stayed at home. He rushes home and finds Molly sitting in the dark, crying. "We can't go on like this," she says, "it's over, we'll have to sell the house."

In his flat, Simon is asleep on Peter's lap and, as he strokes his son's head, Peter stares longingly at a bottle of whisky.

Liz takes the customers outside for the countdown to midnight and at the same moment, in the Duckworth's back yard, Pam starts trying to cut through the padlock with an angle grinder.

As midnight is reached and fireworks are let off, there's an explosion of a different kind. In the backyard where Pam and Darryl are trying to get the padlock off, hot sparks ignite the incorrectly stored cooking oil. She's flung backwards in the shower of bricks and flames, and lies blackened and motionless on the ground. Molly and Tyrone rush outside and are shocked by what they find. Ty immediately phones for an ambulance.

Outside in the Street, the Rovers' customers file away. Lloyd sees Liz and says to her, "Back to my place?" She replies that she thought he'd never ask, and he leads her off to his flat.

Anne Logan



Updates written by K Richard Whitbread, Martin Rosen, Ann Logan, Margaret Carr, Stella McLoughlin, Tvor, Erica Houston.