Written by Julie Jones Directed by Tim Dowd

Max is full of energy this morning and looking forward to seeing his dad. He's sent off to have a shower and she promises to ring Callum. Gail praises her for holding it together but Kylie admits it's not easy. Gail reminds her she's got to play it by the book until the hearing.

Cathy is making tea and burning toast in Roy's flat. The smoke alarm brings Roy out from the bedroom and she apologizes, flapping a tea towel to dissipate the smoke in time to the bouncy pop music on the radio. Roy looks at it disapprovingly so she turns it off. Seems she's a morning person and he likes to ease into the day. Which is odd considering he's got to be up and opening the cafe quite early. She promises to abide by the rules (composting, music etc.)

Callum comes to see Max but sees Sarah on the street in her dressing gown, having nipped to the shop. She has taken the day off to hang out with him, suggesting he and she and Max go out for the day. He's not inclined, thinking they would just watch DVDs at the flat. He reminds her he's got to attend to business so can't go too far. She agrees to come over and spend some time with them later.

Beth and Kirk are loved up as they walk to work with Izzy. They notice Robert across the road. Beth shouts at him for hurting Tracy. He knows he did but points out that Tracy isn't Snow White, either. Beth brushes him off, raising her hand. Talk to the hand she shouts. Kirk and then Izzy both raise there's in imitation and solidarity.

Tim is browsing the newspaper for ideas of places to find window cleaning jobs. That pleases Sally somewhat but then he's wittering on about a big sign for the van and a fancy piece of equipment a mate of his has. Sally suggests he ask Sophie to photoshop him with a similar piece of equipment but he reminds her that customers would expect him to actually have it. The doorbell rings and he jumps up to answer it. Faye comes in, asking for a lift to the Trafford Centre. He thinks she should help him with the windows first in payback since Craig is at the dentist. Sally urges him to go to the new shops he mentioned to get in and grab the opportunity to be their window cleaner and she goes off to work.

Carla is back from holiday and Lloyd drops her off at Victoria Court. She avoids Lloyd's questions about Spain, saying she's got jetlag. From Spain? She pays him and takes her bag. Roy greets her but she doesn't stop to talk and goes into her newly refurbished flat.

Callum comes to pick up Max who gives his dad a new coffee mug and excitedly tells him some things he saw on holiday. Kylie sends him off with a kiss and his overnight bag. Gail suggests she and Kylie "chillax", maybe go into town and find a nice tea shop. Gail whines a bit about missing her days out with Michael so Kylie takes pity on her and agrees to go.

Carla sits in her flat, which is full of boxes and new furniture. She's on the phone to a client and checking her bank balance on her laptop along with a client on the phone, someone that's not been paid yet. Good grief, she's over 31,000 in the red!! Carla manages not to gasp and tells the client she'll get it sorted today.

In Callum's flat, they're looking through DVDs. The choices seem rather scary for a kid but Max says he's seen them before anyway. Callum takes a call and has to nip out so Sarah will have to stay with Max and wait for him, as long as it takes.

Michelle brings a few groceries over to Carla. Carla says her holiday was great, relaxing, head clearing. Michelle asks about Madrid and Carla seems vague. No tan because she used a strong sunscreen. She seems distracted while Michelle chats.

Max and Sarah have a DVD on where someone's doing a lot of screaming. Sarah is perturbed but Max looks quite content watching. He tells her it's only pretend! There's a knock on the door which startles Sarah. The knocker is a female and she's quite anxious and shouting to be let in. Sarah looks through the peephole and finds Gemma with a bloody face. Sarah hesitates and doesn't want to let her in but Gemma pushes through. She's insistent that Callum knows what's gone down (she was hurt in "the line of duty") but doesn't explain when she comes into the main room and sees Max. She says she will wait for Callum to come back. Sarah looks nervous. She asks Max to play in his room. Gemma tells Sarah that what was done to her is disrespectful to Callum and it has to be put right. Sarah still hasn't really twigged that Callum really is a drug dealer, has she? She seems to think Gemma is over dramatizing whatever it was that happened.

Faye is helping Tim with the windows at the Kabin. They chat about his father and Faye suggests they visit him. Tim thinks that's a great idea and asks her to throw the dirty water away, they'll go see Anna after. Faye chucks the bucket of water but it's bad timing. Rita has walked by behind her and the water splashes all over her legs. Faye apologizes and Tim says he won't charge her for the window cleaning. Rita accepts and stalks away in a hissy, as you would. Tim murmurs to Faye that he's docking her wages!

Kylie and Gail are in what looks like the Bistro rather than an olde worlde tea shop like she'd suggested earlier. Kylie asks her if she seen anything of Michael lately. She moans about Michael being with Eileen and rubbing her nose in it. Kylie knocks over a glass and it breaks and admits to Gail she's scared that Callum will win full custody. It'll be her fault if he does.

Cathy is trying to help in the cafe and is cleaning the tables with a weak bleach solution. Roy doesn't care for it and Lloyd objects when she tries to spray his table under his nose. I would too, bleach or not! Roy passes over the bottle of spray cleaner he prefers.

Max is in his room playing with a toy alien gun or something. He spots something on a shelf in his wardrobe and climbs on the top bunk bed to get it, it's a radio control car from the look of it. Behind it, though, is a package. Max manages to drag it to the front of the shelf with something long and it drops to the floor with a thunk.

Sally's in the cafe and talking to Roy about the repetition of the mundane daily life leading to a case of brain mush. Roy says he listens to classical music for 30 minutes a day to break up the monotony and Sally sighs that the cafe, while it might be a back street greasy spoon, is truly an oasis in a cultural desert"

Faye arrives to give Sally good news. Sally assumes it is about a new contract. No, it's a holiday to Wales and they leave tonight! Sally is gobsmacked. She's a major player in the factory and can't leave just like that! Izzy rolls her eyes behind her.

Michelle and Carla are having a bit of food. Carla says she regrets being mean to Roy before she left. Then she hands over a gift to Michelle before leaving the room to get changed. Michelle takes the perfume out of the box along with a receipt from a hotel in Las Vegas. She confronts Carla with the evidence. Carla looks sheepish.

Gemma is playing with one of Max's action men. Sarah wants Gemma to leave but she's got no intention of it. She won't say who roughed her up, only that she said something she shouldn't to the wrong person. They bicker a bit. Gemma defiantly tells Sarah that Callum has had many girlfriends and they never last but she and he have been friends since school. They have each other's backs and then lets slip something about covering for Sarah's kid. Oops.

Gail is now boring Kylie with her moaning about Michael. She witters on about subliminal messages and wishes she could play some sort of tape while he's asleep to urge him to go back to his wife. Kylie looks incredulous. At another table, Robert is sitting and having a beer when Joni comes in and smacks him across the back of the head, sure that he's chasing Tracy. He says he hasn't been and she won't even talk to him. She sits down at his table and points out that he's wrecked his marriage for nothing, then. She pulls out a legal document that will ensure he signs everything over to her. He does without a word. He reckons all the money for the restaurant was hers anyway, he was "just the talent" and that can't be taken away from him. She stands up. Robert tries to get her to sit down so they can talk it through, just as Beth and Kirk come in. Joni insults Beth, calling her Tracy's attack dog. That goes over about as you'd expect though Kirk thinks it's a compliment since dogs are loyal and good looking. And the tops of their heads smell great! (you gotta love Kirk!) Beth gives Robert a piece of her mind.

Sarah confronts Gemma who won't tell her what she meant by covering for Bethany. Gemma is afraid of what Callum will do if she tells and Sarah threatens her if she doesn't. Callum comes in and is angry because he heard them shouting down the hall. Callum has already heard what happened with Gemma and has sorted it. Max comes out of the room with something hidden behind his back. He pulls the gun out and points it at Callum, thinking it's a cap gun. Callum, Gemma and Sarah freeze, horrified.

Tvor

Written by Julie Jones and directed by Tim Dowd

Callum, Gemma and Sarah watch in horror as Max holds the gun and pretends to shoot them all. Callum promises to buy him a new one if he'll just hand this one back to him right now. Luckily for all concerned he decides to obey his dad and he gives it to Callum who swiftly disarms it before handing it over to Gemma with instructions to get rid of it.

Michelle is trying to lecture Carla about her trip to Vegas. Why is she behaving this way? Michelle remembers when Carla lived in poverty and had nothing. She's worked so hard to get where she is today, so why throw it all away? Carla points out that she's living in a flat surrounded by packing cases and people who hate her guts, so she's not exactly living the dream. She tells Michelle she's off to work. "So you can chuck more money down the drain. What's the point?" asks Michelle. Carla says that's a really good question and she couldn't have put it better herself.

Meanwhile over in the Bistro, Beth is also giving a lecture. Hers is directed at Robert. She doesn't want her friend Tracy being messed around. But Robert gets his wife to tell her that their marriage is over. Joni bursts into tears. Beth offers her a tissue and says she'll even throw in a few tips on hair and make-up. Joni looks incredulous. Beth turns her attention back to Robert and warns him to stay away from Tracy.

Michelle is trying to get Carla to explain why she's become addicted to gambling. Is it the high she gets from winning? Carla says she doesn't care whether she wins or loses, she takes risks and pushes her luck and nobody can get hurt. "Except you," replies Michelle. Realisation dawns that Carla is doing it in order to try and punish herself. Carla tells her she's right, it's because she's responsible for the deaths of two people that she deserves everything that she gets. Michelle tells her it was an accident and that if she can't accept that she needs to go and see someone to help her. She doesn't care how vile Carla is to her, she's not going to stand there and watch her destroy herself. But Carla says it's too late for that. She shouts at Michelle to go, just go. Michelle finally leaves and Carla looks totally bereft.

It's the day for lectures. Having finally seen for herself what Callum is capable of, Sarah is laying into him about the gun. He tells her it's no big deal he was looking after it for a mate but Sarah says it shows the sort of company he keeps. She's almost hysterical with anger about what might have happened and tells Callum that it's over between them.

Over at the Underworld offices, Carla's sitting at her desk while Sally clutches a file and witters on about invoices that haven't been paid. Not getting much response she asks about Carla's holiday but that doesn't get her far either. She decides what Carla needs is a nice cup of coffee but before she can get it there's a knock at the door and Tim comes bursting in. Sally's furious with him for bothering her at work but he says it's important. It's about them going on holiday to Wales. Tonight. Carla gets up to make her own cup of coffee and leave them to it. "Three sugars in mine, ta" says Tim as Carla goes out. Sally gives him a thunderous look.

Back at Callum's Sarah's packing Max's bag. Callum accuses her of over-reacting. Sarah can't believe what she's hearing. He had a loaded gun in his flat. Callum tells her Max has no idea what just happened. But Sarah's having none of it. She says she's going and taking Max with her, back to his real family where she knows he'll be safe.

Roy walks into his living room and trips over a piece of furniture. Cathy appears and apologises. She found a hostess trolley abandoned on a skip. She says she'll be taking it back to her place as soon as she can but she can't bear things to go to waste and she's going to restore it. Roy reacts by saying he's going downstairs to give the cafe a deep clean. Cathy offers to help but Roy would rather be on his own.

Sarah's ready to leave Callum's. She says she thought they had something special. He tells her he thought going out with her would make him look good in the custody battle. Sarah replies that he's not going to look so good now, once she tells them about the gun. He says they won't believe her and Gemma will back him up.

Roy's cleaning the cafe floor when Michelle turns up. She's come to tell him that Carla is completely off the rails and she doesn't know what to do about it. She tells him about Vegas and the gambling. Roy isn't sure how he can help since Carla can hardly bring herself to speak to him. Michelle says that's because Carla's ashamed. While they talk we hear banging and crashing coming from upstairs and then Cathy comes through, wheeling her hostess trolley. She tells them not to mind her. Roy promises Michelle he'll try to speak to Carla later. Michelle says that nobody can get through to her and she dreads to think where she's going to end up.

Back at Callum's he's revealing his insurance policy to Sarah. He shows her a video on his phone where Bethany is making a delivery for him. Next he shows her a photo of Bethany drinking with Gemma. Sarah can't believe he'd use Bethany like that. "If you've laid a finger on her …" she begins. But Callum says he's no paedo and that Bethany's just a silly little cow, like her mother. Sarah asks what next, is he going to get Max to start doing his dirty work? Callum says having a cute little lad running errands on his bike for his dad isn't a bad idea. A tearful Sarah gets Max and tells him they're going home. As they're about to leave Callum threatens Sarah not to go blabbing to anyone. He reminds her what happens to people who cross him and then shouts at her to get out.

Robert and Dorney are having a meal in the Bistro as they talk about the end of their marriage. Picking up something dubious off her plate Dorney says there's one thing she'll miss – Robert's cooking. Nick comes past and asks if everything's alright. Robert says not really. The food is awful – he's eaten better in a motorway service station.

At a nearby table Beth and Kirk are enjoying their date night. Beth has decided she'd make a good marriage guidance counselor and she reckons it would be a nice little earner. In fact, she tells Kirk, she's been on fire recently and she has ideas coming out of her ears. She tells him her next one which is that she and Sinead could start making clothes for dogs. But Kirk is less than enthused and says it would be over his dead body. He reckons it's dead cruel and makes them feel humiliated. But far from being upset by his reaction, Beth tells Kirk she loves it when he comes over all manly and orders him to get the bill right now.

Sally arrives home with Sophie. She's really annoyed and is telling Sophie how Tim booked the holiday and expects her to go away at a moment's notice. To add to her annoyance Tim has forgotten to turn the slow cooker on for their meal. Tim comes downstairs and tells her there's no time to eat as they need to set off. Tim says they're getting married and he thought Sally would want to go and meet his dad but Sally ignores him and tells Sophie to get out her phone and order a takeaway. Tim says he was trying to be spontaneous but Sally thinks he's being reckless and lackadaisical.

Round at Roy's flat Cathy's been having a tidy up. She's also cooked a meal for their tea and Roy seems to have regained his equilibrium. As she lays the table Cathy asks what was going on with Michelle earlier. He tells her that it had to do with Carla. Cathy comments that poor Roy can't move for demented women. He notices that the hostess trolley has disappeared. Cathy tells him she's returned it to the skip. It took some willpower to do so she puts on some music to help take her mind off it. It's certainly not what Roy would choose to listen to. He says he might go and have a word with Carla. Cathy tells him his tea will be ready when he gets back.

Kevin calls round with something for Tim and finds him packing his bags. He's going off to Wales without Sally and tells Kevin that she's the most stubborn woman he's ever met. Kevin gleefully reminds Tim that she's his ex and Tim's intended. Tim leaves the room and Kevin asks Sophie what's going on. She tells her dad that they've had some stupid little argument and says that Tim and her mum are great together when they play nicely.

Kylie and Gail are at home when Sarah brings Max back. They're surprised to see him as he was meant to be sleeping over. Max says his dad was busy then goes upstairs for a bath. It's clear that Sarah's been crying. Kylie asks if something's happened. Sarah says she and Callum have split up. Gail says she can't pretend she's sorry and Kylie tells her to think of it as a lucky escape. Sarah refuses to elaborate on the details but Kylie knows there's more. Sarah turns away, sobbing and tells Kylie to back off.

Carla's in her flat going over some papers –judging by her face she appears to be looking at her finances. Roy knocks at the door and calls out to her but Carla doesn't answer. He's brought a pie with him. He leaves it outside her door and walks away.

Sarah's in the back garden nursing a mug of tea when Kylie goes out to join her. Sarah admits it's typical of her to ignore what people try to tell her and says she's her own worst enemy. Kylie says she was warned off Callum but it didn't stop her. If anything it made her more interested. Kylie tries again to get Sarah to tell her what's happened. She asks if he threatened her. Sarah tells Kylie to shut up. Kylie asks how come Sarah brought Max back. Sarah claims Callum had stuff to do but Kylie knows she's lying. She reminds Sarah that if Callum wins the custody case he could take Max off them permanently. She says that if knows something she's got to tell her. Sarah tells her to leave it. Kylie says David always reckoned Sarah was totally selfish and he was right. She knows something's happened and she says she's going to be on Sarah's back until she tells her what it is.

Karen

We open with Carla, waking up on her sofa, empty wine bottle beside her. She struggles to her feet and wanders out of the room.

In the cafe, Liz strikes up a conversation about reincarnation with Roy and Kathy. She tells them she'd like to come back as a bird and drop a very large deposit on Tony!

Bethany is in the cafe, trying to phone Callum, when Sarah comes up behind her and snatches the phone out of her hand. She reminds her daughter that she and Callum are finished and she'd told Bethany to stay away from him. She then tells her to go home and start packing for her school trip.

In the taxi office, Eileen and Michael are looking at the bracelet they found. Eileen thinks it's tat, but Michael reckons it's gold, so Eileen tells him to take it over the road and see what they think it's worth.

Kathy is just leaving the cafe as Carla is coming along. Roy asks how she is, and mentions that he called round to see her. She tells him she conked out early, and blames traveling. She says she's setting into the flat, and it must be nice for him to have his place to himself again. Rather awkwardly he tells her that Kathy is staying with him. "It's just temporary, in case you were worried," says Kathy. Carla makes light of it, and then says she's forgotten something and turns and walks away. Just then Nick drives by in his car.

In the factory, Sally is cracking the whip and moaning at the workers for taking their tea breaks. When she's out of earshot, Izzy tells Sinead that Sally is stressed because Carla hasn't turned up.

Carla, in fact, is back in her flat. She opens her laptop and logs on to a gambling website. Just then her mobile rings, she turns it off. Then the land line rings, and as she doesn't answer it, Sally leaves a message wondering if she's coming in to work today. Carla takes a deep breath and slams the laptop shut.

Gail goes into the bistro where Nick is attending to paperwork. She asks if he's coming in later for his tea, as he's promised to take Bethany to the airport. She then tells him that she saw Alya in the corner shop who told her that Carla hadn't turned up for work. Nick thinks that's weird as he saw her earlier. Just then, Leanne storms out of the kitchen moaning about the chef, but Nick hurries off, telling her he has to go and see Carla about something.

Robert is standing at the bar, and when Gail and Nick have gone he asks Leanne if he can help, he's a qualified chef and he's looking for work. She asks if he has a CV. He says he hasn't got one on him, but if she'd like to pick any dish from their menu he will cook it far better than the muppet she's got working in the kitchen right now.

Michael comes back to the taxi office and tells Eileen that Todd offered him £85 for the bracelet, so he sold it to him. Eileen is cross and tells him he wasn't supposed to sell it, he'll have to go and get it back, then they have to go to the pub as Liz wants to see them about something important.

Carla comes out of her flat to see Nick standing by her car. She tells him she's in a hurry to get to the factory. He says the workers were sending out a search party as she hasn't been in this morning. She points out that she's boss, if she can't pull a sickie, who can? He doesn't believe that, and urges her to talk to him. She tries to leave but he snatches the car keys and tells her that she either talks to him or he's coming with her. She tries to grab the keys off him, telling him she hasn't got time for this. He laughs and says he'll fight her for them. In the end she gives in. "You want to see what's going on? Come on, let's go!"

Nick and Carla are in a casino, and she's just bought £400 worth of chips. She sits down and the croupier greets her by name. "What is this? Cheers, where everyone knows your name?" asks Nick. She tells him he wanted to know what she's been up to, well now he knows, so he can shut up or join in. He refuses to join in, Carla places her chips and the croupier spins the wheel.

Back in Coronation Street, Sally meets Kevin and moans to him about Carla not showing up. He's off to the Rovers for a pint and she asks if she can spend her lunch break there with him.

In the bistro, Robert has produced a meal and Leanne is tasting it. "Not bad," she says. He tells her he's a hard worker with plenty of experience. Just then there's a crash from the kitchen. "When can you start?" she asks, and they fix for him to begin in the morning.

Erica comes in, looking for Nick, Leanne says she doesn't know where he is but he should be back soon, so Erica orders a drink and goes to sit down.

Sally has gone to the Rovers with Kevin, and is still bending his ear moaning about Carla. She asks if he wants another drink but he refuses, saying he has to get back. She carries on moaning, saying she doesn't feel appreciated by Carla or anyone else. Kevin tells her he thinks she's brilliant, always has done, just has never been any good at saying it.

Eileen and Michael come into the pub, she's cross because Jason had gone to lunch and Michael couldn't get the bracelet back. Just then Liz comes over and confides in them that Ken gave her one of Deirdre's bracelets and she's lost it! Michael and Eileen glance at each other, horrified. Liz asks if they've seen it, as she got a cab the other night. In unison they say they haven't, and when she's out of earshot, Eileen tells Michael to get back across the road and wait for Todd to get back.

Outside, Lloyd is loading Bethany's cases into the back of a taxi, as Gail wonders aloud to Kylie and Sarah, what has happened to Nick who was supposed to be taking her. Just then, Callum walks up with Max and tries to give Bethany some money, but Sarah pushes it away saying that Bethany doesn't want his money. "Don't mind her," says Callum, "she's upset because I gave her the bullet."

In the casino, things are not going well for Carla and Nick suggests it's time she quit. She ignores him and puts all the chips she has left on the black. It comes up and she pulls all her winnings over. "I don't believe this!" says Nick.

Lloyd is driving Bethany in the taxi down the road when she sees Callum sitting on the bonnet of his car, making a phone call. She tells Lloyd to pull over and gets out to talk to him. She asks him why he split up with her mum, she thinks it had something to do with her, she knows he likes her. He tells her she'll miss her flight, so she goes back to the taxi, batting her eyelashes and being all flirty, saying she'll see him when she gets back.

Erica is still in the bistro waiting for Nick, his phone is off and she hopes he's ok. Leanne then tells her that he mentioned something about going to see Carla. Erica is not surprised and asks Leanne if something is going on between Nick and Carla. Leanne says that as far as she knows they're just friends.

Meanwhile, Nick and Carla have arrived back at her flat. She's won two thousand pounds and he's impressed by the way she stayed so calm. She tells him it's a band aid on a gunshot wound, because lately she's been losing. "How much?" asks Nick. "Everything," says Carla.

Kylie finds Sarah in the pub, and sits down with her. She thinks Sarah seemed frightened of Callum earlier and wants to know what he's done. Sarah makes up a story that she's found out he was sleeping with someone else behind her back. "That's why I don't want him anywhere near me – happy now?" she snaps and walks out.

Michael rushes back into the pub and tells Eileen it was too late. Someone had already been into the shop, saw the bracelet and put a deposit on it and they're coming back tomorrow to pick it up. Eileen says they have to do something, Liz is her mate and the bracelet is Deirdre's. Michael is worried that Tracy might see it and recognise it as her mother's. Eileen says they have to get it back, Todd will sell it back to them for the right price. "How much is that going to cost us?" asks Michael. Eileen snaps that he should know, he's supposed to be the expert in women's jewellery.

Sitting down with a drink, Nick asks Carla how she managed to let things get so out of hand. She tells him it was never part of the plan, to lose everything and get into debt up to her eyeballs. She's going to sell the flat and the factory and move away. He argues against this. "What about your friends, the people who care about you? Roy, Michelle, ...me?" She stares at him. "You've all got your own lives," she says, "where, exactly does that leave me?" Nick walks to the door. "I wish there was something I could say to you to make you change your mind," he says, and leaves. "Yeah, me too," whispers Carla.

Anne Logan

One of my favourite things is seeing Sally upset, so I was particularly pleased with the start of this Friday episode.

Sally's upset and complains to Gail that once again Tim has put fun ahead of work. Gail firmly believes that all men are on the laziness spectrum. Sally doesn't think that applies to Kevin - he's a man who's grabbed life by the horns.

Liz is in the cafe looking for her bracelet - Deirdre's bracelet which Ken gave her. She's standing next to Eileen and Michael. Michael's all for telling Liz but Eileen hopes they can buy back the bracelet . . . or nick it!

Carla and Sally are in the factory office. Sally wants to talk about quinoa. She realises Carla isn't really listening and asks if she's OK. Would a coffee help? Or a fancy from Roy's? Carla tells her to get the staff together - she's got an announcement. Getting the staff together seems to consist of asking the machinists to listen up. There's no sign of anyone from pattern-cutting or fabric storage or whatever-other departments live up those stairs. Carla tells them she has some news. She's going to sell Underworld. Clearly unaware of the TUPE regulations which protect workers' jobs and conditions when a company is sold in the UK, she tells Sean she's sure the new owners will want to keep the staff. The staff members are shocked by the news but Sally seems more shocked because she didn't know ahead of them.

Yasmeen asks Zeedan if he would like to coach an under-15s football team. He would. They see Simon and Leanne and Si is signed up straight away for the team.

In Barlow's Buys, Amy tries out some binoculars and Ken suggests taking Tracy out for lunch. Todd's got an appointment so it'll mean shutting the shop. After all, they're not getting many customers today, he points out. Tracy is very sarcastic about this idea but Amy says, "I thought you were turning over a new leaf?"

In the cafe, Sally tells Kevin about Carla selling the business. Roy overhears this. Sally wants to buy the factory but she has a shortfall. She knows Kevin got a business loan and she wants him to put money in to help her. Kevin says he can't just go buying a business without looking at the books first. "There might be a reason she wants to sell."

Michael and Eileen go to Tracy's shop only to discover it's closed. Rather than wait until it's open again, Eileen decides they have to break in and drags Michael off home to find some burglary tools.

Sally's in Carla's chair, at Carla's desk, looking at Carla's laptop, looking at Carla's factory accounts. Alya questions this but Sally says she's Carla's PA so she can look at anything she wants. They discuss how much Carla might want for the business, though Sally doesn't see why Alya should be interested. It's not as if she'd be able to buy it. Alya's most put out by this but offers to help Sally understand the accounts spreadsheet.

Over at the garage, Kevin's very short-tempered, grudging Tyrone and Luke their tea break. He tells Tyrone that they're so busy Tyrone will have to move his holiday dates.

Sally's managed to understand the accounts enough to see that Carla's been taking a lot of money out of the business lately. Unfortunately for her, Carla's behind her when she says this and Carla snaps. Sally tries to explain that she was snooping because she's thinking of making an offer on the business but that doesn't wash. That's not enough for Carla. "I don't like your attitude, Sally. I never have!" She tells Sally she's very annoying and fires her in front of the machinists. Sally wants her bag and coat, which Alya passes her. "Drop dead, Carla," she snaps on her way out.

Sean is annoyed that he missed the big scene. As they leave the factory the machinists talk about it. Fiz goes over to tell Tyrone but Sean leaps in front of her to deliver the news. Ty tells Fiz his own bad news - that Kevin wants him to move his holiday dates but they won't get the money back. Kevin comes over to tell Tyrone to get back to work and Fiz has a go at him, saying that Tyrone is his business partner and was against the expansion of the business, so if they're too busy that is Kevin's fault. Sean tells Kevin that Sally's been fired for being annoying.

Nick spots Robert in the bistro and demands to know what he's doing there. Leanne tells him Robert is their new chef. Nick snaps at Robert that he's still on trial. "Get over yourself," Leanne tells him.

Eileen tells Michael to get on with breaking into the shop. She'll keep dixie*.

Tony meets Liz in the street and gives her flowers. "Oh, Tony," she coos, before chucking them to the ground and telling him just what he can do with them. Liz sees Eileen apparently just hanging around outside the shop and drags her away for a chat, apparently without spotting Michael. Mary does see him and interrupts his lock-picking for a chat.

Yasmeen's gone to the gym to find out whether there's sponsorship available for the football team. Alya comes in looking for her grandad.

Kevin's gone to see Sally who wastes no time telling him how humiliated she's been, being sacked in front of all her friends. She says she's now jobless and has no prospects. Kevin tells her that's not true if they buy the factory.

Roy sees Carla walk past and she confirms to him she's going to sell her flat and the factory. Nick comes over to talk to Roy about Carla. Behind them, Michael sneaks out of the taxi office and sidles past towards the secondhand shop.

Ken and Tracy sit at a table in the bistro. Ken thinks she's having trouble coping with her grief. Leanne comes over and asks how they enjoyed the food, explaining there's a new chef. She offers to bring him out so they can compliment him personally. Back she comes with Robert.

It's no wonder Michael got locked up for burglary. He's busy trying to wedge a screwdriver between the shop lock and the door frame when Gail catches him.

Sally and Kevin drink wine as they sit on the sofa. Kevin talks about what they have to do to get started with the plan to buy the factory. Sally's very excited about the prospect. She comments that she can rely on Kevin more than she can on Tim. "What would I do without you?" she asks, and leans in for a good, long kiss. Kevin pulls back from her. "What are you doing?" he asks.

Find out in the next episode. The end.
Margaret Carr

*I looked it up: This is a Scouse rhyming slang referring to Dixie Dean, who scored 349 goals for Everton. "Dixie Dean is never seen," referred to his ability to sneak past the opposition, so "keeping Dixie" is slang for keeping a look out.

When this was broadcast I was in a little place called Edinburgh with my first ever visit to the Festival delights. Some were good and some were not - but we did get to eat some wonderful meals; on the night in question we were at Martin Wishart's in Leith and at the next table were a delightful couple - Frances gray who recently starred in Home Fires and her husband John Donnelly, a playwright. Lovely discussion with them even if we were intruding on their first wedding anniversary. It was our second visit to Martin Wishart's restaurant. And once again it was a stunning meal. Knowledgeable and a perfect level of service. Best of all it was a walk back to the flat so there was no restriction on my drinking! Warmly recommended and I hope we can afford another visit some day (I am a pensioner you know).

Corrie has reached episode 8703, this is series 56, episode 159; I reckon that amounts to over 3480 hours of actual programme output. Our thanks to Granada and more recently ITV Productions / Studios for their continued efforts (even if we tell them off sometimes). Tonight the writer was Jonathan Harvey and the director was Abe Jukes.

Action for this installment commences with Sal and Kev both apologising to each other over their kiss. Kev is most concerned with Tim's reaction - how could he do this to his best mate! Sal says "you kissed your ex-wife and all you are thinking about is Tim's feelings?, what about my feelings?". He says she started it and she agrees! She accuses him of coming onto her all day! She agrees however that Tim is going to be hurt when she tells him. Sophie arrives and wonders what Sal cannot tell Tim. They both stare at her.

On the Street Michael is seeking to convince Gail he has not returned to a life of crime and he walks her home so that he can try and provide some form of explanation for trying to force the door on the Barlow shop. He admits he is doing it for Eileen and Gail is sympathetic. He explains he is on an errand of mercy; Gail rants on about Eileen.

In the Bistro Robert apologises to Ken. Never mind that says Tracy - explain! Steph arrives and introduces herself to the newcomer. Rob explains to Tracy that it is over with Joni (or Joannie?). He has moved out and he needed a job. She says it is not work - it is stalking if it is on her doorstep. He says he is a really nice stalker and will keep his distance. He backs off but Ken calls after him saying the tagliolini was wonderful. Robert says the canneloni even better and gets a sharp look from Tracy as he returns to the kitchen.

Sal is explaining losing her job to Sophie who calls Carla a piece of work. Sal explains the plan to make an offer on the factory. Kev heads off back to work. Sophie hugs her mum and says she does not believe that her mum has done much wrong.

As Eileen emerges from the Rovers Todd takes great pleasure in pointing at Michael going into the Bistro with his ex! Todd observes that she turns her back for a minute and he is already sniffing around Gail the snail! Eileen tells him to shut up. He laughs.

Gail and Michael wander into the Bistro and Gail orders two glasses of tap water from Steph and tells her to leave them alone. They are being watched by Tracy and Gail threatens to tell her. Tracy hears her name and asks if they are talking about her - which they deny. As sotto voce as he can manage and still be heard by the microphones Michael explains to Gail about Ken (who now hears his name!) giving a bracelet to Liz which has gone missing. Anyway Michael manages to tell the convoluted story. Michael sold it to Todd for £85. Then realised it must be Liz's. Her face shows that she does not believe a word but then she realises that Eileen is listening and immediately says that she believes every word as she is not suspicious like some - Eileen is looming over them very suspiciously! Gail tells Eileen that Michael has been telling her the whole bracelet story. Eileen wants a word outside and like an obedient terrier Michael scuttles outside. Gail observes to Steph that things are looking up. She reckons Michael will be back.

Leanne arrives home and Simon is in cheerful mood and has tidied up and wants to know what is for tea. She has brought a treat back from the Bistro - some pasta from Robert which needs reheating. Leanne would like a glass of white wine with the pasta (I half expected Simon to get two glasses out of the cupboard - but he didn't). Both of them are smiling and cheerful.

Back in the Bistro Steph delivers puds to Ken and Tracy. Robert has sent Tracy a message of "Sorry" on her chocolate brownie. Tracy wants to know if it is a joke - but Steph has no idea what is going on. Tracy lifts the plate and drops it on the floor because she is offended. And she would like to make a complaint about the chef. Steph says other diners are happy with his output and Ken offers to get the bill - but Tracy wants her say. Tracy spots Robert perving on her through the kitchen door. Tracy rants on and wants the main courses taken off the bill - Ken suggests just the pud! Tracy knows all is well when Robert winks at her!

Outside Eileen's Michael is explaining that he had to tell Gail (the snail) to keep her quiet. As Eileen observes they still do not have the bracelet. So Michael is going to have to take her credit card and buy it back. {So to answer Steph's question he is not actually going back to drink he water}.

Sal has just cooked herself her dinner when the door is thrown open "Honey I'm home" and Tim bursts through the door (no axes were involved). She is shocked by him being a day early - but he was missing her so much he thought he would come home early. He gives her a huge hug and she offers him her egg and chips - and does not seem overjoyed to see her betrothed. She is glad he is back - she has something to tell him and he is not gonna be happy about it. But he wants to go first - he has been childish and he wants to be the best husband she has ever had. He was jealous of Kev but he loves Sal so very much - at his age and feeling insecure. He asks if she still loves him? Yes she does love him and he should not even need to ask. And what did she want to tell him? She is not sure now ...

After the break Sophie is handing coffee to Kev and telling him that Sal can be a snob - but she is not Mrs Bouquet! Sal just wants a better life - the high life like Carla. And Kev asks if there was anything else - which worries Sophie but before anything is given away there is a knock at the door and again Tim bursts in as he wants a word. Sal has told him everything he tells Kev who goes all defensive and says it was merely a mad moment - but Tim says he knows Sal has her needs - to better herself. And then Tim says he is glad Kev is getting into bed with Sally to buy the business [lovely line]. Tim tells Soph to put the kettle on so they can talk about it.

In the Rovers Tony is apologising and Liz tells him to shut up as she serves a pint to Todd. Both Tony and Todd are surprised that Liz has let either of them into the pub. They bicker across the bar. Liz warns Todd of the other local pubs, although the Dog and Gun does not get a mention. Liz observes that if she barred everyone who upset her regulars she would have no customers left. Liz repeatedly tells Tony to shut up. Michael and Eileen arrive with good news for Liz - but first she has to tell them that she has found the missing bracelet down the back of the headboard. Although Todd is glad to have got commission on the £200 on the bracelet Michael bought earlier. Michael shows Liz the bracelet which was handed in and which they assumed was Liz's. Liz calls it cheap looking (they look identical from here). Liz tells Eileen she can keep the cheap looking one (it did cost her £200). She then offers them a drink on the house. Gail arrives and Liz proudly shows her the missing bracelet. Gail declares it is a miracle and Liz oddly tells Tony to provide the round of drinks as she is going to get some crisps.

There is a knock at Carla's door. It is Roy and she closes the laptop and takes the poured glass of wine to the door. We want to speak to you please says Roy and she opens the door to find the Weatherfield Mafia led by Don Corleone - Nick - plus Michelle and Roy as enforcers. (PS I am off to Sicily soon - what is the right way to address a mafioso leader?). Nick promises they will not leave any horse heads on the bed. Carla observes it would give her something to snuggle up to at night.

Ken and Tracy leave the Bistro chased by Robert. Tracy assures Ken she can handle herself with a lying ex-husband. Robert thanks her for trying to get him sacked. She reckons she must be doing something right if he cannot stay away from her. Robert tells her he is keeping the job, he is not going anywhere and he wants her. She laughs. He says he gets "Tracy Barlow". She says he would be scary if he were not pathetic. And she saunters off along the Street with a "cat got the cream" smile.

In the Rovers Gail is really enjoying herself talking to Michael and Eileen. Gail agrees not to tell Liz about the deceit - or Todd about the attempted break in and she will not laugh about the £200; but cannot stop herself dissolving into laughter as she thinks about it. She is doing this in memory of Deirdre who thought the world of Gail. Eileen observes that Gail is really loving this. Michael observes that they will be eternally grateful but Eileen thinks eternal might be a stretch too long! Gail says she is always a good person and Eileen should try walking away from dark side. Todd departing tells Eileen to enjoy the bracelet. Gail again dissolves into laughter.

The pasta is going down well and Leanne observes that Robert is better than her at cooking. Simon likes it. She can see he has been trying and so she will let him play football for the community centre. "Back of the net" says Simon. And then Leanne hopes they can draw a line under the recent past. Simon immediately flares up asking why she had to bring that up. He has said he is sorry.

Roy is telling Carla that he does not want her to go because he thinks she will regret it. People will miss her and if Hayley were there she would say the same. Carla calls it emotional blackmail. Michelle weighs in and says Carla is like a sister to her; indeed she is a sister. She is being selfish because she does not want her to go. Carla asks if Nick feels the same? He says he is there for the surly looks! Carla says she needs to be selfish too - every time she walks down the Street - people are looking at her - once mates that cannot even look her in the eye any more, because she was responsible for the death of their loved ones. And she cannot take it. And if she goes and with social media they will know what she is doing where-ever she is in the world. Michelle understands why Carla wants to run away but she will change her mind. Carla says it is not going to happen. Nick and Michelle accept the situation and depart. Carla turns on Roy and tells him not to make her cry and he has already played the Hayley card. Carla observes that if Hayley was alive she would not even be speaking to her. Roy observes that Fizz and Ty apart Carla is the only person who comes close to missing Hayley as much as he does. He goes and Carla returns to stare out of the window at the Street below.

Sally is drying up when Tim and Kev come in. Tim says yes - Kev has been filling him in and she instantly looks alarmed until he adds about the details of buying the business. Then it made sense to come back and hear it from the horse's mouth. Sal says she has not been called horsy before - no says Kev just gobby. But Tim says there is something he has been meaning to ask Kev. But Sally says she and Kev have been open and transparent and Tim knows everything (which he doesn't as we know) - but after some cross banter it becomes clear that he cannot marry Sal unless he has Kev there as his best man! Tim says the two of them are best mates and Kev and Sal may be business partners and Tim wants Kev there at his side. Laughing with some relief Kev assents. All laugh and it is the best news Tim has heard all year (Tim I think you might be forgetting when Sal accepted the proposal!). Over Tim's shoulder as he and Kev hug, Kev and Sal exchange a look.

Roll credits.

Leanne love - honestly you need some help of some description. Simon needs some help to get through it - and you really have a mountain to climb.

Liz - just why are you letting scumbag Tony back?

Carla - you went to AA the once I think? You have an addictive personality and I think you need GA and to find a way of making amends.

Kev and Sal - come on it meant nothing, stop worrying about it. I am looking forward to Tim and Sal missing their own wedding in the same way as they have missed all the others!

Gail - I am not sure Michael will be back - but I suppose anything is possible?

Where is Gavandy?

So is Robert the man that can manage Tracy - many have tried and of course we never saw much of him as they were living in that London - but clearly he has not given up? Is it just a question of when she will get bored?

Doing one of these updates is painful. At least five time the software used by ITV Player has crashed and it has taken hours as when it reloads it shows the adverts. Come on ITV sort it out.

Richard

Written by Damon Rochefort Directed by Tim Finn

Tracy is attempting to mend something and is isn't going well, as evidenced by her sucking the blood off her pricked finger. Ken look on, bemused. Amy brings her mother breakfast. Turns out Tracy has Amy doing a different job every day during school holidays "for experience" though Amy has noticed that all the jobs involve housework. She does offer her granddad tea and toast, however. He sits down and congratulates her for her domestic attempts, though suggests Emily might be more successful at the sewing thing. Tracy insists she's going to do all the chores her mother used to and she's going to be a better mother. Ken thinks she's trying to distract herself from thinking of Robert. Not so, Tracy exhorts.

Mary is at loose ends because the twins are on a trip so she's hanging out in the Kabin. She can't relax because she declares that she's a multi tasker. They natter while Sophie browses. Steph comes in as well, with a friendly hand on Sophie's shoulder. Rita hands over a travel magazine that Sophie had ordered but it turns out it was something that she and Maddie wanted to look at with the view to traveling together so she doesn't really need it now. Mary offers to take it and insists that she loves travel (even though the magazine is clearly aimed at young people Sophie's age). Sophie tells them that she's decided to hold some sort of memorial for Maddie. Mary describes a Portuguese memorial in a taverna she once attended that ended in sending Chinese lanterns floating up into the night sky at the end but which unfortunately caused a fire when one got caught in the thatched roof. Sally arrives as Steph leaves. She wants Rita and Sophie's help for some wedding planning. Sophie lets slip about Sally and Kevin's plans to buy the factory which very much interests Mary and Rita. Sally demurs, it might not come to anything. Mary thinks it's wonderful how close she and Kevin are. Most exes aren't like that. Sally looks distinctly uncomfortable.

Zeedan has brought Leanne a framed photo of her and Kal. What a lovely thing to do! Simon comes out and slumps on the sofa without a word. He grunts at Zeedan and is very contrary when Leanne assumes he won't want to go to a footie practice Zeedan is holding. He does want to go and takes himself off to clean his boots though he does hint at how old they are. Leanne raises her tea mug to Zeedan.

Tracy brings Amy over to the shop to "help", that is, look pretty and big up the toys if any children come in. She sees that there's a delivery outside the shop. The delivery man is stroppy with her because he's been waiting and she snaps at him that he's usually late. He's not going to help her tote them inside and Zeedan overhears as he goes by. He picks one up to help only to have Tracy snap at him, too so he goes off, offended. Only trying to help! Robert coincidentally comes around the corner and hears all this. He offers to help, too, but she's not having it. He makes a joke about her bringing her daughter to work and Amy jokes that it's "treat your daughter like a servant month". He invites them to the Bistro for lunch as his treat but she's not having that either. Tracy opens the shop and goes inside. Amy suggests Robert bring them lunch instead. Good idea!

In the cab office, Steve is showing off more photos of the dog, moaning that he has to take the dog back tomorrow. Lloyd is looking up current prices for some of his old records. He mentions that his collection is worth a lot of money, one 7 inch single is worth 1000. Andrea takes a call from her daughter, Jess and it sounds like something might be up.

Maria comes into the garage where Luke is jealous that his mates are all going to Ibiza on holiday. Maria thinks that would be a nice holiday but it's lads' only apparently. He can't go because he's trying to save up for a stock car. Maria doesn't seem to understand the attraction but figures if that's his dream, he should aim for it. It's good to have goals.

Amy is bored. She wants to go on holiday but Tracy points out that she's skint, and a single mother raising a child on her own hasn't got a lot of spare cash. Amy rightly mentions all the other people in the family that help raise her. She finds a game, Buckaroo. Tracy tells her about the game, she played it as a kid but Amy isn't impressed. Sophie hurries in with a box of things of Maddie's that she could use to raise money for the memorial. Tracy sends Amy off to make her a brew. Tracy offers her 200 quid which is wayyyyy overpriced for some old books and dvds. Sophie knows Tracy's just trying to be nice. We know Tracy's feeling guilty, not nice, faced with Maddie's loved one. Sophie only reckons it must have more to do with Amy getting out of the fire ok. Let's call it a donation, ok? Tracy doesn't want it spread around, though, it'll ruin her reputation.

The postman has left a card at Leanne's. She comes up the stairs with it, annoyed that Simon clearly didn't bother to answer the door when the postman rang. The card says they'll try to re-deliver later so she informs Simon he'll have to stay in and wait for it. No good, Simon says, he's got the football practice. They end up bickering and she tells him he can't go to football. He insists he can and will and isn't going to wait for her stupid package. That stupid package happens to be his new football boots but it's no good, he insists he's not staying home. She insists he is and hollers at him so he lashes out and kicks her in the leg.

After the break, she's nursing her leg for a few more minutes before going back to work. Simon has locked himself in his bedroom. She finally gives up trying to get him to answer him and goes off to work in disgust.

Andrea's been trying to get hold of Neil. She tells Lloyd that her daughter is way behind on her rent. Her flatmate's done a runner and left her holding the bag and she needs 1000 pounds by today or she's out. Awfully coincidental amount to the previous conversation, I notice. Lloyd comments that Jess can't come running to her mother every time she has a problem. Andrea gets annoyed and points out that it seems to be ok that he lets Jenna do the same. He offers her the 40 quid he got for selling a record but she hisses to him not to bother and stomps out. Steve observes all this and notes that Lloyd didn't handle all that very well. Lloyd looks like he agrees.

Ken comes into the shop to find Tracy a bit weepy over Maddie's things. She says it doesn't seem like much to show for a life. Ken offers to take over in the shop and let Tracy have a break. He tells her to have a long lunch and take Eccles for a walk to clear her head so she wipes her eyes and agrees. Good grief, does Tracy actually have a conscience?

Michael has joined Steve and Lloyd in the cab office and are talking about money. Michael and Lloyd talk about cash cards. Lloyd says if he helps Andrea out, he'll put himself back in the red, so obviously he hasn't got much savings in spite of the fact that the cab company seems to be doing well. He must spend it all on old records!

Luke is in the Bistro talking to Steph about his dream stock car. Steph reckons Maria thinks he's a right geek. Tracy comes in and quietly orders a drink. Luke asks if she's ok but she is a bit short with him, accusing him of chatting her up. He's not her type. Leanne pulls Steph aside for some business and Robert comes out of the kitchen and sees Tracy who turns to Luke and starts flirting with him. He's a bit mystified and thinks she's a bit mad. He turns it around on her and tells her not to bother, she's not his type! Steph and Robert watch, amused.

Rita, Sally and Sophie are sitting at the table looking at magazines and getting ready to jot down ideas. Rita keeps talking about the potential business venture, something Sally doesn't seem to want to talk about, oddly. Rita asks what Tim thinks of it, since it's not always a good idea to mix business with pleasure. Sally reassures her quickly that she gets no pleasure out of Kevin, it's purely business. The doorbell rings. Mary has brought over her wedding file, that big, thick binder that she also offered to Hayley a few years back. She's been collecting ideas for years. She's excited about helping with the planning.

Tracy asks for another glass of wine. Steph passes on a message from Robert, he'll make her anything she likes on the house. Tracy declines rudely. Leanne calls over another drinks order for one of the tables. Steph tells her about the memorial that Sophie's planning and wonders if the Bistro could contribute anything to help. Leanne promises to ask Nick while Tracy looks distinctly uncomfortable. She orders the chicken caesar. Robert brings out some menus, Leanne has passed on the wrong ones to the table full of punters. They aren't bothered when they see the handsome chef, at least the women aren't. Robert backs out gracefully. Zeedan pops in as she's handing out menus. Leanne apologizes for Simon missing football after their row but it turns out he went anyway and went off with his mates after.

Luke comes to see Maria and invites her out for the evening. She can't go out late on a "school" night and has already planned to go to the gym while Kirk looks after Liam so a dvd and takeaway doesn't work for her either. They make a date for tomorrow night instead.

Andrea is telling Jess not to worry. Michael comes around the corner but Andrea doesn't want to talk to him. Michael walks off an Andrea promises Jess she'll send the money in the next two hours. She opens her bag and looks in, then makes another call.

Leanne can't get Simon on the phone. Zeedan sits down across from her and notices a bandage on her leg that's bled through.

Steph hands Tracy a more exotic dish than the salad she ordered, something Robert thought she'd like instead. Robert comes out of the kitchen and Tracy gets upset with him for making decisions for her. A poncy seafood dish instead of a salad isn't going to make everything all right!!! It's clear she's more upset than angry. She spins around and leaves. Steph suggests he go after her. Outside Tracy is sobbing. Robert comes out to see what's up. He wonders if it's to do with Deirdre. She says it isn't but her mother would understand or try to, understand what an evil, worthless cow she is. Yep, definitely a bad case of a guilty conscience. It looks like she's about to confess to Robert what she's done as the episode ends.

Tvor

Written by Damon Rochefort and directed by Tim Finn

Tracy is on the point of confessing all to Robert. She tells him people have died because of her but he saw the newspaper cuttings and says he knows she was acquitted. Before she can say any more Steph comes out looking for Robert. Robert puts Steph in her place and Tracy plays down her earlier wobble. She lightens the moment by reminding Robert she's still waiting for her chicken salad.

Zeedan is cleaning the wound on Leanne's leg. She tells him she bashed it on the open dishwasher door. Leanne says she's more concerned about Simon and tells Zee that going off behind her back just isn't like him.

Sally's doing her best to get Mary to leave but before she goes Mary insists on showing her a sample of a ‘save the date card' she's designed. As Sally tells Sophie the moment Mary's out the door, it looked more like a ransom note and if it came through her door she'd be worried an ear was going to fall out of the envelope. Sophie tells her mum that Mary's just trying to be kind. She suggests Sally and Tim should come round to her and Kevin for their tea so they can talk about the wedding but Sally makes an excuse about Tim working late. Sophie can tell something's up although Sally insists everything is fine.

Maria's on the phone and she looks pleased with herself. She's making arrangements to meet someone called Mark at 6 o'clock.

Leanne's talking to Zeedan when she gets a text from Si. It's short and to the point. He's with his mates and he'll be back later. Zee asks what she's going to do. Leanne says it's the summer holidays and she can hardly go and drag him back from the arcade. Zee tries to reassure her that Si just wants to chill out with his mates. The two of them go back to work.

Sophie takes her mother into the Rovers and buys her a large glass of Pino Grigio with the intention of getting her to tell her what's going on with her and Tim. Liz asks Sally if it's true what she's heard about her and Kev and the factory. Sally tells her she can't discuss it for legal reasons.

Lloyd's at the bar with Steve. He's been trying to ring Andrea but he can't get through. He tells Liz about Jess being behind on her rent. Steve tells Lloyd that he shouldn't feel the need to dip his hand in his pocket to help out his girlfriend's daughter. Liz asks whether Steve ever listens to himself. She points out it was only a few months back that Tony paid his tax bill. Liz thinks Lloyd should offer to help out Andrea.

Meanwhile Andrea is on the phone to Jess. We hear her say that it doesn't matter where she got the money but this is the last time. She tells her to text her when the payment goes through.

Luke sees Maria waiting at the bus stop. She tells him she's just nipping into town. That's strange he says because she'd told him she was going to the gym.

Amy and Ken are finishing up at Barlow's Buys. Amy's had enough of her unpaid work experience. Forget zero hours contracts, she tells her grandfather, this is a zero money contract. Ken laughs and wonders where she learned so much about politics. Amy reminds Ken she lives with him. She asks where her mum's been all afternoon. Ken tells Amy Tracy's been having a well-needed break. Amy suggests they make her a special tea to cheer her up.

Leanne's back in the Bistro. She's still fretting about Simon. Tracy tells her to give the lad a break. Leanne asks how Amy's been recently. Tracy hesitates before replying that Amy's fine, she's as tough as old boots. Leanne wonders where she gets that from. Robert appears with Tracy's chicken Caesar salad. She takes it with typically bad grace. Meanwhile two customers nearby comment that they were just saying how nice the food is. The man, who clearly likes the look of Robert, asks if he's straight. When he confirms that he is, the woman asks if he's single. He replies that technically he is but his heart belongs to another. This conversation all takes place within Tracy's earshot. She calls Robert across and says perhaps she hasn't made herself clear, she's not interested in him. She then calls across to the woman and says she's welcome to him. Tracy leaves and Steph tells Robert to go after her. What's the point, he asks. Steph replies that Tracy still hasn't paid.

Amy presents Tracy with the special tea she's made her – a chicken salad. Tracy laughs and tells Amy that's exactly what she fancied eating. She suggests Amy shares it with her and tells her all about her adventures in the shop today. Amy says she swept up in a second-hand shop – she was hardly being Lara Croft. Tracy's phone rings. It's Robert. She cancels the call and tells Amy it was nobody important but she looks pensive.

Sally's talking to Sophie over a glass of wine in the Rovers. She insists that she still wants to get married to Tim but before she can tells Sophie what the problem is, Mary interrupts. She's being doing some research and has a pile of brochures about hen and stag nights. There's everything from pub crawls in Blackpool to skydiving dressed as cartoon characters. This sparks some dialogue about the Pink Panther. Mary reveals she was unaware he didn't speak on account of the fact she always watched it with the sound turn down as Mother didn't approve. Sophie gently points out they were trying to have a private conversation. The moment she leaves Sally goes off on one and says she's fed up with people sticking their noses in and going on and on about weddings. Sophie looks concerned by her outburst.

Steve's down in the dumps. He tells Liz and Lloyd that Michelle's had to go to Ireland for an uncle's 70th and now Rover has to go back today. He complains that everyone he loves is leaving him. Lloyd asks what is he, chopped liver? This reminds Steve he has to feed the dog.

Andrea comes in to the Rovers. She apologises for being late but tells Lloyd she had to sort the money out for Jess. He offers to pay for the drinks and jokes that the forty quid he got for selling some records is burning a hole in his pocket. Liz is surprised to hear this, she says she thought Lloyd's records were like his kids. He explains he's not selling the really valuable ones. He adds that the really rare ones will go to Jenna eventually, like a sort of legacy. Andrea looks extremely uncomfortable.

Luke's moping over a beer in the Bistro. Steph asks if he's seeing Maria tonight. Luke tells her that Maria's been acting dead cagey and he saw her going into town when she was meant to be at the gym. Steph teases him and tells Luke he's in love. She says the signs are all there – the worry, the jealousy, the suspicion ….

Leanne's on the phone. When Zee comes in she tells him she's tracked down Simon. She's been speaking to Kyle's mum and Simon's been there. But he's still not picking up his own phone. Then Simon breezes in. Leanne tears him off a strip for not staying in touch. "Whatever," replies Simon, as cocky as anything. He tells Zee he'll see him at football tomorrow. Zee replies that it's probably a conversation he should be having with his mum.

Tracy's talking to Ken about Simon. She says she thinks he's going off the rails. But Ken doesn't reply. He's reading a letter and looks worried. Tracy asks him what the problem is. Ken is thinking about Deirdre. He says he never appreciated her enough. Tracy says enough of the guilt. Ken says all Deirdre ever wanted was for her family to be happy and taken care of, right until the end whereas he was always looking for the next adventure and was never satisfied. Tracy points out that Ken stayed with her … on the whole. Ken carries on and says that people always take for granted those people who truly love them. Tracy looks thoughtful. Ken takes Tracy's hand and says he hopes she finds what she's looking for. Tracy smiles and says she thought she had … many times. Ken tells her there's something they need to talk about., to do with her mother. Tracy asks if it can wait as there's something she needs to do. She gets up without waiting for a reply.

Back in the Rovers Steve asks Andrea if she found the money for Jess. She claims she borrowed it from a mate. She must have been a good mate, to lend her a grand, says Steve. Lloyd tells Andrea he's been thinking. His record collection is getting way out of hand and he's going to go through it all and see if there are some items he could sell on eBay. Andrea looks worried and anxiously tells him there's no need to do that. Lloyd kisses Andrea and tells her that she means more to him than a lot of old records..

Sally's and Sophie are still having a drink. Sally's worried what it's going to look like having Kevin as Tim's best man as people will be saying she slept with both the groom and the best man. Sophie asks Sally if she still has feelings for her dad. Sally says of course she does. "You don't still love him, do you?" asks Sophie. Sally lowers her voice and admits she kissed him and that she feels terribly guilty about it. Sophie looks horrified and says so she should. Sally begs Sophie not to tell Tim because he'll never forgive her.

Over in the Bistro Luke is still bending Steph's ear about Maria. He wonders if the age difference is putting her off. She's got a kid and a career whereas he's an over-excited grease monkey, banging on about track cars says Luke. Steph tells Luke what doesn't impress women is navel-gazing and moaning. She gives him two words of advice: man up. Their conversation is interrupted by Tracy who is looking for Robert.

Tracy goes into the Bistro kitchen where Robert's giving instructions to the sous chef. Tracy tells her to give them five minutes. Roberts starts to say he knows he's blown his chances. "Do you want me or not?" demands Tracy. Roberts says she knows he does. Tracy asks him to confirm that he means properly, not just for the occasional hook-up. She asks him to promise that he will never, ever lie to her again and no matter what happens he'll always tell the truth. He promises, as long as she'll do the same. Robert asks what made her change her mind. Tracy says never mind all that but let's just say he owes Ken a drink. She asks if he's going to just stand there or kiss her. Robert chooses the latter.

Leanne is cleaning the wound on her leg when Simon comes in from his bedroom. She's still angry and tells him that since he couldn't be bothered to wait in for the delivery she's sent back the football boots. Simon looks contrite and asks if her leg hurts. He's worried Leanne has told Zeedan. Leanne says she hasn't told anybody. Simon tells Leanne he's sorry, he knows it's wrong to hit a girl. She says it's wrong to hit anyone. Leanne asks why he did it. Simon doesn't know, he says he just gets so angry sometimes. "You don't hate me, do you?" asks Simon. Leanne replies that of course she doesn't hate him but they can't go on like this. She suggests they try to start again with a clean slate. And to show how she's going to try to work at it too, Leanne asks Simon if he'd like to invite a few of his mates round to the Bistro, the burgers will be on her. After all, what's the point of working in a Bistro if you can't use and abuse it? Simon thanks Leanne and gives her a hug.

Karen

Robert has stayed the night with Tracy. She bids him farewell as he goes off to work and then turns and tells Ken she thinks they can really make it work this time, they've both learned from their mistakes. Ken is glad to see her with a smile on her face. Tracy moves a newspaper that's on the table and finds a letter underneath. It's from Deirdre's solicitor about her life insurance policy. Tracy immediately thinks that Ken was trying to hide it from her, but he says he was trying to talk to her about it but she has been otherwise occupied. Tracy asks if Deirdre left any money. Ken says that she did, but none of it to Tracy. Tracy immediately gets angry and says that isn't what she meant, she's not interested in her mother's money.

Up in her flat, Leanne is sticking a plaster on her cut leg, and Simon is talking about the friends from the football team that he wants to come to his birthday meal at the bistro. Leanne warns him not to let them get too rowdy, she wants them on all their best behaviour, but adds that she's really looking forward to meeting them all, she thinks the footy thing will be good for him.

Steve steps outside the pub with Rover on a lead, and meets Craig. It's Rover's last day with Steve, she's already had steak for breakfast and is now off to the Red Rec. They walk along together and meet Kirk and Maria outside the salon (with Maria looking very pregnant despite wearing a highly patterned top!) Kirk tells Steve that saying goodbye to a dog is the hardest thing, and gives him a hug.

In the bistro, Leanne and Steph are laying tables and talking to Robert. Just then Zeedan arrives with Simon and five of his friends, for the birthday meal. Leanne tells Steph not to let them order too many drinks, she's picking up the tab, then she turns to Robert and says she thought they'd just give them burgers.

Lloyd and Andrea are in the taxi office, talking about his record collection. He says it's not just the fact that they're worth good money, it's the sentimental value. She tells him not to worry, she'll find the money somewhere else.

Just then Steve (accompanied by Kirk) comes in with Rover to say goodbye to everyone. The talk some more about the records, Steve thinks Lloyd is silly to value a record more than Andrea, he himself puts more value on living things. Lloyd eventually agrees with him and goes off upstairs to get his most valuable record. Andrea sits in the chair looking worried.

Back in the bistro, Steph is handing round fizzy drinks to the boys. She remarks that they should be rehydrating, not going for a sugar rush.

Tracy and Amy arrive at the shop, and Tracy is dismayed to find that Tony has left boxes of stock for her to sort out

Simon is talking to one of his friends who is boasting about the over 18 computer games he plays until 2am, while drinking tequila shots. Not to be outdone, Simon says that he likes vodka best and the other boys asks if he can get them some, steal it, so they can put it in their drinks. Simon doesn't answer at first, and the boy suggests he's scared. Simon then tells Leanne his burger seems raw in the middle, so Leanne takes it out to the kitchen. As soon as she's gone, Simon nips behinds the bar and grabs a bottle of vodka which they then pass around, pouring it into their drinks.

Tracy comes into the bistro to see Robert and gives him a big kiss in front of everyone. He asks how her morning has been and she tells him she had a run-in with her dad about her mother's insurance policy. She says that she hates being tied to Tony, she'd like to start over.

Outside the taxi office, Steve gets into a car with Rover and prepares to take her home to her owner.

Across the Street, Steph sees Maria outside the salon and goes over and asks her if she's going off Luke, and advises her to give him more attention. Maria isn't too happy at this.

In the bistro, Simon and his pals are getting more and more rowdy, as Emily and Rita come in, as they have a coupon for two meals for the price of one. As they sit down, Leanne asks the boys to quieten down, but they don't seem to take a lot of notice. Steph complains to Leanne that it isn't nice for the other diners, and Simon sits at the end of the table looking queasy.

Steve has returned to the pub without the dog. Kirk tries to cheer him up by suggesting he gets another animal. "How about a caged animal?" he says. "What? Like a tiger" says Steve, but no, Kirk meant a hamster or something like that. Steve isn't impressed and says he doesn't want anything else.

Ken has gone into the shop to see Tracy and says he's sorry for what happened earlier. Tracy explains that she doesn't want a cruise or a new car, but if Deirdre had left her any money she would use it to buy 'that horrible man' out of her life. Ken understands, but says that Deirdre has left £80,000 but wanted it to be put into trust for the grandchildren. Amy pricks up her ears at this, realises that Deirdre has left money for her and Simon, and starts thinking about clothes and make up. Tracy tells her she can't touch it until she's 18. Amy points out that's 7 years away, she might be dead, so can't she have some now?

Lloyd is back down in the taxi office, upset because his very rare, very valuable record of Robert and the Uptights, is missing. He can't find it anywhere. Steve wonders if Andrea has filed it in alphabetical order, but isn't very sympathetic, he's upset over losing the little dog.

Tracy and Amy are back at home, and Amy is moaning about not being able to get her hands on the money, she wants to buy a Rolex watch and go on a holiday. Tracy tells her that Ken wants her to wait and spend it on university fees, whereas Tracy would like her credit card bills paid off.

In the bistro, the kids are even louder, so much so that Rita and Emily can hardly hear themselves talk. Leanne goes over to tell them to keep the noise down, and the ringleader is cheeky and answers her back. Simon gets up from the table and rushes out, saying that he feels sick. The penny drops and Leanne realises that they've been drinking alcohol. She asks them where it is, saying she can search herself or she'll ring the police and they'll search for it.

Lloyd is back in the taxi office when Andrea comes in. He asks if she's seen his record, but she says she hasn't, and suggests that he's misfiled it. He says it's worth £1,000, and asks again if she's seen it. She's adamant that she hasn't, but, as he turns to answer the phone, she looks very worried indeed.

Leanne has looked under the table and found the empty vodka bottle. She's furious and tells them that if the police found out about it they could be shut down. She asks where they got it from and is told that Simon got it for them. Just then Simon comes out of the toilet looking sick. She turns on him and asks if it's true that he's been supplying his mates with a 50 quid bottle of vodka. "We were just......" he begins, but she stops him and says that they were just drinking, and could have ended up in casualty. She sends him home and tells the other boys that she's phoning their parents.

Tracy is back in her shop with Robert. She says that she feels that Deirdre has cut her out of her will, but Robert tells her it's not a will, it's a policy, and Deirdre was just looking out for her grandchildren. He kisses her and says he wishes he didn't have to go home later. She tells him not to, but to stay with her. "I'm so glad I've got you," she says.

Steve is sitting on the stairs at the Rovers, holding a doggy toy and looking sad.

A furious Leanne is back at home with Simon and orders him to sit down and explain. She thought they'd turned a corner, she went out on a limb and trusted him, and he just threw it back in her face. He says that it was all Kyle's fault, but Leanne is having none of it. She tells him that he, of all people, should know the dangers of alcohol. "Like father like son?" shouts Simon. She shouts back that this is unbearable, she'll have to speak to someone about him. "Good!" shouts Simon, "I'd rather be in care than with you!" And he slams off to his room, leaving Leanne weeping.

Anne Logan.

Hello,

Onwards and streetwards with the first of the Friday episodes.

We begin in Leanne's flat, where she's on the phone apologising to yet another parent. Simon has a headache and wants the paracetamol. He promises he'll never drink again. Hmmm. . . that sounds familiar. He tells Leanne he's sorry for everything. She tells him football is out. He pleads but it's not up for discussion. Simon slams out of the room in a temper.

Robert and Tracy have just got up. He has to go to the fishmonger's and refuses her invitation to go back to bed. "I have to keep this job so I can pay my divorce lawyer," he says.

Steve has his face buried in a cushion that smells of dog. Ew. Anna trips over a load cartons of crisps in the hallway. Liz orders Steve to sort them out. As he starts to do just that he hears some doggy whimpering. Rover is at the door!

Maria goes to see Luke. He's on his own at the garage and can't take a break. And she says she can't see him later because she has to nip into town to the suppliers. They agree to have pizza tonight.

Yasmeen's in the Kabin talking to Rita about senior moments. Right on cue, Ken pops in for . . . er, what was it again? Rita talks about Simon getting drunk, assuming Leanne will have told him. She hasn't.

Outside the taxi office, Lloyd tells Andrea he can't think what's happened to that record - the one thing he could have offered her to raise the money. He wants to go to see someone called DJ Brian tonight. Andrea doesn't seem so keen.

Ken meets Leanne in the street and she assures him everything is fine and Simon was just showing off to his mates. "I've dealt with it."

Liz discovers that the entire crisp order is cheese-and-onion. As a little howling noise can be heard from upstairs, Steve starts to howl along with the song that's playing. "Oh whoa wooo!" Lloyd and Andrea come in just as he goes off to ring the suppliers about the crisp order. He comes back with the news that that's what they ordered. They? Well, him. Liz tells him he was probably distracted by the dog and it's a good thing she's gone.

Yasmeen's trying to have a quiet read in the cafe. It's not helped by Anna doing the most aggressive bit of cleaning we've seen in a long time. She's been video messaging Katy and in the background behind Katy she saw Linda "swanning [spray] around [furious wipe-spray-wipe] in a swimming [spray-slam-bottle-down-wipe] costume [wipe] as if by [spray-wipe] accident!" Yasmeen gives up trying to read.

Maria's in the cafe waiting to be served. She talks to someone on the phone, arranging to meet them in a carpark. She assures the person on the phone that Luke suspects nothing. She doesn't see Steph behind her.

Simon tries to sneak out of the house with his football boots but Leanne catches him. She tries to stop him but he grabs her hair and pulls. "Stop it! You're hurting me!" she says. "Good!" he shouts. Leanne shoves him to get him off her and he lands badly, cutting his arm against the furniture.

Leanne bandages Si's arm and all of a sudden he's like a small child again, telling his Mum it hurts.

As they head for the medical centre, Rita sees them and anxiously asks if she can do anything.

Steph goes to the garage and asks Luke where Maria is. He says she's gone to the suppliers and Steph puts him right - she's actually meeting another bloke in a carpark. Luke seems reluctant to stop work to find out what's going on.

Anna's still ranting but this time it's to Kirk and she's mopping up bad-temperedly. Sally walks right through the cleansing operation and Anna has a go at her. Sally decides to buy her sandwich at Dev's.

Next comes a lovely little scene with Steve sitting on the stairs with Rover. He warns Rover to keep quiet - no snoring and no whining. He tells Rover that it's because he had her to talk to that he's as well as he is.

Lloyd mentions going to see the DJ again and Andrea says she feels sick. She goes off to the loo. Her phone rings while she's gone and Lloyd answers it. He seems puzzled by the call and then just very, very sad.

Luke's obviously been thinking about what Steph said. He flings his spanner across the workshop.

At the medical centre, Simon doesn't want Leanne to go with him. The nurse tells her they're going to use butterfly stitches to close the wound.

Luke goes to the bistro to tell Steph he wants to find out what Maria's up to. Steph hurriedly rushes to get away, even telling one poor customer that he'll have the crab cakes.

Tracy comes in to see Robert. He's been back to where he's staying, only to find the house full of smelly, smoking blokes, including one who's wearing Robert's tracksuit.

In the pub version of the bistro's olive order, Liz is trying to get rid of cheese and onion crisps. She hears the dog upstairs and this time Steve can't pretend the noise is him. She tells him the dog isn't his and he will have to take it back (again). Ken comes in and joins the discussion about dogs, saying he doesn't know how he would have coped without Eccles to talk to and to effectively be his friend. Steve asks Liz if he can keep Rover for a few more hours.

Ken goes to tell Rita what Leanne said about Simon, only to find that Rita's ahead of him with the news again. She tells him about Simon's cut arm.

Lloyd demands to know how much Andrea got for his record. The phone call was from the dealer, asking if she had any more.

Luke and Steph stake out a carpark. When they see Maria arrive they leap out of the car and confront her, only to discover she's been meeting a bloke to arrange to buy Luke the track car he admired the other week. Maria's appalled that he thought she could cheat on him. "I was really looking forward to seeing your face, Luke, but the fun's gone out of it."

Ken's gone to the medical centre to see what's happened. Leanne is this close --->|| to telling him what's really been happening. But just then Simon comes out of the treatment room and she covers for him. Ken invites Simon back to his place for tea.

Andrea explains that Jess was pleading for the money. Lloyd doesn't think that excuses stealing from him. He says he can't even look at Andrea right now.

At Ken's dining table, Leanne suggests it might be time to tell Ken the truth. Simon says nothing. "Leanne, what's going on?" Ken asks. "I want to know!"

The end of the first episode.
Margaret Carr

Last week I was in Edinburgh; this week I was just about home for Corrie after a 10 hour journey in some of the worst traffic I have encountered in some years.

Good points about Edinburgh - the Tattoo; the range of great food; in the Fringe a joyful performance of the Pirates of Penzance; the food Festival and the excellent bus services. We enjoyed eating at the Castle Terrace, the Plumed Horse and a pub called the "Theatre Royal" next door to the Playhouse. Whilst in the city we also took the opportunity to visit the former Royal Yacht Brittania and the Palace of Holyroodhouse; both are recommended if you are visiting.

Back to the mean Street in Weatherfield. This is episode 8708 or series 56, episode 165. It was written by Debbie Oates and directed by Tim Finn. Copyright remains the property of ITV to whom many thanks.

This episode opens at Number One with Ken and Leanne questioning Simon but he is refusing to answer the questions and eventually says he will only talk to Leanne so Ken takes Eccles for a walk. Simon is desperate for Leanne not to tell Ken what has happened because he thinks Ken will hate him.

Luke tells Steph to take the car back - but she knows he is going to blame her. As Maria observes Luke chose to believe his sister over her (inevitable; Maria by the way is sporting a very large bump which is not hidden by her nearly as large handbag - I suspect she will soon be enjoying another working break along the lines recently enjoyed by Fizz, Kylie and Eva (due back shortly) in the recent past). Steph is not keen on Luke having the car and Maria is getting a cab back to the Street. Steph looks very troubled.

In the Rovers Andrea is looking anxiously at her mobile. Steve is cuddling "Rover". Andrea asks if they have a wifi password - but the answer is no as she is not a mate - she is told it is traitor 123! She vows to track down the missing record of Robin and the Uptights and she will buy it back (with what I know not). Andrea tells Steve to wait until Amy grows up and comes knocking for help. Andrea stomps off and Liz tells Steve to stay out of it. Liz wants a chicken butty but Steve tells her that the organic free range roast chicken pieces in the fridge are for Rover who has had an upsetting day! A woman comes into the pub and asks to Steve McDonald who is crouching behind the bar. She sees Rover and Steve has to admit he is there. Paula says Steve identifying the owner of "Boo Boo" - which is Rover's real name! Apparently they used to have Yogi but he died. Boo Boo does not seem to want to leave Steve's arms. Liz is now offering a "twofer" on the crisps. Steve offers Paula a drink on the house whilst he goes to feed Boo Boo.

Leanne sits down with Si and tries to make him realise that now he has grown and they both hate hurting each other - but he does not realise his own strength. It has to stop - but she promises not to tell Ken. She wants a promise in exchange - but cannot say it before Ken returns. Apparently Eccles wants her tea! Simon says the injury was caused by him falling and Ken accepts it. Ken says we all do daft things and Simon just wants to forget it. Simon says he is sorry to Leanne and he does mean it.

Robert has a very quiet kitchen assistant (is the kitchen a new set?) who has to wash the ramekins! Tracy comes in and says she is bringing in Ken and Amy later and she wants a special meal doing. Veggie for Ken and she will pay up front so Robert can actually say it is on the house in front of Ken and Leanne will not kick off. She kisses him.

Luke is driving the "wreck" homewards and the bump plus Maria are walking along the street. Luke keep calling out to her and says he is an idiot. Maria says she must be an idiot for buying it. Eventually she agrees to get in the heap of junk - although the car dies almost immediately.

In the Bistro Si is bored but Zeedan wants to know about the six stitches and criticizes the poor cover story. Simon catches onto his enthusiasm and agrees to go to the gym to have his heart rate tested. Leanne says he has to be back in half an hour. She gets on with her work.

Paula reckons that Boo Boo has been spoilt enough so it is time to go home. They will be back to such a dog friendly pub! Paula and Boo Boo go and Liz reckons the RSPCA should stage an intervention - that name is animal cruelty! Chocolate Love Monkey (his own description) Lloyd comes in looking for Andrea. Steve thought he was going to the gig anyway and CLM Lloyd did - but then the DJ pulled out the first piece of vinyl and it immediately set him thinking about Andrea's actions. CLM Lloyd says he has to talk to her but he does not know if he will throw her out or not - he is not sure. Steve tells Liz the RSPCA should stage an intervention there too - on the cow which made him feel this bad.

Around the corner Lloyd finds a cab outside his flat - Andrea is loading per possessions into it as she has decided to leave. She has found some overpriced copies online and she will find a way to buy it back. He agrees. She says it will take time to find the money and he admits to being angry but asks her how running away will help. She cannot stay and them fall apart. She kisses him, gets in the cab and is driven off - he calls her name but there is no response.

After the break we resume in the gym where Zeedan is asking the wired up Simon various questions and is seeing a change of heart rate on his ipad when Simon lies. Leanne arrives saying it is tea time. Zeedan asks about the real story behind the damaged arm and Si's heart rate allegedly goes up immediately. Si and Leanne exchanged pained grimaces. Si has now dreamt up a massively entertaining story, which we do not hear as Zeedan is distracted. Leanne wants Si to come now and rips off the monitor - which is partly attached to the bad arm, hurting Simon. Zeedan returns and asks them to be careful. Leanne makes excuses as Si stomps away.

Tracy is collecting Amy from Liz in the Rovers who has not fed her. Tracy tells Liz that she is treating Ken and Amy - and Liz immediately wants to know what Tracy wants - which mirrors the question Ken raised when he was invited! Tracy cannot believe everyone is so suspicious. Ken comes in and suggests going to the pizza place as they always seem to be in the Bistro - but as Tracy points out that is a benefit of having a chef in the family. Ken is not sure about "family". But Tracy thinks they should definitely take advantage - no Simon - they are off to the Bistro - on her, with a decent bottle of wine. Ken is now highly suspicious! Ken says she is trying too hard and will she please stop it? He thinks it is about the money from the assurance policy - but of course we know it is about Robert moving in. Tracy denies that it is do with "Mam's money - that is R'Amy's money". Ken says it just seemed like she was after something - but to be accused of stealing from her own daughter replies Tracy? Ken apologises and Tracy says it is fine.

Lloyd returns and reports on Andrea's departure to Steve and Liz and asks for a whisky.

Liz is getting Amy from the back room - she is trying to leave with Steve's laptop. She wants a new laptop and cheekily proposes that Liz buys her a nice light one and gets repaid from the money. Liz points out Amy does not get the money for years. Amy wants to know why Deirdre was cruel - but Liz counters that she wanted Amy to be happy - and Amy says she can provide a shortcut by lending her the money now and getting paid back later. Nice try says Liz and takes her out to the bar.

Luke proves that Maria knows nothing about engines - he gets her to hold something whilst he tries to make the new car (which is only about 10 years old) and says he will fix it faster if she forgives him. Luke explains that Steph's stories about another bloke set off his insecurities as there are loads of better blokes out there. She shakes her head. And she has bought him a brilliant motor. She kisses him - and it turns out she was holding the dipstick.

Simon tells Leanne that she has to give him a chance. Leanne says that they can eat at home - but he has to set the table and clear up. He smiles and peace has broken out for now.

In the Bistro Ken and Tracy are saying cheers. Ken explains to Amy the meaning of the word cynical as Tracy was being nice to him and that usually means she wants something and Amy concurs. Dinner is served - including twice baked fries, kale with toasted almonds and glazed carrots. Rob insists it is on him. Ken wants to pay but Rob insists. Amy calls the chips re-heated. Tracy gushes about Robert, saying how nice it would be to have meals like this at home every night. The penny drops with a very loud clang! Even Amy has twigged. Apparently Rob's flatmate has chucked him out.

Luke and Maria are greeted by Steph at the Bistro. Luke wants Steph to apologise - which she does. Maria is dismissive and then Steph turns on Luke telling him to get rid of the car - he refuses. Luke heads to a table but Steph grabs Maria's arm and tells her that the car is dangerous. He is a petrol head she continues, the last time he raced he fractured his skull, broke seven ribs, punctured a lung and needed six pints of blood. Now Maria looks worried.

Any arrives at the counter and asks for a jug of water - simply to get her away from the table! Ken does not want another permanent resident in the house. Ken says the odd stay over is OK - but not moving in. Tracy lies saying it is a bit less casual stopping over. Tracy cares about Robert and does not want him on the streets; Ken sighs and Tracy knows she has won.

Andrea is not taking Lloyd's calls. Lloyd is not sure what he wants: Andrea with record? Andrea without record? No Andrea at all. Steve is being his usual lack of support. Lloyd just does not know what he wants. Lloyd asks for another short.

Leanne is cuddling Simon and she is saying sorry and she says that they will be OK. The look on her face betrays her worries and concerns.

Tracy tells Ken that Amy is looking forward to Robert coming round to cook. There is a knock at the door and Tracy says she will have to get a key cut as she allows Robert to enter with a box of possessions and he tells Ken that he is an absolute life saver. Apparently he has a bit of a car full! Ken "I said we would talk about it" - Tracy "We did talk about it at the Bistro". Ken has been run over by Tracy Truck again. She assures Ken it is temporary. Ken counsels against making big decisions whilst grieving. Despite his comments Tracy assures Ken that she and Robert were made for each other and this time it is forever. Ken sinks back in his armchair with reluctant acceptance.

Roll credits.

For many years the Street team have done wonders finding the younger cast members. We know that Alex Bain playing Simon has been good for years. A word for Elle Mulvaney as Amy tonight - she seems to be getting it just right at the moment.

Is it farewell to Boo Boo or will he be back?

Can Simon and Leanne get the help they need (and I want to be fair to both Simon is mainly to blame but Leanne is not his "mother" and is also partly responsible)?

And will Robert and Tracy be forever - I fear no-one can manage her for the rest of his life!

See you next week.

Richard

Written by Joe Turner directed by Peter Rose

It's an early start for the campers, with both cars stacked high on top with gear. It looks to be a bit of a squash to fit everyone in but that's half the fun, isn't it? Craig is worried about the campsite having wifi, as his GCSE results will be due in. Precamping selfie pictures are taken and off we go.

David is back from Liverpool with greetings from Martin who's doing very well for himself, thank you very much. David worries about the upcoming hearing, thinking that Callum will probably win. Gail points out that Sarah has broken up with him and Kylie comments that there's something odd about that but David isn't to be persuaded. He goes to check on the kids.

Bethany is back from Paris. Sarah has picked her up and though Bethany does seem to be carrying a number of shopping bags, she protests that Paris was boring. Sarah wants to talk to her about Callum, the drug dealing and dope smoking. Bethany protests, she didn't even finish the joint and didn't know about the drugs. Sarah insists that she keep away from Callum, he's dangerous. Bethany says she will and strops inside to unpack. Nick and Erica happen by and say hello. Bethany grunts back as she passes. Sarah says she hopes things will be ok.

In the factory, Carla is logging into a gambling site, with the very original name of gambleroom.co.uk and not for the first time since it's welcoming her back. But she closes the laptop. Alya brings in a coffee and asks if Carla has checked her email. Oh yes. Carla tells her there's been 9 emails from Sally about buying the factory but Carla really doesn't want to do that. Alya puts forth her bid, if her granddad can raise the money and they can agree on a fair price, would Carla sell to her? Carla seems very surprised but seems agreeable which pleases Alya. She then offers to take the meeting with Mr. Hanlon as a good challenge. Carla agrees and tells her to do her homework.

There's no signal at the campsite. Cars are being unpacked, tent poles are being stretched out. The tent, all rolled up, that Kirk has seems awfully small and Tyrone doesn't have the instructions to his but Ty thinks it isn't a problem. He's a fully qualified mechanic after all. Fiz thinks it might be good to take the children for a walk to get out of the way. Not a bad idea.

Callum is dressed for court and is telling Gemma that he's got it in the bag. Gemma asks about Sarah. Callum shrugs. "And Tinkerbell?" And there's Tinkerbell walking in the door of the pub right on cue. She's furious that her mother found out about everything. He doesn't really want to talk about it and suggests they meet up after, for food and a drink. Yes just like a date, he agrees. That soothes Bethany who laps up the attention. It's a date.

Beth pulls out tins of lager, she's on holiday! Fiz, having returned from the walk, doesn't approve. It's not even noon! Kirk's tent is predictably only big enough for one person, maybe two if they're little. Tyrone hasn't made a lot of progress, either. A fellow camper comes sauntering up, dressed in what looks like survival gear, or at least partially. Turns out he's got a knowledge of the great outdoors as broad as his Lanky accent. He offers a hand. Tyrone isn't inclined but Fiz urges him to let the man, whose name is Dougie, help out. He picks up an end of the tent while Tyrone goes for the other end, feeling a bit sheepish.

Alya and Mr. Hanlon are in the Bistro. He knows that Alya's on a trial run and has noticed Carla sitting back at the bar in case she messes up. She politely asks if he's always been this grumpy? He is taken aback. But she continues and says he must have been full of passion at one time and agrees, she's on trial and reckons she'd not want to be anywhere else. If she can make a deal with him, a known tough negotiator, then she can make a deal with anyone. That seems to sit well with his ego even though he knows she's flattering him. He likes it anyway and agrees to look at what she's put together.

At the bar, Carla chats with Erica and Nick while keeping an eye on Alya. She tells them Alya wants to buy the factory. Nick doesn't understand why she wants to sell but she admits she's destroying the business.

Sean chats about Paris to Sarah. David, Kylie and Gail come in and it's pretty clear things didn't go well. Gail says the court confirmed Callum's current access arrangements. Gail is flummoxed how Callum, a drug dealer, could get access. David thinks he'll go for full custody next and it won't be long before Max is wheeling around the estate on his bike delivering drugs. Sarah looks very uncomfortable. David moans. Callum's Max's dad and the law is on his side. Kyle gets upset and worries that some day Max will get caught up in Callum's world and get seriously hurt. Sarah looks even more uncomfortable.

Back to the campground, Dougie has engineered the tent up and it's huge! It will probably fit the whole lot of them. Sinead (without her crutches, by the way) gives him a bottle of water and he proceeds to chug the whole thing down. Beth wants to swop tents or at least share and Sinead suggests they take turns in the little tent. They could mind the kids if Fiz and Ty want a night to themselves. That seems to be a good idea. It's agreed. All smiles. Craig decides to go for a walk.

Callum and Gemma come into the Rovers. Gemma asks for a loan of 20 quid which is refused but he does she he'll buy her a drink and sends her out into the smoking shelter. Sarah glares at him as hard as she can. It doesn't faze him. He reiterates his threat to put Bethany in jail if Sarah says anything and he'll destroy her family. Jason comes in and sees Sarah looking upset and Callum leaning in whispering. I don't think he's heard anything but he asks if everything is ok. Sarah nods and Callum takes a phone call and heads out back. Jason can tell Sarah isn't as good as she says she is. She pretends it's because they broke up and Callum is still hanging around. She assures him she knows what she has to do. Jason still looks concerned.

Craig is still hunting for a signal out in the woods, waving his phone around the trees. A young woman comes through the path and wonders what he's doing. He admits he was trying to get a signal and she jokes with him, he'd have to climb that tall tree and get right to the top. He contemplates it and she says she's only having him on. She sits down and pulls out a sketch book.

Sarah comes into Platt Towers and has something to say. First Gail wonders how the courts keep believing Callum. Kylie remarks that he persuades them he's a good dad and she's a drug addict, that's how. David says they can't prove a thing. Sarah tells them she can prove it what he's really like.

Craig is chatting to the young woman who's industriously drawing. He says he should have brought his own sketch pad (and considering the wall art he's created, he probably has one). He asks to see what she's done. He admires it a lot, it's in the style of Japanese anime cartoon. He compares it to a famous Japanese artist's work but she gets offended, protesting that hers is original, not copying someone else's style. She's been developing her own style. He tries to backtrack but she's upset. She accuses him of knowing nothing about art, manga or anything else, grabbing the pad and storming off through the trees. Doh.

Sarah has told them about the gun. They are horrified and ask why she didn't say anything before the court hearing. She tells them about the phone footage of Bethany and his threats to send her to jail. David and Kylie are furious and Gail thinks it might not be too late. She hands the phone to Sarah and orders her to call the police.

Outside, Bethany is texting Callum about when they're meeting. Jason comes along and asks how things are. He mentions he knows about Sarah and Callum splitting up and warns her that Callum is dangerous. She's dismissive. He insists, that if Callum bothers her she's to come see him. She sneers at his back as he walks away.

Tyrone, Chesney and Kirk are standing around a barbeque. It's the kind that you use coals with, not a gas fired one. Tyrone lights one match after another trying to get it to light. Man has been cooking with fire since time began! Dougie is over to one side, talking to Fiz, Sinead and Beth about his adventures in the wild, encounters with a deer, most definitely bigging himself up, trying to save the deer from hunters. He implies all his efforts were for naught. He then heard a gunshot echoing in the woods. Sinead and Fiz look heartbroken. Beth leans back and says "I don't know about you, but I could eat a horse". Over by the barbeque there's a little bit of smoke but not a lot is happening. Dougie offers to help but Tyrone quickly says no. His manhood has taken enough of a beating today!

Gemma is mithering Callum in the Rovers for a bit of money so she can buy some nuts. Jason comes in, notices Callum and has a word. He orders them to stay away from Sarah and Bethany. Callum asks if he's threatening him? Jason admits he is. He's not afraid of Callum. Callum's not afraid of him, either. Jason picks up the glass that has a bit of beer left in it. Callum points out it's his. Oh yeah, Jason mutters, and tosses it in Callum's lap to return it. Callum jumps up ready to fight and Jason is ready for him but Tony comes in just then as well and it's two very burly men against skinny Callum. Callum won't be taking that lying down but he's not about to start something now. Tony whispers that they go for fish and chips for their tea and in order that they show a united front, Jason agrees, that's fine (when he probably wouldn't want anything to do with his dad at the moment normally). Jason remarks to Callum that he's not finished with him.

They exit the pub and Tony asks what the upset was about. Jason says Callum is upsetting Bethany and Sarah and it matters because they're still his mates. Tony hopes Callum has got the message. In behind them, two cop cars come screaming around the corner and stop in front of the pub. I guess Sarah made that phone call. The Platts come outside to watch. Callum is being arrested in the pub for being in the possession of an illegal firearm. They lead Callum out who sees Kylie and David watching. He gives her the death stare but she accuses him of letting Max play with a gun. The cops usher him out though he's saying it's all a misunderstanding.

Tvor

Written by Joe Turner and directed by Peter Rose

As Callum is bundled into the back of a police car Gemma warns the assembled Platt family that he'll get them for this. Bethany comes along wanting to know what's going on. Sarah tells her that she's just got to go and give a statement to the police. "That's a result," murmurs David. "Fingers crossed," replies Gail. Everything crossed …

Over at the campsite Dougie is demonstrating to the boys how to start a fire. Beth decides he's quite fit, not unlike Bear Grylls, and she wouldn't mind being trapped on an island with him. Fiz says she's happy to stick with her Ty in the love tent and she's looking forward to tonight. This sparks an argument with Beth – why should Fiz and Ty get first dibs? Sinead tries to pour oil on troubled waters and says they should make the most of this holiday as it could be the last one they have if they lose their jobs at the factory.

In the Rovers Gail is telling Sean about Callum and the gun when Sarah comes back from giving her statement. She says the police are going to keep Callum in custody while they search his flat. Sarah's worried about the outcome. Gail tries to reassure her.

At home David is delighted that Callum's been carted off but Kylie's not so happy. What if the gun had gone off and Max had been hurt? And how about Sarah – she knew about it but didn't say anything before now. She wonders what Callum will get for possession of a gun. They're interrupted by the doorbell. It's the police who have come to pick up Max and Kylie.

Back at the campsite Ty is busy cooking the barbeque while FIz and Beth are still arguing about the sleeping arrangements. Sinead settles it by telling them she and Ches will have the love tent tonight. Meanwhile Dougie is giving Kirk and Chesney a lesson in whittling wood. They ask Dougie if he's here on his own. He tells them that he's there with his mistress and he's left his wife at home. The boys think she must be very understanding. Dougie enlightens them – nature is his mistress. Three times a year he goes away with his daughter for a camping trip to be at one with the great outdoors while his wife, a townie, goes on a shopping spree. Kirk cuts his fingers and Dougie, who is obvious

In the Bistro Alya is delighted when the client places an order. He calls Carla across and tells her he's impressed with Alya and that she's got a good one there. Over by the bar Erica comments to Nick that it looks as though things are going well and she reckons Alya's not a bright future. He says he wishes he could say the same about Carla. Erica tells him that Carla's a tough cookie. Nick tells her that Carla pretends to be tough but she's just as insecure as the rest of us. Erica raises her eyebrows. Carla tells Alya she did well. "So you'll sell the factory to me?" asks Alya. Carla tells her to make her an offer. Alya says that she just has to make a call.

Ty's still busy with the barbeque and he's annoyed that the others invited Dougie to join them. They point out he did supply a lot of the meat. Kirk says he made a pointy stick, killed a rabbit, skinned it and turned it into burgers. "Bunny burgers?!" exclaims Ty. Craig comes wandering into the camp, looking worried. He tells everyone he met a girl and made a fool of himself. They all start to tease him and obviously think he's been hallucinating or having dreams. Beth asks if he's been eating any strange berries. Craig insists she was real but he upset her by admiring her art. "Her what?" asks Ty. Just then the girl herself appears. Dougie introduces his daughter Caitlin to everyone.

Max is being questioned by the police. He is sitting with Kylie and the lady asking the questions on one side of a glass screen while David watches and listens with a policeman on the other side. Max's version of events is that it was a toy gun and that Callum and Sarah were playing a game. Kylie asks if he pulled the trigger. Max says that Callum told him not to but it was all part of the game. He asks if his dad is in trouble. The questioner tells him all that matters is he tells the truth. Max insists the gun was a toy.

Sarah's at work talking to Gail. Bethany's not answering her phone. She asks her mum to go to the flat and check on her but before she can do anything Kylie comes storming into the Rovers. She's furious with Sarah for dating Callum and then keeping quiet about the episode with the gun. Sarah tries to defend herself and says she's told the police what happened but Kylie tells her what Max said when he was questioned. Kylie threatens Sarah that if anything happens to Max or David she's coming after her.

Back at the campsite they're tucking into the barbecue. The kids have gone to bed but Fiz is worried about Hope who seems to be under the weather. Beth reckons it's all those germs you get from the outdoors – animals doing their business, poisonous plants, spiders, nettles, wasps … Still, now she has her burger, a cider and her man she's happy she says, smiling at Kirk. Kirk and Ches have a bit of fund winding up Ty. They ask Dougie to tell Ty about his mistress. Ty looks shocked when Dougie says he spends time with her three times a year and that it's like an itch you have to scratch. Kirk explains that nature is his mistress but Ty just looks annoyed – unlike Dougie, he's definitely not into the great outdoors. While this is going on Craig is trying to steal glances in Caitlin's direction.

In the Bistro Alya is trying to make a call but the person on the other end isn't picking up. Nick is trying to talk Carla out of selling up. Erica mentions that LA is a nice place to live and Nick points out that he's trying to persuade Carla not to leave. Erica says that a better friend might respect her decision. Still frustrated she can't get through on her call, Alya asks Carla not to agree to sell the factory to anyone else.

Bethany meets Gemma in the street. She asks what's happened with Callum and where he is. "Ask him yourself," says Gemma as Callum appears round the corner. Bethany is shocked when Callum tells her she's just a nasty little child, a joke, and asks why she'd think he'd ever be interested in someone like her. He tells her she was useful but now she's just a waste of space. Bethany tells Callum she hates him. He replies that the feeling's mutual and Bethany strides off up the street. Gemma confirms to Callum that Sarah is in the pub.

Jason is at home with Tony and the two of them are happily enjoying a bag of chips together on the sofa when the doorbell rings. It's Bethany, sobbing her heart out. Jason instructs Tony to fetch her a glass of water while he tries to comfort her.

Caitlin brings Craig one of her dad's bunny burgers as a peace offering. She apologises about how she reacted earlier and explains that she's sensitive about her art. Craig accepts her apology and she sits down with him. The others are discussing Dougie while he's off visiting the facilities. Ty isn't keen on him at all but the girls are still impressed with his camping skills. Dougie comes back and continues to wax lyrical about the joys of nature. Ches says he enjoys being outdoors but Dougie tells him that sitting on folding chairs are eating off a barbecue isn't the same as a genuine wilderness experience. Beth doesn't like the sound of that but Ty reckons it's not that big a deal and Ches and Sinead both think it sounds exciting. Dougie says if they're serious he'll take them on a 24 hour wilderness adventure and he promises them an experience they'll never forget. Ty doesn't want to lose face and says he can count him in.

Meanwhile Jason is making Bethany a tea. Tony tries to get her to talk but she wants to speak to Jason on his own. After Tony leaves Bethany tells Jason how horrible Callum was to her. She thought he liked her more than her mum but now she knows he was just using her. She tells Jason how he made her deliver drugs for him and she'd terrified she'll go to prison. Jason is horrified. He reassures that nobody will blame her for being tricked into something. He promises he won't let anything happen to her and gives Bethany a hug.

Sarah leaves the Rovers. Across the street Callum watches her from the shadows.

Beth is talking to Craig about Caitlin. He goes very pink and turns an even deeper shade when Beth says he'd better not get her pregnant. After all, it happened to Faye Windass. Meanwhile the others are discussing the wilderness adventure. Ty reckons it's no big deal. If Dougie can do it, so can he. Fiz tells him Dougie's talking proper back to basics – no food, no drink, no phone. Ty says they'll be five minutes away from the campsite, what could go wrong?

Sarah is in the street. She drops her bag. A man's foot steps on it and she looks up to see Callum standing over her. He tells her he's been releases without charge. There was no evidence – all the police found was a toy gun. Only a stupid person would think it was a real gun he tells her threateningly. Jason appears and asks what's going on. He tells Callum that if he wants to pick on someone he should pick on him. Callum says he might just do that – he'll add Jason to his list. He turns back to Sarah. In a very menacing tone he tells her to say hello to Bethany.

Jason tells Sarah not to worry, he won't be coming back. Sarah says he will, Jason doesn't know what he's like, he's going to keep coming back. She tells Jason that Callum said he's going to destroy her family and he keeps his promises.

Karen

The Platts are sitting round the breakfast table, (well, David, Kylie and Gail are, the children never seem to join them for meals!) and Kylie is adamant that Max is not going anywhere with Callum, court order or not. David agrees, they're not going to send him out with an armed maniac. David can't believe Callum was released without charge. Just then Max comes downstairs, asking what time his dad is picking him up.

Bethany and Sarah come out of Victoria Court, and Bethany concedes that she should probably listen to her mother more, and she says she's sorry. Just then their phones bleep, they've both been sent the film of Bethany making the delivery of drugs.

On the campsite, Beth, Kirk, Tyrone and Fiz are sharing a tent and all sleeping in a row, next to each other. In his sleep, Kirk flings his arm over Fiz, and then Tyrone wakes up and sees him and gets cross and shouts, waking Beth who isn't pleased either.

Bethany and Sarah are discussing the video. Bethany is worried that Callum could take it to the police. Sarah is sure he won't, he's just trying to frighten her. "He's never going to leave us alone!" shouts Bethany, and storms off, just as Jason comes along. He quickly realises who the upset is about and tells Sarah that if Callum goes near either of them again, he'll sort it.

Alya takes a box of cakes into the community centre for her grandparents. They soon work out that she's trying to butter them up for some reason.

Back at the campsite, Beth is still giving Kirk hell for flinging his arm over Fiz. He protests that he was asleep and didn't know what he was doing. He asks if he can make it up to her, and suggests that they go for a nice walk together, just the two of them. "That's your idea of making it up to me? A walk? I'm not a labrador Kirky!" she snaps. He turns on the Kirky charm. "It'll be romantic," he says, raising his eyebrows, "just the two of us." Beth softens a little. "You getting fruity?" she asks.

Chesney is wondering why he and Tyrone ever agreed to go on the wild camping trip with Dougie , it's just daft. Tyrone says he wasn't going to let the cocky so-and-so get one over on them, and he did his survival badge in the scouts so they'll be fine. Chesney thinks Dougie's going to make them look like idiots, but Sinead thinks he's nice and she's really looking forward to it. Chesney asks if she's sure she's up to it, but she says she is. Fiz and Craig are just glad they're not going. Just then Dougie and his daughter arrive, and ask if they're all set for a day of adventure. "Time to separate the men from the boys!" he says, giving Tyrone a punch on the arm.

Callum arrives to pick up Max. David meets him outside and tells him that Max is staying at home today. Callum argues, he's got a court order. "Go inside little man and bring my son out, don't let me get annoyed," he says. David stands firm, so Callum grabs him by the t-shirt and shoves him up against the wall. Just then Nick comes along and rushes over shouting at Callum to let go of David. Callum doesn't budge and then Jason pulls up in his van. He jumps out and rushes over, telling Callum aggressively to let go of David now, and Sally, who was also walking past, asks if she should call the police. Callum puts David down, and Jason grabs him and shoves him up against the wall, telling him he's had enough of Callum throwing his weight around there. "Who made you the bodyguard?" says Callum, and Nick urges Jason to let him go. Jason does, but tells him to get back in his stupid looking car and take his bad boy swagger and bully-boy act somewhere else. Callum backs off and heads towards his car, but tells Jason that this is now unfinished business.

David goes back inside the house to find a very angry little boy. Max has been watching from the window and knows that David wouldn't let his dad in. "You wouldn't let him in, I saw you, I hate you!" he shouts and runs off upstairs.

Back at the campsite, Tyrone, Sinead and Chesney are preparing their backpacks. Dougie tells them they only really need a sleeping bag and a torch, and scoffs when Ty asks him if he's got a camping stove. "It's wild camping, son, not a spa weekend," he says. Then his daughter, Caitlin, tells him she doesn't want to come along. He can't believe it, they always go wild camping together, and he can't leave her there alone. Craig says that he'll keep her company, and Fiz will be there to keep an eye on them.

Erica is in the pub and has just bought a bottle of wine. Carla comes in so she asks Sarah for another glass.

Jason is sitting at the bar, and Sarah says she hopes David thanked him for what he did earlier. Jason says David muttered something before he went indoors. Sarah warns Jason to beware of Callum, he's nasty. Jason says he's not worried by Callum, but Sarah says again that he should be careful.

Callum is sitting outside in his car, on the phone to someone. "It'll take both of you," he says, "and I want him sorted out, today!"

Alya has revealed to her grandparents the reason for her visit – she wants them to help her buy the factory. It's not just their money she wants, but also their drive and expertise. She'll let them on the premises once a month, but it's going to be her baby. She's sure she can do it. In the end Sharif says ok, they'll give it a go.

The wild-campers are walking through the forest. Sinead tells Dougie not to be upset because Caitlin didn't come, she's a teenage girl who needs to spread her wings and find herself.

Kirk and Beth have gone for a walk on their own, and have arrived at the side of a lake. Beth suggests a swim, but Kirk says he hasn't brought his trunks. Beth, however, has skinny dipping on her mind and brushes aside Kirk's protests. "This is supposed to be romantic, now take off your kecks and get in the flamin' water!" she snaps.

Carla and Erica are still at the bar, drinking wine, when Alya comes in followed by her grandparents, and holding a file. She hands the file over to Carla and tells her she's got a proposal for her and the figures are all in there. Sharif comments that it's a fair offer. Carla tells them she'll look at it and get back to them.

Jason is also still at the bar, chatting to Sarah when two young guys come in and order pints.

Craig and Caitlin are sitting outside Fiz's tent, chatting. Craig is of the opinion that her dad doesn't like him, and Caitlin tells him to ignore him.

Jason has finished his drink and tells Sarah he's getting off. She warns him again to stay away from Callum, it's not his fight.

Carla and Erica are walking down the Street, eating chips, when Sally runs over and asks Carla if she's had a chance to consider her offer for the factory. Carla says she's still thinking about it, and tells her that she's had another offer – from Alya. Sally can't believe Carla would consider an offer from Alya, but Carla tells her that's just what she's doing, considering, and sends her away. Just then Nick comes along and they tell him about the other offer for Underworld. Carla reckons that once it's sold she'll be gone.

Beth and Kirk have had their swim and are getting dressed. Beth suddenly starts leaping about and screaming, she has a wasp in her pants and it's stung her!

Jason walks out of the pub with his phone pressed to his ear. The two guys follow him and one of them snatches his phone and they run off down the ginnel. Jason shouts and runs after them, watched by Callum who is outside the Kabin. He starts to head towards the ginnel as well, and he's seen by Max who is looking out of the window.

David, Kylie and Gail are sitting at their table, and Kylie comments that Max has barely said a word all day. Gail wonders how you explain to an eight year old that his father is a nasty piece of work. While they're talking about him, Max quietly heads out of the front door and follows his dad towards the ginnel.

In the ginnel, the two guys are beating Jason up, they've thrown him to the ground and are kicking him. Callum comes up and joins in, kicking Jason hard as well. Max, peeping round the corner, sees all this, looks horrified, and ducks away. Giving Jason one last kick, Callum sends the two guys away and then hurries off himself, leaving Jason, bloodied and unconscious on the ground.

Anne Logan.

Written by Martin Allen Directed by Peter Rose

We start where we left off yesterday. Tony's crossing the street and the two thugs that have beaten up Jason run past him, jostling him. I guess Callum went out the ginnel the other way. Tony shouts at them and continues on his way. We have an aerial shot of Jason passed out cold by the mural in the ginnel.

Max comes in the door to be scolded by Kylie. He looks pretty glum and he's quiet. He won't tell them where he's been and insists on going to his room. They are confused as to what's wrong with him as he's had his pills.

Beth is still nursing her bitten bum by the lake. Kirk suggests a type of leaf might soothe a bite. They're only leaves. He rubs them on his own arm and says they seem fine. She takes them and rubs them on her backside under her skirt. Can you see where this is going? I think I can. There's no relief just yet and they make a start to head back to the camp site. Except, Kirk doesn't know which way to head!

Jason is still unconscious.

Erica and Nick walk down the road chatting idly about her mother doing housework and cooking, after Nick had brought up the subject of a temperamental chef. (Can't be Robert, this must be the evening shift guy!) Carla comes out of the factory looking a bit flustered. Nick asks if she should be driving. Probably not (distracted) she replies and tells him she will likely be around for another few weeks depending on the speed of the solicitors. She drives off.

Sarah comes out of the pub back yard with some trash and finds Jason lying there. He's still not responsive. She pulls out her phone and calls 999.

Dougie is supervising as Tyrone tries to start a fire without matches, twirling a stick furiously against the kindling and getting more and more frustrated and angry. Chesney takes up the reins of the stick for a go. He's not much better at this. Dougie shoos him away and puts a bit more dry tinder to the ground and pulls out a flint. It takes seconds. Sinead is impressed but the lads are feeling like they've been proven to be stupid when he could have started the fire quickly all along. They are sent off to get more twigs.

Back at the campsite, Fiz is cuddling Hope who's not feeling well. Craig is still waving his phone around trying to get a signal. Exam results come out today. He notices Caitlyn in the distance and nearly falls over a camp chair. Fiz remarks that she's very unlike her father. Craig is a bit shy about it all but Fiz hints that a faint heart never won a fair lady. Think about it, lad.

Sarah is pounding on Eileen's back door and tells she and Michael about Jason. They hurry out, Eileen immediately on the phone to summon Tony as well. Tony comes out of the Kabin and runs across. Eileen is shocked at the state of her son. Tony runs, and David asks what's up and is told about Jason's attack so he joins the race across the road. Jason is still unresponsive but breathing. Tony and David arrive. Michael wonders who would do that. Sarah and David exchange a glance. They know.

Kirk and Beth are making their way through the woods and seem to be lost. Kirk tries to figure out compass directions by the sun. He's not very good at it. Beth starts complaining. Kirk says his phone would help except there's no signal. That doesn't help Beth's temper. They stop short at the sight of a man in an orange robe standing in the middle of a little glade. He offers help. Hare Krishna?

The ambulance and police have arrived. Tony is telling one officer about the two men that pushed past him though he didn't get a good look at them. All Tony can guess at is a general age (20s) and about 5'10" or 6 foot. Sounds about right. Bethany comes around the corner and sees the commotion. Sarah comes out and tells her what happened. Eileen goes in the ambulance and Tony takes Michael. Bethany asks if they know who did it. Sarah and David look at her. She can barely utter the word. Not Callum????

After the break, we're back in the woods. The orange-clad man says he's a monk in training and often spends time in the woods so he has first aid creams which Beth has been given and has rubbed on herself. He seems quite nice. Kirk asks why he decided to become a monk. The man explains that he was wasting his life and saw the light after getting in with a bad lot. He was in prison for a gangland shooting and swore he'd turn his life around. He's making progress though the monastery wants his parole finished first. Beth thinks they should get back though the monk seems to want their company a bit longer, perhaps a bit lonely? They thank him and get on the way through the directions he's told them.

Elsewhere, Tyrone and Ches have picked blackberries but they aren't ripe and get a scolding for that. Dougie pulls a mushroom out of the box and tells them it's poisonous. Good job they didn't try one. Dougie says they're the same kind of mushroom that did in the Austrian succession over a century ago. Sinead was a bit more successful. Nettle and wood sorrel to be made into a soup. Ty doesn't think that's going to be very filling.

Callum is checking in by phone with his minions. Gemma comes along and bangs on the car window. She gets in when ordered. Callum asks if anyone followed her. He does seem a bit nervous. She says she's been home for a bit listening to music, alone. He corrects her. She's been with him at his flat since 2 p.m. He won't tell her what he's really been doing and shouts at her for being impertinent. She gets the message.

Fiz asks Craig if he's seen Caitlyn but he hasn't. She reminds him they're only there a few more days. Kirk and Beth finally turn up with a story, a hornet and a killer on the run disguised as a monk. I think they were a bit spooked at his former association with a gangland murder! Craig's phone suddenly jingles, a signal has descended from the skies. He's got his GCSE results, 10 passes from a C to an A (Maths and Art)!!! Everyone is excited and congratulates him. Beth takes the phone to call the Chinese takeaway in the nearby village to order a celebratory banquet.

Nick is on the phone to Erica, I think. He tells her he'll be a few hours yet and says there's no more news about Jason. He sees Carla in her car and walks over as he's talking. He rings off and gets in her car. She admits she lost another thousand and she's nearly broke. Just as well she's leaving. She says that going away might not fix things but it will help, with nobody staring, finger pointing etc. He says he doesn't want her to go.

In the woods, Chesney is off on his own, trying to get a break from Dougie. Sinead tells him she didn't fancy nettle soup and has walked down to a village shop which, it turns out, isn't all that far away and they aren't really in the wilds after all, regardless of what Dougie says. She pulls out some goodies like pork pies, making Chesney's face lift up in a smile. She's even got a bottle of lager for him. She admits she was really getting tired of his "Mr Know It All" attitude. They share lunch and a laugh, alone at last together.

Nick and Carla have come into her flat. She pulls down some wine glasses. He tells her she's too hard on herself. He really doesn't want her to go. She repeats, she's broke and the factory's on the bring so the sooner she's gone the better.

David and Sarah come into the house. Jason's still unconscious. Nobody knows who did it though David, Sarah and Kylie are pretty sure Callum was involved. It's too much of a coincidence. Kylie says they can't prove it because Callum will have had someone else do the dirty work by someone that will be too scared to admit it. Kylie reckons Callum will come after them next.

Nick is still trying to persuade Carla she's not a monster. She changes the subject and asks about he and Erica. He says she's amazing but he still wonders what would have happened if... Ah, Carla interrupts him, regrets are pointless, he's told her that often enough. Carla wonders if Erica will be wondering where he is. He describes the one thing wrong with Erica. "She's not you" and he leans in and kisses her. She doesn't push him away. The end credits roll.

Tvor

It's the morning after the night before and Carla seems to want to get rid of Nick. She insists she has to get to work and there's a distinct chill in the air.

Over in the hospital, they've done a fairly good job of making Jason look as if he really has been punched and kicked. Unfortunately, despite all the TV fly-on-the-wall hospital shows, nobody at Corrie has realised it doesn't help a head injury patient if you prop him up with his neck at 50 degrees. Maybe they're getting kick-backs from a chiropractor? Anyway, Sean persuades Eileen and Tony to go off to the hospital cafe. Then he sits by Jason, strokes his face and sobs.

Oops. It seems that once again Todd's family haven't told him what's going on. He's just had the news from a couple of bobbies doing house-to-house in the street. Then he watches as Erica catches Sarah to ask after Jason, who was apparently left with the imprint of a trainer (running shoe; jogger; sneaker; guttie... whatever your local word is) on his face. Todd turns away.

In some woods, Sinead and Chesney walk along and talk about weird food.

They arrive back at the bivouac to tell Dougie they've just managed to find some blackberries. But it seems Dougie and Tyrone know about the junk food and Tyrone is particularly angry - mainly because they didn't leave him so much as a Hula Hoop (a bit like Cheezels but with no taste). Never mind, Ty, Dougie's made you a nice cup of dandelion tea.

Nick's turning out the big guns in his effort to help Carla. He's phoning Michelle, who seems to have an idea. His conversation is ended when Erica arrives and orders him to end it. And it seems she doesn't mean just the phone call.

Craig and Caitlin seem to be getting on well, though she laughs at him screaming because the showers were cold. Craig wants to celebrate somehow because he's managed to find out his GCSE results. He got all the grades he needed, including an A for art.

The doctor wants to talk to Jason's family. It seems the surgery hasn't helped as much as they'd hoped and Jason is still in a critical condition. They might have to open up his skull to relieve the pressure on his brain. The next 24 hours will tell. Eileen is devastated to hear that if Jason wakes up he might not be able to walk or talk or be "our Jason" at all.

Yes, Erica's finished with Nick. She won't play second fiddle to another woman. Though she thinks Carla is trouble.

Fiz is very happy to see Tyrone back at the main campsite. Hope's not been well all night. Beth hears voices and finally struggles out of the small tent, complaining that someone should have woken them. Dougie points out that she's covered in hives.

As the Platts (I'll call them that because it's the shortest name Gail's had) they're sitting talking about Jason when David notices Max has thrown a whole lot of his toys into the bin. They call him down and he just says he doesn't want them any more. They send him out the back to play, though he just sits morosely at the picnic table. Kylie realises he's thrown away everything Callum gave him, including his hat and his phone.

Sarah says that whatever's going on, they'll have to coax it out of Max very carefully. Kylie goes out and asks him if he'd like to go to the fair.

Nick's on the phone to Michelle again. He tells her to sell something as if it's a lifetime opportunity. "Just get him to ring me," he says.

Craig's not that keen on sitting still while Caitlin draws him but he does like the result - Caitlin's version of The Scream, with Craig under a showerhead.

Sean tries to talk to Billy about Jason and Billy tries to comfort him.

In the hospital room, Eileen and Tony talk about Jason being called Mr Bump as a child because he was so accident-prone. She says you can't tell what life will do - she always thought of Jason as the dopey one but he's turned out to be the better son. She doesn't realise Todd has come into the room, nor that he's overheard this and has left again.

Aidan Connor arrives at the factory, much to Carla's surprise. He's some kind of cousin of Michelle and her brothers. Carla's first reaction is to take him for a drink but Nick comes in and points out that Aidan's actually interested in buying into the factory.

At the hospital, Beth's annoyed at being kept waiting so long. One of the desk staff is worried about Hope and sends over a nurse who says Hope has a really high temperature. She thinks Hope should get checked over. Beth has now been told the rash is just an allergy.

The costume department has fouled up, giving Aidan a shirt which has almost the same pattern as the wall behind him. He tries to convince Carla that buying into the factory would be a good idea. She dismisses the whole idea and is most annoyed that she's being talked about behind her back. Nick's trying to run her life for her, she says. She slams down her keys and tells them to lock up on their way out.

Callum's in the street describing the police investigation to someone on the phone (presumably his heavies). He sees Max coming back from the fair with Kylie and David. He greets Max who shrinks back against David and Kylie saying he doesn't want to see or talk to his dad. "Get away from me!" he shouts.

The end.
Margaret Carr

It has been a quiet week this week. We have been looking after a collie called Molly who is a lovely well behaved dog. Only one drawback with this weather - she is moulting like mad and there are clumps of either white or back appearing within moments of the vacuum cleaner being put away!

It is busy on (and off) the Street at the moment with extra episodes and a camping holiday to provide some light relief from the orchestrated violence which happened earlier this week. This is episode 8714, series 56, episode 171. It was written by Mark Burt and directed by Peter Rose. Copyright remains the property of ITV to whom many thanks for their continuing efforts in entertaining us.

Outside the Platt house hold Callum has no idea why Max is cringing away from him into Kylie's arms. He asks Max to tell him what he has done but Max runs indoors leaving Callum at a loss. Sarah wants to know why Max is frightened but Callum tells her to get lost. He again denies beating up Jason. Is Callum's comeuppance coming?

Roy is tidying the cafe when Carla pokes her head around the door. So Roy brews up. She brings Roy up to date saying she was ambushed. Roy observes they are not enemies and they are trying to help her, after all desperate times require desperate measures. She needs to look forward - and they discuss her departure. Later Roy says that perhaps leaving is the right thing to do. Carla has no real attachments here - and if being on the Street is making her unhappy then she can only gain by moving on. Roy admits he would miss her as would Michelle and Nick and others. Now Carla is confused. Roy is merely talking through both sides of the argument. She just wants his advice - and he says that if she goes the memories go with her - and she knows he wants her to stay and fight.

In the hospital the nurse is checking on Jason watched by Eileen and Tony who does not like feeling helpless. He had promised to look after Jason, but Eileen says it is not Tony's fault. Tony agrees that Jason is an adult - but still remembers the little boy he left behind and now might lose again.

Aidan and Nick discuss Carla, Aidan reckons Carla has mellowed which surprises Nick. She used to be able to start a fight in an empty room. Aidan confirms that he was never "close" to Carla as he is too clever for that.

David is still trying to get to the bottom of Max's behaviour from Sarah - but she has no answers. Sarah goes to work and David picks up the football - some "man time" is indicated.

In the forest Craig has pulled when he gets a peck on the cheek from Caitlin following some discussion over parents and their education plans.

At another hospital Beth, Kirk and Ty and family are waiting around for Fiz to re-appear. Meanwhile Beth is going a sexy pink. She likes the answer. Hope is apparently anaemic ... yet again the NHS get the diagnosis wrong. They have to see the GP when they get back. And they all leave for the campsite.

In the back garden David is being comprehensively by Max - 10-1 he claims. Kylie gives Max a drink and tells him he is due a bath. David asks Max if he has anything to tell them about when he was scared by Callum - but Max says they cannot help him.

After the break we are told that Jason will not need a second operation - but he is a long way from being woken - possibly weeks. Tony goes off on one, but Eileen calms him down; Jason should make a full recovery with no brain damage. Tony has to go and leaves the hospital.

Sal arrives in the Bistro with her file on the business and so does Alya in a bright yellow dress as they have both been summoned. Aidan Connor introduces himself. Alya and Sal bicker over the abilities to buy and run the factory; Aidan enjoys the entertainment. Carla arrives and the usual bullish Sally assumes a decision has been made and she will be the new boss! Alya spots however that she is about to be given a "no" so Sal is even more sure she has won. Carla has decided to stay put and Sal is told she can have her old job back. Sal wants an explanation. Carla simply says a change of heart and both Sal and Alya look at Nick - who denies it is anything to do with him. Aidan has to 'fess up!

In the forest Caitlin and Craig are listening - one ear phone each to some music and then snogging when they are interrupted by Caitlin's father who is not amused. Craig says it is not what it looks like but Caitlin looking to prove she is grown says it is precisely what it looks like! Her dad wants her to cease and desist - but Caitlin assumes control and the youngsters depart.

The party from the hospital return to the camp site. Craig and Caitlin are holding hands - pleasing Beth! The youngsters both have shy smiles. Duggie returns and reports catching the youngsters canoodling. Beth approves of snogging! Caitlin tells her father to chill out and the Tinkers all support Craig, leading Duggie to call them all barking. Caitlin makes it clear that she will not be controlled. She calls Craig a good listener and tells her father to loosen up. She says life can be fun and her father needs to remember that. He asks if she will hug a numpty and she agrees. Ty and Fiz note they have all this to come.

Back in the Bistro Alya hopes Aidan knows what he is taking on - and it was not personal Carla tells Alya - but to Alya because of Kal it will always be personal she collects her handbag and goes. Carla tells Sal that she really does not want to run the factory. Why ruin a terrific life? Sal thought it was designer handbags and power lunches. Carla assures her she is more than capable but just not insane enough! Sal says OK and having initially rejected taking her job back now agrees to report on Monday. Sally says "Thank you Mrs Connor". Nick apologises for going behind Carla's back. Carla says that if he buys her a drink they can call it even.

Tony comes into the Rovers for a whisky. Sarah asks after Jason and the good news is reported. The police are continuing with their enquiries. Sarah will go and see him tomorrow and Tony would welcome any more she can remember.

Carla explains that Roy was instrumental in her change of mind. Carla admits she is amenable to a partnership with Aidan. He will want to see three year's accounts. Aidan says he does not trust anyone. Aidan goes. Nick offers to walk Carla home.

Packing the car for the return home from the camp is almost impossible. Duggie apologises to Craig who calls Caitlin "Amazing, clever and basically awesome" to which Duggie adds "Beautiful". Behind Duggie the car is finally packed - his offer of assistance is gently rejected! Craig and Caitlin agree to text every day. And they kiss.

Carla and Nick reach the doors of the block of flats. And suddenly Carla turns chilly - she will see Nick tomorrow and he senses he is about to get dumped from a great height. She tells him that if he had any brains he would not need telling where to go. He reminds her of his brain damage with a smile. She asks about Erica and Nick can respond that it is over. Nick reckons that he and Carla would be good for each other. Carla tells him she will hurt him in the end. Nick will take his chances. She moves closer to him and they hug.

Kylie is preparing dinner. David returns and they discuss Jason with Max listening. Max wants to know if Jason is going to die. They don't know - and then Max says he saw it; he saw his "dad" kicking and kicking Jason. Kylie and David exchange some very serious looks.

What have we learned today:
a) Trying to watch ITV player (presumably using Flash) in Firefox for this update is not worth it as it constantly crashes. Adobe / Mozilla get your act together or more preferably can ITV please use stable technologies?
b) How many more women are going to ruin Nick's life - it must be Leanne's turn again any minute now.
c) Do not use the hospital which looked at Hope - that diagnosis does not seem right to me
d) And will we ever see Caitlin again? Or more to the point will Craig?

See you next week.
Richard

Written by Julie Jones Directed by Michael Lacey

Max is having trouble sleeping with nightmares that are making him wet the bed. David really thinks they have to take him to talk to the police even though Kylie isn't so sure, after last time. David thinks this time is different. He actually saw Callum kicking Jason. Gail agrees. Kylie still doesn't know whether they should put Max through that. She doesn't think the police will take any notice. Sarah and Bethany come in with their laundry, having broken Nick's washing machine with a stray bra. Gail points out bras need to be hand washed and David interrupts, annoyed at the abrupt change of subject. Sarah and Bethany are then shocked to hear that Max saw Callum beating up Jason but Kylie insists they aren't going to do anything about it.

Carla's going through the accounts and can tell it's a disaster. Nick scurries around behind her, looking for something. He notes that the business is still in better shape than she thinks. It's just a rocky patch.

Both girls have eaten all their breakfast. Fiz is going to take them to a play group and then Emily is minding Ruby while she takes Hope to the doctor. Tyrone is planning to meet them there and insists, even though Fiz allows that she can do it herself, knowing he's busy. He reassures her that everything will be fine. They all wave him off to work.

Jason's still on a ventilator and lying very still. Eileen is still sitting by his bed, reminiscing while Tony paces behind. Sean and Billy are also there, listening to her memories. Tony is getting impatient, Eileen snaps at him but Billy gently scolds her. Jason might be able to hear them. Sean offers to sing to him. Billy teases Sean about scaring Jason away. Eileen decides to go for coffee and Tony goes with her. Outside the room, Tony is clearly angry and wants to find out who did it. Eileen mentions leaving it to the police but Tony declares he looks after his own. Eileen takes a low blow and hisses "when it suits you". Ouch.

In the factory, Alya greets Sally who's sporting a new power suit. Sally declares her recent non-attendance as a leave of absence. Alya, naturally, points out she was sacked and is a bit insulting about Sally's suit which is, naturally, according to Sally, top quality. Sally reckons a substantial shoulder pad makes her feel like Boudicca going into battle! Carla and Aidan arrive. Sally informs Aidan that's she is officially the second in commands and has made sure to purchase some fancy filter coffee and pastries on his behalf. (Wouldn't Alya as the assistant manager trainee be second in command? She certainly seems to think so judging from the look she's shooting at Sally's back.) Aidan patronizes Sally in return. She takes him off to give him an orientation. Carla apologizes to Alya that it didn't work out. Alya churlishly remarks that the factory might not even exist this time next year.

Sarah insists David and Kylie take Max to the police. They see Kylie on the bench having her lunch. Sean and Billy come around the corner and tell them that there's no change to Jason's condition. Sean can't understand how someone can do that for no reason. Kylie, David and Sarah all look very knowing and so they should. Billy and Sean talk about supporting Eileen and Jason when Jason comes home, though Sean worries that Jason might be brain damaged. Everyone else looks even more guilty at that, especially Kylie. Billy takes Sean home. Kylie finally agrees to take Max to the police.

Steve brings Lloyd a pie. Lloyd is in a sulky mood. He's still had no word from Andrea though he's tried to contact her. Steve invites him to the pub to get bladdered. He's not overly inclined, not really thinking a load of pensioners would be good company but he'll probably go anyway.

Kylie, Max and Gail are leading Max down the street, Gail promising to take them all for a treat after their 'errand', thus described because they can see Callum waiting in his car. They keep going past, trying to ignore him though he jumps out of the car. He nearly goads David into smacking him though Kylie pulls him back. David then makes a big mistake by giving in to Callum's tactics by telling him that they're taking Max to the police and why. Kylie drags David away and Callum does not look happy.

Aidan tells Carla the accounts are a horror story. Sally reckons his input will make things better but Alya remarks that they would have gone under if it weren't for the McNee's order. Sally chides her and Carla agrees things have floundered lately. A blip, but she's not completely out of the game yet.

Bethany sees Callum on the street. He pushes her against a wall and bullies her, trying to get her to say she was with him when Jason was beaten but she won't. He threatens her with the video of her dealing drugs. She doesn't care. It's her first offence, she'll get off. She walks away. Callum calls Gemma to do a job.

Back at the hospital later, Tony is holding Jason's hand. He tells Eileen to go home and get rest and he'll stay. He's in nearly as bad a shape, Eileen notices. Tony thinks they should take turns so someone is there with him when he wakes up. Eileen describes her recent attempts at making a deal with a God she doesn't even believe in but would give anything to see Jason back on his feet. Tony thinks maybe this is a punishment after the things he's done. She accuses him of wallowing in self pity. Tony is near the edge, very emotional, worried sick, feeling very helpless, watching his son fight for his life. Eileen pulls him up out of the chair and into a hug. They cling to each other for comfort while Eileen cries on his shoulder.

Carla is introducing Aidan to Kirk who extols the virtues of packing. Sally notices a man outside in the courtyard, peering at Carla's cars. Kirk witters on about driving gloves while Sally goes out to see what the stranger wants. She trots back in with bad news. She gets Carla to come outside, anywhere a bit more private but Carla wants to know what's going on. The stranger? He's there to repossess her car.

In the pub, Sarah is necking cola, previously not allowed at home because her mother says it will rot her teeth. Liz is limping and Sarah suggests she might have a corn which horrifies La MacDonald. Corns are for old people and she's in her prime! Callum comes in for a pint. Sarah agrees to serve him so he orders a double whiskey in addition. While Sarah's back is turned, Callum pours something in the drink she laid on the bar. Liz has found a rice crispie in her shoe. Crisis over.

Aidan is not best pleased to see that Carla is in such a sorry financial state that she's just lost her car. Nick saw it go, too and runs over to find out what happened. Aidan knows about the gambling and he's not too pleased about that, either, realizing that she's in deeper than he realized. He strides off and it looks like she's lost her investor, and probably the factory. Nick scolds her for not caring about her employees. She's defensive.

Fiz and Tyrone are waiting to see the doctor. Fiz notes that Hope seemed a bit better today, ate a bit and seemed brighter, but she's still worried.

Sarah now has a spinning head and isn't feeling too well. Liz doesn't think she looks well, either, and offers to let her go home. Sarah doesn't have keys to Nick's flat, so she says, so Liz points her to the sofa in the back room. Sarah declines, says she'll be ok but agrees to go sit down for a bit to see if she feels better. Callum, satisfied, leaves just as Lloyd arrives. Erica is at the bar as well and Steve has told she and Liz that they have to cheer up Lloyd. They have both come up with some ludicrous choices as a joke and he does crack a smile.

The doctor has had a look at Hope. The doctor wants to send her to a pediatrician. She's found a lump in her abdomen. It might be nothing serious but she's going to schedule a scan right away. Fiz and Tyrone look alarmed.

Max is in the interview room that's set up for kids at the police station, with Kylie by his side. A woman is asking him what happened. He's a bit scared and nervous but he describes seeing his dad outside so went after him. He saw blood on Jason, two men holding him and Callum laughing and kicking him. Max asks Kylie why he did it and says he doesn't want Callum to be his dad anymore. Kylie's heart is breaking. She doesn't have the answers or can't tell him. They both tell Max he was brave. Max is scared Callum will "get him" but Kylie says the police will lock him up.

Sarah is clearly unwell and is staggering across the street, watched by Callum, to Gail's door.

Erica, Liz, Steve and Lloyd are sharing a booth. Lloyd asks her why she went for Nick in the first place. One of the main reasons appears to be his peachy "buns". She's a bit down having seen him with Carla earlier. It's Lloyd's turn to be grilled about Andrea. He says Andrea reminded him of his first love, someone he knew when he was a child. They all have a laugh.

Gemma watches Bethany cross the street. Inside Platt Towers, Sarah is out cold on the sofa. Callum is in the room drinking tea and contemplating what to do.

Tvor

Callum is pacing up and down watching Sarah who is lying, in a drug-induced sleep, on the sofa.

Outside, Gemma pulls up in a car. She calls across to Bethany who doesn't want to speak to her. Gemma reminds Bethany that she took the rap for her with the police when the Dog and Gun got raided. She tells Bethany that she thinks Callum treated her really badly and that she just needs one small favour and then they can call it quits. She wouldn't ask but she has no one else to turn to, she adds. Bethany hesitates and then gets into the car.

Nick is with Carla in her office. He's giving her a hard time for sending Aidan away. She doesn't want to know but Nick keeps going anyway. He tells her to grow up and says that she can be as horrible as she likes to him and keep pushing him away but he's not going anywhere. He's determined to help her whether she likes it or not.

Erica, Liz and Lloyd are in the back room of the Rovers, enjoying several bottles of wine and laughing about disastrous relationships they've had. Erica advises Lloyd he can't take Andrea back after the way she lied as he could never trust her again. Erica suggests she and Liz should start a vigilante hit squad to avenge the unlucky in love. Liz gets into the spirit of the idea and says they'd be like Weatherfield's answer to Charlie's Angels. She bags the role of Farrah Fawcett.

Gemma pulls up in a remote spot and explains about the favour she needs. She wants Bethany to tell the police she was with Gemma and Callum watching a film at the time Jason was beaten up. Bethany says she's already refused to do that and the answer's still no. So Gemma plays her trump card. She gets out her smartphone and puts a video call through to Callum. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology Bethany watches in horror as Callum points the camera at Sarah, dead to the world on the sofa. His face comes onto the screen as he tells Bethany to get herself down to the police station to make a statement, otherwise her mother gets it. Bethany is horrified and readily agrees.

Fiz and Ty are on their way home from the doctor's with Hope when they bump into Sally who is desperate to have a gossip about Carla and the factory. She tells them all about how Carla's had her car repossessed and what the implications are but Fiz is just desperate to get home. Sally then notices Hope's looking a bit peaky. Fiz tells her it's just an ear infection. Sally tells her not to worry, she'll have bounced back by teatime. After Sally walks off Ty asks Fiz why she didn't tell her the truth. Fiz says she doesn't want anybody to know anything until they have to.

Aidan is having a beer in the Bistro and talking to Nick. He's worried about Carla and whether he should invest in the business. He asks about Carla's gambling. Nick tells Aidan she had a bit of a meltdown but he believes Carla is over the worst.

Erica, Liz and Lloyd are getting steadily drunker. Erica finds a packet of puff pastry in Liz's fridge. She says they're going to use it to make voodoo dolls of their exes and stick pins in them. Steve comes in but he's told he can't join their club – the losers in love – because he's happily married. They've reached the stage of drunkenness where everything is hysterically funny. Steve decides to leave them be and mutters under his breath that he'd get more sense out of Norris.

Gemma has driven Bethany to the police station. Bethany looks sick with fear. Gemma tells her she might as well bite the bullet and get on with it because Callum always gets what he wants in the end. She adds that Bethany shouldn't even think about blabbing because, believe her, it just isn't worth it.

David, Kylie, Gail and Max arrive home from the police station. They find Sarah asleep on the sofa. They're all in such good spirits about how well Max's statement went that they don't pay her much attention. Gail says it's a relief that the nightmare's nearly over. If only she knew …

Aidan goes to seek out Carla at the factory. He asks if she were in his position whether she would invest in the business. He tells her he can't afford to make a mistake. She replies that the best thing about the place is her workforce. She adds that she's built up a good reputation. They haggle briefly about the deal and agree Aidan will invest £80,000 in return for 40% of the business.

Ty's at work but he's distracted. He decides to tell Kevin about Hope. Kevin tries telling him not to worry until they know for certain that it's something serious but he adds that if Ty needs anything such as time off from work, he's there for him.

Liz, Erica and Lloyd are really drunk. Lloyd can barely stand up so Steve has the job of getting him upstairs and into bed to sleep it off.

Carla takes Aidan to the Bistro to celebrate with a bottle of Champagne. Nick is delighted. He says the Champagne is on the house and tells Aidan he won't regret it. He promises him that this time next year he'll be rolling in it. Carla catches Nick's eye and thanks him.

Carla tells Aidan that she doesn't just need his money she also wants someone in the factory to help her run it. She knows she's taken her eye off the ball but says this is a fresh start.

Round at Platt Towers Sarah finally wakes up after David gives her a good shake. She feels really woozy and sick but only Gail seems vaguely concerned.

Bethany arrives back. As she walks down the street she meets Callum. She angrily tells him that she's done what he said and he must leave them all alone. He tells her that she's as thick as her mum – he's the only one who can give out orders. He adds a threat for good measure and says it would be a shame if her mum or her Nan ended up like poor old Jason.

Across the street Lloyd is leaving a message on Andrea's phone. Apparently he's already called her several times. He says he thought they had something and that he misses her. Then, with a sudden change of tone, he announces that he's going for a kebab and she can't stop him.

In the Bistro Carla goes over for a quiet word with Nick. She apologises for how she was earlier and says she was a total cow. He tells her not to worry. He says you only have to look at his family to see he's totally at home with dysfunctional people. Carla asks if that's what she is. Yes, says Nick, - amongst other things. Carla thanks him for putting in a good word for her with Aidan and Nick gives her an affectionate kiss.

Ty and Fiz are at home. Neither of them can concentrate on anything as they are so worried about Hope. Ty wonders if they're this bad now, what will they by like if it is bad news? "Well, it won't be," says Fiz but her face doesn't look as though she believes it.

Round at Platt Towers Sarah is looking a bit brighter and the others are celebrating with Bucks Fizz when Bethany arrives home. She goes straight over to her mother and gives her a huge hug. Sarah asks what's up – it must mean Bethany's done something. Gail offers Bethany a drink but she shakes her head. David tells her how great Max was at the police station today but Kylie warns him not to get too excited because Callum's not behind bars just yet. Bethany doesn't say a word.

Gail says all she wants is a nice, ordinary, uneventful life. "And a Callum-free future" adds David.

"It's over, we're done," Sarah tells him. Bethany doesn't speak but her face says it all.

Karen

It's Lily's second birthday, and Kylie brings her downstairs to open her presents. There's one for Max too, apparently from Lily, but while the family are all smiles, Bethany stands with her arms folded, looking less than happy. Sarah quietly asks David if he's heard anything, he says he hasn't. She's sure Callum will be locked up by lunchtime.

Up in Roy's flat, he's somewhat unsettled by the fact that he's found toast crumbs in the butter. Cathy is sitting eating and reading the paper while the radio plays pop music, oblivious to his disquiet.

Over in the factory, Carla comes out of her office to tell the workers that Aidan now owns 40 percent of the business, so they have to answer to him too. Sally, however, seems more interested in a text message from Sophie about the fund raising event at the bistro. Just then Aidan comes in and Carla heads off to the office, telling him to follow. "I think I'm in trouble already," he says, winking. When he's gone, Sean reckons he was flirting with him, but Sally's sure it was her he was flirting with.

Rover has turned up yet again at the pub. Liz takes her into Steve, telling him she can't keep turning up like this, crossing roads, it's dangerous, and she can't stay. Then she asks Steve to find out what Lloyd's doing later because Erica said she might pop in and she thinks they make a lovely couple.

Back at Underworld, Carla startles Rob by telling him she's taking the day off. He protests that he doesn't know where anything is. "Desk, chair, staff, if there's a problem ask Alya," she says, gathering up her bag and heading out of the door. Just then the phone rings, it's Fiz, explaining that she won't be in because of an emergency, but she won't say what kind of emergency, it's personal. She tells him she's looking forward to meeting him tomorrow.

We go over to Fiz's house then, where she and Tyrone are getting the children ready to make the trip to the hospital.

Nick sees Carla coming out of Victoria Court, about to get into the taxi. He stops her and asks where she's going. She tells him she's off to the suppliers. He takes her hand, "You're coming with me," he says, pulling her away from the taxi. She protests but he won't take no for an answer and leads her off.

In the Platt household, Bethany is still standing around with a face like a wet weekend. Sarah asks her if she's ok, and Bethany says she'd like to go out, Lily is 2, what difference would it make if she's there or not. She then asks her mother if David is going to ring the police, Sarah doesn't seem to know. "Why?" she asks. "Oh, no reason," says Bethany.

Steve and the little dog are in the taxi office with Lloyd, who is miserable and has left a voicemail message for Andrea. Steve tells Lloyd how his mother tried to set him up with Erica. They wonder why Nick kicked her into touch and Lloyd reckons he's more of a catch than Nick, Steve however, disagrees on the basis of looks, age, fitness, annual income..... Just then Liz comes in and sees Steve with Rover on his lap. "Dog, return, now!" she says.

Back at the Platt's, the birthday celebrations are continuing. Nick and Carla are there, and they all sing 'Happy Birthday' as Kylie puts the birthday cake on the table. David then starts to propose a toast, saying that they've had a tough few weeks but that's all about to change thanks to one brave little boy. A certain someone is about to go away for a long time." In the background, Bethany mutters, "Maybe." They all stop and turn round and ask what she means. She tells them that Max couldn't have seen Callum beat Jason up because she was with him at his flat the night it happened, and she's told the police.

David is then on the phone to the police and it's obvious from what he's saying that the police believe Bethany over Max. Sarah wants to take Bethany down to the police station there and then. "No!" says Bethany, "I'm not lying." "Of course you're lying," snaps Gail, and Kylie says she's going to drag her there. David asks if Callum has threatened her, as it's obvious Callum has put her up to this. "You've lied to save his skin and I want to know why," says Kylie.

Tyrone, Fiz have brought the girls home, they start to think about lunch but both seem somewhat dazed.

Over in the factory, Alya is on the phone to a customer, but can't answer the query, so she hands the phone to Aidan and make a quick exit from the office. Aidan is charming handles the call very adeptly, considering that he knows nothing about anything at this stage.

Lloyd is in the pub, standing at the bar next to Erica, talking to Steve and Liz. Just then they look round and the little dog has appeared yet again.

Kylie is having a talk to Bethany in the garden. She says she knows Bethany fancies Callum. Bethany says she doesn't. Kylie tells her that Callum is used to getting his own way and if the charm doesn't work he turns nasty and threatening. Kylie urges her to tell her what Callum has threatened, assuring her that he can't hurt them because they won't let him. She admits that in the past she lied for Callum over and over again, she kept him out of prison so many times, she knows she's got no right to lecture her, but things are different now. She needs to know what Callum has said to her because there is nothing on this earth that should make Bethany lie for Callum. Just as it seems Bethany is about to tell her, the door opens and Sarah comes out and tells Kylie to lay off her.

Roy and Cathy are washing up, but Roy doesn't look too happy at the amount of soap suds clinging to the plates.

Tyrone and Fiz are sitting at their table looking somewhat shell-shocked. Tyrone says that it doesn't mean that it is cancer, not all tumours are cancerous, they just have to stay strong until the MRI, and Fiz agrees, but when he goes out to check on the girls, she breaks down and cries.

Steve has returned Rover and gone back to the pub, but he tells Liz that the little dog seemed disappointed to have been returned home.

Lloyd and Erica are sitting down chatting about his heart and health. Erica looks towards Liz and Steve and tells him she thinks they're trying to set them up. Just then Andrea walks in and sees the two of them looking cozy. "Well, you don't waste much time, do you!" she says. Then she walks over to Lloyd. "You said you were miserable without me," she says. "I am," says Lloyd. "Not miserable enough," says Andrea and walks out again.

Nick and David return from the police station and tell Gail there's nothing they can do. "How can the police be so stupid?" she cries. "The question is," says Nick, "how can Callum be so smart?"

Sarah has gone to visit Tony and tells him about Callum's alibi. "We're on our own, he's completely got away with it," she says. "For now maybe," mutters Tony, "but not for long."

Anne Logan

Jason is still in a coma, Liz is wiping his lips.

Tony is very angry. He says he is going back to the police station and tell them that he saw Callum hanging round just before Jason got attacked. Eileen thinks it is obvious he has an axe to grind Michael suggests letting the police work it out for themselves. Eileen says he can't just wander in and change his mind. Tony says he will say that he was stressed out the first time.

Aidan and Carla are walking down the street. He looks at a car that Carla is about to test drive. He calls it "proper smart" !

In the cab office, Steve apologises to Lloyd for yesterday. Steve reckons that Andrea came in at the wrong moment. Lloyd thinks she meant well, but Steve interrupts and suggests that his heart lies elsewhere. Lloyd accuses him of offering ‘Barbara Cartland – advice'. Lloyd tells him if he ever turns up in a pink dress and a string of pearls, he and Steve are finished !!! Steve suggests that Lloyd either becomes a celibate monk or goes crawling back to Andrea.

Sean comes into the cab office wanting a cab to the hospital. Lloyd asks about Jason, and Sean says there is no change, that he is just lying there. (Sean is wearing a t-shirt that says 'I need a girlfriend, call ..' unfortunately we don't see the rest, however I am reliably informed that this is it - https://www.flickr.com/photos/diskid/7185728734 - how disappointing !!). Steve offers to take him and then he can pick Michelle up from the airport.

Cathy has drawn on the menu board in the cafe. Mary thinks it is quite beautiful. Cathy says it is just a few doodles. Roy intervenes when he sees Cathy holding some tea spoons. He asks whether they are from upstairs, Cathy says they were short in the cafe. Roy says he likes to keep a separate inventory upstairs and downstairs.

Yasmeen walks in and Mary introduces Cathy as a ‘budding artist in residence'. Mary suggests that she delivers art classes at the Community Centre. Cathy feels relieved when Yasmeen says that the Centre is booked for weeks and they don't have the equipment.

Tony goes into the Rovers. Liz asks about Jason. Tony says he has just been to the police station to say that he saw Callum. Lloyd overhears the conversation, and says that Tony should be careful as they may check his statement. Tony is annoyed and says he didn't ask for Lloyd's opinion. Lloyd apologies, but Liz asks Tony to come round the back for a word.

Tim congratulates Craig on a good morning's work. He tells him he will make a window cleaner out of him yet.

Mary is musing on to Cathy about the painting. She says the philistines have won for the time being. Roy tells Cathy that Mary can be a little over enthusiastic at times, and she should not be pressured into doing something she doesn't want to do. Roy offers to have a word with Mary, but Cathy says she can fight her own battles.

Back at the Rovers Liz is asking Tony why he started arguing with Lloyd, inasmuch as he was making a perfectly innocent observation. Tony says he was as well and he is entitled to put forward his view. Liz says he can't do it in her pub. She emphasizes that it is her pub. (I thought Tony bought a half share under the false company – maybe that will be explained at sometime). Tony apologies to her. Liz asks him to leave even though he is ready to make a pass at her.

Carla returns from her ‘test drive'. She claims she was held up, but Aidan doesn't believe her. He says he has spent the last hour trying to close a deal for her. Carla apologises.

Aidan sees a Streetcars cab arrive and sees Michelle in the car. Michelle walks into the Rovers, everybody is pleased to see her return (this reporter didn't realise she was away!).

Tony is bringing some tools out of the yard. He sees Callum chatting to a mate. Tony looks angry.

Eileen is talking to the doctor about Jason. She thinks it is good news that the swelling is going down. The doctor advises caution.

Tony is sitting in his van looking annoyed. He gets a call and says he is on his way.

Michelle wants to know what has happened while she has been away. She invites Aidan to stay with her and Steve. Aidan invites everybody out later. Michelle says she will book the bistro. Lloyd says he doesn't want to go. Liz says she doesn't want him sitting around with a face like that, it will scare her punters away. He says he will go home. Michelle invites Liz to join them for dinner, but she says she has an important date with the ‘Real ex-wives of Cheshire' and a Chinese takeaway. Lloyd wonders what it is all about. She queries that he has never seen it, and says it is a brilliant programme. She invites him to come round and watch it. He would rather gouge his eyes out. After persuasion from Steve and Michelle, he says he will watch it and have a spring roll as well.

Craig is in the cafe talking on the phone. Tim comes in with the baby, and asks who he is talking to. Craig says "nobody". Tim says he is supposed to be working, but instead he is chatting to his girlfriend. Craig insists she is not his girlfriend.

Yasmeen comes into the cafe to tell Mary that she has found a small window in the diary for tomorrow, where they could do the art classes. Mary rushes over to Craig who she believes has an artistic persuasion, and invites him to be the first to sign up for the art class. Craig says his artistic talents are more ‘street'. Mary says that the street is out there! Roy tells Mary that she should be arranging art classes out of work time. Mary calls him a philistine and Yasmeen says she hoped he would attend. He says that he likes to support community projects, but before he can finish speaking Yasmeen tells him 2pm tomorrow (who is going to run the cafe?).

Jason starts to move around the bed. The doctor says they have cut the sedation and he is slowly regaining conscious.

In the bistro, they are chatting about their memories of earlier days. Robert comes out and asks if everything is to their satisfaction. Aidan asks for some tomato ketchup to add to the flavour. Nick says they are happy to take feedback. Aidan says it is just constructive criticism. Tracy appears to defend Robert saying he has forgotten more about food than Aidan will ever know. Aidan says it is up to him whether he wants to take the feedback or not. Nick reminds Robert that the ‘customer is always right'. Nick tells him to go back to the kitchen.

Michelle goes over to Nick asking how Carla was while she had been away. Nick thinks she has Repetitive Strain Injury in her ‘pouring' arm. He says he has a lot on at the moment as they glance over to Carla pouring another drink.

Back at the hospital, Liz asks the doctor when he can go home. She says very soon, and everything is looking positive, and they just need to keep an eye on him as an out-patient. She says he does have some swelling around the kidney, but it is not serious.

Lloyd and Liz have finished watching the tv programme, and he admits he found it interesting, better than he thought it would be. Liz leans over to Lloyd a cuddle and then they kiss.

Martin Rosen

Good morning. Or at least it is in the McDonald household. Aidan is breakfasting with Steve and Michelle when Liz comes in looking very shifty indeed, sidling through the door in her scarlet robe and expressing surprise that they're not all gone off to work. And when Aidan leaves for work she appears to check the other side of the door before letting him out.

In the cafe, Mary bullies people into saying they'll come to the art class at the community centre. She, herself, is a prisoner of other people's aesthetic prejudices. In other words, nobody likes her art. Cathy doesn't seem very confident about leading the class. When Mary starts to bully Craig, the poor lad nearly chokes. Mary even bullies Tim into saying he'll abandon his household chores so he can come along.

Liz has a go at Steve for just sitting around reading. Michelle hears a noise in the hallway and Liz panics and insists she'll go to check it out. She's back almost straight away with a relieved smile - it's Rover, back again to see her pal Steve. Liz thinks this is a good chance to get Steve out of the way and suggests he take the dog back straight away but he refuses. He'll wait for the traffic to ease. Out in the hallway, Lloyd is halfway down the stairs but high-tails it back to the top when Steve comes out to fetch some pork scratchings for Rover.

Out in the street, Eileen takes a phone call with some good news - the bleed on Jason's kidney has stopped. She steps out a bit more cheerfully, accompanied by Michael, Tony, Sean and Billy. Todd watches them from the shop. Eileen tells Tony to leave things to the police to sort out. Of course, that's one of the standard lines which lets you know what's going to happen next. Other examples are: Let's keep it a secret; We've got plenty of time to get to the hospital; and I'll take you in my car, it'll be quicker.

Nick and Carla walk hand in hand but she seems brittle. Outside the factory, she snaps at Aidan, telling him he can go to an important client meeting without her. She's got work to do here. She stomps inside and Nick tells Aidan to let her go because she's been under a lot of pressure.

Liz goes into the bar and is surprised to see Steve and Michelle are still there. She tells Steve to get the unhygienic dog out of the bar. When she's gone, Michelle tells Steve she thinks Liz has a bloke upstairs. Last night, she thought she heard giggling. They speculate that it might be Tony, though Steve is furious to think it might be. Michelle tells him all they need to do is wait, because there's only one way out.

In the cafe, Sean and Billy talk about hospitals and about Jason. Sean mentions a kidney transplant, saying the doctors don't know how much damage has been done. Todd hears this and asks if it's true. "What do you care?" sneers Sean, suggesting Todd would want payment if he donated one.

Over in the Weatherfield General, Jason tells Eileen and Tony he's told the police everything he can remember. Mostly about these two blokes beating him up but he also remembers someone coming in and giving him a good kicking while he was down. He thinks it might have been Callum. Tony stands up and tells Jason to get some rest. Eileen asks where Tony is going. "Do you really want to know?" he asks.

Back in the bar, Michelle asks Steve what he'll do if it is Tony upstairs. She decides he needs help and calls Lloyd for reinforcements. Lloyd's phone rings - on the stairs! Steve looks up to see Lloyd frozen there with his phone ringing. "YOU...!!!" snarls Steve.

In the art class, Craig says he feels as if he's selling out. Mary's going off to drag. . .er. . . I mean REMIND Emily. Yasmeen hopes Cathy and Roy are impressed by the turnout. She's had to turn people away. Cathy pales.

Lloyd tells Steve it's not what it looks like Steve doesn't believe a word. Michelle suggests she and Lloyd leave Steve and Liz to talk.

Nick and Callum meet in the street. Nick suggests Callum leave them alone but Callum says he's not going anywhere.

Liz insists she's done nothing to be ashamed of. It's her life and she'll make her own choices. She tells him Lloyd is a good man - he must be because he's Steve's best mate. That's the point for Steve. He and Lloyd have only just patched up things between them. "This is only going to complicate things." Liz explains she's not planning to marry Lloyd. But maybe she was a bit hasty when she chucked away their previous relationship. Lloyd's a genuinely nice guy and it would be good to be able to trust someone again. Steve can't pretend to be delighted but he says it's her life.

In the factory, Aidan finds an on-line roulette game open on Carla's laptop and sees she's lost £500 already today. He's furious. He tells her she has to remember that it's not just her own money she's gambling with - apart from his own interest in the factory, there are all the workers. If Carla goes bankrupt, her assets will be seized and the factory staff will lose their jobs. "You need to let people help you before it's too late!"

In the art class, things have got out of hand. Tim and Craig are having a competition involving throwing peanuts into the air and catching them again. Yasmeen's distressed that nuts are being crushed into the carpet. She checks with Roy but he doesn't know where Cathy is.

Callum lopes down the street, only to be grabbed and forced into the ginnel by Tony. David happens to be looking across the street at the time and he grins.

Steve's come back from dropping off the dog but he still has the dog with him. He tells Lloyd in the taxi office that the owner has decided to give the dog to him. "Any no-one's going to call you Boo-Boo ever again!" he tells the dog. He says that he's learned one thing - to grab happiness wherever you find it. And it seems his mother thinks she's found it with Lloyd. "Not that happy!" a panicked Lloyd insists.

Callum has turned out to be a gibbering coward. He's been punched in the fact already and is making pathetic, sniveling noises as Tony tosses him around the ginnel. "Me and you are not finished, Sunshine," Tony tells him.

The end.
Margaret Carr

Coo it is busy at update towers with extra episodes at the moment. We are approaching the 60th anniversary of the death of Grace Archer and we all know what that means - an exciting live episode of the Street to regain all those viewers who have been lost to the wonderful exciting medium of the wireless. Events in Ambridge are sometimes even more far fetched than those on the Street - but it is recommended listening and the commentaries on the Dum Tee Dum podcast help provide some real perspective.

Here in Manchester we are going to review episode 8720; aka series 56, episode 177 written by Chris Fewtrell and directed by Michael Lacey. Copyright remains the property of ITV and we offer them many thanks.

Tonight we open in the Rovers with Liz and Michelle behind the bar as Steve, carrying Rover and Lloyd stroll in. It turns out that Rover has come to live at the Rover's Return and finally the name of the pub has gained a meaning! No-one seems as pleased as Steve - who also confirms that he has given his official blessing to Liz and Lloyd being a couple. Michelle wonders if he is the pope in disguise; Steve thinks he would look good in the outfit and he then tells his mother to get her glad rags on - and then kicks Chocolate Love Monkey Lloyd who works out that he has to ask Liz out to the Bistro for a meal. Liz slightly reluctantly agrees whilst Michelle can hardly stop from laughing! Liz taken aback goes to collect glasses from outside.

In the ginnel Tony is about to make mincemeat of Callum when Liz hears the kerfuffle and she tells Tony that he does not want to do this to Callum; but he does really! She tries to drag Tony away from Callum and after thumping him hard Tony does let go. Callum drops to the ground and then getting up he threatens Tony with retribution. David sees the panting Callum getting into his car and also gives him a telling off saying no-one is scared of him any longer. Callum drives away.

Roy finds Cathy sitting at the bus stop. Roy has every confidence in her but she has none in herself. Roy talks her round and she agrees to return to the class.

Liz gives Tony a telling off - she has had a son in hospital and violence will not solve it. Tony feels he has let Jason down - but this is the only way he knows.

Cathy enters the class - they are going to start with the basic rules of composition using a vase of flowers.

In the Rovers Carla is ordering another red when Aidan arrives. She apologises - but he says he might have gone overboard and they should draw a line under it. He asks for help to get the books ready for the accountant tomorrow. Tracy and Robert come in and almost have hands all over each other and discuss the charity event on the morrow. Eventually Tracy caves in and agrees to attend the Maddie related fund raiser. Dev and Lloyd are playing darts with the latter explaining that he thought that Liz was a one night thing and not long term - but apparently Liz and Steve are planning for the future and he is far from sure that is what he wants.

Todd arrives at the hospital and finds the doctor to whom he offers his kidney - but it now seems that a transplant will not be needed and indeed she is surprised that he had not heard that Jason was improving. Eileen had overheard the conversation and tells Todd that he does not need to go - which Todd just about accepts.

In the Rovers Liz is dolled up to the tens (nines is not enough) with the decollatage on full display. Chocolate Love Monkey Lloyd is in a top and jeans! Dev suggests he tucks his shirt in whilst Lloyd is lost for words on seeing Liz but does tell her she looks amazing. Michelle says she does scrub up well whilst Lloyd says no-one will be looking at him. At this moment Andrea appears through the door to the surprise of everyone. She rushes towards Lloyd and says she has been a very big fool and gives Lloyd a huge hug, then she opens her bag and hands him a copy of the famous record. He looks startled and over Andrea's shoulder his eyes ask Liz to do nothing whilst they talk. Andrea has taken out a loan with a massive APR (why did she not do that in the first place?). Lloyd grabs Andrea's hand telling her they need to talk and as they rush by Andrea says "Oh hello Liz!" and they head for the garden and we head for break.

We resume in the hospital where Todd is telling Eileen how worried he has been and she accepts this, she also tells him that it took guts to offer a kidney. Todd responds that it his brother and he has a spare kidney. He gets up to go - but before he does he says he is sorry for what he did - he knows she will not believe it, but he is. Eileen stops him and asks if he wants to see his brother. Todd says that she and Jason do not want him there - but Eileen responds that there has been too much heartache recently in this family and that a compromise must be possible. Todd is almost in tears.

In the yard at the Rovers Andrea is promising no more lies - which Lloyd reminds her was what she said last time. Andrea says they do not need to split up over this - but Lloyd says he has also made a mistake and admits to sleeping with Liz the previous night. Andrea responds that she cannot believe what she is hearing and walks away as Steve wanders around the corner to check on Lloyd who tells him that it was a difficult conversation with Andrea who knows and that Lloyd does not feel like going out with Liz this evening. Steve takes the message to Liz and Lloyd breaks down in tears.

At the art class Cathy is appraising various works - Craig's is impressive whilst Mary's is a picture of the Grim Reaper with a bunch of nettles! Mary equates cut flowers with death and with a male apology after infidelity, negligence or cruelty - simply weird!

At Jason's bedside Eileen recounts Todd's actions and Jason accepts that the damage cannot be undone but they are still brothers and so normality of a sort returns. Tony is surprised to see Todd there when he comes in but Eileen says that if Jason is OK with it then Tony has to be. Jason and Todd exchange looks.

Back at the art class dear Aunty Emily is going to hang her artwork in the hall. Tim reckons he will stick his on the fridge - but at least it was a better afternoon than cutting the lawn, although Sally might not agree! Tim takes the flowers as a peace offering for Sal (proving Mary's earlier words are right!). Yasmeen considers the afternoon a success and asks Cathy to continue with them and she accepts with a huge smile on her face. Roy has not finished and is looking for now dispatched flowers. Cathy tells Roy that she had lost all her confidence but this afternoon has brought it back and it is all down to him.

Andrea sits on Maxeem's bench crying. Eileen and Tony appear and she asks after Jason, who is on the mend. Her distress is however apparent. Eileen cannot believe Lloyd has dumped her as he has been sick missing her - yes so sick says Andrea that he jumped into bed with Liz McD. Tony has trouble taking this is and Andrea does not know what she is going to do. Eileen puts her arm around Andrea and takes her home.

Inside the Rovers Lloyd asks Dev about Liz who has gone for retail therapy with Erica. Lloyd has made such a mess - the woman he wants does not want him and the one he doesn't does want him and if he bins her off then he will also lose his best mate. Dev cannot advise him and asks if the crisps are OK!

Kylie tells David off for having a go at Callum - but David reckons he is a busted flush. David reckons that Callum will have had enough but Kylie is not so sure, drug dealers cannot be disrespected, he will be back. At the bar Carla's phone rings again - Michelle sees that it is Nick. Carla refuses to answer and heads off ordering another large red for her return {does the Rovers have any of those glasses which can take an entire bottle? At the moment that would not be large enough for Carla}. Aidan explains the earlier apology to Michelle. Tracy overhears and contributes her two pennorth saying that Carla should forget the accidental fire. She tells Robert forcefully that it was an accident and Carla should move on. Robert is a little surprised over this but before a situation develops Michelle pours calming oil. Tracy says that Carla is wallowing and needs to get a grip! Maddie and Kal are dead continues Tracy and no moping is ever going to fix that. Carla hears this. Carla emerges and says as usual people talking about me behind my back. She knew Maddie and Kal, their faces, their voices; she still hears them and sees them. And then she goes to the bar picks up her phone and leaves the Rovers. The closing shot is one of Tracy who is clearly discomforted.

Roll credits.

Some questions for you:
a) Now do you think David or Kylie is right over that being the last we see of Callum?
b) Can Carla lose any more money?
c) Would you forgive Todd that easily?
d) How come the Street is populated by so many talented artists?
e) Will we ever have another art class?
f) Will Lloyd ever have a successful relationship?

Answers to these and many more questions will be covered in future updates!

See you very soon.
Richard

Written by Susan Oudot Directed by Ian Bevitt

Carla and Aidan are walking towards the factory, bickering. Sally runs up, in full suck-up mode, offering to get them a coffee and when Carla points out it's a bank holiday, she tells them she wanted to catch up on spreadsheets (she's dressed for a normal work day in one of her power suits!) Carla tells her they can manage without her just as Tim and Kevin meander up. Tim is introduced to Aidan who remarks that Tim's a window cleaner. Sally swiftly corrects him. He's a Window Enhancement Executive. Tim lets Sally know that Sophie wants her to go into town to get decorations for the party. Sally explains what the party is for. The camera pans to Carla who pales. Aidan isn't inclined to attend until Kevin lures him with the prospect of a signed County shirt. Aidan changes his mind and remarks to Carla that they should go. Carla walks away towards the factory instructing him that they really do need to get to work. Tim turns around to go wash some windows.

Fiz and Tyrone are trying to explain what an MRI scan is and she can have a treat after. Chocolate is her choice. Smart girl.

Eileen is packing a bag for Jason. Andrea has stayed over. She finagles a few more days under Eileen's roof and expresses her shock again at the Lloyd-Liz thing. Eileen tells her that she can't take sides as both involved are two of her oldest friends. Andrea promises not to put her in the middle so Eileen agrees, just until Jason comes home.

Liz comes out of the pub and sees Lloyd come across. They are a bit awkward together but Liz thinks they can still go for a meal. Lloyd agrees. We can see Andrea coming along the pavement behind them as they set a time to meet. Liz turns around and sees Andrea and calls out but Lloyd holds her back and Andrea turns and scoots back to Number 11.

Maria sees Tyrone and Fiz getting into the car with the girls and asks if they're going anywhere nice. Tyrone doesn't answer her directly, just says they're out and about. Maria witters on about kids in general but Fiz is distracted and ushers Tyrone into the car.

Sophie is putting a large portrait of Maddie on a stand. Liz brings some items for the auction and asks if Sophie is ok. She is and isn't, it comes and goes, she tells Liz. Steph and Liz both admire the portrait. Tracy comes in asking for Robert but when she sees the portrait, she's taken aback and turns and leaves.

Sally gets out of a taxi, bags of shopping under her arm and a handful of a balloons for the auction decorations. She sees Gail and tells her she bought a wedding dress on impulse, virtually designer. Gail notes the shop name on the bag and recalls she bought one of her wedding dresses there. Sally describes it as ivory and wonders if she's too ... "Old?" Gail suggests. "Pale" Sally corrects. Gail blushes and assures her it'll be fine and she can add some colour with flowers. Sally goes inside to hide the dress before Tim comes home.

Sophie frets that nobody will come to the auction/memorial party. Kevin arrives to glum looks but a few more people trail in the door, Carla, Aidan and Michelle. Sophie mentions to her father that Sally isn't there yet. Robert and Aidan exchange a glance as Carla orders drinks including a bottle of house red. She sees Sophie and offers to leave but Sophie dismisses her, turning to get back to her organizing. Carla sits with Aidan and Michelle who suggests that they have a drink and then they can leave, with a donation to the cause, Nick adds. Carla latches on to the wine bottle like a life preserver and pours a large one.

Sally gathers the balloons and party items but realizes she forgot to put the dress away. She picks up the carrier bag but can't resist pulling the dress out for a look. She runs to the window, looks out and then closes the curtains.

Beth notices a signed photo of Lorraine Kelly (a UK daytime television personality). Andy has already got his eye on it, Steph mentions. Sophie asks Beth to thank Craig for the painting and she loves it so much that she wants to buy it. (I wonder if it's the one he did in art class the other day! The end result was excellent!) Tracy returns but is startled to see Carla there. Robert wants her to stay and she ends up agreeing though calls it stressful. Carla is progressing quickly towards legless, and gets up to get more drinks. Robert looks sharply at Tracy when she slips and says "it can't be easy". Sympathy for the Devil isn't what you'd expect from Tracy. Sophie is mithering her father to go find Sally. The Nazirs enter, completing the guilt trip for both Carla and Tracy.

Back at home, Sally has tried on her wedding dress. She notices the time and realizes she's late. She tries to undo the zip and seems to be having trouble.

The auction is under way. The photo for Lorraine Kelly is up and bidding escalates slowly until Carla offers 200 pounds, raising gasps around the room. Aidan and Nick both caution Carla. Nobody is prepared to top the bid so it goes to the lady in black. Reluctantly judging from Sophie's reaction. She practically shoves it in Carla's face. Kevin leads the applause but Tracy looks gutted. Robert notices.

Fiz and Tyrone are sitting by Hope's bedside. She'd been sedated for the test. Tyrone calls her brave. Ruby is a bit fidgety and Fiz snaps at her. But she apologizes quickly. A technician comes in to tell them everything went well and they should get the results in a few days. Fiz is frustrated. Hope had had a hole in her heart when she was born early and now this. Tyrone says Hope is a fighter. She'll be ok.

The Weatherfield County shirt is being auctioned. Sharif and Kevin get into a bidding war, joined by Robert. Carla puts her hand up but Nick pulls it down. Robert nearly wins the bid but Aidan shouts out a high bid. He and Robert then start bidding against each other, jumping substantial amounts with each alternating bid. (More pointless, inexplicable rivalry) Aidan wins the shirt with a bid of 250 pounds. Robert admits to Andy he's not a County fan so I suppose he was just trying to see how high Aidan would go. Carla offers the photo of Lorraine Kelly to Sharif who shakes his head quietly. She turns to Steph who walks past her as well. Tracy tries to talk to Carla, saying she knows what she's going through. She tries to get Carla to leave, gently but Carla pushes her away, with Michelle jumping up to stop her pushing Tracy back. Tracy, clearly upset, urges Carla to stop doing this to herself. Tracy walks away while Michelle takes Carla to their table. Robert watches Tracy thoughtfully.

After the break, while chatting at the bar, Aidan realizes that Robert isn't a County fan and knows exactly what Robert was up to. Robert gives him a smug little smile. Just a little one. Carla's very drunk now and knocks into Beth's table. Nick takes a drink off her. Tracy remarks that people should cut Carla some slack but Sophie, overhearing, spits hatefully that Carla is still alive, while Kal and Maddie aren't. Tracy takes that on board, watched by Robert.

Sally is still trying to get out of the dress. Kevin knocks at the door so Sally lets him in. He starts laughing when he sees her in the dress. Not a word, she orders.

In the pub, Eileen comes in, tired. Steve brings her a drink. Eileen tells Lloyd she's got Andrea under her roof. She agrees that Lloyd was right to break up with her but if he's not serious about Liz, he better not be leading her up the garden path. Lloyd takes the warning on.

Carla is bleary and staggering. Nick is holding her up while Tracy begs them to take her home because she's upsetting "everybody" (but her, most of all). Robert asks Tracy what's wrong. Tracy says that Carla "thinks" she killed Maddie and Kal. Aidan and Michelle take Carla in hand. Carla apologizes to Sophie as they lead her out. Robert is a bit baffled at Tracy's attitude.

The Brown/Dobbs family have got home. Tyrone advises that they should try not to worry too much until they get the results. They don't want Hope to get scared. Fiz agrees, in principle. Tyrone offers to go get some milk but Fiz, needing a bit of space, goes instead.

Outside, Nick and Michelle deal with Carla who's intent on going back for more booze. Nick insists that she can push back at him all she wants but he's not going anywhere. She collapses in his arms and then they lead her home.

Kevin works on the zip of Sally's dress. He's having trouble too. She's trying to give him instructions and he's struggling. He might have to rip it to get her loose. Sally's horrified. He teases her for trying it on. He continues to work at it. They hear someone coming in the door. Sally calls out for Tim not to come in. It's Sophie, not Tim. Oops.

Fiz is sitting on the bench staring into space. Maria comes along and asks if they had a nice day out. Fiz shakes her head, no, not really. Maria thinks Fiz is blanking her and starts to walk away but Fiz apologizes. Maria thinks they've had a row but sees Fiz is really upset. Fiz tells her about Hope.

Tracy paces around her front room, stopping to look at her mother's photo. Robert arrives home to find out what's going on between she and Carla. Why was she being nice to her after what Carla did, killing two people. Tracy backs away, unwilling to talk about the fire. Robert realizes there's something else. It's not the fire that upset her. Carla did. He demands to know what she's not telling him.

Tvor

Robert knows there's something Tracy's not telling him. He saw pity in her eyes when she looked at Carla. And fear. He says Carla is eaten up with guilt and Tracy can't take it - but why?

Nick and Michelle have taken Carla back to her flat. They stop her pouring herself yet another glass of wine. They tell her, once again, that the fire was an accident and she'd not to blame. Nick kisses Carla tenderly and she says she doesn't serve him. Nick has to go and check on the Bistro so he leaves Michelle to keep an eye on Carla.

Sally's still stuck in her wedding dress so she instructs Kevin to give the zip a good yank. At last she's free! Unfortunately a large chunk of the dress has come away with the zip. Sally's convinced this is a bad omen for the wedding and rushes upstairs to remove what's left of the dress.

Fiz has taken Maria back home for a cuppa and a heart to heart. Ty comes downstairs from putting the girls to bed. Maria makes her excuses and leaves. Fiz tells Ty she suddenly needed to talk to someone. He looks hurt and says she can always talk to him. Fiz says she knows that but she goes upstairs to see the girls.

Liz and Lloyd are having a meal in the Bistro but Lloyd seems very distracted. He starts to say something about Andrea but is interrupted by Steph who wants to gossip about Carla getting drunk at the auction. She tells them how Carla paid £200 for a photo of Lorraine Kelly. Liz reckons that's a sign of her guilty conscience. Steph leaves them to it and Liz asks Lloyd what he was about to say. He replies that it was nothing.

Robert is still trying to get Tracy to tell him what's happened. He says that she know she can trust him and that he's there for her. He says nothing she can say will change that. Tracy asks how long it will be before he leaves her. Like everyone else has left her. Robert looks confused and asks why. He asks if Tracy had something to do with the fire. She gets all worked up and insists it was Carla. She says that whoever started the fire it was an accident. Robert realises he's on to something. Tracy is getting more upset by the moment and tells Robert he's supposed to be defending her. He says he didn't think there was anything he was supposed to defend. He asks her one more time if she had something to do with the fire but before Tracy can reply, Amy comes home wanting to know if there's anything to eat. Sensing something's up, Amy asks if she should go to her room. The last thing Tracy wants is to continue the conversation with Robert so she tells Amy to sit down and put the telly on.

In the Bistro Andy and Steph are enjoying a bit of banter. From this we gather that a) his dodgy past seems to have been conveniently forgotten and b) their relationship appears to be going well at the moment.

Meanwhile, over at Liz's and Lloyd's table they're discussing their relationship. Lloyd's worried they've both got rather a lot of baggage. Liz points out they would have had to have taken religious orders to have got to their age and not have baggage. Lloyd's not sure he's ready for another relationship right now. This comes as a relief to Liz who feels exactly the same way. Just then Steph comes to the table with her order pad and asks if she can interest them in something sweet and naughty. Liz and Lloyd catch each other's eye and snigger.

Michelle has run a bath for Carla but when she goes into the living room to tell her it's ready, she discovers Carla's done a runner. Michelle grabs her phone and calls Nick.

Carla staggers drunkenly up the street, swigging on a bottle of wine. She bangs on the door of number 6 and calls out for Alya and Zeedan to come and get her. Nick and Michelle come running after her and watch helplessly as Carla heads towards the Rovers.

Indoors at number 1 Amy is keen to watch a DVD but Tracy insists she stays and eats her tea with her and Robert. They hear shouting from outside and Amy recognises Carla's voice. She goes to open the front door to find out what's going on. Tracy tries to call Amy back but Carla sees her. "You are alright," cries Carla, stroking Amy's face. She says she never meant to hurt her. Tracy shouts at Amy to go inside and then orders Carla to stay away from her and stay away from her daughter. It's all too much for Carla who breaks down and cries that she kills people. "They're dead and I can't bear it," she sobs. Tracy looks anguished. "You didn't kill those people," she says. Carla, Michelle and Nick turn to look at her. Tracy says that it was an accident. But despite Robert pleading with her, Tracy can't bring herself to confess and she tells Nick to take Carla home. Tracy suddenly screams that none of this has got anything to do with her and shouts at them all to go away.

Tim gets home and tells Sally he's just been watching Tracy and Carla have some sort of barney in the street. But Sally is far too busy taking out her anger on a potato with a peeler. Sensing something's up Tim looks for the remote to put on Sally's favourite tv programme and finds a scrap of wedding dress tucked down the back of the sofa. This sets Sally off even more and she reels off the chapter of accidents that caused her to miss Sophie's auction. And now that Tim's seen part of her dress she adds that f they weren't doomed before, they are now. To cap it all Sally discovers Tim's been to a football match instead of working. "I bet your sponge is as dry as a bone," she accuses him.

Fiz is in a right state, worrying about Hope. Ty is doing his best to support her but she keeps pushing him away.

Liz and Lloyd have got to the end of their meal in the Bistro and he's teasing her about polishing off two chocolate mousses. This gets Lloyd thinking and he starts talking in euphemisms about their relationship. They both like chocolate he says so what's the harm in having a little nibble now and then? Liz doesn't see why not and says that a woman is entitled to feed her cravings now and then.

Sally's calmed down and is telling Tim about the wedding dress nightmare. She says by the time Kevin tried to help her get out of it she looked like Miss Havisham. The dress was meant to be a symbol of their union she tells Tim but now it's lying in a sweaty, tattered heap is that the kind of marriage he wants to be in? Tim winds her up by saying she'd right and they should call the whole thing off. Sally's face falls. Then he laughs and says she could wear a bin bag for all he cares and says that it's her she's marrying. Tim gives Sally a hug and then mentions that Kev was talking about having a few beers for his birthday tomorrow. Sally says he's going to be 50 and he'll probably want to drown his sorrows. Tim decides they need to do something to cheer him up. Sally looks very doubtful when Tim suggests a surprise party. Kev hates surprises, she says, but Tim's not listening.

Carla's asleep in her bedroom while Michelle and Nick sit in the other room and talk about what they should do. Michelle wonders if it's time for some tough love but Nick is worried she might not be able to take it.

Round at number 1 Robert's packing his bags while Tracy begs him to stay. She tells him nothing's changed between them but Robert can't believe she's serious. He says he wants to help her but every time she opens her mouth he has to work out whether she's telling the truth or not. "I'm not lying!" announces Tracy. "So you were never in Carla's flat the night of the fire. You never lit that candle," says Robert, looking directly into Tracy's eyes. "No," replies Tracy. Robert says he doesn't know whether she just can't help it or whether it's habit. He says he knows Carla's innocent and so does she and then starts to leave. Tracy holds on to him and says he can't let Carla come between them. Robert tells Tracy that Carla isn't the one who's responsible. Tracy's seen what it's doing to her and it's driving her mad. Tracy says it's always about Carla, never about her. Robert replies that it is about her. Him and her. And with that he walks out.

Karen

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Updates written by K Richard Whitbread, Martin Rosen,Duncan Lindsay, Christine Warren, Ann Logan, Margaret Carr, Tvor, Karen Jankel.

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