Sonny the money (as Vernon now calls him) drops to his knee
in a flash restaurant and proposes to Michelle who’s wearing her nighty.
I’ve always thought that if a fella needs a restaurant audience for his
proposal then there’s summat suspect about him but Michelle thinks it’s
all romantic and says yes, oh yes, please gawd, yes. She’s full of herself
when she gets back to the Rovers and Steve gets jealously Tourette Syndrome
and shouts out “Sonny’s gay. He’s gay. Gay, did you know?” at every opportunity,
and then “Sonny! Gay! He’s gay, you know, he’s gay!” just for good measure.
Michelle thinks he’s just jealous (he is) and says he’s lying (he’s not).
Steve tells her he saw Sonny snogging Sean but when she quizzes Sean he
lies through his teeth. Sean’s foced to come clean to the Connor clan later
after Liam quizzes Steve about the gossip he’s heard. Liam’s all for mindless
violence against Sean’s person but older, wiser and more dishy brother Paul
goes for the silent and deadly approach instead. Sending the factory girls
home, they get Sean in the office where the weak and feeble warbler sings
like a canary, confessing all. Then Connor Bros Inc. march Sean to the pub
to break the bad news to Michelle which he does with both of them in tears
by the time he’s had his say. And when Sonny pops round later to see Michelle,
oh, she’s ready for him. Upset? Oh yes. Mad as all heck? You betcha. Shame
the slap she gave Sean only registered an average 510 in our house (I gave
it 6/10 and the lovely person I live with gave it 4/10). Will Steve say “I
told you so?”. I hope that not even he could be that insensitive, but you
never can tell, not with Steve McDonald.
Best line of the week went to Steve who said to Vernon in the pub after
he’d been ‘flattering’ Liz: “Why do always sound like a cheap greetings
card?”. Vernon’s one of the best things to hit Corrie in ages but I know
he’s not everyone’s cup of tea. He’s certainly not Betty’s as she squares
up to him behind the bar of the Rovers, not a fight I’d want to be in the
middle of. Steve puts Vernon on a cab job to get him out of Betty’s way
before she hurled a hot pot at him and the dozy so-and-so wears his headphones
and batters a drum beat on the dashboard, unable to hear the cab radio.
“Is that another of yer Desperate Housewives?” asks Ashley when Claire’s
on the phone to Casey, yet again. Casey’s one of the women that Claire
is helping out on the counselling scheme, for Manchester women who are
depressed, and that. Ashley’s not best pleased that Claire’s got another
outside interest away from him and the boys, again, and especially as Casey
rings in the middle of their Sunday roast. So engrossed are Ashley and Claire
in Casey’s well-being, neither of them seem to have noticed the stairs in
their house have moved from one end of their living room to t’other.
Shirley the social worker comes round to see baby Holly and the visit
goes well, all the boxes are ticked and Eileen’s well pleased. Jason only
finds out about the visit by accident and is a bit put out that Eileen’s
taking responsibility for the baby without his consent, although, hang on,
that’s what he wanted last week. With Eileen in the Rovers, Jase and baby
Holly are left home alone together and he almost broke my heart (and the
glass mirror in our fireplace) when he started singing a lullaby to the baby
he thinks is his daughter.
The Underworld girls are being undermined when one of the Polish night-shift
workers starts working at the factory during the day. They fear for their
wage packets and Hayley, Sally and Joanne take their concerns to the boss
man. (Why aren’t they in a union?) Will the factory girls be turned into
slave labour in a sweatshop?
Leanne returned to the Street this week, all Spanish tan and pink suitcases.
Jamie picks her up at the station in his cab, little realising she was
his fare but the two of them chat like old mates. She even ends up staying
overnight in his spare room, but only ‘cos Jamie’s lonely. It’s clear that
Leanne’s got a bob or two now after her stint in Spain and as she’s been
working as a vice-girl, she’s probably got a bob, a dick and a harry too.
Liam Connor’s already got his eye on Leanne after he helps her break in
to Janice’s flat. She’s trying to use her visa card and he uses his pair
of size nines against the door. And once she finds out that Liam’s got
a bit of money and owns half the factory, well, kerching, it’ll be love
at first sight of the bulge in his wallet.
Rita’s got another nasty hangover and feels like death warmed up. “I’ve
only got one word to say to you” says Norris. “Aspirin?” asks Rita. “Doreen!”
he replies. After a vodka in the Rovers to put her right she tells Norris
and Blanche she’s going to cut down on seeing Doreen. I like the idea
of detoxing on Doreen, one drink at a time, you can do it, Reet, you know
you can. Just Say No. It’s Norris’ birthday this week and he’s all done
up in his cravat and best suit for a night at the Italian, a treat from
our Reet. When Doreen turns up wanting to tag along, they tell her quite
politely but firmly that they’re going as a two-some. Rita even kissed Norris
on the cheek in the Kabin this week, but what was more worrying was that
he didn’t seem to mind.
And finally this week, Tracy gets a call from David who’s bursting
with hormones in the back ginnel. He wants to have his wicked way with
her but Tracy’s holding him off for now and spurns his offer of chips and
gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. She lies to mum Deirdre that the reason
she’s seeing so much of David lately is to help him calm down as he’s having
nightmares after seeing Charlie try to kill Tracy. Nope, I don’t think
that’s the reason he’s having sleepless nights, Trace!
And that’s just about that for this week.
Glenda Young
Glenda is on holiday. This week's update written
by John
Dean.
If you'd like your weekly update with pictures and fun Corrie stuff, have
a look at :
http://coronationstreetupdates.blogspot.com
TAAAAH-ta-da-dadadah. Yes, your own podcast version, now with added
sound. For the colour version, print this out, put it on the ground, tilt
it to the right at an angle of 135 degrees and tilt your head to the
left at an angle of 30 degrees. You will see at least two colours,
maybe more. No extra charge. And so to the cobbles ...
Leanne is taking an interest in the property market and has it in mind
to buy Danny Baldwin's old house. And Fizz is on a new diet where
she eats only red and yellow food. And Kelly and Joanne sabotage Wicky's
(pronounced Vicky's) machine but have to put it right when she suggests
she should ask Mr Connor to fix it. And then gives Fizz a knowing look,
indicating she knows the grrrlzz were trying to put one over on her.
Tracy cons Jason into lending her the keys to the flat for her rendezvous
with David, having arranged for Adam to phone her at the critical
moment so she can make an excuse and leave. Adam nearly forgets because
he's in a drinking game with Leanne, Joanne and Kelly. The rule is
that one player makes a statement. Everyone who's done something the
player hasn't has to drink a shot. Leanne opens with "I've never lived
in Scotland" which sends Adam to the slammers, but he counters with
"I've never slept with my boss" which is drinks all round for the ladies,
two for Joanne.
Jason is monitoring the CCTV and sees the two of them leave and also
sees Tracy laying hands on David. Oh, the humanity! Jason shows the video
to Sarah and she tackles David who explains he and Tracy need privacy to
discuss the trial. She doesn't point out that discussing the trial is the
one thing he and Tracy should *not* be doing but responds "Oooh! You've got
an answer for everything!" (Isn't that a good thing to find when you're asking
questions? Isn't it tons better than *not* having an answer?} She gets
the same response when she confronts Tracy in the caff. Meantime Deirdre
tackles Tracy with the same result although Tracy embellishes it with tales
of David needing reassurance because of the nightmares, insomnia and bedwetting.
She claims Gail knows nothing because David changes his own sheets. Though
this would make Gail more suspicious than finding wee-stains if it were
true.David makes further efforts to waylay Tracy, wanting to know when they
will meet again. "You know what it's like" says the toothy one - which is
missing the point. If David knew what it was like he wouldn't be pestering
her quite so much.
Michele breaks the news about Sunny to Ryan and Ryan goes round to see
him, discovering Sean skulking in the bedroom area. Ryan snatches the car
keys and races off in the Sunnymobile and Sunny calls the police. Michele
collects the lad from custody after his Police caution but Paul loses his
temper and hits Ryan.
Deirdre overhears Tracy and David conspiring in the ginnel and talks
to Ryan who lends her the video. (By the way, is it just me or is it strange
that none of the people who see the video think it was weird that Charlie
had a camera pointed at the flat he was renting out to Maria?) But at Tracy's
urging, Deirdre destroys the tape, allowing herself to be convinced that
there is an innocent explanation.
Leanne is travelling hither and yon on her mysterious business activities.
She wants Les to drive her in his taxi for free because he's her Dad. Les
wants to charge her, pointing out that if he drove her around for free in
the Streetcars cab, it'd be like her using him as a taxi service.
Sean is recounting his dealings with Sunny and Michele to the UndrrrWrrrld
Grrrlz, except this time *he* is the hero and everyone else is a zero. Unfortunately
for him, Paul overhears him and sacks him "for laughing at my sister".
Not one that's going to look good in front of the Tribunal. Sally and Hayley
form a delegation to ask for Sean's reinstatement and when this isn't
forthcoming they call a strike. Everyone except Wicky (pronounced Vicky
or, as her colleagues now call her, 'scab') joins in and pickets the Factory.
Sean finds it "very draining, being the focus of industrial action." Kelly
tries a bit of cheerleading for the wictim (pronounced victim), hindered
only by her lack of spelling skills:
Kel - Give me an 'S'!
Grrrlz - "S!"
Kel - Give me a HAITCH!
Grrrlz - Er, 'E'
But since Paul has run away rather than face Carla, Liam is on his own
and decides to reinstate Sean. Hayley takes advantage of the temporary whip
hand to insist that Vicky (pronounced Wicky) should be paid the same wages
as everyone else.
Dev decides, prompted by Amber, to shop for a more trendy set of togs.
He ends up in the Rovers upsetting Peter Barlow who is wearing the same
shirt. (Well, not the *same* shirt because the two of them couldn't fit into
it - it's actually two different shirts but with the same design). As Ken
points out, Peter should be used to everyone looking the same after spending
half his life in the Navy. The Barlows are back from seeing the barrister
who's warned Tracy that she could get 15 years and that she should plead
guilty if she *is* guilty. Back on the cobbles, Ken is tussling with the
cryptic crossword -"Six letters, 'Verdict left in computers with man
about.'" He suddenly twigs the answer (see below if you're not a cryptic
fan) and exclaims "It's easy when the answer's staring you in the face" but
shuts up
when he realises Deirdre is staring Tracy in the face, and not in a
nice way. A knock at the door heralds Jason who delivers a classic deadpan
non
sequitur when Ken opens up - "Hello Mr Barlow, is Blanche playing out?"
Vernon has put an advert in the local paper announcing the establishment
of his "Drum Academy" upstairs in the Rovers - lessons given, moderate fees.
And the sound of his first pupil (mother bought him 6 drum lessons for
his 17 th, may have got Vernon confused with a Driving Instructor) is in
the background while Liz is chatting up Derek the Drayman whose wife, we
are surprised to hear, doesn't understand him. I suspect she understands him
spectacularly well but there's always room for a new plot, especially when
it's a recycled version of one we've seen twice a year for the last 40 years.
Meanwhile Carla has a showdown with Liam over Paul's increasingly erratic
behaviour - apart from hitting Ryan, he's taken off with a car boot full
of samples they were supposed to show to the buyer they've just had to send
away and he's also failed to provide the necessary costings. Liam gives in
and confesses all. Paul is distraught because Ryan's joy ride has brought
back memories of what *really* happened to Ryan's dad, Dean. (No, I'm not
writing memos to myself, Ryan's Dad was called Dean)
Turns out Liam, Paul and Dean had been out together (in Dean's car)
and they'd all had a lot to drink. Dean was particularly out of it ("trying
to put his car key in the stereo") so Paul insisted on driving. On a deserted
stretch of road he loses control. Dean is killed and the brothers decide,
as you do, to drag the corpse behind the steering wheel, as you do, so
Dean can take the blame and Paul can keep his licence. They decide not
to tell Michele or Ryan about this and particularly not Carla. But now
the truth is out ... Ooooh!
Oh, and that crossword clue?
IT = Computers
L= Left
GUY = man
So "left in computers" is 'L' in 'IT' = ILT with "man about" means put
GUY round ILT and get "Verdict" = GUILTY No wonder Ken shut up.
John
Dean
If you'd like your weekly update with pictures and fun Corrie stuff,
have a look at :
There’s fondant fancies on the factory floor when Polish
Vicky takes in a box of cheap cakes as a thankyou to the girls for getting
her upgraded and on the right wage. She’s not said much, this Vicky girl,
but you can tell she likes cakes. The disappearing Paul Connor reappeared
at the factory, possible when he heard there were free cakes on the go, after
Liam had called him and told him he’d had to break their secret to his robot-wife,
the dead-eyed Carla. So, the news that Paul had been drink driving and killed
Michelle’s husband Dean only to put Dean in the driving seat before the
coppers were called, has come out, but it’s best kept from Michelle and
young Ryan, for now. To celebrate Paul’s return into the glossy haired bosom
of the Connor clan, they all go out for a meal, again, single-handedly keeping
the pizza place in the precinct, the one with the red checky tablecloths,
cheap plonk and garlic bread, in business.
Maria and Peter get friendly over drinks in the Rovers and a haircut
in the salon. Tracy’s furious that Charlie’s ex-flame Maria should be getting
her claws into her brother but it’s her mother Tracy should be worried about.
Deirdre’s going round asking all sorts of questions to all sorts of people
– Steve, Claire, Gail – as she’s starting to doubt that Tracy’s as innocent
as she says that she is. Tracy meets with her barrister and enjoys his
tea and ginger nuts (biscuits, dear, biscuits) but she isn’t too happy
about being given little direction on what to say when she takes the stand.
Derek the (married) drayman asks Liz out on a date. As Vernon’s took
himself off to the Rochdale Northern Soul Record Collective, Liz is alone
and abandoned so takes Derek up on his offer. When Derek comes back to
collect Liz, Vernon’s returned from his jaunt: “Who needs Northern Soul
when I’ve got Northern heart?” he smooches to Liz, which probably meant
that the do had been cancelled. Derek’s face drops, almost as much as Liz’s
cleavage has done, when he realises his date with Liz is off. Never mind,
he can go home to his wife and cheer her up instead, perhaps he can ask
her why she doesn’t understand him.
Dev’s still in his Man at C&A mode and there’s new shirts a-go-go
in the corner shop. I thought he looked rather dashing in a blue flowery
number but the wonderful Amber and shop girl Molly give his shirt short shrift,
and even giggled at it. He goes golfing with Paul Connor and Steve
McDonald later in the week when the three of them are done up like Rupert
the Bear on acid, all check trousers and diamond print jumpers. Paul’s
a golf pro, or so he reckons and isn’t too happy to be beaten by Steve and
Dev who are new to the game. He blames his golf clubs and his too-tight shoes.
I blame the fact he was rubbish.
Leanne heads off into town, telling Janice she’s working at a property
exhibition in a swanky hotel. Leanne’s closely followed by Janice who takes
Leanne’s phone that she’d left behind in the flat. When Janice reaches
th’otel she spies her step-daughter heading upstairs with some old geezer,
talking all posh to the fella. You know how some people have a telephone
voice? Leanne’s got a sex voice and calls herself Rachel. Janice sits in
the bar waiting, fuming, and gives it with both barrels to Leanne when she
comes back downstairs. “You’re a prostitute!” Heads turned in the bar. Someone
might have tutted. Leanne tells Janice she’s making good money as an escort
girl for an agency and it’s not a life she plans to give up. Janice throws
Leanne out when Leanne says she’s working the streets (or the hotels) to
get away from everything that Janice holds dear – the street, her flat.
She even flung the word ‘scabby’ in for good fun. But they make up later
on, keeping the news of Leanne’s profession from Les, for now.
The Mortons arrived on Corrie this week with Sinbad from Brookside playing
Jerry Morton, a jolly fat man with a stock line in catchphrases. “Don’t
be a stranger” he tells new neighbour Gail as he tries to chat her up and
gets nowhere. “You look hungry” he tells just about everyone he bumps into
as he tries to flog off kebabs from his new takeaway. If you were ever in
doubt as to who ate all the pies, I can now confirm that it was Jerry Morton.
Possibly with help from Polish Vicky.
And that’s just about that for this week.
Glenda