With Peter held at the police station
overnight, George decides tospirit Simon away to Blackpool (does he
ever go to school?) to get him away from his father. Before heading
off though, he pops into town to take out a quick court order (is
there such a thing?) granting him temporary legal custody over his
grandson. Eve doesn't seem entirely convinced by all this but goes
along with it all for the moment. Peter and the rest of the Barlow
clan hit the roof when they're served with the papers and find out
that Simon has been kept off school by George. In Blackpool, Eve
raises her doubts but George is having none of it and thinks they
should take the little one and go back to Berkshire. Simon overhears
them and while they're still arguing and with the cries of 12
million viewers shouting 'Run Simon, run!', he sneaks
off.
The police are called and eventually the Barlows too but
after looking all night, there's still no sign of little Simon.
Blackpool's a cold, wet, lonely, scarey place for a young boy but
he's a smart kid so we know he'll probably be ok. In the morning
everyone returns to Weatherfield frantic with worry to wait for any
news from the police. Then miraculously Simon turns up on the
doorstep and everyone's hugely relieved to see him. 'Where have you
been?', 'Blackpool, I didn't like it'. Simon explains what a
nightmare it was getting home, having to sleep in photo booth and
take 2 trains and a bendy bus. He'd have been home sooner if 3
trains hadn't been cancelled. 'I had to run away,' he explains,
'they said they were going to take me to Berkshire.' We understand,
Simon. Everything's happy families at the Barlow's again and when
George turns up with his tail between his legs, he's told to sod
off.
Joe's funeral looms on the horizon full of brooding
menace. Things go ok between Gail and Tina at first as they plan the
funeral together but pretty soon Tina is having her doubts about
Gail's involvement in her father's death and she bans her from the
proceedings. And then unbans her, far better that she's there so
there's an evil, bitter atmosphere in the church. It all kicks off
after Gail delivers a eulogy and there's a lot of shouting and a
scuffle between Jason and David. Tina decides to voice her doubts to
the coppers and casually slips in the news that Gail is planning to
go to Milan (to see her daughter and granddaughter) after the
funeral. Worried that she's going to do a bunk, the boys in blue
arrest Gail in the Rovers, these things are best done in public, and
take her in for further questioning. She's charged and then banged
up and pretty soon she's sgoing to be Tracy's bitch.
In less
dramatic news, Nick convinces 'bird-brained, self-deluded, slapper',
Kelly to get hold of the Underworld accounts for him. He offers
Carla ?123000 to buy out her murdering partner, Tony Gordon, and
subject to Tony's agreement she says yes.
John Stape lies
about the gap in his CV to secure a teaching job at the local adult
education centre. Don't they do CRB checks for all teaching jobs
nowadays?
I don't want to do this but there may well be some
people still 'gripped' by this storyline so I'll get it over with as
quickly as possible. Molly pregnant, tells Kevin, recommends
abortion, Molly cries.
It's always best to end on a high
note, so I bring you the great news that Rita has returned from her
cruise. 'Hello street, it's great to be back' she says as she climbs
out of the cab. The feeling is mutual.
And that's all for
this week, see you next time.
Barry Smith
Coronation
Street writers this week were Martin Allen, Jayne Hollinson, Joe
Turner, Jonathan Harvey and Mark
Wadlow.
_________________________
Glenda Young
Blogging away merrily at http://flamingnora.blogspot.com