Written by Chris Fewtrell Directed by Kay Patrick

Steve is hungover and growly and Liz gives him a hard time about it all, including his behaviour towards Becky lately. Steve asks after his wife to be told she's been quiet this morning and Liz doesn't know when she'll be home. Liz tries to find out what happened between Becky and Steve the night before but Steve avoids answering and heads to the shower, ordering his mum not to let Becky leave when she returns.

Leanne is shouting at some contractors over the phone. Peter is going to see Simon's headmaster for the chat about the posh school but he promises he's all hers after. He gets cuddly but she puts him off, they have a lot to do and are having lunch at a new restaurant with good reviews, to check out the competition. Leanne moans about not having any staff yet, including a chef.

Over at Webster Towers, Kevin brings Sally's teacup back downstairs. Rosie's making toast and actually shows concern for her mother's health. Kevin assures her that being tired is part of the treatment and Sally is even starting to look forward to going back to work. She wants things back to normal and Kevin thinks that's a good sentiment.

Janice is putting another advert card in the window of the Kabin. She's looking for a lodger. Mary noshes on a buttie while she waits on her. The new advert card is bigger and brighter and Janice insists on it being placed in a more prominent position. Sean and Julie come in and hear about Janice's plans. The suggestion of Julie moving in with Janice is laughed off. Guess not then.

Ken is walking Eccles back home and encounters Peter and Leanne. They can't stop to chat but Peter stops and tells Ken that he's already told the school that Simon will be going to Oakhill next year. Peter hopes Ken can support that.

Claire and Becky are back from taking the kids to school. Claire is wittering on about Tesco express aisle conflicts and Becky is very quiet, murmuring a few appropriate wordless responses to make it sound like she's listening. Claire notices that Becky isn't herself this morning and asks if she's ok. She puts it down to the ongoing conflict with Steve but Becky sighs and admits "I'm up the stick!" and goes into the cafe.

Liz and Michelle talk to Betty about her upcoming 90th birthday. Betty says she looks forward to getting her feet up (but she spends all her time behind the bar sat on a stool these days!) Liz takes Michelle to one side and tells her that she's called the newspaper because she thinks Betty is probably the oldest barmaid in Weatherfield. And the publicity won't harm the pub any either. Steve is not thrilled one way or the other about that prospect. He's a bit scowly and out of sorts. Much as he has been for a month. Liz tries to find out what's wrong but Steve can't say yet until he talks to Becky...

Who's in the cafe with Claire and little Freddie. She admits to Claire that only the two of them and Steve know about the baby that she discovered she was carrying on New Year's Eve, just before all the aggro with Steve kicked off. Claire assures her that even though it hurts having the baby, it's worth it. Becky points out that pregnancy also nearly killed Claire but Claire says she was unlucky and it won't be like that for her friend. Becky tells Claire that she and Steve have made up but she still doesn't know for sure what she wants...what she dares to want. Claire urges Becky to make absolutely sure what she wants, whatever her decision turns out to be.

After the break, we find Leanne and Peter impatiently waiting for their lunch. While they wait, they chat about Simon's new school and Ken's disapproval. The waiter says the chef is a perfectionist and goes to hurry him along. Within minutes, said chef follows the waiter out of the kitchen, hollering that things take as long as they take and can't be rushed. Lo and behold, it's a familiar face! Ciaran McCarthy! Peter grins when he sees his old mate.

In the Kabin, Molly is looking at cards while Mary is dismayed to see that the yogurt she's about to eat is "live". I don't know why she doesn't know that yogurt can be a live culture, she knows loads about everything else! Molly doesn't seem to be able to explain and she picks out a Get Well card. Turns out its for Sally. Tyrone comes in and they exchange awkward words. He finds out she's going to take the card over to Sally.

Ciaran orders a round of drinks and one for himself. The head waiter warns him but Ciaran bypasses his threats and quits on the spot. He sits down with a bemused Peter and Leanne. They tell him they're together and then tell him about Simon living with them after Lucy's death. Ciaran can't believe his old mucker is a settled family man! Leanne decides to let the two of them catch up and leaves.

Molly arrives at the Webster's with the card but Sally is laying down. Rosie says it seems the radiotherapy went all right and asks how Molly is. When she says she's ok Rosie starts in on how people are talking about it all and feeling sorry for Tyrone but she thinks Molly did the right thing. I mean... Tyrone? Who'd want to wake up next to him! Kevin comes in talking about some Tesco express aisle conundrum (must have had the same clerk as Claire!). He stops short when he sees Molly stood there and is angry. But he doesn't get very far because there's a knock on the door and it's Tyrone. Can we say Awkward? (It's Monday, is nobody working today?)

In the restaurant, Ciaran asks if Peter's heard from Shelley. Well, no, but he's happy with Leanne. Ciaran is surprised Peter's drinking orange juice and Peter puts him off ordering a real drink but doesn't go into detail.

Tyrone sits on the sofa shoving biscuits in his gob. Kevin sits beside him looking none too impressed. Rosie is watching Tyrone with horror and Molly doesn't really know where to look. She has a snipe at Tyrone for eating so many of Sally's favourite ginger nut creams and though Tyrone isn't keen on them, he's certainly made sort work of them. Kevin puts Tyrone off from going to see Sally to say hello. Molly decides to leave and, looking particularly meaningful at Kevin, tells them if they ever need her, they know where she is. (Get the message? Message received, I think, Kevin's face darkening a bit more). Rosie takes the card for Sally.

In the pub, Janice is moaning about the lack of response to her ad aside from one strange woman who thought the room were full of negative energy. At the bar, there is a reporter interviewing Betty who tells him she pulled her first pint in the Rovers in 1969. Liz makes a silly joke and is asked if she worked there as well back then. Ouch. Betty tells the reporter she used to work for Mrs. Walker with Bet Lynch. She glances over at Michelle's and Liz's cleavage and remarks that some things never change behind the bar. Ciaran and Peter come in. Ciaran claps eyes on Michelle and makes a beeline for the bar.

Becky comes into the Rover's yard, passing Steve who's out having a smoke. He thanks her for pouring him into bed the night before. He asks her if he was dreaming about the baby. She shakes her head and he hugs her happily but is then dismayed to find out she's known a month. She explains that she wasn't sure about telling him after everything hits the fan. He is really anxious to have a family and she understands that, and that was part of the problem, all his pressure. She hesitantly admits that she told him because she felt he had a right to know but she still isn't sure she's changed her mind about how she feels. His face falls.

Inside the bar, Ciaran is using every cheesy charming chat up line on Michelle who is not swayed by his Irish blarney but clearly enjoying the attention anyway. She shoots him down firmly. The reporter clarifies which Elizabeth is Liz and which is Betty and says the story should be in tomorrow's paper. Janice has taken a phone call from another potential lodger, a fella. Julie warns her to be cautious. She and Sean offer to be there when she meets the man later. Ciaran brings Peter a pint and Peter finally admits he's had booze trouble but has kicked it. Ciaran takes on both pints.

Out back, Steve and Becky are still talking. He's upset that she felt she couldn't talk about it after all they'd been through. She cracks "I married ya cause I like living with Liz!" He's frustrated and can't understand why she doesn't want his baby and then refuses to give her a cig. She admits she was happy when she thought she might be pregnant but then she got scared. Her own past scared her and she didn't think she could cope with the pressure of being a full time mother. She knows what she can get like. She's ok now, but not changed like Steve insists. Now everything is going smoothly but what is she like when things kick off? Steve is near the end of his rope, wondering why Becky just didn't abort the baby if that's how she feels. She shakes her head and looks at him with disappointment, reckoning he can't really know her very well if he thinks she'd do that behind his back. She goes into the pub leaving him there, hanging. Is he going to be able to talk her round? Come back for part 2!

tvor

Tyrone is round at the Webster place, having a cuppa with Kevin. Rosie is there too, distastefully looking on as Ty wonders if they can open the chocolates he's brought for Sally. Rosie takes the choccies upstairs to Sally while she still can and Tyrone looks to Kevin for advice on the Molly situation. Kevin is unable to give him any and makes an excuse to leave Tyrone. Tyrone says forlornly, "Sorry, yeah, I'll see myself out....." and leaves.

Upstairs at the Rovers, Steve apologises to Becky for coming on strong earlier. Becky tearfully tells Steve that, "I don't want this to be the end...." before she makes him promise that he will go along with what she wants when she finally talks through everything that has been bothering her. She tells him to sit down before she tells him her life story, "I'll put kettle on. 'Appen you'll need a drink!"

In the bar, Peter is warning Ciaran off Michelle but Ciaran isn't having a bar of it. Leanne and Carla come into the bar. Leanne is shocked to see two pint glasses on the table. Ciaran instantly reassures Leanne that both are for him before trying again to woo Carla with the offer of a drink. Carla is not interested. Leanne has just popped in to tell Peter that George has picked up Simon so she and Carla are planning a girly night in at the flat. Ciaran asks Carla where her boyfriend is tonight Carla tells him, "Husband actually. And he's in prison. For murder. He was insanely jealous." When Carla leaves, Ciaran asks Peter if Carla was joking. "Yeah," Peter replies, "he's not been convicted yet."

Steve has settled in to hear Becky's tale of woe- conceived in a stairwell to a mother who thought she was going to get a betamax video player instead. She tells Steve that her mother should never had had her and she feels that, despite all Roy & Hayley and Steve have done for her, she will be the same kind of mother. Steve tries to protest. Steve reminds Becky that Amy adores her and that, "if parents were supposed to be perfect, humanity would have gone the same way as the flippin' dinosaurs." He is trying to buck Becky up some more as Liz brings Amy home. Steve and Liz look on in amazement as Becky swoops in on Amy and shows how wonderful a mother she has the potential to be if she would let herself believe it.

In the bar, Ken has joined Peter and is talking about Ciaran. He is concerned about Peter drinking with his old Navy pal. Peter tells Ken that he is on top of his drinking. Ken is somewhat relieved but asks Peter to be careful.

Julie, Sean and Janice are in the bar too. Julie wants to give Janice's potential lodger the once over before Janice lets him into her home. A tall, fairly good-looking man with a terrible haircut walks into the bar. Janice is surprised to find out that he is Trevor the potential lodger and even more surprised to discover that he is the binman Janice was giving grief when he refused to empty her bin this week. Sean and Julie are very keen for Janice to give him a chance at the room anyway. Janice tells him to sit down.

Carla and Leanne are at Leanne's flat. Leanne lets Carla in on a couple of the difficulties of living with an alcoholic. Things like not being able to leave half-drunk bottle of wine around. She mentions that it's a good job she loves Peter. Carla says she's done with love for the foreseeable future. Leanne gets a little misty-eyed about Peter while Carla remains steadfast. Deirdre arrives to ask if she can help with Simon while Leanne prepares for her party. Leanne asks Deirdre to stay for a drink.

Janice, Sean and Julie are getting on like a house afire with Trev. Janice asks if he wants to come and see the room. As she leaves, she indicates to Julie and Sean that she quite fancies Trev.

Michelle is talking to Peter and Ciaran at the bar. They're talking about Liz getting some caterer in to help with Betty's 90th birthday. (Oh, can I just mention that me and Betty Driver share our birthday. She's a wee bit older than me though- 50 years older. 20th May-so you can send her a card.) Michelle offers to put a good word in for Ciaran to do the catering at the party. Errr, why would Michelle need to do that? Wasn't Ciaran a barman for Liz once?

Steve and Becky are still talking through their trouble. He compares Becky's mothering skills to Tracy's. Becky is not best pleased to be compared to a convicted murderer and then compares herself to Michelle. Steve reassures her that she is always putting Amy before herself, not like Michelle; Amy could always tell when something was bothering Michelle and it would affect her. Becky asks Steve if he would still have married her if he had known before that she didn't want children. Steve is adamant that he would want Becky more than he would want children and so that whatever she decides, she'll not escape him. It's all very loving, even when he calls her a daft cow.

Carla, Leanne and Deirdre arrive at Leanne's unfinished bar already drunk as skunks. Leanne grabs some more drinks while Carla and Deirdre cackle on about all the good looking men they'll be expecting at the new bar.

Kevin turns up at Molly's flat asking her with a hostile tone, what she was doing round at his house. Molly apologises for insinuating that Kevin might "need" her while she was there. Kevin accepts the apology and leaves, smart-ish.

Deirdre is three sheets to the wind. Ken is helping her along the street to home as Deirdre drivels on about how lovely Leanne is. They come across Ciaran and Peter who are amused by Deirdre's incapacity. Peter thanks his father for the earlier advice but suggests that next time, Ken looks closer to home.

Trev and Janice are at Janice's flat. They're getting on well. Janice is practically drooling as Trev tells her that his ex took him to the cleaners emotionally and just wants to move on. Janice tries to entice Trev to take the room by telling him about how thrifty she is with the bills. Trev mentions that he is in and out of the shower all the time. Janice practically has to pick her tongue up off the floor but manages to tell him that won't be a problem. She offers Trev the room and he tells her he can move in tomorrow. She offers him a nightcap but he has to be up early. He gives her a peck on the cheek before leaving for the night.

In Leanne's bar, Leanne and Carla are quite drunk and still drivelling about love and relationships. Leanne tells Carla she could do worse than Ciaran. Carla thinks Ciaran is a pretty boy. She can have one of them any night of the week. What she wants she can't ever have because he's gone and no amount of wishing will bring him back. Peter arrives with Ciaran just as Carla starts to get maudlin. Ciaran offers to take Carla home. He knows he won't be getting lucky but he heads out to grab a taxi with her anyway. Peter offers to clean up Leanne's mess before coming home. Leanne is ever so pleased.

Liz is in the bar with Steve. She wishes Steve would tell her what's going on. Becky comes into the bar and Liz leaves them to it. Becky refuses a drink. She thinks she shouldn't if they're going to have the baby. Steve doesn't want Becky to only have the baby for him. "Well, I am bricking it, totally," Becky says, "but, yeah, I reckon I can do it. As long as you're in it wi' me." They have a big, excited cuddle before Becky reminds Steve that from now on the lock-ins, the bike and the gold clubs are history. She's joking about the golf clubs and laughs when she sees Steve's face drop. She urges Steve not to tell anyone that they're pregnant yet. Steve agrees.

Peter is cleaning up in Leanne's bar when he comes across a half-drunk glass of wine. He thinks for a minute before he drinks it. He then picks up the rest of the bottle and thinks before he ditches it in the bin. He grabs his denim jacket and leaves.

Stella McLoughlin

It's the morning after the night before and Leanne is feeling fragile. She's worrying about the forthcoming party, she's not organised the food or the waiting staff. Peter says he'll get some agency staff, he's going into town for one of his meetings. She asks if he's worried about Ciaran being back on the scene and he tells her he is a bit. She remarks that the boot is on the other foot now, what with her being hung over and him being all bright eyed and bushy tailed, not having touched a drop in months!

Over at the Barlow's, Deirdre is also nursing a hangover but Ken isn't very sympathetic. He wonders if she's going to do it all again at the Hard-Hat party, adding that he hoped she might show some solidarity and stay in with him.

Steve asks Becky if she's going to go to the doctor's to get the pregnancy confirmed. Becky however, reckons that she peed on a stick and she's definitely pregnant. He says the doctor would be able to tell when she's going to give birth, but Becky doesn't want to think about that. He reminds her that twins run in his family but she tells him that she's only just got her head around one baby and can't think about two.

Janice's new lodger, Trev, arrives as Janice comes out of the bedroom looking shaken - she's just come face to face with a large, black spider. It's then Trev to the rescue as he goes bravely in there to sort the problem out. He's back a few minutes later with his hands cupped. He tells her to give the little fella a stroke, it's the only way she'll get over her phobia. He opens up his hands and Janice screams - and then realises that his hands are empty.

Leanne and Peter bump into Ciaran who's doing the catering for Betty's party. He then asks Peter if they've got anyone doing the catering for their party, offering to do it for a small fee. Peter thinks this is great and says they'll discuss the menu later on, and goes on up the street, with Leanne calling after him not to forget to pick Simon up.

Leanne then finds herself alone on the Street with Ciaran. She says she hopes he's not going to lead Peter astray. Ciaran says he knows Peter has always liked a pint, but Leanne tells him that the trouble is, Peter doesn't know when to stop, and explains that he's gone right now to his alcohol support group. She says that Peter's turned his life around and she doesn't want him going off the rails again.

In the Rover's, they're putting up decorations in preparation for Betty's party in honour of her being Weatherfield's (if not England's) oldest barmaid. Hayley and Anna arrive with a cake that Eddie has baked in Betty's honour.

Claire, delighted that Becky and Steve have sorted out their problems, arrives with a book all about childbirth. Becky looks as if she'd rather not think about the whole thing, and says she'll look at it later.

Peter is at his AA meeting, and tells them about slipping up. He tells them that he didn't think one mouthful would do any harm, and then found that it was ‘like coming home'. "It was wonderful!" he tells them. Far from being a moment of weakness he thinks it was a moment of strength because he put the bottle down and walked away. "That's a good thing, isn't it?" he asks. They tell him that he's fooling himself, but Peter disagrees. He thinks he's proved that he can have just one drink, he's realised that he doesn't have to drink himself into oblivion every time.

Janice is in the cafe with Trev when Kelly and Julie come in. They immediately start chatting him up, and Janice doesn't look happy.

We then see Peter walk out of his alcohol support group meeting, straight across the road and into a pub!

Back in Coronation Street, Ciaran tells Leanne that he has no idea that Peter's drinking had got so out of hand. She tells him how close Peter was to losing everything, and fills him in on everything that happened, finishing with the fire that nearly killed Simon. She explains that was what made Peter seek help. Ciaran promises that if he's with Peter not a drop of alcohol will pass his lips.

Just then, in the pub, Peter takes a phone call from Ken who tells him that no-one picked Simon up from school, so he went to get him. Peter tells him he thought Leanne was fetching Simon, he was in a meeting with his phone switched off. He pops a mint in his mouth and says he'll come and collect him.

Becky comes back from the doctor with the news that she's nine weeks pregnant and due to give birth in August. She then heads off upstairs for a lie down.

Betty's party is underway when an old lady comes to the bar and tells Betty she's not the oldest barmaid in Weatherfield. She tells her that she's ninety-one - so she is! Betty tells her to prove it and within moments the two are about to come to blows.

Peter arrives at Ken and Deirdre's house to pick up Simon. He's full of apologies saying he's been up to his eyeballs trying to sort out staffing. Ken asks if he can have a word and takes him to one side and asks if he's been drinking. Peter is immediately defensive. "One mint and suddenly I'm Oliver Reed! Am I staggering about, am I slurring my words?" Angrily he takes Simon and goes.

In the Rovers, they all sing Happy Birthday to Betty and Graeme helps her out by blowing out all the candles on her cake. Just then the old lady returns, waving her birth certificate about. "Born in 1919 which makes me 91!" she says triumphantly. Betty warns her that she might not make 92, but she says she'll be pulling pints in the Parson's Arms until she drops dead! "Bet you can't say the same," she says. Liz assures her that Betty has a job for as long as she wants it.

Janice's lodger, Trev, arrives back at the flat with cans of lager, and Janice finds she's made lots of food for dinner. They agree to share, and Janice looks very pleased indeed!

In the Rovers, Anna asks Hayley if she's looking forward to the salsa class. Hayley confesses to feeling a little nervous. Julie remarks that she could tell Hayley wouldn't have a good sense of rhythm, she could tell by the way she walks, she scuttles along like a little bird. Hayley is very put out and says that her auntie's mynah bird rocked back and forth to Ooma Paloma Blanca and if he can do she can!

Betty's taxi arrives to take her home. On her way out she sees the old lady she crossed swords with earlier and they trade a few more insults.

Back in Peter's flat, Leanne asks how his meeting went. He says it went ok, but he's realised that he doesn't have to take everything they say as gospel. "You take the stuff that works and throw away the rest," he says. He adds that he's sure he can handle the occasional drink, he's learned his lesson and he knows his limit. Leanne is worried, she tells him that one drink can lead to another, he'd done so well, he doesn't want to be chucking it all away. She begs him to promise he won't start drinking. He hesitates, and then tells her she's right. "Let's play it safe, eh?" he says.

Anne Logan

Welcome to another Friday night and the first of the two episodes.

Breakfast time at the junior Barlows and the grown-ups are busy organising the hard-hat party. Simon suggests party bags, which is a brilliant idea, according to Leanne.

It's also breakfast time at Janice's flat and she and the new lodger/bin man are getting on like a house on fire.

At Gail's, Joe's studying a map of the largest lake in England. Over ten miles long and over 200 feet deep. Gail's surprised she's going on a geography field trip instead of a romantic Valentine's treat. She reminds Joe that she's not very good on the water but he promises to take care of her.

Becky rushes to hide a pregnancy book behind the sofa cushions before Steve sees it. He comes in looking for his cigarettes, which Becky has thrown in the bin. Liz is surprised to hear they've both given up smoking (it was news to Steve, too) and gives Steve a week and Becky a day. Becky says she may well surprise Liz. When Becky's left the room, Liz bets Steve a tenner that Becky will be smoking again by teatime. Steve says he would take her money but it wouldn't be fair. He tells Liz that Becky is pregnant but it's a secret. Liz screams with joy and gives him a big hug, promising to keep the secret.

At the new bar, preparation continues. George tells Leanne he's arranged for a journalist to visit. He also points out that Ciaran is flirting with Eve.

Either the senior Barlows are having soup for breakfast or we've skipped ahead to lunchtime. Neither Ken nor Deirdre knows whether they're eating Minestrone, Mulligatawny or Oxtail soup and their pondering is interrupted by the arrival of Peter. He puts a jar of olives on the table because he doesn't have an olive branch. They agree to disagree and Peter asks Ken and Deirdre to have Simon tonight until the party is done. Ken refuses, because that would be helping Peter to promote the new bar. Peter is annoyed but tells Ken he's still invited to the party anyway.

In the bar, Becky's about to climb a ladder (to get some brandy for Betty's bread-and-butter pudding) and Liz stops her, giving her some flannel about health and safety and her being their best barmaid. I'm not sure Becky was convinced.

Roy and Hayley deal with the cake order from the factory. Anna's off to salsa dancing tonight and invites Hayley along, but Hayley's not sure.

Janice invites the lodger to the bar party but he's off out with his mates.

Peter tells Leanne he's taken Simon to Claire's. Leanne had a dream that nobody turned up. She's anxious because she wants this to work. Peter tells her the official Leanne fan club (Peter, Simon, Eve and George) is right behind her. Peter buoys her up.

Ken plans to sit and read a book. Deirdre thinks he should come to the party. Ken won't because it will imply he supports Peter. Deirdre tells him it will show Peter that Ken has faith in him. Ken still refuses. Deirdre wants to know what the view is like from that high horse. "I should keep your eyes open, because once you fall off it's a long way to the ground," she warns him.

The party is under way in the biggest railway arch in the world. Carla arrives and Ciaran flirts with her. George has two friends from the council who want to meet Leanne. Janice gives Peter a quick kiss for making Leanne happy.

Ken isn't reading his book. He's in the Rovers talking to Emily.

Hayley's pacing, nervous about the salsa classes. Anna, in pink tights and what looks like a khaki shawl, hustles her away.

Deirdre chat with Janice as Carla talks to Leanne. Leanne hopes the bar will be finished and ready to open in nine weeks. George tells her the press are here and want photos. Peter's busy serving and clearing up drinks but suddenly gives in to temptation and empties a glass.

Rick shouts at Joe and Joe shouts at Rick. Joe tries to get Rick to wait for his money. He points out that Rick could put him in hospital but that wouldn't get him the money. He wants a week to pay because he has a sure-fire plan.

Ken's explaining his problem to Emily, who tells him to follow his conscience. Michelle interrupts and tells him that even when Peter was drinking with Ciaran the other day, he stuck to his guns. Ken realises he's just putting extra pressure on Peter. Emily says you can waste a lot of energy fighting. Ken decides to call in to see Peter.

As he leaves the Rovers he passes Tina, who stops there as she notices Rick leaving Gail's.

Steve's annoyed because the Rovers is practically empty. Becky is annoyed because Steve told Liz. Steve blusters that Liz guessed but Becky points out they weren't going to tell anyone. As evidence for the defense, Steve produces the book Becky hid in the sofa cushions. The inscription says "property of Claire Peacock," he points out. "How did Claire's baby book get stuffed at the back of our sofa?" Becky says she told Claire before they agreed it was a secret. They both agree to tell nobody else. In the back room Liz and Betty are more worried about a missing hotpot. They had one that was well past its sell-by date, so they put it aside to throw out later. They think it's the hotpot that was served to Enid (the rival ancient barmaid). "You mean we might have poisoned the oldest barmaid in Manchester?" asks Steve.

Tina confronts Joe about Rick's visit. She recognised him as the one who came to look at her flat. Joe agrees to tell her the truth.

At the party, Ciaran catches Peter emptying another glass. "It's champagne," Peter points out, as if that makes a difference. It's a special night and he can handle it, he says. He doesn't realise Eve has been watching him. Peter's starting to be noticeably drunk and lectures a guest on the importance of nuts. He fetches two drinks from a passing tray. Deirdre is startled to see Ken arrive. Leanne's thrilled to have done an interview with the Manchester Evening News. She's appalled to see Peter drinking. He puts down the glass and tells her he's stopped. He starts to flatter her but she's clearly very worried. Peter comes across to greet Ken, who says he's there to support Peter. "I was wrong," Ken admits. Peter tells them today just keeps getting better and better. He takes drinks off another passing tray and passes them around, then leads a toast, swilling back a glass of champagne in one gulp. Ken sighs.

The end of the first episode.
More to come later.
Margaret Carr

Here is part 2 of Friday's episode

Peter's drunken escapades continue and Ken demands to know how long he has been drinking again. Peter ignores him and says that he has recovered. Ken insists that he is ill and he needs to get to grips with his alcoholism. Peter is having none of it. George approaches the situation as Leanne tries to coax some sense into Peter. George tries to take Leanne away for a press interview but she remains firmly at Peter's side, clearly worried about his actions. She asks Ken to try and help her take Peter home.

Michelle is aghast as Joe regales his debt troubles to her. She demands to know how much he owes to the loan sharks but he avoids answering, saying that he has everything under control. Understandably, Michelle doesn't believe this for one second and accuses him of burying his head in the sand.

Ciaran nervously approaches Peter and lies that there is a furniture supplier outside. Peter tells Ciaran to invite him in but Ciaran says that he is smoking. Peter agrees that that is a good idea and, after yelling his love across the room to Leanne he heads out for a cigarette

Tina asks Joe if Gail knows about his troubles. He admits that that is the reason she has put her house on the market. Tina is shocked at this but Joe says it won't come to that as he has an idea. Tina angrily reminds him that his ideas aren't up to much and then suggests she and Jason put their flat on the market. Joe says he doesn't need her money and he can sort this out himself.

Peter is confused to find Ken outside and not a furniture salesman. Ciaran advises Peter to listen to Ken but Peter is furious at him for leading him into this. Ken tells Peter that Leanne has asked for him to take Peter home but Peter refuses to believe this and tells Ken that when he's made a success of the bar and the Rovers has gone under, they'll all be begging him to let them in the bar.

Joe hurriedly begins packing a bag.

Steve is looking repulsed at Claire's book. Becky comes in and asks if he has given Enid the hot pot. He retorts that he had to do something to shut her up. Becky notices the book and orders Steve to put it away before making him promise not to tell anyone about the pregnancy until the 12 week landmark. Betty is looking frantic when they return and is convinced she will be jailed for murder. Becky comforts Betty saying that as Steve gave the hotpot it would be him who would go to jail.

Peter bursts back into the bar and demands of Leanne whether she asked Ken to take him home. She tells him that she did and when he cries that he thought they were in this together she replies tearfully that they were until his drinking started again. Ken tries to get Peter out again but he pushes him away and tells him that he's barred. He jokes to Leanne that they have barred their first troublemaker but nobody is laughing. Losing patience Ken cries at Peter that he is an alcoholic and not on the road to recovery, in fact he is a pathetic drunkard. George tries to take Peter aside but Peter merely tells him to bribe the journalists to keep them quiet about this. Ciaran tries to assist George but peter demands to know what everyone is staring at, before flinging Ciaran across a table and onto the floor. As a tearful Leanne looks on, peter shrugs and says it's an accident and it doesn't have to ruin the night. As he takes another swig of his bottle, the guests all start to leave. He begs them to come back but his slurs fall on deaf ears.

Becky is in conversation with Roy and Hayley. Hayley is full of the joys from her salsa class but Becky doesn't waste any time in letting slip her good news. She makes Hayley guess so that it isn't technically her telling them. Roy and Hayley are beaming but Becky quietens them down and she warns them that Steve mustn't know that they know.

Joe books a trip to the Lakes for the upcoming Monday. Gail reminds him that she is working on Monday but Joe tells her he was offered a deal he couldn't turn down. He gushes that this break is just what they need and it could solve all their problems

Steve is moaning about how quiet the Rovers is to Betty. Liz comes in and tells a worried Betty that Enid can't keep anything down. However, it looks like it's a hangover and not the hotpot that has brought on the illness. Steve jokes that if Enid had died then it could have been one in and one out. Betty doesn't have a clue what he's on about so Steve makes Liz tell her that she is pregnant. Betty takes she to mean Enid but Steve corrects her by saying it's Becky. He looks dumbfounded when Liz points out that that means it was him who told her.

George offers to stay with Leanne in time for Peter coming home. Leanne tells him not to worry, Peter isn't a nasty drunk, he'll be coming home full of grovels and apologies as she has seen it all before. George follows Eve, who has taken Simon.

Hayley tells Steve all about her salsa. Steve says that he has some good news too. Hayley cries out that she already knows Becky is pregnant but Steve was just going to tell her Enid isn't dead. Roy tells Steve that they already had guessed but he seems annoyed with Becky for breaking their promise. At this point Betty comes through and congratulates Becky, thus dropping Steve well and truly in it.

Joe visits Tina and apologises for their argument earlier. He assures her that no one would bother her as he and Gail are sorting everything out. He tells her that they're going to the Lakes to clear their heads before saying that he loves her. Tina asks him to be careful on the boat. They hug and Tina asks Joe how long he'll be away for. He says tearfully a few days but no matter what happens he will always love her and he will come back. As they part, Joe seems aware that it may be the last time he sees his daughter for a very long time...

Peter comes home and says that he thinks he has persuaded the journalist to give them a good write up. He asks where their wine is and Leanne looks heartbroken. He assures her that he can start and stop any time he wants and that he is in control. Leanne tearfully tells him that the bar is finished and they can't go on like this. She informs him that he embarrassed everyone and he doesn't even know it. He argues that it was just a few drinks. She tells him bluntly that he was out of control. He looks devastated as she tells him that George has taken Simon as he's afraid of what Peter is capable of. She blames herself for thinking Peter could handle it but he protests that he can. Leanne breaks into tears and tells him he is an alcoholic. He tries to reassure her but she tells him that he needs help. She heads to bed, leaving Peter alone with his thoughts and his headache...

Duncan Lindsay

Written by David Lane Directed by Tony Prescott

It's a busy morning out on the Street with cars and pedestrians all over the place. Joe is packing up gear onto the boat in into a hire car to get ready for their sojourn back up to the Lakes. (Yes it's a hire car, for anyone wondering why he couldn't just sell it to give the loan shark the money, something he *could* do with the boat!) Jason gives him a hand and Joe says they got such a good deal they decided not to go at the weekend. Joe is nervous and looks shifty, as he does, when Jason asks if they'll be back by the weekend because he's got a surprise for Tina. Joe continues to store the big, rolled up deflated dingy, glancing around to see if anyone's looking.

Things are pretty chilly in the home of Barlow the Younger. Peter staggers out, very hungover and Leanne gives him the silent treatment. He struggles with a few words but is told "sorry" isn't going to help much, so he doesn't say it and asks after Simon who is with George and Eve. She's furious with him and says they need to talk but not now. She leaves him with his thumping head in his hands.

Joe peeks outdoors again to see if the loan shark is lurking and goes back inside to hurry Gail along. He just wants to get out of town, obviously. He peers through the nets and chivvies her along again. She hugs David goodbye but the phone rings and it's Nick apparently. Joe sighs with frustration as it looks like she's going to settle in for a conversation.

While Peter is in the shower, Leanne is on the phone to George, apologizing. She feels that she's to blame because Peter only went ahead with the plan for her. George plans to come over later. Eve asks George how Leanne is and he reckons Leanne didn't have any idea Peter would slip like that. Simon mentions his daddy picking him up from school but when told that his dad isn't feeling too well, is distracted by the temptation of a ride in George's cool car.

Back at Platt Towers, Gail is still chatting to Nick who seems to be having a housing crisis. Joe is beside himself, pacing with impatience. Gail offers to cancel her trip if Nick needs her, much to Joe's panic but she's finally off the phone and ready to go.

Ken decides to go over to see what's up with Peter. Deirdre knows Ken is wishing George and Leanne and Peter had taken his misgivings more seriously. Deirdre offers to go instead, because of the contention between Peter and his father and Ken sees the value in that. He sends a message, that he just wants to know Peter is ok. Deirdre smiles ironically, says there's one good thing in all this... "Me mother's in Portugal!" (I bet it was tough to deliver that line considering...)

Gail has stopped into the salon to pass on Nick's news to Audrey. Joe makes a romantic speech about how much he feels about Gail. Gail is charmed, David and Audrey less so. Tina runs across for a hug. Joe is sentimental but finally gets Gail in the car and off they go trailing their Gail force behind them.

Leanne throws the keys to the bookies at Peter to open up. But he was planning to go around to everyone and apologize. No way, she says, open the shop and she takes off because she's fed up with looking at him. Peter comes out onto the street just as Janice comes round the corner. Janice tears a strip off Peter for treating Leanne like he did. Peter doesn't unlock the shop and walks away instead.

Rick comes to the Platts' and asks David where Joe is and is told that Joe is away for a few days. David doesn't let out much information and Rick doesn't give out much either but says to pass on a message, that he'll be waiting and Rick's not happy. (He's got Joe's phone number doesn't he?) Tina sees him talking to David. After he drives off, she runs to catch up with David and asks about the man. She says he's the one that looked at their flat and finds out he also looked at the Platt house. She tells David that he's a loan shark that Joe owes big time. David freaks out and doesn't think whatever Joe's plan is to sort it out is going to be any good.

Leanne is in the Joinery, looking at her shattered dreams. Janice comes in to see her. Leanne reckons Peter couldn't cope and doesn't want to do it without him. Janice tells her Peter didn't open up after all. Flamin' 'ell!

A couple from nearby come over to greet Joe and Gail. They tell Joe and Gail about a nice pub in the village but Joe's anxious to get on the water. The couple leaves and Joe hands Gail a lifejacket.

Janice has met up with Ken by the corner shop. They talk about Peter's whereabouts, probably drinking just as Peter, clearly drunk, comes staggering to the corner. He hears them talking about him and stays around out of view, eavesdropping. You know what happens when you eavesdrop? You don't hear anything good about yourself and that's about the size of it now. Peter hears them talk about how upset Leanne is and how he'll have to choose between her and the bottle. George arrives to help look for Peter. All this seems to bother Peter but likely he'll just try to drink his troubles away.

On the lake, with a cold and chilly looking sky above, Gail is perched nervously at the back of the boat. Joe is relaxed and enjoying himself. He talks about how it feels like he could sail away to a new life.

Leanne and George still haven't found Peter. Leanne apologizes yet again and George hugs her.

Back up in the cottage in front of a fire, Gail and Joe are having a bottle of wine. She says the boat wasn't *too* bad but still isn't so sure about it. When told that the thing swinging about was a boom, she comments that whoever called it that was probably just hit on the head with it (Oh, dear, phrase of doom, anyone?) Joe asks her what she would give to turn her back on problems and start over with a clean slate. She admits she's been playing the lottery in hopes. Even a little of it to clear the debts would be nice. Joe broaches his subject. He says they could disappear, like the "canoe guy" that faked his own death (and reappeared in Panama a few years later and sent to prison, it's been in the news.) Joe points out that guy made mistakes and tells her he is worth more dead than alive. His mobile rings, a call from Tina but he isn't' going to answer it. He continues, she'd have to manage for a few years if he faked his death but she'd get the insurance money in the end. She looks shocked.

We're in a dark and empty Joinery. Peter comes in, lights a ciggie and opens up more booze that's been sat on the bar since the party the night before.

Meanwhile, Gail pours more wine. He's trying to impress on her that he owes Rick a small fortune and can't go to the police because he's got no proof. He reveals that Rick is the guy she showed around the house and that he looked at Tina's flat too, all in the name of intimidation. Joe cries that Rick will squeeze him dry go after him and his family. Joe lays out his plan. He'll take the boat out at night and not come back in the morning. She reports him missing while he hides out in Ireland somewhere, working for cash. Gail is horrified, upset and trying to talk him out of it when she realizes he's been planning it for weeks. He says the insurance will eventually pay up and it'll be their clean slate. The answer to all their problems.

Do tell?

Tvor

Gail is frantically trying to talk Joe out of his ridiculous plan to fake his own death. She wants to put the house on the market but Joe explains that by the time the loan shark has taken his whack out of the proceeds, they won't have any money left. He tells Gail how terrified the loan shark makes him. He explains that his plan is to take the boat out in the lake tonight, in the dark & leave the boat in the middle of the lake while he hops in a dinghy. He will take the dinghy over to the other side of the lake and push it back out into the water. He'll leg it and nobody will be any the wiser. Gail points out that it'll only take one person to see him but Joe is adamant. He wants Gail to be the one to call the police and report him missing.

Leanne, Deirdre and Ken are worried about Peter. They have no clue where he is, what he's doing or what he's thinking. Ken promises that Peter will be fine and that when he gets home, they will have him straightened out in no time.

Gail is still trying to talk some sense into Joe. She points out that Joe wants her to do so much lying to the police, the insurance companies and her own family. She's not happy and her voice is raised. She reminds Joe how devastated Tina will be to think of Joe as dead. Gail thinks Joe is stark raving mad and reaches for the phone to call the police about the loan shark. Joe tackles her and refuses to let her call. Gail pleads, "There has to be another way!"

Out in the street, Deirdre asks Tina if she's seen Peter. Tina hasn't. She also hasn't been able to reach her father on the phone. Tina looks worried.

Peter turns up at George's house, absolutely crappers. He wants to pick up Simon and to apologise for having too much to drink. George tells Peter to call a cab, and go home to bed. George doesn't want Simon to see Peter a drunken, slobbering fool. Peter creates a scene, calling to Simon through the house. Poor Simon knows that his dad is drunk. George forces Peter outside and tells Peter he's an embarrassment. He urges Peter to go home and sleep the drink off. He tells Peter he doesn't want either Simon or Eve upset any more than they already are. Peter gives up and takes a long swig from another bottle. George goes inside to tell Simon that everything's going to be ok and that he will see his daddy tomorrow.

Gail and Joe are having a full on fight as Gail tries to prevent Joe from taking the boat out in the middle of the night. The nice people they met earlier see them carrying on like a pair of pork chops, shake their heads and leave. Gail tells Joe she can't let him do this. Joe's phone rings but he doesn't answer. Gail twists Joe's wrist in the struggle. Joe throws Gail off the boat. As he pulls away from the side Gail pleads with him not to do this while Joe pleads with Gail to just call the police for him. "I love you, Gail," he says as he pulls away from her.

Gail gets back to the holiday apartment and breaks down in front of the fire. Her phone rings but she is too distraught to answer. She tries calling Joe. She leaves a message, sobbing, for him to listen to her.

Michelle and Ciaran are at the bar, talking about Peter. Ciaran wants to know if it was the drink that came between her and Peter. All Michelle will say is that Peter is a lovely guy but Leanne is welcome to him. Michelle and Ciaran flirt a little before Peter turns up and demands a drink. Michelle refuses to serve him. Peter threatens to head round the back of the bar and get his own. Jason comes to the rescue and sends Peter packing. Peter knocks Audrey over on the way out. She comes to the bar, telling Jason how it breaks her heart to see Peter in such a state. Meanwhile, Tina is worried for her dad. She asks Audrey if she has been in touch with Joe or Gail. Jason knows there's something troubling Tina. Tina promises to tell Jason later.

Joe is floating away on the middle of the lake in the dark. His phone rings and he ignores it, leaving it on the boat. He tries to climb off the boat and into the dinghy. His wrists hurts him and he lets out a cry. He drops the line to the dinghy and is dismayed to see the dinghy float away from the side of the boat.

George turns up in his flash Audi on the street just as Ken turns the corner. George tells Ken about Peter turning up to the house. Ken is flabbergasted that George let Peter leave. Leanne turns up and tells the news of Peter making a spectacle of himself. They all go inside. Leanne explains to Ken, George & Deirdre that Peter is drunk again. George is shocked that Peter's alcoholism is so bad. Ken thinks they should all shoulder some responsibility for Peter's relapse. Seemingly, Ken hasn't learned anything about being the relative of an alcoholic. Deirdre thinks they should all sit down, have a cup of tea and discuss what to do about Peter.

Peter is in the bookies. Ciaran turns up and tells Peter how everyone is worried about him. Peter feels sorry for himself and thinks that nobody is worried about him, they're all worried about themselves. Ciaran tries to talk sense to him. He offers Ciaran a beer. Peter refuses to talk to anyone about what has happened but he knows he has to sooner or later. He opens a can of beer and says, "Here's to later!"

Peter's loved ones are all talking about how to make him better. George offers to pay for Peter to go into private rehab. Leanne refuses to be a part of locking Peter away into rehab against his will.

Ciaran asks Peter how long he intends to hide away. Peter knows he'll have to face the music. He still insists that he can handle the booze. Ciaran clearly doesn't believe him. He tells Peter to take care before he leaves.

Joe is reaching over the side of the boat, trying to urge the dinghy towards him. He has a bit of success but it floats away again. His phone continues to ring as Tina and Gail try to contact him. He sees how futile his plan to reach the dinghy is and stands up, just as a gust of wind blows the boom into him knocking him over the side of the boat. He flails about in the freezing water while his phone rings and rings and rings.

Tina is at home, on the other end of the phone. She has told Jason about the loan shark. Jason is furious that Joe has left them in this position with a loan shark hanging about. Tina tries to call her dad again.

Joe continues to flail about in the water while Gail screams from the holiday cottage, "Joe....." Her cries echo across the lake. She stands on the side and cries while Joe holds onto the side of the boat for dear life. He can't hold on for long. He lets go of the boat and sinks into the inky, freezing depths of the lake. His phone rings the whole time.

Stella McLoughlin

In the lakeside chalet, Gail wakes up on the sofa and starts calling wildly for Joe, to no avail. She runs outside and looks across the lake and then tries to phone him again, but it just goes to his voicemail. She leaves a message, begging him to call.

Back in Coronation Street, Peter wakes up and tries to apologise to Leanne, but she's cross and won't accept his apologies. He promises that he's going to sort himself out, but she tells him talk is cheap!

Back at the lake, Gail is walking and still trying to phone Joe. Then she rings David and asks him to come up to there, straight away. "Is Joe there?" he asks. "David, will you just do as I ask," she says, "I need you here, this is serious!"

Tina is another one trying to phone her dad, but without any luck, obviously. Jason is talking to her about estate agents, the housing market seems dead at the moment, and Tina wonders where they're going to live next.

In the chalet, Gail hears a noise and rushes to the door, however, it's just a chambermaid bringing fresh linen. "Breakfast alone?" she asks Gail, who then stammers that her husband has gone out for a walk.

Ken meets Leanne in the street and asks if Peter found his way home last night. She confirms that he did, adding that there's only so much she can take.

Over in the bookies, Peter goes to a filing cabinet and takes out a bottle of whisky and takes a gulp from it.

David has arrived at the lake, and asks Gail what's happened. She tells him that he mustn't tell anybody about it. David wonders if this is all about the loan shark that's been sniffing around. Gail explains that Joe has a plan to raise the money to pay off all his debt. "What is it?" smirks David, "win the lottery?" In hushed tones, Gail tells him that Joe plans to fake his own death and claim on the life insurance. At first David laughs, not taking it seriously at all. Then he studies Gail's face and his smile disappears. "You are joking?" he says.

In the Rovers, Eileen joins Jason and Tina, but Tina makes her excuses and goes back to work, telling Jason not to forget her Valentines surprise. When she's gone, Jason tells his mum that he's got a plan for something a bit different.

Gail tells David how she and Joe had an argument and the last she saw of him was when he sailed away. She says she rang him because she had to turn to somebody. "So you're supposed to ring the police now and tell them he's missing while he lays low in Ireland?" says David, and Gail agrees that that was Joe's plan, but now she doesn't know what to do, she's terrified. She asks David what the loan shark said, and he tells her that Rick wasn't happy. Gail says Joe was under pressure, terrified for his life. David's advice is to call the police, Joe has been an accident waiting to happen ever since she met him. "I'm sorry Mam," he says, "but you've married yet another head case!" Gail doesn't want to get him into trouble, she feels she's his wife and should help him. David's opinion is that he's dragged her into a bonkers plan and she doesn't owe him a thing. All he's done since day one is lie through his teeth. Gail insists that she can't go to the police, but David tells her she ought to watch it or she'll end up in trouble herself. Gail thinks that Joe will get to the ferry port and then realise what an idiot he's been and then come back, she has to give him a bit longer.

Sunita visits Dev at the shop and tells him that her two great aunts are coming over from India to stay and they think she and Dev are still married. No one told them because they didn't want to upset them. Dev suggests she tells them he's at a conference, but Sunita doesn't think she can tell them that for the whole week.

David and Gail are walking round the lake. "What is it about your blokes and water?" he asks her, "you had Richard Hillman who tried to drown us all." Just then Gail stops, she's seen the boat! She tries to ring him, but there's no answer. "We must get out there," she says, "in case he's still on it." David points out they'll need a boat. "Well go and get one!" she cries.

George goes into the bookies to see Peter. He tells him that Simon wants to know when he can see his daddy and he's told him he can see Peter tonight. George studies Peter closely. "Have you been drinking?" he asks him. Peter says he hasn't, but George doesn't believe him. "So this is a check up visit, is it George?" says Peter, getting annoyed, and starts shouting that nobody tells him what he can do with his own son. "Right," says George, and leaves. Peter flings his coffee cup against the wall in a temper.

David arrives at the lake edge in a red, inflatable dinghy. Gail gets in and they sail off towards the boat.

As Peter picks up the pieces of broken china when Leanne comes in and tells him she's just seen George. He starts shouting that the only reason he's drinking is because he can't see Simon. "The frightening thing is you actually believe that," says Leanne, reminding him that he nearly killed Simon in the fire because he'd been drinking and if she was George she wouldn't let Peter see Simon either.

Gail and David approach the boat, with Gail shouting Joe's name. David points out that the dinghy isn't there, it looks like he's done it. He climbs aboard and finds Joe's phone. Gail tells him that was part of the plan. "Now what?" asks David. Gail thinks that in order to protect Joe they will have to take the boat back home.

Leanne visits Ken, who thinks the only answer is to get Peter into rehab, he needs professional help. "How do we go about it?" asks Leanne. Ken says he's not sure, but with Simon caught up in the middle they need to act fast.

With the boat back at their mooring, Gail checks Joe's phone and finds lots of messages from Tina. David unties the dinghy and pushes it out across the lake. It's run out of petrol and he can't take it back where he got it from. Gail says they'll stay one more night to see if Joe comes back, and take stock tomorrow. "This is crazy!" says David.

Anne Logan

Hello all, and welcome to the first episode for Friday night.

We begin at Peter's house. He's been out early, supposedly for a run. He tells Leanne it's a start. He wants to take Simon to school but Leanne wants him to let the dust settle. Leanne thinks they have things to talk about but Peter doesn't want Simon sitting at school thinking his dad doesn't care. He decides to go off to get Simon without even having a shower first. As soon as he's gone, Leanne gets on the phone to George and Eve. She tells Eve that Peter's on his way over and that he's full of beans.

David's packing up everything at the house on the lake. Gail isn't sure she wants to go but David points out she said she'd wait just one more night. He thinks they should leave Joe to sweat it out without access to his bank or mobile. He points out that Gail doesn't have a story ready to tell anyone about why Joe hasn't come back. "Nine-nine-nine would be a lot easier," he tells her, handing her a phone. Gail flaps that she's not ready.

George looks grim as Peter arrives. There's a little battle as George and Eve ignore Peter and put Simon into their car. George tells Peter than he can smell alcohol on Peter's breath and won't put Simon at risk. They drive off, leaving Peter glaring after them.

Sunita and Dev are spring cleaning. Dev tells her he's thought that they should pretend they're still married to fool the aunts. The doorbell goes as Dev's telling her he blames her parents for not wanting to tell the aunts Sunita is a failure. Lo! The aunts are here already. One aunt reminds the other that Dev is the husband with the seven shops. "Six," corrects Dev. "And a restaurant."

Tina's trying to get Audrey to tell her when Gail and Joe are due back. Audrey's more worried about David being a record-breaking two hours and 30 minutes late. That's all blown into the shade when Audrey discovers that Natasha is booked in to have her roots done by Alexi at another salon! "THE Alexi of Alexi's," she points out.

David and Gail are talking, still at the lake house. David talks her through an excuse - they should say that Joe met a bloke and has a job fitting kitchens in Kendal. David tells her to stick to that story no matter what, otherwise she and Joe are going down for fraud and he's going down for conspiracy.

Sunita's having a wee panic about how to explain things to the aunties. She's furious at Dev for pretending they're still married. Dev tells her he'll toss a coin for it. Either he confesses to being a fantasist or she confesses that she can't hang on to one man, let alone two. "Either way, you break their little Gujarati hearts."

Ken and Deirdre go into the bookies looking for Peter. Ken says Leanne has to give Peter an ultimatum to get him into rehab. She thinks it would just make her part of the problem instead of part of the solution. She wants to know what will happen if he refuses rehab and kicks her out.

David and Gail struggle to get the boat hitched up to the car. The police arrive. David warns Gail to stick to the story.

Deirdre, Ken and Leanne continue their discussion in the street. Ken tells her that George is bringing Simon to them tonight. They want Leanne to bring Peter round so they can discuss the idea of a private clinic, as suggested by George. Deirdre convinces Ken he's being too hard on Leanne. As they walk away, she asks what time they want Peter there.

Over a cup of tea, the aunties complain about the flight over. But they're looking forward to seeing the twins. Sunita tries to send Dev to pick them up from school but the aunties insist Sunita does that so they can cross-examine Dev. They want to know whether they'll be having more children, when they'll be bringing the twins to India, and more.

The police officer makes conversation with Gail and David. Gail says her husband is the expert on boats but he's had to go back early because of work. The police are there to ask about a missing dinghy. Gail and David play innocent. Gail says they're leaving soon. "I wouldn't bank on it," says the officer. He points out that David will never get the trailer to the boat unless he releases the catch.

The aunties want to see the wedding albums so Dev's trying to find them. He has to phone Sunita to find out they're in the loft.

Leanne arrives home to find Peter in bright spirits. He offers to blow into a bag. He thinks he's just been given a bad name. "You blew it big time," she tells him. Peter thinks everyone's now treating him like a naughty schoolboy. Leanne tells him he has to grow up if he wants to be treated like an adult. She tells him that Simon will be at Ken and Deirdre's tonight. She suggests he call in but Peter doesn't want everyone sitting in judgement. Leanne tells him it's a chance to show he can be responsible, sober and patient and put Simon to bed. She says the alternative is not to see Simon at all. He's playing right into their hands.

Aadi and Asha dance in the living room. Dev's torn his jeans getting into the loft. Once the music is turned off, Sunita discovers the aunts aren't planning to go back to the Midland (hotel) but back to the Midlands (next week). They intend to stay with Dev and Sunita. Sunita says how thrilled she is that she and Dev will be able to see more of the aunties.

Peter arrives at his father's house. Deirdre says she's just had a call from Blanche, who's having Steak on a Stone for dinner. Peter asks where Simon is. From the look on Ken and George's faces Peter realises it was a lie and he blames Leanne. Deirdre shouts at him not to dare blame any of this on Leanne. Furious, Peter tries to leave but Ken shouts at him that they're going to sort this mess out once and for all.

It's dark in the Lake District and Gail stands on the dock with David, both silhouetted against a full moon. David produces a Valentine's card he found in the bedside cabinet. Gail weeps as she says she'll open it on Valentine's Day. "Will I ever see him again?" she asks.

The End of episode one.
Margaret Carr

Episode Two and there is nothing but lies and cover ups from the Weatherfield locals.

First up (or next up I should say, seeing as we are a continuation of earlier) is Gail and David. She panics as Audrey tries to contact her. David tells her to just stick to the story they have come up with. She misses the call, but they go over the story together anyway for future scenarios.

There is still much tension at the Barlow household. Peter is determined that he should be allowed to have Simon back. George cries that nobody in here can cure Peter. Leanne softly tries to suggest to Peter that he tries rehab again. He reminds her that the waiting list is huge but George tells him that he will pay for private care if he has the commitment to follow it through.

Sunita is up in arms over her aunts week long visit and demands of Dev what they are going to do. Dev starts coming up with an idea that he has been called away but she tells him that he will have to stay and take the flak as much as she does. The big issue is keeping the twins away from the aunts..Sunita and Dev are going to have to work shifts!

Peter tells George that he doesn't want charity. George sees it as an investment not a charity but tells Peter he can pay him back if he feels so awkward. Peter scoffs that he can't afford it and this is all too much pressure. Deirdre wails that he is being offered a solution here but Peter retorts that she knows nothing about it. Peter then turns on George, accusing him of exploiting his illness to get his hands on Simon. Peter storms out, determined to get Simon back and he pushes Ken to the floor when he tries to get in his way

Jason and Tina are having a Valentines meal and he presents her with his and Sarah's divorce papers as a gift. Although to most this would be a smack-worthy gift, Tina is over the moon and heads out to buy some champagne. Jason handles a boxed ring as she goes, allowing himself a secret smile. Outside, Tina bumps into Gail and asks where Joe is. She blusters that he got a job out there working on an old folks home. Tina tells her that she will still be able to visit at weekends but David says that Joe is working round the clock so there won't be time.

Sunita is horrified to see her aunts excited that Dev is to give them a tour of his empire. Another character prone to making up lies on the spot, Sunita says that Dev has been called away on business and has to leave early in the morning.

Gail and David arrive home. Gail is surprised and slightly shaken when Nick comes down the stairs. David correctly assumes that Nick is now homeless but he says it's just a setback. Nick asks where Joe is and a shaky Gail runs him through the story before heading upstairs for a lie down. Judging by his bemused expression, Nick knows something isn't right.

Dev is thinking on his feet as the aunts quiz him over how long he'll be gone and what the meeting is about. Sunita throws a bag at Dev and, seeing how full it is, the aunts panic that they won't see Dev again. Cue some over the top coughing from Grishma, and Dev is emotionally blackmailed into staying.

Nick asks David for the real story. David tells him that that she and Joe had a row. Nick asks if Joe is violent but David tells him that he isn't. David shrugs and says that now he is working on this job he might finally prove himself. Nick doesn't look sure.

Peter turns up at Eve's and bangs on the door, demanding to see Simon. Inside, Eve looks frightened.

Tina is back but is mulling over Gail's story, still wondering why Joe hasn't phoned. Jason tells her to shut up about Joe for a second, before presenting her with a ring. She bursts with excitement as Jason proposes.

Peter sees Simon through the window. He tells the lad that he is here to take him home. Simon tries to open the door for him. Eve tries to usher Simon to bed but he manages to unlatch the door. The security chain remains however and Peter tells Simon he doesn't need the chain. George's car pulls up but Simon tells his dad to run. Peter says everything will be different from now on and he will never drink again. Simon doesn't believe him as George rushes past to check on Eve. Peter collapses on Leanne and begs her to help. He is going into rehab as soon as he can.

Dev lies down on his airbed. A hissing sound becomes apparent and Dev is unimpressed to find he has a puncture.

Gail has opened Joe's card. It has silly messages in like 'Joe 4 Gail' and 'Never 2 Part' David points out that the last one turned out to be wrong. Gail is tearful but David tells her she'll have to pull it together as her lies so far have been pathetic. He warns her that is she starts telling people, he'll go to the police himself. Gail gasps that David doesn't even trust Nick but he says he doesn't trust her never mind Nick. Gail cries that she thought David was on her side. He replies that he is, but if she doesn't up her game then he will blow the whistle on the whole situation.

Duncan Lindsay

Gail's arms are covered in bruises but she hides them under the dressing gown before David comes into the room. She's hoping Joe will come to his senses and call and freaks out when David grabs the phone from her. He warns her to keep her voice down so Nick doesn't hear. Her skewed logic says she isn't covering for Joe because she doesn't want him to get into trouble so she's not saying anything to anyone. Um. Yeah.

Outside, Nick has been for a run so wouldn't have overheard anything anyway. As he returns, he sees Carla arrive at the factory and is intrigued. He goes inside, Gail runs to the door looking hopeful and is crushed when she sees it's only Nick. She says she's ok and goes to put the kettle on. (watch for this, they're all going to be tea-logged by the end of the episode!) He and David trade insults. Nick asks who the dark haired woman at the factory is and gets the name Carla for his efforts. He heads up for a shower. David whispers to Gail that she's going to have to act more normal or people will suspect. Stick to the story, he's working away and that's it.

Tina is admiring her new ring and having a cuddle with Jason, telling him she really loves her ring. They discuss where they're going to live while they look for another fixer-upper. As she makes a phone call to her dad, Jason suggests Eileen might let them move back in there temporarily. They decide to have a combination engagement and birthday party on Thursday, her birthday, and hoping her dad will be back by then. He calls her Mrs. Grimshaw. She hesitates, and says My God. That sounds.... minging!

Sunita has had her turn in the shower and Dev is still on the air bed on the floor, wailing in pain. She's not overly sympathetic because she knows he's exaggerating. Which he is, as he pops up and sits on the bed. She reminds him that the aunties are only here for a week. Sunita will get the kids ready for a holiday camp while Dev showers.

David and Gail head down the street. Eileen calls over, "back then...?" Gail just hollers "Yep" but doesn't turn around and Eileen ironically remarks that it's a shame they didn't fall in. Ooops! Gail moans about having to lie to people about where Joe is and runs into the first one. Her mother. She smiles and says the holiday was lovely and makes excuses for David not showing up for work on Friday. She has to admit that Joe is working in the Lake District, a sudden job opportunity. David helped her get the boat back to Weatherfield (did he actually pass his driver's test? And don't you need a special license to be able to pull a boat? Not easy for the experienced driver!) Gail manages to put Audrey off and goes to work.

Jason and Tina show off the ring and spread the happy news at Eileen's. Eileen and Sean are delighted. Jesse cites divorce statistics that he just happens to be reading in the newspaper. Nice.

Dev walks into the bedroom with a towel over his head and makes a remark about christening the shower but he's gone into the wrong bedroom and is embarrassed that one of the auntie's sees him in nothing but a towel. He's flustered of course, backs up and naturally the towel drops. Auntie G takes it all in her stride.

Eileen admires the ring a bit more. The happy couple tells Sean that they are going to have a party on Thursday. Sean rushes off to work after giving both Tina and Jason a big squishy hug. Jason asks if they can move back in temporarily. Jesse isn't happy because he keeps his props in Jason's old bedroom and puts the parrot in there for a quiet time every day. Eileen overrules him. Her son get's precedence over a bird. Jesse isn't best pleased.

Dev tries to get out of the house but Aunties insist he stay for a full cooked breakfast. Auntie Upma tells Dev about spending school holidays with her son and how close they were. Now he's a professional dancer in Vancouver and his "room mate" Jeff, is a fashion designer. Sounds a bit like Sheridan Bucket if you ask me! (Keeping Up Appearances). Dev keeps calling for Sunita desperately but she manages to escape to take the kids to their holiday club, leaving Dev in the clutches of the Aunties.

Jason and Tina come to Gail's and are surprised to see Nick answering the door. Gail arrives from work but tells Tina she doesn't have any landline number for Joe. Gail is pleased to hear about the engagement and party but she uncomfortably covers when she mentions Joe's return, saying she doesn't know when he's due back. She'll pass on the message and she goes in. Nick congratulates them and goes back inside, too, where he quizzes Gail who's checking the messages. (none). She puts off his questions and goes to put the kettle on. Again.

After the break, we're in the salon. Audrey is making tea (!) for her and Nick. They discuss Joe and Nick says that David had a tale about a row. Audrey certainly doesn't believe the story about a job in Cumbria. Joe running off after the row is more likely in her opinion. She insists she's never trusted Joe and he can be very angry and spiteful. She reckons if he has legged it, she hopes he keeps going. Nick takes a slurp of the tea and has to rush off. Probably to avoid more tea.

Becky and Claire are drinking tea and chatting about pregnancy. No morning sickness or cravings yet. Claire recalls how Ashley would go out and get her pork scratchings any time of the day or night. He couldn't do enough for her. Becky looks thoughtful. Steve comes in and they cuddle up. He asks how she's feeling and can he get her anything and she raises an eyebrow and tells him she's not feeling very well and really wants one of Roy's all day breakfasts and a strawberry cornetto. He jumps up, eager to help, to go to Roy's to fetch it for her. Claire just smiles slyly and scolds Becky after Steve leaves but finds it all amusing. "You got to make him feel involved, hadn't you?" Becky whispers.

Carla is in the office working. Sean says there's a bloke there to see her, Gail's son Nick. Carla isn't inclined to see him until Sean says Nick is absolutely gorgeous. Nick comes in and tells her he used to help run the factory for Mike Baldwin and learned everything he knew there (which wasn't much. Mike sacked him if you will recall). He tells Carla he is looking for somewhere to invest. She's cagey but tells him she's already got a partner and is doing just fine. She doesn't think he could afford it anyway and dismisses him. He says the offer was genuine. Just think about it. He tries to be charming and leaves with a smile. She looks intrigued and somewhat bemused as well.

Lunchtime in the Rovers, the topic of conversation is the newly engaged couple. Most are pleased, Jesse seems a bit marriage-shy and Becky is a bit marriage-cynical. Sean is perusing the tv listings and wishes he could be home to watch a double "Murder She Wrote" and then a weepy film. Becky moans about having to work. Steve comes in asking how Becky is and she swings the lead again, putting on that she's still feeling poorly so he ushers her back up the stairs to have a few hours rest in front of the telly with her feet up. Sorted.

Jesse talks to Sean about how crowded it's going to be with Tina and Jason underfoot but Sean is all "More the Merrier". Jesse is dubious.

The aunties have been round to see all Dev's shops and are now in the corner shop when Claire comes in. Dev introduces them and makes very broad hints that he and Sunita are still together. She goes along with it. He sends the aunties around to have a look at the shop flat then tells Claire what the plot is. Seems like it wasn't such a good plan but he thinks the pretending has brought them a bit closer. Claire suggests it would be a lot easier just to ask Sunita out to dinner.

Gail is sighing in the house alone. When the doorbell rings, she runs to the door but it's Rick the shark. She spits that she knows who he is and what he's doing. She tries to shut the door on him which he isn't having. She gives him short shrift and threatens to call the police on him so he backs off. Nick has seen this from across the street and is concerned. He goes back in to the house and asks what's going on. She puts him off and offers to make him... a sandwich this time. He reaches for her arm and she gasps in pain. He finds out about the bruises and is horrified. He wants the truth. Can he handle the truth? Find out next half hour!

Tvor

Gail rushes inside, protesting to Nick that her bruises are nothing to worry about. Nick asks if the bruises were caused by Joe. David has told him that she and Joe have been rowing. Gail simply tells him that it's none of his business. David comes home and wants to know what's going on. He tells Nick to lighten up and when Nick insists that he needs to talk to Joe, tells him, "Great! You know where he is, have a good trip!" Nick just wants to know if his mum's OK. Gail tells him she has a headache and goes to lie down upstairs. "Are you happy now?" David asks his older brother.

Sunita is with Dev and the silly Aunties in the kitchen, having a spot of lunch. One of the Aunties lets slip that Aadi told her that it's nice to have daddy in the house for a change. Sunita and Dev come up with silly excuses about Dev gardening to cover for their son's honesty. Sunita mentions that Dev is away a lot with business. The Aunties think that Dev should stay home more. All too silly for words.

Eileen is talking to Jesse in the backyard with his General Custard props. Jesse feels as though Eileen is throwing him out but Eileen protests that Jason and Tina are her family and there is no space for his stuff in the house while Tina and Jason move in. Jesse seems to accept this and reckons at least Bill will have a spare tarp for if it rains.

Nick is round his mother's house again where David and Graeme are having a cuppa. He wants to know what the story is with Carla. David knows that Carla is out of his league. Graeme mentions that Carla's business partner is her murderous husband who is in prison. It doesn't appear to put Nick off. Before Nick leaves, he asks David if David is going to "the wedding". He takes great delight in informing David of Tina and Jason's engagement.

The silly Aunties are admonishing Sunita and Dev about not having had any more babies. Sunita and Dev talk about how the timing has to be right but that they will have more babies eventually.

David heads round the Kabin to kick off at Tina about her engagement. He's not best to pleased to hear about the divorce proceedings between Jason and Sarah Louise. He tries to bad-mouth Jason, to change Tina's mind but of course, it's not working.

Gail is at home, talking on the phone to the ferry services to Ireland about their crossings. She asks about how she would be able to find out about passengers lists before David comes home and forces her to hang up. David asks her why she is protecting Joe. David lets his mother know that he thinks her husband is a dangerous and deluded criminal who will take Gail down with him if she lets him. At last, David speaks some sense. "Oh, I love 'im," says Gail pathetically. David wonders why since Joe doesn't appear to love her. "He's my husband and I will stand by him," she carries on like a pork chop. David knows that it's all going to go pear-shaped. He tells her some ugly truths, the way he sees it with regards to Joe. "You're a fool," he says. Gail thinks that may be true but she doesn't know what else to do.

Evening time on the street. Tina is tidying up around the Kabin as the loan-shark approaches her and asks if she's seen Joe. Tina confronts him, letting him know that she knows who he is and things look nasty before Nick appears and asks if everything's OK. The loan-shark scarpers. Nick lets Tina know that since she is the daughter of the man married to his mother, (stepbrother and stepsister, I think is what they call it these days) he will be there to protect her.

In the pub, Liz asks if Becky will be joining them on the evening shift. Steve makes an excuse that Becky is tired. Liz knows that she's been parked in front of the TV all day. She points out to Steve that Becky is only pregnant and is taking advantage. Steve sticks up for his beloved. Becky calls him on the mobile to pick up the remote control for her. As Steve explains to his mother, "It's bounced under the chair, she finds it very difficult to bed over!" Aww, god love 'im.

Nick sits down next to Audrey in the bar and asks her if she was aware of Joe's debts. Audrey is shocked to hear it but sticks the boot in, "I knew Joe were trouble.... Nick, sweetheart, I have tried talking to her, she just sends me away with a flea in me ear!" Nick thinks they should all get together and force Gail to 'fess up the truth. Audrey agrees, as soon as she finishes her drink.

Leanne and Carla are walking in the street, talking about Leanne feeling lonely since Peter's in rehab and Simon is at George's house. They walk into Audrey and Nick as the grandmother and grandson leave the pub. It's awkward for a moment but Leanne and Nick greet each other as Nick indulges in some outrageously inappropriate flirting with Carla. Carla is curious as to how Leanne knows Nick. "Oh, I think I need a drink," says Leanne. Carla is happy to buy her one. Audrey wonders what was going between Nick and Carla as they walk down to Gail's.

It seems Steve has been some time fetching the remote control for Becky. It turns out Steve has been peeling a satsuma for her as well. Liz asks Steve to have a word with Becky about her ridiculous milking of her pregnancy; she doesn't want Sean or Betty to have to pick up Becky's slack. He agrees.

Eddie and Anna are in the bar. They're expecting a visit from Gary and a friend soon. Eddie wonders if Gary has "gone the other way." Anna makes plans to start cleaning the house for her son.

Audrey and Nick are at Gail's confronting her about Joe's debt. Nick wants Gail to tell the truth but Gail won't tell anything. Audrey asks Gail about the bruises and asks if Joe has been hitting her. Gail is affronted and insists Joe is a good man. She asks her mother if she knows her at all, does Audrey think Gail would put up with a man beating her up. Audrey reminds Gail that she probably knows Gail better than Gail knows herself and shrewd Audrey, she knows something isn't right.

Steve is the back of the bar, talking to Becky on the phone again. Becky is thirsty and presumably wants Steve to fetch her a drink. Liz is eavesdropping. She knows how ridiculous Becky is being but Steve continues to pander to her.

In the bar, Leanne has told Carla about Nick and warns Carla off him, telling Carla that Nick is trouble. Carla is nonchalant about it still and tells Leanne that even after all Leanne has told her, she is curious about Nick.

Anna is wondering what Gary and his mate will want to eat while they come for their visit. She twirls a lock of Eddie's hair while she sips her drink. She plans a roast beef with Yorkshire pudding while Eddie chews on a cocktail stick.

Audrey is still badgering Gail about Joe. Gail admits that she should have told Audrey earlier, "When I married Joe, his money problems became my problems. That's they way it should be and he is doing everything he can to sort them out." David pipes up from the kitchen that he can vouch for Joe. Audrey tells Gail that she worries about her. Meanwhile, Nick has packed his bag and is headed back to Nottingham. David is happy to see the back of him and accuses him of throwing a tantrum. Nick is angry and gives it to his mother straight- Joe has given Gail some nasty bruises, he's in trouble with a loan shark and he seems to have disappeared, Nick knows that Gail is covering for Joe. Audrey urges Gail to tell them what is going on. Gail throws her son and her mother out. Audrey has seen this show before though. Gail is sorry to be so predictable but she wonders if they could have supported her instead of cross examining her.... Nick and Audrey leave. David is pleased to have his mother all to himself again.

Sunita and Dev are cleaning up after dinner while the silly Aunties are putting the twins in bed. They congratulate themselves on their deception. Dev promises to take Sunita out for a posh dinner to celebrate when it's all over and then put his foot right in it when he grabs her by the waist and mentions that maybe they could try to make some more babies. Sunita reinforces that she can't get back together with Dev. They both look sad.

David brings Gail a glass of wine and asks her what they're going to do now. Gail thinks that Joe will call and he'll be back soon. She thinks Joe is in enough trouble as it is. She pleads with David to help her and Joe. David thinks that Joe owes them both, big time. "He'll be home soon. I know he will," says Gail. "He'll be home."

But we know something Gail doesn't know.

Stella McLoughlin

Jesse comes into Eileen's kitchen and catches the sarcastic edge of her tongue. "Not too crowded for you?" she asks. He says he's sorry, what more does she want? Sean says he's off to work and Eileen says that she is too, so that means that Jesse can do all the housework. He says he's got a business to run. "Cowboy Capers?" she snorts, "that's the funniest joke I've heard in ages!"

Over at the Platt's, Gail tells David they should be doing something, but he thinks there's nothing they can do, except to try not to fall out with anybody else. She wonders if Nick and Audrey suspect anything, but David reckons that Nick will have forgotten they exist once he was out of the door, but as for Audrey.... Just at that very moment, Audrey walks in. She says she hasn't come for another row and she and Gail apologise to each other. She then asks when Joe will be back. Gail says that he doesn't know yet, it depends how long the job takes. "Not today then?" says Audrey. Gail says she doesn't think so. David then reminds them that it's Tina's birthday and Audrey wonders if her dad's remembered.

Out in the Street, Tina and Jason are off to work. She wonders if her dad is staying away because of the loan shark. Jason doesn't think it would be very clever of him to leave her and Gail to face the flack. Tina says she'll ask him when he phones, and he's bound to phone as it's her birthday.

Sunita's aunties are talking. One of them noticed Sunita's bedroom door open a crack and looked in and noticed the airbed on the floor with Dev's pyjamas on it. She thinks there might be a problem. "Go and look if you don't believe me!" she says.

Jesse meets Julie in the Street and moans about the fact that all his props are outside in Eileen's yard. He hopes it doesn't rain. He's off to put his last tenner on a horse – has she any tips? "Yes," she says, "don't do it!" He says he has to, he's on a downward spiral.

David goes into the Kabin and hands Tina a present, saying it's from him and Gail as well. She asks if Gail has heard from her dad. "Haven't you?" he asks, adding that maybe he's forgotten. But Tina is confident she'll hear from him at some time today, there's no way he'd forget her birthday, and if she doesn't it will be sign that something is wrong.

Carla goes into the bookies and asks Leanne how Peter's doing. She says she spoke to him yesterday, at first he was cheerful then started saying it was worse than prison and he was thinking of walking out. She hopes that the rest of her life is not going to be like this. Jesse walks up to the counter then and puts down his betting slip and the tenner, saying that now he's backing it, it should probably stay in it's stable!

Dev and the aunties are enjoying a cuppa. They ask him how long he and Sunita have been married and he tells them it's six years now. One of them then starts talking about how the sparkle can fade from a marriage and Dev tries to make a hasty getaway, muttering about businesses to run. They tell him marriage is more important than work and he agrees, but gathers up his things and does. They decide to talk to Sunita.

Jesse is in the Rovers, delighted because his horse won, so he'd taken the winnings and put them on another horse. Michelle asks if that was wise? He thinks it might be his lucky day – but then thinks some more and decides it probably wasn't wise. When Michelle asks for the money for the pint he's just ordered he realises he hasn't any cash to pay with.

David is at work in the salon. At least, he's in the salon but he's not working, he's sending a text message. Natasha wonders if Audrey could get her other grandson to come and work there instead of this one.

Over in the Kabin, Tina's phone bleeps. David's text has arrived, but she thinks it's from her dad. While Norris huffs and puffs, she sends him a message back. Just then Mary walking into the shop and asks Norris to join her in the pub later.

Jesse goes to the taxi office and shares his good news with Eileen. He's had two horses come in. She's amazed and asks how much he's won. He says that when you're on a roll you have to go with it. She's aghast to think he's put it all on another horse, but he says he'll be back in half an hour.

Sunita arrives home and is confronted by the aunties about the airbed for Dev. She tells them that Dev has a bad back and sometimes needs to sleep on the floor as it helps. "Really, we're very happy," she tells them.

Jesse is back in the bookies, nervously watching the race he's put money on.

Tina pops in to see Gail and thank her for the birthday gift. Gail looks blank until Tina explains that David said it was from the two of them. She then tell Gail she's had a text message from her dad. Gail looks relieved and asks if he said how he was. "Have you not heard from him?" frowns Tina. "Not for a day or two," lies Gail.

Jesse arrives home and excitedly tells Eileen that his horse won, he's now in possession of over three thousand pounds!

Dev rings Sunita and she tells him that the aunties spotted the airbed and she told them he has a bad back. He says he will if he has to sleep on that much longer, and asks if she would mind if he stayed at the flat for a few nights. They decide to tell the aunties he's on a business trip to London. She says she wishes she could come and stay at the flat with him.

In the pub, the residents of No. 11 are celebrating Jesse's win. Jason asks what he's going to do with the money. "Spend it, of course," says Jesse. "Spend it on me!" says Eileen.

Tina sees David and goes and tells him she's had a text message from her dad. "Just one measly text," she says, adding that she thinks she's going to go up there and find him. "Go where?" asks David. Tina says she doesn't know, and asks David if he knows where Joe is working. David says he doesn't, but tells her at least she's heard from him, so that's good. Jason comes over then and Tina says she was just asking about her dad, she's not happy with just one measly text, no present or anything. David says he has to go, and congratulates them on their engagement. Once outside the Rovers, he pulls out his phone and makes a call, ordering flowers.

When he gets home, David finds Gail delighted because Tina has heard from Joe. "Let me guess," says David, "he sent her a text." Gail says it must mean he's got a new phone and has given up his plan to disappear. He then confesses that it was he who sent the text message from Joe's phone, and now he's ordered some flowers for her, supposedly from Joe. Crestfallen, Gail sits at the table and wonders just what he thinks he's playing at. He could use a public phone box, or send a postcard, anything to let them know he's all right. It's been nearly two weeks and he has no right to do this to her, no right!

We then see, at the Lake, Joe's body come to the surface of the water and float around in the moonlight.

Anne Logan

Yes, it's Friday again, so off we go with the first episode of the evening.

There's a boat speeding across a lake and in the foreground we see a floating body.

Back in Weatherfield, David tells Gail that Tina will be getting a big bunch of flowers about now. Gail tells him from now on he's to do nothing without checking with him first. Then she apologises for having a go at him.

Sean, Eileen and Jesse discuss whether or not three thousand pounds is a lot of money. Sean insists that it's nothing. When he was a Bingo caller he saw amounts like that all the time. Eileen points out that she didn't see any of it and she was there nearly every week. Jesse says it's not a life-changing amount of money. Eileen thinks it's a scenery-changing amount, Jesse a car-changing amount and Sean a wardrobe-changing amount. Jesse looks at the parrot and suggests it's a cage-changing amount. Eileen points out it would pay for two weeks all inclusive in Tenerife. Jesse says he's not going to squander it. He's going to save it and treat the people he cares about. Eileen ponders the Caribbean, or Dubai...

David can't get a straight answer from Gail on how long she's going to wait for Joe to contact her. He suggests she shop Joe to the police. Gail refuses. David insists she should come clean. The longer they wait, the worse it will look when someone finally does catch up with Joe. "I can't do that," she says. "I wouldn't do it."

Joe's body floats as we hear Gail say: "He's out there somewhere."

A large bunch of flowers has arrived for Tina with a card addressed to "my darling daughter" and wishing her a happy birthday. The whole bunch contains flowers she hates and she tells Jason to bin them. She would have rather had a phone call on the day and now her dad feels bad so he's come up with an over-the-top late present, she says. "Where is he working so he can't stop and phone me?" She's also annoyed that Joe's spent money on the flowers when he's in debt.

In the cafe, Anna and Hayley discuss the salsa class. Anna can't go tonight because Gary's coming home for the weekend. Roy takes a deep breath and tells John and Anna that he might have to reduce their hours. He hopes it's just a short-term measure.

The loan shark shouts at Gail through the door and she shouts back, telling him to go away. He spots Tina watching from the flat window and heads for the door. Tina races down the stairs and shoves the flowers in his face, asking if he's got a girlfriend. He doesn't want flowers. Neither does Tina, but the card is the only contact she's had with her father in a week, she tells him. Jason backs her up. As she heads for the stairs again, Rick shouts, "I want paying!" Jason tells him he can't just come round demanding money. When someone owes you money you should go through the proper channels. "Now shove off!" he says, shoving Rick to show what he means and shutting the door in his face.

Eileen hears Jesse on the phone, talking to someone about "travelling somewhere clement but avoiding long haul." Eileen sticks her head round the squeaky door and tells Jesse she's just off to work. He doesn't say who he's calling.

Rick folds a newspaper and pushes it through the flat's letterbox, coating it in lighter fluid and following it with two burning matches.

Tina looks out the window to check whether Rick's gone. Jason says Rick isn't used to people standing up to him. As they discuss going to look at flat, Jason smells smoke and sees the fire burning at the bottom of the stairs. He grabs the fire extinguisher, puts out the fire and rips open the front door just in time to see Rick speeding off. He tells Tina he's calling the police.

Eileen gives Steve a big hug in the taxi office. This upsets Steve, who says it upsets the natural order. He likes to see Eileen with a gob on, he says. Eileen tells him that her wonderful, kind, talented boyfriend is going to take her on holiday. "Well, he hasn't said that he is, but I've dropped a lot of very heavy hints." She can just see herself thousands of miles away, cocktail in her hand, waves lapping at her feet. Steve tells her she can't have the time off because she's rubbing it in far too much.

Jason's on the phone to the police. Tina's texting her dad. "Your loan shark just tried to kill me. Please call." Of course, the text is seen by David and Gail, not Joe. Gail still refuses to call the police.

Gary arrives in the cafe, sending Anna squealing and hugging. He has a mate with him. John tells Anna he doesn't think bright young men should be send halfway across the world to fight. Anna whispers to Gary, "He reads the Guardian." Gary teases Anna bout being so busy he can spare her, say, 45 minutes . . .

Jesse puts a brochure of holidays in Egypt on the table as he unpacks the groceries. He's treating John with steak, walnuts and other treats, he tells Eileen. Jesse tells her to sit down. He's got something to tell her. He's got her a present. It's a watch. "I think the world of you, Eileen," he says. Eileen picks up the brochure. Jesse says he's taking his mum and his dad with him on holiday. "After all, they're the most important people in my life," he says. From the look on Eileen's face I'd say he's no longer anywhere near Eileen's list of important people.

Tina arrives to see Gail. David puts Joe's phone back in the drawer. Tina tells them she's had flowers from Joe for the first time in her life. She tells them about Rick. Gail says she's sure Joe will be home soon and will sort it all out. Tina tells them the police will want to talk to Gail about Rick, too. She stops. "What's going on, Gail? Is there something you're not telling me?" David urges Gail to tell Tina.

Audrey answers the phone at home. It's a sales call. She hangs up then mutes the television, gets out her address book, finds a card and makes a call. She asks if the person is free at short notice.

Gail tells Tina Joe isn't working in the lakes. She says she doesn't know where he is. She explains Joe's plan to fake his own death.

Ah, Audrey's phoned the male escort, Nigel Havers. I can't remember the character's name. Lewis! Yes. She doesn't have anything planned and tells Lewis she's had an engagement cancelled and finds herself all dressed up with nowhere to go. He says he doesn't mind if they just sit and chat. He finds her conversation fascinating, he says. "I'd still say it, even if you hadn't paid me."

Tina says nobody fakes their own death. Gail explains the plan some more. Tina says you can't have a death without a body. Gail tells her you can if you wait seven years. Tina demands to know whether Gail's in on it. As Gail's explaining what happened, David hears a car outside. "The cops are here." Tina wants to tell them everything but Gail says they can't drop Joe in it. If they keep quiet then there's a chance he'll see sense and come back. If they tell the cops he'll go to prison.

A lady with a torch calls her dog and wonders what she's barking at. "Lottie, leave it," she says. But the dog has found a body washed up on the lake shore.

The end of the first episode.
More from Duncan later.
Margaret Carr

Here is the update for Friday's second episode.

The police have come round to speak to Gail. They ask if she has had some trouble with debt collectors recently. After a nervous look in Tina and David's direction, Gail confirms this.

Jesse and Eileen are having a furious disagreement over his plans to take his parents on holiday. Jesse argues that he is doing it for their 45th wedding anniversary and that she just jumped to the wrong conclusion. She doesn't accept this and wonders what kind of future they have. Jesse asks incredulously that she can't expect him to choose between his parents and her but she assures him that that is exactly what she wants him to do.

Gail tells the police that Joe recently told her about his debts and that she will always stand by him. They ask where Joe is and Gail tells them that he is still in the Lakes doing a job. Tina tells the police what Rick did to her and Jason. The police ask if she has told Joe this but she says that he doesn't get a decent phone reception where he is.

Jesse is telling Eileen that she is being unfair. Eileen tells him that she doesn't want a parrot lover or a parent lover, but an Eileen lover. He assures her that he does love her, but this sentiment falls flat and she tells him to get out of her sight. He seems dumbfounded so she has to spell it out to him-she no longer wants him under her roof. She says she'll go out while he gets everything sorted and she leaves him looking stunned.

Lewis and Audrey are making plans for their evening. He asks her where her usual spots are and she says her local is the Rovers. Audrey is shocked when he suggests that they go there but he tells her he has a mischievous idea.

The police have gone and Gail thanks Tina for helping her. Tina claims that she feels like she is in on it now. She's desperate to know what he's planning and assumes he must still be in the country as he sent her flowers. David suggests that he is still in the Lakes. Gail says that the thing that keeps her going is the thought that Joe could walk through the door at any time. But this is, of course unlikely. As they speak, police cars pull up by lake Windermere.

Gary brings his army mate Quinny into the Rovers and is disappointed in the ‘totty turnout', commenting that the landlady is the best looking girl there. He retracts his statement when he spots Rosie.

Audrey comes into the bar and meets with Deirdre and Liz. They comment on how well dressed she is and she shrugs saying she always dresses like this. Lewis slides into the bar and props himself up at the other end.

Tina is telling a baffled Jason everything that she has found out at Gail's. He correctly exclaims that it is madness. Tina continues to look troubled and mutters that she's had an awful thought

Sean comes home and sees Jesse with his bags. Jesse informs him that he is moving out. Eileen comes in and acts coldly towards him and Sean offers to act as mediator. Eileen says there's no need and Jesse is forced to take his things and go.

Deirdre notices that Lewis is staring at them. Liz seems quite keen, hopeful that the attention is focused on her. But of course, we know who he's really clocking

Rosie tells Quinny that she's a model and isn't very grateful for Gary piping up that she means a topless model. She asks Quinny if he's in the army and he lies saying that he's a commander of over 200 troops and has fought on the front line. Rosie is impressed while Gary looks on with an amused expression on his face.

Tina leaps up and says she has to speak to Gail

Lewis approaches and Liz and Deirdre are surprised when he recognizes Audrey as the councilor who opened the care home where he was an architect. He asks if he can borrow her for a while.

Tina bursts into Gail's and says that he may have done something stupid as he left Gail with poignant words. Gail says that he would never have done that but Tina points out that a manic depressive in debt on a boat in the middle of nowhere is not a good combination. She tells Gail that if he is not in touch by Monday then they will call the police.

Lewis is noisily telling Audrey that she should run for parliament. Audrey tells him that she is far too old but he comments that Margaret Thatcher was relatively old when she came to power. Audrey gasps that he would compare her to the Iron Lady but he replies that she is a Golden Lady. Audrey mutters that he may be going over the top but he smiles widely and says he hasn't even started yet. Liz looks on and considers running for parliament herself if these are the kind of groupies councilors get.

Sean is telling Eileen that she should reconsider. She says she has too much self respect to take Jesse back.

Lewis hands Audrey his card and leaves, with a jovial smile to Audrey, Liz and Norris, who watches him suspiciously.

Tina tells Gail and David she has to know something and she is going to phone Joe every hour of every day until she hears his voice. David sneakily turns Joe's phone off.

Audrey enthuses that she has had a wonderful night but is worried that Norris has figured them out. Lewis shrugs that it's hardly a scandal.

As Tina phones Joe, telling him she knows everything and she just needs to know he's safe and she loves him, Joe's body is carried into the back of the police van..

Duncan Lindsay

Written by Simon Crowther Directed by Durno Johnston

Oddly, the show opens with the sound of seagulls (in Manchester? I've been there a lot and never seen any!) and the camera pans over Gail Force still parked outside Platt Mansions. Up in the Lake District, the police are dealing with the body that's surfaced. They've figured out it was Joe. But back in Weatherfield, in the health clinic, Gail picks up the phone anxiously but as usual, it's only someone calling for an appointment.

Janice and Towering Trev are having breakfast. He offers to fix a tap in the bathroom for her. They chat about how nice it is to share breakfast together and Janice asks after his ex who is settled in ok where she's moved. He seems to be coping. They share a few jokes, to which Janice laughs just that little bit too hard.

Tyrone is sitting at the table having his breakfast. He's not showered yet and is still in his vest when there's a knock on the door. He's dismayed to see Molly stood there as he's not looking his best. She's come for her post (she's been living in Dev's for over a month, wouldn't you think she'd have sorted out a change of address at the Post Office by now?)

Janice, Kelly and Trev walk down the street, having been taking the piss out of Carla and other bosses apparently. Gary and Quinny come out. Gary brags about his fling with Rosie.

Tina swiftly grabs her ringing phone and the caller turns out to be a sales person and ends up with a flea in his ear from a stressed out Tina. She calls her father once more and leaves a stroppy message warning him that she'll call the police and report him missing if he doesn't get in touch.

Norris and Mary discuss their ganglions. Natasha enters and is puzzled when told they were comparing ganglions so is instructed to Google Ganglions by the more Modern Mary (Norris had suggested a dictionary - it's a type of cyst). Since they think Natasha might have some gossip, they mention the man that Audrey appeared to cop off with at the Rovers but Natasha hasn't heard anything about it up until now. Mary raises an eyebrow and books in for a trim later. Norris reckons he looked familiar to him. He deduces it's the same man that he thinks was a husband to a woman they met at the council do a few weeks back.

Tyrone is working hard in the garage but his mind isn't on his work. Kevin watches him though the office window and comes out to find out what's up. Tyrone admits he's seen Molly but didn't get anywhere other than to hear of the latest gossip about Dev pretending to be married to Sunita to fool her aunties. Ken calls him the Devastator and then gives Tyrone the afternoon off.

The factory is busy. Carla (who's got a bit of a new hairstyle.. well... a fringe that suits her I think!) comes in ranting about how much of a tip the place is. Turns out the cleaner keeps finding excuses not to come in. She's looking for volunteers and Sean volunteers Kelly.

David comes in to see Gail and urges her to report Joe missing and tell the police everything. Gail refuses. She wants to give Joe more of a chance to come back. She's digging her heels in and isn't budging. As soon as he rings, she's telling him she's not done what he asks and he'll come home. Or not.

After the break, Mary is in getting her hair trimmed and she and Natasha are grilling Audrey on the mystery man. Well, Natasha is, Mary is just enjoying the show. Audrey isn't giving out any information. Mary wonders if Audrey had never met the man before and of course, Audrey giggles and lies that she'd never seen him before. Through the window, she spies Gail walking home and uses that as an excuse to get out from under the line of fire.

Kevin, Jack and Connie are discussing Tyrone's broken heart as they sit in the pub having a drink. Jack wonders if they can help any. Connie points out that men have a hard time coping on their own. Kevin proves the point by saying Tyrone apparently searched the house for nail scissors only to realize Molly had taken them. Gail has arrived in the bar and Audrey follows behind her to find out if she's all right. She says she is, but obviously isn't. Norris scurries in and offers them a drink. Audrey flings back over her shoulder "Oh dear, what d'you want to know?" (got it in one!) Norris asks Gail about the police visit but she just stares daggers at him and leaves. Norris turns to Audrey and mentions that he recognized the man she had been chatting to. Audrey puts him off and she leaves as well. Norris smiles smugly.

Sunita comes into the shop and startles Dev. She lays into him for lying about a business trip. It's obviously a game though and they share a laugh. She implies it's getting easier to lie to the Aunties about having Dev around though at the moment he's supposed to be on a business trip, returning later today. They chat about arrangements for picking up the kids. Towering Trevor comes in and looks way down on Molly as he pays for mints. He leaves and Sunita and Molly share a phwoarrr! over him. Sunita leaves as well and Molly teases Dev who is wondering what's real anymore. Obviously getting into the role play a bit too much.

Everyone leaves the factory for lunch and scurry away before Carla can collar one of them for cleaning duties. She notices a spill of coffee on the floor and sighs. If you want something done...

Tina is next into the health clinic and tells Gail she still haven't heard from Joe. She wants to report him missing and doesn't care if she ruins Joe's plan. She says she'll report him and not mention his "plan". Gail tries to point out that they won't look for him as he's a grown man. Tina doesn't really see the holes in that logic. Gail sighs "What on earth has he got us all into?" (I reckon she's the one that's got them all into it, with all her lies and cover ups!) Tina isn't convinced Gail has told her everything. Gail promises she hasn't but since Tina still thinks Joe has his phone so why hasn't he rang or texted her after his communication on her birthday. No idea there.

Carla is on her knees, wearing marigolds and a tabard and scrubbing furiously at the coffee spill. I don't know about you, but liquid usually mops up pretty easy. It can't have been there all morning as she'd have noticed it earlier. Anyway, it's all a plot device for the classic mistaken identity. Who should walk in but Towering Trev who is even taller than usual since she's on the floor. He's looking for Janice, having found some kittens and wants to bring them back to the flat. He says his name but she doesn't introduce herself. He makes a remark about the boss of the factory whom Janice and Kelly had described as a bit of a dragon. Carla just takes that all in her stride and pretends she's the lowly cleaner.

Gary and Quinny return from wherever they'd been, having obviously just spent the ride flirting with a couple of women on the bus. They head for the chippie from there. Once they have their food, they discuss women and naff names, making fun of "Deirdre", "Audrey" when Quinny's phone rings. It's his mother with bad news. His brother who's serving in Iraq, got involved in a roadside bombing attack and lost both his legs. He seems in shock, insisting he'll be all right. With their return to the base imminent, I'm sure Gary's stomach is churning with the reality shock as well.

Jack and Connie are at Tyrone's. They have brought him a new pair of nail scissors. Connie is there to tidy up and sends Jack and Tyrone to the pub.

Gail comes rushing out of the clinic followed by Audrey. Seems Tina has called the police, or so she thinks as she's been called to come home and talk to them.

Sunita answers the door but it's not a keyless Dev, it's Matt. She lets him in.

Back at Gail's, the Cumbria constabulary are there to talk to Gail. They ask her to sit down and she hollers at them that she's not to be ordered around in her own house! Just spit it out! They tell her that a body has been found in Lake Windemere and they believe it's Joe. Gail's face freezes in horror as the camera pans to Gail Force outside. (Does anyone else think the writing makes it look like Farce? seems a bit appropriate!)

Tvor

Gail is at home with David and Audrey and the police. She can't believe what she's hearing, that Joe has been found dead. The police elaborate that a man's body was found in Lake Windermere. Although there was no wallet, the fingerprints matched Joe's. Gail breaks down, "I don't believe it. he wasn't meant to die!" David hears the implications of what Gail said and leaps to her defense. "He was my husband," sobs Gail as Audrey tries to comfort her. The police have more questions to ask. Audrey asks that they wait another five minutes or so to let Gail absorb the bad news.

Matt has turned up at Sunita's. He loves her and he wants to get back together with her. He thinks everything was fine before Dev came back on the scene. Sunita reinforces that their relationship is over just as the silly Aunties come home with Dev & the kids.

Janice is just about to go home as Carla calls her to clean the toilets. Janice is shocked and bewildered. "What do you expect, eh," Carla asks her, "from your dragon of a boss?!"

Sean is behind the bar, humming The White Cliffs of Dover while looking over at Jack talking to Tyrone. Tyrone has resigned himself to the fact that Molly won't be returning to him. Poor Ty.

The police are questioning Gail further but David defends his mother; she's had a shock etc. Gail realises that Tina will have to be told. David offers to go and break the news to David. The police ask Gail if she will be able to come and identify the body but Gail is not sure if she can do it today. The police agree to call her in an hour or so to see if she feels able to do it. David heads over to tell Tina about her dad.

Dev is explaining to Matt what he's doing over at Sunita's and tells the story of the silly Aunties' visit. The silly Aunties barge in- they've been told that Matt is the kids' maths tutor and Matt is gracious enough to play along. Matt leaves. Sunita thanks him for covering for them all. Matt looks very sorry to be leaving.

Gary's friend, Quinny, is telling Anna what has happened to his brother. He has lost limbs but Quinny thinks that since his brother was doing what he loved, serving his country, he should do the same. He won't let the terrorists win. Anna is upset. Gary looks very pensive.

David has turned up to Eileen's to tell Tina about Joe. Tina is very short with him. David finds it hard but manages to tell Tina that her father has been found dead. Tina thinks David is telling a mean, evil joke- I wouldn't have put it past him either. She tells David that he is sick in the head, twisted, but David lets it all roll over him and tells Tina how sorry he is but that Joe has drowned. Tina is hysterically upset.

At Tyrone's place, poor old Connie has been cleaning. She answers the phone and unwittingly tells Ty's mother, Jackie, about Molly having left Tyrone. "Didn't he tell you?" she asks Jackie.

At Gail's house, Audrey is reflecting on all the times they've sat around that table digesting bad news. She can't imagine how Gail must be feeling. There is a knock at the door- it's Tina, of course. She asks Gail, "Is it true? Is David not lying? I wouldn't put it past him." She accepts that her father has died and asks to see Joe; she doesn't want Joe lying on a slab on his own. Gail grasps at some straws, telling Tina that she will go to Cumbria with her to make sure it definitely is Joe that they've found. Tina apologises to David for being horrible to him in her hysteria. David actually does have a heart and understands, telling Tina, "No, you're all right..."

Ty and Jack have come home from the pub. Connie has heated up a premade lasagne for their tea. Connie tells them that Jackie called just as there is a knock at the door. Connie wonders why Tyrone and Jack are so exasperated at the thought that Jackie might be outside, waiting for Tyrone. Tyrone answers the door to Jackie. She cries, "I feel your pain, lad!" and gives Tyrone a big hug as she tells Tyrone loudly how Molly has done a disservice to womankind. Connie, who can hear her from the dinner table, thinks Jackie is a bit full-on. "You ain't seen nothing yet!" exclaims Jack.

Gail and Tina leave for Cumbria. Eileen and Leanne see them leave and are curious as to what's going on. The news is out. Audrey tells Eileen and Leanne that it looks like Joe is dead but it's not sure yet and nobody knows what happened.

Dev and Sunita are in Sunita's kitchen, congratulating themselves on having successfully fooled the silly Aunties. They're both glad that they only have to keep up the charade for another day. So guess what? The silly Aunties come to tell Dev and Sunita that they are extending their stay for another week.

Leanne and Eileen have spread the news about Joe in the Rovers. Everyone seems a bit stunned. Leanne thinks it must be suspicious if the police are involved. Janice is at the bar with Trev- she sees that Gail losing Joe puts her problems into perspective and tells Trev she's having a bit of trouble with Carla. She doesn't elaborate though. Trev tells Janice he found a couple of kittens and they're in a cardboard box round Janice's house. Trev heads off to the loos. Leanne laughs because Janice is allergic to cats and she knows Janice won't tell Trev that.

Anna is seeing Gary off again, all upset. Gary tries to reassure her he'll be OK. Anna gives him a big hug as Eddie tells Gary and Quinny that he's proud of them. Eddie drives them away as Anna shouts, "I love you!" after the car.

Janice and Trev are back at their flat. Janice is sneezing as Trev cuddles the kittens he will call Pernod and Black. Trev thanks Janice for being such a great landlady and letting him keep the kittens. Janice keeps sneezing throughout.

Tina and Gail are waiting with David and Jason to see Joe's body. Tina is torturing herself about what she could have done for her father. The police officer comes out to escort Gail and Tina in to the body. He warns them that because Joe has been in the water for some time, he may look different. The two women head in to identify their loved one. Jason and David hear a loud cry and then wailing coming from behind the closed door. So it was definitely Joe.

Jackie asks Ty where Jack and his fancy woman went. They talk a bit about Connie and how Jackie wants to go out later and paint the town red. Ty asks Jackie what she's actually doing there. Jackie lets it known that she is there to stick up for Tyrone and give Molly a piece of her mind. She tells Tyrone how she had a dream of saving a budgie with a broken wing. She took it home and nursed it back to health in her dream. She realises now that that budgie was Tyrone. She tells Tyrone that when the budgie was at full strength, she opened the window and let it fly... "only to fly into the path of an oncoming double decker. But for a brief second, Tyrone, he flew! He fuh-lew! Any puddin'?"

Oh for crying out loud, Tina is singing over her father's corpse while sobbing. Gail is holding onto her from behind, they're both bawling all over the place. I was OK with all the overacting up until this. Now it's all too pathetic.

Stella McLoughlin

Tina is standing in the rain staring at her dad's boat, parked outside Gail's house. David watches her from an upstairs window. Jason comes running out of his house, saying he freaked out when he woke to find she wasn't there. Tina remarks that she didn't want to disturb him, he was sleeping so soundly without a care in the world. He protests that he's built like that, he can't help it. "Leave me alone," sniffs Tina, walks back into the house.

David goes downstairs to find Gail pacing the living room, upset. She's wondering if it was suicide, he was desperate. David tells her not to do that to herself, it's Joe's fault, not hers. He's has left her in it up to her neck and now she has to decide what she's going to do. "It's truth time," says Gail. David points out that she hasn't often made the right decision, so perhaps she should do the exact opposite of what she thinks to see if that works better. She says there's no point lying any more, she was only doing it for him. David thinks that for him to come up with such a plan and think it would work, he must have been completely whacko. He says that the police hate it when people change their statements. "You think I should stick with what I've told them?" says Gail, adding that that would make her whacko too. "Show a bit of respect," she says, "I've just lost my husband."

The aunties walk into Sunita's kitchen and start quizzing her about the children's school. Sunita says that it's the best in the area. Dev, hastily trying to change the subjects, suggests a trip in his luxury car to the shopping centre to buy souvenirs. Sunita says she can't go, she has socks to darn (!) but arranges to meet them later for lunch. "Rovers?" asks Dev. Sunita says they're not good with veggies, but Dev assures her he's already spoken to Steve and he's primed and ready.

Liz goes into the living room and asks Becky if she's feeling better. Becky says she is. Liz is glad, she's fed up with running the bar on her own. "Not that much better," says Becky. Liz points out that Becky is barely showing, she was on her feet right up to the end and she had twins. Becky points out that her hips are much slimmer than Liz's, she's not going to be able to just pop them out like Liz did. At that moment, fortunately, Steve walks into the room with his phone to his ear. Chortling, he finishes his call and he tells them that ‘Operation Veggie' is live. "And that is?" queries Liz. "Betty's vegetarian hotpots," says Steve, explaining that they're just like normal hotpots but there's no meat in them. "Sounds vile," says Liz. Steve says they can't afford to ignore picky eaters and there are more and more of them these days.

Tina is weeping on Eileen's sofa. Jason offers tea but she tells him to stop offering her tea. Eileen tells her it must have been a terrible shock. "I can't believe it," says Tina, "my dad is dead. It just doesn't sound right, what am I going to do?" Gently, Eileen tells her she has to carry on, because that's what everybody does. Tina says that he must have died straight after sending her the text on her birthday, but she doesn't know whether he did it on purpose. Eileen is sure he could never have done that to her. "I don't know what to think," sobs Tina, and Jason comes and hugs her.

Out in the Street, George tells Leanne that Simon hit Joshua at school. "That doesn't sound like Simon," remarks Leanne. George then says that he and Eve are off to Spain for a weekend soon and want to know if Simon can go with them to get away from it all. "Oh I don't know, George," says Leanne, "you'll have to ask Peter." George thinks that Peter is a bit fragile and has enough on his plate. "No need to make a decision now," he says, rubbing her arm soothingly. (Yukk!) As he walks away, Claire comes round the corner. Leanne stops her and apologises for Simon lamping Joshua. "It was nothing," says Claire, "kids push each other all the time." "Push?" queries Leanne. "Yeah," says Claire, laughing, "forget about it."

Audrey walks down the street and sees the police knocking at Eileen's door.

Jackie comes along to ask Tyrone what he wants for dinner and spots Molly coming out of the shop across the road. "Look at ‘er," she says, "she's gone all ‘Pussycat Doll', when did that happen?" Tyrone maintains that Molly's the same as ever. Jackie however thinks there must've been another fella.

Tina is telling the police that her dad owed money to a loan shark, a real thug called Rick. They ask when she last heard from her dad and she tells them about the birthday text and flowers, last Thursday. The two police officers then exchanges glances and when Tina questions it, they tell her that they're still trying to establish the time of death and that's a bit later than they thought.

Over at the Platt's, Gail is wondering why the police are taking so long with Tina. "What does it matter?" asks Audrey. Gail says she wants to talk to them, but David tells her to remember what he said, she's told them everything all ready. "What's going on?" asks Audrey, but neither of them answer her.

Jackie goes into the corner shop. "What do you want?" asks Molly. Jackie says she's a customer, browsing, looking at the shop-soiled, shoddy goods, and with that sweeps the contents of a shelf to the floor. "Oh, proper clumsy, me!" she says, as Molly tells her to get out, and rushes round the counter. "Gonna make me, tart?" shouts Jackie, as Molly grabs her clothing and shoves her out of the door. They stumble out onto the pavement pushing and shoving each other when Tyrone rushes over and gets between them. As he pulls his mother away, Molly picks up a bucket of flowers and throws them at Jackie, just as the police come out of Eileen's front door. "We don't have to stop what we're doing, do we?" asks one of the policemen. Tyrone assures them it's just a family argument, and Molly goes back into the shop. "Trying to find new ways to show me up?" Tyrone asks his mother. She tells him she was fighting his corner. "Someone's got to!" she shouts.

The police officers go across to Gail's house. As she opens the door she tells them, "I've not been entirely truthful. Once they're inside she tells them about Joe's plan to fake his death and claim the life insurance. "I didn't agree to any of this," she tells them. She tells them he sprung it on her, she said no and that's why they argued. That, she tells them, is why she didn't say anything, it was her way of not going along with his plan. She hoped he'd call and say he was coming home. The police tell her Joe had serious head injuries and other abrasions. "I don't know anything about that," says Gail.

In the pub, Liz is complaining to Steve that she needs someone else working with her on a regular basis. Just then Ciaran comes in and tells Steve he's looking for work. "Sorry, we're fully staffed," says Steve. "No we're not," says Liz. "Yes, we are," says Steve and advises Ciaran to try the Horse and Hound.

The police ask Gail why, when she saw the boat, she called David to get him to help, she didn't report Joe missing. Gail explains that Joe had the dinghy and was planning to row to the shore after abandoning the boat, if she'd reported him she would have been going along with his plan. "Why didn't you report him missing and tell us this story?" asks the policeman. Gail says she didn't want to get Joe into trouble. David suggests that the police look for the dinghy and stop upsetting his mum. Telling her they'll be in touch soon, the police go.

The aunties are eating the vegetarian hotpots in the Rovers. "Disgusting!" says one of them, "how do you get gristle in a dish without meat?" Just then Steve comes up. "How are your hotpots?" he asks. "Delicious!" says Auntie, "very tender!"

Just then Becky comes in with shopping bags full of baby clothes. Liz asks if she'll take over for a bit while she has a break. Becky, however, says she's knackered and needs to lie down for a bit.

Back at Gail's, Audrey tells her she should have reported Joe missing as soon as he set off in the boat, he might still be alive if she had. Gail breaks down and sobs, as David watches looking extremely pained.

Back at Sunita's house, the aunties are complaining about the lack of ingredients in the larder. "That's enough!" snaps Dev, "Sunita's bent over backwards to make sure you've had a pleasant visit, she's a great mother and she's been warm and welcoming. You're lucky to be staying here with her." Then he collects himself and apologises. They tell Sunita they are grateful to her and she says they're welcome and she loves having them. "All....er..both of you," she says, glancing at Dev with a smile.

Jackie goes back into the shop and tells Molly she's not there to cause trouble, but she knows about Molly's bit on the side. She warns her that if she goes near Tyrone again she'll be dead meat.

On their own, Sunita thanks Dev for what he said. He apologises again, saying he knows it wasn't his job. She says she loves them, though they are infuriating. There's a brief pause between them and leans over to kiss her, but she jumps up saying she'll see if they want to go with her to pick up the twins.

The police have sent a team to pick up the boat, and Jason, Eileen and Tina watch from across the road. "Why are they doing that?" asks Tina. Gail asks when they will release Joe's body for a funeral. She's told it may not be for some time, it's being treated as a suspicious death. As the boat is driven away, Gail turns to David. "It was an accident, it was an accident!" she says.

Anne Logan

Hello, Friday again, and more of the annoying Dev-Sunita storyline.

Dev's at Sunita's house, complaining about his lack of sleep. Sunita points out that he was snoring like a water-buffalo with sinus problems. One of the aunties has been out for a walk and complains about the dog muck in the street. The aunties hope they can take the twins to school because it's their last day.

Gail's in her back yard. She tells David she's just thinking. He's still annoyed that she's been changing her story and the coppers will continue to sniff round until they know what the real story is. "Then hopefully they'll leave us alone and we can get back to normal." Gail points out that's not possible for her, nor for Tina.

Jackie's seeing the latest man out the door, even though she can't remember his name. Tyrone doesn't want to hear any details but he's annoyed at who she's bringing into his house. His mum thinks he's do better keeping an eye on what Molly's up to.

There are bills all over Tina's doormat. Well, Eileen's doormat, but Tina collects the mail. It includes a sympathy card from Ken and Deirdre, which starts her crying.

The aunties have packed several dozen cases and Sunita's struggling to get them to the car.

While Gail's hanging out some washing (in this winter???), David rifles through her bag and drawers until he finds Joe's mobile phone.

Dev unloads shop stock from his car but the bottom drops out of the carton. He's very grumpy and Lloyd rightly deduces that Sunita is the problem. He invites Dev to the Rovers for a game of darts.

Leanne arrives at Ken's to talk about Simon. He's been in fights at school and George wants to take him to their house in Spain for a long weekend. Leanne hasn't told Peter because she doesn't want Peter to be upset at Simon being upset. Ken says he'll talk to Deirdre about it.

The aunties have been told that Dev has organised a Goodbye drink for them. Sunita takes them into the shop but Molly tells them Dev's in the pub. She says he was upset about something this morning.

A hooded figure approaches a canal. He scrolls through the pictures on Joe's phone – Joe with Gail, Joe with Tina – before chucking the phone into the canal.

Lloyd seems to be winning the darts when the aunties come in and find Dev both drinking and gambling. Sunita tells him quietly that the aunties were so upset they wanted to see him one last time. Liz is on the phone and asks Michelle to come in early because she's on her own. She serves Lloyd and asks who the aunties are. She tells Lloyd she thought he'd traded Teresa in on a couple of younger models. "Ha ha," says Lloyd. "And I thought the bitter only came on tap."

Tina and Gail discuss their bereavement over a cup of tea when David arrives home. Tina wants to bring her Dad home, but Gail tells her the police aren't releasing the body yet. A devastated Tina thinks the police believe Joe committed suicide. Gail doesn't believe this. Tina leaves abruptly and upset.

The aunties cross-examine Lloyd about his personal circumstances, thinking of matchmaking. At the bar, Dev and Sunita discuss Sunita having the house to herself again. Dev suggests he come round and pick up his stuff once the aunties have gone. Sunita says there's no rush. The aunties point out the time and hug Dev goodbye. Jackie arrives in, ordering a G&T.

Upstairs, Becky is bored. She tells Steve she can't work, can't drink and can't smoke. Though exactly why she can't work escapes me. She realises Steve has just had a cigarette. He's brought her an egg, bacon and sausage barm with onions and brown sauce. "I don't care what anyone says about you. I think you're a top bloke," Becky tells him.

Lloyd tells Dev that if he'd wanted to be this depressed he could have stayed at home and looked at his bank statement. He tells Dev to tell Sunita how he feels. If he doesn't, "you'll be moping round for England." Jackie tries to be friendly to them but Dev refuses to be friendly and tells her that if she ever threatens a member of his staff again he'll call the police. Jackie tells him he shouldn't employ marriage-wrecking little slappers. Dev walks out and Jackie accuses him of having an affair with Molly. Tyrone comes in and shuts her up. He knows Molly isn't sleeping with Dev the same way he knows it's not Lloyd or Jason or Kevin or Norris. "She just stopped loving me."

Ken goes to the bookies' and tells Leanne that although they've got reservations, they think it might be beneficial for Simon.

Jackie follows Tyrone up the street, apologising. She tells him that he might deserve better than her for a mother, but he also deserves better than Molly for a wife. As Molly comes out of the shop Jackie spits invective down the street. Molly shouts at Ty that Jackie should be on a leash. She came into the shop and attacked her, Molly says. "Yeah? Well at least she cared enough to fight for me," says Tyrone sadly.

Liz is smoking at the front of the pub. Ciaran arrives. He's been looking for work and, hey presto, Liz hires him. He can start immediately.

Dev zips up his bag and the kids arrive in the room, depressed to hear he's going. He gives Sunita a quick hug, says he'll call and hands back the key. He leaves, with a glum looking Sunita left behind.

Gail's vacuuming when the police arrive. They've been looking at Joe's phone records and some things don't add up. The text Tina got was sent after Joe was already dead, and was sent from the Weatherfield area. The flowers were also sent after he died. Gail tells them she sent the text and flowers.

Dev sits in his car, turns on the radio and finds it's playing "I'm Not In Love".

Sunita sips red wine and Dev rings the doorbell. "Did you forget something?" he asks. "Yeah, this," he says, grabbing her and moving inside.

The end of episode one for Friday.
Margaret Carr

I still can't get the ITV player to work so I will have to miss out any additional observations again this week. So, on with the update...

The police are still round at Gail's and have asked her about the text and the flowers that Tina received. Gail replied that it was a spur of the moment gesture to cheer Tina up as she hadn't heard from Joe. The police ask if they can have a look at Joe's phone. David looks anxious as Gail checks in the drawer and finds it gone. Confused, she heads upstairs to search for it.

Dev is like the cat that got the cream with Sunita but she warns him not to breathe a word to the children until they have worked out what the future holds

Gail is in a right flap over the missing phone and can't believe that she has mislaid it. The officers tell her that it can't help that they're standing there and tell her to calm down. They leave after telling David to look after his mum

Dev can't keep the news of him reuniting with Sunita secret a moment longer and asks the kids if they can keep a secret.

Gail is searching everywhere for the phone. Outside the officers are deep in thought. While one seems to have bought Gail's version of events, the other is highly suspicious.

Tyrone isn't impressed to realise that Jackie has used all of the bath oils he bought for Molly but she retorts that she wants every trace of her gone. She then suggests a Chinese, which of course Tyrone has to pay for.

Dev has just presented Sunita with some flowers and chocolates. Sunita says that he is spoiling her and she just wants some normality. Aadi asks if Dev is moving back in and Asha hushes him, reminding him that it is a secret. But the damage is done. As soon as they leave the room Sunita goes down Dev's throat, saying that in future they discuss things like this instead of him steamrolling in.

Gail suggests that they explain things to Tina but David tells her they have more pressing matters such as the phone before admitting that he has thrown it in the canal

Becky passes Ciaran in the bar and is confused as to who he is. Liz says that she was going to tell her. Becky points out that four bar staff is a bit much before realization dawns. Liz reminds her that she is pregnant and, as Liz is exhausted, she needs a capable pair of hands.

Gail is furious with David and tells him that it looks like they're covering their tracks. David points out that they could just claim to have lost the phone. Gail is still angry but David snaps that it's all Joe's fault. He doesn't care about Joe but he does about Gail and he is determined to get her through this. He then persuades her that they must stick to the story.

Jack and Connie are in the shop talking to Molly. Molly tells them that Jackie will betray Tyrone again (a fine one to talk, you may think), Jack reluctantly agrees to warn Tyrone.

Jackie meanwhile has spent Tyrone's money and is sitting with a drink in the pub and munching on prawn crackers. At the bar, Ciaran is showing Liz and Michelle some cocktails that he learned how to make in New York. Liz samples it and Michelle says thinks seem to be hotting up between the pair. Liz laughs her off, but there's a definite sparkle in her eye. Oh dear...

Sunita asks Dev what he is doing on his laptop and finds that he is booking a holiday to Florida. Raging, she says that this is what she can't stand about him. He replies that he is bound to make mistakes but she comments that she doesn't feel ready to let his overbearing personality back into her life

Tyrone has brushed Jack's advice aside, claiming that Jackie has changed. Jack says that she is just biding her time and he offers to move back in for a while. Connie says that everyone cares about him including Molly but Tyrone works out that they have been speaking to her and wonders whose side they are on. He asks them to leave but Jack assures Tyrone that they will always be there for him, no matter what happens.

Sunita has asked Dev to give her some space. He promises to be a silent partner from now on but she tells him to go as she needs to think. Reluctantly he leaves.

Ciaran is filling out some employment forms for Liz. She asks if he will join her for a drink and he agrees. Michelle teases Liz as she collects some glasses and Liz rushes back in. She comments that she would have expected a man like CIaran to have settled down by now. He shrugs and says it has just never happened. At this point Liz moves in for a kiss but Ciaran avoids her. Steve is standing in the doorway and looks part outraged and part amused as Ciaran assures him that nothing happened before walking out in embarrassment. Becky mutters that at least Liz is an optimist.

Meanwhile, Sunita lies beside her children , looking troubled.

And that's all from tonight's double helping.
More soon

Duncan Lindsay

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

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