We open with a shot of Carla, working on a mountain of paperwork. She flings down her pen and sighs.

Chesney and Katy are talking to Julie and Kirk about Fiz and how Chesney has fallen out with her over John's funeral. "There's going to be one?" asks Julie. Not if Chesney can help it, is the reply. Chesney thinks he should thrown out with the rubbish.

Sian and Sophie come downstairs and start trying to butter-up Sally by telling her now nice she looks today. "What are you after?" she asks. It seems that Sophie wants a birthday party, which Sally agrees to, on condition that they invite the neighbours, that nothing gets broken, and they don't mention anything about their engagement. They agree, but after Sally's gone to work Sian says how she hates lying.

At the factory, the workers have realised that they haven't been paid. Carla comes in but walks straight through to her office. Hayley goes to find out what's going on.

Owen goes into the cafe and grabs Anna from behind, kissing her. She gets all embarrassed and tells him not to do that in public. He wants to take her out to dinner and volunteers Gary to babysit when Anna is worried about Faye. Anna eventually agrees, but tells them not to breathe a word to Faye.

Chesney's about to take Schmeichel for a walk. He tells Katy that he can't face opening up his stall today. She reminds him that bills still need to be paid. He says he'll go tomorrow.

Carla comes out of the office and tells the workforce that the factory has some cash flow problems. Hayley adds that they need everyone to work on an unpaid basis until the order is complete, and then of course, they will be paid in full. Probably in about 2 weeks. The workers aren't happy about this at all, and say so. So Carla tells them to turn off the machines on their way out – the factory is closed. They stand there, shocked. She turns off the lights and tells them to get out.

Michelle and Ciaran arrive back in the Street. They get out of their taxi and walk into the Rovers and introduce themselves to Stella. Just then Sean comes in and, after greeting them, tells them that Carla has had a complete meltdown and closed the factory. Michelle asks what's been going on, but Sean won't tell her, he says she needs to speak to Carla.

Word of the trouble at Underworld has quickly spread to Frank's factory.

Michelle and Ciaran go to see Carla. They find her in her office, drinking.

Over in the pub, the workers are discussing what happened. Carla didn't actually tell them they were fired, so are they sacked or not? Opinion is divided. Izzy thinks even if they're not sacked, what is there to go back to? Their boss is a basket case. Just then Sally walks in, beaming from ear to ear.

Faye is home from school and Gary is looking after her. She spies a letter, addressed to Anna, from social services. She knows it's about her and persuades Gary to open it. He reads it and then tells her it looks like he's a got a little sister, and hugs her!

Over at the factory, Michelle and Ciaran are still trying to get information out of Carla. They urge her to tell them what happened. Ciaran tells her they can't help her unless they know. "Oh you can't help me, love," she says, "there's no fixing what Frank's done to me." Michelle is puzzled. "Frank Foster? What has he done to you?" Carla stares at her. "Carla, what has he done?"

Faye goes skipping across the street and catches sight of Anna and Owen with their arms round each other in the builder's yard. She stops and stares from behind the van.

Sophie and Sian are back from town. They meet Amber and show her the rings they've just bought. Sian then gets a phone call and moves away to talk. Amber asks Sophie if she's sure she's ready for all of this. "One thousand percent," is the reply.

Jeff is talking to Rosie in the cafe, discussing an interview she had with the local paper. He says that if they play their cards right he could land her a national paper, maybe even a book deal. Rosie tells him she didn't like some of the questions they asked her about her family, they were so rude. Chesney comes in and hears a snatch of their conversation. He's furious, and tells Rosie she's making money out of other people's suffering. Owen comes in then and stops Chesney from causing any trouble.

In the pub, Sally has passed on Frank's offer of employment. Sean is furious, and tells her that none of them will accept. Izzy however, has other ideas. "Where do I sign?" she says quietly. Then Julie tells Sally to count her in as well. Hayley begs them to reconsider, and Sean goes off in a strop.

Owen has taken Chesney to the builder's office. He says if he really wants to show Fiz support, he'll have to make a tough decision.

Anna arrives back home, where Faye is watching tv. Gary is surprised that Anna doesn't know the news about the letter, he thought Faye had gone to tell her. Faye says she went to the cafe and Anna wasn't there. Gary puts the letter in Anna's hands. Anna reads it and is delighted, and suggests they have a party there tomorrow. Faye wants to know why it can't be tonight. Anna says it's rather short notice, and anyway, she's already made plans to meet an old school mate. Faye snaps at her to have fun, and stamps off. Gary warns Anna that the situation is getting out of hand. Anna reckons it won't be for much longer.

Chesney is sitting with Katy, agonising over whether to organise John's funeral. Katy urges him to think about why he's saying no. She tells him his sister needs to say goodbye. In the end he agrees to do it.

Ciaran and Michelle have gone back to Carla's flat with her and tell her she's been brilliant to cope with what's happened. Carla points out that she hasn't coped, and now her staff think she's a head case and her customers won't touch her after this. Michelle says they'll help her, but Carla tells them they can't change what's going on in her head. She tells them she might refuse to give evidence and drop the charges. Michelle tells her if she walks away now, Frank will have won. Carla says she can't do it any more, and is going to ring the police first thing.

Anne Logan

Hello and welcome to another Friday.

Carla's had a bad night. She tells Michelle she's messed everything up but Michelle argues that it's Frank who's missed everything up. Carla just wishes there was one sure way to get her life back. Michelle tells her she can't let Frank get away with it or who knows how many more times he'll do it. She suggests Carla go to LA to see her friends and get away from the pressure. Carla agrees, though she says the problem isn't Weatherfield, it's what's in her head.

It's Sophie's birthday and she's opening her presents. Kevin's coming back later to help set up for the party. Everyone goes out, leaving Sophie and Sian together. They both have their engagement rings on chains around their necks.

Chris walks with Cheryl. She says she can never get away with Lloyd there all the time.

Izzy and Julie arrive at Frank's factory, reluctant though they are. Becky and Eileen greet them sarcastically. Sally arrives late, to be told off by Frank's mother in a sneering voice. Frank tells Anne that now Underworld is shut he might as well call Dunbar's and tell them he'll take over the order. He goes off to do it and Anne stops the machinists from chatting.

Katie's looking at bills when Chesney comes down to tell her he's going to arrange the funeral for Fiz. He says they'll get through this. Once the funeral's sorted he'll get back on the market and sort the bills out.

Anna takes a buttie to Owen at the yard. She wants to know if he's coming round for the celebration of Faye's adoption. She still wants to delay telling Faye about them, though.

Carla's packed and ready to go. Ciaran and Michelle see her off with encouraging words. Once she's gone, Michelle tells Ciaran there's no set date for Carla's return but she'll be back in time for their beach wedding.

Schmeichel's off his food and Kirk thinks he seems a bit under the weather. Chesney's worried. Kirk wonders if he's just picking up on the atmosphere in the house. Ches goes off to see Fiz.

Jeff waits for Rosie in the street. He's got a photo shoot for her. She's worried because the Gazette gave her a real grilling yesterday. He assures her the photographer is a good one and it's worth a few hundred for her.

Hayley's surprised to see Michelle in the cafe. Michelle says she'll be running the factory in the meantime. Hayley says the problem is they haven't been paid. Michelle assures her that won't be a problem. Hayley breaks the news that the others are working for Frank. Michelle tells her Frank might think he can walk all over Carla but he can't do that to her.

Peter's happy to see Ciaran. Ciaran tells him about the plans for a Bahamas wedding and about Carla going to LA.

Lloyd and Cheryl are in the pub when Chris comes in. "What's your poison?" asks Lloyd. Chris says he's got enough poison in his system, thanks, and opts for an orange juice. Karl's organising a poker game for tonight. Lloyd says he'll be there but Chris says he's having an early night.

It's later and Cheryl's gone round to Chris's flat. She tells him she wants to go with him to see the consultant. Chris says for tonight he wants to forget all about that.

Michelle's on the phone telling Mr Dunbar thanks and they won't let him down. But she tells Hayley that although they've got an extension on the order, they still need the machinists back. Michelle's going to use some of her wedding money to pay the wages.

At the Websters' Amber arrives. She tells Rosie she's officially hilarious. She shows her the Gazette. "Kidnap made me feel sexy!" reads Rosie. The headline's above a picture of Rosie posing in handcuffs. Rosie's appalled. "They twist your words!" she tells Sophie tearfully. "I never knew all that your dad's affair with Molly, though I did know you were a lesbian," she tells Sophie. Sophie shrieks and grabs the paper just as Kevin arrives. Amber mentions this to Kevin and the girls have to show him the paper.

Chesney tells Fiz he's decided to organise the funeral for her. "I'm not doing it for him. I'm doing it for you and Hope," he says.

Katie arrives at Anna's and tells them about Schmeichel and about Chesney going to see Fiz. Owen offers to get her a drink and Faye points out he doesn't live there. Owen comments that Frank Foster's working Izzy very hard. She's not happy about it but in theory Frank's innocent until proven guilty. Faye's goes to fetch some garlic bread from the kitchen and takes the chance to tip something (Tabasco?) into Owen's drink. When he takes a sip he realises what's happened and demands to know what Faye's done.

Rosie thinks it's the worst day of her life. She claims she didn't tell the Gazette any of the family stuff. She wonders if Jeff told them. Or maybe they hacked her phone. "That's what they do with celebrities, isn't it," she says. Kevin's furious. He says though none of it's untrue it's embarrassing to have it all laid out for the world to see. Rosie protests that it's not a global title. "The clue's in the title – the Weatherfield Gazette," she point out. "You made me look like a right bimbo!" says Sian. "You say that like it's a bad thing," says Rosie. Kevin shouts that he wouldn't like to be in Rosie's shoes when Sally gets home.

At the factory, Becky takes joy in putting the paper down in front of Sally. Michelle walks in and announces, before Anne and Frank can stop her, that Underworld is back open for business and there's enough money to pay them all. "They work here now," says Anne, trying to push Michelle out of the way. Michelle spits that if she lays a hand on her she'll deck her. Michelle reminds the workers of what Frank's been accused of. Becky wants to know how long the jobs will last. After all, Carla fired them. Michelle reminds Sally that Carla helped her through her cancer. And she trained most of the staff. "You can either work for a rapist or you can work for me," Michelle says. "Underworld's back in business. Who's coming with me?"

We won't find out just yet. This is the end of the first episode.

Margaret Carr

Michelle is still trying to convince the girls to come back to Underworld. They all start to argue with Anne and Frank. Anne loses her temper with them and all but Sally leave.

Fiz and Chesney are discussing the funeral arrangements for John.

Owen and Anna ask Faye if she put something in Owen's drink.

Mr Dunbar arrives at Underworld, unexpectedly He is concerned that there are no staff, but just then the girls start to walk back in.

Gary discusses with Faye about relationships and families.

Kevin is yelling at Rosie. Sally comes in and joins in. Rosie denies saying all the things that are reported in the paper. Jeff comes in and admits he provided the story. He thinks it is excellent and good publicity. Sally tells him to leave and never contact either of them again.

Mr Dunbar is chatting to Michelle; she explains it is a family business. Hayley shows him a sample of work and he is impressed. He explains that he had heard rumours that the company was folding.

Ciaran is welcomed back into the Rovers by Lloyd. Peter introduces him to Stella and Karl introduces himself.

Sally tires to make everything okay with Kevin. Sophie tells him she is having a bad day.

Ciaran wants to discuss with Michelle about getting married, but she is otherwise occupied in her thoughts. She says she will do it after she has had a drink.

Lloyd is trying to contact Chris about the poker game but is getting no reply. It is presumed that he has his phone turned off.

Cheryl is in the kitchen and Chris comes in wearing just a towel invites Cheryl back to bed.

Chesney tells Katy that he is still concerned about Schmeichel.

Faye apologies to Anna and Owen. Anna explains to what she can and can't do. Owen tells her she is forgiven.

Michelle is on the phone to her Mother. She is not happy about her daughter marrying abroad. She tells Ciaran that she had to promise to get married in this country.

Rita is reading the article about Rosie in the paper. Emily says she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of reading the article. However, when she goes to get Emily another drink, she picks up the paper.

Rita see the ring that Sophie is wearing around her neck. Amber confirms it is an engagement ring. She asks Sophie and Sian if she is getting married. She mentions it to Sally who is shocked. She is annoyed, and says they are too young to get married.

Lloyd is still trying to get hold of Chris. He tells Jason that he is not answering the phone, or his door, but the lights are on. .. He is busy cuddling Cheryl. He and Jason come in with Jason's spare key. Cheryl manages to get to another room. When Jason and Lloyd go Cheryl says she is going. Too close for comfort.

Sally tells Rita that Sophie is far too young. Will she feel the same when she is 30? Rita retorts, did her parents try and tell her what to do at her age?

The poker night is abandoned when everybody has excuses to leave.

Emily tries to console Rosie. She tells her that it will be ‘yesterday's news' and tomorrow's chip paper.

Kevin starts off the firework display.

Sophie argues with her Mum when she tells her to take off the ring. She says she has done all the work and Sally just comes in and moans.

Ciaran brings in food for the workers at Underworld.

He compromises with Michelle that they get married here but have the honeymoon in the Bahamas.

Michelle says she has been looking through the books, and there are a lot of problems. Carla has not been keeping control of things. VAT is outstanding and there are bills that haven't been paid.

Martin Rosen

Written By Peter Whalley Directed by Griff Rowland

Oh dear. Kirk is out in the yard with Schmeichel and the dog appears to be off his food and feeling poorly. Kirk advises Chesney to take the dog to the vet but because it's the day of the funeral, Kirk offers to take him.

Rosie comes to apologize to Sally for the newspaper interview and blames it on Jeff. They hug and make up. Sally mentions John's funeral is today, a cremation. Sophie comes downstairs and she and Sally apologize as well for the things they said to each other. Sally is affronted that a group of her neighbours are going to John's funeral and can't imagine what nice things people could manage to say about a man who was kidnapping and murdering folk. She's already getting herself wound up about this. We've only just seen the beginning.

Julie's had a text from Brian to say that his guest for a talk on safety awareness has pulled out and did she know of anyone that could take the place. Sean and Izzy take a bit of the mick with her as Hayley arrives to pick up Julie to go to the funeral. In the office, Michelle is worried about the state of the factory. No work coming in makes for idle and out of work machinists. Ciaran tries to be supportive. Julie and Hayley pop in to say they're on their way and to confirm that Fiz will be at the funeral, cuffed to a guard.

Fiz is sitting in her room fretting. The guard reminds her she'll be cuffed. Fiz muses that she'd have done anything to get out of the prison but attending her husband's funeral wasn't even on the list. The guard sits down and asks her about John. Fiz says she knows what he's done but she can only think of how happy they were even if nobody will believe it.

Julie comes across Eileen outside the cafe. Eileen says Frank has bought them all cakes (where is this factory anyway? I thought it was some distance from Underworld but everyone still seems able to pop into the pub and cafe willy nilly) Anyway, Julie is still fretting about Brian who keeps nagging at her via text and she tells Eileen what his problem is. Just as she is leaving, Eileen has an idea (three guesses and the first two don't count)

Katy and Ches are getting ready for the funeral. Hayley and Roy arrive to pick them up and Kirk returns. Seems the vet wanted to run some blood tests so Kirk will pick up Schmeichel later.

In FosterWorld, Frank notes that Sally is distracted. She whines about the funeral for the man that kidnapped her daughter and is upset that everyone else seems to be worried about it and is picturing everyone saying nice things about him. Rosie calls her mother just then to report that everyone is leaving for the funeral and lists everyone going, much to Sally's chagrin. Everyone is piling into The Woody when Julie's phone rings. It's Eileen to say that she's contacted Paul and he'll be glad to come to the school to talk to the children. Sally storms into the office, raving and whining. She decides she has to go to the funeral and it doesn't sound like Frank's going to get any work out of her so he says she can go.

Ciaran is supposed to be having lunch with Peter and Michelle sends him off with a kiss. She'll be fine. Most of the workers are sitting around idle now they've got the Dunbar order out. Michelle tells them she's working on a new order. Izzy and Sean don't think there's much chance of that.

At the crematorium, Julie is on the phone to Brian, yet again, assuring him that Paul will be there. Roy glares at her and she switches off her phone. They see the van arrive with Fiz who gets out with both hands fixed together and chained to the guard. (Which doesn't seem fair. When Tracy was taken to Blanch's funeral, she only had one wrist attached to the guard) She kisses Chesney and thanks everyone for coming. Maria arrives with Hope. The hearse with the coffin drives up and Fiz tells Hope it's time to say goodbye to Daddy.

After the break, we follow the coffin in to the crem. John can't be very heavy as there's only two people carrying it along (unless it's on a trolley, but the shot is from overhead so I can't tell). The vicar is already quoting script and begins the service while everyone sits down. Outside, Sally is getting out of a cab.

Cheryl has Russ in Doc Carter's office checking on that ear infection. He's going to up the meds a bit. Cheryl sends Russ outside and then asks Matt about Chris. She's worried that there doesn't seem to be any further treatments scheduled. Matt, naturally, can't answer any questions about Chris' case due to confidentiality. He realizes that Cheryl believes the tumour has got worse and is concerned. He says he'll look into it.

Sally walks into the chapel, sneering and ready for a fight. It doesn't take long before Sally's snorting and making derisive comments out loud in spite of the solemnity of the occasion. Really, she's well out of line.

Cheryl is at work chatting to Nick about Russ's ear infection. Peter and Ciaran arrive. Nick doesn't seem all that pleased to see Peter (though it's not the first time Peter's been there) and he smiles and shakes hands with Ciaran, the first visit for him. Peter admits to Ciaran he still hates Nick.

Back to the funeral, we are near the end of the service. The vicar asks if anyone would like to share a memory but nobody speaks up. Sally meanly comments that even his wife can't think of anything nice to say. Roy scolds Sally and says they are all there to support Fiz who stands up and asks Sally who she thinks she is. Sally defends herself but Fiz points out he was her husband and the father of her child. Sally tries to get Fiz to admit she knew everything and says the funeral is a farce. The baby starts to cry and Fiz says she wanted to give John a proper burial so she can tell Hope one day that she did right by her daddy. Roy asks Sally to leave and she says she's seen enough anyway. She strides outside and looks upset, gasping for breath and holding back the tears. Inside the funeral ends with the coffin rolling away. Fiona watches on tearfully.

Doc Carter sees Chris coming out of the Kabin and says he saw Cheryl earlier and Cheryl thought he was at death's door. He couldn't say anything of course but can't understand why Cheryl thought it was all bad news. Chris lies and pretends Cheryl must have got it wrong and will correct the situation. He glances back over his shoulder with a grim look.

Outside the chapel, everyone says goodbye to Fiz before she's driven off.

At FosterWorld, Sally is again in whining to Frank and seems to have regrets. She started shooting her mouth off and couldn't stop herself.

Chris arrives at the Bistro and gives Cheryl a mouthful about nagging the doctor. You've been told. Ciaran is telling Peter that Michelle has taken on the factory woes for Carla. Peter wonders if they couldn't get some help in and Ciaran thinks he means Nick and calls Nick over. That wasn't Peter's intention but there he is. Ciaran tells Nick that Underworld is in trouble and needs his advice. Nick thinks they're winding him up but Peter backs up Ciaran who begs Nick to lend a hand.

Ches and Katy arrive home to see a worried looking Kirk sitting at the table. Chesney sees that the dog isn't home and Kirk tries to tell him that the vet kept the dog in.

Nick arrives at an empty factory with Michelle sitting in the office. He asks her if she knew Ciaran was asking for help for the factory. Michelle pretends all is well and Nick thinks he was set up. But she calls him back and asks, hypothetically, how he'd save the factory should it need it.

Katy goes out to the shop for supplies and Kirk finally gets to tell Chesney the bad news. The vet says it's bad news. Schmeichel has a liver disease and it could be cancer. Oh dear!

Tvor

Good evening. Events in the Street seem to be heading in a few different directions at present.

Frank has suddenly acquired a working space for his new factory where it so dark I am surprised that the machinists can sew straight. Obviously he is so hard up he cannot afford the electricity bill. And to add to his woes he is employing Sally. Now I realise Sally is in need of the money - but she is getting very close to Frank. Now Maria may have led him on (sorry Maria, you may not see it like that but he did) but there is no excuse for the way he treated Carla and I would just like to point to Sally before anything happens that she might just be putting herself in harm's way. I have had my say, on with the show.

Frank is bemoaning the treatment he is getting because of one cruel spiteful woman (well that is his story) and Sal is lapping it up. He owes it to himself to live his life as best he can. Sally calls him very brave and he returns the compliment - she must be to with the marriage break up and so on. After all it is only gossip as he points out and she will come through this.

At the vet Schmeichel is in a bad way. Chesney and Kirk have come to collect him. Kirk has some dog biscuits in his pocket. Chesney promises that no harm will come to the dog.

Katie however knows she is going to be chucked out on the Street and she shows the eviction notice to the new super slimline Anna. Anna has been with us three years and has found the time to lose weight before our very eyes. And if you do not believe me, do a web search. Katie is almost beside herself, afraid they will take the baby away etc. Anna tries to reassure her. Anyway they have seven days to settle the outstanding rent. Anna gives her a huge re-assuring (but slimline of course) hug.

The vet tells Chesney that an ultrasound on the dog has shown an unusual mass. Kirk says he told the vet to go ahead and do whatever tests were needed. Chesney is worried and the dog is panting. Seems like the liver is inflamed and the vet is not sure if it is cancerous or not. A biopsy will confirm it one way or the other.

At Underworld Nick Tilsley is acting as if he is a reformed character. He can see that things are difficult for Michelle and he phones the old contact (Dave) whose details he had given her and claims he is still assisting at the factory on a consultancy come trouble shooter basis whilst not denying that the bistro is up and running.

The vet can do the biopsy on Schmeichel tomorrow if Chesney wants to go ahead. Chesney says go ahead - but the vet says he should go home and think about it.

Now some of us, indeed many of you may have been in a similar situation. A few months ago our little terrier was clearly suffering and unhappy, could not breathe and was not enjoying life. My wife spotted that he had a massive growth on his nose (it was hidden under his fur) which was blocking his nose. A few weeks before he had had some dental treatment and the lump had not been there, so it had grown rapidly. Given where it was it could not be removed and he was suffering. So we had to make a decision.

And when the vet sends you home as he has Chesney there is only one sensible decision. Obviously we take a different view for human beings. Kirk points out that this will not come cheap and the vet agrees that cost is a consideration. Including the biopsy and the other tests it will come to around £500 (which is far less than I had guessed - vets must be cheaper up north). Chesney wants the dog to have everything he needs, no matter what it costs. the vet tells him again to go home and have a proper think about it.

In Roy's Rolls, Russ tells Simon that his parents are getting back together. Simon argues with him but Russ is insistent. Him mum is going to dump Lloyd and get back with his dad - his dad told him. Simon calls him Pinocchio - his nose is growing. Leanne tells him off - if he carries on like that there will be no ice cream! They both zip their mouths instantly.

Katie is telling Chesney about the rent arrears and how they can never catch up because they owe so much. He promises to ring the council tomorrow and sort it out. He tells her not to worry - he will sort it. he tells her that Schmeichel got on fine at the vets. Something and nothing he lies.

Leanne has caught up with Cheryl who claims to have seen a different side of Chris in the last few weeks. He is softer, more open. But where does it leave Lloyd - and Cheryl is simply focussed on Chris - she cannot let him cope with this on his own. Leanne ought to understand this given that Peter was almost at death's door when she married him. Leanne says that was completely different. She was going to marry Peter anyway - except as Cheryl points out there is the little matter of the affair with Nick to recall. Leanne calls her a rotten cow and storms off. No sisterly love there then! Cheryl tries to apologise saying she is confused, but Leanne is having none of it and they argue before Leanne walks away.

Kirk offers to lend Ches about a hundred quid - he has been saving for a cuckoo clock and he knows that his friend needs help. But as Chesney points out that is a drop in the ocean compared with what he needs. Chesney does not know what he is going to do, but he has to find the money somehow. And he looks down at the poor, poor animal lying on his lap in distress.

See you all next week.

K Richard W

Cheryl's guilty conscience is showing and she's snappy with Lloyd. Chris arrives saying he's got an appointment at the hospital with his consultant, Dr Barton, but refuses Lloyd's offer of a lift. When Lloyd's gone off to work, Cheryl tells Chris she doesn't think she can take it. Chris gives her a kiss and says she won't have to for much longer.

Chesney arrives home with a bit of shopping as Katy hangs up the phone. She tells him it was the vet about Schmeichel's biopsy, they've a space if he still wants to go ahead. "What's going on Ches?" she wants to know.

Eileen is off to work, she's not had time for breakfast because everyone else got in the bathroom before her. Jason offers to stand her lunch in the pub later, but she looks a little edgy and tells him she can't, she's got a dentist appointment.

Lloyd is picking up Leanne to take her into town in the taxi. Peter calls her back inside and just then Cheryl comes along. She's looking rather sheepish but Lloyd mistakes it for concern about Chris and tells her not to worry, he's in good hands.

Katy and Chesney are arguing about the money he's spending on the dog when they're behind with the rent. "What else could I do?" he says. Katy says she knows how much Schmeichel means to him, but they can't afford these vets' bills. Chesney says he can't just let him die. Katy says they'll have to accept Owen's offer of help. Chesney doesn't want to take charity from him. "What else are we going to do? Rob a bank?" says Katy, "we need to get real, Ches."

Lloyd goes to the hospital looking for Chris to give him a lift home. The receptionist has no record of Chris on the computer for that day. Lloyd tells her he's come for some radiotherapy and his consultant is Dr Barton. He's told that she's not in today, and anyway, she wouldn't be at a treatment session. She tells Lloyd he must have the wrong day.

Katy and Chesney go round to the builder's yard to see Owen. Katy explains that they need to borrow some money for the rent. Chesney adds that Schmeichel also needs an operation. Owen points out that operations don't come cheap, but he'll have a think about it. He goes back to work.

Ciaran is reading the paper when Michelle comes back to the flat for Carla's laptop, she's trying to tempt customers back. (How amazing that she's gone from a lifetime of bar work to pulling a failing factory back from it's knees all in a couple of weeks!) He says if he'd known she was coming he'd have tidied up. She tells him he organised the wedding yesterday, what more can a girl ask? But then she tells him to start thinking about wine, flowers, music etc.

Lloyd sees Chris in the pub and asks him how it went at the hospital. Chris says it was the same old thing. Lloyd asks how Dr Barton was. Chris tells him she was quite positive, but then she would be, wouldn't she? "She was there then?" asks Lloyd. Chris says she wanted to wish him well, it being the first of a new lot of treatments. He starts to look uncomfortable, and asks Lloyd how his morning was. Lloyd tells him he spent most of it thinking about Chris. Chris downs his drink and leaves.

It's lunchtime and Paul is at Eileen's house. She makes him a sandwich and asks if things are tough at home. He admits that they are. He says he knows he wasn't straight with her when they first met and doesn't want to take advantage. She tells him she'll let him know if he does. He then tells her that his wife, Lesley, has started to get violent and he doesn't know how to handle it.

Ciaran is in the pub with a wedding magazine, and Peter, Karl and Owen tease him. Just then Michelle comes in, all delighted. She's managed to do what Carla couldn't - secured an order!

Paul and Eileen are continuing their discussion about Lesley. It seems like she'll go on getting worse until she has to go into care.

Leanne is just getting out of her taxi when Cheryl comes along again. Leanne curtly tells her that she didn't blab to Lloyd, but she thinks what Cheryl is doing is wrong. Cheryl says she hates cheating on Lloyd. Eventually Leanne agrees to visit her later for a chat.

Eileen has to get back to work, but she and Paul admit that there's no reason why they can't be friends.

Owen finds Chesney and Katy in the cafe. He says he'll lend them the rent money, but he's been to see the vet and found out that the operation for Schmeichel is risky. There's no guarantee that it would work, and if it did, the dog might only live for a few days. Owen thinks the kindest thing would be for Chesney to have Schmeichel put to sleep. He pulls a wad of notes out of his pocket. "This is the rent money," he says, giving it to Katy, and tells the dejected Chesney that he's sorry.

Eileen and Paul come out of the front door and are spotted by Jason across the street. Paul gives Eileen a peck on the cheek and walks away.

Lloyd and Steve are discussing Chris and his non appointment. Steve asks if he's going to mention it to Cheryl. Lloyd wisely says not without proof, Cheryl would think he's stirring and go into meltdown.

Meanwhile, Cheryl and Leanne are having a chat over a cuppa. Cheryl says how she's found herself falling back in love with Chris, although she hasn't stopped loving Lloyd. She tells her she started sleeping with him 10 days ago, and now the whole thing is a complete mess. Leanne points out she can't have them both, so she has to decide who she wants, Chris or Lloyd? She reminds Cheryl that 18 months ago Chris was knocking her about, she got out and met Lloyd, who now makes her happy. Cheryl admits Lloyd turned her life around and also is brilliant with Russ. Leanne advises her to end it with Chris straight away. Cheryl sighs.

Eileen is cooking tea when Jason comes in. He asks how she got on at the dentist. "And you went at dinnertime?" Eileen says she did. "So how come I saw you leaving here with the fireman?" Eileen then admits that they're just friends, but Jason is angry and says he's probably told her a lot more lies. In the end Eileen storms out, telling him to cook his own tea. "Well it's your funeral," he says as she passes. "No, Jason, it's my life, and don't you stop me from having one!" she snaps.

Chesney strokes Schmeichel's head as Katy puts the rent money in her purse. She says she'll go and pay it tomorrow. She goes off upstairs for a lie down, and Chesney gets up and takes it the money out of her purse. He pats the dog's head. "No way can I let you go, Schmeichel," he says, "no way."

Leanne is pleased because Cheryl admits that her future lies with Lloyd, but then the mood changes again. "So why can't I stop thinking about Chris?" she asks. She goes on to say that Lloyd ticks all the boxes, but Chris is like a part of her, she doesn't feel complete without him. She loves Lloyd, but she loves Chris more. Leanne tells her she has to tell Lloyd, and soon. "It's going to break his heart though," says Cheryl, "how do I do it?"

Anne Logan

Hello everyone. I'm just back from London where I'm sure it's colder than the north-west of England! Let's get warmed up with Corrie.

This Friday begins with Tyrone in a hurry in the shop - buying heaps of food and a bunch of flowers.

Chesney's off out and he's got Schmeichel with him. He tells Katie he's off to work and just wants to spend as much time with the dog as possible.

Lloyd's got a niggling pain in his back and Cheryl massages it for him. They're interrupted by Chris just walking in, even though he doesn't live there any more.

Ty's put the flowers on the table and is making a big breakfast for Kirsty, who stayed the night. Tina's smelt bacon and she wanders in cheerfully, before realising she's playing gooseberry.

Chris bounds upstairs to fetch Russ. Lloyd comments on it and says it wasn't so long ago Chris could barely get up the stairs. Cheryl says Chris has good days and bad days. Lloyd says he has his suspicions . . . He asks Cheryl if Chris said what went on at the hospital yesterday but she says Chris didn't say a word.

Jason wants a word with Eileen about Paul. They're briefly interrupted by Sean but once he's gone, Jason lectures Eileen on her extremely bad taste in men. He wonders why she can't just stay the way she is. Eileen protests that she and Paul are just good friends. And that's all they're ever likely to be.

Lloyd tells Steve he feels guilty thinking Chris might be lying. He makes an appointment to see Dr Carter about his bad back.

Back at the house, Cheryl's sure Lloyd knows something's going on. Chris thinks maybe they should just put him out of his misery. He's alarmed to hear that Cheryl told Leanne about it. Cheryl thinks Lloyd would be devastated if he knew the truth. "I think we should end it," she tells Chris. But she can't say it and look him in the eye.

Izzy and Katie are in the cafe talking about Chesney. Izzy feels sorry for him. Garry's there in a suit. He's off to the cenotaph for the remembrance service. Quinny's parents will be there. Izzy offers to go with him.

Kirsty and Tyrone watch something on TV when Tina comes through dressed only in a towel. Kirsty glares at her. Tyrone doesn't seem to notice. Once she's gone, Kirsty tells Ty she's offended by it. "You should lay down some ground rules." Tyrone thinks it's a joke but Kirsty wants him to tell Tina to respect the males of the household.

Sally's trying to rush Eileen in her work so Eileen has to ignore a call from Paul. Shortly afterwards she leaps up and tells Sally she can't work overtime and has to go on her dinner break now. Right now.

Dr Carter tells Lloyd back problems are difficult to diagnose and treat. Lloyd says it's worse when he's stressed. He says he's worried about Chris. "He says his tumour hasn't responded to treatment and he lied about going to the hospital," Lloyd says. Dr Carter is offended at being asked to discuss another patient. He prints out a prescription for Lloyd and hustles him out. Then he sits at the computer, checks something on screen and picks up the phone.

Cheryl and Chris cuddle on the sofa but she pulls away and says Lloyd could be home any time. Chris answers his phone and it's Dr Carter. He says he needs to see Chris about something important. Cheryl thinks the doctor must have found out something bad.

Eileen arrives home. Paul's there. His wife's gone missing and Eileen's offered to help. "She's so vulnerable, Eileen. Anything could happen to her." They get into his car.

The doctor tells Chris he's received a letter from the oncologist saying the treatment's been successful and the tumour's receded. He asks Chris whether he's misled Cheryl. "Some people cling to an illness after it's gone." Chris denies it and gets riled. He leans across the doctor's chair in a threatening way and tells him he's not a hypochondriac, nor a liar.

In the pub, Brian's holding forth about the likelihood of life in other galaxies. Nobody except Julie is impressed. Sean thinks Brian just wants an excuse to sit on the Red Rec with his telescope. Julie tells Sean quietly that she thinks UFO hunting should be a summer pastime and in the winter they can take up Zumba or breadmaking. Brian reckons there's been a confirmed sighting and wants to keep watch tonight, she says. Sean says if there's a change of plans, the others are going up town around 9.

Eileen and Paul take his wife into the cafe to get her warmed up with a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit. Paul says there's no need to take her to Casualty to get checked over. They just need to get home and get warm.

Owen visits Katie. She asks Owen if he can run her down to the rent office. She discovers the rent money's gone. "Chesney must've took Schmeichel for that biopsy!"

Paul puts his wife into the car and hugs Eileen goodbye. Jason sees them. When Paul drives off he demands to know what it was all about. Jason thinks it's sick that Paul's wife has come along. Eileen tries to explain but Jason's sure Paul must have other people he can turn to. Eileen insists she's doing nothing wrong and won't stop seeing Paul.

The vet tells Chesney the dog will still be groggy. Now they have to wait for the test results. Katie and Owen come in and Ches looks alarmed to see them. He doesn't apologise for effectively stealing from Owen and lying to Katie. "I'd rob a bank if it meant Schmeichel would live for just one more day." He weeps and Katie hugs him.

Chris marches into the taxi office and tells Lloyd to butt out of his business. Lloyd says his story doesn't add up. Cheryl comes in and wants to know what they're arguing about. "Sometimes the pressure of just trying to get along for you and Russ's sake gets too much," Lloyd tells her. Cheryl thinks that's rubbish and demands to know why they're arguing and what the doctor wanted to tell Chris. Chris says it was just some test results.

In the cafe, Julie tries to persuade Brian to cuddle up on the sofa instead of keeping watch. Brian says he can go on his own but Julie says she doesn't mind.

Lloyd tells Cheryl and Chris that he was the one who spoke to the doctor about Chris but the doctor refused to discuss it. He tells Cheryl: "I think he's lying to us. I don't think he's as sick as he makes out." He says there's something out of order here and he's going to find out what it is. Cheryl is silent but Chris is clearly ready to score one over Lloyd, no matter what Cheryl wants. He laughs and tells him it's time for some honesty. "There's no easy way to tell you this mate - me and Cheryl are back together."

And with Lloyd's mouth gaping open and tears in Cheryl's eyes and a big smirk on Chris's face, that's the end of the first episode.

Margaret Carr

Lloyd is confused about what Chris meant that he and Cheryl are back together . Chris says that they have been sleeping together for 2 weeks. Lloyd thinks that is the reason he wasn't at the hospital because he was sleeping with his girlfriend.

Chesney asks Owen if he can put a price on the life of his dog. Owen says yes, for a dog. Chesney promises to pay back the money he took from Katy's purse.

Cheryl is annoyed that Chris told Lloyd about them sleeping together.

Tyrone tries to explain to Tina that she shouldn't wear a towel around the house. She deliberately misunderstands and asks if he wants her to drop the towel! (Yes please!!! MR).

Lloyd discusses with Steve what has happened. The best Steve can suggest is going bowling. Lloyd feels betrayed, deceived, stabbed in the heart by the woman he loves.

Brian and Julie are on the Red Rec starring at the stars. Julie thinks it is very romantic, but Brian assures her it is a scientific mission. Julie tries to sweet talk Brian, but he is more interested in his astronomy.

Tina is teasing Tyrone by suggesting she wears a boiler suit, or a balaclava. Then Tyrone tells Tommy, after Tina mentions it, that he must in future keep his top on when walking around the house. These are to be house rules!

Cheryl goes round to Lloyd to explain. He tells her not to. He forgives her mistake. He tells her they could go anywhere she wants, but he just wants to be together with her. When Cheryl shows no sign of relinquishing, he tells her to take all her things and get out of his house.

Chesney and Katy arrive home. He is upset at leaving Schmeichel. He apologies for taking the money from Katy and says he will make it up.

Anna and Owen talk to Chesney about his visit to the war memorial. He spoke to Quinny's parents. It was all very emotional. He cried buckets. They gained some benefit by being able to talk to their son's best mate.

Cheryl meets Chris at the cafe and Russ wonders why she has brought her bags. Chris tells him that when he said previously that they were going to get back together, it has happened.

Chesney is on the phone to the vet. He says he wants him to have the operation. Katy is concerned that it is costing so much money.

Katy comes round to Anna and Owen and explains she has had a row. They say she can stay the night at Anna's place.

Paul comes round to Eileen thanking her for what she did. He says that Lesley is fine now thanks to her. He suggests that they should go for a drink.

Chesney is looking at a photo of Schmeichel. Kirk comes in says he was hard on Katy, but Chesney explains the option is to kill him. Kirk thinks that it is a bit strong, but Chesney says that would be the end result. Kirk tries to explain that he would not want him to suffer. Chesney just wants him to get better.

Steve is round trying to console Lloyd. Steve reminds him that he had a good time with Cheryl and he should be grateful for that.

Tommy, Tyrone and Kirsty meet Julie and Brian coming back from the Red Rec. When they explain they were looking for extra-terrestrial life, they can't stop laughing and wind them up. However, Brian and Julie don't see the funny side. As they leave Tommy confirms to Tyrone that he is planning something!

Steve offers to Lloyd to come and stay at his place. Lloyd says he will be alright staying there. Lloyd finishes his drink and in his temper he smashes a mirror and starts crying.

Will Lloyd and Cheryl ever reconcile? Well not after smashing the mirror, he has 7 years bad luck coming to him !!

Martin Rosen

We open with a heartbroken Lloyd shoveling broken glass into the rubbish bin. On going to the fridge, he spies photos on the door of himself with Cheryl in much happier days, and the tears start to flow again.

Over at Anna's house another heartbroken soul sits at the table with Faye, Katy is fretting because Chesney isn't answering his texts, and remarks that he only cares about things with four legs. "Even tables and chairs?" pipes up young Faye, and gets a right telling off from Anna for her troubles. Katy sobs that Chesney just doesn't get it, they are skint, and have a baby coming any minute, and all he can think about is getting Schmeichel another operation, when he knows there is no point. Poor lass feels Chesney is putting a dog ahead of her.

She wails, "How can he be a good dad when all he thinks about is a dog?" Anna quite rightly points out to her (more gently I admit than I would have) that he is thinking about the dog because the dog is dying! There is no consoling Katy though, and in her mind she already sees herself raising her baby as a single parent, and Anna assures her that if it came to that, she would always have a home in her house. At which Faye interjects and tells Katy in no uncertain terms that she is NOT having her room!

Over to Chesney on the phone to the vet, who wants him to come in for a consultation. Kirk, thick as he is, does know about dogs, and knows already that this one has reached the end of the road. He asks Chesney what he is going to say if the vet suggests putting him down. Our Ches looks stricken as if he has just been slapped across the face, and accuses Kirk of wanting Schmeichel to die. Good friend that he is, Kirk decides to let that one go. Chesney then starts beating himself up for not noticing that there was something wrong with Schmeichel sooner, that maybe if it had been caught earlier, etc. etc. Kirk tells him that he would have needed x-ray vision to spot something wrong with his liver. Our Ches is still in denial though, and is convinced that another op will fix him, and won't discuss money - or lack of it, he has to do everything he can to save his beloved best friend.

Now we are in Carla's flat, where I guess Michelle and Ciaran are staying. Michelle is having a very chirpy telephone conversation with Carla, she is assuring her she has everything under control at the factory, and that she can go back to her jacuzzi and relax. Ciaran seems a little put out by the fact that Michelle is seemingly having such a good time running the factory while he has been given the overwhelming job of arranging their wedding. He gets no sympathy from her though, wonder-woman is riding too high on her new found power, and sweeps off to work leaving him to get on with it.

Bad timing - Cheryl, Chris & Russ leave the flat just as Lloyd comes out of No. 13 right opposite. Cheryl & Russ both call out "Hi" to him, but he just grimaces and walks into the Corner Shop. Cheryl looks upset, but Chris on the other hand looks positively smug.

Anna pops in to see Chesney hoping she can bring him and Katy back together. He tells her that if he doesn't do something, Schmeichel is going to die, she tells him she knows, but so will his relationship, and talks him into coming back with her now to talk to Katy.

The next scene gives us a brief respite from all the misery of this episode. We are in the Kabin with Julie, Brian, Rita, Norris & Dennis, and Brian is beside himself with excitement because he has captured what he is convinced is a UFO on his phone. In comes Tommy Duckworth who picks up a paper to purchase, and asks what everyone is talking about. "Three orange blobs!" Says Norris. "Ah, but floating upwards" says Julie. Tommy burst their orange blob - er bubble by pointing out that a local Chinese Restaurant had a grand opening last night, and released dozens of Chinese lanterns at midnight - all orange.

Kirk bursts in just then, collecting money for Schmeichel's operation. What a sweetheart that Kirk is, he knows full well that it is a hopeless cause, but he will do anything for a friend. Everyone chips in gladly, even Dennis, but of course doesn't have his wallet on him, so asks Rita to sub him.

Anna goes off to work leaving Chesney & Katy to talk, telling them not to forget the three 'C's' Commitment, Communication and Compromise. They agree they have the commitment and communication part down pat, but Chesney tells Katy that he cannot compromise on Schmeichel's life. Katy points out that Schmeichel has already had one operation that they couldn't afford, that the compromise should be one operation, not two. Chesney is not having it, he tells her that the vet has agreed to take installments, that she is the one person he thought would get where he is coming from, and storms out.

We are in the Rovers after the break. Tina & Sunita are gossiping about Lloyd's breakup, and Rita & Dennis are drinking at the bar. Dennis is saying that there were lots of flying objects at his house while he was growing up. Rita nods wisely and says "Elsie". Dennis agrees, saying she would throw anything, shoes, cold cream and would aim directly at his head. He remarks that her bite was 50 times worse than her bark. Which brought them back to the subject of Schmeichel's health.

Dr. Matt arrives and invites Tina out to dinner that evening with some old medical school mates and spouses. Tina looks worried about meeting four new people at once, everyone is teasing her, but she looks genuinely uneasy.

We break to Chesney pouring out his heart to Gary, he feels nobody understands how much he loves his dog, "He is not just a Great Dane, he is the Greatest Dane ever" he wails. Gary gives him a lift to the vet.

Kirk is still collecting money, and Sophie gives generously saying that Chesney without Schmeichel would be like Ant without Dec. Kirk says that he needs a slogan, and is most impressed when Sophie comes up with "Give 5 pounds to help a poorly hound", or "Give an extra 5 to keep Schmeichel alive", she tells him that lesbians have a special gift for poetry, but even Kirk is not taken in by that one!

Cheryl & Chris are in Roy's. She is still feeling extremely guilty about the way Lloyd has been treated, she mentioned him going to the clinic to pick up Chris, which obviously sets off warning bells for Chris to put an end to this conversation immediately, so suggests they put the past behind them. Over in the corner, Michelle and Rita are having a conversation on the joys of running your own business. Michelle is curious to know if Rita regretted settling down in Weatherfield after the excitement of her 'show biz' life. Rita makes it clear that if you are your own boss, it doesn't matter where you are.

Oh dear, we are now back in the vet's surgery, with Schmeichel panting hard on the table. The vet is trying to get it across to Chesney that he is in a lot of discomfort, and that the kindest thing would be to let him go. Chesney is convinced it is just because he is recovering from his biopsy. He pushes the vet to agree to operate, but is told that he may not make it through the operation. Ches argues that he might, but without it, he definitely won't make it. The vet again tries to explain to him that liver cancer takes no prisoners, that he needs to release him from his pain. A manic Chesney then stoops to pick up Schmeichel to take him home to find a 'proper' vet.

Well, the new dress code at Chez Dobbs didn't last long. Tommy, Tyrone & Kirsty are sitting on the sofa, and Tina walks in front of them to go to the fridge wearing nothing but a towel. Kirsty is obviously very offended, and tells her to get some clothes on. Tina tells her to get a life. Tina 1 Kirsty 0

In the Rovers, Michelle is bragging to Ciaran about what a fantastic day she has had as the high flying executive. She then gets serious and tells him that she doesn't want to go back to the cruise ships, that she wants to stay in Weatherfield for good. Ciaran's face falls through the floor.

Back in No. 9, Tina is now not only dressed but dressed to kill. Just as Dr. Matt arrives, Kirsty and Tina have another slanging match over very little. Putting Tina in a bitchy mood, and she even bites Matt's head off when he suggests she takes a jacket.

Cheryl shows up at Streetcars full of apologies to Lloyd. He is having none of it, and tells he she will not have absolution from him and to get out. Meanwhile Karl has come in and witnessed Lloyd getting a backbone. Telling him he did good, he slags Cheryl off, which is a big mistake, because Lloyd immediately loses it, grabs him by the throat and tells him he's fired. Karl refuses to be sacked.

We are now back in No. 5, Schmeichel is panting on the floor and Kirk is trying to get it across to Chesney that he has seen enough dogs to know that Schmeichel wants him to let him go. that he has had enough. Chesney is still convinced that he will buck up once he has had the operation, but the tears are running down his face - and mine. Kirk says his goodbyes to Schmeichel and leaves with Gary, leaving Chesney to tell Schmeichel that there will just be one more op, and everything will be just fine. Just then there is a loud knock on the door, he opens it to a very large and ugly man who tells him he is a Bailiff, and is there because of non payment of rent.

This is the end of the first episode, and the end of my very first update. It was a very difficult one to write, as I know exactly where Chesney is coming from. A few weeks ago, I had to have my own little dog/best friend put to sleep because of liver cancer. The vet is right, it takes no prisoners, and we all know how this is going to end. :-(

If you would like to see some of Schmeichel's finest hours, do check this article: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3933082/Schmeichels-best-bits-on-Coronation-Street.html

Christine Warren

To write these updates these days is usually much easier than when I started. In those days a vcr was essential, just remember to set it up in advance. Nowadays thanks to the internet it is simply a case of visiting the ITV player site and selecting the episode and you can stop and start it at will as the words flow out of the fingers onto the keyboard.

Except that tonight the ITV website is simply not delivering anything. Never mind there is always the alternative (and no I do not mean Enders). There is the STV site. Which is also not working equally well. Eventually however something seems to kick into life - and it is not just the adverts.

So written by Simon Crowther we open on the Battersby / Stape doorstep where Chesney is telling the bailiff who is looking for Fiz that he does not have the rent money and there is no-one else in. This episode was directed by Ian Bevitt. And Fiz is in prison. Ches has a sick dog in the house and cannot help him. The bailiff shows an interest in the poor dog. The bailiff tries to force his way into the house when Owen spots what is happening and runs across the Street and grabs him - and they know each other. It appears that George Reagan is now on wife number three with five kids. Owen offers Reagan £50 to give Chesney breathing space until the morning. He relies on old time's sake. Owen gives Chesney a talking to.

Steve comes into the cab office to find Carl and Lloyd scrapping - well Carl poked fun and Lloyd does not have a sense of humour at the moment. Carl is re-instated and Steve sends Lloyd home as it is the end of his shift. Steve tells Lloyd that this is the end of it.

At the Rovers we find that Michelle and Ciaran are having a drink and she is explaining to him why she has to stay around - mainly it is the factory - it is the only place she has ever felt valued. He reckons she was valued on the ship - but it appears she was not a singing star on the ship, merely a waitress. In the Rovers she was a barmaid and she never made any proper money singing (contracts from Simon Cowell probably do not pay well). Apparently on the ship he spent more time in the casino (until 3 am) than he did in their cabin. he enjoyed watching the blackjack and she was lonely. She reckons there is more for her in Weatherfield. Her mobile goes and she is needed back at Underworld. Neither seems overly happy with the other. He asks what he is supposed to do - sit there on his own and she snaps back that perhaps he will find out how it feels.

Chesney is on the phone to another vet trying to arrange the operation. Kirk tries to explain that it is not fair on the dog. He phones a third vet - but makes no progress. Katie comes back and stares at him.

In prison the warder tells Fiz that the governor wants to see her - but she cannot go until baby Hope has finished her bottle.

Back at the bistro Tina is introduced to Matt's friends - Mike and Caroline. And then eventually and late Jenny arrives and calls the area a dump and then has to apologise as Tina admits that yes she does live around here. Jenny admits that he was not lying - Tina is stunning. "Johnny" is stuck in theatre so Jenny is on her own. Jenny notes that the shirt being worn by Matt is one she bought for him and it still suits him.

In the Rovers Steve is worried about Lloyd and Tracy spots his concern and sends him off to spend the evening with Lloyd. Tracy is behaving reasonably - it cannot last much longer.

Apparently Ty and Tommy have to finish building a flying saucer.

Chesney has finally found a vet to look at the dog. Katie tells him the dog is in pain - and she tells him he needs to look after the dog - but he should not put the dog through hell. Finally Ches cracks and asks her for help - but he has to realise the dog is dying and cannot be saved. What is right for Schmeichel - she tells him he has to le the dog go.

After the break Chesney is telling the Great Dane about how scared he is over becoming a father and without his faithful friend. Katie watches him and he kisses Schmeichel. There is a knock at the door and the vet is allowed in.

At the bistro they are discussing a new year's party from the past - Tina is feeling left out as Jenny and Matt recall being partners for five years. Jenny dumped Matt it seems. They apparently did a lot of travelling together, the most Tina has managed is Spain - Benidorm and Lanzarote. Mike and Caroline were in the Pyranees last summer, which Tina thinks is in Egypt not Northern Spain. She claims she was joking. Jenny summons the waiter (Nick) and asks for more wine please.

Lloyd is consuming a very unappealing curry dinner for one when the door gets knocked upon. He lets Steve in with his cans and even Lloyd thinks Tracy is acting strangely. Steve is worried about being outnumbered. Chesney and Katie Brown were discussing baby names apparently. She wants to call the baby James and yet she has never heard of the big man. The generation which has not heard of James Brown is now having babies. Lloyd - we are with you on this one. If I could attach a sound clip I would. Steve went to school with a Michael Jackson, but they are apparently quite common; Lloyd has a cousin who married a woman call Cat Stevens. Steve asks if she changed her name? Why says Lloyd because Cat became Yusuf Islam? No says Steve - because she got married. Lloyd reckons she will always be Cat Stevens to him, but then again so will Cat Stevens. Wonderful dialogue beautifully delivered. Absolute craftsmanship at work her. Steve says he is sorry Cheryl has gone and Lloyd agrees with a wry smile.

In the bistro Tina continues to feel out of the conversation and is compensating by consuming alcohol. It gets worse when Jenny asks what she does. She is barmaid in the funny little green pub at the end of the road. Matt assures the others that she has ambitions beyond that and you can see Tina getting even more upset at his intervention. Jenny apparently worked in a pub one summer. The most boring job she has ever done (clearly never listened to Pete and Dud's experiences then). Jenny and Matt lived together for two and a half years. Jenny says Matt could not handle her anyway. Jenny and Tina start exchanging barbed comments. Rivalries escalate.

The vet prepares to assist Schmeichel depart. Having done this myself recently you know when it is for the best. Bye Bye to the Great Dane. There have been four of them, two of them called Schmeichel, one Magnum and one Spike. Thank you for your contributions. His departure is swift and painless. Chesney says he is a brave boy and the panting slowly subsides.

Lloyd and Steve agree to go to the Wethy arms and see where the evening leads.

Tina and Matt argue as they leave the bistro. She tells him to take Jenny home as she is gagging for it. Whilst Tina is shouting at everyone a police car turns up and asks if there is a problem. She reckons that Kirsty must have sent them round!

Tina storms into Ty's house looking for Kirsty and finds the boys have a wonderful flying saucer - spinning round, lights flashing dangling from a fishing rod and line. They are planning to freak out Brian. Ty gets Tina a can. She is pleased to be home. And Kirsty is not in. Tina goes to get changed.

In Carla's flat Ciaran admits he has been thinking about what Michelle said earlier today as he pours them both glasses of red wine. He wants her to be happy and he wants to be happy as well. Ciaran wants to be on the boat and it seems the two of them want different things. Michelle hates these conversations. He does not want to be on the boat without her and yet he does not want to be in Weatherfield and so Michelle concludes that they have problems.

The vet takes the body and Chesney says he will sort out the housing company in the morning. Kirk offers them all fish and chips, Katie wants a Tizer, Dandelion and Burdoch for Chesney and a Vimto for the Kirkster. A sad threesome. Inside Chesney looks at the dog's collar and toys and then answers the phone. It is Fiz and she has some news. She has been granted bail before her review and she is coming home. Chesney says a heartfelt "thank you" and a small smile crosses his face.

See you all next week.

K Richard W

Breakfast time at Tyrone's house, and things aren't good between Tina and Kirsty. Tina, obviously still annoyed from the evening before, reckons that the two policemen she saw when she came out of the bistro had been sent there by Kirsty. Kirsty says she's just a beat copper, not chief constable.

Michelle puts a cooked breakfast in front of Ciaran and tells him it's a change from him having to cook for the masses. He's missing ship life, however, and says so. She concedes that the weather was better, but you can't put down roots on a ship. Ciaran thinks roots are over-rated. She points out that you can't bring up children on a ship, if they are going to have a family.

There's a small gathering outside the front door, waiting to welcome Fiz home with lots of hugs and flowers. Just then, Rosie and Sally come out of the Kabin and are astounded at what they're seeing. "Have they forgotten what he did to me, what she helped him do?" says Rosie. They walk off, grumbling, as the happy throng disappear inside the house. As Brian rushes off to take school assembly, he tells Julie he'll see her on the Red Rec later. Julie isn't keen, she hasn't thawed out from last time. Just then Tyrone and Tommy come out of their house, and, on hearing that Brian will see Julie on the Red Rec later, decide tonight's the night to teach him a lesson!

Steve and Lloyd are outside the Kabin when Russ comes along on the other side of the street. He calls to Lloyd and they exchange pleasantries until it's cut short by a surly Chris who calls Russ back.

Fiz and Katy are talking about money, Schmeichel, and the rent arrears. Fiz says they should have told her but Katy says she had enough to worry about. Chesney gets off the phone to the housing office, they can pay the arrears off in installments. Fiz jumps up and starts putting her coat on. Chesney tells her she should rest, but Fiz reckons her life has been on hold long enough.

At the factory, Michelle and Ciaran are still discussing the 'babies now or later' situation. He points out she's only 33, there's still loads of time, but Michelle feels time is running out, especially if they want more than one. She senses his reluctance and tells him that if he doesn't want all this he should say so now, and save them both a lot of time and heartache. He says of course he does, he loves her. Michelle feels like she's coming second to HMS Goodtime and doesn't want a holiday romance, she wants something real. He tells her what he really wants is her, and if that means staying then bring it on. They hug.

Just then there's a knock on the door and Fiz comes in and asks for her job back. Michelle explains that things have changed, they've had to lay people off so it wouldn't be fair to give Fiz a job now, and anyway, she'd have to wait until Carla got back to make any sort of decision.

In the Kabin, Norris says he can't believe Fiz didn't know what John was up to. Emily says he has no basis to think that. Just then Fiz comes in, she wants a paper to go through the job section. Mary remarks that she's the second today, Ciaran has done the same. Norris comments that Ciaran's CV will be less colourful than Fiz's, if he was an employer he'd be more interested in the last 12 months than a CSE in needlework. Fiz flings the paper back down on the counter and tells him to forget it, she doesn't care what idiots like him think. She storms out. Norris says that if looks could kill he'd be under the factory floor now. Outside the shop, Fiz bursts into tears.

Ciaran goes to see Nick and asks if there's a job going. Nick says there is, but it's not head chef, but an assistant. Ciaran is a little disappointed, but goes off to get his whites.

Lloyd is driving along in his taxi when he sees Russ, who should be at school. He stops and speaks to him, asking if there's a problem at school. Russ says it's not school that's the problem. Lloyd puts his arm round Russ's shoulders and tells him that although there's been a lot of change, they all love him to bits.

Matt goes into the pub to see Tina. She's angry and says he just wanted her to be presentable to his toffee-nosed mates. He says he has nothing against bar work, she's good at what she does, but she could be running her own place and perhaps could look into doing some hospitality or business courses. He tells her she's bright and urges her to consider it. "Maybe," she says.

Chesney comes in to see Steve and checks that all is ok for later.

Tommy tells Tina that she shouldn't have to change herself for anyone.

Lloyd takes Russ to Cheryl in the bistro. She's really cross with him, but Lloyd sends him to sit down and then explains that Russ is upset, things aren't normal at the moment.

Chesney and Katy are taking a reluctant Fiz to the Rovers. When they walk through the door there's a big Welcome Home banner up, and most people applaud. Norris and Mary being the exceptions. A drink is put in her hand, and she tells Roy and Hayley how grateful she is for all they did.

Chris is furious when he hears that Russ had bunked off school, and that Lloyd had told Cheryl how he shouted at Russ for talking to him in the morning. He marches over and bangs on Lloyd's front door. Lloyd opens the door to be confronted by Chris; Cheryl at his side. After a short slanging match, Lloyd tells them to get out of his face, and shuts the door.

Brian and Julie are sitting on the Red Rec, warmly dressed and with thermos to hand, looking for UFOs. A short distance away, amongst the trees, Tommy and Tyrone approach, fishing rod in hand.

Sally and Rosie walk into the pub. Sally sneers at the Welcome Home banner. Chesney tells Sally to leave Fiz alone. Sally retorts that thanks to his sister, Rosie was kidnapped twice and nearly killed. Fiz loses her temper and grabs Sally by the lapels, shouting that when she was inside she saw off the kind of people Sally crosses the road to avoid. Stella breaks them up and tells Fiz to go and cool off somewhere else.

Julie and Brian are still on the rec, when suddenly Julie spots Tommy's trick UFO, flying nearby. Tyrone has a sound effect on his mobile phone which he plays and Brian and Julie are, of course, truly taken in. Brian rushes forward but falls over in his haste to reach the flying object, and Tyrone and Tommy roar with laughter and reveal themselves. Julie is furious and shouts at them.

Fiz is back at home, but she tells Chesney that as long as she's around people who know her, she'll never have peace. She tells Chesney that as soon as she's cleared she has to get away, for her and Hope's sake.

Anne Logan

It's breakfast time. Russ is off to school and Chris warns him there's to be no more bunking off (We used to call it "wagging" in New Zealand). Cheryl doesn't like having to put Russ through big changes. She assures Chris she wants to be with him. Chris thinks Russ needs familiar stuff round him, like his own bed, which is still in Lloyd's house. Cheryl says she'll go and ask Lloyd later.

Katie and Fiz bond over talk of babies. Ches is pleased to see them happy. He'll be home for lunch, he says. Fiz tells him there's no point coming home to try to persuade her not to leave. As soon as her appeal is over she'll be off. She wants to be able to forget about the past but nobody round here will let her.

Ciaran tells Peter about Michelle wanting to settle down. Peter thinks big kids make good dads. Michelle comes up with good news. Her parents have offered to pay for the wedding venue so they can have the hotel she liked. It's got "a fountain and a courtyard and everything" apparently. She hands Ciaran an envelope of cash (without explaining how her parents managed to get it to her from Ireland so quickly) and tells him she's too busy to go to the venue and could he please go and pay the deposit. It has to be done today. And you all know that if "money" and "deadline" appear in the same storyline in Corrie the result will be very much like the result of "secret" and "promise not to tell."

Steve turns his back on Cheryl when she comes to the cab office looking for Lloyd. She tells Steve she wants to get some stuff out of the house and wanted to check with Lloyd first. Steve's angry with her. He tells her to get all her stuff out of the house now while Lloyd's not there. He reckons Lloyd will be delighted when all traces of her are gone.

There's a crisis at the bistro. The chef's rung to say he won't be in for the lunch session. Eva reminds Nick that Ciaran's available. Cheryl bursts in and asks if she can have a couple of hours off from work. Eva offers to cover for her. Nick doesn't have time to argue and heads off to find Ciaran.

He finds him leaving the salon, where he's just has one millimeter cut from his hair (at most!). Nick explains that he needs a chef now but Ciaran says he's got to go and book the wedding venue. Nick offers double time and Ciaran shakes his hand. He'll do it on the basis that he can finish at four.

Chris and Cheryl arrive at Lloyd's. She's reluctant to go in while Lloyd's not there but Chris thinks she's too soft.

Chesney arrives home for lunch. Katie tells him Fiz has gone to Maria's. She tries to persuade him to understand that it's natural for Fiz to want to start over. Chesney thinks Fiz has been through enough and doesn't deserve to be stuck in some crummy bedsit with no friends or family nearby.

Sally's in the shop. She tells Sunita Frank's given her the afternoon off. Chesney comes in to shout at Sally. He tells her to stop tormenting Fiz. Sally says Fiz deserves it. "You don't run this street and you've no right to make our lives a misery!" Chesney tells her. Sally insists that Fiz made their lives a misery. You can't convince her that Fiz didn't know what John was up to. Sophie's come out of the stock room and tries to stop Sally but it's no use and she berates Chesney what Fiz has supposedly done. When Sally's gone off in a huff, Sophie apologises to Chesney but he tells her that Fiz is planning to move away because of "you lot" and then he will have lost all of his family.

Rosie's visiting her Mum. They're chatting when Sophie storms in to shout at Sally. Sally says Chesney was being rude to her. "No he wasn't. He was sticking up for his sister, who you keep being nasty to!" fumes Sophie. Sally says she's not going to be attacked for trying to look after her family. Sophie says that's not what she's doing - she's trying to get her own back. "What if I am?" crows Sally. "You might believe in turning the other cheek but I don't!" Sophie shouts that none of this was Fiz's fault. Surprisingly, Rosie defends Fiz. She says she had to listen to the details over and over again and Fiz wasn't involved. "She might be stupid but she's not guilty." Sally can't believe Rosie is defending Fiz when Rosie's the one she's trying to protect. "From who? From Fiz?" asks Rosie. Sophie adds that Fiz is a widow with a baby to bring up, not a monster. "Ooh! Believe what you want!" says Sally. "I won't be taken in by her." But as she turns away she doesn't look as sure as she did.

[This scene was excellent, not just because Brooke Vincent as Sophie does anger very very well, but because it reminded me just how much I dislike Sally!]

At the bistro, Ciaran's doing well. Nick comes over complaining that his wine supplier has just gone bust.* Eva says she knows somebody in the business, an old flame, and offers to put Nick in touch.

As Chris and Cheryl struggle out of the house with a mattress, Leanne walks over and asks if Cheryl came clean. Out of Chris's hearing she tells Leanne it was Chris who came clean and told Lloyd. She insists Chris has changed but Leanne still thinks she's making a mistake.

In the Kabin, Sally mutters that she can't understand why nobody's taking her side. Rita doesn't think it's about taking sides. She thinks people are just trying to be fair. "What's fair about what he did?" asks Sally. "Exactly," says Rita. "Him. Not Fiz." Sally insists that you can't live with someone and not know what they're up to. "You did," Rita tells her. Sally insists that was different. Rita says they've both known Fiz for a long time and she's a nice person. She's a victim even more than Sally, because her whole life has been thrown upside down. "Good!" snaps Sally. Rita replies: "You're looking for someone to blame, which is understandable. But the person responsible is dead! Time to draw a line under it now. Otherwise it will eat away at you forever."

Eva tells Nick how well Ciaran's food went down. Ciaran asks if there's more work going but Nick says not. Ciaran heads off to pay for the venue. Eva tells Nick the wine supplier she knows is willing to meet up. Nick thanks her. She asks for a promotion and gets the same answer as Ciaran got - No.

Sally's walking home in thoughtful mood. She sees Fiz and tells her Frank's looking for more staff and offers to put a word in for Fiz. Fiz is stunned and just says "Thanks."

Kirk's in the pub with Schmeichel's ashes on the bar. He's paid for the cremation and is going to give the ashes to Tyrone. He's just working himself up to it, he tells Peter and Karl.

In a booth, Sunita's very very angry. Dev's already paid for Amber's wallpaper and laminate flooring and now he wants to pay for her curtains as well. She's putting her foot down. Ciaran comes in. He's been to the venue only to find it closed five minutes before he got there. [Which is very strange because Michelle definitely said it was a hotel - I played it back to check!] Michelle's going to kill him. This amuses Karl, who's just been making fun of Dev for being under Sunita's thumb. Right on cue, Stella comes out and orders him to change some barrels. Ciaran, Peter and Kirk laugh.

Cheryl thinks it's Chris coming back into the house but it's Lloyd. She says she's just getting some of her stuff. She tries to explain what Steve said, but Lloyd says Steve had no right. He tells her to put everything back. She protests that he didn't even like the lamp she's holding. "No, but I paid for it. So it's mine!" Lloyd says. Cheryl accuses him of being childish. Lloyd thinks Chris put her up to it. "Tell him he's not getting his hands on any of it!" he shouts.

Fiz arrives home. She tells Chesney about Sally's change of mood. She might stick around after all. There's a knock at the door. It's Kirk with the ashes. Chesney's touched.

Lloyd's checking the boxes Cheryl's packed. She insists it's all her own stuff. "You never used to be like this," she says. Lloyd agrees. "I used to be kind . . . and trusting. Well, not any more!" He's close to tears remembering how excited Cheryl was when they first moved in and did up the place. "I was excited too, because I thought we were building a home, a family together." But he says she cared more about the stuff than she did about him. He says she can have it. He tears down the blinds, rips the wallpaper off, upends the sofa, telling her she can have the lot.

In the pub, Kirk proposes a toast. "To Schmeichel." Ciaran announces he's got a big fat pay packet to spend. And he thinks a poker session would be a good idea. The idea is welcomed by the other blokes, including Kirk. Karl goes off to set up the back room. Michelle comes in to tell Ciaran she'll be late home. "You did pay that deposit, didn't you?" Ciaran says he did. She rushes out again and Peter gives Ciaran a look. Ciaran protests that he'll pay the deposit first thing in the morning. "She'll never know."

Lloyd's dragged the couch out into the street so Cheryl can take it away. But when Chris arrives with Russ he changes his mind. "I'm not paying all that each month so he can park his backside on it!" He goes inside and gets some fuel and pours it over the sofa and lights it, watched by a gathering crowd. He screams at Chris that he invited him into his home and all the time Chris was scheming behind his back. "How can I compete with a man dying of cancer, eh?" Steve tries to quiet him down and Chris says "Come on, mate . . ." "You're not my mate!" rages Lloyd, swinging a punch. Thud! That's the noise of Chris's head hitting the edge of the kerb, knocking him out cold.

The End of the first episode.
Margaret Carr

* Last I heard, Nick's wine supplier was Marc, Audrey's cross-dressing friend. You'd think someone would mention it . . .

We start where we left off, with the altercation between Lloyd and Chris. Cheryl is bundling Chris into a cab to get checked out at the hospital. Lloyd is feeling very guilty as he certainly didn't mean for Chris to fall and smack his head on the pavement. He feels even worse when Russ lunges himself at him screaming "You leave my dad alone, I hate you!"

Mary & Norris arrive home, and are shocked to see the burned out couch in the middle of the street. Mary of course is dying to find out what has been going on, but Norris for once shows remarkable restraint and ushers her into the house.

We now swing over the impending poker game with Dev, Kirk, Ciaran, Peter and Karl. Dev remarks to Kirk that he would never have had him down as a poker player. Kirk replies that Les taught him, although he never actually beat him, leaving us to assume that Les always cheated.

Over at Lloyd's, Steve shows up to check on his mate. Lloyd immediately gets angry at Steve, saying none of the fracas would have happened if Steve hadn't told Cheryl she could go into the house and take stuff. Steve defends himself saying he only did it to save a row, which went over like a lead balloon. Lloyd then checks himself and apologizes to Steve. Steve suggests going for a pint, but Lloyd prefers to stay home and wallow in self pity. However, he manages to talk Steve into helping him remove the burnt couch from the street before he leaves.

The poker game is in full swing and it is between Dev and Kirk. Dev, the master, as he calls himself figures he has enough experience in retail to read people like a book, and know when they are bluffing, and he is sure Kirk was bluffing when he put down everything he had. So calls, and displays a full house, Kirk tops him with two kings making four kings on the table and three aces. (Can you tell I don't play poker? All I know is that this was good, and the money all went to our Kirkeh!)

Ciaran announces he is bored, and wants to make the game more interesting by making it a tenner a bet. Kirk immediately says it's too steep for him and leaves with his winnings (who said he is the thick one?). The others decide to stay.

At the hospital, Chris is told that the CT scan shows everything OK with no internal bleeding. Cheryl isn't happy though, and wants to know if there was any damage to the tumour. The doc assures her that the tumour has receded and she has no worries on that score. A shocked Cheryl wants to know how the doctor can say it has receded when Chris had been told it was getting worse, and would need to go back to the hospital. The doctor assures her that according to his notes, the treatment was successful, and he would only need to go to the hospital next month for a checkup. You can hear a loud clang as the giant penny drops through Cheryl's brain.

Over in No. 5 Chesney is sitting at the table cradling Schmeichel's ashes, lost in thought. Fiz sits down and asks if he has decided where he is going to put them. Ches isn't sure, but is not happy having them around the house in case they get spilled, he doesn't want Schmeichel to end up in the hoover. Fiz makes the suggestion of scattering them somewhere, and Chesney jumps at that idea. No time like the present, he announces he is off to scatter them on the Red Rec where Schmeichel used to love to run. Fiz leaves Hope with Katy and joins him.

Back in the poker game, Ciaran has quite a pile of money sitting in front of him, but the others are muttering that they have just about had enough. But Ciaran manages to talk them into one more game.

At the hospital Chris is desperately trying to explain his lies away to Cheryl, but she is having none of it. She tells him never to come near her or Russ again and walks away from him.

In the Bistro, Nick is asking Eva if table 4 left her a nice tip. Eva looks stricken, as she hadn't seen them leave, and they hadn't paid! Nick is remarkably nice to her over it, when she was expecting to be fired. He tells her he can't sack his best waitress. Eva then decides to strike while the iron is hot, and suggests they share a bottle of wine at her expense. Nick happily agrees. We know where this is leading don't we boys & girls?

Lloyd is losing himself in the bottom of a glass over at No. 13, when he is disturbed by a knock on the door. He opens it and is dismayed to find a distraught Cheryl on the doorstep, but being the nice guy he is, he lets her in.

The poker game is hotting up to ridiculous proportions, and is between Karl and Ciaran. The latter suggests an extra £100 on top of what's on the table, Karl counter suggests £200, and then throws in the keys to his car. Goading Ciaran all the time to take him up on it.

Back to Lloyd and Cheryl, who is pouring her heart out in the hopes Lloyd will take her back. You can tell he would like to because he still loves her with all his heart, but as he tells her through his tears, she didn't love him enough to stay with him before, he would always be afraid of it happening again. It takes all his strength to do it, but he makes it clear he cannot take her back, so she leaves.

Peter is pleading with Ciaran to walk away from the madness that the poker game has become. But it's like talking to a brick wall. Peter points out that he doesn't have the money to see Karl, but smugly Ciaran pulls out the wedding money Michelle had given him, the money he should have already paid over, and tells him he has that, and it's not a problem, because he has an excellent hand. He lays the full thousand pounds on the table, shows his cards to be a straight flush, oh you know what's coming don't you? Karl produces a royal flush, and Ciaran should run to the bathroom about now, because there is probably something he needs to flush - and quick!

In the Bistro, Eva and Nick are getting to the bottom of the wine bottle. Loosened by the alcohol, they start talking about their pasts. Eva admits that her ex-fiancé cheated on her, which she says was probably a taste of her own medicine. Feeling warm towards her, Nick suggests another bottle of wine, but Eva, smart Eva leaves him wanting her company just a little longer and goes home.

Cheryl is at home, and Leanne shows up bringing Russ with her. Cheryl tells Russ to put as many of his things that he wants into a bag because they are leaving immediately. He complains that he wants to see his dad, but she tells him she will explain later, but for now to do as he is told. When he is gone, she explains to Leanne what has happened, and that they are going to stay with a friend of hers for a few weeks until she can get herself sorted out.

Ciaran arrives back at Carla's flat, and Michelle greets him with a kiss. She asks how he got on down at the venue, and he is obviously not planning to come clean yet, as he tells her everything was fine. She notices he looks a bit like a sick puppy, and asks if he is getting cold feet, to which he assures her he is counting the days, the camera pans in to his face which looks more like he is counting the days to the guillotine.

Cheryl, who has now explained the situation to her son, has him by the hand and they are about to get into a cab - a black one I notice - tut tut, why aren't they supporting the local business? But I digress, just as they are about to get in, who should appear but Chris. Russ screams for him to get away from him, that he hates him. Cheryl tells him that she hates him too. Chris shows signs of the old abusive husband as he tries to stop her from leaving, but backs off when Leanne asks Cheryl if she should call the police. Lloyd comes out and watches the scene with tears in his eyes. Chris accuses Cheryl of making a mistake, she counters, looking straight at Lloyd, that the only mistake she made was leaving Lloyd for him, and that she would regret that for the rest of her life. With that, she and Russ leave in the cab, leaving a very lonely looking Chris walking down the cobbles.

Do you feel sorry for him? No, neither do I.

Written by John Kerr

Til next Friday,

Christine Warren

Written By Damon Rochefort Directed by Graeme Harper

Michelle is making plans to go wedding dress shopping with Maria on Friday. Ciaran isn't particularly comfortable talking about wedding arrangements for obvious reasons. As she witters on, they encounter Peter who's outside the betting shop having a cig. He listens on with a bemused smirk on his face and when Michelle swans off, he reckons he wouldn't want to be in Ciaran's shoes when Michelle finds out he's lost the deposit for the reception venue. Ciaran has no idea how he's going to get the money for the venue and MIchelle is going to kill him!

Looks like Lloyd has dragged himself up after the drunk up of the night before with Becky. There are tins and rubbish on the floor and he gazes at the mess with a sigh. He starts to pick up some of the takeout rubbish and a magazine slips off the table, face up. When he picks it up, it's face down! Anyway, he looks at the label and it's one of Cheryl's magazines, addressed to Mrs. Cheryl Gray no less, and that rubs a little more salt in the wound.

Owen and Anna are giggling and cuddling in the kitchen. Fay interrupts them with a scowl. She's aware he's stopped over and is rude to him when he offers to walk him to the bus stop.

At the hotel, Ciaran approaches the manager who is up to her ears in work. Ciaran tells her there's a problem with the deposit, pretending there's a problem with the debit card. He says he'll sort it out with the bank and begs for a few more days. She agrees to give him until Friday.

Karl is counting all his ill gotten cash, chatting to Kirk. Stella approaches so Karl pretends it was Kirk's cash and big win, and he's advised Kirk he should take it to the bank for safekeeping as he hands it to Kirk. Kirk of course is a bit mystified but Karl whispers that he doesn't want Stella to know about his win, nor anyone else so that it doesn't get back to her. He takes the cash back and slips out. Stella is suspicious.

Chris comes in to the betting shop to see if Leanne knows where Cheryl is. Leanne is unsympathetic and thinks he's a right dirtbag. Chris insists he does have a tumour but Leanne points out he knew weeks ago it was getting better. Chris appeals to Peter as a fellow father. Leanne throws him out. Chris' face darkens and he takes a step towards Leanne but Peter hollers at him to leave so he turns tail and goes. Peter does have a critical word for Cheryl treating Lloyd the way she did but it falls flat. Leanne goes off to get them lunch as Karl comes in. He ascertains that Leanne doesn't know about the money. Peter says Ciaran is upset because it was his wedding money but also has no sympathy. Well he wouldn't, being a bookie. Karl decides to put a bet on while he's there.

Rita, Emily and Dennis come into the pub. Apparently Norris and Mary have gone to watch the trial of the two people that owned the homeless shelter, the ones that were behind that scam. Dennis points out that even if they were dodgey, they did do some good work and it's because of them and the soup kitchen that he and Rita got together again (as friends of course). Leanne is in for a drink and Stella tells her that Kirk was the big winner. Leanne shouts over to Kirk to spend it in the bookies' but Kirk uncomfortably brushes it off. Maria spots Lloyd coming in and the whispers start. Everything still things Lloyd attacked a dying man, you see and the disapproval is visible on all faces except Leanne who knows the truth. Owen makes a few snide cracks and when some of the others agree, Leanne backs up Lloyd and Stella warns them all against kicking off. Leanne spills the beans. Chris was in remission and was pretending so he could get back with Cheryl. Lloyd confirms it. Sympathy turns around and Owen apologizes to Lloyd. All the sympathy makes Lloyd feel worse not better and he leaves, head down.

In the bookies', Karl's lost his bet but spots what he thinks is a lucky name for a horse and bets another 100 quid to win. Peter just smirks and rolls his eyes. Another mug, he's probably thinking.

Michelle looks up to see Ciaran bringing her lunch. He lies and says everything is fine with the venue but he lies and says she can't go see it because they have another event on. She's all loved up and he says he's got it all in hand.

Back to Karl and he's lost another race. Not so lucky. Peter says he just can't take any more cash off him, advising him to spend the remaining on Stella. Karl moans but says he's probably right.

Ciaran sees Karl come out of the shop and runs across. He asks Karl for the money back, giving him a sob story but is shocked to hear that Karl lost most of it on the horses. Cash is in Peter's hands now. Ciaran gazes at the shop front with consternation. He goes inside with a cheeky smile for his mate. He asks Peter to be his best man and of course Peter is chuffed to accept.

Norris arrives back to the Kabin full of news. The charity scammers have been found guilty. Dennis has a little smile but isn't jumping for joy which baffles Norris. Dennis says they were nothing much to him, and he was only after free food at the time. Norris says it should be a lot more important and it turns out he's told a reporter at the Gazette all about Dennis' story. Ooh that's not good. Dennis is horrified and tears a strip off Norris for sticking his nose in and blabbing about his business to the newspaper. He stalks out and slams the door.

Back to Peter and Ciaran, Ciaran is about to ask Peter something but Leanne comes in and Peter exitedly tells her he's going to be the Best Man. She goes off to make a cuppa and Ciaran asks him if he can get the money back that Karl lost on the horses. Peter realizes that Ciaran never told Michelle what happened and asked him to be best man to soften him up for his request. Ciaran begs. Peter's angry, more angry that Ciaran wasn't up front and honest. They've clearly fallen out and Peter throws Ciaran out.

Faye asks Anna if Owen is moving in. Anna tries to make he realize that dating Owen doesn't change how she feels about Faye and Gary. Faye thinks Owen doesn't like her but Anna reassures her. She tells her that they're the women in the family and it would fall apart with out them. Anna suggests they watch a dvd together but she prefers to spend time alone in the shed.

Peter is fuming, moaning to Leanne about what happened. She backs up his decision not to hand over the money. At the bar, Stella is talking sympathetically to Owen and Jason about Lloyd. Karl has invited Lloyd for a drink. Chris walks in and is told he's not welcome. Chris says he feels worse about himself than they feel about him and came in to talk to Owen. He wants his job back. Owen says he has to trust who works for him. Lloyd comes in and Chris accuses him of turning people against him. Lloyd ignores Chris but Chris pulls him around by the shoulder. It is about to all kick off but the men hold the sparring partners apart. Owen informs Chris he's sacked, Stella tells him he's barred. Chris leaves and Stella gives Lloyd a beer on the house.

In the Kabin, Norris is upset that Dennis was angry. Rita points out that Dennis wouldn't like people knowing he had been homeless. It's a matter of pride. Dennis comes back in even more incensed because he couldn't stop the article. He shouts at Norris that he doesn't need his private life splashed all over the papers and will never forgive Norris. He storms out of the Kabin, walking down the street in the rain. Lloyd comes out of the pub in front for a smoke and sees Chris getting into a black cab with his stuff. Maria comes around the corner and Lloyd gestures towards Chris so she sees him too. Chris sees the both of them but says nothing to them. He gets in the cab and the other two watch it leave down the street and disappear around the cobbles.

Lloyd goes back into the pub and announces Chris' departure. Karl suggests a celebration but Lloyd isn't in the mood. Jason decides to check the condition Chris left the flat in and Owen goes out as well. Michelle and Ciaran arrive and have a quiet word for Lloyd as well. Karl takes Lloyd off to the Flying Horse for a quiet drink on neutral territory. Michelle asks Leanne to join her and Maria in the wedding dress shopping trip. Leanne is hesitant. Michelle wants to know what's going on and turns to Ciaran when Peter suggests she ask him.

Part 2 will find out how Ciaran covers.

Tvor

Ciaran is in a hole and he just keeps digging. First he has to explain to Michelle why Peter and Leanne are not coming to the wedding - and comes up with a quite unbelievable cock and bull story about Liam being best man and Peter getting the hump. Even Michelle finds it all hard to believe. But better than telling the truth eh Ciaran? I can only assume he feels he has kissed the Blarney stone. Michelle calls him a self-obsessed pillock who deserves a kick up the backside!

Elsewhere in the Rovers Kirk shows Emily, Rita and Dennis the paper which has a long story about how Dennis has turned his life around since the soup kitchen debacle (the pair behind that have just been in court, young Barlow of course managed to get away without a stain on his character - merely on his backside as Ken kicked him out on the street. Dennis is now famous - and he looks extremely alarmed as a result. Emily confirms the Kirkster's story - it has his name and everything. The headline on the paper is "Jail for Charity Scamming Duo". And Dennis quickly scans the story and sees it is all there! He thanks Norris a bundle.

Outside in the Street a tall middle aged well built woman with a bob haircut has accosted Norris asking if he knows this Dennis Tanner and where he might be found. Norris suddenly seems to lose him memory and does not direct her to the Rovers Return where he might guess Dennis is, or even to Rita's flat. Instead he says he will pass on a message if he happens to see him (well he does seem to work in the Kabin). Anyway Ms Fountain hands over her business card with all of her contact details for Norris to pass on and thanks him for his time. He apologises for not being of greater assistance. She departs a little brusquely. Norris reads the card more closely and his eyes widen.

A man is in the bistro - he has been let down by a caterer and is talking to Ciaran who can see a way of making some quick spondulicks by catering for the event. About 60 people. Bob introduces himself and Ciaran perks up, he calls Nick co-owner, Ciaran suggests £1200, but the previous caterer was only going to charge £800.

Rita wants to know why Dennis is so upset - why would a woman want to find him - because Norris has been reporting his recent encounter with the blonde. Norris however wishes to impart what his real discovery - according to her credentials she is from the Benefits Agency. She is called Norma Fountain. Dennis appears stunned and unable to speak. He is also worried.

Elsewhere a distressed Lloyd (who let us face has had little luck down the years with the ladies and then pulls and loses Cheryl in a few months - to her ex-husband) is talking to Becky. She wants to join him in a drinking session - they both have plenty of sorrows to drown.

Ciaran is not short of a good story or two tonight. He tells Nick that he has some ideas for revamping the menu so is planning to work on through the night because inspiration has struck. He knows he is being a little presumptuous and if has overstepped the mark ... but Nick thinks he knows a good thing when he sees it and tells Ciaran to carry on. Nick tells him not to apologise for showing initiative - after all that is why he is on the team.

Becky has realised what she has lost - she had it all, and that is why her pain beats Lloyd's every time. He was not aware that there was a competition. She downs another shot. And it is not helping either of them.

Ciaran is explaining to Michelle that the bistro has picked up an outside catering job - and implies that Nick has left him to it, not that he is doing it for himself. He reckons it is going to take all night at the present rate of progress. Michelle thinks Nick is taking the mickey (but little does she know what we know of course). Ciaran claims it is all money in the pot. She reckons he lets people take advantage of him (more like him ripping off Nick in my mind). At least Ciaran will always have Michelle to take care of him and he gives her a kiss and a cuddle and she giggles. He looks at his watch worried about the hours of cooking ahead.

Next week my episode is on Tuesday, because there is only one on Monday. See you then.

K Richard W

We open with a shot of Ciaran asleep in the kitchen at the Bistro, surrounded by plates and trays of prepared food. A tram goes overhead and he wakes with a start.

Outside in the Street, Rita is leaving a phone message for Dennis, asking him to ring her.

Brian and Julie come out of the Kabin, he's bemoaning the fact that one of his teacher's is off sick and she was the one organising the nativity play. Rita comes along and says how worried she is about Dennis, he didn't come home last night. Brian thinks he's fine, just run into an old flame or something, Julie, however, shares her concern.

Ciaran has finished loading the food into his customer's car. He expects payment, but no, the customer reckons what he's paying for is the food and service. He'll pay when the do is over. Ciaran says he doesn't remember that part, and points out that the guy could drive off and he'll never see him again. "Come with me if you don't believe me," says the man. Ciaran can't but agrees to go down to the venue later.

Just then Michelle comes along. She tells Ciaran that he can go and get a few hours of sleep but he has to set the alarm for 2 pm as she's set up a meeting with the wedding photographer. Thinking quickly, Ciaran tells her he has to be back at work by then. Michelle offers to have a word with Nick, but Ciaran persuades her not to. When Michelle's gone, he then spots Tina coming out of the shop and rushes over to her. He asks if she'd like to earn some extra cash waitressing, but mustn't tell anyone. Tina is immediately interested!

In the Kabin, Rita is still fretting about Dennis's whereabouts. Emily is sure he's fine, but Norris thinks he may be hiding from the benefits office as he was so jumpy when Norma's name was mentioned. He still has the business card she gave him and so Rita decides to ring her.

Sunita comes in then and tells Leanne that the school nativity has been cancelled. Laughing, she explains that the teacher has had a nervous breakdown. (This is something to laugh about?) Sunita is going to have a word with Brian to see if she can change his mind.

Nick arrives at the Bistro, wondering where Ciaran is. Gail tells him that he's gone to the doctors, wasn't feeling well. Just then the phone rings. It's Ciaran, ringing from the venue, telling Nick that the doctor sent him to the hospital and he won't be back till after lunch. (Such a liar!)

Michelle sees Audrey and says she'd like to talk to her sometime about her hair for the wedding. Audrey tells her anytime, but not today, she's off to a do. (Guess which one?)

Leanne is glum because she's not pregnant - again! She's made an appointment with the doctor.

In the pub, Karl and Stella are talking about her expensive shoes. He keeps harping on about how much HE paid for them. (This baffles me somewhat, she earns her own money and has provided a roof over his head, so how is he paying for her shoes?) Lloyd comes in looking miserable. Stella offers him an ear if ever he needs one. He says he'll bear it in mind.

Ciaran and Tina are serving at the birthday do. A horrified Ciaran then suddenly spots Audrey coming in and makes a quick getaway, ducking behind the tables, telling Tina that he mustn't be seen or he's toast!

Norma comes to the pub to meet with Rita and Emily. It turns out that Norma is someone who was engaged to be married to Dennis but he jilted her, left her at the altar.

Back at the party, Audrey comes over to the food table and chats to Tina, who tells her she's just doing a bit of part time work.

In the Bistro, Nick is still trying to get hold of Ciaran, without success. Just then Ian, Eva's friend, comes in and Nick gives him a large order for wine, paying three thousand pounds in cash, up front.

Back in the Rovers, Norma is telling Rita and Emily about the day that Dennis went missing, 2 years ago. How she was left in her wedding dress, no wedding, no reception, no honeymoon, and no explanation. She asks Rita to let her know if Dennis turns up, she wants to ask him why he did it. Then maybe she can get on with the rest of her life. Rita promises to tell Dennis what she's said.

At the party, Ciaran tells the host that he's still feeling ill and has to go. He asks for his money. The man tells him that he'll need five minutes to get it, it's in the safe downstairs. Ciaran is in such a hurry to leave that he says he can't wait, and tells the guy he'll ring him to arrange a meeting later. On his way out he almost bumps straight into Audrey, but she's so busy looking for her lipstick in her handbag she doesn't see him.

In the corner shop, Dev has Aadi practicing his putting. Karl comes in and ends up betting Dev ten pounds that Aadi can't sink 3 puts in a row. Aadi negotiates a pound a put.

Ciaran rushes back into the Bistro, telling Nick and Gail that he has an ear infection which was making him dizzy, but the doctor thought it was more serious and that's why he was sent to the hospital. He assures Nick he's already feeling better.

In the shop, Aadi is just about to sink his third put when there's a furious banging on the door that Dev has locked. It's Sunita, and she's furious when she finds out what's going on.

In the Kabin, Norris is of the opinion that Rita has had a lucky escape. She demands to know what he means. He says she could have been next for being jilted at the altar. Norris knows she has a soft spot for Dennis. She tells him she's fond of Dennis, yes, but that's because they go back a long way, there's nothing more to it than that.

In the pub, Brian and Julie are sitting with Sunita and Leanne and talking about the cancelled nativity play. He can't take it on himself because, as headmaster, he's far too busy. Stella leans over the bar and suggests that one of the parents takes on the task of putting on the play. Leanne and Sunita look at one another and grin.

In the Bistro, Nick tells Eva that he's been checking, and the stock seems unusually low. Just then the guy who organised the party walks in. He says he's come to see Ciaran, to pay him for today. Nick looks puzzled for a moment. "Are you his partner?" says the man, who introduces himself as Bob Firth, and explains about the party in the George Street assembly rooms. He starts to count out the money, £800, into Nick's hand, just as Ciaran comes out from the kitchen. "I can explain..." he says. Bob finishes putting the money down and leaves. Nick turns to Ciaran, furious, realising what Ciaran was doing in his kitchen last night. "You've only been in the job a week and already you're trying to rip me off!" Ciaran tries to explain that it was the deposit for the wedding venue, and he was going to pay back what he owed for the food. Nick takes the money and sacks him. "But I did all the work!" says Ciaran. "So sue me," says Nick.

Anne Logan

Michelle's not sure whether she thinks they're rushing the wedding. She plans to buy a tasteful, non-white dress that she can wear again. The hen do is tonight. She thinks Ciaran looks as if he's on death row. He explains he's just nervous.

Leanne and Peter go to see Doctor Matt. Leanne explains the problem but the doctor says it's too soon to be worried. Leanne confesses she's been having pains like period pains but all the time. She feels bloated as well. She thinks she had a temperature the other day, too.

Norris can't understand why Rita's always attracted to rogues. Emily insists Dennis isn't a rogue. Norris thinks Rita's been like a love-sick schoolgirl while Dennis was there and maybe now they can get back to the business of running the Kabin. Poor Rita is just worried about Dennis. She insists she wasn't interested in Dennis "in that way."

Deirdre comes in and announces that Ken's got gout. She blames The Tudors (the TV series, not the family).

Ciaran's lying in wait for Nick and manages to "accidentally" meet Nick. Nick isn't having second thoughts about sacking Ciaran. Ciaran stole from him. Ciaran thinks he didn't really because the ingredients cost just a few pounds and he intended to replace them. Nick tallies up gas, the electric, the business he took from Nick... "Just because you're Irish doesn't mean you can charm me!" Nick snaps. He wants to know whether Ciaran was waiting for him. They're interrupted by Peter who discovers Nick sacked Ciaran.

Becky's in the cafe with a cheque. "Two years and this is what I get," she says. Roy warns her to spend it wisely. Becky would like to take Roy and Hayley out to tea. Or just Roy, since it's Hayley's dance class tonight. Rita explains to Deirdre what Norma, Dennis's ex-fiancée, was like. She'd like to find Dennis and hear his side of the story. She wonders if he's on the street and Deirdre suggests they ask Sophie where to start looking.

Nick's looking through CVs. He's a chef and a bar manager down with just four weeks till Christmas. Eva wonders if they can get one from an agency. He shows her Becky's references. Gail comes over to say the cleaning's finished. When she discovers what's going on she hints that she's available. But Nick says he was going to offer the job to Eva. Eva's thrilled. Gail isn't! Eva suggests there's a waitressing job going but Nick reminds her how badly that turned out last time.

Kylie gets off the phone screaming. She and David have been given custody of Max for a trial period. Gail arrives and is also thrilled to hear the news.

In the cafe, Tracy comes in, seemingly intent on poking everyone with a big stick. She mentions that she and Steve are off for a break in a nice hotel. This is designed to annoy Becky but Becky just waves the cheque and says she's thinking of going to Mauritius. "I'll think of you when I'm relaxing in the spa," says Tracy. "And I'll think of you when I'm smashing coconuts with a rock!" says Becky. As she leaves, Peter comes in and sees Ciaran looking at the Sits Vac. Ciaran's very short with him. They eventually chat properly and Ciaran thinks he's been doomed since he came back from sea. The deadline for the venue passed an hour ago. "I'm like a lamb to the slaughter, Mr Barlow!"

Rita arrives at Deirdre's with a tip from Sophie. Deirdre knows where the soup van she mentioned will be. She says Ken won't go to the doctor so he's getting no sympathy from her. The two of them head out to hunt down Dennis.

Maria and Michelle are loaded down with shopping bags. Michelle regrets she's exceeded her budget of £300. She says the hotel's just round the corner and asks Maria if she'd like to see it.

Nick arrives at the Rovers looking for Eva and finds David and Kylie and Gail celebrating. He asks Gail if she'd like another bash at waitressing. But Gail says she'd rather be around a bit for Max.

Leanne thinks the doctor was keeping something from her. Dr Carter's made an appointment for her at the gynecology unit tomorrow. Peter says that's just so they can make sure everything's OK. "What if I'm barren?" she demands. Peter sighs. "How can you be barren? You've been pregnant twice!" Leanne tells him thanks for the sympathy. She also says that sometimes when a woman's upset about something, all she wants is a cuddle. Peter puts his arms out but she points out there's no point if she has to ask for it.

The functions person greets Michelle, who asks if she can show Maria the room. The woman says she had to let it go. "The deadline was today." "What deadline?" Michelle asks, puzzled. The woman explains the money wasn't paid. She suggests Michelle speak to Ciaran. "Speak to him? I'll kill him!" says Michelle, storming out.

Deirdre and Rita watch the soup van's clientele. Rita's surprised there aren't more young people.

Peter arrives to see Ciaran. He hands over an envelope of money and says it's a loan. Ciaran says he can't take it but he changes his mind. Peter wants every penny back within a year. Ciaran asks for a lift to the hotel. He dials the number so he can tell the functions person he's on his way. His face falls when she obviously tells him the booking's been lost.

Michelle arrives at the bistro to discover Ciaran was sacked for stealing from Nick. Michelle's even more furious than she was before.

Rita and Deirdre are just about to give up and go home to the warm. Then Rita spots Dennis. She gets out and orders him to get in the car, though he says he can't face Norma.

Peter and Ciaran nervously wait for Michelle. She comes in all smiles. Peter quickly makes his excuses and sneaks out as Michelle changes mood and confronts Ciaran. "I can explain," he says. Then admits that he can't. "Well, just for a giggle, why don't you try?" asks Michelle.

The end of episode one.

More later.

Margaret Carr

Episode update 2, Friday November 25, 2011 8:30 p.m.

Written by Simon Crowther

We open with Ciaran trying to explain to Michelle why they have no wedding venue, and he is no longer gainfully employed. Michelle is definitely not amused when he confesses he lost the £1,000 given to them by her parents in a card game. It also goes over like a lead balloon when he tells her he did it because he is bored in Weatherfield.

With a flourish he produces the money he borrowed from Peter, thinking that would make it alright, but she is still not impressed, and asks if that is the money he robbed from Nick. He protests that he didn't rob anything from Nick, that it was all a big misunderstanding, and admits it was a loan from Peter. Umm yes you did rob from Nick Ciaran, you emptied his fridge and cupboards of ingredients and had his ovens working non-stop all night long, plus if your plan had worked, and you had kept your job, I bet you would never have paid him back either! Right in the middle of all this argy bargy who should walk in the door but Carla, back from her hols and looking bright and cheerful.

Over to The Rovers, where Rita and Dennis are deep in conversation about one Norma Fountain (wonder if she is related to Pete Fountain or Chris Fountain?), Dennis is explaining that it had been a perfect relationship, Norma's family had accepted him, she had a decent job, and he paid for nothing. Rita said it sounded marvelous, Dennis asks her if it also sounds familiar. So obviously he does realise he is sponging off Rita. She brushes that question aside and asks him what the problem had been. He responds that he didn't love her, and couldn't find a way to tell her that. Rita convinces him that Norma is entitled to not only an explanation, but an apology.

Back in Carla's flat, they have had time to make a brew for her and have been catching up on her news. She then asks how plans are coming along for the wedding, and immediately realises she has touched on an excruciatingly painful nerve, so makes herself scarce so they can continue with their spat.

Ciaran tells Michelle that it was the booze that caused it all, that he wouldn't have lost the money had he been sober. She spits back that she thought he was a grown-up, that she thought she could trust him, and what is she going to tell her parents? Ciaran remarks that her father is going to kill him, to which Michelle replies that he is not the scary one. She's right, her mother is a total nightmare isn't she? They seem to be at an impasse with neither knowing where they go from here, so Ciaran puts his coat on saying he is going for a drink - next to tea, the answer to all problems. He tells Michelle that Jimmy from the ship told him he would keep their jobs open for them, and she realises that this is what he really wanted all along. She looks at him aghast, pointing out that she has a hen do in an hour. He tells her he will go along with anything she wants because he loves her.

In the Bistro Eva is trying to phone the fellow who should have delivered their wine by now, but is not getting through to him. Nick is getting decidedly worried.

Back in the flat Michelle and Carla are having a heart to heart. Michelle really doesn't know what to do about Ciaran, and Carla tells her that if she really loves him, she should try to find a compromise, and not let a stupid card game destroy everything.

We switch back to the Bistro, but this time we see Becky and Roy ordering from the menu. They look such an unlikely couple to be having dinner together, and Roy as usual does look uncomfortable indeed, but Becky doesn't notice as she is too busy asking about calf meat, that she thinks is OK to order as it would be from the leg. Nick explains that a calf is in fact a little baby cow. She is thrown all of a split second, but decides to try it anyway - with chips. She then wants to order a bottle of wine, but is told they are running a bit low, which she finds hilarious in a wine bar.

In the Rovers, Dennis is speaking to Norma on his mobile, or maybe it's Rita's mobile, as Dennis would never pay for one would he? She tells him she will be right there for his explanation. We cut to Ciaran who is drowning his sorrows in a beer. Now did Michelle give him Peter's money back? How did he afford the drink otherwise? Must be one of those many Corrie questions we are not supposed to think of. Anyway, he glances up and sees a pair of fantastic legs walking towards him. Looking further up, he sees they are topped by a very fancy white dress that Michelle tells him had been her wedding dress, and she had decided to get some wear out of it.

She tells him she is going to give the money to her parents, and it is up to him to pay Peter back. He asks if the wedding is off, she asks if he definitely wants to go back to the ship, neither of them seem to have answers, they only know they don't really want to break up.

Part two opens on the Hen Do/Don't in The Rovers. Everyone is curious to see Ciaran there, and Michelle in her wedding dress. Michelle announces that the wedding is off, she withholds no punches, and tells everyone exactly why the wedding is off, from the gambled money to the fact that Ciaran wants to go back on the ships. She further announces that it is no longer a Hen Party, but a Leaving Party, for both of them, as she has decided to go with him. Ciaran is as shocked as the rest of them, and very pleased. She then makes a toast to the best employees, the best boss, the best friends, the best local and hopefully the best night out in ages.

We next see Eva in her coat in the Bistro, she has just come back from the wine supplier and is breaking the news to Nick that the place is closed up, with a bankrupt sign on the door. Nick is not best pleased, and asks her how well she knew him, and she confesses that he is her ex. He is furious at this, figuring he is paying for an ugly breakup. She assures him that she will get him his wine, and if not his wine, his money back. Nick is not convinced!

In the Rovers, Norma and Dennis are having a heart to heart, with Rita sitting between them listening. In fairness she did offer to leave, but Dennis asks her to stay, saying that it was thanks to her that they are talking at all. Actually I suspect that he wants her there to protect him in case it gets ugly. Norma asks Dennis what she had done to cause him to leave her standing at the altar. He assures her it was nothing she had done, that he was a coward, and couldn't bring himself to tell her that he didn't love her.

Norma looks very surprised at that, saying she knew all along that it wasn't love, that they were not kids. She had been there, done that, she had only been looking for companionship herself, after all, he wasn't exactly Clark Gable to look at. To which he retorted that the only difference was the lack of mustache. She laughed, and told him that was exactly what she had needed from him, someone to make her laugh, pass the remote, help in the garden etc. He looks her in the eye and tells her he is sorry. She says she is glad he is.

We now listen in on the conversation between Becky and Roy. He is asking her how she is finding living alone, to which she replies that she is finding it lonely and boring. She tells him she is sure he and Hayley are enjoying having their flat to themselves without his mother, and asks how much longer she will be away. He replies it will be another month or so. Did I miss that episode? I didn't know she had gone anywhere. Becky says that it feels like she has replaced her in a way. She slips her hand over Roy's and asks "Why can't I be more like you?". He replies that she should think herself lucky.

At the Hen/Leaving do, Ciaran comes back after talking on the phone with 'Jimmy from the ship'. He breaks the news to Michelle that they are leaving from Southampton first thing in the morning. She is totally shocked and tells him she is not ready for this. He brushes it aside, and tells her to stay where she is, that he is off back to the flat and will do all the packing for both of them. Yeah right - like any of us ladies would let a man do our packing for us! Anyway, Michelle reluctantly does. The camera pans over to Peter and Carla standing at the bar. He tells her - twice - that she is looking good, and there is some easy banter between them until Leanne comes over, looking decidedly uneasy about them talking together. This triangle is still simmering it seems.

Becky & Roy are walking arm in arm down the street when Steve pops out of No. 1 and demands to know from Becky what all the talk is about Mauritius, that he didn't give her money to spend on holidays in Mauritius, that he could use the money on Amy, etc. etc. Becky holds her temper and sarcastically asks if he could possibly give her a list of things she can and can't spend the money on. Roy interjects and tells Steve that it is none of his business what she spends the money on. Steve backtracks and admits it wouldn't stand up in court, but lots of people have made sacrifices for that money, and it wasn't to give Becky fancy holidays. Becky asks if he perhaps needs the money to buy Tracy some maternity things. Steve answers that it might be better if she does use the money to go somewhere else - permanently. Becky absorbs this for a moment, then steps up to Steve, with her face an inch or two away from his, and quietly, but menacingly tells him to never tell her again how she can spend her money, where to go, how to live her life, and to leave her alone for good - comprender? Steve's head is shrinking back away from her with every word, and there is fear in his eyes. Becky then links arms again with Roy and as they walk away, we hear Becky asking Roy "Where the 'ell is Mauritius anyroad?"

Carla and Michelle are talking in the Rovers, Michelle is worried about leaving her, and asks that she won't do anything silly, as she has lost too many people she cares about lately. Carla assures her she will be fine.

Dennis and Rita are rounding the corner into Coronation Street. He is saying that he had offered to pay Norma back for the non-wedding, and she must have turned him down, because Rita says he wouldn't have had the means to pay for it, and he thanks her for offering anyway. There is a tender moment between them where she tells him that his future starts here. He touches her cheek, and she smiles and leans into his hand. His face immediately changes and he tells her that while he is very grateful to her, he is frightened of it happening again. Rita is hurt, and she tells him he is arrogant, that she is definitely not smitten with him. But we can see by her face that she is indeed smitten, and is in tears as soon as he is not looking.

Ciaran and Michelle, still in her wedding dress are getting into a cab (another black one - sheesh!) outside the Rovers. The residents are all gathered to wave them off. As they drive away, Ciaran is excitedly talking about all the things they are going to, sun, golden sand, palm trees etc. and Michelle is looking back at the grimy houses, the cobbles and the friends she is leaving behind and calls for the driver to stop outside the Corner Shop. She tells him that she doesn't want all that, that everything she wants is right here, that she just wants to feel at home. Ciaran's Irish charm cannot talk her around this time, and she gets out of the cab. Kirk remarks that maybe it is him that she really loves after all. Maria says "You don't fancy Michelle do you Kirk?" Our lad responds "Is the pope Catholic?" That's a yes then.

Ciaran and Michelle part, still loving each other, but each wanting different things out of life. As he drives off with tears running down his face, leaving her behind with tears running down her face, we are left wondering if he will ever be back. I for one hope so. We are also left wondering if Peter will ever be paid back now that Ciaran has gone.

Bye til next Friday

Christine Warren

Written By David Lane Directed by Tony Prescott

Just the one episode tonight!

Carla's back behind the wheel of her posh car and back at the factory. Michelle figures she'll be more of a source of gossip today than Carla will after everyone hears about her and Ciaran's breakup. When they get out of the car, Julie clutches Michelle into a hug and offers a shoulder to cry on.

Owen arrives to offer Faye a ride to school. She scowls as usual (she doesn't have any other expression, it seems) and declines the offer because she's meeting her mates. She also doesn't finish her breakfast, saying she'll get some crisps and that prompts Owen to come over all parent-like resulting in a rebellious accusation of "who made you my dad?" from Faye (fair enough). Owen apologizes to Anna who isn't bothered.

Becky feels odd about accepting all that money from Steve, almost as if he'd left it on the bedside table. Roy points out that Steve probably wanted to help her get a new start. Becky refuses to leave Weatherfield, it's her home now too though it would be some satisfaction to see Steve's annoyance if she did go off to Mauritius or somewhere like that. Roy advises her to invest the money. She dismisses that out of hand. Lloyd arrives and greets Becky who tells him about the settlement. Lloyd admits he's barely hanging on, staring in to the black hole that used to be his life. Becky has to get off to work and assures Roy she's not going to do anything stupid with the money.

David runs outside, where a Social worker has arrived with Max. Kylie and David greet the little lad and help him out of the car. He spies Becky and goes running down the road to see her. She picks him up and hugs him but passes him back to Kylie. David tells Becky he's come to stay with them. They didn't tell her because they wanted Max to settle in with them. Becky's heart cracks a little more.

Nick is taking a reservation on the phone when Eva comes in. Apparently there's still no word from her ex, the wine dealer that let them down. Nick is angry and frustrated. He's out 3000 pounds and has almost no wine left. They need to find Ian!

Sophie asks Sian if she wants to go to a film but Sian is way too busy with her college work. Sophie suggests a break but Sian just can't. She's disappointed but gives Sian a kiss before she goes to work.

Becky's mind is not on her work. Sally asks her what's wrong. Becky says she can't figure out the pattern but it turns out she's using the wrong colour cotton (thread for some of you). Sally starts to give Becky a rollocking because all her work has to go in the bin but calms down when Becky tells her the problems on her mind...Steve, Tracy, babies, Kylie has Max. She had everything a year ago and thinks maybe she didn't deserve it. Becky picks up the knickers and bins them. Anne Comes in and starts to criticize Becky but Sally diffuses the situation, with a sympathetic glance to Becky.

In the Bistro, Ian comes slinking in. He doesn't have Nick's wine or his money and says the company went bust on him.

Lunchtime and Gail and Kylie are offering Max various choices for lunch and David offers to take him to see Bessie Street school where he'll start after Christmas. He reckons Brian Packham is the head and is a nicer one than when he was there. Gail is proud David is taking so well to being a step-dad. David agrees that he and Kylie just want to give Max the best life they can.

Eva believes Ian's story. Nick says he'll do all the buying from now on and demotes Eva back to waitressing. She's determined to make it up and is determined to go to the warehouse to get either his money or his wine back. Nick decides to go with her.

At FosterWorld, Sally broaches a plan to Frank. She's done some research into some smaller companies. They could subcontract to them if they got a big order then they could get their silk suppliers to come down with some better prices for the larger quantity they'd need. Frank is impressed.

Sunita has come in to the shop to get some crisps for the kids. Aadi came third in his first golf tournament (at the end of November?) and she's dead proud of him. There were even competitors older and bigger than him. She says third place wasn't good enough for Dev, though. After she leaves, Amber remarks to Sophie that she's glad she never had any talent Dev might have been interested in. Then she notices that Sophie is not in the best of moods today. Sophie complains that Sian has been too busy to go out with her and Amber offers to go to the cinema with her which cheers up Sophie.

Michelle is having one of those conversations with her mother when Carla arrives in the office. Michelle says her mother wasn't quite as supportive as she'd hoped but Carla is well aware of how Mammy Connor can be. Julie interrupts and asks Michelle if she wants to join them for a break for some tea and sympathy. Carla ushers her out. Michelle thanks Carla. Carla gives kudos to Michelle for keeping the factory up and running and wants her to be the office manager. Michelle determines it's not just a sympathy job, which it isn't and accepts.

Max brings a football and asks David to play. Kylie has to go for a job. Gail disapproves but Kylie says it's one of her best customers and was pre-booked. She goes off and Gail moans to David who says he's well able to mind Max. They go out into the garden.

Becky has pulled up her socks and Sally praises her. Frank and Anne have looked over Sally's figures for her plan and they agree she's done a great job. Anne is concerned about quality control so if they get the big Leyton order, only the best machinists, so there's a minimum of wastage. Sally smiles proudly.

Nick and Eva approach the warehouse. What's the plan. She figures she can easily chat up the security guard and blag her way in but he isn't budging. Even her cleavage doesn't sway him and though he looks slightly tempted, he takes his dog and gets in a van after locking the gates. Or so he thought. She shows Nick that the padlock missed the chain and opens the gets, pointing Nick to some open windows she's spotted.

David and Max come inside for a lunch break. Gail has some encouraging words and David says he knows it won't always be easy but it's what they both want and it's best for Max who pipes up and says he's ready for another round. David sends him back outside.

Eva squirms in to the warehouse through the open window which happens to be in a narrow toilet stall. She checks things out and comes back, telling him to bring the van around by the fire door on the side.

Owen has brought shopping in for Anna. Faye has apparently gone into the shed after school but just then, comes back in the house. Turns out her foot went through a rotten spot in the floor and she's scraped her foot. Ouch! Anna sends Owen out to look at the shed.

Eva lets Nick in and has found the wine, up a floor.

David puts a frozen pizza in the oven. Max comes in and says a man shouted at him and won't give the ball back. David goes out and of course it's Owen who is unapologetic, claiming that Max wouldn't stop kicking the ball over the fence. Owen figures it's a good age to learn what's what. David objects that Max was in his own garden and asks for the ball back. Owen refuses as Anna comes out to see what's going on. She throws the ball back and hauls Owen back inside. David goes in with the ball and can't find Max!

Nick and Eva have been shuttling crates of wine into the van but the guard drives back up! They run up the stairs and hide.

David has checked the house and goes outside shouting for Max. He asks Sunita and Amber if they've seen him. Nope. Kylie comes down the road and David runs over and tells her that Max has run off. David wants to ring the police but Kylie doesn't want him to. He figures she knows exactly where Max is.

Tvor

On the Street however there are problems as the wonderful Max is missing and in tonight's episode written by Peter Whalley and directed by Tony Prescott the search is on. Well in fact two searches. First David and Kylie are going to search the house even though the latter is convinced that Becky has her beloved son. Whilst on the other side of Manchester Nick and Eva are playing hide and seek with a guard and his dog in a wine warehouse where they are seeking to liberate the wine for which Nick (Businessman of the Year in Weatherfield 2011, who happens to live at home with his mother,) was stupid enough to pay up front to a new supplier - something somehow seems wrong there somewhere.

The dog is not stupid - he can tell there are intruders and any half alert night watchman would have seen the van parked outside ready for loading - but is kept under tight control by the guard as he sings and tells the dog to behave. He looks around - whilst Eva tells Nick and us in whispers that she does not like dogs and is in fact scared of them. The guard sings "Only the Lonely" as he looks around.

Kylie is telling Gail about how Becky must have abducted Max. And how is Kylie so sure - well she just KNOWS. Surely that is good enough? David has checked all of the bedrooms in the Platt etc household - his, his Mum's, Nick's, Max's, the spare room, the bathroom - I mean just how big is this house to lose one little blond kid? Kylie now barks at David for them to head to Becky's place to get Max back.

The guard is now singing "Pretty Woman" and my ears hurt. The dog is still barking and the guard drags him out of the warehouse. Eva wants to sneeze. And then she realises that being in close proximity to Nick has other benefits - but he says they have other work to do.

David is hammering on Becky's door and tells David to break the door - which he is not keen on doing. Sally is walking along the Street and David asks if she has seen Becky as they work together - Sal clarifies for the record that they have the same employer! Sal does not know where Becky is at the moment, except that looking round she can see Becky approaching! Kylie screams at Becky because she knows that he is with her and as he is not in the Street she must have hidden him somewhere. Becky tells Kylie to be quiet and asks David for an explanation of events, which he gives. Becky confirms to Kylie she knows nothing - she wishes she did for Max's sake - but she does not. Becky suggests checking the Kabin because Max likes sweets. David heads in that direction and the two girls head off to check back yards and so on.

We see Max quietly open the door to the back room in the Rovers (where he thinks Becky still lives remember) and he puts the telly on and sits down, expecting Becky and or Steve to find him any minute. Oddly to my ears (and I probably need a hearing aid) it sounds just like Steve McDonald on the tv.

Nick and Eva now have a loaded van, having collected the wine for which Nick had paid. SO they start up the van and return to Weatherfield. Is it me or was that too simple - surely everything these days of value is covered by cctv cameras - my neighbour has one on the side of his house, although why I do not know.

Sophie and Amber are going to the cinema together and the former just about remembers to tell her mother before she sets about cooking dinner. Sian is not going because she is addicted to work at the moment and does not want to become a drop out like Amber. Sal tells them to have a good time. Amber joins in telling Sophie off for being inconsiderate. But her lecture is interrupted by the arrival of Arj with whom she went to Uni and whom she is clearly pleased to see, although she appears to have forgotten giving him her address (which would not be the shop anyway - does anyone else feel that the writing is missing something this evening?). Sophie is introduced. Amber asks if Sophie is OK on her own and she and Arj head off upstairs to catch up old times.

Owen is telling Dev about how he had a tank of tropical fish when he was growing up - he used to sit there watching them for hours. It was his own private multi-coloured universe. Becky comes into the Rovers looking for Max - but no-one has seen him.

In the Street the three searchers meet again and not having found Max, Becky decides that it is now time to phone the police - which they should have done sooner - but Kylie was convinced that Becky had him. The girls bicker.

Tina is sent into the back room to get some change and to her surprise finds Max watching television. He wants to know where Becky is and agrees to go with Tina.

The Bistro van returns to the Street and they have to unload it. Eva wants him to confirm he thought it was a scam. He refuses to apologise until the van is unloaded.

The searchers have returned to the Platt / Hillman household and Becky is on the phone describing Max and his clothes when Tina manages to open the door and brings in the missing child. Becky apologises to the police saying that he has been found.

After the break Becky is reading the "Owl and the Pussycat" to Max. David explains he went to the Rovers because he thought Becky still lived there. David assures his mother that they will make it work.

Dev turns up to relieve Sophie and is ten minutes late. He wants to know where Amber is. Sophie says she thinks she is upstairs. Sophie lets drop that Amber may not be on her own - a friend came round "he" might be a bit more than a friend. Dev is suddenly interested in this "he" friend. Dev asks Sophie to stay a little longer and he goes out.

Ches and Katie are having dinner at Anna's. Owen is looking at the shed which is falling apart. Owen comes in and says that the shed is rotten, it needs to be removed - no foundation and the wet has just come up. Anna says it can be knocked down but Faye does not want it removed - Owen wants to replace it with something better, but Faye wants her shed.

Dev is ringing Amber's doorbell and she comes downstairs to see her father, employer and landlord. She assures him all is well - when he hears a noise upstairs. He can hear footsteps and Arj appears wearing no shirt - just trousers. Amber closes the door in his face.

Eva and Nick agree that they have liberated the alcohol. Gail arrives and they explain the acquisition - but she will not be backing them up.

Kylie wants David to babysit so that she can go over and see Becky to say sorry over earlier events. Kylie is not sure she can apologise.

Becky is in the Rovers explaining why things went wrong between her and Steve. Kylie comes in and wants a word and both have very awkward faces. Kylie actually says sorry and wants to forget. Becky and David do not want Max running off again - so Becky needs not to encourage him. Becky suggests going to Timbuktu. Becky agrees to keep her distance as best she can.

Owen suggests a state of the art fishpond. Owen agrees that it will have fish, with a grille over the top to protect the grandchild. Owen knows how to keep fish and will grow them to a huge size and win medals. Faye is argumentative and difficult and stomps off upstairs.

It is 9:30. The bistro is empty, so early closing and Gail is sent home with some parting words reminding them what happened to Bonnie and CLyde. Nick says it has been an exciting day - but Eva says it is going to be even more exciting, grabs him and they start snogging big time.

Gail returns home to where David and Kylie are discussing events. She does not know if MKax wants to be with them or with Becky. Kylie does not know - but she thinks there may be a bond between Max and Becky and she can do nothing about it.

Thanks to the team at ITV Studios for their efforts and whose copyright I entirely acknowledge. Thanks to ITV Player for the use of their resources so that I can bring you this update.

Back to Monday evening next week. See you then

K Richard W

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

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