Written by Damon Rochefort Directed by John Anderson

It's the morning after the night before, and Kevin's all loved up. He finds out Bill is doing well and gives an uncomfortable Sally a cuddle, asking her to do his dirty overalls for him. (Nice. Right back to taking her for granted.) He takes Jack off to the creche.

Kirk is a bit taken aback to see Carla fresh out of the shower (in a robe and her hair in a towel) and nervously gets out of the way to get dressed (he's wearing a tshirt and striped boxers). Carla offers to get a hotel later but Maria won't hear of it. Carla wonders if she should sell the flat. Maria thinks that would be putting more pressure on herself than she needs to. Carla says she really appreciates the support after how she'd treated her in the past. Think nothing of it, Maria says. Kirk returns and says he's going to move in with Chesney for awhile to make things easier. Carla reluctantly agrees though feels bad for putting him out. Kirk says Chesney was well up for it.

Steve arrives at work and tells Lloyd that Tracy is covering for him at the pub while he goes to Jim's sentencing. He establishes that Lloyd is finding things disruptive at home with Chris there. Russ is playing up and he's not been able to have any family time with Cheryl and Russ alone because they don't want to leave Chris alone. He thinks maybe after Chris' appointment on Friday things might be better. What if it's bad news, Steve offers. Thanks a bunch. Not helping. Steve says he should take Cheryl out if he wants to. Why wait?

In the factory, Hayley and Sally chat about Bill and Hayley makes a remark about Sally and Kevin celebrating which makes Sally hesitate. Maria arrives to tell Hayley that Carla is taking a few more days off. Hayley is fine except for some upcoming appointments with new clients. Maria will pass on the message and Hayley runs off to check some orders that Kirk had problems packing properly. Eileen wonders if Carla can't drum up more business, how is that going to affect them? Layoffs, maybe? Hayley changes the subject and urges them back to work.

Tracy is off her food and doesn't want anything. Deirdre doesn't think she's in any state to work in the pub and thinks Steve is taking advantage. Tracy brushes it off as mere morning sickness and anyway, she's happy to help Steve out. But she's clearly suffering.

Rosie is wittering to her father about having to memorize different types of fruit and veg for an audition, it's mind boggling how many types of oranges there are, for instance! Sally comes out of the factory in the background and comes over and asks Kevin for lunch so they can have a chat. He can't as he has to see his dad.

Roy brings a letter to Becky who's having lunch in the cafe with Eileen. The letter is Steve's final divorce offer and it doesn't seem to be acceptable to Becks and she's not taking it. Sally joins them. Eileen points out to Becky that Streetcars isn't worth much though Becky reckons the pub is. Roy thinks Becky should take the offer and carry on with life. She might even manage to be friends again with Steve if she can. Sally, who had initially said Becky should take him for all she could get, concede's Roy's point making Becky thoughtful. At another table, Leanne tells Cheryl that they are opening at the end of the week. She asks after Chris and is told the radio therapy was hard but they'll get the results on Friday. She is feeling sympathetic for Chris who is all vulnerable these days. Leanne isn't having it, she can hear alarm bells going off, especially when Cheryl says she's only being a mate to Chris. Leanne states she wouldn't put up with her husband's ex living with them no matter how sick they were so Lloyd must be a saint. Cheryl is thoughtful.

Pam is talking to Bill and thinking all the stress of the wedding is to blame for the heart attack. Bill says he's blaming all the Full English breakfasts. Kevin arrives and Pam wastes no time snarking at Kevin for a minute. Bill plays peacemaker and Kevin even offers for Pam a chance to get to know Jack. Pam wonders if he just needs a child minder. Kevin reminds her he nearly lost his father and it puts things into perspective. She sees the point and would love to see Jack. Kevin says she can see Jack tonight, in fact, she can have him overnight. (what was that about needing a child minder?) Pam leaves Kevin to visit with his father and thanks him.

Jeff has picked up Rosie for her audition. Sally reminds Rosie, no scrapping (reference to the Just Rosie spinoff where she got into a fight with another model on television). Rosie expects Jeff to open her door for her and honks the horn impatiently when Jeff takes a few minutes to talk to Sally. He flatters her and asks her for drinks tonight. She says she's got plans but if she changes her mind, let him know, he says.

Kevin has brought Bill some dvds. Bill is surprised Kevin and Pam have made up. Kevin admits he and Sally are getting back together after "last night". Bill warns him, a lot has changed but Kevin thinks he's finally been forgiven. (What do you think?)

After the break, Steve is ready to leave for the court. Tracy arrives and offers to go with him as did Lloyd. No, Steve says, just him. He asks if she's ok to work but she insists she's fine. He leaves, Cheryl arrives they make a date to take Russ to a movie and a pizza.

Sophie and Sian arrive home. Kevin tells them Grandad is ok and is being well taken care of in hospital. The girls decide to go see Bill later and notice that Kevin's in a very good mood. Why? Well, he admits smugly, he and Sally had a good talk and it looks like they're getting back together. Sophie is thrilled. Kevin leaves and Sian points out to Sophie that the only thing that puts a smile like that on a bloke's face isn't a long chat. They did the deed and Sophie is grossed out at the idea!

But in the Kabin, Sally is bringing Rita up to date on Bill's progress but admits she and Kevin slept together. Rita isn't surprised and had already assumed as much. Sally is surprised and wonders if everyone thought the same thing. Sally admits that she was confused and she's wondering what she's done. Rita heads for the kettle.

Maria approaches Cheryl and asks how Chris is. She's told about the results coming in on Friday. Cheryl says that she thinks Chris would like to see Maria and he'd like a visit. She thinks she might do that.

In the back of the Kabin, over cups of tea, Sally and Rita hash it all out. Rita thinks she needs to keep it simple and decide what she wants. Sally tells her that Jeff came back and asked her out and he seems to be just what she needs but she doesn't know if she will go out with him. Rita says she'd be happy if Sal and Kevin got back together but one night doesn't make a marriage and they need to talk.

Deirdre reminisces about her own morning sickness to Tracy who isn't looking too perky at the topic of conversation. Becky and Eileen arrive so Tracy puts her best smug smile on to take their orders. Becky turns around and leaves but Eileen orders a drink. Steve comes in and pours a drink. Jim got minimum 7 years, he tells them. Eileen offers to make Steve a meal but he declines and goes into the back.

Sally comes home to see Sophie and Sian and is delighted they're back from their visit to Southport (only gone overnight though). Sophie confronts her mother straight away, she wants all the news about her and Kevin. Sally is very dismayed that Kevin has told them. Kevin arrives home, asking Sophie if there is any beer in the fridge. He sees Sally who is snarky about forgetting to supply him with his favourite ale. He offers to go to Dev's and she tells him he can do that and drink them back at the flat he apparently is still renting. Kevin is shocked and Sian decides she's getting out of the way. Sally lays into Kevin, telling him last night was more a way of supporting him and doesn't mean they're getting back together like he's been telling everyone including telling their daughter they slept together. Kevin denies that bit and Sophie backs him up, they just assumed. Kevin protests "I just thought...." Sally says it meant nothing, it's not all she wanted and sorry, he's not *that* good! Ouch. She throws his overalls and tells him he can get out.

Tvor

Good evening I am back from Tuscany so many thanks to Tvor for sending out my recent updates and with harness back in place it is time to head for the mean Street in Weatherfield where events tonight were written by David Lane and directed by John Anderson. Copyright is the property of ITV Productions and my usual thanks to them and all concerned for their efforts.

But before I start this is my first opportunity to hold an official minute's silence for Betty Driver. Please observe a minute's break before reading on.

Thank you and to business in the Webster household where Sally is giving Kev a piece of her mind for telling the kids that they were back together - she was feeling sorry for him over his father being ill and let him have a bonk out of kindness. Which she now rather regrets.

Steve takes one look at Tracy and tries to send her home as unwell. She refuses to go saying she will be fine. And she tells Steve that he needs to phone Liz and Andy and tell them that Jim is locked up for the foreseeable future.

Chris is still being particularly creepy - he is worried about Friday and the results of the outcome of the treatment. Cheryl offers to accompany him, but he says there is no need.

Sally is still apologising - she says that she misled Kev. But he points out how pleased Sophie was - which causes more upset, Sal is not going to take him back just to keep the children happy! Kev asks her not to throw it all away because he messed up. But Sal does not want to be in the wrong. She admits she made a mistake sleeping with Kev the night before and it is not a mistake she will make again. She tells him she is going out tonight (yes and that will be a mistake too Sal) and she closes the door on him.

Back at the Rovers Steve refuses to deal with the usual face off between Tracy and Becky. For once Tracy takes Becky's high handedness and tells Tracy about the events in court today and it finally wipes the smile off Becky's face and there is a big gulp as she absorbs how insensitive she has been. Tracy hands Becky back the divorce papers and the latter leaves.

In Nick's bistro Sally meets her date. Yes Jeff is back on the scene and he is a little surprised she is there as he did not think she would turn up. Sal reckons they both deserve another chance and he agrees.

In the shop Sophie and Kev agree to try and work on Sally to get her to change her mind.

Cheryl sends Chris to the Rovers for the evening and also arranges for Maria to be there but a reconciliation is not on the cards - after all Chris still has thoughts for Cheryl.

WWW (for those who have forgotten I am talking about Tracy, Wicked Witch of Weatherfield) is reminding Steve of the potential future for her, Amy, Steve and the new little baby, boy or girl when it arrives - all more important than Becky and Jim and Liz and Andy - his real family.

Sal and Jeff leave the bistro and Sal gets a good solid snogging up against the telephone box (excuse me, a telephone box - I cannot remember the last time I used one of those. Indeed I have a a feeling that the one down the road has been removed). Indeed Sal has not been snogged up against one since she was 16. Kev leaves the Rovers and sees the two of them enjoying each other's company. Sal says "let's get you a cab" and they head in the direction of the cab office.

On with the motley, see you all again next week.
K Richard W

It's breakfast time at the Barlow's, and they're all tucking in except Tracy who looks sick and ill. Amy asks if she can tell her teacher she's going to have a little brother or sister, but Tracy says not yet, there's someone else she has to tell first.

In the Grimshaw house, Marcus and Sean ask Eileen what she wants to do for her 50th birthday, dinner out? A party? Eileen doesn't want to do anything because it will just remind her that she's on her own and everyone else is in couples.

In Sally's house, Sophie is annoyed about the situation between her mum and her dad. She thinks Sally let her dad think everything was ok by sleeping with him, when it clearly wasn't. Sally tells her it's something she now regrets, she admits she was wrong. "Are you happy now?" she asks her daughter. "No!" is the answer. Sally goes off to work. "She's such a tart!" says Sophie to Sian. Sian thinks Sally just doesn't know what she wants and keeps changing her mind.

Tracy walks next door into the pub to work, stopping on the way to breathe deeply and put on a smile. Steve looks at her and wonders if she's all right, and she assures him that she, and baby, are fine.

Lloyd and Cheryl are talking about Russ and the night before, while Chris sits at the table, pretending to read the paper. When Lloyd goes off to work, Chris suggests to Cheryl that she and him take Russ ten-pin bowling. She thinks it would be better to leave it until next week, but Chris plays the sympathy card, saying he doesn't know how he's going to be next week, he may not be able to make it through the door.

Rosie has called into the shop, and Sophie is bending her ear about Kevin and Sally and the fact that they slept together. Rosie doesn't want to think about it - after all, this is their mum and dad they're talking about. She tells her sister to chill, there's nothing she can do about it, and she'll see Sophie later. When she's gone, Sophie turns to Amber and says she felt so sorry for her dad. Amber suggests that they have a night out together, with Sian.

Sally, Sean and Becky all go into the pub, talking about Carla and whether they'll ever see her again. Sally wonders if their jobs are safe. Becky goes to the bar to get the drinks, and Steve starts talking to her about the divorce settlement. He tells her he's not trying to pull the wool over her eyes, the solicitor is doing all the working out. She points out that the solicitor is only going on what Steve has told her. Steve retorts that Becky's lawyer is only going on what she has told him. She tells him they should just sack them both and sort it out themselves. He agrees. Then, quietly, Becky asks if he's going to see his dad. Steve isn't sure he'd be welcome.

Rosie comes downstairs and finds Eileen signing up to an online dating site. She then takes over, creating a very embellished profile and says she'll send Eileen's photo to a friend who has Photoshop who will turn it into a much more attractive one.

Cheryl meets Lloyd in the pub for a drink, and breaks the news that Chris wants to take herself and Russ bowling. Lloyd isn't too happy and guesses that Chris is playing on the whole 'brain tumour' argument. Cheryl isn't pleased by his reaction, but in the end he sighs and tells her to go and enjoy herself.

Tracy is lolling over the bar, and then asks Sean if he can take over for ten minutes until Steve gets back. She feels terrible and has to go for a lie down.

After the break, we see Lloyd talking to Steve over the bar. He's moaning about Chris and how he's playing the trump card all the time. Steve tells him to kick him out, but Lloyd doesn't want to upset Cheryl.

Sian gets home and tells Sophie and Amber that she can't go out, she's got too much work to do that has to be handed in tomorrow, but she tells them to go ahead and go.

Deirdre and Ken are nagging at Tracy to go and see a doctor to see why she feels so ill all the time. She goes off upstairs saying she doesn't want them going on at her any more, and she'll go tomorrow if she still feels ill.

The factory workers come out of the factory and most of them head off to the pub. Eileen goes home and is greeted by Sophie who tells her she looks fantastic, a babe. "Oh, thank you," says Eileen, only to be told it's not her, but her photo after Sophie's friend has touched it up. She shows her on the computer screen, Eileen looks 20 years younger. "It's not me," she says to Rosie. "It's based on you, it's what you would look like if you weren't you," says Rosie. Eileen tells Rosie that no one is to see that photograph, and it is NOT to go to a dating website. "I've already sent it!" says Rosie.

In the pub, Becky is just asking Steve where Tracy is, when she arrives. As she starts work, she comes over dizzy and has to stop and breathe deeply. Steve is worried, but she assures him she'll be fine when she's had something to eat.

Over at a table, the workers are again discussing their future. What if Carla never comes back? Marcus wonders if anyone has actually spoken to Carla and asked what her plans are. Sally gets up and leaves, and at that moment there's a crash, Tracy has collapsed onto the floor behind the bar. Marcus rushes round to help and she tells him she felt dizzy and now she feels sick.

Chris, Cheryl and Russ are leaving for bowling. Cheryl asks Lloyd if he minds. Lloyd says he's trying not to. She says that Chris has to do something, he's stuck indoors day after day. "Yes, in our house," says Lloyd. Cheryl walks out, telling him they won't be late.

In the back room of the Rovers, Marcus tells Steve to give Tracy a drink of water and says he'll call an ambulance, someone ought to take a look at her, just to be on the safe side. He thinks she should have scan so they know for sure what's going on.

Out in the bar, Becky tells Izzy that she's not hoping that Tracy will lose the baby, she's just thinking about Stevie, what it must be like for him.

Sophie and Amber are in a lesbian bar. Amber thought Sophie would like to be in the majority for a change. A girl gives Amber her phone number.

Steve is waiting at the hospital when Deirdre arrives, and they go in with Tracy while she has a scan. "How is the baby?" asks Deirdre. The radiographer turns to look at them. "The baby?" she asks. Steve wonders why she's saying it like that. She explains, there are babies - Tracy is having twins! Total shock all round!

Anne Logan

Oh no! Not a bouncy Rosie first thing in the morning! She cheerily gives a fairly glum Eileen her birthday card. Eileen confesses that someone she's made contact with online has offered to take her out for a drink tonight. She's having second thoughts because her profile had a birth date about ten years later than her real one. Rosie tells her everyone lies on those things. She assures Eileen that she looks great. "Well, for your age." Sean dances in doing a scat version of the Hawaii-50 theme tune and bearing his gift, closely followed by Jason, who gives his mother a top chosen by Rosie. Rose says Eileen can show the world you can be stylist at 50. "That's not all you'll be showing the world in that," warns Sean.

Amy wants to call the new baby Peppa, after Peppa the Pig. Deirdre apparently always wanted a brother or sister. Tracy goes to take Amy to school but realises Amy hasn't cleaned her teeth. While she waits she eavesdrops and hears her parents discuss the hard work of having twins and remembering that Tracy couldn't really cope with Amy when she was a baby.

Chris has breakfast with Cheryl. He seems depressed but Cheryl says he doesn't know what the news will be. He should be positive. Lloyd comes in and says good luck.

Sean and Julie gossip about Tracy and the expected twins – Marcus has told Sean about the scan. Can NOBODY keep a secret? Julie worries how Becky must be feeling. They're interrupted by the woman herself. She notices that they're awkward.

Steve's telling Lloyd about the twins. He brags that Aussie's Thorpedo has nothing on his little swimmers. Lloyd doesn't believe Tracy has changed but Steve defends her. He's happy at the idea of having two more children with her.

Sophie sees Sian off to college then meets Amber and asks if she's going to phone the girl from last night. Amber is very casual about it.

The doctor questions Chris then tells him the signs are very encouraging and his symptoms seem to be very much reduced. She can't say anything certain until after his scan in a few weeks, but she tells him she's optimistic.

Steve arrives at Tracy's with a gift of chocolate. She warns him she hasn't told Amy the baby is twins. They're interrupted by Deidre. Steve makes his excuses and leaves quickly. Tracy bursts into tears and tells Deirdre she heard them talking earlier. She says they were spot on. "I could hardly cope with Amy as a baby. I was constantly palming her off," she says. Deirdre says she copes better now but Tracy says that's because Amy's grown up. She sobs that she doesn't think she could cope with Amy and two babies as well.

Eileen goes to the Kabin to buy sweets and discovers that everyone knows it's her birthday. Norris tells her turning fifty is time for sombre reflection, not celebration. "If you're wondering, he keeps the scythe in the back room," Rita says. Eileen says she felt OK when she came in but now she feels like jumping on a plane to Switzerland to do away with herself. Rita says if Eileen'll take Norris with her, she'll pay the airfare. Emily asks whether she's going to celebrate and Eileen is evasive about who she might be going out with.

In the pub, Steve's being very macho, bragging to Owen and Jason about his swimmers. Tracy comes in and asks if they can talk, but not here. She wants to go out for a walk.

In the factory, Eileen wonders if she'll be able to slip away early. Julie tells her she's going nowhere, and suddenly there's music and party hats and balloons.

Meanwhile, over the road, a strange man called Nigel calls for Eileen. Rosie cheerfully invites him in to wait. Behind him, as they talk, we see Kirk and Sean unfolding a banner above the factory door.

Tracy and Steve walk by the canal and she tells him she's trying to be realistic. "I'm scared to death." She says it's going to be impossible. It all boils down to her on her own with three kids. "I can't cope." She assures him she's trying to be honest with him. It'll be her on her own with three kids until the day she dies. Nobody's going to want to take on the single mother of three kids. Steve tells her plenty of blokes will be interested in her, "and I won't stand in the way." Tracy tells him she wants him to do that. "I don't want any other bloke. I want you. I always have done."

It's time for the Happy Birthday song and Eileen blows out her candles, though Becky thinks the cake says "SO" rather than "50." Eileen tries to leave but they say there's another surprise for her and cover her eyes, leading her outside. "Happy 50th Eileen Grimshaw" it says. Eileen looks at her watch and hurries back into the factory. Next thing, she's up on the balcony/walkway thingy above the door, reaching through the railings to try to undo the banner.

Directly across the road, Nigel's about to leave, thinking Eileen's got cold feet. Rosie suggests they go over to the factory, spots Eileen and the banner and tries to change her mind, saying Eileen must have left by now. Norris, earwigging as usual, points out that Eileen's crouched up there with her head through the railings. Nigel's appalled by the banner. "She said she was 40!" "Don't go. I can explain everything!" shouts Eileen, her cleavage on full display, a silly hat on her head and, uh oh, her head STUCK in the railings! "Help! Help me!" she calls in panic as Nigel drives off. Norris laughs.

Tracy's in tears explaining how she's always wanted Steve and how jealous she was of Becky. She's been a lousy mum to Amy but when they're all together as a family, it makes her want to be the best mum she can be. That's why she can't have these twins. She knows Steve can't help the way he feels any more than she can. Steve says she seems to know more about how he feels than he does. He says she's given him the greatest gift anyone could have given him. "And now you're doing it again twice over." He says all the people he's ever loved have turned their back on him. Tracy's the only person who's ever stuck by him. He says he's resisted her out of habit more than anything else. "Mother Nature is screaming something at me and you and I think it‘s about time we listened." Tracy hugs him and they kiss.

Eileen will just have to stay stuck in those railings until the second episode.

The End
Margaret Carr

Yes, back to Eileen and the railings in just a moment, but first back to Steve and Tracy, and err 'loves young dream' (cough, splutter!!)

Steve and Tracy are enjoying their romantic moment together by the canal. She is wondering if Steve serious about ‘making a go of it'. He confirms he does, and she tells him that she is his!

Julie tries to assure Eileen that they will get her head out of the railings. Rosie has gone to Kevin's for an electric saw. By now other residents are all looking at her. Norris wants Emily to get his phone. Emily confirms that they have already called the fire brigade, but he really wants the phone to take a photo. He says he will get it himself.

Rosie brings a chainsaw, and Eileen yells that it is going nowhere near her head.

Sian comes into the shop to tell Amber and Sophie what has happened.

Norris starts to take a photo, but to his annoyance the camera has run out of batteries.

Roy comes by and announces to Becky that Eileen has her head stuck between the railings. He presumes that at some point Eileen placed her head between the railings!

Becky wants to know from Steve what it is that nobody is telling her. She wonders, as Steve stumbles to tell her, if Tracy is gong to lose her a baby. Steve tells her that it is twins.

Sally jokes with Eileen whether her 60th will be as memorable. The fire officer arrives, and clears the balcony area. Julie wants to stay, but Fireman Paul insists she goes down. He confirms they are going to have to cut her out. She tells him that it is the worst birthday she has ever had.

Lloyd and Cheryl are sitting down to a romantic meal together. Chris comes in and says he's not stopping. She asks how it went with the consultant, but he says okay he will tell her later.

Deidre finds Tracy sitting on the stairs and asks her what is wrong. Ken joins them as she tells them that Steve wants to get together with her.

In the pub, Kirky chats to Becky and innocently asks her did she never want kids. She replies that she didn't because it would ruin her figure. She says she is "made up" for Tracy.

Fireman Paul is cutting away at the railings around Eileen. Once he has cut away the railings Eileen gets her head out. Paul shouts to his colleagues to get rid of everybody.

Chris tells Cheryl that he lied earlier, and that things are not looking good.

Sally and Julie applaud as Eileen comes down. Paul suggests that she ought to go to hospital to check her neck out.

Steve confirms to Tracy that he meant what he said, and wants to go ahead.

Chris continues that he is sorry to put a downer on things, but his symptoms are getting worse. Cheryl insists Lloyd sets an extra place for Chris.

Becky meets up with Tracy. Tracy has her digs at her, saying that she is so fertile that she has twins. She tells Becky that she will never know what it is like to be pregnant.

Back at the house, Julie and Eileen chatting. She can't believe that she has humiliated herself in front of the whole street. Julie says it wasn't the whole street.

Knock on the door of the closed cafe. Becky comes rushing in and weeps into Hayley's arms, and tells ‘her that Tracy is having twins and that they are together again. Sylvia tells her to move on and retain her dignity.

Tracy comes into the Rovers and asks Sean for a bottle of champagne as she is celebrating. Sean says they don't do champagne so she asks for Newton & Ridley's fizzy water then. Deidre confirms with her that the two of them are officially an item then.

Sophie comes in to the house and is surprised that Sian has started to eat without her. Sian explains that she didn't know what time she would be home. Sophie suggested that she could have texted her, but Sian explains she didn't want to break up the party between her and Amber. Sian passes her a note from Sally's mother, saying that she is going out with Jeff.

Sian wants to know what happened last night. Sophie explains she went out with Amber. Sian is suspicious of what happened. Sophie tries to explain that nothing happened.

Eileen and Julie are walking out of casualty and Paul meets them with a bunch of flowers for Eileen. He asks what the doctors said. She says the doctors said the best cure would be to ask a fireman that brings her flowers to go out for a drink with her on Saturday night. Laughing, Paul says he is busy on Saturday, but maybe Monday.

Becky comes into the pub and gives Steve the signed divorce papers. She wishes him all the luck in the world. She goes outside for a cigarette, and walks away thoughtfully. Martin Rosen

Written by Jonathan Harvey Directed by Alan Grint

Carla is curled up on the couch. Maria advises that she should get out and do something but she's preoccupied with the fact that Frank is having his court hearing today.

Hayley has the flu and Becky asks after her health with Sylvia. Becky doesn't want to go to work if Hayley's not there and she's down about signing the divorce even though she knows it was the right thing. Sylvia, for once, isn't (very) sarcastic with her and chivvies her off to work.

Eileen is deleting her profile on the dating site once and for all. She's bunking off sick today to recover from her whiplash though Jason thinks she could still work. Marcus chivvies Sean off to work but he sits down with Eileen who moans about her worst birthday ever and expects everyone to laugh at her if she goes to work. Sean figures she at least got a date out of it but she is starting to think it was too good to be true. Paul the fireman probably only accepted her suggestion of a date to be polite and it will probably all end in tears when he finds out she's not worth it. Marcus thinks Paul is made of sterner stuff and Sean calls Kylie to book a nail appointment for her.

Becky has Hayley's keys to open up because of Hayley's illness. Sally insists on taking charge since Carla is absent as well. That goes over about as well as you'd expect with everyone else.

Ken is gazing down at something on the table and trying to find a kind word for it, he loves it, really. Deirdre is pleased with his reaction and with herself. She's made two little nut dishes, in the shape of a 7 and a 2 for Ken's 72nd birthday. The camera pans down to them and they look a bit wobbly and patchy. She calls them unique! Tracy greets her dad with a hug for his birthday. She's a bit taken aback at Deirdre's nut bowls. Ken suggests a birthday tea at home and Tracy is going to invite Steve.

The factory is all at sixes and sevens, Sally hollers for control and nobody is taking any notice. She goes into the office and tries to call Carla again because they're running out of supplies and she doesn't have authority to speak to the suppliers.

Cheryl is upset about Chris' news but he says he's bearing up. Lloyd comes across the road. Chris backs into the house and Cheryl feels bad because she's making it all about her.

Maria has told Peter that Carla needs a mate. She's not interested in anything, it seems but confirms Carla is only having a drink in the evenings. Peter agrees to go see her later.

Kylie is doing Eileen's nails and tells about her worst birthday, when she was 13. Her mother gave her a meat and potato pie with a candle in it. Someone knocks at the door and Kylie goes to open it. Gail has locked herself out and has come to borrow Kylie's keys. She sniggers at Eileen in the neck brace getting her nails done. She tries to cover but it's clear she's remembering the whole embarrassing incident and revelling in it. Kylie lets slip that Eileen has a date. Gail makes fun of her and figures the fella can't be much to go out with Eileen. ("Big heart and a lot of sympathy") Kylie mutters that Gail is just jealous which soothes Eileen's feelings a bit.

Karl and Stella have arrived back home from their holiday. Stella spies Peter at Maria's door which Carla opens before they go inside. Stella is surprised to see Tracy behind the bar. Tracy has taken a stab at the staff rota to approve the shifts she's given Stella. Say what?? Tracy points out she and Steve are an item now so that kind of makes her Stella's boss. "In a pig's eye" is probably what Stella's thinking. Stella puts her foot down. She's back, she's in charge. Tracy scowls.

After the break we're in the Bistro where Lloyd is waiting for a fare. Cheryl is still moaning and apologizes for the meal being interrupted the night before. Lloyd complains about Chris being there all the time and it's frustrating given Chris' situation. Cheryl says she just can't thrown him out until she knows what he's facing.

Peter and Carla are sat at a table. He says he and everyone else are worried about her but nobody else knows she tried to kill herself. She tells him about the court date to try to get bail. She hopes he doesn't succeed. She'd be terrified to go outside for fear of meeting him. He doesn't think there's a chance Frank will get out (virtually guaranteeing that he will, you know)

Behind the bar, Tracy and Stella keep bumping into each other. Deirdre is in for a celebratory drink on her own. Deirdre and Stella try to have a conversation but a tipsy Sylvia is putting her two pence in... commenting on Ken's full head of hair and other remarks about Stella's holiday. Tracy manages to offend everyone and is snarky because Stella pulled rank. Sylvia points out that Emily Pankhurst did not chain herself to the gates of Parliament so that women would have to stand behind bars while pregnant. Who? Tracy asks. Anyway, Tracy keeps trying shots but they have no effect on Stella. Steve comes out and Stella asks him why he put Tracy in charge and gets a few (much more effective) shots of her own in while ascertaining that she is still the manager and Steve agrees. Stella's in charge. Sylvia is enjoying the show.

Marcus and Sean catch Eileen faking illness over the phone to cancel her date. She says that Gail came round and it's clear her self esteem has taken a nose dive.

Leanne has come to see Stella who gives her a nice scented candle from Spain and a glass of wine. Stella asks Leanne how everything is and asks how Carla is getting on.

Back at the Barlows', Deirdre is dancing around the room to Hooked on Classics while Tracy complains to Ken about Stella and how Steve didn't back her up. Ken advises not to jump in and take it so fast with Steve. Tracy gripes that Steve doesn't love her. (What was your first clue?)

Lloyd suggests to Cheryl that they go away for a few days with Russ. She's reluctant at first but then agrees, even to taking Russ out of school for a few days to go with them.

Back to the Rovers, Leanne has told Stella about Carla's suicide bid. Stella is duly sympathetic and promises not to tell people. Leanne mentions that they're going on a family holiday to St. Ives. (pulling Simon out of school for a few days). Leanne thanks her for the candle and mentions that she missed her mother. They hug before Leanne leaves.

Steve arrives to apologize. He says he shouldn't have let Stella insult her but Stella is the boss. Tracy says she never usurped that, just said she was the "kind of" boss but she agrees. Stella's the boss. Steve agrees she can still work there but hands off the rota. Tracy invites him to Ken's birthday tea at 6:30 and he says he'll come.

Carla thanks Peter for coming to visit. He mentions they're off to Cornwall. Not to worry, Frank is still banged up and not going anywhere. With that the doorbell rings. Peter goes down to the door after a quick kiss on her cheek but who's at the door? The police detective. Carla comes down the stairs. They're told that Frank made bail and has been released!

Tvor

Stella, you know the one what used to be in Cindy in the Square, married to that Ian Beale, before the whole programme got so bad that everyone stopped watching it, has gone to see Carla in Maria's flat, but Carla does not feel like talking. Stella insists that Carla needs to hear her out. So reluctantly Carla lets Stella into the flat.

In the Street itself Eileen is telling Paul that she does not think a date is a good idea - she is still wearing a surgical collar as a result from getting her head stuck in the railings from whence she was rescued by Paul (just in case you missed the story so far). Paul says he likes her and he thought she liked him - which she smiles and agrees "I do" she says. So why he asks are they stood on her doorstep when they should be in the restaurant. Eileen admits she does not know. Paul asks if she has eaten - no is the answer. He tells her to get her glad rags on and he will meet her over at the bistro.

Stella tells Carla that she knows what she has been through. Yes says Carla they all say that. But Stella really means it. She was raped too. She was working in a new pub, putting everything she could into getting it working, that is what she does. And Carla needs to focus on what she is and what she can do. Stella calls her a stylish, successful, clever independent woman who is running her own business and knows her own mind. Don't let Frank take that away from you she tells Carla.

Frank is defending himself to his mother the wonderful Gwen Taylor who is playing the part of Anne Foster. He reckons that he and Carla fell out and now she is making these mad accusations to get her hands on their business. He would like to be considered innocent until proven guilty. And Frank suddenly has an idea and calls his mother a genius.

At the bistro Eileen has removed her collar and she and Paul are enjoying a meal and each other's company. He calls her a very sexy lady. She is reluctant to accept but he tells her to take the compliment. She admits she might once have been sexy, but she was never a lady and they both laugh.

In the evening Maria returns and Carla, having listened to Stella's advice decides to head into Underworld - it will be quiet now and she can face it. Maria assures that Sally is on top of everything and there is nothing to worry about. Carla has decided she is going to start work tomorrow. Maria tells her it is too soon. But Carla has realised that laying around doing nothing is not actually doing her any good. And anyway there is only so much "Deal or No Deal" she can actually watch. Speaking to a real banker would be a relief. Maria asks if she had a good counselling session. Carla responds - year you could say that.

Outside in the Street Eileen is with Paul. He tells her she is wrong about not being a lady. In his view she is a lady which is why he is going to be a gentleman and gives her a peck on the cheek - watched through the window by Jason, Sean and Kirk at all of whom Eileen pulls a face when she sees them watching. He says good night Eileen and wanders away. He will call her. She is let with a huge smile on her face.

Carla arrives at the factory to find that Anne Foster is there. Carla tells her to ge out - but Anne is going nowhere. She says that Frank has appointed her to look after his share of the business - which is 40% of the total business. Carla reminds her that Anne's son raped her - but Anne denies it and tells Carla that she knows it is not true. Carla reckons it is harassment and is about to call the police. Anne is within her legal rights. Carla says that Frank cannot touch the business - which Anne agrees, except through a proxy - in this case her. Anne is going to be there every day and she is going to be in on every deal, watching Carla's every move. She is looking forward to working with Carla, said in such a tone of voice which clearly quite the completely opposite intention.

And I will see you next week.

K Richard W

Carla prepares to leave for work. Maria is horrified, but Carla tells her the police have said she can't kick Frank's mother out of the factory, so she's not going to let her force her out of her own factory.

Tracy has made Steve a toasted bacon buttie for his breakfast, but before she can take it up to him, he comes down. Amy is delighted to have her daddy there, and so is Tracy. "Who'd have thought it?" she says, "Mummy, Daddy and Amy, all together again!"

Cheryl meets Nick in the street and tells him their planned holiday is off as they couldn't take Russ out of school. He says she can have her work shifts back as he was planning to cover them.

Sean and Izzy want to know how Eileen's date went. Eileen is grinning like a Cheshire cat but saying very little. There was no snog, just a peck on the cheek after a lovely evening.

Frank's mother arrives in Carla's office. Carla tells her she's to make no calls, and not speak to clients, she doesn't want the business ruined by an amateur. Frank's mother informs her that she's a retired business manager - early retirement due to the success of the business. Just then Frank calls his mother's mobile. She starts to talk to him, much to Carla's dismay. "One think you do not do is talk to him in front of me!" Anne talks to her son for a moment and then hangs up. Turn round she tells Carla she may think she can control everyone, but she can't control her.

She then goes out and introduces herself to the workers, telling them that until the false allegations against her son are dropped, he's been forced to appoint a proxy - her, and she expects the same respect that they give Carla.

In the cafe, Norris and Mary are busy working on slogans for a competition on the cough medicine bottle. Mary shows him what she's come up with, but he dismisses it, he's of the opinion that his own is much better. Mary rips the page out of her notebook and screws it up. "Fine!" she snaps. Sylvia, behind the counter, listens to all this. Then she clears the table, putting the screwed up paper in her apron pocket.

Anne walks into the office and overhears Carla on the phone to a customer, making an arrangement to meet for lunch on Tuesday. She whips out her diary and starts to make a note, much to Carla's annoyance, and tells her she's be there as an observer, or a chaperone after the flirty way Carla was talking to the customer.

Deirdre is in the Kabin moaning about her lack of a cuppa because the kettle at work blew a fuse. Tracy comes in and Deirdre mentions the fact that Steve stayed over. Norris and Mary prick up their ears.

Eileen has arranged to meet Paul in the Rovers. When the factory workers learn of this they plan to go there too.

Anne has printed off notes on calls, productivity and observations for Frank. Carla is annoyed and tears the paper. Anne says she's already emailed it over. She tells Carla she can be as obstructive as she likes, but she'll be there every day until her son is back. Carla tells her she can't accept that her precious son is capable of what he did. Anne leaves, saying she'll see her in the morning. Maria comes in and tries to get an angry Carla to go for a drink, but Carla has other plans. She picks up the phone and calls Rory, the customer she was planning to meet on Tuesday, and instead arranges to meet him at the bistro in an hour.

After the break, Carla is on her way to the bistro when she meets Stella in the street. Stella asks how she is, and Carla says she's bearing up and thanks her for the chat the other night. She then asks if Leanne and Peter got off all right on their holidays. Stella replies that Peter is not the person to help her loneliness and suggests she lets them get on with their own lives. Carla is affronted by this and goes off in a strop.

A taxi draws up and out gets tall, good-looking Rory. Carla greets him and they go off arm in arm to the bistro.

Sally and Izzy are in the Rovers when Paul, Eileen's date, comes in and sits in the booth behind them. Then Marcus and Sean come in and try to get them to go to the Flying Horse as Eileen has requested privacy. Paul overhears all this and smiles. Then he stands up and introduces himself and at that moment Eileen walks in. Paul asks her if she minds if he buys them a drink, if it wasn't for them he and Eileen would never have met. She says she doesn't, but when he's gone to the bar she orders them to only have one drink and then leave.

In the cafe, Sylvia is filling out the cough cure competition form - using Mary's slogan.

Carla and Rory are talking business in the bistro. He asks if Frank will be joining them. She makes a joke about not sharing the wine with him, and Rory goes off to get another bottle.

Frank and his mother are eating dinner at home and talking about her day at the factory. Frank asks how Carla is, Anne thinks she's close to the edge. Frank thinks she should jump and do them all a favour. Anne draws a deep breath and starts to ask him a question. He retorts that if she doubts him, if he sees one flicker of doubt in her eyes, she will never see him again. She pauses, then laughs and assures him that she doesn't doubt him.

Sean and Marcus are indoors when Eileen comes back with Paul. His mobile rings and he goes out to take the call in the hall. As he puts his jacket down his wallet slips out onto the floor, unnoticed. In the hall, he's talking quietly on the phone and tells someone he'll come home now. Then he comes back into the living room and tells Eileen he has to go, it's work, one of the lads needs someone to talk to, and they always look out for each other.

In the bistro, Carla is pressing Rory to sign on the dotted line. He says he'll sign if she tells him the truth about Frank. He thinks Carla and Frank have had a row and she wants to make him jealous at the same time as getting the contract signed. He leans forward then, and puts his hand on her leg, saying he was joking. She jumps up, shouting at him to get his hands off her. He grabs her by the shoulders, asking what's the matter. She shouts, "Leave me alone!" and runs out, causing Nick and Cheryl to come rushing over asking what he did to her.

Outside, Carla runs across the Street to the Kabin and leans against the window, sobbing.

Anne Logan

We open with Maria trying to console Carla. "He only touched my knee," she says. "I just lost it." Maria assures her that she's been through hell and needs time to get over it. Carla's determined to go to work.

While everyone else eats breakfast, Eileen checks her phone every twenty seconds in case there's something from her firefighter. Marcus discovers Paul's wallet where it fell behind the chair. It has his address in it and Eileen says she'd better take it round. Sean warns her not to seem like a stalker and Marcus says she can't just turn up on his doorstep. "At least phone him first."

I'm not quite sure why Rita has baby Jack but she wheels him past the garage where Kirsty breaks off from talking to Tyrone to ooh and ahh over how cute the baby is. She discovers who Rita is and apologises for the fuss over the car. When they go, Kirsty comments on how gorgeous the baby is. Tyrone ignores the comment.

In the factory, they discuss Carla and are interrupted by Frank's mum, Anne. She tries to rev them up but they wind her up by mentioning Carla seeing a rape counselor. She asks if they've all got jobs lined up for when Underworld collapses. The phone goes in the office. It's Rory.

Sophie comes downstairs to be told by Sian that her mother's just offered to take her to France on holiday. She suggests Sophie come with them but Sophie's skint and still owes her father all that money. Sian suggests she ask Sally instead.

Carla arrives and Anne tells her it would have been better if she'd stayed away. Rory's cancelled his order, thanks to Carla. "He said that you had some sort of funny turn." Carla apparently was fine one minute and the next was screaming the place down accusing him of making a move on her. "Getting to be a bit of habit, isn't it? You shouldn't be allowed within ten feet of any client. You're a total liability." Carla tells her to get out of her face. "I pity you, Carla. I honestly do." Carla tells her to save her pity. She'll need it herself. "Your son's a rapist and he's going to prison." Anne thinks Carla needs help. She'll be there as long as Frank needs her.

Rita's in the cafe pointing out that Norris has overshot his break by at least half an hour. Mary tells her they got carried away fantasizing about the cruise they're going to win. Roy pipes up that Sylvia's also entered a competition. "Hack, choke, tickle, croak. No-one's immune. Reach for the spoon then soothe, smooth, snooze." Mary recognizes her slogan immediately. "I suspect foul play," says Norris. "So sue me," says Sylvia.

Tina comes in and Rita tells her it's ages since they had a proper chat. She invites her round for her tea but Tina's going out with Matt Carter tonight to a posh do in town.

Mary feels violated but Norris tells her that if Sylvia's stolen her slogan it's no great loss. "It wasn't very good. Mine was much better."

Rita tells Tina that Kirsty seems like a nice person. Norris agrees. He says Kirsty risks her life for the public every day. Mary's inspired to stand up and tell Sylvia she's going to report the theft to the police. Rita thinks Kirsty might have bigger fish to fry.

In the factory, Anne admires Sean's stitching. Kirk comes through wanting Carla to tell him what to do with a load of fabric that's been delivered and is blocking the loading by. It's for the order that Rory cancelled. Carla says it will have to go back. Kirk points out it can't go back because it was made to order. Carla tells him to find somewhere to put it. The machinists discuss the cancelled order and Sally wonders if it would help if Anne went to talk to them. Carla explodes and tells them all to go home. "Are you deaf? I said ‘go home'!" "My god, she's a total nightmare," says Anne. She tells them they'd better do what Carla says or she'll be lashing out at them.

Roy has to ask Sylvia whether she stole Mary's slogan. "Steal, that is such an ugly word," says Sylvia. "Oh dear," says Roy.

Kirsty and Tyrone are in the cafe when she asks him about his reaction to baby Jack this morning. She tells him her bodyclock's not ticking. She's not looking for a baby-daddy so there's no need for him to worry about that. He tries to change the subject but she says it's a shame he's dead against the idea of becoming a dad because he'd make a great one. "I thought he was mine," Tyrone confesses, telling her about Molly and Kevin. Kirsty is horrified. "I don't hate Jack. It's the exact opposite - I'm still trying not to love him."

Frank's at home with Anne. She tells him Carla's beyond being talked round. The staff won't stay loyal for long if she keeps laying into them. Frank says he can't risk leaving his business in Carla's hands any longer. "I think we need to turn up the pressure."

Sean's going to chuck Eileen's phone down the bog if she doesn't keep checking it every few seconds. The other machinists, all together in the Rovers, encourage her to get round and check out Paul's house. "Don't blame me when it all goes pear-shaped," Sean warns.

Rita's at the bar talking to Tina about what's she put up with in the name of beauty over the years. Tina's nervous about her date but Rita says she could go in a bin liner and still look stunning. She urges Tina to be herself and she'll be fine.

Sally reckons if Carla carries on the way she is she won't have a business left. Stella suggests they're drinking a bit much if they're going to be sewing but they tell her about Carla's meltdown. Stella orders a round for the machinists then heads off out the door.

Tyrone thinks Kirsty won't want to hang round with him since he's so bitter over Kevin and Molly's affair. "Something like that changes you," he says. "It makes you suspicious of everything." Kirsty kisses him on the cheek. "So you're not going to dump me?" he asks in wonder. "No, I'm going to care for you and have a laugh with you and snog the face off you," she says. There's no rush and when he's ready she hopes she's the one who can help him learn to trust again.

Sylvia remembers when Roy went through a phase of thieving. Roy denies this vehemently. "I've got two words for you," says Sylvia. "Henry Parkinson." Roy pauses. "He didn't deserve those diving beetles." "How you smuggled a two-foot aquatic tank out of somebody's house I'll never know," says Sylvia. Roy claims Henry Parkinson was incapable of looking after any creature. Sylvia sees no difference between that incident and her own liberating of a piece of scrunched up paper.

Carla's in the factory looking very down when Stella comes in to see her. Carla says she's been lovely but she doesn't see the point in going over things. "I don't think talking about it will do any good." Stella says she was just like that.

Eileen knocks on a nice leadlighted door. Paul answers and she explains she did phone. Paul's spent the morning turning the house upside down looking for the wallet. She tries to start a conversation but he thanks her and shuts the door in her face.

Carla doesn't understand how she's meant to live her life now. Will she have a hissy fit any time a bloke looks at her the wrong way? Stella says she felt dirty, as if the rape tainted her. What Frank did to Carla was unspeakable and nobody would blame her if she wanted to hide away. Carla points out that she's at her desk, working. "But you're hitting out at people around you - people who don't deserve it," Stella says. Carla realises "that lot" are in the Rovers gossiping about her but Stella says they're just worried about her and worried about their jobs. Carla can sit at home or she can get up and fight.

Sally's surprised to find Sophie doing the vacuuming when she gets home. Sophie confesses she want to borrow two hundred pounds to go to France with Sian. Sally refuses. "The way things are going, I might not even have a job soon." She points out Sophie already owes Kevin a lot of money.

Eileen arrives back at the pub. "He was appalled to see me. Couldn't wait to get shut of me." Jason thinks Eileen should dump him but Sean thinks there might be some logical explanation. Eileen doesn't believe this.

Carla's in the office, cheerfully talking to a client, telling them the rumour are wrong. She and Frank have gone their separate ways but it's business as usual. She's interrupted by some noise on the factory floor. Anne's there with moving men who are removing equipment. "My son owns forty per cent of this business. I'm only taking what's his." She tells Carla Frank's setting up on his own. "And he'll be taking what's left of his clients with him!"

The end of the first episode.
Margaret Carr

While everything is being taken out of the factory, Carla yells to Anne that she can't do that. She claims Frank is well within his rights.

Sean tells Eileen they need some TLC, so he is getting some choccies and a film. They see stuff being taken from the factory.

Paul comes to apologise to Eileen, but she walks away.

Carla is fighting to hold the goods. The staff go into the factory and try to retrieve as much as they can even after Anne warns them they could face court. The staff are very supportive of Carla against Anne. Carla tells them to relinquish and move out of the way as it is all legal.

Amber wants a pay rise but Dev says they can't afford it. She insists it is not as much as golf lessons.

Sophie says to Dev that she wants two weeks off from the next day. Dev says she can, but unpaid. She says she wants an advance on her wages. Dev however reminds her of the recession. Sophie tells Sian that she definitely cannot come now.

Of course the staff in the factory are concerned about their jobs. Carla says they are going to carry on. She will rent machines if necessary, and get hold of material. She wants them to turn up on Monday as usual.

Paul is waiting for Eileen outside the factory. He says that he wants to talk to Eileen in private to explain. He wants to be honest and doesn't want to talk in front of an audience.

Sian and Sophie say their loving goodbyes, as Sophie goes away for her holiday.

Paul says he feels terrible. They are just about to start talking when Jason comes in to make a buttie! He explains his brother was there and it felt awkward. Eileen asks if he (Paul) is married. He says he was, but not now. Eileen says that she over reacted. She was paranoid that he would go off her. He says he thought the same, but she says further from truth. He asks if she still wants to see him. She says she does, as she can't condemn someone who puts his family first.

Tina alerts Maria to who is sitting in the Rovers and drinking a lot. Maria joins her.

Matt says he is taking Tina to town to buy a new dress, much to Tommy's annoyance who overhears the conversation. She says she doesn't need one, but Matt insists.

Carla tells Maria that she is going round to Frank's and have it out with him. Maria insists on going with her. They arrive at his place. Maria says they can go back if she wants. Carla marches up to the door, followed by Maria. Anne answers the door and says he doesn't want to see her. She forces her way in. Frank says it is lovely to see her and her ‘accomplice'. Carla wants him to give back all that he has taken. He claims he is only taking what is his. He is protecting his own interests. He says the worst thing he ever did was to meet the two of them. He wants them to leave. Carla accuses him of assaulting Maria and raping her. Anne tells them to get out. Carla wonders how she can stand by him. He threatens to call the police if she doesn't go. Carla threatens to kill him. She rushes forward towards him but is pulled back by Maria.

Eileen tells Sean and Marcus that everything is okay and they are going out that night. Jason comes in and is a bit surprised.

Back at Maria's flat. Carla is recriminating with herself. It wasn't supposed to turn out the way it did. Maria thinks he can't get away with it. Carla feels totally helpless. Maria comforts her.

Tina is getting her makeup ready for her night out. Tommy comes in and is making jealous remarks towards her.

Paul is telling Eileen about his past. He says he just drifted into the job as a firefighter. He thought it was a way to pull a load of women!! He teases her by telling her he was once lead violinist of an orchestra. Marcus and Sean look over and Marcus says he is chuffed for her.

The buzzer from the front door rings in Maria's flat. DC Malone wants to confirm that Carla went round to his house. He has made a complaint. She tells him that it doesn't help her case going round to his place. She should stay away from him. Sean is worried about work. Marcus offers to support him if necessary.

DC Malone visits Carla at Maria's flat. They had a complaint from Frank Foster that she had barged her way into his flat. She confirms he had every right to take the equipment. She tells Carla that she is not doing herself any favours by behaving that way. She advises her to stay away from Frank Foster. Carla thinks DC Malone is a waste of space.

Matt comes round for Tina. They are both dressed to impress. He is waiting for Tina and starts talking to Tommy. Tommy is trying to needle Matt but he is not having any of it.

Eileen remarks about her house and how everybody seems to have moved in their partners. She asks Paul if he minds living alone. He says it can be lonely at times, so he is glad that he found her. Marcus and Sean come in, and Paul jumps up to go. They kiss goodbye in the hallway. Marcus and Sean sing "Then you kiss me".

Carla tells Maria that she thinks Frank knew she would come round. She says she cannot win if she did nothing, or takes action. She tells Maria that he may think he has her under his foot, but he is wrong she is taking back the controls.

Martin Rosen

Written by Damon Rochefort Directed by Duncan Foster

Everyone wants to hear the inside info on Eileen's date with Paul but she's being circumspect. She thinks Jason is being a bit protective but he points out her history of losers over the years.

Amber complains about Dev obsessing over Aadi's golf lessons. She came over to ask Sophie if she wants to work tonight. Sally and Jeff come down the stairs after an obvious night together. They are surprised to find Sophie and Amber there. Sophie is less than impressed. Sally has to get off to work and leaves Jeff to get some breakfast on his own. She leaves with a kiss. Jeff senses the tension and doesn't stay.

Sean and Eileen arrive at the factory, noting the new machines haven't arrived yet. Eileen is giggling over a text from Paul. Julie, Sally and Izzy arrive. Sally snags her own machine but several of them don't have anywhere to sit or anything to do. Hayley goes into the office to find out an update. Carla doesn't know when the machines will arrive and is desperately reaching out to her contacts for new business.

Tina greets Ty and Tommy outside the Kabin. They tease her about the fancy posh do she went to the night before. She says it was all right. Tyrone says he's treating Kirsty to a curry, wine and a girly dvd tonight. Tina tells him she's working anyway.

It's tea break time and many of them haven't had a lot to do. Julie gets busy with the scrubber and plans to bottom out the bogs. They all complain and wonder if there will be layoffs. Sally says it will be last in first out which means Becky and Eileen figures she's probably next. Izzy wonders if they're worrying about nothing. Eileen gets another text that makes her smile. In the office, Carla doesn't seem to be having much luck on the phone. She is watching everyone through the window and looks like she's going to have to face a firing squad before long.

Over to the shop, Sophie has a knot in her face about Jeff. Amber teases her about it. Sally arrives and chides Sophie for how rude she was to Jeff. Sophie can't understand it, she and Kevin were getting on so well. Sally says it's not her business. Sophie keeps on until Sally stops her and says "my house, my rules". End of. Amber teases Sophie about being a moody cow like her mother.

Karl chases Stella down the stairs, hoping to lure her back up them but she insists, she's opening up on time. Tina pops in. She admits to Stella that the posh date wasn't that great. Matt's doctor mates and the girlfriends were stuck up and boring. Tina wonders if she could work tonight because Tyrone has a date at the house (she'd lied earlier to Tyrone). Too bad, though, as Stella says the bar is fully staffed tonight. Could Matt take her out? She says she'll ask him.

Hayley asks Carla how it went. Not well. Carla takes a deep breath and goes out to talk to the staff. She tells them the bad news. Loss of machines, lost an order. Dropped other business to take that order that was then lost and she's not been able to drum up more work. She's practically in tears having to tell them that there will be layoffs. Sally says they all understand and Carla hopes it will be temporary. She asks Becky to come into the office but Becky stands up and takes it well, she knew she'd be the first one out and says there's no hard feelings. She wishes Carla good luck and tells the rest she'll be in the pub. Eileen's next with much the same reaction. She understands, too and says it's Frank's fault not Carla's. Carla says she'll pay to the end of the week. Who's next. Sally! Everyone is shocked.

Becky has gone straight to the cab office and offers herself as a switch operator. It can't be that difficult. She tries to use her almost ended marriage to the other owner as leverage but Lloyd isn't having it. Fat Brenda... Only works part time, Becky points out. But Eileen comes in next and the two of them bicker over who's having the job. Eileen has experience but Becky has "ownership". Lloyd insists there's no job and doesn't give it to either of them. He says he'll speak to Steve and let them know.

In the office, Sally is gobsmacked. She takes as being fired even thought it's a temporary layoff. Carla says that Sally's a good worker but her decision was made because Sally has a slush fund from Kevin's lottery win and can afford to be out of work at the moment. (I don't think a tribunal would see it that way). Sally is outraged and screeches that it's isn't fair. Not fair that she had cancer, not fair that her husband had an affair, and the scratch card money isn't anything to do with her either. Carla tries to justify it but Sally won't listen. Kevin's situation is nothing to do with her and she thinks Carla owes her a bit more loyalty than this. She says the job means everything to her, her independence and self esteem seem all wrapped up in it. Carla isn't backing down and is upset at having to do it but Sally spits at her, stuff your job and your money and storms out, bursting into tears. Everyone else expresses their sympathy. Sally says she looked up to Carla. More fool her. (What is it about "temporary" that she doesn't understand?)

Marcus is trying to cheer up Eileen. She needs to stay positive. Eileen isn't sure she'll be able to. Jason comes in shouting and wants to go over and shout at Carla but Eileen says it's not Carla's fault, it's Frank's. Marcus suggests they can all pay more rent and takes money from Jason so he can go do a big shop at Freshcos. Jason goes back to work, too. Eileen picks up her phone to call Paul.

Jeff has come at Sally's beckoning and can see she's upset. Sophie comes in laughing with Kevin right behind her. Sally hisses at him. Sophie wanted to make her father a sandwich. Kevin goes to leave but Sophie won't let him. Sally gripes and tells Kevin he can't keep dropping in. She and Jeff leave.

Becky has told Stella about being laid off. She wonders if there's a bar job going though she's only joking really. She's surprised to see Sally come in and is shocked to find out Sally was laid off too. Becky tells Sally she'll work on the switch at the cab office. Becky mentions Sally having her hands on the lottery money. Sally turns up her nose and whirls around to go to a table. Tommy and Tyrone are playing darts and Tommy teases Tyrone about his date that night. Eileen comes in for a drink, too.

In Freshcos, Marcus spies Paul with a shopping cart but before he can go say hello, he sees a woman with Paul as well. He scoots around a corner and hides, trying to see a bit better but not be seen. Hmmmm.. what's going on here?

In the pub, Sally is still tearful. Jeff is sympathetic. He pulls out a handkerchief for her. She says she's really furious about getting the sack after years of defending Carla. Stella overhears and says it's more Frank's fault. Sally reckons it's only one word against the other and at the moment, she wouldn't put anything past Carla. Stella is horrified that Sally could consider that Carla is lying. She tells Jeff nothing would surprised her. Jeff suggests that Sally speak to Frank since he still owns almost half of the factory. Over at the bar, Tommy is trying his luck with Becky but gets shot down in big flames, looking a right pratt. Lloyd comes in and tells Eileen and Becky that they aren't hiring anyone, they can't afford the wages of another person. Stella gets in between them and tells them to fight outside if they're going to. Becky and Eileen make peace. Eileen leaves and outside, leaves another message for Paul inviting him for tea.

Back at the Freshcos car park, Marcus has come out with the shopping and sees Paul loading up his car. He and the woman hug. Marcus looks thoughtful.

Tvor

Frank's mother Anne (the ever wonderful Gwen Taylor - well she was in "Life of Brian") is persuasive and Sally is nothing if not capable of being persuaded so whilst Jeff looks on, Sally lists to Anne seeking to convince Sally that of course her son is not a wretched low life, good for nothing snake in the grass but a good upstanding member of the church (well she does not quite go that far, but what mother ever doubts her child and anyway Frank has not been convicted of anything and we all know that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and is that likely given the lack of evidence?). Sal thinks that Frank can only take people back on at the factory but as Anne points out is more complicated than that - as he cannot go anywhere near Carla. Anne emphasizes that Frank wants to speak to Sal in person about a job. A very good job says Anne - perhaps they could go NOW and speak to him.

The other side of the Street Marcus is beside himself (if that were possible). He has seen Paul and a woman, and the woman must be Paul's wife the way he was behaving with her at the supermarket, body language and everything. And yet he can tell Sean but he cannot tell Eileen. Sean keeps uttering a gasp at every new aspect revealed. Body language? asks Sean. He hugged her and then he kissed her - how much body do you want? Marcus replies. Sean wants to tell Eileen - but Marcus says no. Marcus cannot be certain it was Paul's wife - they need more evidence. Marcus says he has been in this situation before - all there would be would a round of lies and Eileen would not believe Marcus and there would be huge falling out. Which could cost them the roof over their heads. Marcus will not tell Eileen until he is certain, no matter what Sean thinks.

At his new premises Frank is telling Sally that he has a couple of orders lined up and he will soon have some more. Again Jeff and Anne are listening as Frank makes his case for Sally to join him - and he hopes she will recruit some of the others who have been laid off. Anne and Frank tell Sally she is entitled to wait for Carla to offer her a job but they point out she might have a long wait given the way Carla is running the business into the ground. Frank reckons Carla only has until Christmas before it collapses around her ears.

Marcus and Sean head off to the Rovers leaving Eileen at home. Her phone goes and her face lights up in a huge smile before she answers it "Hello stranger". She'd nearly given up on Paul.

Sally and Jeff discuss the offer and as she points out people on the Street are not going to be keen on her taking up a job working for an alleged rapist. Jeff tells her to leave it for a couple days if she is not sure - but she has made her decision. She turns rounds and tell Frank she will take the job and Anne says it is wonderful news and gives her a hug and a kiss. Sally says she it will be her absolute pleasure to spread the word that Frank is recruiting machinists. Welcome aboard Sally says Frank shaking her hand.

Eileen and Paul are sharing a bottle of red wine. He asks after her day - not good seeing as how she was made redundant. Now do you all know that there is a long standing code in Corrie. Red wine shared by a couple means, almost as night follows day, that later on there will be scenes which cannot be broadcast given the time of day. If it is white wine then nothing happens. So even now I know that their fate is sealed. Down the years I think I can remember only about one instance where this is not true. Eileen is sure another job will turn up. She says it is lovely to see him.

Back across the Street in the Webster residence Sophie throws herself onto the sofa as she and Rosie discuss their mother. Both of them believe that Sal should be with Kev and not that Jeff bloke. Sophie asks Rosie if she can envisage Jeff as their step dad. Rosie closes her eyes, shakes her head and says "Don't" as if the image was giving her nightmares when she is awake. Rosie points out that Sophie will be leaving home soon (will she how or why?) and it is not her problem. Sophie answers back saying that she will still be bovvered. It bothers Rosie too.

In the Rovers Sal, who obviously believes that Frank is the wrong party, tells Carla that she is now employed by the rapist and they are opening new premises this week. As she tells Carla the latter's face shows how betrayed and lost she feels as her staff have started siding with the enemy and Sal is promising to talk to the others. Sal expects others to join her and she wishes Carla luck with Underworld - because she is going to need it.

Surreptitiously Paul is making a phone call, checking that everything is alright, something has apparently come up at work and he is not going to be able to get home tonight. Oddly he is making this call from Eileen's house. He tells the other person on the phone that he will be home first thing in the morning. "Bye ... bye". Eileen comes downstairs - she has just remembered that she has a drop of brandy if they fancy it after the wine. Paul tells her not to be long and heads upstairs. Eileen permits herself a huge smile before following him.

And I will see you all again next week.
K Richard W

Jason is horrified at the thought that a man, Paul, spent the night in his mother's bed. He doesn't want to be there when they get up, he wants to go to the cafe for breakfast. Rosie tells him if he got moving and sold the flat, they could get their own place so this wouldn't happen in future. Rosie isn't prepared to go and live in the flat that Jason shared with Tina, if he gets it sold they can move somewhere else. Jason points out that at the moment nothing is selling, especially flats. Rosie says the agent better find them a buyer or else! She fancies living somewhere classy, like Victoria Court. As soon as they've gone out of the door, Eileen comes down, asking Sean and Marcus if they've seen Paul. They haven't. He must have slipped out early, an early start. As she goes off to the shower, Sean mutters that he must have had to get home so his wife isn't suspicious.

Sophie is at work in the shop, with Amber. She gets a call from Sian, she's having a good time on holiday in France. After the call, Amber says she's sure Sian is missing Sophie. Sophie isn't so sure, she's probably having too good a time to think about Sophie.

Eileen is in the cafe, and leaves a message on Paul's phone, apologising for sleeping through his leaving. Roy comes over and says he's sorry to hear she's lost her job at Underworld. He knows that Hayley is worried about losing her job too. Eileen is sure that won't happen, Carla depends on her too much.

Sally is over at Frank's factory. He shows her the work area, and she tells him she's placed an ad for staff in the Gazette and also been in contact with the Job centre. He's impressed by her efficiency, Carla's loss is his gain. Sally says she'll also sound out other Underworld machinists.

Over at Underworld, the workers are discussing the situation. Kirk has no deliveries, and Izzy hopes she's not going to lose her job. Sean is sure things will soon pick up.

Kevin sees Rosie in the street and tells her that Sally has gone to work for Frank. Rosie is horrified, he's such a slimeball, and asks if Kevin can't change Sally's mind. Kevin knows there's no chance of that. Rosie agrees that Sally can be stubborn, everyone knows that Sally and Kevin should be back together, but Sally just won't admit it. Kevin says he's prepared to wait, and tells Rosie not to push it. He asks if Sally's happy with Jeff. Rosie says she tries to be, but it all comes down to one thing - Jeff isn't Kevin. Just then they see Jeff get out of his car with a glamorous model, Stacy, and head off to the bistro.

Sally is in the Rovers when Becky comes in. She buys Becky a drink and offers her a job as a machinist at Frank's new factory, with more pay than at Underworld. Becky considers, and then accepts.

Marcus goes into the cafe and sits with Eileen, who has made numerous calls to Paul with no response. She wonders if she's upset him. Marcus then tells her how he saw Paul with another woman.

Rosie marches into the bistro and up to Jeff and Stacy who are drinking champagne. Stacy says she's the new face of Weatherfield Windows, she's going to be in lots of ads. They saw her on Lorraine Kelly.

Marcus and Eileen are still in the cafe. He tells her how he saw Paul and the woman in Freshco, yesterday. Eileen points out it could have been his sister. Marcus says he thought that too, so followed them out to the car park where he saw them hug and kiss. "Sorry," he says. "He's the one who's going to be sorry," says Eileen.

Sally pays for the Underworld workers' drinks in the pub. She tells them she has a new job at Frank's factory and they're welcome to join them. They're all shocked and ask if she and Becky don't have any principals. Becky points out that she had no job and no cash and the shops don't take principals instead of cash. Sally tells them they should remember that when Underworld goes under. She reminds them that Frank bought into Underworld because Carla was in trouble, she won't do any better when they're in competition. Just then Carla comes in, orders a drink, and looks around at the glum faces of the workforce.

In the shop, Amber tells Sophie that she has a mate from Uni coming over and they're going to a gig. She invites Sophie to join them, but Sophie tells her that she has a church meeting to go to, so Amber suggests they go for a drink together another night.

Back in the pub, Carla berates Sally for going to work for Frank and poaching her staff. She asks if Sally has considered what she's got herself into. Sally says she knows that Carla threw her on the scrap heap, despite her being the most experienced machinist. "Oh so this is all about you getting back at me, is it?" snaps Carla.

Eileen goes to the fire station and confronts Paul about his wife.

In the bistro, Stacy goes to the ladies and Rosie asks Jeff if Sally knows he's having cosy little champagne parties with her. Jeff insists it's business. Rosie isn't happy that Stacy got the job and Jeff didn't put her forward for it.

Carla stares around her empty factory. Sean comes in, and she tells him that Frank is after Underworld's business. "Will he get it?" asks Sean. Carla insists that he won't. Sean says he's speaking for the others, and whatever she needs them to do, they'll do it.

Paul is apologising to Eileen, he says he was wanting to tell her. She's furious and gets back into her taxi and it drives off.

Rosie is now at home with Jason. He hasn't yet rung the estate agent, much to her annoyance. She's also ranting and raving about Jeff and Stacy. She's sure that if Jeff wasn't around, her mum and her dad would get back together. Just then a devastated Eileen comes through the door. She tells Jason that Paul is married, and she feels sorry for his wife, she probably doesn't have a clue that her husband is a lousy, lying cheat. She cries, and Jason hugs her.

Anne Logan

As we wind down for the weekend, here's Friday's first episode.

Sally and Jeff leave her place discussing the problems of recruiting machinists. He invites her to an early dinner. Down the road, Rosie emerges from the Grimshaws' just in time to see Sally and Jeff kiss. She thinks Sally's only with Jeff to hide the fact that she still loves Kevin. Marcus comes along and Rosie reveals they're looking for somewhere else to live. That seems to be a surprise to Jason. He doesn't see why they should look at properties until the flat he bought with Tina sells and there's no sign of that happening.

Eileen's watching telly with a long face on her. She refuses Marcus's offer of croissants. She feels stupid and accuses Sean and Marcus of making it worse by not revealing what they knew about Paul. They could have stopped her sleeping with him. Sean says maybe the night of hot sex is her consolation prize. "Promise me you'll never train as a relationship counselor," says Marcus. Eileen says it's the last time she's going to put her head above the parapet to get it blown off.

Also trying to keep his head below the parapet is Owen, trying to sneak out of Anna's house without Faye finding out. He kisses her goodbye and the delay is almost too much. Anna has to tell Faye she was talking to herself.

Sophie's chatting with Kevin in the shop. She agrees to babysit while Kevin goes to see Bill. He leaves and Amber comes in reaching for the water. Sophie isn't very sympathetic and ends up defending herself, saying she does know how to party. Amber invites her to come out and prove it. Sophie tells her she doesn't have any other plans.

Eileen wonders if Paul intended to string her along for ages. She suggests he just uses the fireman thing to pull women. She wonders if she should let his wife know about it. Marcus says going round to his house is undignified. "I just want him to pay," says Eileen.

Rosie raves about apartments with en-suite bathrooms and a roof terrace. Or another with a garden. Jason suggests that's where they can grow the money trees so they can afford the place. Rosie says they're a bargain. Jason doesn't want to get stuck with a massive mortgage. He tells her there's no rush and Rosie stomps off in a huff. Jeff pulls up beside her in his car and tells her about a gig he's booked for her, handing out leaflets outside a nightclub. He passes her the very skimpy costume and asks her to tell Sally he'll be round at 6.

Eileen's moping in the pub when Julie comes in and starts going on about how she mustn't lose faith in love. Eileen's very grumpy. Sally comes in and Julie tells them flat that they won't be bought by Frank Foster. Eileen asks about the offer and tells Sally she's interested. Julie's horrified but Eileen points out that Julie at least has a job. When Julie's gone, Eileen asks for advice from the wronged wife point of view. Sally urges her to tell Paul's wife.

Amber isn't very impressed by the costume. Rosie says it's Jeff she hates. She enjoys the job. She and Sophie discuss getting rid of Jeff. They think Sally would get back with Kevin if Jeff wasn't around. "If he was to get caught with another woman," says Rosie. Sophie demands to know who that would be.

Rosie's round at Sally's talking about how she wishes things had stayed the same. Sally says she's with Jeff now so they can't. Rosie asks if she has any doubts about working for Frank and Sally makes it clear she doesn't. "So, if you think what you're doing is right, it doesn't matter if you upset a couple of people?" asks Rosie. "Not in my book," says Sally. Rosie tells her about Jeff wanting to see her at 6, but Sally doesn't finish work until then. Rosie says she's going into the office so she'll tell Jeff 6.30.

Sophie lies to Kevin and tells him she's got an unexpected church meeting to go to tonight.

Chesney arrives home after a record-breaking day at the market. They've got enough to pay for the buggy now. Katie suggests they go and look at some but Chesney wants to go and see Fiz later on.

Owen arrives in the cafe and Anna apologises about hustling him out of the house. She doesn't know how to tell Faye. Faye has to be her first priority.

Rosie's in the cafe to talk to Sophie. She tells Sophie Jeff's going to be caught in a compromising position with her - like a honey trap. Jeff will arrive at 6. Half an hour is plenty of time to seduce him before Sally arrives home. Sophie doesn't think it's going to work

Anna tells Owen she loves seeing him but she still doesn't want to tell Faye yet.

Chesney's chatting to Fiz about dog owners and interesting stuff like that. He assures her the trial will go well. Fiz says they have to look at the practicalities. She asks whether Chesney and Katie will take care of Hope if it comes down to it. Chesney refuses to believe Fiz won't come home next week.

Sophie tells Amber she's going to Hell because she lied to Kevin. Amber reckons God will understand.

Eileen arrives in Paul's street just in time to see him arrive home arm-in-arm with a woman who must be his wife.

Jeff arrives at Sally's. Rosie's there in her robe. She wants his opinion on the costume - and Jeff's eyes boggle as she opens the robe.

The front door opens and Eileen launches straight into a speech about Paul being a cheating low-life. The woman who opened the door seems quite bewildered. "Are you a friend of Paul's?" asks the woman. Eileen says she's more than a friend and continues with the speech, detailing how she met Paul and assuring the woman she didn't know Paul was married. "What time is it?" asks the woman. "Is it dinnertime?" Paul comes to the door and tells the woman that everything's fine. He leads her away. Then he comes back and tells Eileen she can't just turn up like this. Eileen says she was all set for the big showdown but she can't fathom the odd reaction of his wife. Paul says his wife can't understand. "I should never have started seeing you. It was doomed from the start. I'm really sorry." He says his wife has early-onset Alzheimer's. His wife calls from inside the house and Eileen tells Paul to go to her. Once again he shuts the door on Eileen.

Rosie gives Jeff a hot drink and asks for his professional advice. She wants to take things to the next level with modelling - maybe fashion, lingerie. "Do you think I have a good body?" she asks, stripping down to the costume. She asks if he thinks she's got good legs. Are they sexy? Jeff, quite flustered, agrees that they are. Rosie's keeping an eye on the door. She kneels on the sofa beside him and tells him what nice hair and eyes and strong arms he's got. "I've got a confession to make. I fancy you like mad." Jeff's leaning back as far as he can, trying to get away. He's never noticed she's attracted to him. Rosie leans closer and says she knows he feels the same way. Jeff tells her all this is highly unethical. Rosie, with tears in her eyes, says she dreams about him all night. She tries to shove her away but she grabs the cup of coffee and throws it in his lap. It's really hot and he leaps up. She starts to struggle with his zip, as does he, just as Sally walks in. Rosie turns towards her with tear-filled eyes. "Sally, it's now how it looks," says Jeff. "Yes it is," Rosie says.

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

Sally wants to know what is going on. Jeff says it was a set up. Sally thinks it is all very disgusting and tells him to get out.

Sean asks what happened when she went round to Paul. He presumes she went and told his wife. Eileen doesn't want to talk about it. Jason also asks what is going on.

Sally and Rosie are talking. Sally says world would be better place without sex!! Rosie asks her Mum not to tell Dad what has happened because he will do his vigilante routine again. Sophie comes in and asks what is going on. Rosie tells her that Jeff tried it on with her.

Chesney tells Fiz that the police are prosecuting her for murder not conspiracy. He says they could never prove it. Fiz explains that she stole money from a dead man. She says solicitor has told her to change her plea to guilty that way she will get a lighter sentence. Chesney is convinced she will be found not guilty and tells her not to change her plea.

Jason is talking to Sean about his mother. Eileen overhears, but says nothing. Rosie comes in distressed. Eileen jumps up and says she is going to her room. Rosie is trying to attract Jason's attention.

Sally switches off her phone as Jeff tries to call her. Sally asks Sophie if Jeff ever tried it on with her. Sally tells Sophie that Rosie said that models are often sitting on his lap. Sally recalls that he proposed to her and thinks he was probably trying it on with her at that time. Sophie confesses it was to get her Dad back. Sally says no.

Rosie has told Jason what has happened. He wants to kill him Rosie says she may have to work with him again. Sally comes round she says she wants a word, Rosie asks why, she says that she will give her a clue "a Christian". Sally says she knows and Rosie backtracks and says he is a creep and it may as well be true. Jason is annoyed that he has been lied to. Rosie says It was to prove that with a bit of encouragement he would betray her. Eileen comes down saying she has had a bad day as well. Paul then appears.

In the street, Sally says that her father is an untrustworthy liar, that is probably where she gets it from. Rosie calls out to Sophie asking was it her idea to let her do the dirty work and then blab at the first opportunity. Sophie explains her Mum was in tears. In the heat of the row, Sally reminds her that her Dad impregnated Molly, Rosie retorts that it didn't stop her jumping into bed with him. Sally is furious and she says she ashamed of the pair of them.

Paul tells Eileen that his wife suffers from Alzheimer's, and it is no longer a marriage. He wished he had told her before. He has been trying to look after her the best he can. This is the first time he has even had a drink with another woman. Eileen feels sorry for him. He says there is nothing in his marriage for him these days.

Sophie and Amber are in a bar. Amber tells her that she did the right thing about Jeff. Amber tries to persuade her to have an alcoholic drink. Sophie says she doesn't want one nor needs one. When she goes off, Amber adds a bit of her own drink to Sophie's.

Katy asks Anna what time did he (Owen) go? She says she snuck him out first thing. Katy says it is funny to know her Dad has a girlfriend. Chesney asks Katy if she wants chips on their way home. She says maybe later, and he moans to Anna that she does this, waits till bedtime and then sends him out. Katy doesn't think he will sleep tonight as he is concerned for Fiz. He says he knows exactly what he is going to say.

Guy in bar tries to chat up Sophie. She says he isn't her type, when he asks what is her type, Amber comes up and says she is. She then proves it, by kissing her.

Paul is telling Eileen that he sees his mates out with their wives, having a good time. She gets very annoyed, frustrated. They cannot even go for a drink together. He wants to still see her as friends. Eileen doesn't want it. She doesn't want to be a ‘third wheel' in the marriage. She can't forgive him for lying to her. She is not going to become part of his marriage. Paul goes and Eileen breaks down and sobs.

Sally and Jeff are together on the couch. He is surprised that Sally actually believed Rosie. She tells him that she normally believes her kids. She asks if he was flirting with Rosie. He says no, but it is normally the girls who start it up. Sally thinks it is because they want work from him.

Amber and Sophie come rolling out of the bar.

Sophie and Amber arrive home in a taxi. Sophie is a little tipsy (even though Amber only poured a little drop into her drink!) Sophie asks her why she kissed her. Amber explains that it was to get rid of him. Sophie says she can handle him herself. Sophie arrives home to find her mum and Jeff in each others arms, kissing. Sally tells her to go upstairs to her room.

Rosie and Jason are chatting to Chesney in the street who is out walking Schmeichel. Rosie is a little drunk and tells Jason that she loves Chesney and his dog. Jason wishes Chesney good luck for tomorrow. There is a car parked by in the shadows. There is rope in the back of the car. It is John Stape. (Oh no, what can he want?!).

Martin Rosen

Written by Peter Whalley Directed by Kay Patrick

Fiz's trial starts today. A guard comes into her room while she cuddles Hope. She's very apprehensive, knowing all the lies that will be told about her in court. She isn't taking a guilty plea because she's innocent.

Dev gives Amber a hard time for closing the shop early the night before. She's dismissive, saying it was quiet and she wanted the time off. He shouts at her while Norris brings a tin of something to the counter. Dev sends Amber to answer the phone. It's Sophie who is very hungover, blaming Amber for spiking her drinks and she's pulling a sickie. Kevin comes a-knocking just then to collect his post and overhears. Kevin is concerned.

Julie and Brian head to the court house where he is due to testify. The prison van arrives with photographers flashing. Julie is trying to impress on Brian that Fiz is innocent and he's to tell the truth. John is lurking behind a tree across the road and watching as Fiz comes out of the van.

Norris tries to talk Rita out of not working so that he can accompany Mary to the trial. Rita was told to be available if she has to testify so available she's going to be. Norris calls her selfish. She shouts at him that the courtroom is not a circus or a freak show and scolds the pair of them for treating it like entertainment. She spins on her heel and goes upstairs. Mary waits for her to be out of the shop before grinning. "That's us told!"

At the courthouse, Fiz and her barrister are in a very little room discussing things. She tells her that the prosecution presents their case first and Fiz will get her chance when it's their turn. Fiz comments that she always used to think, about murders she'd read about in the paper, that the wife must have known because she lived with the murderer and they're all thinking that about her too.

Rosie wants Jason to take the photos she's taken of the flat to the estate agent. He's busy, but she's insisting. She's keen to move away somewhere like Chester where people are far posher than round here. Jason reminds her that everyone is narked at her because she tried it on with Jeff to break him and Sally up. She objects. She didn't try it on with Jeff and insists he apologize. She totters out angrily, forgetting to give Jason the camera.

People are filing in to the court room. Kirk is there to support Fiz and Chesney but Mary says he should be prepared for the worst. Mary reckons Fiz will not get off. The proceedings begin. A pale and shaky looking Fiz is brought up into the dock.

Outside the courtroom, Brian needs to go to the gents', again. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyle arrive and verify they are in the right place. Julie says yes. They realize they're there for the same case. Julie is sympathetic but reminds them that Fiz isn't the one that killed Charlotte or kidnapped the couple. Mrs. Hoyle avidly suspects that "they" must know things if they've charged Fiz. Inside, the opening statements are read by the prosecution, stating the three murder charges. The crown barrister describes the history, insinuating that Fiz had a hand in all three murders. Fiz listens, face filled with dread as the deaths were described as cold blooded executions. Ouch.

Sunita has come over to see Sophie and is defensive that Sophie would suspect she came to check up on her thinking she's skiving. Sophie apologizes. Sunita wonders if she and Sian have fallen out. Sophie says they haven't but they're going to because she kissed someone else, Amber.

Brian is testifying. He tells that he knew John as Colin Fishwick. He says that John used Colin's identity because he had a criminal record and wouldn't have passed the security check. He agrees that Fiz had to have known about the record because they married in prison and always responded as Colin's wife and called her husband "Colin" when Brian was around them. So it was clear Fiz was in on the identity theft.

Rosie gives Jason the camera, scolding him. He's busy but she won't take no for an answer.

Back to Brian who tells the court that he'd been to the Stape/Fishwick house which is about 30 meters from the factory where the body of Colin Fishwick was discovered. No questions from the defense. They're done with Brian. Outside, Chesney is upset that Mrs. Hoyle is testifying. She is then asked to come into the courtroom and is clearly a bit nervous. Chesney sends Katy in to the gallery. He can't go in because he's a witness.

Mrs. Hoyle swears in and states her name. (Dorothy) The barrister is gentle and asks about Charlotte's relationship with John whom she introduced as Colin. They liked him at first but now know he was conning her and was trying to keep her sweet because she knew "what she knew" (i.e. the Colin murder, I assume). She's asked about the circumstance under which she met Fiz. Fiz was introduced as "Colin's" 'Friend', not wife or other on the day that John had come to the house to put money through the letter box and was ranting and rambling. They'd called her using his phone. She also recalls the day she'd come to Charlotte's home and found it ransacked, (that was Fiz, if you will recall, but surely that's hearsay? Charlotte didn't tell them who'd done it.)

Norris is straightening the magazines when Rita comes in. Rita wondered if Norris had heard anything from Mary about the trial. He says he won't expect to hear anything until later on. Rita seems upset that John turned out to be a bad'un and offers to make them both a coffee. Seems their argument is resolved.

Back to Dorothy Hoyle, the defense lawyer gets her to admit that it was Fiz that managed to get them released when John had kidnapped them. Dorothy suggests that was a set up but it doesn't seem to go over as well. Outside, she's relieved she's done and the Fishwick's solicitor is called in. Chesney comes out and shouts at them for not telling the court that Fiz didn't know anything about anything. Of course, we know they can't testify to that because she wouldn't know, would she? The Hoyles defend themselves and state that John couldn't have done what he did if Fiz hadn't kept her mouth shut and gone along with everything. They leave and Chesney and Katy look pretty woeful.

Inside, Mr. Dean, the solicitor testifies to the details of Joy's will and how Fiz showed up, claiming to be Mrs. Fishwick. He believed her so allowed the payout. (no ID!) He assumes she knew the real Colin Fishwick must have been dead. Objection!

You know, it's so frustrating watching soap trials when we know the accused is innocent. All the testimonies, especially that of the accused (you just wait until it's Fiz's turn in the dock!) end up being twisted so that things look very bleak indeed. You can see why a jury might think of a guilty verdict when it's all circumstantial evidence. Stay tuned for part 2 when Hayley is decimated in the dock.

Tvor

Sunita, who these days does not get enough airtime nor the clothes in which to show off her attributes, is giving advise to Sophie is confused over snogging Amber by "accident" when Sian was away. Sunita knows that Sophie would choose Sian every time over Amber - Sophie and Sian are great together. Sophie says they were great together but Sian will definitely chuck her when Sophie tells her about the kiss. Sunita advises not telling Sian (so inevitably as with any deception when it does come out it will see even bigger than it actually was). Sunita tells Sophie to show Sian how much she really cares for her.

In the court the prosecution council is questioning Hayley Cropper. He is putting a lot of weight on the death of Colin Fishwick (whom we should remember was not murdered, well not by John Stape anyway - but perhaps the guy who originally beat him up is responsible) and Fiz's lengthy absence from the party - which has not been properly explained in court. So the prosecution council creates a scenario which deeply involves Fiz - but for which there is not one shred of evidence. Quite clearly he should not be making things up - very poor writing. Eventually the defense council objects - but about 20 minutes too late. Eventually he asks Hayley how Fiz seemed when she returned to the party. Hayley takes time and has to be prompted - she says Fiz seemed upset and agitated and Hayley is not allowed to put it into context. Hayley is stunned.

In the Corner Shop Amber is telling Sophie she is quite a kisser. Sophie responds that she just wanted to get rid of that slimeball. Amber says that if she did not know she had a girlfriend she might have thought there was something more in it. Sophie says she has a girlfriend, so she tells Amber to keep her gob shut about what happened and Amber agrees, her lips are sealed, which is more than can be said for Sophie's last night, at which point Sian returns and loudly says "Surprise, surprise", but somehow I don't think she is going to replace Cilla anytime soon. Sophie looks shocked.

Rosie (whose acting skills seem to have deserted her, is anyone surprised that she is leaving?) insists Jason gives her the camera as he has not got around to taking pictures of the flat so she is going to do it. She will speak to the agents and she will sort out the viewings because if she leaves it to him it will never get done. Watching all of this in his wing mirror is John Stape once of the parish, who is hiding under a beard and a baseball cap pulled down over his eyes. Jason tells her she can do whatever she wants - I think he is getting fairly fed up of her behaviour as well.

Back in the Corner Shop Sian wants to know what Amber and Sophie have been up to - Amber responds with the usual "well that would be telling" but Sophie emphatically says "Nothing". Well nothing that Sian would ever want to know about. Sophie has to start her shift, but Amber will not hear of it and says she will cover the shift so that Sophie and Sian can catch up. Sian and Sophie depart - the latter does not seem too keen.

Returning to the Court, the prosecution are now asking the policeman about Fiz and how she lied to them consistently from the beginning. Apparently according to him Mr and Mrs Stape repeatedly lied to and deceived friends and family in order to conceal their activities. If Mrs Stape had never come forward these offences would never have come to light. Fiz asserts that she did not do it - a waste of effort Fiz and she upsets the judge into the bargain. It is not going well.

At the Webster residence Sian and Sophie are catching up on events. Sophie makes it clear that she wants Sian and no-one else ever. She wants them to get married. Sian asks if she is serious and Sophie says that she is - does she look like she is joking at which Sian almost laughs and gives her a big hug.

in his car John Stape is on his mobile to a firm of estate agents who have a flat for sale on Coronation Street. He wants to book a viewing as soon as possible. Tomorrow would be good. As he does so a guy walks past eating chips out of paper. That's perfect. And then he is asked for a name and staring out the car window decides he is called Mr Chips. He will look forward to seeing "her" there, tomorrow. "Bye".

And that is it from me tonight. See you next week.

K Richard W

Written by Joe Turner Directed by Kay Patrick

An extra episode tonight to continue on with the trials and tribulations of Fiz and also Rosie.

Rosie is making an appointment to meet a buyer at the flat later, a Mr. Chips. Jason thinks he's going to turn out to be a time waster. Rosie is disgusted with Jason's lack of vision and ambition.

Chris is meeting with the consultant but doesn't want Cheryl or Lloyd to go with him. He's ready to hear whatever news there is and wants to face it alone. Will it be good news?

Fiz is brought to the courtroom. It's her day to testify. She swears in. The Hoyles are watching grimly.

Sophie has lured her parents to the house under false pretences of an "emergency". She arrives after them and they are anxious to hear what she thought was so important. She announces that she and Sian are getting married. Sally and Kevin exchange horrified glances and object strenuously. Sophie says it's all legal and above board. Sally's objection is to their tender age. Kevin says they probably can't do it without their permission and Sally agrees this time. Sophie strops out the door.

Fiz tells the court how much John loved teaching and how it devastated him when he couldn't anymore. She wasn't happy about him impersonating Colin but she didn't think it was hurting anyone and it made him so happy. She says she didn't know the real Colin was dead until she saw John unearthing the body under the factory. She tearfully insists she didn't know!

John, meanwhile, is rummaging in the boot of his car for a bag of things. Upstairs, in the flat, Rosie is tidying up magazines (which she's found in a flat that has not been occupied since it was rebuilt yet it's got furniture, too!) She dances around the flat.

Chris gets good news at the consultant's office. The tumor has shown some shrinkage! No more radio therapy and there will be a scan in six months. (Why are they acting like it's gone? It's still there, just a little smaller). Chris seems a bit stunned at the news.

The prosecution is starting in on Fiz's story, tearing it to pieces. She says John kept on at her and she wasn't thinking straight. The prosecution wonders how she could know nothing about three murders and makes it sound like she did know and how she could have assisted him. Fiz screams that none of it is true. John's lascivious history with Rosie is brought up and Fiz admits that is true. She admits she's lied and covered for John and claimed money that wasn't hers but she didn't kill anyone. That was all John and she knew nothing. The prosecutor browbeats her and gets her nearly hysterical. Kirk and Katy are cringing, listening to her defend herself, knowing how bad it all sounds. The Hoyles looks disgusted, believing the "truth of it".

Rosie lets up "Mr. Chips" and it turns out to be John. She's horrified. After the break we see she's tied to a chair with a gag in her mouth. John starts instructing her. He's not intending to hurt her but she has to help him stop Fiz from going to jail. He tells Rosie she's going to tell his side of the story and will teach her everything. He has charts and papers. He takes the gag off but she screams even though she nodded that she wouldn't so he re-gags her.

Back to the court, Rita is testifying now. She tells how she saw John and Charlotte with a large rug in a wheelie bin which turned out to have Colin's body in it though she didn't see a body. Rita says Fiz was nowhere to be seen.

John is tempting Rosie with a bottle of water which she'll only get if she promises not to scream. This time she stays quieter and he gives her a drink. She asks why her? He says it's because she started it!

Cheryl finds Chris at home. He's looking upset and he hesitates and says it isn't good. The treatment didn't work! (Liar!!!!) He tells her there will be more treatment and maybe an operation. She's devastated and says they have to explain it to Russ. Chris tries to talk her out of it but she presses it. They're a family and shouldn't have secrets.

John has a long timeline chart set up and is instructing Rosie on all the details of when, who and where and why Fiz couldn't possibly be guilty. Rosie doesn't seem to be absorbing a lot of the information. She thinks he ought to just confess to the police that he'd killed them all. John says he just can't go back to jail and anyway, he only killed Charlotte, not the other two. He insists Fiz isn't guilty and shouldn't pay for his crimes.

In the court gallery, Rita chats to Brian and Julie. Chesney is sworn in. He is nervous at first but when asks, insists Fiz isn't guilty. He says she did commit fraud but was in a bad state with the baby and all. The barrister asks him about the kidnapping and Chesney admits John confessed to the murders in front of Fiz and it was obvious that she had no idea. He is asks what John was like. Chesney makes it clear that John was angry, moody, snappy, edgy, a liar and a bully.

John now has a diagram of the street to illustrate about Charlotte's murder. He said he killed her because she was obsessed with him and was going to tell Fiz. He explains everything that happened with Charlotte. He then tells Rosie that his life got out of control because of her and her short skirts and her crush on a weak minded English teacher. She's scared now, as he approaches but he only unties her hands. He's planning to give her a written quiz to see what she's remembered. He earnestly starts on the first question, where was Fiz when he was burying Colin?

In the court, Chesney says he helped Fiz all he could financially. He defends Fiz as being desperate but it's made to look as if Fiz knew that Colin was dead and wouldn't expose the fraud. He gets Chesney to admit he'd do anything to protect his beloved sister. Which sounds, of course, like he'd lie for her too!

John is correcting Rosie's quiz with a red pen! (it's so absurd that it's really funny!) Of course Rosie has half the answers incorrect in spite of all his instruction. 12 out of 20. All she has to do is remember the details. The details are important in the court. Rosie whines, John hollers at her and they'll do this all night if they have to until she's got it right.

The credits end with John about to start all over again.

Tvor

Fiz sits in her cell at the court, terrified. She tells her lawyer she's frightened that if she's found guilty she will have to give up Hope.

Chris has been to the shop, he tells Cheryl he'd like to cook lunch for her, himself and Russ. Russ, however, is going to see his friend, so won't be there. Cheryl suggests Chris takes him over there, and that would give him time to talk to Russ. He should tell him what he told her, how his treatment hasn't worked, how he has to have more tests. Then she asks him the impossible - to tell his son the truth, he deserves it.

Jason runs into Sally outside the shop and asks if she's seen Rosie, she didn't come home last night. Sally hasn't seen her, but doesn't really want to after her recent behaviour. Jason explains they had a bit of a barney and she was meeting some friends in town. Sally's sure she will have stayed over with them, and carries on her way. John Stape watches through the curtains of the upstairs window.

Up in the flat, Rosie begs John to let her go. She won't tell anyone what happened. He says all she has to do is walk into court and tell them all what he's told her to tell them. She complains that it's hard to remember stuff, being tied to chair and starving hungry.

Over in the court, Fizz's friends sit nervously in the public gallery and rise as the judge comes in. Fiz is brought in too and sits in the dock.

Cheryl tells Lloyd that Chris has taken Russ to his friend's house and is going to tell him the bad news about the test results on the way. She's tense and edgy and Lloyd tries to cheer her up by suggesting a trip into town. She snaps that she doesn't want to go to town. Lloyd sighs and goes off to work.

In court, the prosecuting barrister is summing up. He reminds the jury of all the lies that Fiz told, and it all looks pretty bleak. Chesney turns to Katie, "She's going to lose, isn't she?" he says.

Meanwhile, John is still trying to coach Rosie in the details of his murderous deeds. How he took Charlotte's body out into the scene of the tram crash, and how he hid the hammer in the cistern. Rosie is having trouble remembering it all and he gets increasingly frustrated and shouts at her, telling her she'd better get it right because he's a desperate man and Fiz needs him. He's not going to let her down again.

Back in court, Fiz's barrister is speaking. She tells the jury that there has not been one shred of conclusive evidence to show that Fiz was involved or even knew about any of the murders. She urges them to find her not guilty.

Chris goes back to Cheryl and tells her he wasn't able to tell Russ. (Not surprising really as there's nothing to truthfully tell!) He says he still thinks he can beat the illness so didn't want to hurt Russ any more. He wants to fight it, and asks if she'll help him. She agrees and hugs him.

Fiz is in her cell, feeding baby Hope whilst the guard looks on.

In the taxi office, Lloyd tells Karl that Chris's tumour is not responding to treatment so it looks like he'll be staying with them a while longer, and he doesn't like it but can hardly chuck him out on the street. Karl says Chris could go to a care home or a hospice. He points out that things could get really bad and would they really want Russ to see his dad like that? If Chris was any sort of a dad he wouldn't want that either.

Jason is still looking for Rosie. He tells Kevin that she went off to show someone round the flat and she hasn't been seen since. Kevin is alarmed and suggests they go and ring the estate agent.

Chesney, Roy and co are all out in the court foyer waiting for the jury to return. Chesney is worried and asks Roy if he thinks she'll be found guilty. While Roy points out that anyone who knows Fiz would know she couldn't have done it, Mary thinks the evidence was very compelling. "Who asked you?" demands Maria. Julie doesn't know what Mary is even doing there. Mary tries to say that she's concerned about Fiz. "Oh please!" says Julie, "I've seen you in there with your boiled sweets, straining your neck to make sure you don't miss a word!" They start to squabble until Kirk tells them to shut up and think about someone other than themselves for a change.

John is getting more and more frustrated with Rosie's inability to remember details, and she is getting more and more nervous.

Jason rings the estate agent only to be told that they haven't heard from Rosie and when they tried to ring the client the number he'd given them didn't exist. Kevin rushes off to the flat, with Jason behind shouting that they don't have a key.

John is getting really angry when suddenly there's a bang on the door. He goes to look through the curtain and sees Kevin and Jason down in the street. Kevin shouts and Rosie hears him. "Dad! Help!" she screams, and with that Kevin and Jason kick the door until it gives way. They rush up the stairs and find Rosie tied to the chair, as John tries to head out of the door behind them. Jason tries to stop him but John smashes a vase down on his head and speeds off down the stairs.

Lloyd goes into his back yard and finds Chris out there. Chris admits that he didn't tell Russ and Lloyd thinks he did the right thing. Lloyd then starts to say that although they all hope things work out well for Chris, what if they don't? Does he really want Russ around all that? "What are you saying?" asks Chris, tensing up. Lloyd says they won't be able to look after him properly and he ought to go somewhere where people can help him. Just then Cheryl comes out and asks what's going on. Chris says he's going to get his stuff together and move out. Cheryl glares at Lloyd. "Is this your idea?" she says, and then gets angry and shouts at Lloyd, won't let him speak, and marches back inside. Lloyd goes off in a huff and Chris stands in the yard and smirks.

Kevin's rushing down the Street and sees Sally. He tells her quickly how John Stape had got Rosie and then suddenly they see him roar past in a car. Kevin jumps into the car at the garage and starts to chase him. (Let's hope they weren't working on the brakes!)

Chris goes back into the kitchen. Cheryl's been crying. She's tired of it all, seeing what it's doing to Lloyd, to Russ. Chris says maybe he should go, but she doesn't want him to. He asks what he does want. She wants things back the way they were. He suggests they make the most of what they have got, while they can, and kisses her.

Fiz is still waiting for the jury's verdict. She tells her barrister that she was so stupid to believe John's lies. She says she actually thought he would show up, walk into court and tell them to let her go, tell them it was him, that she is innocent. "Looks like he's fooled me again." Just then the guard comes to tell them the jury is coming back.

John Stape is driving through the streets when he comes to road works, a red light, and has to stop. Kevin comes speeding up and stops beside him. Kevin jumps out of his car and rushes to John, banging on the window and shouting for him to get out of the car. John shouts back that he's going to see Fiz, and drives on, through the red light.

In court, the jury have found Fiz not guilty of the murder of Joy Fishwick, and not guilty of the murder of Charlotte Hoyle, but guilty of the murder of Colin Fishwick. There are gasps all round.

Meanwhile, John is speeding through the streets with Kevin in hot pursuit, until the inevitable happens. He rounds a corner, there's a lorry and loader in the way and he crashes straight under the lorry.

The judge tells a sobbing Fiz that she will be sentenced on Monday afternoon. Chesney stands up and shouts that they can't do this to her. "Take her down," says the judge, and Fiz is led away.

Anne Logan

It's Friday and John Stape's nurse is so shortsighted she has to read the monitor from three inches away. He doesn't know this because he's still unconscious.

Fiz is cooing at Hope when an officer enters and tells her to get dressed.

Lloyd's asleep on his sofa when he wakes to find Cheryl standing over him. He says he got a late job to Wigan at 5am and didn't want to disturb her. He tries to explain that he's worried about the stress on Cheryl and the effect on Russ if Chris becomes very ill while living with them. Cheryl climbs under the blanket for a cuddle.

Fiz's solicitor has gone to see her to tell her the police have found John. He explains what happened. She gets upset thinking John came back for Rosie. The solicitor explains John can't explain.

Julie's going through the phone book trying to find a white witch. She and Brian are moving into the flat above the butcher's and she wants someone to cleanse the space, she tells Izzy. Julie also thinks they should draw up a rota to visit Fiz but Izzy explains that now she's on remand she won't be entitled to more than one or two visits a month.

Izzy gets into a strop because the floral edging is finished and she doesn't have enough to finish off the bra she's working on. The floral edging, let me tell you, makes the bra look particularly hideous - and it wasn't attractive to start with! Carla tells her to stretch the edging. Izzy realises Carla hasn't ordered any more. She shouts at Carla who shouts back. "I'm only saying what everybody's thinking!" says Izzy. "This is amateur hour!"

Cheryl marches into work and says she'll do the fridges. Nick is amazed. It's her day off. But Cheryl tells him she can't stay in the house a moment longer.

The police arrive at the Websters'.

Carla's on the phone to a client, apologising for past behaviour. Julie comes in behind her and hears the call end badly. She tells Carla she thinks she was a bit harsh with Izzy but Carla is very dismissive.

In the cafe, Chesney tells Roy that Katie's hardly eaten since the verdict was announced. Katie says she's going to find it hard enough coping with one baby, let alone with Hope as well. They're interrupted by the police coming in. The detective breaks the news to them about John. "The most hated man in Weatherfield and suddenly there's a string of people praying for his recovery," he says.

Two women police officers talk to Rosie, with Sally, Kevin and Sophie listening. Rosie tries to explain that John wasn't really aggressive. She tells them what John tried to get her to remember, though Kevin and Sally interrupting doesn't help. There's another interruption when Chesney barges in, demanding to know what John said. Rosie tells him that John told her it was all down to him and Fiz didn't know the half of it. "Make sure you get that down," Chesney tells the WPC with the notebook. She explains to him that this is all hearsay. Chesney realises that if John dies then Fiz is no better off.

A glum Lloyd is in the cafe when Sylvia gets a phone call telling her she's won the cruise. Her whoop of joy causes Roy to drop some crockery. She whips off her apron and says she's got to head into town to buy a swimsuit, some slacks for on deck and something for the captain's table. "Does this mean you're leaving us?" asks Roy. "Every cloud, eh?" grins Lloyd.

Back at the Websters' Rosie's explaining about being gagged. Sally knew for years there was something wrong with him. Jason wants to protect her and says he'll do the viewings from now on.

Chesney's gone to see Fiz. She's more cheerful but hopes that now John's back she might be getting out. Chesney explains about hearsay. If John doesn't recover there's no way out for Fiz.

Jeff hugs Sally on the doorstep and assures him she's glad he's there.

Lloyd brings his car to the kerb to talk to Nick. He wants to tell him off for making Cheryl work on her day off. Nick avoids saying Cheryl volunteered.

In the pub, the machinists tell Stella about Carla. Sean warns Izzy not to tell a pub landlady the company secrets. Izzy reveals she's thinking of jumping ship if things get any worse.

Sylvia's bought drinks for everyone in the pub. Stella and Dennis tell Mary and Norris the details. Sylvia comes from the ladies' and happily tells Mary there's no copyright on ideas. The Websters sit down to eat. Jeff's there but won't join them to eat. Rosie apologises to Jeff for last week. Jeff doesn't really think she's sorry. He kisses Sally goodbye, to Kevin's disgust.

Chesney's trying to talk his way past the policeman outside John's hospital room. It's not working.

Chris goes to the bistro and demands to know how long Cheryl's going to keep avoiding him. Cheryl says this isn't the right time. Chris sits down and asks for a menu. Nick suggests Cheryl take her break. He tells her about Lloyd having a go at him. Cheryl promises to sort everything.

In the cab office, Carl notices the flowers Lloyd's bought for Cheryl. He warns Lloyd that it's a slippery slope. He thinks Lloyd has to show his gratitude to Cheryl now, whereas before Chris moved in a little extra TLC was a given.

In the corner of the street, Chris tells Cheryl he was so happy last night he thought his heart would burst. Cheryl tells him it's not real and can't last. She says it was like a dream but you have to wake up eventually. Chris tells her what strength she gives him to face the cancer. Lloyd's a good guy, "but be honest - he doesn't make your stomach flip" He kisses her.

Chesney's at the hospital and calls Katie. He plans to stay there until John wakes up. The alarms go off and a crash team races into John's room. As Chesney watches in horror they try to shock his heart back into the proper rhythm.

Oooh...

The end for this episode.
Margaret Carr

We begin the second part with the doctors trying to resuscitate John. The monitors bleep and the doctors and Chesney are relieved.

Fiz asks her warder whether he is dead. She tells her that he is still critical. She is resigned though that he will die.

Cheryl tells Chris that she really does love Lloyd.

Fiz is pleading with the Governor that she should be allowed to go to the hospital to see John. She reminds her that she is coming up for sentencing for murder. The Governor says there is a staffing issue to consider. She would need to be handcuffed and heavily guarded. Fizz says she would not try to escape. The Governor agrees, but says there is a lot of ‘red tape'.

Karl and Lloyd are messing around in the office. Karl suggests a game of poker on Friday, but Lloyd doesn't think Cheryl would approve.

Fiz arrives at the hospital. She meets up with Chesney who tells her that they almost lost him before. Chesney doesn't think he will ever be able to confess, but Fiz wants to see him for Hope's sake. She starts to talk to John, although he cannot hear or respond because he is unconscious. She holds Hope up to him. Suddenly she notices his eyes flickering, she calls out that he is coming round.

Nick asks Cheryl if she had confirmed to that the party she has booked in that they need the table back by 9pm. She tries to ring them, but there is nobody answering. Nick suggests that they eat their pudding very quickly. She apologies but Nick is not too concerned.

John starts to talk. He says he came back to try and clear her name. He says nobody killed Colin Fishwick. The police come in and take a statement from him. The police set up a camcorder and he holds Hope's hand and swears on Hope's future that he is telling the truth. (For somebody that has been so close to death and just woken back into consciousness, he has a remarkably clear memory and is so lucid !).

Mary is wittering to Norris that she is still very annoyed that Sylvia has won ‘her' prize of the holiday. Noreen tries to placate her. He tells her that there will be other competiions. Mary had hoped that his gander would be up ! Norris says it is !!!!

Despite the whole proceedings being recorded, the Police Officer is making notes as John continues his confession. Every so often he grabs for the oxygen mask, however he can remember all the events in great detail. He confirms that Fiz knew nothing.

In the cab office Cheryl apologies for going a bit overboard about Chris. Lloyd this this is the perfect opportunity to ask about the poker night next Friday. She says he doesn't need her permission, but he would like her ‘blessing'.

Back at the hospital John who has finished his confessions, realises his time is up. Fiz is upset that he has not been around and she didn't know whether he was dead or alive.

In the cafe, Mary confronts Sylvia and demands that she tells the competition people that she cheated. She says she gave them a slogan. Roy comes in and Mary tells her that his mother is a cheat. Roy refuses to get involved. Mary then wishes Sylvia would get dysentery, sunstroke and malaria !! Norris takes her out.

As the nurse puts a drip up on John, he tells Fiz that he couldn't face prison again and that is why he ran away. A off screen voice confirms that he is weakening. She says she forgives him. He asks to hold Hope.

Chris tells Cheryl that he thinks that she and Lloyd are on their ‘way out'. He says since last night he got the best that he could remember in months. He doesn't expect to peg out shortly. He thinks they could have years together. Lloyd comes in and Cheryl says that they would have to have a chippy tea as she didn't do the shopping.

Fiz holds Hope towards John. He manages to kiss her. Fiz says she can never hate him, and will always love him, as does Hope. She will tell Hope all about him and the good things he has done in the past. Fiz asks him if he is sorry for what he did. He says he only did it for their love. He apologises for burdening her. She says she loves him The monitor flatlines and bleeps. John has gone. Fiz breaks down in tears.

Chris tells Russ that he has school on Monday, and if anybody bullies him he will pulverise them ! He tells Russ, to keep it between themselves that he and his Mum will be getting back together again soon, without Lloyd. He tells him to say nothing..

Fiz is weeping over John's body. She says she never thanked him for Hope.

Martin Rosen

Written By David Lane Directed by Terry Dyddgen-Jones

Welcome to the Hallowe'en edition of Coronation Street, Part 1

The lovely DC Redfearn has arrived on the Street. Jason and Rosie ask if there's anything they should no but he can't tell them anything at the moment. They're making inquiries.

Inside Number 5, Chesney reckons John's won now that Fiz has been convicted. Katy thinks Fiz will get off now. The police knock at the door and are let in. DC Redfearn wants to look for the hammer and Charlotte's handbag, John said he'd hidden them in the outside bog. Chesney is defensive and not inclined to cooperate but Katy points out that it will help Fiz.

At the prison, Fiz tells her story. She met John when she was 13 and he was 19 and working as a DJ and it was Fiz he took a shine too. She doesn't know why. She was taken into care and John went back to uni so they didn't see each other for years. Fiz always thought they'd find each other someday but he was a dream from another life. She defends John as her husband and Hope's father when the guard points out that he was also a murderer. Sentencing is today and the guard is silent when Fiz presumes she'll be let off now John has confessed.

Cheryl comes into the kitchen, getting ahead of Lloyd who's done up a tray for her breakfast. He goes off to work and Chris arrives behind him. Chris canoodles, is pushed away and Cheryl is feeling very guilty. She implies that if Chris wasn't ill things might have been different. Chris tells her she's going to have to choose.

The police find the items in the back bog while Schmeichel growls. Chesney growls too, assuming Fiz will be freed. Redfearn says it still has to be checked over but it will help her case.

Julie and Brian are moving into Janice's old flat. Julie seems to be set to do most of the work this morning while Brian is committed to an assembly at school. Julie is thrilled to bits moving in. Jason and Rosie see Chesney who tells them that Stape is dead. Rosie bursts into tears as she imagines that it could have been her in the car. Julie sympathises that it was a terrible way to die, on the run, full of remorse. Typical emotive Julie, and Chesney lashes out at her because John was a murderer and Fiz is paying for his crimes. Hopefully the police will believe him now.

Sian and Sophie are looking at rings online. Sally rushes downstairs and they hid the screen of the laptop. Rosie and Jason arrive and she tells her mother that John is dead. Sally comforts her.

Sean has brought Carla a bacon butty. She's scouring through the files. They have a client coming in and she needs to research her old contracts. Sean offers to help her. Carla is worried she won't get the order and it's crucial to the survival of the factory.

Back to the Websters', Rosie tells them that John had blamed her for everything. Jeff arrives and hears the news, thinking it's good news. Jason has to go to work as does Sally. Sophie and Sian say they'll look after Rosie and Jeff apologizes to Rosie, saying they should let bygones be bygones and she would work with him again.

Fiz and Chesney are talking on the phone. He thinks the evidence should prove Fiz's story and she could be home tonight, but of course there's no guarantee, it's just wishful thinking on his part.

In the garage, Rosie has told Kevin the news. She seems haunted by her experiences, not just mining for sympathy though there's probably an element of that too. Jeff drives up and gets out of the car. He tries to persuade her to work with him again and has a proposition. He's got a friend at the Gazette who would like to interview her. She refuses, she says the experience was awful and she wants to move on. He tries to persuade her with the idea of a full spread and photographer and maybe talking about it will help her move on. Trust him! Uh oh.

Julie struggles with boxes still while Chris asks Jason about the flat and if he could rent it temporarily to get out from under Lloyd and Cheryl's feet. Jason says there's hardly any furniture in it but Chris doesn't mind. (I'm surprised there's any at all. Nobody's lived in it since it was rebuilt after the tram crash a year ago). Chris agrees to make it available if Jason finds someone who wants to view it. Outside, Brian finally shows up to help. Julie's not impressed. Brian takes the plant from her. Katy comes along and congratulates them on the flat. Julie watches her leave and thinks how lucky Katy is to be having a baby. Brian thinks Julie would be a great mum and they end up running inside to practice making a baby. Turns out Brian won't mind the making of at least!

Leanne brings Peter a mug of tea. They had a nice little holiday. She diverts him from looking over the books and asks him to go for a meal. Peter suggests the Bistro and says he's fine with it so she agrees and turns off his computer monitor.

Chesney and Fiz are heading to the court with Roy. Sally walks by and smugly says she's celebrating John's death with a bottle of wine. Roy scolds her in spite of the fact that few will in fact mourn him. Sally turns up the inner witch, accusing Fiz of being in league with John and everyone believed her lies. Roy defends Fiz and Chesney but Sally defends the state of her daughter. Kevin comes across and pulls Sally away. (She's obviously not averse to making enemies of her neighbours, is she?)

Carla is in the Bistro. Nick serves her and she tells him the best thing he ever did was getting out of women's underwear! Nick laughs. She is a bit down over the business and Nick offers his help should she need it. Chris arrives and hands the keys back to Cheryl, telling her he's moving into Jason's flat because he can't stand seeing she and Lloyd together. Peter and Leanne come in, telling Carla their holiday was lovely. Leanne says they're putting everything behind them and they're there for a meal if it's ok with Nick who nods. He does seem a bit sad at that, though. Carla asks about the holiday and there are awkward looks between she and Peter when Leanne gets all cuddly with him. She gets away to her appointment with her client.

Cheryl arrives home to find Russ at home with an ear infection. Lloyd had been contacted and had gone to fetch him. Cheryl tells them that Chris has moved to Jason's flat. She sends Russ upstairs for a rest and talks to Lloyd about Chris but she's not comfortable with the conversation. Lloyd is pleased he's got Cheryl to himself again.

At the courthouse, Fiz is being led up the stairs to the dock for her sentencing. All rise and the judge arrives looking very grim. Fiz's barrister makes a plea for Fiz, saying she only got tangled in John's lies. She reminds the court that the baby will be at risk as well. The Judge reprimands her but is informed by the recent confession.

Sean has taken a call while Carla was in the loo. It's bad news. The client, Mr. Dunbar, has been wooed by Frank with a lower offer. Carla takes up the phone and calls the client back. She asks him to call in at Underworld on his way to Frank's factory and says she'll make a better deal.

Back to the court, the barrister tries to argue but the judge shouts at her and at Fiz who jumps up and cries out. I think this has probably hurt Fiz's cause because the judge then tells her it was a particularly heinous crime, not a crime of passion. She's been sentenced to life with a minimum of 15 years. Fiz nearly collapses.

Tvor

On the Street it is busy as well as about the cast are currently gone psycho. Spot the mad ones as we go.

We start with Russ being rude to Lloyd and getting a telling off from Cheryl; she seems to have completely forgotten being a punchbag and also just how kind and caring Lloyd is. So she must be the first psycho of the evening. Anyway according to Russ his dad (Chris) lied. He has told Russ that he and Cheryl are getting back together - something which most kids prefer their parents to do. So Russ is fairly normal. Cheryl is surprised and wants to know when Chris said so - yesterday is the answer. Lloyd asks if Russ wants to be the devil or dracula (reminder it is Halloween and Russ is going to trick or treat). Cheryl tells Lloyd to choose with Russ - she has to go and see Leanne as she has just had a text, which of course also makes her a liar as there been no annoying bingy-bongy sound. She walks about 2 yards and phones Chris, hauling back her unruly hair at the same time.

Which reminds of Milan. A large number of Italian women seem to like the same scary hairdo as Cheryl. Huge amounts of hair sticking out in all directions.

In prison Fiz is telling her solicitor about Hope and the new toys she was going to buy her, the new clothes, the trip to park to feed the ducks. He knows it is hard but she has to stay positive. Take one day at a time (sounds like advice to psycho to me - so that is the second insane person of the day). She needs to get herself through. Fiz stares into the middle distance and appears totally unconvinced. Yes she is completely deranged by the decision of the jury.

Chris (who really is a psycho, seriously he is claiming to be terminally ill when the doctors say he is in remission and he is just doing it to split up the loveable Lloyd and the sexy Cheryl, although she does have a mad hairdo) is saying that he is not surprised Russ is confused - so is he over Cheryl's behaviour. So did Chris move out to force Cheryl into making a decision? Chris claims he moved out to give her space so that he was not putting any pressure on her (of course given the state of his illness it is putting her under pressure because he is getting worse and cannot manage on his own ... no sorry that is what he wants Cheryl to think, not what is really happening which is a return to full health, but with no hair). He cannot hack seeing her and Lloyd together - it is going his head in (we can actually see the thinking going on given the lack of hair). Cheryl apologises and says she does not know what to do (if she machine gunned Chris she would get sent down - but that is what she should do).

Fiz has three visitors - Roy, Chesney and Katie. She wants Roy to take Katie home because the stress is not good for her or the baby. In reality she needs to talk to Chesney. They go. She asks Chesney to do oen thing for her and he agrees, he will do anything for her - just name it. So she asks him to organise John Stape's funeral.

Cheryl has Lloyd on the phone wanting to know where she is. She lies that Leanne is having a hard time, putting her finger to her lips to silence Chris. She promises Lloyd she will not be long. She says she should probably go. Chris does not want her to go. They kiss and she clearly has no self control.

Yes Fiz has gone mad expecting Chesney to bury John; they never got along and Ches has no wish to get involved (who can blame him - it is nice to know that Ches is not at the moment insane). Ches is concerned at how it will look if either of them arrange a funeral - her the grieving widow will scupper any chance of an appeal. Fiz does not accept his view. Ches keeps trying to get her to see sense.

Cheryl returns home and it is now very dark. And Halloween. Lloyd and Russ jump out from behind the sofa shining a light in her face and screaming with their masks on. Russ reckons they have done a good job. Cheryl does not think it funny - although Lloyd and Russ do looking at her scared face. She was really scared. Lloyd puts his arms around her and hugs her. She is scared - her heart is beating very fast and she starts crying. Lloyd tells Russ to put the kettle on. She says sorry - we know for what she has been doing but Lloyd does not and says he is the one who should be apologising.

Back in prison Fiz is laying it on the line for Chesney. The latter is glad that John is dead and he wants to shout it from the rooftops - her request sickens him. She needs him to - she did love John and she needs to be able to show Hope where he daddy is when she is older. Chesney says that if she is determined to mourn the monster then she is as sick as John was and Hope is better off without her. Indeed they are all better off without Fiz and he leaves.

Underworld is in deep do-do as we know with Carla at loggerheads with Frank and there is no business whilst a customer called Dunbar cannot believe his luck as the two enterprises keep underbidding each other and also shortening the lead times to delivery. I thought Carla (who has always been as mad as a hatter anyway) was going to offer all the goods for free delivered yesterday, but she must have cut the selling price so low that she is bound to lose money. Anyway the client signs up. Will this finally drown the business underwater or is this the first sign of the upturn. If the latter please let the Governor of the Bank of England know - he could do with some good news before he too goes psycho.

Anyway covered a lot of ground with this update - see you next week.
K Richard W

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

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