Monday (3168, Monday 31 December 1990)
It's New Year's Eve. It's dark already but not too late yet. Ken arrives home on the bus (oh right, he sold his heap to Curly didn't he) with a bag of groceries, a baguette and bottle of champagne peeking out of the top.
Sally and Kevin are whispering over the head of their sleeping baby girl. Sally is fretting about many new-mother things like what if she rolls over onto her face and smothers and do you think there was something wrong since she had been crying ever since they brought her home until now. Kevin assures her all babies cry, the baby will be fine and so will they. But a knock on the door, signaling the next in a stream of guests, wakes the baby and she cries. (she really does, there's a shot of the baby and the sound is definitely coming from her mouth!)
Phil and Deirdre are driving up the approach to the airport (and it looks like he's driving and she's in the back????). Deirdre is very much looking forward to Midnight in Montmartre and to the new year. She can't think of a better way to put an end to the mess of a year she's just got through.
Ken's got the table set and a casserole cooking. He's even got a candle on the table. He keeps it in the warming oven and peers impatiently out the window. Can't be waiting for Deirdre, can he? Because she and Phil are strolling through the airport, not a stick of luggage, not even an overnight bag so they must have checked it. Odd that. Nope, it's Tracy's he's been waiting for. She is late coming from Graham's which causes a slight spark of fatherly jealousy (that first boyfriend, you know). He's made lasagna verde for her which she looks at dubiously but sits down and complements how nice the table looks. He serves the lasagna, salad and coca cola, lights the candle and they get stuck in.
Audrey wants Alma to come home with her for New Years but Alma is determined to be on her own. Don't cry for me, Audrey Roberts... Alma assures Audrey she's done crying over Mike. Just as Audrey is leaving, though, Mike arrives and Audrey lets him know how much cheek she thinks he has for showing his face round there. Alma ushers her out, takes a deep breath and turns around to face him. Not totally unexpected, this visit. Mike tries to apologize for his treatment of her, and attempts to explain but as we all know, that only makes matters worse and Alma is determined to stay businesslike. Mike explains that he's selling his flat and moving in with Jackie but there's still some of Alma's things there. He wants to arrange to bring it by. Fine. If there's nothing else... He makes one more attempt to explain but she's having none of it and sees him out bravely. She has a lot of grace and dignity, does Alma. I admire that.
Rita, Emily and Mavis discuss the tradition of seeing New Years in with friends. A sign of man's eternal optimism, Mavis thinks but Rita thinks it might just be an excuse to drink yourself silly. Emily resolves to get out more next year, sometimes difficult for a woman on her own. Rita can relate. Emily therefore, invites Rita to an afternoon tea dance tomorrow! I don't think that's quite Rita's ... er... cup of tea, if you will and she tells Emily she'll see how she's fixed. Emily leaves and Mavis chuckles, wondering how Rita is going to get out of that one. Alf comes in as Emily leaves and they chat about the upcoming events. Alf has a little fun and throws a bomb out to be gossiped over, but he isn't let out of the shop until he fesses up the details. What d'you mean Mike left Alma and has moved in with his lady boss????
Tea is done. Ken and Tracy clear up. She spies the champagne he's bought for later but it gets uncomfortable for her when he suggests they take it across the road to share with her mother. She hedges and he keeps on making alternative suggestions all involving Deirdre until Tracy has to tell him she's already gone out... to Paris. He realizes with whom and he snaps, totally losing control. Did Tracy know? She didn't tell him?! She protests that she's not a spy. So Tracy doesn't mind that her mother's gone on a dirty weekend with some spiv? Doesn't mind that her mother sleeps with every man who knocks at the front door? (No, that's YOU, Ken!) He rants and raves about all he's given up, where he has to live and how people all talk about him. All the humiliation! Tracy backs up and cries that she's here for him. But he's lost the one he loves, he doesn't want her, he want's Deirdre!! Wrong! Tracy turns and runs out with Ken realizing what he's said. (and there was an awful lot of "I" in that rant, typically) Ken runs after her but she gets in the house first, observed by a concerned Emily and Percy. Ken tells them it's something and nothing, just a row. He knocks on the door furiously and she does let him in as she hangs up the phone.
He implores Tracy to forgive him, he didn't mean it that way, it's just that he loved Deirdre so much and he just snapped when he heard about Paris. She accuses him of caring only for himself and he apologizes profusely but she flings Wendy Crozier in his face as evidence that he left them first, leaving her to watch her mother cry. She knew what was going on in spite of them trying to hide it from her. He thinks she's going to Graham's and more harsh words are flung on both sides when she cries that he's lost everything because of his own actions and he accuses her of being just like her mother. He tries to prevent her from leaving the house but when she says she's not going to Graham's, she's going to Debbie's, he says he's sorry, he's sorry. But she accurately and with contempt accuses him of only being sorry for himself and pushes past him. He's crushed when she uses the painful "you're not my real father and why don't you just leave us alone forever!" as she leaves the house.
We next (but it's after the normal half time break) see him talking to Debbie's mother on the phone, ascertaining that she arrived ok and gives his permission for Tracy to spend the night. Best under the circumstances. He wanders into the living room, looking dazed. He picks up a photo of Deirdre and takes the bottle of gin out of the kitchen cupboard and pours himself a drink.
Emily is admiring a quiet Rosie and giving a silver coloured 50p coin for good luck. Emily leaves and the Brennans arrive.
Back to the good stuff. Ken leafs through photo albums of vacation snaps from happier times, bottle by his elbow. There's a knock on the door and he startles. He gets up, turns on the telly and goes to answer it. It's Emily, a bit concerned about Tracy's earlier upset. Ken, slightly groggy from the grog, says Tracy is fine and inside watching telly. That's all the argument was over anyway, the telly. Emily seems somewhat satisfied but asks how he is and he lies and says he's getting a cold. She wishes him a Happy New Year and leaves. He closes the door in relief and locks it.
In the Rovers the party is underway. The Roberts and Brennans are sharing a drink at one table and Rita and Mavis are sitting at another discussing tea dances. Mavis is very condescending, hoping it doesn't become a habit and calling Emily an old maid. (some friend!) Rita impatiently points out that Emily is a widow and after all, being married is not the prime goal in life for every woman!
Kevin and Sally are watching an old western on telly. Sally is almost asleep but doesn't want to go to bed yet, it's only 10:30! Kevin urges her to go while she can because she'll be up with the baby soon enough so she wishes him a Happy New Year and goes upstairs.
Back at the Rovers, the Wiltons and Barnes are now sharing a booth with Rita over with the Roberts and Brennans. Audrey wants to go fetch Alma but Alf considers she'll probably be in bed now anyway.
Not quite. Alma's having a drink and a ciggy and watching some fiddler on tv. She decides to take to her bed, bringing the bottle with her, turning off the lights but leaving the telly on for noise.
Ken is now looking at older photos, one of his own immediate family, all of whom are now dead except him (and even that's debatable at times!) He gazes at a picture of his wedding day with Valerie and one of Val and the twins as sounds of gaiety filter through the walls from the pub next door. He takes his glass out back and looks up to the night sky as a plane flies over and as tears stream down his face, he hears echoes of many different voices from his past accusing him of many things; his faults, his nothing life, things he's lost and people he's lost. Back inside he splashes water on his face and decides to put the photo albums away. As he is doing so, he sees a bottle of paracetamol (100mg) in a drawer in the buffet. He slowly picks it up and sits down at the table thoughtfully as we cut to joyous faces counting down the seconds to 1991. Happy faces, cheers, kisses, juxtaposed with shaky hands opening the bottle and pouring the white pills out into a mound on the dark tablecloth. Auld Lang Syne is heard through the wall as the credits roll across the picture of the pills on the table. Fade to the Corrie closing theme.
Writer - KEN BLAKESON Director - BRIAN MILLS
Tuesday (3169, Wednesday 2 January 1991)
New Year's celebrations are well underway in the Rovers. Gaiety and mirth abound as the patrons sing and joke their way through the evening. Juxtapose this against the scene next door. Driven to the edge of despair, Ken is on the verge of ending his own life. Before him on the table, lie the mounds of pills he's emptied from their bottle, and a half bottle of whiskey. Lining 12 of the pills up in a perfect triangle, he contemplates them dully before taking one and downing it with a gulp of the whiskey.
The crowd are singing "Daisy" now and Phyllis joyously informs Percy she has "a feeling in her bones" that this will be their year. Percy puts it down to her sciatica coming on! Through the noise, Alec mentions something they need and Bet offers to go out and get it. (I'm not sure what it is she's going for or where she hopes to get it on New Year's Eve but what's important is that she's going.) Kimberly notes the time (almost midnight) and tells Curly "Mummy will have a fit" if she's not home soon. Curly coaxes her to stay - no one goes home early at New Year's! The crowd bursts into "Auld Lang Syne" and from without the pub, Bet starts down the street. She notices the lights on at No1 and stops to have a listen at the door. As Des and Steph stumble from the pub, Bet asks if it appears to them there's someone inside the house. Cracking on that Bet's lost, Des blithely answers that the pub is next door and the carefree Barneses proceed towards home.
Within the house, Ken is just about to take his second pill when there comes a soft knock at the door. He ponders momentarily what to do, but hearing nothing further, he swallows the pill, followed by another swig of whiskey. Bet has stolen around to the alleyway and now lets herself in the back door. Just as Ken is taking the third pill, she appears in the doorway. Jolted at seeing her, Ken stares at her in stunned silence.
She asks if he's on his own. He answers that he needed to be "How many?" she demands. "alone" "How many?" she repeats. Indignant now, he tells her it's none of hers or anyone's business. She marches straight to the phone and rings for an ambulance. "Three" he admits, "only three" defeat in his voice. Hanging up the phone, she returns to the table. "Why?" she asks softly. Sitting down beside him now, she repeats the question. "It's the best thing" he answers uncertainly. "It's never the best thing!" she replies. He tells her she doesn't understand. "Try me". Removing her coat, she settles in to listen to his troubles, assuring him she's not in a rush. Ken apologises for what he perceives must be an "embarrassing situation" for her. She dismisses the notion but excuses herself to go and call Alec to prevent him sending out a search party.
In the Rovers, Alec takes the call but is left confused by Bet's cryptic words. She won't tell him what's up, only that she'll see him later. As she returns to Ken, he states self-deprecatingly that he's made a mess of even this. "You looked to be doing a good job of it when I came in." she asserts. "What else have you messed up -- Deirdre?" "Deirdre -- and everything" he says flatly. "Not everything!" she returns. "I'm 51", he says ruefully, "What have I got left in the world?" Removing himself from the table, he buries his face in his hands and weeps bitterly. "I'm so alone", he sobs. Following him from the table, she embraces him from behind, resting her head on his shoulder. "You're not - I'm here now", she comforts. "Sorry, I should never have involved you", he sniffs, trying to recover his composure. "I involved meself", she whispers.
As they return to the table, she tells him that she was once very near to doing the same thing. It was a long time ago, she explains, when she believed, as he does now, that she'd lost everything. "You were young - you could start again", Ken counters. "So can you, Ken", she says firmly. Why do this in Deirdre's house, she wonders? What does it matter, he replies. Did he want to make sure Deirdre would be the one to find him? "Why can't she forgive me?" he asks searchingly. "I forgave her!" Bet replies softly, "I daresay she can But you're not asking her for forgiveness, you're asking her to love you. You're trying to *force* her to love you! Camping out on her doorstep monitoring her comings and goings and now this"
"You love Alec" states Ken, rhetorically. "True", she agrees. "Suppose he were to turn his back on you?" Bet admits she might end up doing the same thing - "But I'd be wrong". She doesn't begin to know *why* Alec loves her, but it's a miracle in her life she would have missed out on if she'd done what she set out to do all those years ago! She tells him that he might love Deirdre, but Deirdre will love who she wants - as we all do
The Wiltons are home now and happily tipsy from their evening of celebrations. Derek announces his New Year's resolution - he's going to be more decisive from now on! "I'm too easily influenced by other people's opinions!" he asserts. "Oh, no - no, I don't think you are", states Mavis. "No? Perhaps not, then" he replies. Mavis tells him that she's made a resolution as well. She's going to be more understanding when he's got business dealings with Angela. Derek is pleased and touched to hear it and the happy couple revel in their newfound path to perfection.
Across at No1, Ken is telling Bet that Tracy won't be able to forgive what he said to her tonight. Bet disagrees - it'll all be forgotten by morning. "You'd never have imagined 12 months ago, how you'd be feeling tonight - would you?" she asks. "You don't know what the next 12 months will bring! Look forward, not back", she counsels. He readily agrees he doesn't want to go back. She tells him encouragingly that he should carry on and see what turns up. "You must think I'm pathetic", he says lifelessly. "You've had a very hard year - you should be glad it's over", she returns. Feeling her mission is accomplished, she rises to leave, asking him what he intends to do. He supposes he'll tidy up and head back to his flat. He offers his thanks weakly but Bet tells him to save it until he means it. She pats his shoulder and plants a light kiss on his head before going out the way she came in, through the back. Alone once more, Ken casts his eyes downward and slowly starts aligning the pills, again in a perfect triangle.
Next door, in the dark stillness of the Rovers, Bet, with her coat still on, crouches against the adjoining wall and listens for movement from No1. Alec comes through from the back to help himself to a drink and is surprised to see her sitting there in the dark. She motions him over and whispers that she's listening. Quietly, she explains that Ken has had a bad time and needed someone to talk to. Alec rejoins that he "picks his moments" but Bet hushes him and leans closer to the wall. "Anyway, what do you mean a bad time,? He never has anything else does Ken Barlow!" grumbles Alec. Sharply, Bet whispers, "Alec! Believe me when I say I had to do what I did tonight." With tears in her eyes she adds, "And shall I tell you summat else? I *love* you - you'll never know how much!" He reaches out to comfort her but she again hushes him. "Shhh! It's all right - he's going home", she smiles. "He' s going home!"
Ken starts down the street, slowly and painfully, watching the pavement as he goes. Hearing a baby's cries inside No11, he pauses outside the house and looks up. A smile comes slowly to his lips and he moves on at a brisker pace.
In the raw light of day, Bet calls around at Ken's to see how he's feeling. Still in his PJ's, he groggily lets her in. When he tells her he has a "thick head" she conjectures that most of the country shares that affliction this morning. Ken says he probably has more regrets than others but Bet says it's all water under the bridge. He tells her he'll always be grateful for what she did. "If I thought that, I'd have to run and hide every time you come into the pub!" she answers. When he next comes in, she tells him, she wants him to order his half a bitter, pay his 44p and say "thank you" as he always does - "just as if last night never happened." "I'll try", he promises.
The Websters are grouchy this morning, little Rosie having wailed half the night. Sleep-deprived Kevin offers to look after the baby so sleep-deprived Sally can go back to bed. Sally, the ingrate, throws the suggestion back in his face shrieking that she can't sleep with the baby crying! (I'm no expert but I think that baby wouldn't cry half so much if Sally wasn't so uptight!)
At the tea dance, Emily and Rita take in their surroundings as they sit quietly at one of the tables. Emily notices "that boss of Curly's" is here. She wonders whether he's married or not. As Reg whisks one of the ladies around on the dance floor, Rita comments that he doesn't seem too sure himself!
Curly, Martin and Kevin are walking down the street heading for the Rovers. As they reach the door, Mike Baldwin has just pulled up to the curb. Alighting from his car, he offers to buy them a round, to "wet the babies' heads". Martin curtly rejects the offer, telling Mike to save his money and spend it on his "fancy piece instead"!
Reg now joins Rita and Emily at their table, breathlessly proclaiming dancing "the finest exercise in the world". A top ballroom dancer needs the fitness of an Olympic athlete, he informs them confidently. Emily excuses herself from the table and Rita looks after her with panic. "And, are you - top class?" she asks politely. Modestly, he shakes his head, "Merely a gifted amateur!" He goes on to tell her about taking lessons when he and his wife were first married. Deftly, he works in to the conversation that he and his wife are now apart. "I did what I could", he sighs, "but you have to know when to let it go". Changing the subject, he remarks that he's surprised to see Rita there. She comments dryly that she's rather surprised herself. Leaning forward to place his hand on her arm, he gives her the assurance that she'll never be short a partner with him around! Rita forces a smile in response.
At the Wiltons, Victor Pendlebury has stopped by for a word with Derek. Mavis arrives just as he is leaving. She expresses her disappointment but as Victor explains, he only came to talk business and it would only bore her. On the contrary, Mavis protests - she is very interested in business! In that case, says Victor as he takes his leave, Derek will fill you in!
Emily returns to an empty table at the tea dance. A look around the room reveals Reg and Rita enjoying a dance. And Rita really does seem to be enjoying it!
Alma goes into the Rovers and parks herself at the bar. "I won't ask how you 're feeling", Bet smiles sympathetically. "Terrible!" Alma reveals anyway. This is the worst New Year's she's ever had and she isn't going to put up any fronts!
Derek has put Mavis in the picture about the reason for Victor's visit. He's going to Darlington next week. He's to be gone all day. Oh, and by the way, he's bringing Angela. He'll be showing her around the facility and "All day! Just the two of you?" Mavis reacts. She resumes her knitting with a vengence. Truly puzzled, Derek asks, "Mavis -- what about your New Year's resolution?" Apparently, she wasn't prepared to have it tested so immediately - poor thing. She slams down her knitting and dissolves in tears.
Anita Belanger
Victor Pendlebury: CHRISTOPHER COLL
Written by: PETER WHALLEY Directed by: BRIAN MILLS
Wednesday (3170, Friday 4 January 1991)
Deirdre and Phil Jennings are returning from their weekend away in Paris and Percy is there to greet them as they alight from their taxi. Helpful as ever, he offers to carry Deirdre's suitcase in but gets the brush-off as Deirdre and Phil slip inside the house, shutting Percy outside. Deirdre doesn't expect to find anyone in the house and is momentarily startled to find Tracy at home. By way of an explanation, Tracy tells her mother that she had a row with her dad. Deirdre bids Phil goodbye (the taxi is still waiting for him) and sits down to hear Tracy's story.
Across the road in the Kabin, Mavis is distracted from her work thinking about Derek's new association with Angela. Rita tells her, in so many words, to get a grip. He is only showing her around a waste paper factory, after all. Even with lunch thrown in, "It's hardly like they're spending ten days on the Costa Del Sex!" (LOL!!!) Mavis tells Rita that she doesn't understand what Angela is really like: "She's like a circus ring-master, cracking her whip and waiting for the little poodle to jump through hoops." (Derek being the poodle, we assume!)
Furious after hearing Tracy's story, Deirdre calls around to take matters up with Ken. She tells him he is "pathetic" for the way he carried on, that he had no right to expect that she would spend New Year's eve with him. She finds his manner disarming. Far from argumentative, he is contrite and humble, agreeing readily that he was wrong. To Deirdre's surprise, he admits that he has been expecting too much. With Ken's assurances that "the penny has finally dropped" and that there'll be no more trouble, her anger fades and she is left gaping at him in surprise.
Percy's in a snit over Emily going to the tea dance without him. As he briskly plucks the wash from the clothesline, she tries to explain that she took Rita instead of him only because she was going in her "official capacity". He still thinks it's a "rum do", going to a dance and not being able to dance. She tells him that she did dance, with Mr Holdsworth, as a matter of fact. Percy categorises Reg Holdsworth as a "ladies' man" and he says he bets Mrs Holdsworth wasn't there. "Well, as it happens, Mr Sugden", explains Emily, "his wife has left him." Percy counters that the reason his wife left him is "because he's a ladies' man!".
In Bettabuys' lunch room during morning tea break, Curly suggests to Kimberly that since they're on the same lunch hour today, they use the time to go for a walk together. She protests that it's freezing outside but Curly says he'll keep her warm. Vera sits down with them, interrupting their under-the-table hand-holding and asks about a wedding date. Before they can respond, Reg barges in and orders Curly to take an early lunch as he has "urgent business" to attend to. Curly's hopes dashed for spending the lunch hour alone with Kimberly, but Vera tells him not to worry, maybe this time next year they'll be starting a family. Somewhat comforted at the thought, Curly reaches underneath the table to grope Kimberly's knee, but misses his mark, only to have Vera shriek with laughter, "Aaack!!! Gotta watch this fella, Kim!".
When Deirdre comes back from talking to Ken, Tracy is seated at the dining table, writing a "thank-you" to Susan for her Christmas gift. Deirdre tells her that Ken has apologised for his behaviour which prompts Tracy to confess what she said to Ken during their row, that he wasn't her "real dad". Deirdre expresses regret at Tracy having said something so drastic and tells her she thinks Tracy may have been exaggerating Ken's part in their row. (Wait a second, Deirdre... You weren't there when Ken screamed at poor Tracy: "I don't want you - I want Deirdre!!!") Tracy doesn't hang about to argue; she's off to her friend, Debbie's, for tea.
At lunch time in the Rovers, as they await their hot pot, Mavis is harping at Derek because, as she sees it, they are dependent on his ex-wife to "pay the mortgage". She reckons they'd be better off living in a tent. When he asks whether she wants him to cancel the contract, she replies with an emphatic "Yes". She goes on to tell him he has to make a choice; her - or Angela!
At the bar, Mark is telling Kevin how swamped he is at the garage. He wonders when Kev will be back on the job to give him a hand. Kevin can't spare the time now as Sally needs him at home to help care for the malcontent, Rosie. He dismisses Mark's pleas, saying he'll be back at work when his "paternity leave" is over.
In the Kabin, Rita is packing away Christmas decorations when in glides Reg. (Oh, so this is the "urgent business" he forced Curly to move his lunch hour for!) Reg tells Rita he's in to check what social events are coming up and she tells him it's a good idea to keep active, it'll take his mind off his troubles. That's all the encouragement R Reg needs. "Good!", he responds. "What time shall I pick you up?" Taken aback at his forwardness, Rita tells him he must be joking. (Look again, Rita... I think he's serious!)
On her way home from Debbie's, Tracy knocks at Ken's door. He is delighted to see her there as he felt she wouldn't be able to forgive him for what he said on New Year's eve. Upstairs, each apologises to the other for the things they said in anger. Ken tells Tracy that he's been behaving selfishly but from now on, he promises, things are going to be different. She gives him her assurance that she didn't mean what she said, he's the only dad she wants. (Smiles and hugs all around.)
In the Rovers, as Don steps up to the bar, Liz hands him a present she has for Martin and Gail's newborn son, David. She asks Don if he could pass it on but he makes the excuse that he'll be too busy and anyway, perhaps Martin will be in and she could give it to him instead. Slipping it back under the bar, Liz agrees but we can see she's a trifle confused. (Only you and I and Don know the *real* reason he doesn't want to handle the gift. Ivy doesn't accept David as her grandchild and Don doesn't want to make waves.)
Sipping her vodka and tonic in her booth, Rita tells Bet about Reg Holdsworth's nerve, asking her out as he did. Bet gleefully calls him "Randy Reg" but Rita doesn't find it amusing. She'd sooner go out with Percy Sugden, she says! "Just wait 'til I see Emily Bishop!", she fumes.
At Bettabuys, Curly is still after that elusive moment alone with Kimberly. He's sent her to the stockroom in search of pickled beet root, knowing full well the shipment hasn't arrived yet. He follows her in and makes his true motives known, whereupon she tells him this isn't the time or the place and besides, there'll be plenty of time for that when they're married. And by the way, when will that be, anyway, because her mother keeps asking her if they've set the date? Curly accuses her of taking more heed of her mother than of him but Kimberly hastily protests that isn't true - she loves him! Just as Curly takes hold of her, in barges Reg again. Fumbling for an excuse, Curly tells him they are seeking beet root. Dismissing Kimberly, Reg gives Curly a stern word about making time on company time. "Sex! Is that all you think about?!" To his dismay, Curly is informed that if there are any further incidents, Reg will be calling head office!
At number one, Deirdre and Liz are having a cup of tea and musing over Ken's apparent change of attitude. Tracy comes home unexpectedly and the talk quickly shifts to "recipes". Tracy announces to Deirdre that she stopped to see her dad on her way home and they've kissed and made up. This news causes Deirdre to furrow her brow and confide to Liz that she doesn't know what to make of Ken's sudden willingness to cooperate. Should she to be relieved or suspicious about it? Liz' hunch is that she should be suspicious.
In the Kabin, Rita is listening yet again to Mavis' whitterings about Derek working with Angela. She's afraid her marriage is "at risk". Rita calmly tells her she could simply try trusting Derek, but Mavis turns and snaps, "Like you did with Alan Bradley?!" The look of pain on Rita's face at these words is obvious and Mavis immediately regrets her brashness. She meekly apologises and heads into the back to brew up.
Emily comes in and seeing Rita looking upset, asks what's up. Rita shakes her head and says there's no point trying to give advice to some people, they only "put the boot in" when you do. Then she tells Emily about Reg Holdsworth asking her out. Emily launches straight into a sermon on Reg's reputation, repeating almost verbatim, what Percy earlier told her. (You didn't think she took what Percy said to heart when he was telling her - in fact, she seemed to be defending Reg at the time!)
In the Websters' livingroom, Kevin "takes over" from Sally the task of jiggling Rosie's pram to soothe the crying infant while Sally moans about being sleep deprived. (Forgive me wondering, but shouldn't someone pick the child up now and again? Every time I see her, she's in that pram!) Curly drops by for a quick visit and leaning over to peer in at Rosie, he jangles his car keys (actually, he kind of waves them back and forth) ostensibly to amuse her. (It doesn't work.) While Kevin lightheartedly complains that the baby doesn't sleep much, Curly wistfully comments that he'll probably never know the joys of fatherhood. Poor Sally, worn out as she is, has fallen asleep on the sofa during the few minutes since Curly came in. Kevin asks him not to slam the door on the way out.
When Alma comes into the Kabin, Mavis expresses sympathy about the breakup with Mike. Being Mavis, she doesn't let it go at that: "Of course, we don't know the details, do we?". Rita hastily cuts in, "No, and we don't want to know, do we?" In spite of Rita's efforts, Alma is surprisingly forthcoming about the reasons for her split from Mike. She says she thinks it was inevitable. She never got involved enough in Mike's work to see what was happening. You can see the wheels in Mavis' head turning as she asks Alma if she had it to do over, would she have done things differently. Rita, who thinks Mavis is asking out of idle curiousity, tries to end the conversation but Alma replies with conviction, yes - she would.
At the café, Ken's just finishing up a meal. As he is the last customer, he assumes Martin is waiting for him to leave so that he can go home. But Martin tells him he has to wait for Alma to come back before he can leave so the two begin chatting about the blessings of new fatherhood. Ken recalls the twins, Susan and Peter, one of whom slept days while the other slept nights assuring many months of restlessness for their parents. (Strewth - he even remembered which twin slept when!) Alma bustles in with an apology for being late and Martin seems relieved to be on his way home to his little family. Ken takes his cue and starts to leave for home but pauses to tell her he's sorry for her troubles. She remarks that since Christmas was so dismal for her, the new year has nowhere to go but up. Ken, whose own New Year was less than perfect, agrees with her. They wish each other a happy New Year and he leaves goes out the door, leaving Alma to sit quietly alone in the café for a few minutes before switching the light off and going upstairs.
Deirdre is at the Rovers' bar trying to suss Bet out about Ken's changed attitude. She wonders if he was in at all over the holiday? Bet plays it cool and tells her the pub was in a "mad rush" over the holidays and she really didn't notice. She in turn asks Deirdre about the Paris trip and Deirdre says it was wonderful and she would have enjoyed it even more, had she known Ken would be so "calm and reasonable" on her return.
Bet sees Percy standing at the bar and moves down to serve him but he tells her he isn't sure what he's having yet. (Now since when does Percy ever order anything except half a bitter? LOL) Anyway, she suggests half a bitter to him and his little face lights up as he takes it the she is offering the drink on the house. She mumbles under her breath, "What's half a bitter?" He hears her and responds, "Well, it's more to me than it is to you!" and smilingly takes the glass, toasting her good health. No sooner has he lifted it up than he complains it's gone "off". Bet has no patience for this and barks, "Jacko - see to it!", before walking briskly away. Jack comes over and leaning across the bar says to Percy: "Clear off!". Percy, looking wounded, clears off, taking his half a bitter with him.
Curly is standing at the bar and in a semi-drunken state, tells Jack that the "big panda" will have another beer. He explains that pandas in captivity never mate as they are being watched, much as he and Kimberly are being watched, by Mr and Mrs Taylor, Mr Holdsworth and even Vera! He's had enough and he forms the resolve there and then, (egged on by Jack of course) to be rid of the Taylors and their "petty, bourgeois, twisted values". "As of now", he announces, "I am no longer engaged to 'Cautious Kimberly'!"
Seated together in one of the booths, Rita is telling Liz all about the tea dance. Bet takes Rita a drink with compliments from a "secret admirer" and Reg's smiling face leans out from behind the booth to say, "Cheers, Rita! Told you I don't take 'no' for an answer!" Far from being pleased, Rita mutters to Liz about the "bloody cheek" but curtly returns the salutation. She then tells Liz she's just decided to have an early night tonight!
Mavis and Derek are at home and she is chopping parsley in preparation for a late meal while reminiscing about their circumstances only a year ago. "Remember living above the Kabin in that tiny flat, Derek?" Derek remembers that he was then out of a job and he hopes she doesn't want him to be in that state again. "You won't have to be", she tells him. "Because I'm going to be more supportive from now on, take more of an interest in your work!" She goes on to say that she's asked Rita for time off so that he can show her around the factory. "But, Mavis", he protests, "you don't need to take time off for that. I can show you around the factory on a weekend." Mavis explains that she doesn't mean *his* factory, but *Victor's*, in Darlington. In fact, she's arranged to have time off to accompany Derek and Angela tomorrow and they can *all* have lunch together! Close-up on poor Derek whose face registers his reaction at the 'happy' news, powerlessness and melancholy.
Written by PHIL WOODS
Thursday (3171, Monday 7 January 1991)
Mavis is brushing up on her factory facts as she and Derek are getting ready to leave to pick up Angela on the way to the Darlington plant. Mavis wants something explained to her before they leave so as not to be shown up in front of Angela. If the baler at Darlington is exactly the same as the one in the Weatherfield factory, why does Derek need to take Angela all the way to Victor's factory? Why not just show her the one here? Derek helps Mavis on with her coat and says it was Victor's idea, ask him... or not. (and a very lovely red wool coat it is with an attached red wool scarf! I want it!) Derek still isn't sure Mavis would enjoy the business trip since he doesn't have time to teach her all the jargon she'll be hearing today. mavis promises to be no trouble but hopes Angela realizes that she's the one sitting in the back seat, not Mavis. Actually Angela doesn't know that Mavis is coming. This makes Mavis's chin drop, mouth open and eyebrows skyrocket. (LOL what a freeze frame on the tape is that!) Outside Derek is urging Mavis to the car, he's 10 minutes late! She keeps trying to delay the inevitable meeting with Angela by checking cookers and wanting toilets but he pushes her to the car, protesting. In a typical married-couple bicker, she accuses him of not wanting her to go, not really. He, exasperated, counters with Are you doing this deliberately, trying to make me late and lose my composure? LOL Derek is starting to perspire and doesn't have a clean shirt. Mavis takes the opportunity to turn toward the house, suggesting she get one for him. Get in the car, Mavis! She just stands there looking out of sorts.
Sally and Kevin are sniping at each other, mostly out of lack of sleep and patience. As Anita pointed out yesterday, Sally is just wheeling that pram back and forth, jiggling the fussy sleepless baby instead of holding her. Kevin is going back to work today and the two of them argue and go on and on. Sally doesn't want him to go but they need the money so he leaves. In the garage, Kevin has to borrow a pair of Mark's coveralls and he moans about how tired he is and how the baby never sleeps though she's lovely, she really is. Sally's mom couldn't come after all because Sally's sister is (now i couldn't make this out... sick? visiting?). They've been left to cope on their own. Mark directs kevin to a job that needs doing and tells him not to expect to get a dinner break owing to his late arrival.
Mavis enters the Kabin. She didn't go after all, telling Rita she just froze. Now she's upset and worrying if she did the right thing or not. Rita assures her the right thing was done but Mavis frets and fusses and you just know she'll be driving Rita spare by the end of the day. Rita suggests Mavis put kettle on but Mavis is now in a different worry, whether Derek will arrive safely and how forceful a woman is Angela then finally volunteers to put kettle on "Shall I?". Rita sighs.
At the supermarket, Mr. Holdsworth approaches Miss Taylor. Didn't Mr. Watts speak to her today? Kim pouts that Mr. Watts hasn't spoken to her all day. Reg reassigns her to the hardware department which doesn't improve Kimberly's mood and she scowls behind his back. Meanwhile Vera is telling Curly that he's not exactly Nigel Havers (?). He's lucky to have a nice girl like Kim, beggars can't be choosers! But the problem isn't Kimberly, it's her parents controlling her every move and thought. He doesn't want to end up like Mr. Taylor, pipe in mouth, down in his greenhouse propogatin' 'is prize patagoniums! Vera tells him that marriage can be exciting, look at her and Jack! Curly glumly says that wasn't what he had in mind either, Jack has his pigeons (instead of a greenhouse ... to get away from vera is the implication here)
At that moment, more or less, Jack is accepting a drink from Jim who is envious of Jack's job in a pub. The public phone rings and Des answers it a couple of times in various sarcastic and joking manners but one caller is looking for a bloke who sells bike parts and Jim scurries behind the bar rather than go around to take the call. "This is me other number". Alec won't be too pleased to hear that, Betty snaps. Jim ignores Betty as she gives him a tongue lashing so Betty turns to Rita who's come in and teases her about dances and romances. Rita says it were only a cup of tea and a record player in the church hall and no sign of romance.
But at that moment. again, more or less, a lovely bouquet of pink roses has arrived at the Kabin. With Emily admiring the arrangement, Mavis thinks it is from Derek to "say it with flowers" after they quarreled that morning. But the card says "To Ginger, From Fred" which confuses Mavis as her hair isn't ginger at all. Emily realizes immediately which redhead is indicated and tells Mavis they might be for Rita. Naive Mavis can't conceive that an unmarried woman might be getting flowers so wonders why Derek could be sending Rita flowers and Rita doesn't know anyone named Fred, she would have mentioned it! When Emily makes her realize the Fred Astaire connection, Mavis understands and the words Reg and Holdsworth hang in the air, unspoken.
Gail and baby David visit Sally who is finally holding that baby and walking the floor with her. David is sound asleep in his pram. Gail takes the baby with the ease of a three time mum and cuddles her up against her neck, holding her close against her chest. Poor Sally is so tired and worried but as Gail points out, it's worry that she isn't cut out to be a mum. Gail gives Sally some good advice and reassurance that she will be fine and sympathises with her. Nicky was the same way and Gail wonders that his first words weren't obscene, the language he heard from her! With the baby quieter in Gail's arms, Sally seems grateful to have her fears and doubts understood.
Rita returns from lunch for Mavis's turn out. Mavis is all whiny and dither as is her wont because Derek hasn't called to say he got to Darlington safely. I think she's afraid the barracuda ex-wife has hijacked him or summat. Rita sees the flowers and inside the Ginger/Fred note is an invitation to another tea dance, would you credit that! What am i going to tell him? Mavis, seeing she's going to get no sympathy from that quarter, sarcastically tells her to make up her own mind and goes for her dinner.
At Bettabuys, Curly approaches Kimberly for a word. She's in an even fouler mood than before, hating the hardware department and is quite difficult with him when he wants to find a time when they can talk. He is paged away before they can set a time and he slopes off. Over in the other aisle, Reg is asking Vera for advice. (he obviously doesn't know her that well yet!) Without names, he says, he wants to know what her reaction would be if she got flowers and an invitation to a dance from a man she formerly wouldn't have thought of in a romantic way but who was a (well i couldn't make out all of it, he was beating his own drum and blowing his own horn so loudly) man of the world, suave, sexy,... You get the picture. Vera smiles bashfully (really!) and tells him that Jack is a jealous husband. No! Not you! Rita Fairclough!!! He huffs off leaving Vera more curious than insulted as the cat scrambles furiously out of the bag!
Mavis calls the Darlington office (on the Kabin's phone bill, no less!) but the switchboard operator has never heard of Mr. Wilton. Mavis is relieved however, when Victor's secretary assures her he got there safely but they are still out at lunch. Rita returns from somewhere and is told this. A relieved Mavis is then given something new to worry about when Rita innocently (?) comments that it's rather late to still be at lunch, it's quarter past 4! Another vcr freeze frame shows Mavis biting her lip, eyes wide and rolling in fear, eyebrows furrowed! LOL (I got lucky with the pause button today!)
Vera serves up tea to Jack and Curly and is gossiping about Rita dating Reg Holdsworth. Plenty of insults are flung across the table between Jack and Vera, a normal occurrence and Jack is busy encouraging Curly to break it off with Kimberly due to his plight with his future in-laws from Hell.
Jenny and Steph are waiting impatiently for Des who's had the day off but was supposed to be there so they could take the car across town for their nightly Pom Dee Lite task. Des rushes in but Steph has no time to hear what he's started to enthuse about. He tells her that she'll have to fend for herself tomorrow as he's taking the car and going down to London for a boat show. Now Steph doesn't attach any significance to that but we do, don't we, readers??
Jim is taking another call at the pub that night and Curly is having a drink for courage before seeing Kimberly. Jack is again sticking his oar in, encouraging Curly to do the right thing. Martin arrives for a quick half, moaning about Alma's long face since Mike Baldwin dumped her with no warning, some men seem to just enjoy being brutal. Curly gets off before he loses his nerve as Kevin and Mark come in. Kevin's just picking up a bottle of beer for himself and orange juice for Sally when Curly comes back in for car assistance. (wonder if the car is trying to tell him something?) Vera comes in and spies Rita and gets them a drink and proceeds to stick the other Duckworth oar in it, advising Rita of all the nasty gossip about Reg Holdsworth, the Groping Grocer and she'd be better off far away from him. Rita realizes Reg took Vera into his confidence and is outraged at that and at Vera's gossip so gives her a right rollicking and leaves, to Bet's dismay. Vera just shrugs and helps herself to the rest of Rita's drink!
Mavis has her evening cocoa waiting for Derek who finally arrives, heading her worries off at the pass with a gift of a new knitted hat and scarf bought in Swaledale, James Herriot country. They came back from Darlington cross country it seems. Mavis is pleased to hear his day was good and the contract is all but signed. She snuggles in for a cuddle and suggests "an early night" but all Derek is interested in is his supper!
Bet visits Rita to apologize for Vera's behaviour. Rita insists she's going to tell Reg what for, for involving Vera and turn him down for the dance. Bet cautions her not to be too hasty just because Vera upset her. What's wrong with the odd night out?
Writer - PHIL WOODS Director - SARAH HARDING
Friday (3172, Wednesday 9 January 1991)
As Rita is setting up the papers outside the Kabin, she spies Victor's car pulling up in front of the Wilton's. When she goes back inside, Mavis is serving Des and Jim and Des is drooling over a boat magazine. Rita mentions to Mavis about seeing Victor's car and Mavis tells her yes, it probably was, as he and Derek have a meeting with Angela at Hawthorne's.
Victor and Derek are getting ready to set off, when Victor asks Derek how Mavis is about Angela. Derek tells him that Mavis find the situation ironic. They set off, with Derek quite pleased with himself over the deal with Angela.
At the Rovers, Bet and Betty go on about the addiction that shopping can be, when Des comes in to drop off Steph's house keys. Des tells Bet that he's off to climb aboard the biggest yacht he can find and Jack is convinced that Des is doing a flit.
Back to the Kabin and Mavis is grilling Rita about her "friendship" with Reg. She doesn't believe Rita that it is just dancing.
At Bettabuys, Vera is trying to find out what is wrong with Kimberly, who ends up throwing a hissy fit and stomping off in tears. Reg is up in his office when he spies Rita down on the floor, and he heads down to intercept her, after a few quick squirts of breath freshener to engage in some light flirty quips with Rita. Meanwhile, in the stockroom, Kimberly is still in tears and Curly makes it worse by telling her she is a prisoner. Vera heads into the stockroom, but turns around as soon as she sees the young lovers, only to find Rita and Reg chatting it up. They continue their conversation about dancing with Vera eavesdropping behind them, so unobtrusively! Back in the stockroom, Curly tells Kimberly that he is going to have it out with her parents tonight.
At PPP, Victor tells Derek that his new job description is to keep Angela happy, although Derek protests that he has enough to do already.
Now to the Webster's, where Sally finally has the baby to sleep, and when Kevin comes in, they decide they would rather have a nap than eat.
Mavis, Rita and Emily are talking about Sally and the new baby at the Kabin, when Reg arrives and Rita invites him up to her flat. Mavis and Emily tut tut at that. Upstairs, Rita tells Reg that she does not like Vera talking about her and Reg in public, but they sort it out and agree to keep on dancing.
At Jenny and Angie's, Angie is doing her designer thing on Ben when Mark drops by, but Jenny gets rid of him by telling him she is working tonight.
All was peaceful at the Webster's when there's a mighty bang on the door and the baby starts wailing! Kevin goes to the door to see Mark, who tells him he's getting a great welcome everywhere tonight, after Kevin blasts him for waking Rosie. Kev sends Mark off to the chippy for their dinner.
At the Rovers, Steph picks up the house keys Des left for her, and she tells Bet and Jack that Des has gone to the boat show in London with a mate. Angie and Ben come in, counting out just enough for a pint and a half and a pack of crisps. Angie is surprised to see Steph as she thought she would be working with Jenny at the promo, but Steph tells her there is nothing on tonight. Angie looks puzzled.
Curly is having tea at the Taylor's, but only with Mummy T as Daddy T is out at a garden club meeting tonight. The only sound to be heard is the tic toc of a mantle clock, until Curly is so annoyed with it that he jams in one of Mummy T's figurines to stop it - when she is out of the room of course! Curly then has a go at Kimberly about her mother treating them all like children, until Kimberly finally has had enough and takes off her engagement ring and leaves in tears. Mummy T comes through and tells Curly that she thinks it is better for everyone. She tries to give Curly back the ring, but he refuses.
Ben Williams: PAUL WARRINER
Writer: JULIAN ROACH Director: SARAH HARDING
Monday (3173, Friday 11 January 1991)
Angie scolds Jenny for coming in late last night. Jenny tells her she went out after her Pom De Lite job. Angie knows better thought because Steph had blown the whistle, telling Angie that there was no job last night. Jenny is evasive and is saved by the bell when Mark arrives.
Curly has no appetite, pushing his sausage around on his plate. Jack is triumphant and tells Curly how clever it was of him to work it so that Kimberly broke off with *him* so he didn't have to do the dirty work. Curly's mind has changed in the face of rejection now, professing his love for Kimberly, putting more of the blame on her parents (and he's right!). He leaves the table and rushes a sympathetic Vera along to get to work. After they leave, Jack helps himself to the rest of Curly's breakfast. Priorities, you know.
At the Kabin, Betty and Emily are chatting to Rita and Mavis about tea dances. Rita is defending her decision to go to the dance with Reg over "some people's objections". Betty's not keen to go and one afternoon with Reg was more than enough for Emily, she finds him a bit overpowering. Rita sends the ladies into fits of giggles when she comments "this from the woman who lives with Percy Sugden"! Betty and Emily leave and Mavis takes Rita to task for embarrassing her with pointed remarks. Rita doesn't know why Mavis doesn't approve, it's all harmless after all. (at least on her part!)
Curly wonders if Kim has confided in Vera but she hasn't. He watches Kim leave her post at the till and tries to approach her. But in a move worthy of an NHL defenceman, Kim swerves to avoid Curly and rushes down the aisle. Curly runs down the next aisle to head her off at the other end but she is very cool and businesslike, not wanting anything to do with him on a personal level and is very firm on that point. She brushes his hand off her arm squeaking about possible sexual harassment threats. It isn't' going well. Vera approaches and offers her assistance but that's the last thing Curly wants. Reg approaches so the women rush back to their jobs. Reg wants the name and number of Curly's mechanic. Curly writes it down on a slip of paper, distracted by his own problems.
Mark is up to his elbows into an engine. Kevin brings two cups of tea over and is given some stick for how early he's brewed up. He's only been in an hour! Yeah, but he's been up since 5 a.m.! Mark answers the phone but it's for Kevin. It's Reg, who wants Kevin to look at his car over at his house, not in at the garage. Kevin keeps it under his had and tells Mark it was just a mate wanting to flog his car and hoping Kevin will look it over with an estimate of how much it's worth.
Derek runs into his office from the warehouse to answer the phone. It's Angela, which makes Derek wince with guilt. Wait, it gets worse! She wants Derek to have lunch with her today but Derek manages to put her off until next week, groaning with the thought of impending doom when he rings off. Sounds to me like Angela is milking this contract for more than it's worth!
Angie plays with Rosie while Sally looks on. Angie wonders if Sally knows what Jenny's playing at, saying she's working when she's not. Sally doesn't know either and promises to keep and ear out. Sally seems to be longing for a bit of adult company (already???) and suggests Angie stay for a cuppa but Angie has lectures to attend so she gets on her way.
Reg gets ready to leave for the afternoon, borrowing Curly's car keys and promising to have them back in a reasonable amount of time, but not too early, Reg leers. (Ah. Tea dance day.) With a twitch and a smile, he saunters off. Curly encounters Kimberly again and tries to get her to see reason. They love each other and he doesn't care what her parents think of him (ah. but she does!) None of his pleading is for naught because she tells him in no uncertain terms, of her own free will, not her mum and dad's that SHE says it's over, they're through! Got that!? He attempts to mutter something else but she's adamant and sticks to her guns.
In the pub at dinnertime Jack is telling Mark that he hopes Curly doesn't marry Kimberly or his life won't be worth living! What's love got to do with owt, we're talking about marriage here! Mavis and Emily have had lunch. A frog-voiced Emily assures Mavis not to worry about Rita, she can take care of herself after all she's been through. She's just lonely, not vulnerable as Mavis fears. Emily leaves making Mavis promise to tell her all the details and Derek arrives. He's sucking up hard and lays it on thick, telling Mavis he thinks having lunch with one's wife is much more important than work! He doesn't tell her about Angela's call.
Kevin has his dinner at home because he hoped he might catch an half hour's kip. Sally asks Kevin if Mark might think Jenny is going cool on him. Well if she is, it's news to Mark who's still besotted as far as Kevin knows. Sally has told Kevin what she's heard from Angie and Kevin proceeds to tell Sally that Curly has put him in a tight spot by putting Reg on to him. Sally wonders what Mark would say to catch Kevin working on his own. He'll never find out, Kevin is confident. (Never say Never!)
Gail is in at the Kabin settling her paper/magazine/comic bill. Mavis oohs and ahs over the baby who suddenly sneezes his dummy right out of his mouth, startling both Gail and Mavis who immediately coo at him. (good ad lib, David, lad!) Gail leaves as it's soon feeding time at the "zoo". Just as Mavis turns to straighten out the cards who should walk in but Victor. Victor, as usual, manages to be suave, debonair and two faced as he "assumes" Derek has already told Mavis that he will be seeing Angela on a regular basis. Victor is admiring of Mavis's rational, calm and stable demeanor and was surprised she hadn't called Victor to complain as most wives would. Mavis covers but loses much of her colour as she swallows hard. Victor manages to cadge a cup of tea out of her and later stirs the pot some more with more of the same kinds of comments, mixed in with admiration and compliments for this woman he had hoped to marry once. Mavis reaches the end of her patience and gets rid of him before she loses all composure. (saving that for Derek no doubt!)
Reg and Rita leave the dance. He's effusive in his compliments and flattery, laying it on thick about mature experienced women being his preference and oh, it's endless until Rita cuts him off at the car. She also declines his dinner invitation but won't say no to a cup of tea and tea cake on the way home.
Curly watches the staff leave and then runs towards the car into which Kimberly is lowering herself. Mummy is driving and it's she to whom Curly wants to speak. The window is rolled down but Mummy is more than sarcastic, referring to Curly as a sex maniac, thug and villain and though Curly tries to convince her that Kim is a grown woman with a mind of her own and loves him, she drives off fiercely, leaving him shouting in the dark before long.
In the pub that night, Steph chats to Bet about Des's enthusiastic call from the boat show in London and then confirms for Angie that there is no Pom De Lite show tonight. Angie tells her that Jenny said there was when she left a half hour ago and just when they and a friend of Angie's discuss Jenny's motivations, Mark comes in. He is surprised to see Steph there and Steph deftly covers for Jenny and says she has to get off sharpish or she'll be late! (but you know Steph will get to the bottom of this!) Jim comes in for a pint, telling Bet that Liz will be in later. Bet is amazed that Liz wouldn't rather be doing something else on her night off, maybe the pictures, or theatre or dancing but Jim can't picture himself tripping the light fantastic!
Kevin comes home and tells Sally that Reg's car needs a bit of work that he'll have to do on the sly at the weekend. Sally alternates whinges from Mark finding out and Kevin working on the weekend. She babbles about babies from the kitchen but when she goes back through, she finds Kevin out like a light on the settee.
When Derek arrives home late, we see that Mavis is obviously at the end of her tether. There is no tea ready because she didn't know whether he would have to spend more time keeping customers warm (i.e. selling and sucking up I guess). She is very sarcastic and accuses Derek of being at the customer's beck and call. Derek figures out she knows about Angela and guesses that Victor called her. Wrong! He came to see her at the shop, assuming she already knew which of course she didn't and was very embarrassed to have to cover for him. She dissolves into tears, accusing him of flinging her trust back in her face, he's supposed to be her husband. She crumples and runs upstairs, slamming the bedroom door.
Ben Williams - PAUL WARRINER
Writer - BARRY HILL Director - SARA HARDING
Tuesday (3174, Monday 14 January 1991)
Mavis is in a state and as she leaves the house for work, Derek follows. She gets to the Kabin and gives Derek an earful about having to continue to work with Angela. After he leaves, she tells Rita that he has lied to her, Victor told her that Derek had actually volunteered! Rita ends up getting Mavis riled at her and has to listen to abuse about going dancing with a married man. Rita tells her that Reg is separated and Sally comes in and substantiates the story, as Kevin had to go round to Reg's house to fix his car and there was no sign of Mrs. Holdsworth.
Kevin and Mark arrive at the garage, where they find the lights on from the night before, and Mark thinks that he must have accidentally left them on.
Now to the Bettabuys lunchroom, where Reg is telling Curly what a good and reasonable job Kevin did on his car, but Curly seems lost in another world, and after he leaves, Reg approaches Vera to find out what's wrong with Curly. Vera tells him it is about Kimberly, how she's chucked Curly, but Reg tells her he will sort it out, as he is well experienced in matters of the heart.
Steph and Jenny are working at the perfume counter when Robert drops by to see Jenny. After he's gone, Jenny tells Steph he wanted to know what she was doing tonight, and Steph reminds her that she is working.
At the Rovers, Bet is trying to have a conversation with Mark, but he now he is lost in another world. Bet, Rita and Liz decide on a good gossip session, with lots of juicy details, and Rita fills them in on Mavis' current crisis. When the gossip starts flowing, customers can go whistle!
Kevin arrives home to a sleeping Rosie, and sardines on toast for dinner. He tells Sally about leaving the lights on at the garage and how Mark thinks it was his doing. Sally says she feels sorry for Mark, with Jenny two timing him and Kevin doing work behind his back. The shouting the two of them do in the kitchen wake Rosie, and Sally sends Kevin out to drive her around til she's asleep or he won't even get sardines on toast.
Back to Bettabuys, where Kimberly goes to see Reg, who can barely remember why he wanted to see her. He then grills her about Curly, and she tries to tell him she wants a transfer and doesn't care if she ever sees Curly again.
Victor and Derek are grabbing a bite of lunch just off the highway at Derek's request. Victor twists the story about Derek having to work with Angela and what he told Mavis. Derek concludes he is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Mark and Kevin are closing up the garage when Des comes in to book some time for them to look at his car, and he tells them about the boat show. Des happens to mention where the promo is tonight for Steph and Jenny. When he leaves, Kev plants the seed in Mark's head about going and seeing Jenny do the promo tonight.
Derek arrives home to find Mavis sitting in the dark with her coat still on. Quick cut to the Kabin, where Rita is locking up when there is a bang on the door and it's Reg - who wrangles an invite up to the flat for a drink. Back at the Wilton's, Mavis is still in the dark when Derek brings her a cup of tea. Derek tells Mavis that he met with Victor today and he thinks Victor is up to his old tricks, trying to drive a wedge between them. Mavis says no, Victor is married now, but Derek insists, until Mavis tells him it's a smoke screen to cover up Derek's smouldering infatuation for Angela. Mavis shares her carefully thought out theory with Derek, which Derek denies until he's shut up by putting one foot firmly in his mouth! Something about how beautifully Mavis, the dutiful little wife, washes his hankies! As soon as the words are out of his mouth, Derek knows he make a major mistake, and he is banished to the kitchen while Mavis resumes sitting alone in the dark.
Back at Rita's flat, Reg and she are enjoying a drink and chat, and Reg tells her that his wife is in New Zealand, living with her sister.
At the Rovers, our lad Curly has had too much to drink, and is telling Jack that he should have got rid of Kimberly and her parents a long time ago. Curly needs directions to the toilet, and Jack kindly provides. Some sad moments when Alma shares her loneliness with Liz and Ken his loneliness with Bet. Jack realizes that Curly is still in the toilet and goes to collect him, only to have to carry him home!
At the Pomme de Lite promo, Robert has Jenny hanging all over him, while they chat with Steph. Steph spies Mark as he comes in, and she sends Jenny over to talk to him as she keeps Robert company. Mark notices Steph and Robert talking and makes the assumption that they are going out and Jenny does nothing to correct that assumption.
Robert Weston: PHILIP BRETHERTON
Writer: LESLIE DUXBUXRY Director: JUNE HOWSON
Wednesday (3175, Wednesday 16 January 1991)
We open in the Barnes household with Steph humming along to a tune on the radio as she applies last minute touches to her morning make-up. Jenny comes in to prod her along so they won't be late for work and Steph takes the opportunity to confront Jenny about the close call they had the previous evening when Mark showed up unexpectedly at the Pomme Delite promotion. Jenny sheepishly confesses that she allowed Mark to form the mistaken impression that Robert, her new beau, was actually with Steph. Angered by this revelation, Steph calls Jenny a "stupid cow" and tells her she'd better set Mark straight before Des hears of it!
Meanwhile, Mark is, at this very minute, in the garage passing on his mistaken impression. After telling Kevin about Steph being with a bloke the night before, he says he thinks someone ought to put Des in the picture. But Kevin doesn't want any part of it and he advises Mark to stay well out, too. That is, unless he wants to be responsible for Steph getting agro from Des. This prompts Mark to reflect on what he'd do if he ever caught Jenny two-timing him: he'd break her neck!
In the ladies' washroom at Bettabuys', Vera is trying to get Curly's love life in order by giving Kimberly some unsolicited and unwelcome advice, i.e., the benefit of her experience regarding matters of the heart. She tells her she should hang on to Curly because he's going places. She wishes she'd "had the sense" to meet someone like him. Vera goes dreamy-eyed as she thinks of how different things could have been. She reckons she'd be at home now, in a nice bungalow with her feet up, enjoying coffee and biccies while watching a game show on telly....
Finishing her soliloquy, Vera says ruefully, "But I 'ad to go for glamour, din't I?"
Kimberly makes no effort to hide her surprise: "Jack! Glamour?!?"
"Oh aye - like Clark Gable 'e were.... Dashin' an' 'andsome.... Life an' soul of t'party...."
"What happened?", gapes Kimberly.
"Well, it were all show, wern't it? 'All that glitters in't gold'.... They were right, who said that, I'll tell yer.... But Curly - 'e's.... 'e's 24 karat!"
With a sigh of exasperation, Kimberly exits the washroom only to come face to face with Mr Solid Gold himself, who is anxiously tapping fingers on the door frame as he waits for her. When he pleads with her to discuss the business of her transfer request, she fleas, shrieking that she just wants to be left alone. Rounding the corner just in time to witness her distress is Reg, who surmises the situation and orders Curly to his office.
As they come into Reg's office, the older man is chastising Curly for "harassing (his) staff". Curly begs Reg to cancel the transfer request, saying that Kimberly "is never *this* decisive". Reg firmly informs him that he cannot do that. He has given his word and "a Holdsworths word is his bond!" Anyway, he thinks, maybe some time apart would benefit them both, time to think. Curly informs Reg that he is unable to eat or sleep, let alone think. To prove his point, he stands up and shakes his pants legs to show Reg how loose they've become. He sits down again, hopeless resignation in his voice as he says, "I love her".
Reg, infinitely more experienced in matters of this nature than is Curly, counters, "Love? Or a deeply wounded ego?" He gives Curly a "tip", get himself out to the nightclubs and discos, spread his net, play the field. He finishes by telling Curly to get with it, they have a store to run. Poor Curly is despondent as he makes one last plea for Reg to "lose" the transfer form in the post. Reg emphatically refuses, giving Curly a final admonition as he dismisses him, "Never mix business with pleasure!"
No sooner has Curly shut the door than Reg picks up the phone and with a grin reminiscent of the cat who swallowed the canary, dials Rita's number. At the other end of the line, in the Kabin, Rita answers Reg's call as Mavis waits on Bet at the counter. Mavis remarks about the magazine Bet is purchasing, 'Hello', and Bet says that she likes "a bit of scandal with (her) elevenses". Mavis reveals that she prefers "more uplifting" reading material, herself. Bet dismisses that sort as a bit too dull for her as she "needs a regular fix of willful women and wicked men!". Rita ends her phone call and returns to the counter just as Mavis sniffs, "We get enough of that in real life around here, lately!"
As Bet leans in for some gossip, Rita waves her off, saying it's just a case of Mavis objecting to her friendship with Reg. Mavis clarifies that she doesn't "object", she just worries about what Rita is "getting into". Bet quips that if that's all she's going to get, she's going, but she stops just at the door to signal to Rita to come in to the pub later and give her the dirt. Rita nods her understanding and turns back to Mavis to apologise for being sharp with her.
Mavis reiterates that she is only concerned for Rita's welfare - after all, Reg *is* a married man. "Separated", Rita corrects her, and anyway, *she* makes the rules where Reg is concerned, so not to worry. Mavis wonders if Reg's wife would "see it that way", and Rita remarks that Reg's wife would need a telescope to see anything as she's in far off New Zealand, prompting Mavis to state mournfully that she wishes *Angela* were!
Mark and Kevin enter the cafe together at lunchtime arguing about whether to go to the Rovers instead. Kevin just wants to grab some lunch and get back to the garage but Mark is in favour of going for a pint in case Des happens to be in. They go their separate ways, Kevin once more cautioning Mark to mind his own business as he goes to the counter to order a cup of tea and bacon buttie to go. Martin serves him while cracking a joke about the fitful Rosie who continues to cry relentlessly. Phyllis, who is standing by, makes a soft comment about how wonderful babies are and is shocked when Kevin makes a sarcastic quip about "gags working wonders". The two men giggle over this as Kevin takes his lunch off with him and heads back to work.
Ken is also in the cafe for his lunch, telling Alma that he needed the break from "150 noisy school children" today. They are very friendly to each other, Alma and Ken, a fact that doesn't go unnoticed by Phyllis. She turns to remark to Martin that she thinks there's a romance about to bloom, but Martin says rebound situations never work. Alma has just come back from serving Ken and hearing Martin's remark, casually asks, "What doesn't work?". Martin and Phyllis grope for an answer and he manages to say something lame which leaves Alma bemused. (I rewound five times and still didn't catch it.)
Des enters the Rovers and seeing Mark having his lunch alone, offers to refresh his pint. At the bar, Jack is asking Jim about his business while Bet and Liz stand by. Jim complains that there's more noise at home at the moment, from the Websters "hyperactive" baby than there is at work. Jack says that he too, was a "hyperactive" baby, although they didn't use that word back then. Liz quips, "What happened to you Jack?" and Bet chimes in, "He had a charisma bypass!" Des now returns to the booth where Mark is seated, carrying a pint for each of them. (Hard to say which of the three staff served Des as they all seemed to be preoccupied talking to Jim while he went to the bar.)
When Des asks how the girls' promotion of the night before went, Mark wastes no time in relaying the news about Steph. Des' response is swift and angry. He loudly calls Mark a liar and challenges him to take it back. Both men on their feet, Mark, now collared by Des, sticks by his story and repeats that he saw Steph "knacking about with a fella" last night. Jim steps into the fray to pull the two apart just before they come to blows. Des pushes past Jim and Mark and giving the latter a look of disgust, makes a hasty retreat from the pub. In the aftermath, Mark looks around and sheepishly explains, "I was only trying to help." Bet snaps at him, "Then DON'T join the Samaritans, Sonny!"
Back in the cafe, Emily and Mavis are sat down for a cup of tea. Mavis, it seems, is too upset by the business of Derek and Angela to eat anything. She asks Emily if she thinks it possible that Derek is "practicing deceit". Emily carefully replies, that while anything is "possible" she doesn't believe for a minute that Derek is anything but a fine and decent man. Mavis, reassured somewhat by Emilys words, finds her appetite has returned and orders some lunch, a boiled egg and some buttered bread.
At the department store where Steph and Jenny work, Des has just come in. Steph is busily arranging a display when Des comes over and grabs her by the arm, demanding to know about her "fancy piece". As soon as she hears he's been talking to Mark, she cuts him short and dragging him over to the perfume counter, prevails upon Jenny to do some explaining. Des is skeptical about Jenny's story at first, then grudgingly tells her she'd better set the record straight and soon - preferably in the Rovers when it's very crowded!
In the Kabin, Rita remarks to Mavis that she's been very quiet since she returned from lunch. Mavis has a smile on her face and tells Rita she's just been thinking how unfair she's been to Derek these last few days. She now reckons that he has no choice in the matter of working with Angela and she should be more understanding and supportive. Rita is heartened to hear of the change and tells Mavis that she's doing the right thing. Mavis says she is planning a special evening for Derek when he gets home and goes to the phone to call him with the good news.
Jack happens into the Kabin and Rita prevails upon him to give her the benefit of his racing experience since Reg will be taking her to the track tomorrow. As they talk, we hear Mavis in the background on the phone: "But he can't be having lunch with Mrs Wilton - IM Mrs Wilton!" Upon realising that "Mrs Wilton" refers to Angela, Mavis hangs up and marches out of the back room in fury. As she returns to the counter to stand beside Rita, Jack launches into a wild speculation gleaned from a book he once read about a parallel universe. He tells Mavis that according to this book, Derek could actually be having lunch with her in a parallel universe, while she is here at work! Far from interested in what Jack has to say, Mavis angrily sputters that it's half past three and they (Derek and Angela) are *still* at lunch! (So much for Derek's special evening!)
Across the road, Des calls in to see Jenny and he isn't pleased to hear that she hasn't got around to telling Mark "the truth" yet. She'd better do it tonight, he tells her. When Des says that shed better also make sure that Mark knows Robert is really *her* boyfriend, she tells him *that's* her business! Des leaves her with the warning that shes in for a "damn good hiding" when Mark does find out. As he goes out the door she retorts, "Oh, and I suppose *youre* going to tell him?" "Yeah!" he sneers back, leaving her fretting.
Angie, who has been present during the confrontation, pleads for Jenny to come clean with Mark. She can't understand why Jenny doesn't just tell Mark the truth; why keep him dangling? Besides, doesn't she want to clear the field for Robert anyway? Jenny confesses that the field *isn't* clear for Robert, he's a married man. (Surprise, surprise, surprise!) Angie is taken aback by the news and cautions Jenny that shes bound to end up having her face rearranged - if not by Mark, by Robert's wife!
At the Websters', Des has dropped by to see Kevin in the hopes that he will be the one to tell Mark about Jennys other beau. He contends theyd be doing him a favour. Kevin and Sally dont seem overly surprised to hear what's been going on but Kevin tells Des he wants no part of this, he has to work with the guy, after all. Des says it's no use him saying anything, Mark wouldn't believe him. Sally runs upstairs to pick up the crying Rursie and Des takes his leave. When Sally comes back down with the baby, Kevin tells her hes off to fix another car "under the table". She argues that he'll get caught and if they need the money that much, perhaps she should take a job. Kevin laughs off the notion. "Your place is here, looking after her" he tells her, "besides, what baby-minder would put up with all that bawling?"
In the Rovers, Curly stands at the bar and moans to Jack about his problem with Kimberly. "First, she drops me. Then she asks for a transfer." Jack reckons that she'd make a good football manager!
Seeing Des come in, Mark goes over to him and apologises for what happened earlier. Des brushes it off as inconsequential and asks Mark if Kevin hasn't had a word with him yet. (Knowing full well that he hasn't - Des just left him moments earlier!) Mark's a bit puzzled at this but before he has a chance to question Des, Reg glides over to tell him what a wonderful job his "boss" (Kevin) did on his motor the other day. Reg says Mark should pay close attention, he could learn something from Kevin. This is too much for Mark and now its his turn to leave the pub in a huff.
At home with the Wiltons, Derek is just re-hanging Harrys cage after cleaning it and Mavis, wearing an angry scowl, is sitting on the sofa with her knitting. Derek takes a look at her and makes a plea for an end to "this ordeal by silence". She is still glowering over his and Angelas "three-hour business luncheon". Exasperated, Derek tells her that he refuses to listen to her silly suspicions any longer, that he was "not canoodling with Angela in some sleazy hotel room" as she seems to think! That really sets her off. She certainly hasn't mentioned "canoodling OR hotel rooms, sleazy or otherwise" and she thinks this is Derek's guilty conscience talking. Now, Dereks had enough. Donning his coat, he tells her he is going out for a walk. "But it's cold outside!" she protests. "Oh, no colder than a home where mistrust lurks in every corner!", he shouts back. (Excellent comeback, Derek!) Mavis is left to ruminate alone.
On a nearby street, Mark catches up with Kevin who is in the act of driving the car he's been attending to. Angry, he accuses Kevin of taking him for a mug. Kevin admits he's been fixing the odd motor on the side and apologises, saying he won't do it again. He endures more angry words from Mark and again says he is sorry. Mark is unrelenting and says he'll be watching him "like a hawk" from now on. Kevin, irritated that Mark won't let it go, blurts out, "Its not me you should be watching - it's that girlfriend of yours!" Mark is shaken by this but Kevin doesn't stick around to explain. As he roars off into the night, Mark runs after the car in a vain attempt to have him come back.
Mark, played by STUART WOLFENDEN, was brilliant in his role as the unwitting cuckold. This excellent episode written by HARRY DUFFIN, a name I don't recall seeing previously.
Thursday (3176, Friday 18 January 1991)
Opening show of two or three pigeons on the cobbles. Des is impatiently sounding his car horn, urging Jenny and Steph on. Just as they're finally getting in the car, mark drives up, hoping to drive Jenny to work but Jenny coolly puts him off. He really wants to talk to her but she doesn't seem interested and half heartedly makes plans to meet him in the Rovers tonight. In the car, Jenny wonders what to do about him. Steph tells her what to do about him (tell him! i.e. her other boyfriend) and Des tells her what not to do with him (mislead Mark to thinking that her new boyfriend is actually Steph's lover).
A close up of someone lacing up work boots. Kevin and Sally discuss Kevin's moonlighting. Kevin defends Mark who was right to blow him out after catching him using the garage to do work on the side. The worst of it is, though, that in the heat of their argument, Kevin implied that Jenny wasn't to be trusted, that Mark should be spying on her instead of him. Oh Kevin!
Derek and mavis have their breakfast at the table in front of their window. (what a nice place to have your dining table!) Derek has a stiff neck from sleeping on the sofa which was his own choice, Mavis is cool and righteous. Derek didn't feel he had any choice, having felt more warmth from the fridge than in their shared bedroom. Mavis tsks, 3 hours for lunch! Derek winces, not that again! But Derek has a theory that Victor, as Iago, is trying to destroy Mavis and Derek, aka Desdemona and Othello, by trying to make Mavis jealous, using Angela as the bait. A classic Shakespearean situation! Why? because Derek won the hand of the fair Mavis and Victor cannot accept defeat. He even married a replica of Mavis in Yvonne! Mavis's lip trembles at such a hurtful thing to say. Not the theory, but Derek's comparing her to Yvonne! The woman is a positive nightmare and she runs from the table in tears.
At Bettabuys, Vera urges Curly to talk to Kim but Curly is wearing his professional hat. He is paged to the office so Vera then goes to try Kimberly's patience. She finds out that Kimberly has put in for a transfer to another store. She understands that Kim doesn't want to see Curly ever again so invites her to tea tonight so the lovebirds can talk it over. (eternal optimist is our Vera!)
In the office, Reg asks Norman if he's ill as he's exhibiting alarming symptoms. Is he listless, sleepless? trouble with his water? Because he's noticed Norman spending several extra minutes staring at things like boxes of cereal and aubergines, lost in thought. Curly apologizes and says he can't help it. Reg passes Kimberly's transfer papers across the desk, he is saddened to see his highly thought of deputy manager turned to straw over a shelf stacker. He does understand the pain of lost love but the solution is to focus on something else, something bigger! A trolley race! Curly is given the task of organizing it, raffles, prizes, an appearance of Miss Bettabuys (excitement mounts, could this be the first appearance of Raquel, she asks hopefully) Reg rushes off to another task somewhere, leaving Curly sitting in the office looking distinctly subdued by the prospect. An idea sparks and he picks up the transfer papers and slyly puts them in his pocket.
In the Kabin, Jack is trying to convince Rita to put a bet on for him when she goes to the track. There's always lots of bookies there so it would be easy, as he names off several oddly named blokes that i wouldn't trust with a shilling! Rita doesn't want to get involved in that, even wondering if it is even legal to bet for another person. Rita advises that Jack save his brass instead of giving it away to Sid Whatsis of Scunthorpe so Jack turns and leaves, mumbling and grumbling audibly about summat and nothing. Mavis emerges from the back room with cups of tea and a sigh. She wishes she were going somewhere this afternoon. She gives Rita Derek's Shakespearean theory that Victor is using Angela to make Mavis jealous and that Victor is still jealously carrying a torch for her. She's dubious of it though. Rita asks who's really jealous of whom but Mavis sharply protests that she isn't jealous of Angela thought she doesn't really like Derek seeing her. What's the point of being divorced if you spend three hours having lunch on the pretext of a business meeting!
Mark and Kevin get into it again with Kevin re-apologizing and promising to make it up to Mark and to the garage. Kevin is more angry thought, because although he did get angry at Kevin for moonlighting, he was in the right but Kevin had no right to get snide about Jenny in retaliation, calling it sour grapes. kevin gets a warning about calling Jenny a tart ever again.
Rita shows up at the Rovers in a smart suit, black skirt with a yellow tunic and a black wrap over one shoulder. She is sporting a snappy black bolero style hat as well, to the admiration of the punters. She's going to the races! Angie hurries in looking for Jenny who was supposed to be home at dinnertime to warn jenny not to use the washer which has flooded. Rita is dismayed but assured that it's all mopped up now. Angie's hopping and crouching to the point where i'm wondering if she shouldn't have used the toilet before she left home! After Angie leaves, Reg shows up in a natty double breasted gray-green suit. He offers Bet some cash to treat the punters to a drink on him but has no time to stay and offers Rita an escort to her limo. What? your mini or have you nicked a shopping trolley? They go in good spirits, waving to the others on their way out the door.
Jenny isn't at home because she's tentatively approaching Mark in the garage. A few innocuous things are discussed and Mark mentions that he had wanted to talk to her earlier over something Kevin had said but never mind now. That has broken the ice, apparently and Jenny finds a way to tell Mark that she wants to finish with him. It was ok but not earth moving and they really have nothing in common. Mark is hurt and guesses there is someone else, which isn't denied by Jenny. He asks her if Kevin knows to which she replies with some shame, probably, and she won't say who the man is. Mark scares Jenny when he smashes a mug against the wall but she is in no personal danger of injury, he assures her. Jenny says she's sorry and leaves Mark with a heart as shattered as the mug.
When Kevin comes back from dinner, Mark tells him he's been given the push by Jenny. Kevin confirms that he knew Jenny was seeing someone else. Mark is bitter and calls Jenny and Steph both slags. Hey now! Kevin corrects one point, the man Mark was told was Steph's lover was actually Jenny's. Mark caught her out and she said the first thing she thought of to cover up. (oh, i see, so Steph isn't a slag but Jenny is? pretty strong words!)
Mr. Watts asks Kimberly a professional question and he gives her a list of things to do that afternoon. But he seems to want to steer the conversation to a personal level but she's not having that and he ends up slinking away.
Back at the garage, Sally arrives to give Kevin the phone number of a Mr. Seymour who wants Kevin to look at his car (well Kevin didn't actually say he'd stop moonlighting, did he?). She wonders if he's doing the right thing but Kevin says he doesn't care, after the day he's had putting up with Mark and he whispers that Jenny's broken off with Mark. Sally is sympathetic for poor Mark but Kevin isn't and changes the subject to the appointment she had with the baby clinic that morning. Sally tells him all was well with Rosie and she's just one of those babies that don't sleep much but is fine and healthy just the same. Kevin asks did they give her something for sleeplessness? Course not! Well, he asks, did they give me anything for it? They coo a bit over the baby but Mark spoils the mood when he comes out of the office moaning about being made a mug of.
Angie and Jenny discuss the broken washer but Angie wants to hear more about Jenny's boyfriend, Robert who is married! She urges Jenny to give up some info but Jenny stays closed mouth except to say he's everything and more!
Mavis is holding down the fort at the Kabin. Des is asking about Rita's excursion to the track. He leads Mavis on by telling her the alarming story of first time gamblers who develop a taste for it and one man he knows actually lost his shop the first time he went to the track, he got caught up in it so much. Mavis's face shows more and more apprehension until Mark who was lurking at the magazine rack, interrupts and makes a remark about Des being a big joker. More moaning about making mugs of people and he leaves. Mavis still doesn't seem totally convinced that Des was joking and she distractedly muses that she doesn't think Rita is the type to get so carried away and lose her shop!
After work that evening, Kevin goes to the house of Mr. Seymour. The car's symptoms are described and after a little chat about garage prices and Kevin's lack of sleep because of a new baby, Kevin tentatively diagnoses the trouble as alternator problems. He wants to drive it around the block to be sure though. (I got suspicious at this point that this man might be setting Kevin up, a friend or mate of Mark's or his father's? but it might not be. We dont' find out today at least)
Back in the pub that night, Reg is bragging how lucky Rita was. Beginner's luck, Rita says. Jack is glum behind the bar. Turns out that Rita was reminded of the name of the horse Jack had mentioned to her, and put a £5 bet on it. Did it win? of course! Jack dryly informs them all it came in 6 to 1! Story of his life, that! Rita had a three race winning streak as it happens, much to Jack's dismay. Rita is tickled pink but thinks she'll quit while she's ahead. Over in a booth, Martin and Gail listen to Curly witter on about Kimberly's transfer. He understands that one might want a change of scene and a new challenge but wonders why she won't talk to him about it. Couldn't be because you're boring, Martin puts forth. No, No, it can't be that (oh?), Curly says, explaining that he and Kimberly were well suited to each other (that i believe), with a sense of mutual excitement (well if Kimberly wouldn't give it up, he couldn't have been that exciting! LOL). Curly has decided that deep down, Kimberly doesn't want the transfer so he's made sure it won't get to head office! (uh oh!) Curly heads for the head and Martin invites Mark to sit with them. But Mark shovels another load of self pity, declining the invitation.
Kevin drives down a dark street lined with rubbish and an old oil drum that seems to be on fire. A car comes out of a side street and Kevin has to swerve to avoid it hitting him side on and he crashes the car into a pile of construction barriers and I think, hits the wall of a building. Kevin is in deep doo-doo now!
Writer - STEPHEN MALLATRATT Director - JUNE
HOWSON
Mr Seymour CLIFF HOWELLS
Friday (3177, Monday 21 January 1991)
At Kevin and Sally's they are discussing the car situation, and Kevin explains that the damage to Mr. Seymour's car is not covered by either Mr. Seymour's, or Kevin's or the garage's insurance as he wasn't working for the garage at the time of the accident. Kevin tells Sally not to worry.
At the Mini Market, Audrey is moaning to Phyllis about having to work there and offers her a job. Alf treats them both to a speech on how rewarding it can be running a shop. Ken drops in to tell Alf that the water hearer is on the blink again, but Alf is not very interested.
Bettabuys is where Curly is standing gazing at Kimberly working, but she can't wait for her transfer to come through. Reg prods Curly to get moving on putting up the posters for the trolley dash. Kimberly inquires of both of them of the status of her transfer but nothing to report from head office.
At the cafÈ, Martin tells Alma that Curly hasn't processed Kimberly's transfer yet, and also tells her that Mark is upset because no one told him what Jenny was up to.
On a tea break at the garage, Kevin tells Mark about wanting to put the damage to Mr. Seymour's car through the garage insurance, but Mark says he has to think about it.
Alf's speech to Audrey about running the shop continues, as Liz comes in to pick up a few things for the Rovers. Audrey questions her about Ken still pestering Deirdre, and Liz tells her no, but Alf pipes up that Ken is now pestering him! As Liz leaves, Alf resumes his speech until Audrey tells enough or she's walking out.
Rita comes into the Rovers where Mark is nursing a pint, and when she asks him about Jenny she gets snapped at. Angie and Ben are sitting in a booth and Rita approaches them to ask about Jenny and she finds out that Jenny and Mark are no longer together. Mark later sees Angie and Ben laughing and assumes it is about him.
Over at the Webster's, Kevin tells Sally that he has asked Mark to put the claim through the garage and Mark is going to think about it. Mr. Seymour drops by with the estimate for the damage and it is for £1250. Kevin seems very confident about having it go through the garage insurance.
At Bettabuys, Curly has posted the trolley race posters and Reg is pleased with that but not pleased with Curly's mooning over Kimberly. Reg suggests badminton for working his frustrations out.
At the garage, Kevin asks Mark if he's thought about it yet but Mark wants Kevin to stop nagging at him.
Tracy and Ken are in the café and Ken tells her of all the problems at his flat. Tracy suggests that they make a list and writes it up for her dad. Sally tells Martin that she hopes that Mark will let the claim go through the garage insurance.
Rita and Reg are having tea in her flat and Reg tells her about the trolley dash and tries to give her a bunch of tickets, but Rita only accepts one.
Vera and Kimberly are pricing cans at Bettabuys when Curly comes up and compliments Kimberly on her dog food display. Kimberly again asks about her transfer and is again told by Curly that it hasn't come through. Kimberly says she is going to ring head office to find out why - and Curly snaps! He pulls her application out of his pocket, tells her it has not gone and is not going to head office, rips up the pieces and throws them, all the while shouting "No, No, No"!
Back to the garage, where Mark tells Kevin that he didn't do him any favours telling him about Jenny, and so, no, he can't put the claim through the garage insurance.
Alma is sweeping up at the café when Mike comes in, telling her that the removal men are coming tomorrow and taking his stuff to Jackie's, and so she needs to get what's left of her gear out of the flat. Alma tells him to just burn whatever is there as she doesn't want it.
At the Rovers, Curly is justifying his holding on to Kimberly's transfer because it is his responsibility to hold on to her as she is a good employee. Mark is playing darts on his own, when Martin goes over and asks him if he is going to help Kevin - Mark retorts no, he is sick of folk walking all over him.
Kevin tells Sally that Mark won't let the damage claim go through the garage, and Sally tells him she will just have to get a job. Their shouting wakes the baby.
Terry Seymour: CLIFF HOWELLS
Writer: PETER WHALLEY Director: RICHARD SIGNY
Monday (3178, Wednesday 23 January 1991)
Kevin takes the baby from Sally and walks her around the floor while Sally worries about the £1250 bill to fix teh car that Kevin crashed. Kevin promises to get out of the mess and remarks that the bill is probably inflated with all other repairs that needed doing before the crash. Not that it's cheating, exactly, it's just what you do when someone else is paying. Kevin decides to propose that he do all the work personally, it saves £600 Labour and £200 VAT. Sally is supportive and Kevin is confident.
Alf has a look at Ken's ancient water heater and trying to fancy foot his way out of fixing it by implying it had been broke since Ken had let the flat. Ken repeats that it's old and worn out and thinks Alf, as landlord, should replace it. Alf has dire warnings of rent increases and Ken counters with threats of a rent dispute tribunal. Audrey comes out completely on Ken's side (the walls of the flat are green just as today but it's a lot sunnier and brighter then than it is now for some reason!)
In the Kabin, Liz and Rita discuss her day out at the races and about Reg. Rita isn't all fizzy with love but finds Reg amusing and it's nice to get out of the flat now and then. Rita tells Liz that Reg and his wife have separated and she's living in New Zealand. Curly is lurking in the background and hears this and he reacts but says nothing. He pays for his magazine and leaves with something on his mind.
Kevin backs a car into the garage after a test drive and discovers a visitor. Mr. Seymour has come. Kevin quietly offers to do the work but is turned down flat. Mr. Seymour won't put his car in the hands of the man that was supposed to be responsible for it's well being. Kevin pleads poor but Mr. S. is not receptive so Kevin promises he'll get the money. Seymour leaves and Kevin gets more stick from Mark. The day gets worse, later, when Sally takes it upon herself to go to Mark on Kevin's behalf (behind his back) She gets nowhere and Kevin gets even more abuse from Mark for sending her to beg his case, which of course he didn't.
Reg needs Mr. Watts to handle a personnel problem. No it's not Miss Taylor, though he does want to find out why Miss Taylor left in tears yesterday and is not in today. No, it's that Raquel on the meat counter. He wants Curly to persuade Raquel, the store's Miss Bettabuy, to wear a swimsuit to draw the prize winner at the trolley dash contest tomorrow but she's not keen. (I could only see her from afar and the part was not credited but it looked very much like Our Raquel Wolstenhulme, tall and statuesque though her hair was tucked up under a cap. So I'll say this is her first appearance.) Vera interrupts, wanting to know why she can't enter the trolley race since she spends as much money in the store as non-staff but Reg fobs her off to Curly and twitches off.
Liz returns some bad apples to the shop, gladly and apologetically exchanged by Audrey, much to Alf's chagrin. Alf moans about profits but audrey will have none of it and she insists he get a proper plumber in to check Ken's water heater. She puts on her coat and swans out, warning him it will be cheaper to replace than a new shop or a funeral when the heater explodes. Point taken. The plumber comes in that afternoon and does his estimate. He tells Alf that it can be repaired. Or could be if you could still get the parts but they don't make 'em any more and it will cost £300 for a replacement, on special offer. Alf is shocked. D'you want it then?
In the cafe, Alma coos over Gail's baby. Gail wonders how Alma felt (seeing Mike? clearing out the flat? didn't see yesterday's show.) alma insists to all, including herself that she didn't feel a twinge. alma makes an uncomplimentary remark about herself, eliciting a supportive response from Gail, They don't get much classier than Alma. alma envies Gail for a loving Martin who worships her. Audrey arrives, has a look at the baby, and regrets that the dear baby boy will grow up to be a man and tells them about her getting flack because of Ken's been riding alf about the water heater.
An irate Mother Taylor hen frog-marches a shaking Kimberly up the aisle of Bettabuys to confront Mr. Holdsworth. She goes up one side of him and down the other for not doing anything at all. Eh? He is informed that Curly tore up Kimberly's transfer papers in her face, assumingly with Reg's approval or at least indifference. Reg is astonished and swears he knew nothing about it and Curly will have the severest of reprimands for it. He offers Mrs. Taylor a free ticket in the trolley race as a peace offering but is firmly turned down. She thinks if he paid as much attention to his staff as he did to mindless pursuit of profit the world would be a better place. She turns and marches out, followed by Kimberly who was supposed to look dismayed and upset but looked more like she was trying not to laugh! LOL
Mike is filtering through some old papers at his flat when Alma arrives. She is uncomfortable to find him there and had only come by for her music box. The atmosphere thickens considerably when Jackie comes through from one of the other rooms. A few words are politely spoken and Jackie and Mike beat a hasty retreat back to the office, leaving Alma to clear out the rest of her things.
Reg reprimands Curly over his actions. Are you suggesting I let personal feelings interfere with my professional career, Curly defends? (of course he is!) Reg warns Curly that he must learn to detach himself or his career will be sadly shortened at Bettabuys. Reg will see to Kimberly's transfer himself. NO! Curly orders. Reg says it's not worth the aggravation of being accosted by Mrs. Taylor. Curly plays his trump card and threatens to tell Rita that Reg's wife is, yes, in New Zealand but only on holiday. They aren't separated after all!!! Out on the floor of the store, Reg and Curly come to a compromise. Reg will hold on to Kimberly's transfer for one week, giving Curly time to work on her and Curly will say nothing to Rita. Curly is determined he won't lose Kimberly, won't let Reg transfer the most important thing in his life out of his life.
Curly's day just keeps getting worse Vera finds out that Kimberly's mother was offered a trolley race ticket but Jack wasn't allowed to have one because he is married to a staff member. Vera's mouth is in full gear, (you can imagine) and Curly retreats back upstairs, his appetite gone but Vera just blames his broken heart for his lack of hunger.
Sally sorts the laundry when Kevin gets home. He gets furious at Sally for interfering, trying to help or not. He makes her cry with his hollering but he comforts her then, and apologizes and promises to make it right somehow. Don't worry anymore, forget about it. He'll look after her.
Alma wants to close up but Ken is still in the cafe doing the newspaper crossword. They have a friendly chat and she offers to share her evening meal with him. His eyes light up but then his face falls (who can tell the difference?) when he says he has a lot of papers to mark and asks for a rain check. She is a bit embarassed with the rejection but takes it fairly well overall. Ken realizes she wants to close the cafe and apologizes and says he should get on his way and leave her to it. Definite warm and fuzzies growing there.
In the pub, Martin buys Kevin a drink and talks him into a game of darts. Reg describes a movie to Rita, one about an office manager who's staff are slaughtered and he mush escape the murderer. He draws the obvious parallel to his life at the shop these days, making Rita laugh by comparing himself to the star, Robert Redford. Over by the dart board, Kevin is venting to Martin about Mark and who should walk up but the man in question. Mark seems to think he can be friends with kevin after hours but is given a cool reception to his offer of playing the winner by both Kevin and Martin. He soon realizes that Kevin has been complaining about him and a loud argument ensues. It all ends up with Mark firing Kevin with all ears in the pub listening! eh oh!
Terry Seymour - CLIFF HOWELLS Plumber - HARRY
GOODIER
Writer - KEN BLAKSON Director - RICHARD SIGNY
Tuesday (3179, Friday 25 January 1991)
Sally and Kevin are hanging clothes on the line and talking about Mark sacking Kevin. Sally reminds Kevin that although she knows his pride is at stake, there are other things that are important to him now. On cue, Rosie starts wailing in the house and Sally goes to see to her.
At Bettabuys, Reg tells Curly he wants the trolley dash to go smoothly this afternoon. Curly tells Reg that he is having trouble with Raquel -- since she has become Miss Bettabuys, she has become more temperamental. Raquel's parents think the bathing costume she has to wear is too revealing - but Reg chose the costume and has every confidence that Curly can handle Raquel.
Kevin is all alone, sitting dejectedly at a table at the café, while Phyllis asks Alma if she is going to the Bettabuys trolley dash. Phyllis has 3 tickets and hopes to win. Martin brings Kevin some toast and Kevin tells him that if Mark wants him back, he'll have to ask, and then Kevin will think about it.
Over at the Rovers, Reg and Rita are having a drink when Reg reminds her of the trolley dash at 4:00. Rita will try to be there. Alf comes in and moans to Jack about Ken and his demands to fix up the flat.
Martin drops in to see Mark at the garage to try to talk some sense into him - but no luck....and, Mark has hired someone to replace Kevin.
Ken, after some lunch at the café, invites Alma around for a meal tonight. Alma is very pleased! A little later, Martin, spreader of joy and good news, tells Gail and Alma about Mark replacing Kevin, and Gail teases Alma about her upcoming dinner at Ken's.
It's trolley dash time at Bettabuys, and Reg starts stalling the draw until Rita arrives. Raquel is wriggling around and trying to adjust her bathing costume as she feels embarrassed dressed in so little. Curly starts the preamble to the draw with quite a few interested customers and staff watching. Finally, Rita gets there, and as Curly goes on and on and on about the rules of the draw, Phyllis heckles him to get things going, and Reg pulls the winning ticket. Raquel finally gets to do something other than stand there, and she reads the winning ticket. And the winner is ...... Rita! Raquel is supposed to run through the store with Rita but she refuses on account of the skimpy bathing costume, so Curly does the honours 3, 2, 1, and they're off! Phyllis and Vera whine about Rita winning - them that has gets more, in their view.
Kevin returns home all excited because he has had the offer of a job, until Sally bursts his bubble and tells him that Mark has hired someone to replace him at the garage. And Mr. Seymour has called twice today. Kevin seems to have mistaken Mark for decent bloke - and is glad that he didn't go crawling back to the garage this morning.
Oh, the excitement - although Vera thinks the dash has been more than 2 minutes, and Phyllis agrees. Curly and Rita come careening down the aisle, with an overloaded cart, leaving a trail of canned goods on the floor behind them. Rita then announces that she wants everything to go to Weatherfield General - Curly thinks that is a wonderful gesture, but Reg doesn't look too pleased.
Mr. Seymour drops by the Webster's to tell Kevin that he has taken his car in for repairs. He also mentions that he dropped by the garage today only to find that Kevin no longer works there - so should he be worried that they are going to move away too? Sally pipes up no, and Kevin assures Mr. Seymour that he will get his money. After Mr. Seymour leaves, Kevin and Sally argue about how they are going to pay him back, and Kevin says that he doesn't know how, but he will get the money.
Over at the Duckworth's, Curly is mooning to Vera and Jack how beautiful Kimberly looked today. Vera urges action but then goes on about the trolley dash being a fiddle. Curly tells her there is no way - Reg wouldn't do such a thing. Jack heads off to work with Vera insisting that Reg is so twisted that he could hide behind a corkscrew!
Up at Rita's flat, she is telling Reg that she thinks the trolley dash was a fiddle, and after much protesting, Reg finally admits it. He tries to justify it but it doesn't look like Rita is buying it!
At the Rovers, Curly is telling Jack that it wasn't Kimberly that chucked him but her mum and dad. Jack tells Curly that he should just find another bird, but Curly insists that he and Kimberly were made for each other, two of a kind. Curly gets all worked up and decides that he is going over there to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, leaving his drink behind, to Jack's dismay. Vera thinks that it is working with Reg that is a bad influence on Curly and she tells Phyllis that she thinks the whole trolley thing was a fiddle - Rita is Reg's girlfriend after all. Alf and Audrey come in and ask Liz if Ken has been in - Liz hasn't seen him, and Audrey tells Alf that they won't as Ken is entertaining her tonight at the flat.
Now to Ken's flat, where Ken and Alma are enjoying their meal and each others company.
As Curly walks to the Taylor's, he practices his speech. When he approaches, what does he see but Kimberly and some bloke, kissing and cuddling on the doorstep, and Mrs. Taylor opens the door and welcomes them both in.
Paul: GAVIN STANLEY Adrian Gosthorpe: PHILIP
BROOK
Writer: JOHN STEVENSON Director: RICHARD SIGNY
Wednesday (3180, Monday 28 January 1991)
First thing in the morning and we see Vera in robe and curlers fetching in the milk and looking singularly uninspired. She goes into the sitting room where Jack's reading his paper over breakfast. Curly's gone in to work early and Vera reckons he is going to take Holdsworth to task for "sharp practices". She's still upset about the trolley dash and when Jack remarks about the amount of noise Curly made coming in last night, she assumes he was also bothered by Rita winning the trolley dash. Neither of them is aware of why Curly is really upset. (Seeing Kimberly with another man the previous evening.)
At the Websters', Kevin is just going off to his new job at Walker's garage. He tells Sally it's going to require a lot of effort to work as part of team after being his own boss. She's sure he'll be fine and that they'll have the money to pay Mr. Seymour back in time, not to worry. Just after he leaves, little Rursie starts to wail and Sally's face belies that she's not quite as confident about the future as she lets on...
As Bettabuys opens for the day, Raquel and Kimberly take their places at their cash registers. No sooner has Kimberly sat down, than Curly comes bounding over to her and demands to know who she was with last night. She's horrified that he's been "spying" on her but Curly acts like he has every right to know. He insists that she tell him who it was she was necking with on her doorstep last night. She indignantly refuses to talk to him and Curly, seeing he is getting nowhere, storms off, flailing his arms in helpless frustration and mumbling to himself.
Oblivious to Curly's despair, Vera is busy scrubbing shelves when Reg walks over to her. With a tug at his tie and a satisfied grin, he remarks to her about the success of the trolley dash. A "public relations coup de grace", he calls it. Vera retorts that it worked out for Rita Fairclough all right!
In the Kabin, Rita is her usual friendly self with Phyllis but is confused by the elder woman's apparent aloofness. Phyllis can't keep her feelings to herself for long and tells Rita there's talk that the trolley dash was fixed. She reckons it was Rita's guilty conscience that inspired her to donate the food to charity. Rita takes exception to this notion but Phyllis won't be persuaded she wasn't in on the fix. "It's no more a coincidence than if the Pope won the Irish Sweepstakes!"
Ken is in Alf's shop loading up on biscuits as it's his turn to stock the staff lounge. Audreh fishes for information about Ken and Alma's dinner the evening before but is disappointed when Ken's only scoop is how impressed Alma was by his cooking. On his way out, he leaves his key with Alf on the expectation that there'll be a workman around today to fix his hot water tank. Alf tries to refuse the key, telling his lodger there'll be no workman today or any other day, but Ken continues out the door, managing to ignore him.
Turning to Audreh in frustration, Alf complains about Ken's demands, there's nothing wrong with his flat as far as he's concerned! Audreh's not even listening. She's still thinking about what might be developing between Ken and Alma. She wonders if they'll suit each other since, in her estimation, Alma is "a bit common". Alf, still on about the repairs, says he won't be fixing the flat "just so Barlow can be up there entertaining his fancy women!" Audreh looks at him and implores him to consider whether it wouldn't be worth a few hundred quid to help two lonely people come together? "NO!" he retorts.
Back at Bettabuys, Curly takes another stab at finding out about Adrian, ordering Kimberly to talk to him as her boss. Finally she tells him her companion the night before was Adrian Gosthorpe, whom she's known since childhood. As it happens, Kimberly's and Adrian's mothers are cousins and furthermore, Adrian is staying with the Taylors for the time being. "Staying in the same house?!?" Curly is once again shocked speechless until he casts around and sees Vera cleaning shelves in the aisle behind him.
Off he goes to confront Vera - did *she* know about "this Adrian Gosthorpe?" Of course, Vera's in the dark but that doesn't stop her from speculating that it sounds as if Adrian's feet are well under the table, a notion that Curly takes no comfort in. He's rapidly off down the aisle again, talking to himself and flailing those arms like a windmill. Reg, who witnessed the exchange, hangs back until Curly walks away before asking him whether the conversation was business related. Curly tells him it was personal and stalks off again.
Kevin's home for lunch and pleased to see Sally looking so nice. His first morning on the job went okay, he tells her. The baby's quiet for a change so it looks as though they'll be able to have their lunch in peace. (Liver and onions - ugh!)
Reg drops into the Kabin to see Rita on his lunch hour but she isn't in a very social mood. The fallout from the contest being fixed is bothering her. He tells her that "fix" isn't a Bettabuys word. He only wanted the winner to be an "ABC-one", someone who could reflect Bettabuys image properly to the media. She relays what Phyllis Pearce told her and that she is disturbed people are talking about a fix and implying she was party to it. Reg seems outraged for her sake but when she kiboshes his suggestion of a "good slander lawyer", he casually moves to suggest an outing to a wine bar. She thinks it would be better not to be seen together in public for the time being. Reg suggests they treat the locals' tittle-tattle as royalty does, recognize that it's inspired by envy and ignore it. Royal strategies notwithstanding, Rita stands firm: "Until tongues stop wagging - no wine bars." Reg relents, "Quite right - we've got to play this very Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton... To the paparazzi, we are just good friends, but *we* know the truth!" Rita has a look of quiet desperation on her face.
Seated in a booth at the Rovers, Audreh is trying to pump Alma about her evening with Ken. Audreh repeats Ken's assessment that the evening was "a total success", which she interprets as meaning that Alma had to "sing for (her) supper". Alma assures Audreh that she's on the wrong track, she and Ken are only "mates".
At the bar, Jack is playing up to Reg, "It must be tough at the top". Reg readily affirms this, "Oh yes, mind and body operating constantly at Mach I!" :-) Spotting Phyllis at the bar, Reg seizes the opportunity to smooth her ruffled feathers and offers to buy her a glass of port or sherry. Still peeved about Rita winning, she proceeds to order a double whiskey before telling Reg what she thinks about his trolley dash. Reg tries to cajole her out of the idea that there was anything amiss about the contest but she tells him she knows it was a fix, she had it "straight from the horse's mouth". Annoyed now, Reg asks, "And which bandy chapped-out old nag was that, Mrs. Pearce?" With Jack looking on in trepidation, she motions towards him and replies, "His missus - Vera Duckworth!"
Sally's day is going downhill fast. Rursie is fussing again and Sal looks ready to tear her hair out when there comes a knock at the door. It's Mr. Seymour and he's come to deliver the bill for his car repairs. He would like his cheque now if you please. Sally explains that she and Kevin propose to pay him £400 now and ten quid a week. This is totally unacceptable to him; he wants to be paid in full now or he'll see them in court. As he leaves, Sally turns her attention back to the crying baby and shouts in frustration at her, "Be quiet, can't you!"
At Bettabuys again, Curly tells Kimberly that his suspicion that Adrian staying with the Taylors is just "cover" for illicit goings on. "Roger the Lodger!" he taunts as she moves away from him as quickly as she can. Once again, Reg witnesses the scene and stepping forward, demands of Curly whether it was another "personal" conversation. Curly affirms that it was and Reg wants to know if they were discussing him. Not bothering to hide what a ridiculous notion he thinks that is, Curly says they weren't. Reg persists, "Are you sure?" Curly explodes: "Of course I'm sure! I ought to know when I'm talking about someone or not!" Not quite placated with this, Reg casts around and seeing Vera busy at her shelf-scrubbing, asks Curly, "What about Mrs. Duckworth - has she ever spoken about me?" Fed up with the interrogation, Curly responds, "Oh yes! She never *stops* talking about you!" The irony in his voice is lost on Reg. With a jerk of his head and a jut of his chin, the fuse is lit. "Right!" he says...
As darkness falls on the street, Ken is returning home from work. Meeting Alf outside the corner shop, he reclaims his key as Alf tells him it won't be of any use to him leaving it again. As Ken lets himself in, Alf continues that there's nothing wrong with the flat and Ken shouldn't expect "luxuries" for what he's paying. Ken turns to face the grocer, telling him that if he has illusions of growing fat on the profits from the flat while he lives in squalor, he can forget it. Alf follows his tenant upstairs, reminding him all the way of the favour he did him, letting him take the flat in the first place. At the top of the stairs, Ken closes the door on Alf's shouting and Alf, turning to go down again, misses his step and tumbles down the long stairway. (I thought Alf did a remarkably good job falling before realising that they used a double for this scene - see credits.) Ken rushes to assist him but Alf waves him away when Ken suggests it must have been the rotten floorboard at the top of the stairs that caused his fall. Audreh, hearing what she thought was a "piano falling down them stairs", comes running from the shop and with her help, Alf limps back into the shop.
As the Bettabuy employees clock out at the end of the day, Reg complains to Curly that he's feeling stressed enough without his own employees "torpedoing" him. Curly's not listening because he's keeping watch for Kimberly. When he sees her, he takes off after her, leaving Reg to complain to himself.
Kevin comes home late (being the new guy, he had to stay and tidy up) to find Sally ready to fall apart. She hands him the bill from Seymour and laments about the miserable day she's had. Kevin wrings his hands over the bill for a minute but when Sally projects they'll lose their home and he'll end up in prison over the debt, he tells her not to be silly. As she sits and weeps, he gives her a squeeze and tells her it'll come out okay. He doesn't seem too sure about that himself.
Alf and Audreh are shutting up shop for the day when they hear the strains of classical music from the flat above. One of them calls it "rubbish" while the other thinks it's "romantic". (You can guess who holds which opinion.) Alf conjectures that Alma is visiting and tells Audreh she ought to warn her friend about Ken, he might be some kind of sex maniac! To support his theory, he points out that Ken has "left his wife, he's had *three* wives and now, he's up there playing soppy music!" He continues, "He's probably up there now, walking around in a smoking jacket - and heaven knows what he's smoking!" Audreh, noticing Alf favouring his ankle since his fall, remarks that he's being foolish by trying to save money on the flat though it might end up costing him a week in bed. "I wouldn't give him the satisfaction..." he snorts, "rather walk on my hands and knees first!"
Curly has followed Kimberly to the Building Society and now watches from the shadows, seething, as she greets Adrian and the two go off together. Seeing two young women left waiting on the step, Curly walks over and pretends to know Adrian. He is gratified to hear that Adrian is every inch the prat he had him down for. According to one of the girls, he acts like he's the branch manager even though he's only the mortgage manager.
Vera's among the last to leave the store for the day and she's waylaid by Mr. Holdsworth on her way out. He's just tripped over the bucket that she left in one of the aisles and now angrily demands that she clean up the mess. She protests that the cleaners will see to it, she's seen enough of that bucket today "to feel like its Siamese twin!" She then suggests that he wouldn't ask Miss Bettabuys (Raquel) to scrub shelves, and accuses him of playing favourites. That's the last straw for Reg - he fires her on the spot! Vera is absolutely stunned to hear this and guilelessly wonders what she has done to deserve this. His vitriol is evident as he tells her not to "come the innocent". He calls her a snake in the grass and a born trouble maker. Before sending her off, he leans over and rips her name tag off her blouse. Poor Vera is left to absorb her fate, looking lost and bewildered.
Raquel Wolstenhulme: SARAH LANCASHIRE Terry
Seymour: CLIFF HOWELLS Adrian Gosthorpe: PHILIP BROOK Stunt Double:
TERRANCE PLUMMER
Writer LESLIE DUXBURY
Thursday (3181, Wednesday 30 January 1991)
Kevin is getting ready for work and Sally is (still?) sorting laundry (if she isn't holding that baby, she's sorting little baby things). They are squabbling as usual over the £1250 bill. Lots of "what ifs" are flung about and Kevin says Seymour will just have to settle for Kevin's offer of 400 plus 10 a week. If he takes them to court, they'll deal with it then. Sally's near to hysteria and won't be comforted. (With all that tension in the house, it's no wonder the baby isn't sleeping!)
Now that Vera's been sacked for shooting off her gob and just generally getting up Mr. Holdsworth's nose, she has plenty more to say. You can just hear her, can't you? Firing off defensive volleys, telling Jack that firing her just proves that what she said about the trolley race being a fix must be true. Jack mumbles around forkfulls of egg in his mouth and is full of "told you so's", you should have kept yer gob shut and she best get herself down to the job center but Vera seems to have other ideas. Later before she goes out, she tries a phone number but gets a busy signal so leaves the number on a slip of paper by the phone for later.
Curly, from several aisles away, mournfully watches Kimberly on the cash register. Reg saunters up to have a word with Curly about Mrs. Duckworth's firing. He realizes Curly is in a sticky position. He doesn't see that Curly is paying no attention whatsoever but is paged to the telephone just then so will continue the (one-sided) conversation later. Curly takes matters in to his own hands and uses business to open a conversation with his beloved, asking her to close the till and restock the tinned peas. She's brusque and business like in reply. But Curly will insist on asking her what Adrian has got and can offer her that he can't? This angers Kimberly and she hollers at him to just let her get on with her job and she leaves in anger, passing a returning Reg. Reg picks up where he left off, warning Curly he must not try to persuade him to rehire Vera but Curly couldn't care at this point whether the whole staff is sacked and tells his boss so before they part company.
Alf hops around the shop in his injured ankle, playing martyr looks like to me. He's insisting he has to be there because you know he doesn't approve of how Audrey would run the shop in his absence (into the ground, by Alf's reckoning!) Audrey believes she would have managed but Alf sits down heavily on a stool and attends to the wholesaler's list. More arguments about Audrey's management style until Phyllis enters Even she tells Alf he should be home resting, does her business and leaves after telling an alarming tale of someone else she knows who hurt an ankle and never walked again! Audrey gets to give Alf "That Look" yet again!
In the Kabin, Jack tries to apologize to Rita for Vera's less than tactful opinions of the "coincidence" of Rita winning Reg's trolley race. Rita is defensive about the implication that she was in on the "fix" and won't put a word in to Reg on Vera's behalf (The cheek!)
Gail has a day out with the baby, first visiting the shop so Granny Audrey can have a cuddle (with the baby of course) while Alf hobbles around filling Gail's grocery order. Gail offers to do it herself but Audrey won't hear of it, she assures Gail that Alf is plenty happy to play the martyr (see? what did i tell you?). She tells Gail how Alf got hurt falling down Ken's staircase. Alf is continually annoyed at Audrey's cavalier and totally obnoxious attitude about the whole situation. (I mean, how many I told you so's and spreading of the humiliating story, getting digs in at Alf's lackluster landlordly ways can one man stand?) Gail tries to cheer him by reminding him how much more it would have cost had it been Ken that fell through the rotten board! Alf is not cheered and Audrey again points out that he should be home but will he listen? Will He 'Eck as like!
Jack serves up pints to two men, pointedly ignoring Phyllis who was there first as she loudly reminds him. Jack is scolded by Liz for it and with hints that if Alec finds out, he too will be looking for a job, reluctantly approaches Phyllis. "YES!?" She simpers, You know what i want. Aye (tracing his own lips) a zip from here to here. He hollers at her for telling tales causing Vera to lose her job while he gets her light ale, without even pouring it from the bottle to the glass as usual practice when serving a lady. (in the mood he's in she's lucky she didn't get it poured...over her head!) Poor Jack is hard put upon and wonders to Liz why everyone is always out for the Duckworths! Liz reminds him it could be worse, look what poor Kevin and Sally are going through!
Martin serves up plates of egg and chips around Gail who has found her second stop with Alma having a cuddle of David. Gail tells the tale of Alf's injury and they all agree it could have been more serious, if he hadn't landed on his wallet, quips RMartin! Martin asks if Gail has seen Sally in her travels and the conversation turns to the Webster's current troubles. Gail is of the opinion that they've made their best offer so Seymour will have to like it or lump it.
Meanwhile Sally is frowning deeply at a letter that's come for Kevin. He arrives for his dinner with good news of overtime but when he sits down to open the letter, it seems Seymour is going to lump it after all. It's a letter from his solicitor demanding payment in 14 days! Sally freaks out. She wants to get a bank loan which Kevin is against but she has and memories of her parents always rowing about money and (drastic) visions of bad debt lists and bailiffs taking away their furniture! Kevin comforts her and insists he won't let her down. Let's wait and see what happens first but she's not convinced and later asks Alf to look at the letter for his opinion.
Curly arrives at the building society for an appointment with Mr. Gosthorpe. He is determined, aggressive and loaded for bear! Adrian comes to greet Mr. Watts but Curly doesn't take his hands out of his pockets to shake the offered hand. He means serious business! They sit across a desk and Adrian launches into a practiced speech peppered with "get to know you" friendly questions. He asks Curly if he's married. NO. Is he engaged? *button pushed* Coldly and somewhat on the edge, Curly says 'I was until this conniving little rat put God knows what into her head and turned her against me'. I see. Curly answers the next question telling Adrian he is an assistant manager in a supermarket, the same one his former fiancee works in. His voice is very clipped and full of aggression but Adrian hasn't clued in yet. It won't take long though as Curly's voice raises and nears the edge of losing his temper completely, he continues his tirade against the jumped up little toady who works in a local building society! Ah. The light goes on as Adrian realizes who this is. Curly deliberately tries to bait the bear, calling him Gobthorpe but Adrian is calm and somewhat self righteous, disarming the hunter. He tells Curly he is intrigued. Eh? Intrigued to find out what kind of person would so use the fair and innocent Kimberly, a man who did all he could to ply sexual favours with all manner of schemes. He praises Kimberly's strength of character and purity of soul for resisting. After threats of calls to security, Curly sputters ineffectively, calling Adrian (also ineffectively) a Swine and with words to the effect that Adrian won't get away with this, he slinks away defeated for the moment, leaving Adrian still at the desk smirking in his wake.
Out of the blue, we are transported to Ingrams where Mike has just taken a call which has delighted him. Jackie arrives and he tells her that he has had an offer on his flat, first time buyers so no "chain". He reminisces about other places he's lived and decides be has to get the rest of his gear from the flat now. Jackie is pleased but leaves for a meeting with a client.
Vera returns from wherever it was she'd gone and tries the phone number again. She gets the switchboard of Bettabuys head office! She doesn't know who she needs to talk to but someone in authority. When asked what it's about, she gets angry and in classic Vera style snaps "It's about victimization, that's what it's about!" But this was the wrong approach and she's soon hung up on, to her frustration. Ah but our Vera isn't defeated yet!
Audrey urges alf to shut up shop an hour early but he's being stubborn so she says she'll ba back in an hour to pick him up. She gives him more flannel but leaves when he insists he's staying. He hops after her but the door is opened on his foot. He cringes in pain and sees it's Ken come in with a list to confirm what all needs to be fixed in the flat. He ignores Alf's protests and leaves again.
Back at the factory later, Jackie has returned and is triumphant and excited. She shows Mike a brochure from an estate agent of a very large and luxurious house. She doesn't want the two of them to live in her house with all of its memories of Peter, she wants a fresh start. All very well and good but it's an expensive house. Mike is gobsmacked when she glibly assumes he will pay for his share with the proceeds of the sale from his flat as she will from the sale of her house which she's also put up for sale. I think Mike is feeling the walls of the house named Commitment closing in on him rather quickly!
Liz makes a very inappropriate comment to Alma about how Mike never comes in to the pub anymore. I really thought she'd have more consideration for Alma's feelings than that! Kevin and Martin discuss the repair bill. Kevin tells Martin that Alf advised that they get in touch with the solicitor and explain the situation and the deal they had offered in hopes that the solicitor will see more reason and advise his client in their favour.
Rita arrives at Rita's flat, making himself at home on her settee, complaining about his day's work just as if he already had his feet under her table! He moans about Curly's personal problems affecting his work and pats himself on the back for giving Vera the sack saying she was no match for Reg Holdsworth (i think he just hexed himself!). Rita was sympathetic to Curly's plight but didn't have too much to say otherwise.
Over at the Duckworth's jack and Vera wonder why Curly seems to be avoiding them. Jack assures her that Curly won't be putting a good word in for her. She tells him over the cooing of the pigeons about her call to the head office. She tells him the snooty woman on the phone said she ought to put her complaints in writing. Jack looks at her and with a voice filled with dread asks, You didn't? I did, exclaims Vera, triumphantly. Posted it too! Nobody messed with her.
Adrian Gosthorpe - PHILIP BROOK
Writer - LESLIE DUXBURY Director - BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3182, Friday 1 February 1991)
Breakfast time at the Duckworth's and Jack is off his food and is in a state over the letter Vera wrote about Holdsworth. Vera figures if she's going down, she's taking everyone with her - and she thinks Curly may have been in on it too!
At Bettabuys, Reg gets a call from a friend at head office, tipping him off to the fact that the dreaded Brendan Scott is coming to investigate as the result of a complaint. Out on the floor, Curly tells Kimberly that he wants to talk, but unless it's about her transfer, she is not interested. Curly tries to tell Kimberly about the type of bloke Adrian is, but Kimberly just wants Curly to leave them both alone. Reg rushes out to find Curly and tells him about Brendan Scott coming to investigate the trolley dash fiddle. Reg finally tells Curly that 9 years ago he conducted a similar investigation on Brendan and how he is now out for vengeance.
Sally and Gail are in the café with the babies, and Gail is giving Sally Martin's expert legal advice. Alf has given Sally his own expert legal advice and Sally and Kevin are going to take their chances that the judge will take the attitude that they can't give what they haven't got. (So they hope.) Gail then helps Sally made a list of all their expenditures. Meanwhile, Audrey tries to get Alma to come to visit, but Alma just wants to be on her own. Audrey thinks Alma is still carrying a torch for Mike and that she should let it go, but Alma says she can't help it.
Speak of the devil - and we see Jackie giving Mike a smooch at the office. More smooching as they talk about 30 years from now and all they bridges they have both burnt. They have an appointment at 11:00 to look at a house, a place of their own.
Back at Bettabuys, Kimberly is going for lunch with Adrian, when Curly interrupts and throws a tantrum. He tells Kimberly that if she sets foot outside these four walls she faces instant dismissal, but Kimberly and Adrian saunter off, arm in arm, as Curly shouts ineffectively after them. And who should walk up, witness to that display of managerial talent, but Brendan Scott! Brendan and Curly are waiting in Reg's office and Reg is nowhere to be found. Curly is tip-toeing around, trying to cover for Reg and cover his own butt at the same time. Reg finally arrives, just so glad to see Brendan and playing dumb about why Brendan might be there. Brendan gets rid of Curly, telling him he and Reg have a lot of catching up to do.
At the café, Alma notices in the paper that Jackie's house is up for sale. Audrey thinks that if she gets what she's asking and Mike sells his flat the two of them would be rolling in it. Martin tells them that he and the kids were walking by the flat and saw a sold sign already up.
Back in Reg's office at Bettabuys, Brendan is clearly enjoying seeing Reg squirm, although Reg is pretending that Brendan is only here for a social visit. They are trading innuendo's at each other, when finally Brendan tells Reg why he's here - and Reg finds out the letter was from Vera!
Kevin arrives home and reviews the list of expenditures that Sally and Gail made, and they decide to offer Mr. Seymour £10 week to settle. Sally urges Kevin to put it all in writing that night.
At the Mini Market, Rita is commiserating with Alf about his sore foot when Vera comes in. Rita questions her about the letter and Vera tells her yes, she wrote it and yes, Rita's name is mentioned. Rita wants to know if she thinks that Rita was part of the fiddle.
At Bettabuys, Reg is still wriggling around with Brendan. Reg tells him that Vera is a "rampant rumour monger" and Brendan assures him if she is, he sill find it out. Brendan then opens his briefcase and shows Reg a bunch of letters of complaint that have been sent to head office over the years about Reg - Vera's letter is the last straw!
Uh oh. Kimberly is back 7 minutes late from lunch with Adrian and Curly is shouting at her, when he is summoned to Reg's office. As Curly leaves, Raquel comments to Kimberly about how masterful Curly can be. Then Kimberly tells her that Adrian doesn't try to get her into bed all the time, like Curly. And Raquel retorts "And Wimpy Watts did - interesting!"
In the office, Reg tells Curly that Brendan, representing head office, will be doing a thorough investigation and that he off on several weeks vacation. Reg tries to slip out with the keys to the store, but Brendan makes him give them to Curly, who seems quite uncomfortable in this situation.
Brendan Scott: MILTON JOHNS Adrian Gosthorpe:
PHILIP BROOK
Writer: KEN BLAKESON Director: BRIAN MILLS
Monday (3183, Monday 4 February 1991)
Jack thinks things are looking up for Vera . How's that, Vera wonders, when she's over 40, unemployed. Jack thinks she should be able to get El Supremo (that would be Curly Watts, Manager-Brackets-Acting) to get her job back. That would be fine, Vera moans if Curly wasn't avoiding her, well anyway, stuff him. Why should she go crawling to anyone? Jack, teasing her, says because she's *well* over 40, out of work and unemployable. Ducking the cleaning cloth chucked his way, he pours out another cup of tea and chuckles and even Vera smiles at him.
At Bettabuys, the girls are at the tills listening to an announcement telling them that Mr. Holdsworth will be on unexpected leave and that Mr. Watts is temporarily in charge, just temporarily mind you. It's all very vague with no reasons given. This fact is indeed noted by Raquel who is elegantly seeing to her nails with an emery board during the announcement. In the office, Brenden Scott seems to be scolding Curly for not being vague enough and now there will be questions, won't there? he does encourage Norman in this new venture, it's a good way to prove himself and make an impression. Curly humbly insists he is just filling in but Brendan reminds him that there aren't that many manager taking that much leave so soon after that many complaints. He flays a finger at the side of his nose and leaves. (there must be plague or a virus that induces this gesture because it's *that* catching and *THAT* ANNOYING.)
Martin serves in the cafe and hollers at a distracted Alma for burning the toast. Alma is distracted because she's found out Jackie is selling her house and she and Mike are buying one together. Martin tries to advise her to get on with her life. She goes along with it but her face falls when martin turns away. Later on we overhear her making a phone call, briefly interrupted by Martin looking for help. She contacts an estate agent for an appointment to look at a house while the owners are not in and she uses the name Mrs. Halliwell. (any guesses who's house?)
Rita is hollering at Reg for making it sound like she was involved in the trolley race scam because he keeps saying things like "WE've got to think of something quick". Reg refers to Brenden Scott as the Heretic of all Humanity but Rita reminds Reg he brought it all on himself and she won't be dragged into his mistakes. Reg wonders if Rita has given the groceries to charity if that might not be a way out of the mess and he does admit there is bad blood between him and Brendan after he was made to investigate one of Brendan's schemes years ago. Reg swears on the soul of St. Jude that he will protect Rita's good name but that doesn't help Rita feel better. St. Jude was the saint of Lost Causes and Rita has already been named as his accomplice by Vera Duckworth in a poison pen letter to Head Office!
Mr. Scott comes to Vera to discuss the situation. She is hesitant to talk further but he wheedles and explains that she must, otherwise, her letter may be seen as sour grapes over being dismissed. Vera's whole point was that she wouldn't have had to complain if she hadn't been sacked because the reason she was, was because she was asking too many questions about the "fix". She makes a crack about Reg's dipping into the till which excites Brenden briefly but she soon backs down and assures him it were only her just talking. He is so slick and smarmy however, and he seems about to persuade her to telling all about Rita in with the rest of the dirt by dangling the prospect of getting her job back. Vera sighs and sits down to talk.
Kimberly comes to the office to ask Curly to see to her transfer since he's now in charge. His latest excuse, as he pages Raquel to the office, is that she really doesn't have a good reason for transferring, like a death in the family or moving house so he must turn it down. She wails that working in the same store with him is unbearable. Raquel arrives near the end of it, very cool and collected and taking it all in with a sharp gaze. Curly then switches the duty roster and puts Kimberly on the cheese counter, which he knows she hates! Kim accuses him of resorting to blackmail but it won't work, he won't come between her and Adrian! She storms out and Raquel moves in. Very Close. She perches on the end of the desk, very clearly coming on to the boss in a very calculating way. She gives him a stuffed Garfield as a welcome to the top gift and leaves for her assignment on the fruit and veg aisle. Curly doesn't seem flattered at all. In fact he seems rather stunned at this turn of events! (Raquel is no blonde bimbo barmaid here, very shrewd i would say, knowing which side of her bread to butter on her way up the career ladder!)
Jack refuses to talk to or serve Reg in the pub so Bet intervenes as Reg spots Mavis in a booth and eventually joins her. Alec tries to get Alf to see that he needs to play up and exaggerate the injury. He'll have to pay up to fix Ken's flat eventually but by stalling for time, he gets a little more interest on the money while it's still in the bank. Reg defends himself and his actions where Rita is concerned, to Mavis as Brenden Scott arrives at the bar for a half a lager and strikes up a conversation with Alec about the retail trade. Reg spots Brenden and slinks out of the pub almost on all fours so as not to be seen by Mr. Scott, much to Mavis's astonishment when she turns back to talk to him.
Mr. Simpson, the estate agent arrives at Jackie's house with...you guessed it, Alma! He spews his sales pitch, pointing out the house's selling features but gets stuck on the mobile phone to his office, leaving Alma to wander on her own. She goes upstairs and into the tastefully decorated bedroom and looks around. She sits at the dressing table surrounded by Jackie's toiletries and Mike's belts and ties and cries. Later she scurries downstairs and right out the door, followed apologetically and anxiously by the estate agent.
Brendan Scott arrives at the Kabin just as Mavis has received a gentle scolding from Rita for talking to Reg about her, knowing Mavis meant well. Mr. Scott interrupts and identifies himself and wonders if he can have a word with Rita in private so they are next seen up in her flat. She has just given him the accepted explanation that of course she had nothing to do with winning that prize, it was just a coincidence that Reg pulled her number. Scott is charming like a snake, and implies that giving the goods to charity might have been to cover her guilt! She is indignant and throws him out in spite of his trying to be politic and reasonable about it all. She's not having her good name sullied and she also denies there is no relationship with Reg Holdsworth and if there were it would be none of his business anyway. He is firmly ushered out the door.
At the factory, Mike asks jackie to help him with time sheets but she's planning on a long hot soak in the tub before they have to go out to meet people for dinner that night. In the end she returns to help him after all and it's rather late when they do finally get home.
Alf serves Alec as Ken comes in so Alf moans and hops about. Ken asks if he's had the leg seen to by a doctor if it's that bad and Alf puts on the stiff upper lip martyr act. Ken knows Alf would see about the injury because then he'd have to tell the truth about how he hurt it and when Alf accuses him of slander, Ken offers to let Alf sue him, he'd welcome his day in court!
In the pub later, Martin stops in to buy a few tins of ale to take to Kevin's and asks Audrey if she's seen Alma who left early and hadn't come back. Audrey despairs of Alma these days and is well sick of hearing her troubles but Martin reckons Alma was different today, in a strange mood. Alf limps in and Audrey, spying Ken at the end of the bar, warns both he and Alf not to start any scenes. Ken and Alf say nothing but glare daggers at each other! Rita comes in to talk to Bet and interrupts her dart game, which she was losing anyway. Vera tells Jack about Brendan Scott's visit and Jack is dismayed to hear Vera told the bloke all about her theories about Rita and Reg. When will she learn to keep her gob shut! Vera believes Brendan Scott is a sharp one and has "them two" well sussed. (I wonder if there's a reason the writer's made this man's initials B.S.???) In the booth Bet listens as Rita pours her heart out, very upset about the whole situation. Rita admits that Reg fixed the draw and admitted it to her after the fact though she truly had no part in it. She's nervous and wondering how clever that Scott feller is and wishes she's never set eyes on that supermarket.
Alma sits home rather fidgety in the dark. Jackie and Mike arrive, tired and make drinks though they will have to rush to get ready for their dinner.
Jack defends Vera to Alec who sees a trail of bloodshed and slander in her wake but Vera will be back stacking shelves at the end of it and that's justice? It is, Jack insists, she got fired for asking questions. Give over, Lenny Skinner asks questions quieter than your Vera! (and who's he when he's at home? I think that was the name Alec said.)
Mike calls the people they are meeting to let them know he and Jackie will be a bit late. He has a jolly conversation as Jackie saunters by and climbs the stairs to get ready. He throws the phone down when he hers a blood curdling scream from upstairs and races up. Jackie is standing, shocked and staring at the bed which is covered in a twisted mess of feathers and slashed fabric of the duvet, the offending scissors still on the side of the bed! Seems Alma's heart wasn't the only thing cut to a quick!
Mr. Simpson - NICHOLAS FRY Brendan Scott -
MILTON JOHNS
Writer - PAUL ABBOTT Director - OLIVER HORSBRUGH
Tuesday (3184, Wednesday 6 February 1991)
Mike and Jackie are appalled that someone has been in the house, slashing the bedroom apart. Jackie wants to call the police, but Mike doesn't agree - he thinks it was Sandra, who told them she was having an affair with Peter. Mike does not want the publicity that calling the police would cause.
Over breakfast at the Duckworth's, Jack tries to convince Curly to take Vera back on at Bettabuys, but Curly insists that he cannot because of the investigation. Curly tells Jack that Raquel is interested in him. Later at Bettabuys, Curly is helping Raquel out with the cash register and there is some serious flirting going in, including plans for tonight, when Kimberly interrupts. When Curly leaves, Kimberly tells Raquel that she's has only fancied Curly since he's made acting manager. Mike goes to see the estate agent who is selling the house for Jackie, demanding to know who he last took around the house. The agent doesn't want to tell Mike anything, but he finally breaks down after Mike throws a piece of the slashed bedding on his desk. Mike figures out from the description that it was Alma. Back to Bettabuys, where Brendan shifts Curly from behind Reg's desk and he gives Curly a list of people that he wants to interview. Brendan wants to know if Reg is lead astray by the ladies, specifically Vera, but Curly assures him not.
At the Rovers, Jack has to go to the cellar to avoid serving Reg, who tries to get Mavis to relay a communication to Rita, but Mavis refuses and scurries off. Bet won't serve Reg either, so it's left to Alec. Percy and Ken are in the cafe, having a conversation about the finer points of law, and Martin joins them just as Mike comes in. He heads straight to Alma to show her a piece of the slashed bedding. She lowers her eyes and doesn't say a word.
Reg knocks at the Duckworth's and the door is answered by Jack, who warns him off, but Reg wants to talk to Vera.
Up at Alma's flat, Mike tells Alma that he was hoping that it wasn't her. She tells him she didn't go there for that, she just wanted to see the house, but the scissors were there and she just did it. She offers to pay for the damage, but Mike tells her that doesn't matter, he is worried about her. Mike says that he never knew she felt that strongly about him. Alma says she feels like a fool, and she gives Mike a blank cheque to pay for the damage. Mike apologizes to her, saying he is sorry he did this to her.
Back to the Duckworth's where Reg is telling Vera and Jack that he thinks they should let bygones be bygones and offers her job back if she withdraws her allegations. Jack thinks that she can get her job back anyway, with Curly on her side, but Reg tells them that Culry will be mudsplattered either way if Vera doesn't back down.
More smouldering looks pass between Curly and Raquel as she leaves and he enters to see Brendan, who comments that things seem rather mutinous between staff and management. Curly thinks Brendan is exaggerating. Brendan tells Curly that he can't just dismiss Vera's allegations. Out on the store floor, Vera comes in and has a chat with Kimberly, who points out Brendan to Vera and she trots off to talk to him. At the factory office, Mike has told Jackie that it was Alma who did the damage to the bedroom. Jackie is glad that it was Alma and not Sandra. Jackie thinks that Alma is desperately in love with Mike, but Mike disagrees - he thinks that she just needed to get something out of her system. Mike shows Jackie the blank cheque that Alma gave him and Jackie tears it up.
Curly brings Raquel into the Rovers, and Jack and Alec are impressed. Raquel doesn't seem to think much of the pub, and doesn't want ot stay there all night, but Curly seems determined to be seen. Jack makes it very obvious to them that the house is empty, as Vera has gone to the bingo and he is there til closing time. Ken comes in and thanks Alf for the work done on the flat and Alf moans about the cost. Raquel and Curly are supping in a booth, and Raquel wants to go back to Curly's digs, but Kimberleys name keeps popping up in the conversation. Curly finally agrees.
Reg has stopped by Rita's flat but she is still not best pleased with him. Reg tells Rita that all he meant was to do some little thing for her, out of regard, and Rita softens a bit - but still sees him out the door!
In the darkened Duckworth house some major snogging is going on, but Kimberly's name still keeps popping up, until Raquel has had enough and leaves.
Mr. Simpson: NICHOLAS FRY
Writer: JULIAN ROACH Director: OLIVER HORSBRUGH
Wednesday (3185, Friday 8 February 1991)
In the pre-dawn morning, Mavis draws open the patio drapes and to her unexpected delight, spies a fox in the garden. She excitedly calls Derek to come and see but by the time he rouses himself, the fox has quietly disappeared. Derek is skeptical about whether it was in fact a fox, he thinks it was more likely a dog, and none too happy about being awoken so early. Grumbling about the early hour, he takes himself back to bed, leaving Mavis to marvel at her discovery.
Across the road at the Duckworths, Curly is telling Jack and Vera over breakfast that he simply isn,t ready for a new relationship. Jack can't understand why even Miss Bettabuys, (Raquel) can,t tempt Curly back into action. Curly says his days of mixing his working and private lives is over. This prompts Vera to reflect that she hasn,t got a working life, thanks to Mr. Holdsworth. Curly sites Reg as the perfect example of how mixing up business and pleasure can go wrong. Jack still can,t understand why Curly doesn,t just play the field with as many young good looking women in his path as Curly has. Vera labels Jack,s way of looking at things "disgusting", and says at least Curly doesn,t think like he does, leaving Jack to ponder, "Yes, but why not?"
Jenny stops into the Kabin to pick up a magazine and when Rita suggests they get together for a drink, she cracks on about how busy she is, that she is doing promotions for Pomme Delite nearly every night. She flutters out of the shop again, leaving Rita feeling a bit disappointed but resigned. Mavis, meanwhile, is busily studying one of the wildlife magazines which prompts Rita to ask if there,s something up with the budgie.
In the Bettabuys canteen, Kimberly is sat alone having her tea break while three girls sit giggling over a magazine at the table behind her. She finally turns to ask what is so funny and their immediate change in attitude only confirms to her they were laughing at her. She huffs out of the staff room and bumps into Raquel on her way. Raquel, having spent an uneventful evening with Curly the previous night, asks Kimberly what she did to Curly, that he can,t seem to talk about anyone but her. Kimberly clearly has no desire to discuss Curly and pushes past Raquel.
Also in the canteen are Curly and the man charged with investigating Reg Holdsworth. As they sit at a table, Brendan Scott asks Curly a series of questions pertaining to the case, and about Vera in particular. Curly calmly and matter-of-factly responds in the negative to each of the questions: "Would you say she is sensible? Reliable? Would you say she would make a good witness?" Mr. Scott, frustrated in his efforts to convict Reg, pronounces that this is a case filled with more deceit and betrayal than World War II, and abruptly ending the interview, announces to Curly, "Today, Mr. Watts, is D day,!"
Jack is in Alf's Mini Market, picking up a few supplies for the Rovers. When Alf starts blustering about what the repairs upstairs are going to cost him, Jack and Audreh begin teasing him about holding onto his wallet so tightly. He protests that folk have the misimpression that he has piles of money, prompting Jack to offer to switch wallets with him. Alf readily agrees, provided Jack is willing to take "a wife and lodger who connive behind his back" into the bargain. Jack, unflinchingly agrees, causing poor Alf to bluster again, he hasn't got time to stand around listening to nonsense!
Derek comes into the Kabin to pick up Mavis for lunch and jokingly asks whether she,s had any further sitings. Rita,s curiousity is peeked at this, but Mavis steers Derek out again quickly to avoid telling Rita about the fox. As the couple goes through the door, in comes Reg. He is on his way to find out the "verdict" of the investigation. Rita says she,s sure it will all be fine but Reg tells her the world of Bettabuys is one filled with "intrigue and jealousy". She raises an eyebrow at this and says she hopes he is wrong. He asks permission to call in again, as "a man most needs his friends when surrounded by enemies". A bit miffed, she tells him to call in anytime and as he makes his way out, he gives her the assurance that if he does "go down", it will be with his "head held high!"
In the Rovers, Mavis is explaining that she didn't want Derek to tell Rita about the fox. He says that he still thinks it was a dog but she is insistent, she still would rather no one else know.
At the bar, Bet is asking Vera if Curly couldn,t pull a few strings to get her job back for her. She doesn,t think that,s possible with the investigation still going on. Percy consoles her with the reminder that at least she has a clear conscience, having told the truth. Vera says that she,s made a vow, when she does get a job, to keep her mouth shut from now on. Jack, from a little ways down the bar, cracks that he,d like that in writing! Percy takes him to task for the remark, saying it,s a pity there aren,t more honest women like Vera. "More like her? What are you trying to do, give me nightmares?!" returns Jack.
Mavis spots Des entering the pub and with the safety of her, fox in mind, goes over to have a word with him about his back yard. He assumes that she is complaining about the state it,s in, and jokingly tells her Steph will get at it with a pick-axe as soon as the weather is better. "Oh, no", Mavis tells him, "It wasn,t a complaint at all." She just wanted to make sure that when he does begin work, he won,t be using any chemicals, anything that could harm any wildlife, *if* there were any about. Bemused, he gives her his assurances that he won't.
Back at Bettabuys, Raquel enters Curly,s office and asks to have a private word. He insists that the door be left open but when she shows him the magazine that according to her, the whole staff has been laughing about, he gets up to close the door. The magazine has printed a letter in its advice column, from a girl signing herself, "K", who wonders if all men are only after sex. According to the letter, she broke off her engagement with her fiancé, a man she also works with, because he was only interested in "one thing". It went on to say that she then started dating another man who, contrary to being the Christian he represented himself as, was also apparently only after "one thing". Curly is convinced that the author of the letter is none other than Kimberly and grabbing the magazine from Raquel, he pushes her out of his office.
Des is in the Kabin buying a roll of mints and Rita takes the opportunity to ask just how active the Pomme Delight promotions are these days. He tells her they hardly ever go out anymore - business is so slow in fact, that Steph is thinking of packing it in. Mavis cheerily comes through the door, and Des can,t resist asking her if the mints he just purchased contain any pesticides. She laughs and tells him "no" and then he says he reckons they aren,t much use for killing weeds either. As he turns to leave, Rita calls after him to inquire whether there isn,t a promotion tonight? He answers without hesitation, "Not tonight - they'll be lucky to get one over the next month!" Rita,s suspicions are now confirmed, Jenny's been intentionally avoiding her. Mavis innocently reminds her that Jenny specifically said there was a promotion tonight, to which Rita quietly replies, "Then she must have been lying."
Finding Kimberly alone in the Bettabuys canteen, Curly wastes no time confronting her about the letter in the magazine. She denies all knowledge of the letter but Curly obviously doesn,t believe her. Reg interrupts to ask Curly if he knows which way the wind is blowing as he is on his way up to see Brendan Scott now. Curly replies that he doesn,t know what the decision is, Reg is on his way again and Curly turns back to Kimberly. She is adamant that she knows nothing about the letter and tells him if he doesn,t stop pestering her, she,ll tell Adrian. As she marches out of the canteen, Curly makes the decision to go and pay a visit to the evil Adrian.
Up in the Bettabuys offices, Reg sits stoically waiting for Brendan Scott to render his verdict. The bitterness in the investigator,s voice is apparent as he tells Reg that although he breached the regulations, and conspired in a cover-up, nothing can be proven against him. Therefore, he is forced to label the case "as Unproven,, a Scottish legal term", he explains. Reg, who has sat poker-faced throughout the interview up to that point, now reacts with glee. "This is England, Mr. Scott. Here, I think you will find the appropriate term is Not guilty,!" As the disgruntled Scott takes his leave, Reg triumphantly resumes his rightful place at his own desk.
Curly has made his way over to the Building Society and is now confronting Adrian Gosthorpe with the evidence of his deviant behaviour. Adrian, regarding the hot-headed Curly as nothing more than a banal detail to be dispensed with, quietly pushes the red alarm button beneath his desk as he listens to Curly rant about what a hypocrite he,s been towards Kimberly. When Adrian finally looks at the magazine article, he dismisses it as nothing Kimberly would have written.
Then he rises to come face to face with Curly. If she did write it, he tells him, she certainly doesn,t feel that way now. Adrian takes great pleasure in informing Curly that Kimberly has now succumbed to his charms and that he is certainly not hearing any complaints from her when they are alone together. Curly is both enraged and incredulous at the news. As he picks up the magazine and turns to leave he walks straight into the two police officers who have just arrived to arrest him.
At the Duckworths,, Reg has dropped in to announce the happy news of his reinstatement. Vera wants to know if his good fortune is owing to her dropping the allegations she made against him. Reg casually tells her she *may* have played a small role and if so, he thanks her. But it's really Mr. Watts he,s come to see so is he about? Jack demands to know when Vera will be getting her job back and Reg says that when the "dust settles", there will be ample time to discuss that. Jack and Vera begin to register their protest but Curly walks in and commands everyone's attention.
In a state of upset, Curly announces that he is going to tell them about the "rotten, lousy" day he's had. He shouts to anyone who will listen that he,s had his love life become the subject of a most entertaining letter, that his ex-fiancée and her boyfriend have made him look a fool and that he's just spent the last two hours being held in the local nick, being questioned about his attempt to hold up and terrorize the local building society! In the midst of the shocked silence, the phone rings. Jack returns from answering it and informs Curly that there,s a reporter wanting to talk to him.
Across the road at the Wiltons, Mavis is getting set up to keep watch for the fox. She has a cup of tea and her camera at the ready and a chair parked by the patio door. As he bids her goodnight, Derek apologises for not believing her about the fox. He says he does believe her now, but suppose it doesn,t make an appearance tonight? She tells him not to worry, if she doesn,t see the fox tonight, she shall watch again tomorrow night
Brendan Scott MILTON JOHNS
Writer PETER WHALLEY
Thursday (3186, Monday 11 February 1991)
Derek is a jolly fellow this morning, skipping down the stairs with a song on his lips. Mavis isn't amused and says the fox has not re-appeared which isn't surprising given the attitude of "some folks"! Mavis knows that Derek believes she's a hallucinating flibbertigibbit. No doubt about it, Derek IS skeptical that there could be a fox in Weatherfield and Mavis is annoyed at not being taken seriously. She honestly doesn't know wwhy she bothers sometimes! Derek takes his scolding with a spoon full of sugar in his morning coffee, his spirits undampened.
Jack and Curly are having breakfast when Vera finally comes down in her blue robe with matching blue and yellow curlers in the bangs atop her forehead. Curly is reluctant to go into work, as the object of gossip at the cheese counter but Vera needs him to help get her job back. They launch on what appears to be two separate conversations, neither listening to the other. Curly feeling the letter in the magazine being bad enough but that business at the bank is sure to come out. Jack and Vera discuss her job, Jack of the opinion that Vera has served her purpose and there is no more use for her but Vera vowing to make further trouble if need be. This makes Jack shudder while Curly is still involved in his own agenda, figuring Kim probably enjoys having two men fight over her in public and probably hasn't said a dickey bird to the other girls abut Adrian to preserve her Purity in a Blue Overall image at Bettabuys. It looks like Curly is planning to sully Kimberly's reputation (all in the name of sour grapes if you ask me). Vera finally catches the end of his thread of the conversation. After curly leaves, Vera tells Jack that she thinks Curly is coming unraveled. Driven wild by the love of a beautiful woman, does happen sometimes is Jack's opinion.
Sally sees Kevin off with a smile on the pavement. Kevin runs to get a lift into town with Curly but has to endure a typical Curly lecture/self pitying whine about how lucky Kevin is, some women have very fragile egos. Kevin asks about that new bird Curly was seen in the pub with but Curly gloomily explains that all women are the same, vampires! Although, of course, Kevin and Sally are different, they are happy ever afters. They drive off as, inside number 13, Sally's crying over a letter that has come, another from the solicitor i imagine.
Rita gives Mavis tea to wake her up and teases her about passion filled nights but Mavis is in no mood. Vera comes in to ask Rita if she has seen Reg Holdsworth but Rita explains that the only thing she saw last night was the bottom of a chip pan and a documentary on how if she didn't stop lacquering her hair, the ice cap would melt and there would be homeless polar bears wandering up and down Inkerman Street! (Love it!) Vera just worries that she hasn't heard anything about getting her job back. Rita didn't expect to hear but will tell vera if she does. Mavis is just plain bitchy about the whole thing and after Vera leaves, Rita comments on it. Mavis, pursed lips, raised eyebrows and rolling eyes, says spitefully that she's tried to be tolerant all her life (???) and what has it brought her? Rita can see Mavis is in one of those moods and gives up.
Curly is stalking about Bettabuys. His hair is not slicked back professionally today, more like a bad case of bed head and he's looking rather manic and crazed, muttering to himself. Raquel passes by and asks if he's ok but gets her head bitten of for her troubles. She leaves, advising him to keep his hair on and he continues muttering down the aisle to where Kimberly is rhythmically shooting price labels on tins. Curly starts off rude and proceeds to sarcastically snipe at her about losing her "inhibitions" with Adrian. She throws it back at him and says it was very nice thank you, and they're even thinking of doing it again. Wrong choice. Curly loses it completely, squawking at her retreating back and snarling at Raquel because she knows, too, doesn't she? They ALL knew and were snickering behind his back. She has no idea what has set him off and next we see Curly screaming at Kimberly and now annoucing to everyone in the store within earshot that Kimberly did IT with Adrian Gosthorpe. Reg finally arrives as Kimberly is in tears and senior shoppers are edging away from the madman! Curly's eyes are glazed with desperation and his voice is ragged with emotion and he finally gets a slap in the face from Kimberly as Reg tries to get the situation under control.
Liz has brought some baby clothes that Sally has ordered from a catalogue. But, Near tears, Sally tells Liz she will have to return them as they can't afford them and won't let Liz buy them for the baby as a gift. She tells Liz that their offer of the repayment plan to Seymour was rejected by the solicitor and now there's a summons! Sally is afraid and full of guilt for letting her baby down and Liz makes a valiant attempt to comfort her.
Percy arrives at the Kabin to inform Mavis, in case she didn't know, that she had left some bacon out in the back garden. (what the heck is he doing snooping about in back gardens, anyway? That's trespassing isn't it?) Mavis isn't impressed either and tells him it's none of his business but he insists it is his and everyone else's business as that can attract vermin (thinking Mavis was just trying to feed a stray cat or something). Mavis should be aware of the consequences, is all. But all that happens is Mavis gets defensive so Percy leaves. Rita asks her to fess up but Mavis isn't talking and shifts Rita out the door to meet Reg for lunch in the Rovers.
Which is where Reg is waiting. Jack rushes to serve him in the interest of getting Vera her job back. Jack even buys Reg and Rita their drinks. Reg mentions to them about Mr. Watts and his near breakdown over his broken heart, his rantings against all womanhood and sending Kimberly crying into the freezer. Jack's good word for Vera is translated by Vera to mean that if Vera is given her job back, she'll be able to help keep Curly under control. It seems to work, Reg agrees and Vera is told as she has just arrived and even Reg is hugged in her jubilation.
At dinnertime, Kevin arrives home to find Jim at the table having a cuddle with the baby. Jim offers his help to the Websters, offering to pay the £1200 bill and Kevin can pay Jim back on that suggested weekly payment. Kevin rudely turns him down so Jim tactfully backs down and leaves. But Sally is furious. She just screams at him (with the baby in her arms, who starts crying immediately and who can blame her). He's rude! It's his stinking pride and just what does SHE have to be proud of (not him, it's implied).
Rita's back and wonders why Mavis is stalling instead of rushing home as usual. She tells Rita she's had quite a nice uplifting experience only Derek's not shared it with her and has even suggested it didn't even happen at all. Rita's face is a picture that asks a thousand questions but Mavis won't tell her what's wrong, she wouldn't be interested. They are interrupted by Angie who's dashed in. Rita asks after Jenny whom she's seen very little of these days. Angie admits Jenny has a new boyfriend, which delights Rita, but doesn't say much else, leaving Rita to wonder why Jenny doesn't confide in her anymore.
Sally's put the baby to bed and now she and Kevin fight about how to pay the bill, what to do. Tears and accusations are shed and flung respectively until there's a knock on the door. It's Martin looking for company over a pint but realizes he's walked in on something awkward when Sally shouts at Kevin to leave but Kevin shouts that he's staying. Martin beats a hasty retreat.
At Number 9, Curly moans about being single while Jack impatiently waits for Vera to get ready. He tries to get out of her celebratory evening out thinking they should stay home and comfort Curly but that doesn't wash. She's bound and determined to celebrate before going back to that boring job! Martin arrives, still looking for company but Curly turns him down and all, not wanting to go into that bright and happy world of couples.
Back at the Websters', Sally has been giving Kevin the silent treatment as she angrily turns the pages of the newspaper. The argument starts up again but Sally eventually apologizes for some of the mean things she's said. She is scared that this is all pulling them apart, all this shouting and blaming. She sees them turning into her parents. She always thought it would be different with her and Kevin, that they'd be a team working together and now look! With her parents it was always about money. Her dad measured himself by money and she sees Kevin turning the same way, too involved in paying off the money with no help to show the world what kind of man he is. She cries that she doesn't want him to be like her dad! Kevin hangs his head.
Derek is out on the patio that night and spots a fox sneaking round the back of the garden! His eyes bug out and he whispers a call to Mavis! He moves slowly back to the door so as not to startle the animal.
Alec mentions to Des and Steph that Vera got her job back and she and Jack are out celebrating tonight. Alec moans about loyalty as Martin comes in . Alone. Des and Steph are just out the door so poor Martin is feeling distinctly paranoid, like he's being wound up! Curly slopes in because he had to get away from the celebratory happy mood and festive atmosphere in Number 9. He'd rather be in the pub where it's more depressing. Thanks, Martin snipes. Go on then, and Martin buys Curly a pint. Rita and Angie arrive together. Rita still yanging about Jenny not confiding in her. Curly witters on about the change in Kimberly's self confidence, further depressing Martin.
Across the road Mavis and Derek are basking in the afterglow of Derek's uplifting experience. With the fox, of course! Derek is full of wonder at his encounter and Mavis thinks they should keep the secret from everyone.
Vera is finally ready and looking FINE in her fitted blue dress and pearls. But as they are almost out the door, she hears something out back. Then Jack hears it too and they rush out. The pigeons are fluttering and feathers are flying. They don't see what has upset the birds but Jack is horrified to find one of his beloved feathered friends lying dead in the coop!
Writer - FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE Director - JUNE HOWSON
Friday (3187, Wednesday 13 February 1991)
Jack sits and sadly strokes the body of his beloved late pigeon Dolly, while Percy witters on unsympathetically that the birds would have been safer if Jack had kept a lock on his back gate. Jim MacDonald arrives, and after making a tasteless joke about having a barbeque, notes that it must have been a very strong cat to force it's way into the cage.
Kevin and Sally bicker over having a boring evening in, but are unable to afford even a few beers at the local. Sally whines, wondering what they'll do about their court case and debts, causing Kevin to snap that they'll just have to go to court and explain that they simply don't have the money. Sally thinks Kevin should do some overtime at work to earn extra money, but his angry response is that there is no overtime for "idiots" like him. A screaming match ensues, prompting Kevin to angrily announce that he's going to bed.
We assume it is the following day, when Reg Holdsworth stops to chat with Vera at Bettabuys. She hopes there are no hard feelings over the recent turn of events, and Reg assures her that there are none. In a conspiratorial voice, Reg comments that he hopes Vera has not discussed "the misunderstanding" with other staff members, to which Vera responds "you mean, keep me gob shut"!
At the Rover's Return, Jack is wiping glasses while mourning his recent losses to Alec, who is less than sympathetic. Jack confesses that Dolly seemed to understand him, even though she couldn't talk. He recounts how he used to open her cage each morning, and how she would jump onto his hand and look into his eyes as though imploring him to speak to her. He recalls when he hit his face on the windscreen of the car, and told Dolly about it the following morning. With tears in his eyes, he says that Dolly rested her head on his face and stroked his cheek with her little feathers. "We could really communicate," he says, and Alec agrees, adding, "one bird brain to another." Jack slaps the counter with his towel and exclaims that he just *knew* that Alec would make fun.
Over in the Corner Shop, Audrey holds Rosie while Sally complains that the baby had her up five times the night before. Audrey promises Sally that the nightly disturbances will end, although Sally may not believe it at the moment. Sally comments that she feels tired all the time, and Audrey wonders aloud if things are okay between her and Kevin. Sally insists they are, but sensing that she may not be telling the whole truth, Audrey offers to be available anytime Sally feels the need to talk to someone.
Percy and Alf discuss Jack's recent loss over a pint at the Rover's Return, and Percy asserts that it's possible the birds were killed by a rat rather than a cat. He insists that there are two convenient sources for rats, since they are drawn to easy food, and suggests they could be in Alf's shop as well as the Rover's Return. Outraged by Percy's remarks, Alf calls Alec over so Percy can repeat this statement for him, and Alec in turn calls over Jack, saying that Percy has a new theory regarding the death of his birds. In a moment of curtness and hurt, Jack explains that he doesn't want to discuss it, and Alf cautions Percy that if he continues to talk to others in this vein, he'll be getting a letter from Alf's solicitor. Alec confidentially informs Percy that he doesn't want the information spread, but he happens to know that the culprit is "the Weatherfield Puma."
Mavis holds little David while she and Rita admire the child. Gail comments that he's a good baby, and that she's embarrassed to take David by to visit Sally because Rosie is always screaming her lungs out. The topic turns to Jack's dead pigeons, and Gail tells the ladies of Nicky's pal on Inkerman Street, whose pet rabbit was killed the same way the night before last.
Curly skulks around Bettabuys in a foul mood until Vera stops him to ask if he's seen the paper. She comments that even though no names were mentioned, all the girls know who the article is referring to, to which Curly sarcastically responds "You don't think I know that"? "Everytime I look into someone's face, they snigger behind my back." He adds that there's only one person low enough to tell people that the article is about him, "and it's Mr. Watts to you," he screams as an afterthought. As he stomps off, he momentarily pauses in front of Kimberly, who is pricing tins of food, and calls her a "Jezebel."
Angie arrives at the Kabin, and makes a point of ascertaining if Mavis is around (she is not) before confiding to Rita that there will be a surprise birthday party for Jenny. When asked if it will be a big party, Angie responds that it will be on the "small" side, with only 40 to 50 guests!
In Reg Holdsworth's office, he invites Curly to sit down, prefacing the meeting by saying that he has a "painful" duty to perform. He asks a dejected Curly if he knows what "The Golden Precept" is, and when he gets no response, thunders that "the store comes first." He sternly informs Curly (or "Norman" in this context) that he has the feeling that the store comes last in Curly's books over the past few weeks. Curly's performance, he insists, is "tragic" of late and must stop. Things can only be corrected by Curly -- all he has to do is request that Kimberly be transferred. In a brilliant array of mixed metaphors, Reg advises Curly that for his self, and "for Bettabuys' sake... you are going to take that bull by the horns, wipe the slate clean with it, and turn over a sparkling new penny -- have I made myself clear"?
Derek, meanwhile, has arrived home to find Mavis sitting in the dark. She tells him she's very worried about her "foxy friend" because all day she's heard people talking about animals that have been taken and mysteriously killed. Derek reminds her that no one knows fur sure that the fox is responsible, but Mavis replies that killing is what foxes do. In tears, she adds that she can't bear the thought of men tracking him down and killing him. Derek points out that their little friend is a fox, after all, and very capable of taking care of himself. Mavis admits that she's "disappointed" with the fox, who seemed so "well mannered" in their back garden, but Derek correctly brings to Mavis' attention that the fox is a hunter who can't be expected to tuck into cucumber sandwiches. Mavis believes the fox ought to "draw the line" at taking people's pets, because the boy who lost his rabbit must have been terribly distressed.
Back at Bettabuys, Kimberly bitterly complains to Reg about Curly calling her a "Jezebel." She describes his behaviour as "harrassment," a word Reg finds objectionable and wishes she'd steer clear of, suggesting instead that she describe his behaviour as "a temporary instability from an otherwise exemplary member of the management team." Kimberly insists that Reg do something, and Reg tries to placate her by saying that he's already had Norman in his office, "treading hot coals." He adds that Curly is in "an emotional state," and that these things take time. Curly arrives at that moment, and announces that if Reg is considering transferring anyone, he would have no objections, waving goodbye to Kimberly in the process.
At the Webster's, Sally kisses Kevin and thanks him for her bouquet of flowers. Sally's mom is visiting, and sitting at the dining room table, insists that she just decided to stop for a few days to see her grand-daughter. She mentions to Kevin that Sally told her they're in "a spot of trouble." Kevin immediately realizes that Sally summoned her mother and also told her of the court case, and he explodes in anger, screaming at Sally that she had no right to tell others of their problems. Sally feels her mother has a right to know, but Kevin beats a hasty retreat upstairs instead of prolonging the discussion.
Mavis gets snippy with Alec when he stops momentarily to ask her and Derek about "the pressures of life." As Alec leaves, Derek gently reminds Mavis that Alec knows nothing about "their" fox. Jim MacDonald joins them, and seconds later, Percy also sits himself down at their table. He tells Jim that he just spoke to an old friend, who believes that the community is dealing with a fox. Mavis visibly swallows.
Back at the Webster's home, Sally's mother is reassuring Kevin that no one thinks it's his fault that he's in a legal bind. Kevin disagrees with her, since he was tired and not paying attention to his driving at the time of the accident. He asks his mother-in-law if she's really just there for a visit, or did Sally ask her to come, but before she can respond, Sally comes into the room, carrying baby Rosie who, as usual, will not go to sleep. Her mother chooses that moment to pull our her cheque-book and offer a loan, and as a relieved Sally kisses her in gratitude, Kevin announces that they're not taking "a flaming hand-out" from anyone.
Heather Morlan
Mrs. Seddon: BRENDA ELDER
Written by STEPHEN MALLATROTT Directed by DAVID LIDDIMENT
Monday (3188, Friday 15 February 1991)
The Siege of Reynard including The Boat that Launched a Thousand Storylines
At breakfast, the Wiltons reconfirm to keep the secret of the fix. Derek thinks it's a mistake to keep feeding it lest they be found out. To other people who don't understand the beauty of wild creatures, the fox is just vermin. Mavis is determined to put a bit of bacon out for it anyway and wraps up a piece from Derek's plate.
Des is pacing out his back garden, watched by a mystified Stephanie. Buried Treasure? Swimming pool? Close but no cigar and Des isn't giving out any useful hints. Derek and Mavis come out their back door and hastily hide the bacon. They too become curious, wondering if Des is planning a proper garden at last but Des still says little, keeping his secret to himself for now. He asks Steph if she can get home at lunch when all will be revealed. They retreat into their home while Derek and Mavis purse their lips and think nothing good can come of this. In the process the name Reynard is mentioned. Seems Mavis has named "their" fox!
At dinnertime, Mavis and Derek arrive at the Rovers just as Jack and Alec are discussing the fox that Jack believes killed his birds. Has to be a fox, Jack insists, to the skepticism of Alec and Percy, a cat wouldn't bite the heads right off the bird. Mavis stoutly reckons it was a stray cat but even Percy thinks it could be a fox, one from France with rabies that found it's way through the Channel Tunnel. Mavis is nervous and defensive, especially when Percy starts talking about putting poison down. It isn't right to poison innocent creatures and lectures them all on environmental issues but Jack is not buying it, not when his innocent pigeons were killed. that's not right either. Mavis has had enough and calls for Derek, We're leaving, not even allowing him to finish his drink (or even start it from what i can see!)
On the outside of the pub, Derek starts to lecture Mavis on the unwise showing of anger lest they be found out.... but his voice fades out as he spies a rather unusual phenomenon in the sky above. A boat! Actually the boat is being lifted by a crane over top of the new houses into the Barnes' back garden. Des and Steph look on the proceedings with excitement.
In the back garden, Des is perched on the prow of the boat like the King of the World, all excited and chattering about what fun he and Steph will have. He explains he got the boat for £500 but it needs a lot of work first before it will be water-worthy. Steph seems thrilled too but Mavis and Derek don't. Mavis thinks it's an eyesore and Derek is concerned that it cuts off the light from their kitchen window and how long will it be there anyway.
Over at the Rovers at afternoon closing, Jack sees the last of the punters out the door then tells Liz and Alec that he and his mate Bert are going on a fox hunt tonight. Alec's eyebrows are raised when he realizes this Bert is the same Bert that fleeced Jack with that dog at Christmas but Jack insists Bert is an expert at foxing. He reckons the fox will be back for another taste of pigeon and they will be lying in wait for it! Jack fantasizes about mounting the fox's brush over the mantle next to his bull fighting poster!
Liz brings the news about the fox hunt to the Kabin just after Mavis was having a good moan about that boat to Rita. Men get these enthusiasms then when they fade, what have you got? A monstrosity. Mavis is horrified to hear of the trap to be laid for her fox though hides it more or less. Rita laughs thinking it all a folly, there aren't any foxes in Weatherfield.
Derek arrives home to a frantic Mavis and is told about Jack's plans. They must help Reynard, warn him somehow! She's determined and has come up with a plan. She is sure Derek is able to help. He will lay a trail of bacon bits from the Duckworth's back yard to their garden to lure the fox away and into their garden where they will scare it away with a great clatter of pots and pans. Derek questions the success of such a plan but since he has none better, he's on board.
In Number 9, Curly is moaning and sighing over Kimberly. Vera, while plucking her eyebrows, tells him there are more fish in the sea. She wishes she'd thrown Jack back in, he's really only a "tiddler" though he thinks he's Moby Dick and she chortles at her joke. Just then Moby Dick arrives with Bert and Bert's dog Boomer who makes straight for Curly who greets his old pal with a few friendly ear scratches. Jack and Bert are somewhat the worse for the ale they've already drunk in preparation for the coming battle and crack open a new round they've brought with them.
Later, Bert is seen, nearly paralytic on the settee, Jack positively legless is expounding on the rights of men to defend their pigeons, and Curly, plastered to his eye teeth, lectures them all on the food chain. The fox is allowed to kill because it must eat and if Jack were to kill the fox and then eat it, fair enough. Curly ends up face down on the table while Vera, who's tongue is also loosened considerably more than usual (if that's possible), tells a story about her Auntie Marge who had a fox coat that she kept for special occasions. (the kind that actually has the fox head attached at the collar) Her Uncle Jim saw the coat on the table one night (after a few i don't doubt) and hacked it to death with a bread knife, swearing it had gone for his throat. There were even claw marks on his neck the next day, though Vera thinks that were just Auntie Marge! (*chuckle* I LOVE these stories of Vera and Jack's!)
Somewhat later still, Derek sets out on his mission, sneaking stealthily down the ginnel behind the old houses, laying his trail of bacon to the back garden of Number 9. Inside the three men are passed out on the settee while Vera is filling a hot water bottle. Derek quietly pushes the gate open but nearly has a heart attack when the dog on guard starts barking furiously, waking the sleepers inside. Derek starts and falls backward against the fence in terror!
Kevin's Pride and Prejudice.
Kevin comes home at dinner time and he apologizes to Sally about his harsh words that morning. He took it all out on Sally and shouldn't have. Sally apologizes too, saying they mustn't fall out no matter what happens. He helps her put some lunch together and while they do, and after they sit down, Sally does her best to try to convince Kevin to accept her mother's offer of financial help to pay off the debt. He's adamant that it won't happen, he's afraid Sally will think less of him if he did accept the money. Sally assures him she would never think less of him. He insists he got them into the debt and will get them out (even though he's tried everything. Stubborn fool!) She tries to impress on him that families help each other and she fires a shot that hits the target dead on though. She asks him, if Rosie were married and they needed help and her husband wouldn't let she and Kevin help out, what would he think of Rosie's husband? Kevin huffs and puffs and says he'd think the man was a right idiot. The light clicks on. Ok, Kevin admits, he sees where she's coming from. And just like that, he says all right, he'll accept the money. She's ecstatic and relieved, Kevin is relieved also and feeling a bit of a fool for putting them through it all in the first place and all is right in the Webster World again.
Rise and Fall of a friendship.
Angie collects the post, mostly birthday cards for Jenny who feels old at 20! (can it be just 2 years ago that her birthday was ruined by her father strangling Rita?) There's a card from Robert that makes her laugh but she won't show it to Angie, it's personal. Where's Angie's gift, then? Angie smiles secretively and says Jenny must wait until tonight because her gift is a party! It's all organized! Jenny is distinctly less than impressed because she already has plans. Robert is taking her out. did Angie invite Robert? No, she did not but defends herself saying that she didn't have Robert's address and his wife probably wouldn't let him go anyway. (meow!) Jenny also isn't happy her old mates from college were invited either, she already left that life behind (and her mates too? That's called Burning your bridges, honey! You'll regret it!) Angie tries to convince Jenny but it's no good, Jenny insists that she won't be there though Angie is free to have a party if she likes.
Jenny arrives home after work to find Angie doing school work and in a very bad mood, having spent the day canceling the party. Well, she should have cleared it with Jenny first, shouldn't she? Angie still couldn't get ahold of everyone and tells JEnny there will be a few people show up with gifts and SHE can tell them to go away. Jenny is snotty, insisting she's not going to be there and Angie is righteous about Jenny's affair with a married man until Jenny loses her red headed temper and has had enough of Angie always in her way and on her back about something and tells Angie she better find a new place to live!!!
Later that night, Rita sees Angie in the pub and asks why she's so down. Angie ends up telling Rita that Jenny's new man is married and Jenny seems to have chucked all her friends for him, including her! She leaves and Rita sits down with Reg and tells him she had suspected as much, knowing all the signs. Reg is uncomfortable with Rita's negativity over married men having bits on the side (and rightly so!). Jenny and Robert arrive and Rita is introduced but both sides are cool, and when Rita declines Robert's offer of a round, Jenny and Robert move to the other side of the pub.
Bert Latham - DAVE DUTTON Robert Weston - PHILIP
BRETHERTON
Writer - JOHN STEVENSON Director - JUNE HOWSON
Tuesday (3189, Monday 18 February 1991)
The saga of the fox continues. "Boomer" bays, men shout in mad confusion, and Derek tries to escape without being caught. Mavis stares anxiously out the window, and seeing the fox in her back garden, begins to frantically bang on a saucepan, all the while screaming "run! run! If they catch you, they'll kill you!"
In a more placid scene, Rita and Reg bid goodnight to other punters at the Rover's Return, and are greeted on the street by the clamour created by the fox. Percy and Alf put down their pints and rush out to investigate, while chaos prevails at the Duckworth residence. Bert's dog, on leash, pursues the scent of the fox, while little Rosie Webster can be heard screaming. Kevin rushes outside and tells them all to "keep it down." Derek, meanwhile, is skulking about, trying desperately to make his way home without being seen. In all this madness, Rita announces she's going to bed. "I'll join you," adds Reg, to which Rita archly responds, "would you like to rephrase that?"
Mavis continues her vigil at the window, muttering "run, poor hunted creature, wherever you may be," to herself. Out in the street, Jack, and Bert (who are quite drunk), and Boomer continue to create havoc. Tired and out of sorts, Kevin stands in his back garden insisting that they all want locking up.
Alec, Percy and Alf confront the fox pursuers and advise them to go to bed, but Jack insists that the fox was in his yard, and the dog now has its scent. Emily emerges from her home in her night clothes, and demands to know what is going on. Upon learning that they are in pursuit of a fox, she tells them all they should be ashamed of themselves, harrying the poor creature.
Derek bursts through his back door, and while he pants in exhaustion from his ordeal, Mavis witters on about how overjoyed she was to see the fox again. "Never mind the fox," Derek snorts, "they're hunting me!" and he begins searching their cupboards for a bottle of brandy. Mavis reminds him the brandy is for emergencies. "This IS one!" Derek snaps. He then explains that he walked straight into a trap, that the dog was lying in wait, and that they all but had him. "It was inches from my throat," he intones, "you were that close to being a widow." He explains his route back to their home, over various fences, at one point cracking his head on Des' boat. Mavis enthuses how pleased she is that Derek drew the others away from the fox, but she wishes that Derek could have seen it, as she had. "I did!" Derek informs her -- "we passed each other in the garden." Mavis is struck by how "wonderful" that must have been -- "two hunted creatures. You must have felt a great kinship!" Derek looks anything but pleased with the entire evening.
Reg is meanwhile staring out Rita's window as the din continues down on the street. Rita comments that she's not bothered by Jack Duckworth and his silliness; she's bothered about Jenny dating a married man. "She's not stupid," Rita observes, "so she must know what he's after -- what any married man is after." A little uncomfortable with the topic, Reg jumps to Robert's defence, noting that he was very civil and did offer to buy them a drink. He also notes that he knows what it's like to marry the wrong woman. Rita feels that Reg's case is quite different. After all, he is separated from his wife, whereas she suspects that Jenny's bloke goes home and tells his wife he's been working late at the office. Reg suggests that Rita talk to Jenny about the matter to find out what her boyfriend's status is, but Rita says she's going to keep her thoughts to herself, unless Jenny asks.
Back at the Wilton's, Mavis cleans Derek's scratched face and gleefully comments that she's sure the fox was so frightened that he won't be back. She describes her emotions as a mixture of joy that she thinks he'll be safe, but sorrow that she's probably seen the last of him. Derek notices that his pulse is racing, and has another brandy, against Mavis' advice. Suddenly the din from Jack and friends becomes very loud, and Derek panics, believing they're in the garden and after him. Mavis grabs her saucepan, while outside, Jack exhorts Boomer to find the fox. Mavis steps out her back door, and tells Jack and Bert that they cannot come into her garden, but they ignore her as Bert starts over the fence. "I'm warning you," Mavis yells, and with that, she whacks Bert on the head with the saucepan! Amazed at herself, she threatens to do it again if they come into her garden. Bert claims he'll have her in court for this, and a very upset Mavis tells them all to clear off or she'll "set about" the dog too. To her great relief, they retreat.
The following morning, a hung-over Jack tries to eat his breakfast while Vera harangues him about his behaviour the night before. She contends there was never a fox, but Jack swears the dog had its scent. Vera believes it's more likely that Bert was having Jack on, since Jack bought all his ale. As Jack continues to insist that there was a fox, Curly and Vera rush off to work.
While Angie also rushes to leave for her classes, Jenny comes down the stairs in her nightgown and asks her to call work and tell them she'll be late. Angie comments that yesterday, she was being told to find herself somewhere else to live, and today Jenny wants a favour. Jenny decides she'll call herself and tell them she has to see a dentist, which is nearly true. As Angie leaves for college, Jenny tells her to look for a room while she's there.
In the Kabin, Rita is amazed to learn that Mavis actually hit Bert on the head, and Mavis confesses she'd do it again if she had to. Jack arrives, and announces he has a bone to pick -- he can't believe Mavis clobbered his friend when they were only trying to rid the community of "a vicious animal." Mavis retorts that there were three "vicious animals" out last night -- Jack, his friend, and the dog. Jack thinks it's suspicious that the dog led them to Mavis' back garden, and suggests that she was "harbouring" the fox. "Deny it if you can," Jack adds, but Mavis dismisses his allegations by saying she won't "bandy words" with him. As Jack leaves, Mavis smiles to herself like the cat that swallowed the canary, and the penny drops when Rita realizes that the saucepan-banging she heard the night before was Mavis trying to scare the fox away.
Jack goes into the pub, only to meet with more derision when Bet and Alec ask if he has a ticket for the Weatherfield Fox and Hound Ball. An annoyed Jack tells them to go ahead and make fun, but there was a fox. Kevin approaches, and warns Jack that Sally will go spare if there's a repeat performance of last night. Kevin doesn't believe there was a fox, either.
Phil Jennings enters the Rover's Return, and asks for a word with Alec, while Liz whispers to Bet that she always thinks something dodgy is going on when she sees Phil.
At the Wilton's, Mavis tells Derek that she actually feels sorry for Jack Duckworth because no one believes there ever was a fox, so he's making a fool of himself in everyone's eyes. "You know, Mavis," Derek tells her, "you have a wonderful tenderness for dumb animals -- including Jack Duckworth."
Liz MacDonald visits Dierdre and asks about Phil moving in next door. Dierdre has no idea what Liz is talking about, prompting Liz to apologise. She confirms that Phil has plans to move into the Rover's Return that evening. A shocked Dierdre has to attend a Council meeting, but asks Liz to keep her informed.
Percy is polishing his medals when Emily arrives home for a doctor's appointment, looking rather solemn. He offers to run to the chemist to pick up any prescription she may need filled, but she graciously declines.
Jenny rushes into the Kabin to see Rita, complaining of her job at the perfume counter. When Rita asks if Jenny is planning a quiet night in, Jenny responds that she's going out again, with Robert. As Jenny waxes poetic about her new flame, she pronounces that he has a wonderful sense of humour, prompting Rita to add, "I hope his wife has a sense of humour too." An uncomfortable silence follows, and Rita admits that she shouldn't have said that. Jenny presumes that it was Angie who told Rita of Robert's marital status.
Back at the Rover's Return, Bet and Alex discuss letting a room to Phil Jennings. Alec leads Phil to the back of the pub, which Jack gathers empty glasses. He stops at a table, where Derek and Mavis are enjoying a drink, and accuses them of knowing more about the fox than they're letting on. "Ah yes, the Phantom Fox," laughs Derek. After a brief discussion, Mavis confesses that there was a fox, but they just couldn't let anyone kill such a beautiful creature.
The phone is ringing at the Duckworth's, and Curly goes to answer. It's Vera's Auntie Sissy with bad news -- Vera's mom has died. Vera sits down in shock and tells Curly that she was thinking of her mother that morning, and of a hat her mom had when Vera was a child. She was so proud of it, and only wore it on special occasions. One day, Vera used a chair to retrieve the hat from her mother's wardrobe, and she put the hat on and paraded up and down the street with it. The feather got bent, but when her mom caught her, she didn't slap her -- instead, she cried. Vera breaks down over this memory because her mother "never had ought." Jack arrives home at that moment, hollering that the fox is real, but when he learns of Vera's loss, he puts his arms around her and holds her close.
Angie arrives home to an upset Jenny, who accuses her of being unable to keep her mouth shut. Angie admits she was angry when she told Rita that Robert is married, but she points out to Jenny that when you play around with a married man, getting caught is part of the whole scenario. Jenny tells her she wants her out of the house first thing tomorrow, and when Angie asks where she suggests she'll go, Jenny responds she can sleep in a cardboard box for all she cares. Angie informs her that she pays her rent to Rita, and the house is not Jenny's -- it belongs to somebody else, "just like your boyfriend." After a frigid stare, Jenny leaves, slamming the door behind her, while Angie strikes a pose of complete frustration.
Heather Morlan
Bert Latham: DAVE DUTTON
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by RICHARD SIGNY
Wednesday (3190, Wednesday 20 February 1991)
First thing in the morning at the Duckworths and Curly tenderly tells Vera not to worry about the job, hell put in for compassionate leave for her. When he leaves, Vera talks to Jack about what needs to be done for the funeral and starts to break down as she reflects back on her relationship with her mother. Jack gives her a soothing word and manages to comfort her a little.
Breakfast in the Rovers and Bet is giving Phil Jennings the royal treatment, offering to cook him a full English breakfast. Alec has already surrendered his paper to Phil and now has trouble hiding his annoyance at Bets fawning. He gets up to "help" her in the kitchen but Phil stops him to have a word. If anyone should come calling for him, hes to say he isnt there. In fact, he should say hes never even heard of him! Alec nods his understanding but is clearly bothered about what Phil is up to.
Emilys off to the hospital and isnt sure shell be back for tea. Percy offers to accompany her but she prefers to go alone. He tries to wheedle out of her the reason for her visit but she politely tells him to mind his own business. She would like to keep the reason for her visit to herself as she doesnt want her business being broadcast throughout the neighbourhood, impossible though that may seem.
As they get the Rovers ready for opening, Jack tells Bet and Alec about Veras mother passing. Apparently, she went while playing bingo. Jack thinks thats just about the best way anyone could go but it suddenly occurs to him that she have had a winning card. He wonders if anyone thought to check her numbers Alec is on the same wavelength. He conjectures that if she had won, her winnings might have been enough to pay for the funeral.
Percy, heedless of Emilys wishes, wastes no time going over to the Kabin to have a "quiet word" with Mavis. They go off to a private corner and while he is bending her ear, Angie pops into the Kabin to pay her rent. Rita apologises for spilling the beans to Jenny but Angie brushes it off. Rita expresses her concern and asks why Jenny would choose a married man when she could have her pick. Angie, who looks a bit fed up at this point, (she has to live with Jenny, after all) reckons that Jenny is prone to self destructive behaviour. She pauses before leaving long enough to ask Rita for clarification that she (not Jenny) is in fact the landlady. Rita is moved to respond, "That bad, is it?"
In the Rovers, Jack explains to Kevin his reasons for not accompanying Vera to make the funeral arrangements for her mother. "For some folk, its flying; others, its hospitals; me, its funerals." Kevin listens in amusement as Jack launches into the reason for his aversion Seems his Aunty Florrie did some undertaking in the days when people still used their front parlours. He used to dread his aunt inquiring after the state of his health Bet curtly interrupts Jacks reverie to send him down to the cellar.
Alone at a table, Phil Jennings is conducting some kind of business from his cell phone while Alec eyes him carefully from behind the bar. Alec may be suspicious but Bet has nothing but admiring glances for Phil. We hear the tail end of his conversation, "Remember, these lads dont mess around." Just as he ends his call, Deirdre happens in and joins him at his table. She wants to know what hes up to, moving in right next door and not even bothering to tell her. Shes somewhat miffed that she had to hear about it second hand. He tries to kid her that its a matter of "convenience", being close to her, but she isnt buying it. He then tells her the real reason. Hes trying to keep out of the way of certain people for a few days but, he hastens to emphasise, there is nothing underhanded in it. Deirdre isnt quite convinced but she lets it slide.
Percy has lunch ready when Emily returns from the hospital and as they sit down to eat, he again fishes for information regarding her visit. She assures him that there is nothing to worry about but she seems depressed and he is worried. In a pensive mood, she asks him if he can look back on his life with some satisfaction. He tells her that yes, he is basically satisfied that hes "done his bit". She confesses that she doesnt feel her life has amounted to much, an assertion Percy vigorously refutes. "Mrs. Bishop you've been a fine example of decency and right-mindedness!", he tells her. "An example of quite good table manners, Mr. Sugden", she sarcastically replies. She tells him she wants to do something with the rest of her days. She wants to be have the satisfaction of feeling that shes "done her bit".
In the backroom of the Kabin, Rita is confiding to Bet her worries about Jenny. Bet understands her friends concern but points out that there isnt much to be done. Rita says she cant just stand by and watch Jenny destroy her life. Bet advises her in that case to talk to Jenny, as long as she doesnt expect her to listen. After all, they wouldnt have listened at Jennys age. Rita concurs, she still has the scars to prove it!
Also in the Kabin, Phil steps up to the counter to purchase a Gazette and before Mavis has even rung in the sale, he starts thumbing through the paper. Mavis jokingly suggests that people who open the paper in the store do so because they expect their picture to be in it and Phil returns with a lighthearted joke about a "mug shot". As he leaves, Rita and Bet return to the area of the counter and Bet wryly asks Rita if shed prefer to see Jenny with the likes of him. Rita quips that shed definitely put her foot down then - but she wouldnt mind him for herself! Bet apparently is in agreement but Mavis, with sniff and a little toss of her head reveals that he isnt her type at all - she thinks he lacks "breeding".
The atmosphere at No. 7 is tense. If Jenny cant force Angie out, shes certainly going to make her life uncomfortable. While Angie sits at the dining table trying to study, Jenny insists on telling her the details of her lunch today with Robert. When Angie says she isnt interested, Jenny shouts her down, saying shes only telling her so that she can tell someone who is! Robert calls and Angie hands the phone to Jenny, then realises she is expected to leave the room. Jenny watches as she gathers up her books and coldly stares after her as she goes up the stairs. Settling herself on the sofa, she tells Robert that she "just had to put the cat out". (Shes hard to like, isnt she?)
Vera comes home looking tired and frazzled and is surprised to see that Jack is home. As he sits in front of the telly watching football, he tells her that he took the rest of the day off to be with her! Poor Vera, at least she found some comfort in the Church of England. "Theyre there when you want Christening and theyre there when you want burying, and they dont even mind that you didnt go in between!", she ruefully reflects. She sits herself down and asks if Jacks had his tea. Curly fixed something earlier, he tells her, but if shes going to get something on for herself, he wouldnt mind eating again! When she asks where Curly is now, Jack remembers to tell her that Raquel happened by with a condolence card and she and Curly went down to the pub.
Down at the pub, Alec is still ruminating over what Phil Jennings game is. He has a futile search through the newspaper for any clues and then speculates to Bet that they might be unwittingly providing Phils "alibi". Bet thinks an alibi at 20 quid a night is a good deal for them. Anyway, she doesnt seem to mind what Phils reason for being around is. He improves her posture, she says.
Percy is making his way around the pub selling raffle tickets for the hospital. He takes the opportunity to speak to Mavis again about Emily. When he tells her that Mrs. Barlow (Deirdre) agrees with him, and that its nice to see *some* of her friends care, Mavis takes exception. Telling him that she doesnt wish to discuss her friends "private concerns with a walking megaphone in a flat cap", she walks out, leaving Derek on his own. Derek heaves a sigh and says he wishes people wouldnt get his wife so wound up. He is the one that has to unravel her!
Curly and Raquel are also in the Rovers, trying to smooth things over from their last date. After he apologises for comparing her to Kimberly, he tells Raquel that she is "beyond compare", which seems to be the kind of thing he should say more often to get in this girls good books - she doesnt mind a bit.
Alec has been stewing about Phil all this time and now informs Bet that if hes not back by closing, hell find hes locked out! Bet steals her husbands thunder by calmly informing him that shes given Phil a key.
Speaking of Phil, he is at this moment calling over at Deirdres with a bottle of wine. She seems happy to see him and its clear that shes forgiven him for moving in next door without telling her.
Meanwhile, Rita pops in to see Jenny. She wants them to go for a drink together but Jenny insists that they have it out there. Rita starts out calmly, she doesnt want to fall out, just wants Jenny to see what shes doing. Jenny tells Rita that her eyes are wide open, she knows what shes doing. Rita is surprised at Jennys cynicism but Jenny maintains it doesnt make any difference as "were all dead in the end so what does it matter what happens in between?" (I never liked her!) Rita musters all her patience to try to deal with the matter without upsetting Jenny. Drawing a breath, she asks what about his wife and kids? They, according to Jenny, are Roberts lookout! Rita tries one last appeal but Jenny is not hearing it. "Its my life", she shouts, "and I wont have people telling me how I can live it!" Ritas on her way out now. She knows shell lose her temper if she stays. Just before she goes, she informs Jenny that she knows all the pitfalls of what Jennys doing, not because she is wise, but because she learned the hard way. She leaves her with a warning: The road she is on leads straight to grief!
Alec is locking up the pub now and as he opens the front door to set the milk bottles out, a big hulking shadow crosses in front of him. Alecs eyes widen as he looks up, way up, to see a mountain man standing before him. With a menacing grin and in a Scots accent, the big man asks for Phil Jennings. Alec denies knowing who Phil is but his stuttering and figetting gives him away, the big man sees right through him. He instructs the landlord to give Phil the following message: "Tell him, Scotch Tommy and the lads will be waiting for him in the morning across the road." Then slowly, condescendingly, "Now can you tell him that for me, eh?" Alec looks like hes just wet himself as he nods his understanding. Quaking with fear, he dives back into the shelter of the pub, bolting the door behind him.
Scotch Tommy CLIVE RUSSELL
Written by JULIAN ROACH
Thursday (3191, Friday 22 February 1991)
It's the morning after and Bet tries to find out if Alec spoke to Phil about the visit from Scotch Tommy but alec at first tries to avoid the subject, muttering about herbal tea and caffeine. Actually, Alec hasn't asked him yet. Bit knows it's because Alec got a good scare and doesn't want to get further involved in what seems to be the seedy underside of Weatherfield. Bet is worried if Phil IS actually involved in the mob then where does it leave them so she warns alec not to sit wobbling on the fence until it's too flaming late! Alec looks a fright!
Jack has high praise for the lovely Raquel but Curly doesn't seem smitten though she's nice enough. He's not interested in outward appearances but what's underneath. This elicits a knowing leer from Jack the Lad who agrees with that theory but notes that every time *he* tries to find out, he gets his wrist slapped! (I'll just bet!) Vera comes in looking very tired and sighing that she was awake much of the night regretting the rotten things she said to her mother over the years when she weren't such a bad mother really. She should have visited her mum more or had her round. Jack and Curly are sensitive and Jack says she can blame that last one on him if she likes. Too flaming right, since Jack never could stand the sight of his mother in law and she's insistent that they will both beg Amy's forgiveness at the graveside on Monday. Jack gets al shivery at the thought of funerals and tries to get out of it saying he'd be more of a liability to her than support. So what else is new, Vera snaps in disgust.
Phil comes into the living room for breakfast so Bet tactfully leaves Alec to interrogate Phil. Alec works up to it and tells Phil nervously about the visit by Scotch Tommy the night before. Oh, he turned up then? Alec gasps. But it turns out, according to Phil that Tommy and his gang fit out places for Phil and were doing a job for him. Scotch Tommy's a pussycat! Alec isn't quite sure but blames Bet's "women's fears" what with the way Phil is staying with them under wraps and all. Oh yes, Phil recites his explanation to that too, (like a well rehearsed speech if you ask me!). It's to do with a court case. That alarms Alec but Phil tells him the defense want him to testify but the prosecution would rather have him instead and want him to lie low until the trial so the scumbag can be put away. Phil acts conspiratorial letting Alec in on the secret so that Alec feels privileged, telling Alec he likes having the law owe him a favour but "begs" him not to say a word to anyone especially Bet lest she gossip. More of that Gawdawful nose bashing, Alec Gilroy knows when to keep it buttoned!
Reg arrives at the pub at lunchtime looking for congenial female company and finds Rita there having a drink with Alf. First though, he offers condolences to Jack on the passing of his mother in law. He's given Vera the day off for the funeral. She'll feel better once that's done. Jack shivers again wondering if he'll get through it without a nervous breakdown which Reg interprets as Jack's grief and commends him for his sensitivity. LOL Alf shakes his head wondering what Rita sees in the pompous little windbag. Rita agrees he is that but has a good heart and is good for the ego. Proving this last point, Reg invites her out to a romantic meal at an Italian trattoria that evening.
Emily searches through the cards at the Kabin and complains to Mavis about the dreary month of February. Mavis broaches a tender subject with her, hoping to encourage Emily to open up to her best friend about her troubles but does it in a typically Mavis-like ambiguous way. Emily seems to think Mavis wants to confide in her about a female marital problem and assures Mavis she knows all about it, she didn't marry Ernest in the first flush of youth either. This leads to the untangling of the threads and as Deirdre comes in as well, expressing her concern for Emily's health, Emily realizes Percy has been sticking his nose in again. She assures her friends she's in the top form of health and sets out to put Percy to rights. Deirdre and Mavis speculate if Emily truly is well or just covering but think maybe all is well.
Alf bursts in to the Kabin shortly after and is in full rant because it appears that Phil Jennings may be opening up an amusement arcade on the street! They all rush out to see Phil's crew erecting P.J. Leisure signs on the empty factory unit at Number 14. Phil later tells Deirdre it's just a repair and storage center for the machines as Coronation Street is just not a profitable enough neighbourhood for that sort of thing. Deirdre is skeptical, wondering if Phil is doing his usual ducking and diving and verbal dodging since he never tells her anything like moving in to the Rovers or about this new venture. He likes to think they're more than just friends but that doesn't mean he has to give her chapter and verse about all his comings and going does it? (Well not all but some things, surely!)
Percy arrives home from the library and a mission of mercy. He tells Mrs. Bishop how he helped someone find a contact lens though he can't see how putting fiddly pieces of plastic in your eyes is better than a good old fashioned pair of spectacles. Emily sets right to business. How many times has she told him not to stick his nose in her or anyone else's business? Well, several times, or dozens really. She scolds him roundly for telling her friends that she's near to death's door! He does think it's his business if she's ill, then her friends should know to be there to help. No way. She's perfectly fine and even if she weren't it isn't his place to tell people, is that clear. He faintly offers a yes but the phone rings. Percy overhears Emily sounding rather disappointed that it's only 6 months when she was told 12. She asks him to take her dinner out of the oven while she leaves to take care of something. So much for listening, he springs into action as soon as she leaves without a thought to the dinner drying out in the cooker!
He follows her to the hospital and spies her coming out of an office. She spies him too and catches up to him as he tries to get out of her line of vision. She sighs and takes him home to tell him the truth. And about time too! turns out she's setting up a charity shop in another of the empty units on Coronation Street, for the Friends of Weatherfield General Hospital. They were arranging a cheap lease with Maurice Jones and had to keep it a secret lest any other charities get wind of it and get in there first! The least was hoped to be 12 months but is only 6 because Jones was hoping to sell the unit. Percy offers his admiration and assistance.
Rita drops over again to try once again to get Jenny to see reason. Jenny is immediately aggressive and her face is all pulled with superior righteousness and resentment at Rita's interference. (she needs a slap, she really does!) Rita is determined to make Jenny see the heartbreak ahead but Jenny assures her she knows all the arguments, save your breath. It's not a case of a dirty old man luring a victim to a horrible fate, she knows what she's doing. Does she? Well does anyone really, Jenny offers. Look at Sally and Gail? All saddled with nappies and boring lives with boring little men. Rita points out that Martin used to be her friend. Jenny sniffs that she's outgrown Martin. (slap her hard!) Steph, too, will eventually get bogged down in domesticity once she's married longer. Rita accuses her of being grossly unfair to a bunch of perfectly contented people. Jenny agrees tentatively but it's not what she wants which is independence and that's what Robert can give her. He's setting her up in a little flat and will be around when he can. When he can't, she won't sit crying at home either! When Rita asks where the love, companionship and sharing come into the little idyll, Jenny haughtily condescends to explain. At least they won't get bored living in each other's pockets and she doubts all that lovey dovey stuff even exists. Look at the examples she's had! Her mum and dad never got along and then there was Alan and Rita too. who's to say her way won't bring any less grief? This seems to score at least one point as a modicum of understanding crosses Rita's face.
(I missed a bit here, just after the commercial break but it seems Emily's told Mavis about the charity shop and scolding Mavis, telling her that at least the shop benefits the hospital and the community and even encourages recycling which should please "green" Derek!) After Emily leaves, Reg arrives looking for Rita who enters just behind him, scowling about wasting her time with Jenny. To add to that Reg must break their date! Something has come up at work he says. Rita doesn't seem too overly broken up about it but comments to Mavis later that she could have done with relaxing over a bottle of chianti and a meal someone else cooked. (and paid for!) When asked about Jenny, Rita agrees that Jenny didn't exactly have great examples of how a proper relationship works. Mavis dismisses that, people shouldn't blame their faults on their pasts. Her parents were happy enough but they were never very demonstrative or warm but she's turned out just fine, quite the opposite when it comes to Derek, matter of fact! Rita supposes Jenny could be just making excuses for doing what she wants to . In any case, there isn't any more she can do.
Curly scolds Jack for making tasteless jokes about mortality. Jack is still shivering at the though of death, the whole idea depresses him. Oh, Vera snaps, her voice dripping with sarcasm, that's funny, it makes us feel full of the joys of spring, don't it, Curly? Vera warns Jack that he's not slipping out after the service but is going back for the reading of the will afterward and there's no more to be said about it. Jack doesn't figure Amy had much more to leave than a false set of choppers and a sheaf of parking ticket summonses but Vera feels that if her mother went to the trouble of doing it right and making a will, they have to show her the respect. He'll be there else they'll be digging two holes, she threatens.
There's Reg at the airport and lo and behold his Lady Wife arrives back from New Zealand! She complains about the long flight and the customs search. Reg expresses surprise that she is back much earlier than expected. He was wondering why her sister was so abrupt with him on the phone when she called to tell him but there's no comment from Veronica on that. He gets a taxi but his face freezes with impending doom when Veronica redirects the cab driver to Coronation Street, Weatherfield, that IS where your latest lady friend has her shop isn't it? Uh Oh!
Scotch Tommy - CLIVE RUSSELL Veronica Holdsworth
- PATRICIA MAYNARD
Writer - ADELE ROSE Director - RICHARD SIGNY
Friday (3192, Monday 25 February 1991)
And who is back from New Zealand but Mrs. Holdsworth! Reg is left paying the taxi in front of the Kabin as she goes in and gives Rita an earful while Reg comes in and squirms, and Deirdre and Steph look on uncomfortably. Rita orders Reg out now and forever!
At the Rovers, Emily begs clothes for the charity shop from Bet, who is glad to oblige, to Alecs dismay (as he knows she will replace them with new ones bought out of his pocket).
Rita is up in her flat when Reg buzzes. She tells him to get lost - even when Reg tells her he has left Veronica and is without a roof over his head. Rita has no sympathy and Reg is left to wander the streets.
Alec and Phil are boozing it up at the Rovers, and Alec is telling him about his regrets of ending up in the Rovers and his grand plans, long gone, of being an impresario.
As Steph and Jenny are on their way to work, Steph tells Jenny about the scene with Mrs. Holdsworth in the Kabin. Speaking of the Kabin, Rita tells Mavis all about Reg and his missus, and she wont answer the phone in case it is him.
Jack and Vera are off to her mothers funeral, with Vera instructing Jack to keep his face straight and his gob shut, and no questions about shoplifting or what she has left her.
Bet drops off some clothes to the charity shop and is thanked by Emily and Deirdre. When Bet arrives back at the Rovers, she finds Alec with a long face, depressed with his life and what he hasnt done. Bet blames his hangover, from drinking with Phil last night.
Vera and Jack are having a post-funeral meal with Auntie Cissie and friends of her mothers, when they meet Joss and find out her mother left a will.
At Angies and Jennys, Angie continues to give Jenny grief over Robert, repeating he is married, too old and too good looking.
Jack and Vera are reminiscing about her mum, with Joss and Cissie and the others. Joss has arranged for a mate with a second hand shop to do a valuation of all the odds and ends that Veras mum left. There is no money but there is a locket. And Joss reads out her mums last words - which are for Vera to take care of Joss.
Phil and Alec are boozing again at the Rovers and Alec is subtly pitching his idea for a nightclub to Phil. Bet has a quiet word with Phil about Alec and his pipe dreams. Jenny and the married, too old and too good looking Robert come in and join Rita and Deirdre. Jenny wastes no time while Robert is getting the drinks telling Rita that she shouldnt be bothered about Robert being married since she found out about Mrs. Holdsworth. Robert brings the drinks over while Jenny looks very smug and self satisfied.
Vera is telling Joss that her mum had never mentioned him to her - and Joss gently reprimands her for not seeing much of her mum lately. Aunt Cissie tells Jack that she thought Veras mum thought more of Joss than of her husband. And then, Joss tells Vera that her mum knew what she was doing, bringing the two of them together Joss is Veras father!
Veronica Holdsworth: PATRICIA MAYNARD Aunt
Cassie: FRACES COX Joss Shackleton: HAROLD GOODWIN Taxi Driver:
JOSEPH LEY Ruby: ANN RYE
Writer: LESLIE DUXBURY Director: BRIAN MILLS
Monday (3193, Wednesday 27 February 1991)
Vera's up in the middle of the night, with difficulty sleeping. She is browsing through an box of old photos of her and her family over the years. Jack urges her to come back to bed but she's not ready yet. She wants to talk about Joss. Jack asks does she really want his opinion and gives it to her, he thinks Joss is a nutter! Out for what he can get no doubt. Vera's argument is a question of why her mother would have mentioned him in her will if he wasn't her father (has everyone forgotten it was a last minute dictation into Joss's ear? I have never ever accepted Joss as Vera's father and never will unless valid DNA evidence comes to light! ) Jack insists there needs to be more evidence and asks her not to make any decisions now while she's grieving. She needs a chance to think things through properly.
The next morning, very early as we see the milk truck rattling by and the postman on his rounds, Robert arrives to pick up Jenny who smiles and kisses him very obviously for Rita's benefit as she's caught her eye from across the road. Robert chides Jenny for making enemies instead of friends in a destructive streak. Jenny just shrugs and says there's not much difference. She's very hard and callous as Robert doesn't think she should have shown Rita up in the pub, saying that Rita had it coming (Now, Jenny, dear, you shouldn't be showing your bad side to your new boyfriend this early in the relationship! Not good form!). They get in the car and drive off as Rita watches from across the road, distracted when Mavis asks her if she wants a coffee.
The charity shop is a hive of activity as Emily and her little band of bees are busy setting things up. Emily and Percy argue over the window washing and Emily's friend Ruby suspiciously sniffs a jacket, wondering why old men's things always smell like... old men! Deirdre stops by on her way to the corner shop, noticing the early start. Emily is nearly beside herself at contending with a "helpful" Percy under their feet. Deirdre reckons it's still a good 6 hours until the official opening, till the ship sails but Emily woefully predicts a man overboard before then. They laugh and Deirdre confirms her presence as the official ribbon-cutter that afternoon while Emily is hoping to get some newspaper coverage.
In the pub, Bet and Alec face the back wall of the pub, seeing to the cash etc, and discussing Alec's new venture with Phil Jennings. The "come-through" gate of the bar is lifted open and Betty is polishing a section of the bar just beside it, listening for all she's worth. Alec wants to start up a nightclub with Phil Jennings who has the entrepeneurship to match Alec's contacts and experience. Alec explains with enthusiasm to Bet all about target age groups and supply and demand since there's only one grotty place in Weatherfield for the youngsters to spend their brass. Bet isn't keen but Alec thinks she should look past her tunnel vision to the future. Bet is concerned because she thinks Phil Jennings isn't to be trusted, he's bent, Alec! And because, silently, she doesn't like the change, wants things to be as they are now in her nice safe little nest. As Betty wears out that spot in the bar, Bet warns Alec to be careful and not to agree to anything. Just then Phil bounds down the stairs and out to get a newspaper. Alec sends Betty to the kitchen to make Phil some breakfast. No thank you's, no extra dosh, which Betty succinctly points out. Alec sighs and says with supreme impatience, Small Mindedness, I'm plagued with it! He plods off and Bet's face is mirrored with apprehension.
Over in the charity shop, one of the fellow Friends of Weatherfield, a formidable woman called Ruby, empathizes with Emily. She's heard of Emily's lodger for years but seeing really is believing. He reminds her of a Jack Russell terrier! Emily informs Ruby that Percy responds best to orders (like a good soldier) but when Ruby gives it a go, Percy only balks! Emily steps out for a few moments, leaving Ruby and Percy to trade insults. She observes that he's quite active for his age but he snaps in perfect Churchill imitation, Too bad you're not!
Jenny slips quietly into Robert's office at dinnertime, waiting for his receptionist to leave for her lunch first. She'll pretend to be a new patient if discovered. He mentions how intolerable his situation is becoming at home so she makes sure he knows she knows the score and the signs when a married man tires of his bit on the side. He launches into a speech that Jenny believes is leading up to the big kiss off but is delighted when he tells her he's leaving his wife for her! I Love You's are happily exchanged but Robert looks somewhat doubtful over his decision if you ask me.
That afternoon, Mr. Sugden bullies the crowds gathering in front of the charity shop (which will in later years become the salon and looks entirely too small for it! Was it expanded on it's outside as well as inside?) Phil drives up with Deirdre, encouraging her out of her nervousness. They move toward the door as a reporting and photographer arrive just after them. Emily makes a lovely little speech on behalf of the hospital and giving Maurice Jones some free publicity too, mentioning the temporary lease. Deirdre adds a few words and officially cuts the ribbon. Bet and Alec are watching from across the cobbles. Alec as usual is all piss and vinegar about it with Bet waving at Deirdre and giving Alec the elbow about his moaning. It's for charity, a word not in Alec's vocabulary, she snaps. Phil comes across while more photos are taken and arouses Bet's suspicions by praising Councillor Barlow's political acumen. We notice Vera drive off in her car, oblivious of the festive occasion so nearby.
In the pub, Bet has a word with Phil while Alec takes a phone call. She quizzes him on the big plans and warns him that Alec can be dangerous let loose in his little fantasies. Phil seems optimistic that they can make a success but Bet, preferring the status quo, asks him to drop the plans. Phil sees where she stands but flatters her, telling her that Alec had planned to have her in all her glory manage the new club. Bet raises an eyebrow, saying that Alec never told her that. Phil leans forward, did he not? (Damn well he did not, since it is obvious Phil just thought of it now!). Elsewhere Jack tries to confide in Betty on his worries about Vera and her inherited "Uncle Joss" but they are too busy serving to get into any further detail so Betty agrees to come visit Vera during closing to try to cheer her up.
The charity shop looks crowded but mostly because everyone is bringing stuff in to drop off, not buying but Ruby assures her it's normal for the first few weeks. Percy isn't encouraging custom with his left handed compliments putting them off and he can't understand why Emily is looking at him with such a long face!
After closing time, Alec is still banging on about clubs so Bet throws out the bait. Just what does he think makes a really good club? Oh, the Front Man of course, who gives it the overall atmosphere. Really? Bet archly comments that Phil thought Alec was of a different mind, a Front Woman, Bet herself! Alec gasps and asks when Phil said that, horrified at the thought of it (and of Phil making plans without his knowledge no doubt). Bet observes that Alec seems to have gone off the idea now, smiling over her teacup, smelling victory.
Betty arrives at Vera and Jack's with some flowers and a kind word but is surprise when Vera introduces an older man as her father! Joss! Jack rolls his eyes up to heaven in dread.
Rita is waiting at Number 7 with Angie while Jenny is in the shower. Angie retreats when Jenny arrives, guards up and ready for another fight. Jenny simpers that all she did wrong was fall in love and really, she's 20, old enough to know what she wants. Right, she's 20 (as in, "only" 20) and Rita tries to reason one last time with Jenny who has told Rita that Robert is leaving his wife for her. And moving in here? Rita then pulls rank as landlady, telling Jenny she still owns the house and Jenny is a lodger same as Angie. Oh that's rich, i'm just like your own when it suits you and a lodger when it doesn't, Jenny flings. Jenny makes a big mistake then, by reminding Rita of all the disappointments and let-downs she's had in her life, most of which she let happen and vows never to end up like that. Rita proves that she too has a red-headed temper and lets loose, warning Jenny not to dare speak to her like that!! Oh yes, Rita agrees, she's made mistakes but she will be damned if she'll let a selfish little bitch her her tell her where she went wrong and that she let it all happen. Robert is moving into "her" house over Her Dead Body! Jenny seems very well put in her place and with that, Rita storms out, bravely holding tears of anguish and anger until she is outside, striding purposefully across the cobbles to let herself in her own door.
Robert Preston - PHILIP BRETHERTON Ruby - ANN
RYE Journalist - ANDREW STANSON
Writer - PAUL ABBOTT Director - BRIAN MILLS
Tuesday (3194, Friday 1 March 1991)
Vera is telling Jack to clean up as she is bringing Joss back to the house this afternoon. Jack says that Joss was just here yesterday, but Vera insists he is welcome anytime, as he is her father.
Angie is packing up as she is moving out tonight, so Robert can move in. The inevitable argument ensues, with Jenny telling Angie that Robert cares about his family, so he's is going to pick his moment to tell them he is leaving, and Angie retorting sure he cares, that's why he is walking out on them.
At the Kabin, Mavis tells Rita that she thinks Jenny has her nerve, moving Robert into Rita's house, but Rita feels that with Jenny close, she will be there to pick up the pieces when it ends.
Alec is working on the books, when Bet brings him more bills to pay. He is very grumpy, and Bet thinks it is because of the club that he and Phil are planning. Alec hasn't mentioned it since Phil suggested putting Bet's name over the door. Alec says no, he is just being cautious.
At the charity shop, Percy is ruling with an iron fist, straightening things out and keeping them that way. Emily sends him on his lunch break but he finds that Ruby has sold his waistcoat, which he left on the counter. (I must say that Ruby looked a treat with what could only be a Canadian-inspired toque on her head!)
Angie grabs a sandwich at the Rovers and Rita joins her, trying to convince her to stay with Jenny another week, but Angie has had enough of being caught in the middle of Jenny and everyone else.
Phil arrives at Deirdre's to take her out for lunch. Although she has a lot of work to do, his sweet-talking convinces her to go. He tells her a tale about helping the police by laying low so he couldn't be called as a witness for the defense in a trial of some bloke he says he didn't even know. He looks relieved when Deirdre seems to accept his explanation.
Alec is on the phone to one of his former ìactsî when Bet confronts him about still being upset at Phil's proposal to put her name above the door of the new club. A pep talk from Bet gets Alec to agree to pursue the club plan with Phil.
Back at the charity shop, Percy is still hounding poor Ruby about who she sold his waistcoat to. Emily finally intervenes and sends Percy for his lunch.
Phil pops into the Rovers for a drink with Alec - it turns out to be a celebratory drink as Alec tells him the club is a go! Phil has named the club the "AL PHI BET" club, after the three of them. They toast to its success.
Joss is at the Duckworth's having tea with Vera, when Jack comes in, fit to be tied as he has been left to work behind the bar all by himself. He snarks at Vera, insults Joss and then goes to feed his pigeons, which he didn't get to this morning, as he had to tidy up for Vera. Joss gets up to leave, but Vera insists that he is most welcome and must stay.
Angie drops into the Kabin to tell Rita that she is staying at the house for another week, but for no other reason than the room she is moving to will not be ready for another week.
Vera is setting the table when Curly arrives home, and he comments on the delicious smell of steak and kidney pie in the oven. Curly wants to go clean up before eating, but Vera tells him that Joss is taking a bath. Curly is pleased to hear that Vera and Joss are getting close, until Vera tells him that Joss is going to stay over and Curly must sleep on the settee so Joss can have his room!
Alec and Phil are taking a walk around the outside of the old (Graffiti?) club premises, and Alec is enthusiastic about using this location for the ALPHIBET club.
Jenny drives up with Robert and they are going in the house when Angie approaches and tells Jenny they have to talk. Jenny says she and Robert need to talk to Angie too.
Curly is over at the Rovers for a pint, complaining to Jack about losing his bed to Joss. Percy is sitting with Emily and Deirdre, eyeing all the fellows in the Rovers that look like they are wearing his waistcoat that was sold. Deirdre tells him that there must be hundreds of them around and Emily tells Percy to stay put as he has caused enough upset for one day.
Jenny goes round to Rita's for a chat and tells her how sorry she is and how she feels that Rita has been like a mother to her. (I don't trust this Jenny Bradley, the whole time I was waiting for the other shoe to drop!) Then she tells Rita that she is leaving to live in a flat with Robert, well, not exactly WITH Robert, but he will join her soon. Rita is very upset, as she does not want to see Jenny get hurt. Jenny tells Rita how much she loves Robert and how they want to share their lives together and show their love. After a hug, Jenny leaves and Rita watches her though the blinds as Robert and Jenny hug and Jenny looks back at Rita with tears in her eyes. The pair drives off.
Back at the Rovers, Alec tells Bet they are on their way just as soon as financing is arranged. Bet wants to know how much and when Alec tells her £120,000, she looks shocked and gulps back her drink.
Ruby: ANN RYE
Writer: BARRY HILL Director: BRIAN MILLS
Wednesday (3195, Monday 4 March 1991)
After a night on the settee, Curly's back is sore and he complains to the Duckworths about it. Vera makes an appeal on Joss' behalf, he has just lost "the woman he loves", after all. Curly threatens to withhold part of his rent as long as Joss is in his bed, but to his surprise, Vera is quite amenable to that idea. Once Vera goes up to bring Joss his tea, Curly turns to Jack in frustration. Looks like they are shackled with Mr. Shackleton, they agree. Notwithstanding this, Jack is anxious to point out that if Curly withholds part of his rent, it may undermine his argument as a paying guest. But Curly doesn't care - he reckons even if he is thrown out on the pavement it can't be any worse than sleeping on the settee. Vera returns to tell Jack that her dad is having a lie in and as she's off to work now with Curly, it'll fall to him to make breakfast for Joss.
In the Kabin, Percy is paying Mavis for his papers, while moaning about his lost waistcoat. As she waits on him, Mavis is also filling Deirdre in on the situation with Jenny. She tells her that Rita has gone away for a few days to brood. Deirdre agrees that there isn't anything more Rita could have done and Mavis jumps in with both feet, saying she blames Robert entirely. After all, what sort of man would leave his wife and family for some young strumpet? She catches herself and apologises to Deirdre. That would have been the end of it but Percy jumps in with his tuppence. "The man ought to be horsewhipped, no matter how bad his wife is. Til death us do part and all that..." Deirdre thanks him for his support is annoyed when he continues: "Mind you, what sort of woman loses her husband to a young floozy?" "What sort of man loses his waistcoat in broad daylight?", she snaps back, before walking out of the shop in a huff.
Bet is looking cheerful as she joins Alec in the parlour where he is clanging away on his adding machine. He tells her he is "massaging the figures" in preparation for his trip to the bank. When she asks if he is confident about getting the loan and he tells her he is "supremely" confident. She points out that £60,000 is an awful lot of money but he tells her it is the "cost of doing business". He goes on to tell her in effect, just to concentrate on ëfronting' in their new venture, to leave the money to the men. (Famous last words!)
Back at the Duckworths' Joss, having had his lie in, is sitting comfortably in Jack's chair while Jack dutifully prepares his breakfast. To Jack's annoyance, Joss insists on instructing him on the finer points of preparing the meal. "Bacon should be grilled, not fried." And, according to Joss, "You should never make scrambled eggs with less than half a dozen eggs!" "Half a dozen!" exclaims the skeptic, Jack. Joss knowingly nods and goes on to give Jack his recipe for scrambled eggs: salt and pepper, a dash of Worcestershire and a touch of tarragon. He learned that when he was employed by the George V Hotel in Paris. "Their motto was: ëA meal is an homage to the body.' An homage, Jack!" he enthuses.
Angie bounces in to the charity shop where Emily is holding the fort. Emily asks if she is there to give her a hand but Angie explains she only popped in to return Mr. Sugden's bowling club card. When Emily asks where she found it, Angie says it was in the pocket of his waistcoat, the one she bought here on Friday. Relief floods Emily's face. "So *you* have the waistcoat!" Angie answers proudly that she has spent the whole weekend re-styling it and throws open her jacket to show Emily the result. As Emily sees the big pink flower stitched across the front of the vest, a look of horror crosses her face. She is, no doubt, anticipating what Percy's reaction would be!
In the shipping room of Bettabuys, a loading truck drives by, revealing the form of Curly, stretched out on a spread of stacked canned goods. Reg bounds in and seeing his juniour manager apparently sleeping, sharply calls to him. Curly rouses himself and starts to explain that his back is bothering him. Reg automatically assumes the reason is evenings spent with Raquel, Miss Bettabuys. Curly corrects that impression, he has a bad back from sleeping on the settee. Heedless of Curly's explanation, Reg instructs him not to allow affairs of the heart to interfere with his work, there are lots of "keen young men just itching" to have his job!
Angie comes into the Rovers and seeing Mavis, goes over to her to give her Jenny's mail, but Mavis tells her she doesn't know how to reach Jenny, she didn't leave a forwarding address. Steph happens to be at the bar and spotting her, Angie makes her way over to give her the letters. On her way, she nearly collides with Jack who is delivering a tray of hot pots to some of the other patrons. He comments that she was almost wearing the hot pot and then notices her newly refurbished waistcoat. She proudly tells him it's one of Percy's castoffs before moving on to talk to Steph. As Angie learns from talking to Steph, Jenny's packed in her job and seemingly disappeared.
Joss comes in to the Rovers and asks Jack to spot him a beer until his pension comes in. Jack refuses saying that credit is against the management's policy. Joss is hurt at Jack's refusal and starts telling him that he never really liked him from the time he married "R Vera" but he didn't have him down as a "jobsworth"(?). Relenting, Jack agrees to stand him a pint and Joss responds with gracious thanks for his son-in-law, now calling him a gentleman. Jack assures him that he will collect for it later from Vera.
In a corner behind the bar, Bet is giving Betty some reassurance about the new deal she and Alec will be embarking on with Phil. As she explains, they are not leaving the Rovers but Alec has always dreamt of his own club. Betty wonders if the new club will present competition for the Rovers but Bet tells her the punters will keep coming in here because the beer is cheap and they will go to the new club because it will have a late license. They won't be bringing someone in to oversee the running of the Rovers because there's no need with the new club only across the road. In fact, there will be very few changes, except they won't be seeing as much of Alec. Betty thinks she can live with that easily enough, so Bet comments that'll be everybody happy then. When Betty questions their chances of getting the £60,000 loan, Bet tells her that Alec went out "like ghostbusters" this morning and she reckons by now he'll have that bank manager twisted round his little finger.
At this moment, Alec is waiting restlessly to see the bank manager. A professional looking young woman comes to fetch him and he makes no effort to hide his annoyance over being made to wait and the fact that she addresses him as "Mr. Giljoy" by mistake. She ushers him down a long corridor and as they enter an office, she offers him coffee. He sharply tells her he'll have it white with sugar while handing her his coat to hang it up for him. As he takes his seat, she further annoys him by asking what she can help him with. He impatiently tells her he is waiting to see Mr. Lawrence, the manager. She matter-of-factly informs him that Mr. Lawrence has been transferred and she is Mrs. Grice, the *new* bank manager. Alec's jaw drops as he realises that he will have to deal with a woman, and one he has not made a very good first impression on, at that!
We next see Mrs. Grice looking over Alec's "massaged" accounts as he leans across her desk eagerly trying to impress her by telling her some of the names he once "almost" handled: Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, ëPet' Clark. She coolly asks, "But those people won't be coming to your Alphibet Club, will they?" "Well, not in the early stages perhaps", he tells her, "not until we've expanded..." She cuts him short to "sum up" the situation. With a meek wave of his hand, Alec invites her to proceed. She does so thus:
"You are proposing that the bank provide you with a loan for £60,000, with which you intend to purchase and renovate a semi-decrepit building," - Alec interrupts here to say that he wouldn't say "decrepit" - (she continues) "with the intention of turning it into the Caesar's Palace of Wetherfield, in partnership with an acquaintance of whose finances you have no detailed knowledge, and all at a time of severe recession."
Alec thinks she has put an unduly negative slant on things. He has always been an advocate of the Keynesian position, that one buys oneself out of trouble, he tells her smilingly. But Mrs. Grice believes that kind of thinking is what caused the recession to begin with! Alec has had just about all he is going to take from this *woman* by now. He curtly informs her that he has been a long standing customer and if she'll look over his records, she will see that his transactions have always been very sound. She readily agrees but expresses her reservation that he is nearing retirement age...
When Percy comes in to the Rovers, Jack takes some glee in telling him that Angie has his waistcoat. Percy scowls in response to the news and with a look of determination on his face, heads out again. Bet is on the service side of the bar telling Deirdre about their shared venture with Phil. Deirdre apparently knows nothing about it and is moved to remark that Phil would make a good secret agent. In fact, he might be one for all she knows! Alec, just back from the bank, now comes through the door and blusters his way through Bet and Deirdre to get through to the back. He has a face like thunder and Bet excuses herself to follow him as she knows something is wrong.
Betty listens with sympathy as Jack complains about his newfound father-in-law. She suggests that Vera's mother's dying wish (that Vera look after Joss) was merely a request and they can't be held to it. "Easy for you to say", Jack counters, "Vera treats it like the eleventh commandment!" Betty points out the fifth commandment is to "honour thy father and mother" but Jack protests that the commandments don't tell you to "honour your father-in-law"! No, Betty concedes, but at least Vera now has the chance to make up for lost time with a father she never knew. Aye, Jack agrees, but while they get reacquainted, he is supporting Joss. As Betty goes back to her work, she leaves Jack to ponder the situation from another angle: "Who is it that pops off leaving a small fortune under the floorboards - it's them as spends nowt!"
Bet is in the back with Alec now, trying to find out what happened to cause him such upset. "She practically accused me of being geriatric!" he sputters. "The woman is power mad!" Bet takes that to mean there will be no loan. But Alec tells her that he didn't give up without a fight - he did his homework! "I showed her a few figures, explained it all in one-syllable words." Apparently, Mrs. Grice finally agreed to £30,000, saying it was not in his "best interest" to go any higher. Bet interjects to ask, "Meaning she knew she'd recover that much from the building if we should go bust?" Alec confirms this with a nod and Bet assumes the deal is now off. Alec surprises her by saying that they can still go ahead. She wonders how, if they can only borrow half of the required amount to invest? He tells her there is a way they can get the other half, "just like that".
Angie approaches her house but stops short when she sees Percy peering into her front window. With a look of amusement, she asks if he looking for her. Startled at the interruption, he turns to face her. "Yes, I believe you are in erroneous possession of an article of my attire." He asks her to hand it over and no more will be said on the matter. Angie's position is that she bought the waistcoat in good faith and it now belongs to her. When Percy insists on its return, she grudgingly removes her jacket and peels off the vest to hand it to him. He thanks her, then turns the garment over and for the first time sees the big pink flower she has sewn to the front of it. "What's this?!" he demands. "It's your waistcoat - wear it in good health!" she calls over her shoulder before trotting on her way again.
In the parlour of the Rovers again, Bet is shouting at Alec, "No way! This place is our safety net!" She is shocked that he is willing to sell the pub in order to get the money. She feels as much a part of the place as its fittings and fixtures. He tells her she is just being sentimental and she counters that he can call it what he wants but those are her feelings. Alec then quotes Julius Caesar, "There comes a tide in the affairs of men which taken in the flood leads to fortune." Bet is not impressed, remarking only, "Yeah, and look what happened to him - a knife in the back!" As they continue to argue, Alec points that their scheme is a sound one, that they have built up the Rovers and the brewery would buy it off them in a flash. Bet contends that whoever takes it over would run it down again pretty quickly and anyway, what about their staff? Alec rejects this consideration. "There are no free rides", he tells her, "who ever helped you?" She answers without hesitation, "Plenty of people and half of them come in here!" He is forceful now, no one ever helped him, he fought tooth and nail to get where he is! She points out that he would be starting all that over again and asks why they should even take the risk.
Alec takes another approach now, going all sentimental. He's never taken the one risk that would see his dream fulfilled. This may be his last chance at something he can really be proud of. And as for Bet, she is wasted in a back street pub. She is "a celebrity" - "a jewel set in paste"! But, he really does only want her happiness, so if this is what she really wants, that is what he wants, too. (Awww... except that it all amounts to emotional blackmail, doesn't it!)
At the Barnes household, Des is looking for his overalls but Steph is looking for an evening out. He wants to work on his boat and is upset when she tells him that his overalls are being washed. She suggests they go out and see a sexy movie but he doesn't want to. When she complains that they never do anything together, he turns the tables on her. She never had any time for him when she was doing her promotions and now that she is no longer working nights, she expects him to jump into her lap "like a poodle". He then invites her to come and work on his boat with him if she craves "togetherness" so much. She shouts back that she has no intention of going out in the freezing cold, getting splinters in her bum and breaking her nails to work on his stupid boat!
At the Duckworths' Curly is telling Jack that it's now or never, they have to confront Vera. He even says he will do all the talking, that all Jack has to do is back him up. When Vera comes in, Curly tells her that sleeping on the settee is jeopardizing his health and career. He goes on to say that he and Jack are in complete agreement, Joss has to go. Vera looks at Jack, but he seems to have softened a little with reference to old Joss. He now thinks that children should look after their elderly parents. (Hmmm... what brought this on?) Calling him a "turncoat", Curly declares that he is going to force the issue by telling Joss himself. Vera stops him, her father is still grieving, she says, and she won't have him upsetting him. "Oh so you'd rather upset a model lodger!" he rants. Before he storms out, he tells Vera she will have to choose between Joss and him! Joss wanders in from upstairs just after Curly leaves and surmises that the dispute was about him. Vera tells him not to worry about Curly, he's just tired. (Um... that's kind of the point, Vera!)
In the Rovers, Bet is preoccupied with what she and Alec so heatedly discussed earlier, the possibility of giving up the Rovers. Percy notices that she seems miles away and asks if she is alright. "You're right Percy", she tells him, "I was miles away... Miles and miles." Angie joins Percy at the bar and cheerily greets him with, "Hello Percy!" He snaps that it's "Mr. Sugden" to her! From a nearby booth, Emily, who is seated with Steph, moans that she'll never hear the end of "that flipping waistcoat". As Angie joins them, she remarks that it's like a morgue in the pub tonight. Emily notices that Angie's certainly chipper and Steph pipes up, why shouldn't she be - she's a free agent, she doesn't have the ancient mariner banging away in her back yard! Angie thinks Steph will be glad of the boat, come summer. But Steph says why should she be? She expresses her lack of faith in Des' ability to even make it float and says she has no intention of playing second fiddle to a pile of rotting junk.
Jack turns up for his evening shift a bit late with the excuse that they're having "domestic troubles" but Bet shoos him away, she doesn't want to hear it right now. Angie spots Curly looking glum and goes over to ask if he is having "woman" troubles. He starts to tell her about the problem at the Duckworths' just as Vera and her father enter the pub. Joss seems to be leaning heavily on his daughter, prompting Alec to inquire of Jack whether he is an invalid. "When it suits him!" comes the reply. Angie tells Curly that now that Jenny is gone, she has the house to herself and he can come and share with her if he likes.
Vera sees Curly with Angie and in an effort to make up for the inconvenience of Joss taking over his bed, offers to buy him a drink. Elated at Angie's offer, he tells Vera that he would like to buy her one instead. In fact, he'll buy one for her father and for Jack too. When Bet comments that he's really "pushing the boat out" tonight, Steph loudly objects from over in her booth.
Des comes into the house from working on his boat and is surprised to find that Steph is not in. He sees however, that she has left him a note of sorts... On the window of the foyer door, in red lipstick: "Remember Captain Bligh". With a sigh of annoyance, he mutters under his breath, "stupid!"
At closing time, Bet goes into the back room to find Alec sulking. She offers to make him a nightcap. She seems lighter now, more carefree. She chirps to him about what a good bunch they have at the Rovers. They can be dead boring one minute but the next, they come alive - "zing!" He nods but it's clear he doesn't feel very enthusiastic. As she hands him his drink, she raises her glass to the Rovers. He looks at her and hollowly echoes the toast, "To the Rovers." She continues with, "God Bless -- and goodbye." To Alec's astonishment and delight, she has come around to his way of thinking. They embrace warmly and roll credits...
Joss Shackleton HAROLD GOODWIN Mrs. Grice JUDY
HOLT
Writer: HARRY DUFFIN
Thursday (3196, Wednesday 6 March 1991)
Curly moves out. Alec gets fiddled.
Just before they are ready to go to work, Curly slips out "to the shop", only he's actually gone next door to fix a time when he can move in to Number 7. Anytime is good for her so they establish that this evening will suit. Curly is concerned that Rita will mind, him not being female but Angie is unconcerned. Why should Rita mind if she doesn't? They also establish one ground rule for starters. Angie isn't the sort of woman who will be doing all the cooking and cleaning for a man but Curly is ok with that. He doesn't see women like that, although he'd quite like to but hasn't any choice given his experiences!
All this is, of course, unbeknownst to Jack and Vera who are still at the table discussing sleeping arrangements. Jack doesn't think it's fair to take rent from Curly and make him kip on the sofa. Don't know how Curly puts up with it, giving up his own room to an old geezer that Vera picked up at her mother's funeral! Vera objects loudly (well, could she do anything else?) it's not an old geezer, it's her dad! And anyway, her plan is to buy a new camp bed for Curly to sleep on when Joss stays over. Jack is not happy in the first place, Joss has his own home and we all know Jack is highly suspicious of Joss (as am i, seeing as Vera has accepted this man as her father without so much as a by your leave or blood test!).
Des admires a boat in a magazine. Steph, getting ready for work, indicates her displeasure at the scrap heap in the back yard, a mistake only worth the firewood. Steph thinks he should admit the mistake and cut his losses lest he become a joke, spending the rest of his life, potting about, fixing up his folly and she won't be waiting in the wings, she warns him!
The MacDonald twins are trying to make a case for a rise in their allowance of 5 a week (which seems plenty to me for a teenager of their age!). Steve is doing all the talking but gets nowhere further than a promise from Jim to think about it since Liz already tops up their pocket change, after all, being the soft touch that she is. But later that day, Liz shows Jim something she's found hidden under the carpet under Andy's bed. A box filled with mostly coins, a few paper bills and it adds up to about 80! She's afraid he's come by it by some illegal means, having nothing of great value to sell! Jim promises to have a word with Andy later but they agree to keep quiet that they've found the money.
Alec is getting more and more frustrated by the phone call, each one trying to track down Phil Jennings. Scarlet Flaming Pimpernell! Every place he's called, he is told Phil just left! He needs to talk to Phil to get an update on their business dealings over the new club. He warns Bet not to let the staff know about the impending business but i'm confused here because Bet and Betty then discuss behind closed doors, Alec's financial dealings trying to get the financing for the club. However it must have to do with the bit about selling the pub, which Betty does not know about because when Betty gets too close to asking about it, wondering how they will manage to run both the Rovers and the new place at the same time, Bet changes the subject to business at hand of pouring cups of tea.
Over at Bettabuys, Vera is telling Curly about her plans to buy a brand new camp bed for him when Joss sleeps over so Curly decides to tell Vera his news about moving into Number 7. She's horrified that he's moving in with Angie, who's going to make his meals because you only have to look at Angie to see she's never peeled a spud in her life! Raquel overhears and is not best pleased to find out Curly is moving in with some female student who dresses, as Vera describes, like something out of a Dracula film!
Back at the pub, Alec is still out of sorts because he's had no word from Phil yet and Betty and Jack are starting to speculate whether the pub will be sold. They con Liz into asking Bet but Bet avoids a direct answer and gives the impression nothing could be further than the truth. But she warns Alec that the staff are buzzing with rumours that she didn't start so Alec promises to have a word after closing. When he does appear to the curious three, with Bet smiling and nodding beside him insincerely, he laughs and smarmily oozes charm and tells a smiling Liz and a very dour looking Jack and Betty that the Rovers is their home, they're happy here and he foresees no moving on but they will be informed of any change in plans, after all the staff IS the pub and the pub IS the staff. Forget the rumours, there's no reason to be unsettled. He guarantees their future at the pub is as safe as his and Bet's. AFter they leave, Liz is relieved but Jack and Betty scoff. Do you not believe him then? Liz asks, confused. Betty notes that Alec was smiling and Jack adds that you never believe a word Alec says when he's smiling. But he wouldn't lie to us, would he? Liz tries once more. Betty shakes her head and says, you haven't been here long!
Raquel is busy quizzing Curly about Angie as they sit in the staff room on a break. Curly describes Angie as small, plain, not much make up, takes no notice of her clothes, just a typical student with her nose in a book all the time. There's no reason a man and a woman can't share a house and just be friends but Raquel is not keen and doesn't really believe it. Curly invites her to come round and see for herself once he's settled in.
Steph returns from work to find Des stretched out on the sofa, exhausted and sore from an afternoon of paint scraping. After establishing that he intends to pursue his hobby, she informs him she's going on a solo ski trip with her time off! Des doesn't believe she'll actually go alone and figures she's trying to teach him a lesson but he doesn't back down either.
Alec is still searching for Phil and tries Deirdre but he hasn't been there and isn't expected. Alec repeats his wish that Deirdre keep their business confidential and leaves a message for Phil to get in touch.
Jim and Liz must be going out as he is sorting out a tie over a white shirt. He tries to find out from Andy if he's been saving money or selling things and Andy is only mystified at this grilling about his financial situation. But before Jim can spill the beans about finding the money under Andy's bed, Liz interrupts, calling them to tea.
Vera sadly tells Jack that Curly's moving out but maybe it's for the best. Jack is unhappy and follows Curly and his suitcases to Number 7, trying everything he can think of to dissuade Curly from this move. Raquel shows up too, to have a look at the competition and unhappily surprise to find Angie, hair in a turban, makeup and jewelry on, wearing a glamorous dress with very little back to it! She's getting ready for a party apparently and Raquel sizes up the competition. Jack changes his tune, confiding in Curly that he sees Curly has a much better set up on his own but advises the young man to pace himself. Two women can be an awful drain on a man's energies!
Alec moans about the no class, backstreet boring pub with no glamour or excitement other than the lovely Bet herself. Bet wonders about the risks involved but alec dismisses them as no more of a risk than crossing the road or eating a meat pie. Phil finally turns up and is sequestered in the back with Alec post haste. Alec, however, is gobsmacked when Phil informs him he's raised the money with his own investors but will send plenty of business Alec's way to book acts for "his" club!!! Phil leaves quickly and Alec bitterly informs Bet that Phil stole his idea and then dumped them!! Bet looks shocked and angry (but i wonder if not a bit relieved down deep!)
Writer - PETER WHALLEY Director - JULIAN JARROLD
Friday (3197, Friday 8 March 1991)
It's breakfast time and Angie offers Curly a yogurt, but Curly would prefer a fried breakfast, just like the one Vera is probably making next door. Angie offers to cook it but Curly says he could cook it himself, if he really wanted it. The conversation meanders around to Raquel and Angie wants to know who would do the cooking if Raquel and Curly were married. Curly says it's irrelevant, because they are only having fun. Angie tells him to be discreet if he brings Raquel around, at least until Rita knows he is living there. She reminds him also that there is only a thin wall between their bedrooms.
Alec and Bet are enjoying their soft-boiled eggs while discussing the club - or rather, the non-club, as Phil has cut them out. Alec is mad at himself for falling for Phil's swindle, but Bet tells him they are better off out of it and they've lost nowt. (But Alec has lost face and will not forgive Phil, especially when he has to see him across the road every day, after the club opens).
The Barnes' are off to work and as they leave, Des asks Mavis, who is washing the outside windows at the Kabin, what she thinks of separate holidays for married couples. Mavis can't get a word in between Des and Steph bickering at each other. Steph has booked a holiday for one and Des is not pleased.
Liz and Jim are clearing up after breakfast and Jim wants Liz to leave it to him, while she goes to have a word with Andy about the £80 they found. Before they can decide who will talk to Andy, he is off to school. Steve is still upstairs and Jim wants to see if he knows anything about it, but Liz doesn't want to involve Steve. Jim hollers for Steve who comes in, and Jim asks him to tell Andy to drop by the bike shop after school for a word. Steve heads off to school, like a good wee lad.
At the Kabin, Mavis gossips to Emily abut the Barnes' argument that morning in the street. Emily kindly returns the gossip favour by telling Mavis that Curly has moved in with Angie, and insinuates, that although it may not be "together" they may well end up that way in that very small house.
At the Rovers, Jack and Liz are gossiping about the future of the pub and what Nigel Ridley is likely to do to it, when Alec comes in and tears a strip off them. Alec has overheard Jack and tells him he is going no where.
At Bettabuys, Vera is telling Curly that Joss will be gone by the weekend and Curly can have his room back, but Curly tells Vera that he is not coming back as he is happy with Angie. Vera misunderstands and thinks he is not just living in the same house with Angie but that he is "living" with Angie! Curly goes off to speak to Raquel, leaving Vera wondering about him and his women. Curly compliments Raquel and then the flirting and innuendoes start flying - by the end of it, Curly has an "I can hardly wait" look on his face.
At the Rovers, Alec tells Jack that although Phil is not barred, Jack is to serve everyone else first, then go around everyone else again, and if Phil is still waiting for a drink, that Jack should then disappear down the cellar. Percy happens to mention to Alec that the council should squash the club, but that's not likely as Phil has a girlfriend (Deirdre) on the council.
Deirdre is shopping at the Mini Market when Alf mentions that her boyfriend is moving in in a big way. Alec comes in and rants at the pair of them - two council types all wrapped up with Phil Jennings. He calls Deirdre a gangster's moll and threatens that one day Phil Jennings will get what's coming to him and then Alec walks out, leaving a perplexed Alf and Deirdre behind.
Back at the Rovers, Alec is shoveling in his food, while Bet tells him to slow down, but he is all gassed up over Phil, not only did he stitch Alec up, but he has the council in his pocket. Bet is concerned about Alec's blood pressure (but all the while she is smoking like a chimney, even while he's eating!) Bet tells him that he is really mad at himself for being taken in, and Alec thanks her for the insight. He is convinced that, with Deirdre on the council, the club will be a go, but Bet tries to tell him that Deirdre is not Phil's puppet and will think for herself. Alec stomps into the kitchen, to eat in peace.
At Bettabuys, Raquel runs to find Vera and excitedly tells her about the Miss Bettabuys contest final that she will be going to - all expenses paid!
Andy drops in to see his dad at the bike shop. Jim makes idle conversation and then gets down to it, with a long tale about when he was a lad and found a purse and kept the money and felt forever guilty about it. Andy sees right through the story and says he will tell his dad, but he doesn't know why he didn't just ask.
At the Kabin, Mavis questions Des about the separate holidays while Jack pipes in that he would love Vera to go on holiday alone. Des tells Mavis that it keeps the marriage fresh, but then also explains his reverse psychology of encouraging Steph to go - the more he encourages her, the less likely she is to go and they save money, but the whole thing leaves Mavis quite confused.
At the McDonald's, Andy tells Steve that their parents have found the money and that Jim and Liz thought they had grand larceny on their hands. Andy told Jim the truth. Liz and Jim are discussing it and Jim is quite pleased that Andy has been taking bets from the kids at school but Liz does not see it the same way and tells Jim that if he doesn't stop it, she will!
Bet is picking up comfort food at the Mini Market and Alf tells her about Alec's earlier outburst. They put 2 and 2 together and realize that Alec is hoping that Alf will stand for council - but Alf tells Bet that Audrey has put her foot down as she thinks that running for council would give Alf a coronary. Bet makes a comment about Audrey being a rich widow - some sad foreshadowing that was not quite right, as we will see in several years.
Des arrives home with a cheery "Weekend starts here" and Steph comes down all geared out in a lime green ski outfit, for which she says she got change out of £500. She thinks she might score in this outfit but Des disagrees, it would take too long to get out of!
Over at the Rovers, Bet fills Alec in on Alf not running for council because of Audrey's concern about his health. Curly and Angie are at a table and Angie comments to Curly that he looks boring and responsible, which Curly admits he is. Angie offers to spiff him up, but Curly says no thanks. Raquel comes in and Angie goes to get the round (with Curly's money). Raquel seems a little put out about finding Curly and Angie together but Curly reassures her. Raquel then tells Curly that she is worried about being on her own for the Miss Bettabuys contest in Buxton, all alone in her hotel room at nightÖ.and then comes the inevitable invitation - and Curly would like to go with her, rather a lot!
Alf comes in and Alec buys him a drink in way of an apology for blowing up at him earlier. Alec's wee mind is going a mile a minute on how he will convince Alf to run for council.
Writer: STEPHEN MALLATRATT Director: JULIAN JARROLD
Monday (3198, Monday 11 March 1991)
Objections and Reverse Psychology are the orders of the day.
We open this morning with a repeat shot of that milk truck rattling by. At the Barnes' abode, Des is horsing around and teasing Stephanie about her trip alone. He'd like to come but since she refuses to let him so he, instead, encourages her. She suspects him of using reverse psychology on her. No indeed, Des says not. (oh sure!) But she's going on her own, leaving him to play with his boat.
Bet and Betty set up for a new day, chatting about Phil's back stabbing of Alec and Alec's attempts to win back council support by convincing Alf to stand for council. Betty remembers Alf as a rather ineffective councillor. Alec's plan is to get Alf on his side but if Alf gets in you just never know, do you? At this same time, Alec is in the shop, laying on the flattery with a trowel but alf is resisting. He's had his day, he insists, but Alec won't let it go even when Alf suggests that Alec himself run. Audrey has overheard it all from the back and puts her foot down. Not only is Alf's health at stake but she doesn't want to have to run the shop on her own while Alf canvasses! Alf assures Audrey he has no intention of running for council, trying to put her mind at rest.
Andy refuses to go to school until his mother gives him back his betting book which she has confiscated. But she refuses on the grounds that it's illegal and is not having her son get into any further trouble. Andy objects, he's taken £100 worth of bets that he's responsible for! No way is he getting it back so the boys are sent off to school. Jim objects to Liz's tactics for a different reason. He doesn't see much wrong with it, Andy's showing initiative and will stand to make a few bob. Liz chastises him for not supporting her and is he prepared to shell out a couple of hundred if the bets don't come Andy's way and he has to pay it all out? Later Jim is horrified when Liz threatens to go to the school and tell the headmistress about the whole scam! He'll get expelled! Oh, NOW you see something wrong! Jim is only thinking of his son's future. so is Liz, so what if he does make a few quid? what then? Where will he end up, getting in deeper and deeper? She tells Jim he is going to have to deal with it.
Back at the Rovers, Alec has returned and is in a foul mood. Bet hands him the pot to make more tea as he rants about Alf being ruled by his wife. There's a bit more natter about it all then Alec announces that *he's* going to run for council instead! When the tough get going, he starts.... The tough make tea, finishes Bet. Alec looks at the teapot, put well in his place by his wife!
At Bettabuys, Curly is demonstrating an elegant form, bending and stretching as a fetching way for Raquel to stack shelves in preparation for the Regional Miss Bettabuys context in Buxton. Raquel seems rather unimpressed but a gleam is put back in her eye as Curly makes that fatal, life altering statement that contest winners can go on to bigger and better things, like modeling and TV hostessing! (Ah, so THAT'S where the model idea was encouraged!). Raquel says she has always wanted to be famous and is pleased that Curly has voiced her secret dreams! She is so encouraged that she practices her form all morning with gusto. so much so that it attracts the eye of Reg Holdsworth who compliments her style with much admiration. She tells him of her pleasure over Curly's ministrations, showing him her hand, trembling with excitement and enthusiasm. Reg clasps her hands but is interrupted by Curly who sends Reg on his way with a glare and a warning to Raquel about Roving Hands Holdsworth!
A busy dinnertime at the pub. Des has had a busy and thirsty morning shopping but we don't know what for yet. Jim buys Des a pint in exchange for a favour. We don't know what that is yet either but we can guess, can't we? Audrey is loudly complaining to Betty about Alec trying to manipulate Alf and Deirdre and Phil walk in. Bet begins to voice her displeasure but Alec smoothly tells Phil he is always welcome in the Rovers. Business is business and bygones are bygones. Phil and Deirdre take their raised eyebrows and drinks to a booth. Alec answers Bet's equally raised eyebrows, telling her there is more than one way to skin a rat. He'll stand for council and put the pair of them in their place!
Phil later returns to Deirdre's, still wondering what Alec's game is after all, he was quite upset after the deal fell through. But Deirdre doesn't want to know about the details, leading to questions from Phil about her attitude that seems to imply that he really was doing crooked deals. She just wants to stay out of it, she likes living on the Street and likes her job as councilor, is good at it and doesn't want any backlash upsetting her little world. Phil seems genuine when he tells her that he respects her decisions. He can get enough bent councilors if he wanted to and though he may have immoral designs on her, they aren't about business. She's delighted at the thought of immoral designs and asks for a sample with about as much of a leer as Deirdre is capable of.
Bet and Alec discuss his plans to run for the council. Bet explains that she is sure he could do a good job of whatever he puts his mind to but explains that it would be difficult to be a publican and a politician at the same time. Publicans must be neutral. You mean faceless, he pouts. Bet gently reminds him that she is anything but faceless, but she *is* impartial, never taking sides against her customers. And think on, if he was a councilor, half his punters would be angry with him and the other half would always be ear holing him about holes in the pavement, grants and waste disposal and bankruptcy would soon follow. Aye, 'appen you're right, Alec agrees, seeing reason. But there has to be a way of getting back at Phil Jennings, of nobbling his filly! Bet suggests he be a little more subtle.
So Alec tries a different tactic. Reverse psychology which seems to be the theme of today's show. He finds Alf shifting crates in back of the shop and pops his head over the gate. He wants to apologize for nagging Alf earlier, only he was just desperate after that disaster with Phil Jennings. What was he thinking after Alf's heart condition and public humiliation after the last election loss to Deirdre Barlow. Hey now! Alf's back gets all up over that, just as Alec planned. Alec lays it on thick, pointing out Deirdre's popularity would mean certain failure and pulls the age over youth knife out of the bag. Alf hotly defends the wisdom and experience that comes along with gray hair. Alec twists one last knife in, speculating that it would take a very special person to defeat the popular Mrs. Barlow and leaves Alf with another apology. Alf's face is a treat, with his heels firmly dug in, evidenced by his subsequent ravings in the shop. He defends his own reputation in politics and his popularity. Audrey finally manages to get a word in, pointing out to Alf how he has been further manipulated by Alec. First he tries to flatter Alf and now he tries to wind him up to running. Alf looks sheepish when he realizes he's been sucked in yet again.
Des has had a look at Andy's book and tells Jim it's find, Andy can't lose. Jim is relieved but reckons Liz won't be any happier. He later reveals what he's done and over Andy's objections, tells Andy that Des approved his odds and gives Andy back the book over Liz's strenuous objections. But Jim figures there is no point in getting Andy expelled and they should let it run it's course.
Des has bought a full suit of rain gear including a bright yellow sou'wester and is at the table tucking into a bowl of Irish stew when Steph comes home. She thinks he's a joke and then is ticked off because there is no stew for her. Des reminds her he had to start getting used to cooking for himself as she's going soon. He offers her a taste but she tricks him and dumps it all over his new gear!
Curly leads Raquel into the stockroom and makes plans to help her work on her deportment tonight, help her refine it a little. She's really looking forward to the contest now and is very grateful for all Curly's help. She even offers to show him how grateful she is in the hotel in Buxton! We hear his name being paged to the office. Curly moves closer to Raquel and she coyly whispers, He's wanted. He tells her (as smoothly as Curly can be lol) that he wants her very much too and shuts the door on the announcement. They smile and gaze into each other's eyes.
Des and Steph burst into the pub. Des orders first and they row about who was there first (continuing the row started at home no doubt). Bet serves Des and Liz serves Steph, they both order different drinks and different sandwiches, just to be contrary. Bet and Liz roll their eyes over married life. Alf and Audrey come in soon after and with Audrey urging him on , "Tell him Alfeh!", Alf puts Alec in his place for twisting him around.
Reg has Curly in his office, telling him how pleased he is with Raquel's progress at Curly's ministrations. However, he thinks the upcoming contest is going to be very important for the store's recently sullied image and it's important to project the right stuff in front of all the top executives that are bound to be there. Curly's face reflects the dread he feels, he can see where this is going and strongly objects. Right, Reg plans to go to Buxton with Raquel instead of him! Curly doesn't trust Reg in a hotel with his girlfriend and forbids his boss to go! No use, Reg pulls rank on Curly!
Writer - HARRY DUFFIN Director - JOHN DARNELL
Tuesday (3199, Wednesday 13 March 1991)
In the corner shop, Audrey and Alf are arguing about the council. Alf reminds Audrey about the dinner tomorrow night with the Weatherfield Traders. Audrey goes to put the kettle on, (mostly to hush Alf) when Martin comes in. Alf asks Martin what men can do so that their women don't think they are a total failure - Martin tells him there is nothing - that way they are never disappointed!
Steph is cleaning up the kitchen, when Des brings a load of laundry down, but Steph already has her clothes for her trip in the washer. Des asks her to chuck his in when she gets home, but she tells him that she has better things to do with her afternoon off. She hands Des the dishcloth to finish up his dishes - she's not doing them either!
Curly comes out of the house with a long face and Martin teases him about being run ragged with Miss Bettabuys at work and Angie waiting for him at home, but Curly is not amused, and growls at Martin as he drives off.
At the McDonalds, Liz wants to know when the boys will be home that night, but Jim jumps to their defense saying that Liz should give them credit for their initiative. Liz thinks she is on her own for this one and Jim agrees - he is right proud of his lads. Before the boys leave, Andy tells him mum that it will all be over in a couple of months, but Liz is not appeased. As Jim leaves he tells Liz he wouldn't let them carry on with it if he thought there was anything seriously wrong with what they are doing.
Alec is having a cuppa and a smoke in the living room when Bet comes in and tells him that was Stella Rigby on the phone, wanting to know if they had seen Paul, as he didn't come home the night before. Alec changes the subject to his latest obsession - he is convinced that Alf is wavering about running for council. Bet tells him (again!) that Audrey will never allow it.
Angie bounces into the café and Martin tells her about Curly's mood that morning. Angie tells Martin that it is something to do with work. Alma has a break with Audrey and asks what she is going to wear to the Traders do tomorrow. Audrey tells her she would much rather be tucked up in bed, reading, even the phone directory!
At Bettabuys, Raquel tells Curly that she is not going to Buxton with Reg, but Curly warns her that she can't pull out of the competition. Curly is worried that Reg will think he put Raquel up to it and then his career would be in tatters. Raquel tells him that she is not going with ìHands-on Holdsworthî and if she can't go with Curly, she is not going with anyone. Curly tells her it has not yet come to that and to leave it with him.
Steph is at the Rovers, having some lunch to start her half-day off. Jim has come in for a quiet chat with Liz, but all Liz does is give him an icy blast from the North Pole. Liz says they have not a lot to talk about - Jim made that clear this morning. Steph joins Deirdre and the conversation winds around to Steph's holiday on her own and how she and Des are not seeing eye to eye on anything much right now. Audrey comes in for a large G&T and Alec scurries up and buys her the drink. Audrey realizes right away that his generosity has an ulterior motive and it is about Alf standing for council. Alec tries and tries and tries and then appeals to Audrey's vanity but it just doesn't work. Audrey tells him he would be doing everyone a favour by not mentioning it again.
Back at Bettabuys, Curly is trying to convince Reg that Raquel shouldn't go to Buxton, but Reg disagrees. And then Curly plays his trump card - he threatens Reg with the book of raffle tickets - with only one missing - the one that Rita won with! And, if Reg doesn't allow Curly to go to Buxton with Raquel, Curly may have to take the book of raffle tickets to head office!
The Barnes' kitchen looks even more of a disaster than earlier as Steph putters around the house. Deirdre drops in, offering Steph the loan of her travel iron. Steph asks Deirdre to excuse the mess, as Des is very messy and thinks things put themselves away. There are raised eyebrows from Deirdre as she and Steph go into the kitchen for a brew.
At Bettabuys, Reg is accusing Curly of blackmail, but Curly tells him it's not, they both have a decision to make and Curly's decision may depend on Reg's.
Steph and Deirdre are talking about fellas and Deirdre is offering Steph advice on marriage and how she would hate to see Steph press the self-destruct button on her marriage. Deirdre tells Steph that she can let Des think he has got his way, but he really doesn't have to. (Deirdre is SO well suited to offer relationship advice!)
Reg has buckled under Curly's threat of blackmail and tells Raquel that he won't be accompanying her to Buxton, but Curly will. Raquel is delighted at this news!
Steve comes home from school and Liz tells him she is worried about Andy and the trouble he could get into, but Steve is not worried and won't have a word to try to stop Andy.
Alec is working on the books in the living room and Bet tells him he must accept the inevitable, that Alf will not run for council. Bet knows that all Alec wants to do is knock Deirdre off the council so that Phil won't be able to open the nightclub. Bet tells Alec to give it a rest, it just isn't worth all the aggro.
Audrey is wittering on at Alf about the dinner tomorrow night and how boring it will be when Alma comes in and Audrey tells her she is not going to the dinner.
Curly is buying a round for Angie and Raquel at the Rovers, Raquel tells Angie and Bet that Curly (not Reg) is going with her to Buxton and now Angie and Bet know why Curly is grinning from ear to ear! Ken comes in and as Liz serves him, he asks for a word with her about the boys. Ken would like her to convince the boys to help out at school as they, especially Andy, seem to have a lot of influence with the other students.
Des comes home to find Steph hard at work in the kitchen, clearing up ALL the dishes. Steph tells Des that she is tired of living in a pigsty, and so they will each do 50/50 - and she tossed Des the towel to dry the dishes as she has washed them. Des says he has to do his laundry - Steph says later - Des says now - and she tosses him a plate to dry, which he lets drop to the floor. The plate shatters, and Des tells Steph that she can chuck them all for all he cares - and she does!!!! Plate after plate, all tossed on the floor! Des says that he guesses he will have to make his own arrangements for tea and walks out of the kitchen, crunching on broken dishes as he goes. Steph responds by picking up everything in the drainer, and throwing it on the floor, with much frustration.
Back at the Rovers, Jim comes in and Liz is too busy to serve him, so Alec obliges. Jim can't help but boast about Andy and running the book at school - but Ken overhears. There will be trouble!
Writer: BARRY HILL Director: JOHN DARNELL
Wednesday (3200, Friday 15 March 1991)
Morning rush in the café as Audreh stands at the counter bending Alma's ear as Alma gets her some change. She has no desire to attend Alf's WART (Wetherfield Association of Retail Traders) dinner tonight. Alma teases her gently about moaning all the time; first she moans that he never takes her out and when he does, she is still unhappy. Audreh invites Alma to trade places with her. "You'd be sat between my Alf and a cross-eyed chandler with a prostate - the conversation just sparkles!" Alma's comeback is, "Where'd you think he was taking you - to the Oscars awards?"
Back at the shop, Alf notices Andy's United team muffler and comments that he ought to be supporting Wetherfield, a very historic team. Andy patronizingly listens as Alf reminisces about when they almost won the fourth division title. He also shares with Andy that he was once asked to sit on their board. During this reverie, Ken enters the shop and gives Andy a sharp look from across the floor. He doesn't notice that Liz is also in the shop as she is hidden behind one of the rear aisles. Andy is off now, joking with Alf to let him know if he still interested in that board seat as Wetherfield is one of the clubs he is thinking of buying, once he's sold his bike, that is! Alf gets a chuckle out of the joke but as Ken approaches the counter with his purchase, you can see that he doesn't find it funny. When Alf remarks to him what a sharp lad Andy is, Ken responds, "A little too sharp for his own good!" Liz, still at the back of the store looks up in puzzlement when she hears this.
Audreh rushes in and Alf complains that she took half an hour just to go and get change. She dismisses him but rushes to take his place behind the counter and finish waiting on Ken. Alf's mind is on the banquet - he wants to know what he should tell them about her not being there. "Tell them a little white lie - tell them I've got bubonic plague if you like!" As Ken leaves the shop, Alf blusters, he doesn't care if she doesn't go! He'd rather she doesn't go, come to that. After she gets a drink in her she starts making funny remarks - she's no idea about loyalty. As Liz approaches the counter, Audreh tries to enlist her support. "Now Liz, it takes more than loyalteh to sit there listening while he gets up on his hind legs and starts spouting!" Liz patiently waits to be served as the Roberts square off. Alf is now determined that Audreh won't be going. He says she'd only show him up if she came, him and herself! She takes exception to this and announces she has decided to go after all. "Oh no you're not!" says Alf. "Oh yes I am!" says Audreh. "Oh no you're not!" says Alf. "Oh yes I am!" says Audreh. Liz tries to lighten the atmosphere by asking, "Is this where the audience gets to join in?"
In the café there is a gaggle of school kids hanging around the arcade game. With a trolley cake and tea, Ken sits down to his paper but is soon spotted by Tracy who leaves her friends at the machine to demand why he has to come in there. He can go to the pub, unlike her group. "Not now, I can't", he tells her, "and not for trolley cake." Tracy gives him a scowl before returning to her friends and the game. Ken notices Andy in the group and calls him over for a word. Andy listens impassively as Ken lectures him about his bookie business. Andy coolly defends himself: no one forces the kids to have a go, he just gives them the opportunity to place a few bets. Ken urges Andy to call it what it is, "encouraging them to gamble"! Tracy gives several nervous glances in the direction of the table as her father talks to her school mate. Ken notices his daughter's discomfort and lowers his voice to issue Andy a warning. Now that he knows what Andy's up to, it makes life very difficult for both of them. Andy falls silent as Ken gets up to go. He walks away with a final word: "Okay, have a trolley cake - but I've told you!"
At the hotel in Buxton it's happy hour, the warm-up to the Miss Bettabuy competition. Raquel is dressed in a flashy number, very fitted shocking pink low waist bodice with spaghetti straps and a double layer black taffeta ruffled skirt. The tulle bow in her over-teased hair matches her dress and she sports chandelier earrings that would rival anything Bet owns. The neon blue eye shadow finishes off her ensemble. All in all, she looks quite fetching in a tarty way. But it's clear her confidence is lacking as she looks around at her competition. Curly comes over as she is loading up on Dutch courage to tell her that IF she can relax, she will walk away with the title. He takes her through a rehearsal of her "ambitions". She wants to: "learn a foreign language, see the world, prove that you don't have to be a feminist gorgonzola to get to the top..." "That's 'gorgon'!" he corrects her. "I was only joking", she tells him, "I'm not thick!" Then she pauses to wonder if they will even believe what she is saying. "Never mind that - now listen... You love kids and you spend all your spare time running marathons for..." "Leukemia research", they finish in unison.
Curly spots one of the judges approaching from the other side of the room and warns Raquel to be friendly to him. The judge is none other than Brendan Scott, the man head office sent to investigate Reg not long ago. Casting lecherous looks at Raquel, Scott expresses wonder at the fact that Reg "deputized" Curly to do the honour of escorting Raquel to the event. Raquel nervously smiles at his flirtations until Curly points out to him that another judge is trying to get his attention. As soon as he is out of earshot, Raquel stops smiling and remarks to Curly how creepy she found him. Curly tries to get her mind back on the competition. He cautions her again to relax, "give them Marilyn Monroe". "How d'ya mean - stand in a draft?", she asks. He explains: "It's that half asleep, dreamy look... Not so much, 'Come to bed' as the 'Let's not get up at all' look." Raquel thinks a lie-down is a good idea. Her stomach's all knotted up.
At the Barnes household, Des is sat comfortably in front of the telly, enjoying his supper and a can of ale when Steph comes in. Noting her apparent aggravation at the mess, he makes a sarcastic comment about the "stylish design of the fungus" and the "exciting ceramic floor covering". (I think this was a reference to the dishes she smashed all over the kitchen floor yesterday.) Steph puts on a pretense that she isn't bothered and tries to change the subject. But when she tells him that she's just broken her heel on a paving stone outside, Des glibly suggests that she sue her father. She now reacts in anger: "Who do I sue for being married to a complete idiot?!" "Now, now... I've solved the problem", he soothes. The 'solution', according to Des, is paper plates which he's just stocked up on. Picking one up and flinging it at her, he demonstrates that they can throw them all they want and no one will get hurt. Far from amused, she catches the paper plate and yells at him that he needs a good psychiatrist. "Why?", he bellows back, "I already live in the loony bin!" In anger and frustration, she answers, "I know! But why do I have to be the only other inmate?" "Because you love me!" he replies smoothly. In tears of fury and exasperation, she hurls the paper plate at him and storms out. Des' mocking laughter dies down and a look of remorse crosses his face as he realises his little joke has gone too far.
In the Rovers, Angie and Bet have a brief exchange at the bar. Bet comments that Angie and Curly make a funny couple with Angie quickly pointing out that they are not "a couple", merely flatmates. Bet also expresses the hope that Angie and her student mates won't be too hard on poor Curly, "taking the mickey out of him", daft as he is. Angie assures Bet that no one is taking the mickey out of Curly and anyway, she doesn't see him as "daft", only "serious". Bet seems genuinely surprised that Angie doesn't see him as daft. She thinks he is as daft "as a yard of toffee".
A little further down the bar, Alec is sussing Deirdre out on her interest in the next elections. She confirms that she will run again and wonders that he isn't planning to stand for council as he's taken such an interest. "Oh no", he assures her with a grin, "can't mix politics with this trade!" The door bursts open and Steph comes in, making her way straight to the bar to stand beside Deirdre. Heads turn to see the cause of the racket and Alec curtly informs her that he doesn't appreciate her "wrecking the place". She apologises for her entrance and asks if there is any food on. When Alec goes to fetch her a hot pot, Deirdre asks her gently if she would like to talk about whatever is bothering her. Steph seems despondent as she answers quietly, "No."
At Buxton, the Miss Bettabuy competition is in full swing. The eight smiling contestants are onstage and the Master of Ceremonies, an oily little man in a cheap tux, is making tacky jokes. Brendan Scott pointedly clears his throat from the floor, prompting the MC to get on with the business of announcing the winners. As Raquel trembles with anticipation, Curly smiles encouragingly to her from the audience. With a flourish, the MC announces the third, then the second runners up. Finally, the moment of truth arrives. Raquel excitedly glances at Curly and he returns her look with a broad grin and two thumbs up. Drum roll... "And the winner of the crown, Miss Bettabuy, North West Region, nineteen hundred and ninety one is... Misss Bettabuy STAAA-leybridge!" As the new queen steps forward to greet her subjects, Raquel is visibly deflated.
With a glance at the remains of the evening meal on the dining table, Liz slips on her jacket and announces that she'd better not find "this lot waiting" for her when she comes home from work. Jim, without looking up from his paper, assures her that Steve will do the washing up. This results in a look of "why me?" from his son. As soon as Liz is out the door, Andy dons his jacket as he is going over to his friend's place. His brother quips that he's more likely going to see the friends's sister. As Andy goes out the door, Steve calls after him to avoid "Bog-face". Jim puts his paper down to inquire who "Bog-face" is and Steve tells him about Ken Barlow being on Andy's case about his bookmaking. Jim chortles when Steve informs him there isn't much Bog-face can do as "half the teachers" have bets on!
In the aftermath of the contest, Miss Bettabuy contestants and company are gathered in the hotel lobby having drinks and nibbles. Raquel is still upset at losing the crown but says she doesn't blame Curly though he *was* the one who advised her to do Marilyn Monroe. Curly ruminates that if the judges had "any vital functions left" she would have walked it by a mile. She was the only one with any personality, the rest of them are like "boiled sweets"! She's "far too sexy" for them, he concludes. When Raquel says she doesn't want to stay at the party any longer, Curly eagerly suggests they go upstairs. A careless bump from a man passing behind him and Curly spills his red wine all over his trousers. "Thank you, pal! Thank you!" he calls in annoyance. He notices that some of the wine splashed on Raquel's dress too but she tells him she was about to take it off anyway. As they leave hand in hand to go up the stairs, Curly is moved to call over his shoulder, in glee this time, "Thank you, pal! Thank you!!!"
Back in Wetherfield, Ken calls around to have a word with Jim about Andy's bookmaking. Jim refuses to take the matter seriously. He's just after a bit of fun, he argues, and if it keeps him at school, where's the harm? Ken takes a much dimmer view and after a futile attempt to make Jim see his perspective, cautions that he has seen families wrecked by gambling. Jim can't resist lashing out: "Yeah? I can show you families wrecked by the man playing around with other women!" he shouts. "Don't you go calling Andy a bad example - get my drift?" Ken is miffed by the rebuke but quietly goes out the door, leaving Jim silently cursing his own rashness.
After the WART dinner, Alf is being given a lift home by the widow of a friend, Mrs. Barford. Alf is gratified when she compliments him liberally on his speech. She continues to boost his ego, flattering him that a man of his caliber ought to be in public office. "A man like you, it's yer duty - yer DUTY!" She continues with conviction: "They're nothing but a race of midgets and silly shalliers (?) in that town hall. Why, you'd cut a swathe through them!" Alf nods in modest agreement. Mrs. Barford is determined now. "We need men of your mettle. You stand!" she orders. "And you need look no further for someone to lick your envelopes!" Alf's eyes widen with fervor as he considers the notion of being on the council again.
In Buxton once again, Brendan Scott makes his way down an upstairs corridor of the hotel and stops in front of room 27. To his surprise, a trouser-less Curly answers his knock. Curly hastens to explain that he is having his trousers sponged off after having wine spilled on them. As Raquel calls from within to inquire who is at the door, Brendan points to the "Do not disturb" sign hanging on the door and suggests that Curly's presence in her room constitutes "an abuse of his position". Curly retorts that his trousers would be rather easier to explain at head office than the other man turning up with a bottle and two glasses! Brendan warns him that he is "a long way out on a limb for a man with no trousers" and insists that *he* was only seeking to comfort the young lady! Raquel comes to the door to see for herself who it is and Curly informs her, "Just someone who's brought some champ... er... Asti Spumanté to cheer you up..." She slams the door shut on both of them, sobbing, "I don't want any Asti flamin' Spumanté!" Lavishly handing the bottle and glasses over to the junior manager, Brendan takes his leave, telling Curly that Raquel obviously needs cheering up and he hopes he is "man enough to do the job"!
Returning home, Alf enters the sitting room where Audreh and Alma have been sharing a bottle and a bit of gossip. Audreh greets him with indifference and is irritated when Alf exults about the success of the evening. He tells her how well respected he is "on the other side of that door" and she cynically asks by whom. "By the majority of the voters in this ward!" he says. As Alma rises to be on her way, Audreh smirks, "Don't you mean the minority of voters? As I recall, you lost the last election!" "I'm not talking about the *last* election - I'm talking about the *next* election!" he jubilantly informs her. "As from tonight, my hat is firmly IN the ring!"
Brendan Scott MILTON JOHNS Mrs. Barford PAULA
TILBROOK MC: TIM THOMAS
Writer JULIAN ROACH
Thursday (3201, Monday 18 March 1991)
Alf stumbles through the door of the shot with an amrload of boxes and exclaiming what a grand day it is outside. Audrey rolls her eyes away from her nail file for a moment as Alf expands on how the exercise is wonderful, healthy mind and body and all that, in a vain attempt to convince Audrey he's fit for an election race. Audrey's not impressed however, telling him he better ring the undertakers to give them enough notice to make sure there's enough wood for a box to fit him and reminds him to check that his insurances are up to date. (And this is so unsettling writing this sort of thing given the events of January 1999)
Des eats runny eggs of paper plates. Steph and he spar over the mess. Des puts up a brave front but his appetite for his eggs wanes after Steph stomps off in a huff yet again.
Over at Number 9, Jack is owly over not getting any breakfast. Not being up on time, Joss has eaten his for him rather than waste food. Jack is his usual sunshiny and bright self this early in the morning, sniping at Joss for not putting his hand in his pocket to contribute for groceries. Vera just spends the whole scene sniping at Jack. It seems Joss doesn't carry money, a matter of principle you see. He's rather a disciple of Mahatma Ghandi who never carried money, having taken vows of poverty and abstinence. You mean, Jack points out, he depends on the generosity of others? Joss tells a cock and bull story (In my humble opinion!) about meeting Ghandi and playing a round of darts with him in a pub called the Spotted Pig (of course, the Mahatma didn't' buy him a pint, he doesn't drink). Jack reckons the Mahatma also went on hunger strikes, implying Joss ought to do the same if he's such a disciple or pay up!
Ken waylays Andy at school, insisting Andy pay back all the money he's taken as bets or Ken will go to the head mistress of the school. Andy, remarkably polite, explains he can't do that, it isn't just his reputation (which Ken has no concern over). It's also all the kids who will be winning money that will be upset and tells Ken Tracy has even put a bet on! Andy takes himself off to class so later, Ken does what he has to do, the weasly little snitch, and goes to Mrs. Jeffers and spills all the beans, giving her the book. (oh, i couldn't resist!)
At Bettabuys, Vera is commiserating with Raquel over her pageant loss. Raquel seems a bit disappointed but not overly so. Curly comes by and gives Vera lip about standing around gassing and wasting company time. Vera huffs off, implying to Curly that Raquel had made serious complaints about his lack of performance the night before. However, Raquel said nothing of the sort, she whispers to Curly, having no complaints in that department, as she smirks and eyes him up and down, emphasis on "down"! It's not everyday she locks a fella out of her bedroom in his underpants and he comes back with a bottle of champagne! She just hopes all the high jinx of last night doesn't get back to head office! Curly (looking rather fetching i must say) tells her not to worry about that, and leaves her with a wink and a smile.
Only to run into Mr. Holdsworth who is foaming at the mouth about his store's reputation being fully sullied over the dead last position of their Miss Bettabuys. Curly tries to tell Reg that it wasn't his fault but Reg is in full twitch. Finally Curly manages to explain that they never had a chance. One of the judges was Brendan Scott!!!!
Joss, blowing another one of Ghandi's principles, drains the last drop (practically licking the glass out) of a drink in the pub, telling Jack he was crushed when Vera's mother died. Jack is cheered by the news that Joss is going back to his own home later today but his hopes are dashed as Joss informs him that he's only picking up his personal things to brighten up his room at Number 9 (looks like his feet are permanently under the table now!). Audrey arrives in the Rovers and begs Alec to convince Alf not to run for council. Alec, however is chuffed to find out that Alf has changed his mind and thinks Audrey is over reacting and over protective. Audrey does seem genuinely worried about Alf's health though, the stress and tension of running an election might be fatal and she hopes Alec can live with that since he isn't about to help her make Alf see sense. Liz and Jim have overheard the goings on and Liz comments that she can well understand Audrey's position. Jim just thinks all women worry too much, after all she's still worried over Andy. But he's had a word with Bog Face (Ken Barlow! He's talking about Ken! ROFLMAO!) and has told him a few home truths. He won't be bothering them again. (But you know, every time Jim sticks his oar in, it backfires!) He and Liz share a leer and a blush over the reason he hadn't got around to telling her "last night"
Alec comes round to the shop to congratulate Alf and tell him he's behind him all the way. Alec switches horses smoothly in midstream as Audrey enters, making noises about Alf's health but Audrey isn't fooled. Alec knows when he shouldn't be where he is and quite soon, he isn't. Audrey then gives him more grief for the rest of the afternoon about his health and wondering why he even thinks he's going to win anyway. Alf is confident (he has all the envelope lickers he needs, after all! LOL) that his experience is going to hold well and he even hints that he'll use any skeleton in Deirdre's closet if he has to, astute politician that he is. But later on, in the living quarters of the Rovers, when Alec suggests the same thing, playing off Alf's upstanding moral character against Deirdre's evil past, Alf seems to be hesitant, not wanting to seem petty. Do you want to win? Alec demands to know. Alf looks as if he wants to say "Not that way i don't." (Make up your mind, astute politician, you!)
Mrs. Jeffers has Andy on the carpet, scolding him for taking money from 163 students. (!) Andy, still in that arrogant but polite tone, explains taking money is stealing, he just gave them the opportunity to make a wager, an investment. It's Free Enterprise. She thinks his talents might be better put to use volunteering in good works but Andy practically shudders at that prospect. She insists he is to give all the money back, with Mr. Barlow supervising the procedure but next time he'll be in deep waters indeed, if it ever happens again. Steve later, in the corner shop, harshly accuses Tracy of grassing Andy to her father. Even though she swears she didn't, in what we will soon recognize is a typical Steve maneuver, Steve rudely and cruelly calls her down, positive he is right and leaves her in tears to be comforted by Audrey.
Liz has come to warn Deirdre that Alf is going to run against her in the election. Deirdre isn't too worried, but figures it will be a fair and honest fight between the two of them. Liz wonders if Alec might have Alf fighting dirty pool but Deirdre assumes Alf's integrity will out. But we know differently don't we, with Alec already pulling Alf's strings.
Reg's demeanor has come down a level but he's still incensed to find out about Brendan's midnight attempt to worm his way into Raquel's room (but he doesn't find out Curly's state of undress at that same time!). Curly tactfully explains he gave Brendan the run off and managed to get the bottle of illicit champagne to it's rightful recipient in the process. He suggests that they, instead of making a complaint to Head Office, let sleeping dogs lie and keep the information for use to their advantage in the future. They smile conspiratorially (and a dynamic duo is born!)
Jim is not pleased to hear that Ken grassed Andy and will be supervising the pay back. Liz is pleased and glad there is an end to it. Jim is firmly on Andy's reputation's side but it seems what's done is done (and why do i have a bad feeling about that?)
Joss has brought his bits and pieces back to Number 9 and is sorting through them while Vera looks on. There's the tools of his trade, his barber's razors and an old photo of her mother. There is a framed picture of a dapper looking fellow who Joss says is his grandfather on his mother's side, of course. Vera thinks the man looks familiar. Should do. That's King Edward VII! (I want a DNA test!)
Des comes home to find a congealed egg still on its paper plate on the table and Steph making herself a salad on the counter in HIS space. They bicker and Des ends up taking his tins of whatever out to the boat where Steph suggests he live permanently!
In the pub that evening, Jim is still grousing about Ken Barlow (Bog Face, just in case you all forgot! :P ) Who comes in? Bog Face and he hesitates but approaches them and restates his defense, that he had no choice. Jim growls and takes himself off home before he thumps Ken. Elsewhere Vera has told Jack about Joss's latest story. Jack believes Joss is firmly in a fantasy land (so do i!) But why, Vera questions (and i think at this point, she is skeptical), would he say such a thing when he even has a picture? (which you could tear out of any library book and put in a cheap frame!) She's worried about him, he IS her dad. Is he? Jack wonders, Vera should probably think on that too!
Des hunkers down over his tin of beans under a battery light in the boat's cabin. Steph hollers out to see if he has the can opener. He does but he makes her come out to fetch it and even makes her come aboard, rather than put himself out at all. She starts to climb up but loses her balance (or i think, maybe a piece of wood she grabbed onto to hike herself up gave way). She crashes to the ground moaning. Des thinks she's having him on at first but is stunned to see she really is in pain, thinks she's broken her ankle!!
Sue Jeffers - ROMY BASKERVILLE
Writer - KEN BLAKESON Director - OLIVER HORSBRUGH
Friday (3202, Wednesday 20 March 1991)
At the Barnes, Steph is hobbling over to the phone, without Des' help, to call work and tell them she won't be in as she has broken her ankle by falling off of Des' boat. Des storms off to work when he hears what Steph calls his boat.
At the Duckworth's, Vera is getting the milk, Joss is upstairs singing in the bathroom, and Jack is buttering his toast when an argument starts about Joss being the grandson of King Edward VII - Jacko thinks Joss is crackers and maybe not even Vera's dad. Vera sticks up for Joss, who just then comes down for breakfast. Joss asks them not to talk about this to anyone, and with that Jack goes to talk to his pigeons in hopes of hearing something sensible.
Over at the McDonald's, Liz gives Jim what for for slagging Ken Barlow in the Rovers, but Jim defends himself. Andy comes in, quite subdued, and Liz tells him to give back the students their money, but all Andy says is that if his mum and Ken hadn't kicked up such a fuss over this, none of this would have happened. Andy heads off to school, without his cornflakes, and Liz asks Jim to talk to him.
Deirdre is in the corner shop and Audrey asks about Tracy, she has heard about the trouble at school and that Steve McDonald had a go at her. They discuss the effect of having Ken as a teacher at Tracy's school and how Tracy gets the backlash every time Ken tells a student off - but of course, Ken wouldn't see it that way. Alf comes in from the back and tells Deirdre that he will be running for council and Deirdre wishes him luck and is looking forward to a good, clean fight.
Alec is still mumbling on about Phil Jennings and Bet tells him she knows it will be dirty tricks time with him masterminding Alf's election campaign - and she warms him to lay off Deirdre's love life. Alec thinks that only reason Phil has Deirdre for a girlfriend is because she is on the council and that Phil is using her just as he used Bet and Alec.
Back at the corner shop, Alf is working on votes by being especially nice to a customer, but all Audrey wants to know is if his insurance is up-to-date. (Hmmmmm, perhaps she should have made sure of that oh, about 7 or 8 years down the road?) She thinks that all Alf will get out of being on council is a lot of stress and upset and she wants to him to get the ok from a Dr. Alf tells her that he gets all his hassle from Audrey at the shop and at home.
At school, Ken and Andy are handing back all the bet money to the students. Tracy is next in line but she tells them both she doesn't want it back. Andy wants to call it a day, but Ken insists they continue.
Alf and Alec are campaign planning in the Rovers and discussing the other candidates. Don comes in and tells Jack and Bet about Des arriving home with a bag of chips.
Which leads us to the Barnes home, where Des is enjoying his chips, offering to share with Steph, who is sitting in silence, but finally she tells him that she's not hungry. Des tells her he is sorry that she fell off the boat as it has messed up her holiday plans, and to square things with her, he is going to clear up the mess in the house - she couldn't do it now, even if she tried. Steph tells him no - because she would then owe him a favour - like not going on holiday. Des tells her that she can't go now, not with a broken ankle, but Steph insists that she is going. Des' response "Marvelous, flaming marvelous" and he throws the chip wrapper on the floor.
Alf comes into the corner shop, very polite to a departing customer and he tells Audrey there goes a potential vote for him. Audrey cracks "or against you!". Alf tells Audrey that he and Alec have the entire campaign mapped out. Audrey wants to make sure his health will stand it and tells Alf that she has made a Dr.'s appointment for him at 4:00. Alf is not pleased.
Steph is fumbling around with the ironing board while Des watches her and insists that he will not help her at all. He tells her she can't go on a skiing holiday with a broken ankle, people usually come back from skiing holidays with broken ankles. She won't be able to ski, but Steph says she will have to settle for apres ski this year. Des tells her that he has read the small print on her holiday brochure and can get her money back - but Steph insists that she is going and she will have a wonderful time, better probably than she would have done.
Tracy comes in from school and almost immediately there is a knock on the door, and Deirdre answers it and finds Liz, who wants to have a word with Tracy. Liz wants to assure Tracy that Steve won't bother her again. Tracy tells her mum and Liz that the kids think she is the one who told about Andy's betting, but Liz tells her she knows it wasn't her and she will make sure that Steve knows it too. Tracy asks her not to, besides it is really her dad that bothers her.
Alf is at the Dr.'s to get the all clear for running for council. His blood pressure is ok but he needs to lose weight (he needed a Dr. to tell him that?) Dr. Summers tells him that there is a risk in everything he does, but she doesn't see running for council being any more of a risk than anything else. Alf is pleased that the Dr. has given him the go ahead.
Tracy is sitting at the table at home when her dad drops in, and she is so pleased to see him ... NOT! Deirdre tells Ken that Tracy has been getting bullied at school, but Tracy protests that she hasn't, and all it is is a lot of fuss about nothing, and she does not want Ken to go shouting at people at school about it. Deirdre defends Ken by saying he is just doing his job and Ken defends himself saying that he tried to talk to Andy but he wouldn't budge, so he had to go to Mrs. Jeffers. Tracy goes upstairs to do her homework and Ken tells Deirdre that the whole mess is finished. Deirdre tells Ken that Liz is going to talk to her lads. He hands her Tracy's bet money and leaves.
Liz is setting the table while telling Steve he is not to pick on Tracy, but Steve doesn't think it is fair, everyone having a go at him when he is just sticking up for Andy. Andy wants the subject changed. Steve tries to justify talking to Tracy, but Liz grabs him by the shirt front and tells him he is not to take it out on Tracy for what Steve might think of her dad. Andy pipes up in agreement and says that he doesn't think it was Tracy. Jim arrives home and starts mouthing off about Ken, but Liz tells him to stop, Ken was only doing his job. Again, Andy wants the whole subject dropped.
Audrey is still stuck behind the counter at the corner shop and she worries aloud to Ivy about Alf not being back from his 4:00 Dr.'s appointment. She tells Ivy that she got Alf to go as she is worried about the stress of him running for council. Alf comes in and Audrey grills him for information on the Dr.'s diagnosis and Alf tells her he is fit to run, and the best thing for him is some wifely attention!
Des is sitting in the living room, reading a boat magazine, while Steph is chucking all her ski trip paraphernalia down the stairs. Des launches into a speech about how the best thing to do with some people is to ignore them and how he is not bothered, in any way, shape or form. Steph then take the stairs down on her bum, peering through the railing. She asks Des why he keeps talking to himself, but he just ignores her.
Joss has just finished his tea and tells Vera that it was an elegant sufficiency. Vera thinks he talks quite posh. Joss is still going over his royal connections for Vera, how his granny went into service and that is when she met King Edward. Vera thinks the story is a wonderful romance but Joss assures her it is true as he heard it straight from his mum when she was not long for this world. Joss says he was as shocked as Vera is now but there is royal blood in her veins and Vera has to carry it like Joss had to, knowing she is royal. Joss reminds her that she and her Majesty are cousins. Vera finally tells Joss that now she knows, she really does feel different.
Don and Ivy have popped into the Rovers, and Ivy tells Don that Alf is looking for him, or rather, looking for his vote. Vera comes in for a brandy as she needs it to calm her down, and she tells Jack that she believes Joss. Jack doesn't believe and doesn't mince words telling Vera so. Vera tells Jack to stop "me'n my dad don't like it - in fact we're not amused". Jim is talking to Liz and apologizing for being out of order earlier, but Liz is not going to accept his apology as easily as Jim would like. She tells him that she has to think about it. Jim tells her not to worry about Andy, and it's all over now.
At the McDonald's, Andy asks Steve to return the bet money to one of the kids, but Steve says do it yourself. Andy then tells him that he is fed up with school and teachers and he is quitting.
Dr. Summers: DEBORAH FAIRFAX
Writer: JOHN STEVENSON Director: OLIVER HORSBRUGH
Monday (3203, Friday 22 March 1991)
It's morning in the corner shop, Audrey serves a gaggle of children buying sweets on their way to school. She forgives one of them his 2p short, to Alf's protest. At the back, Tracy is deciding on her school snack and moaning about going to school because of all the flack she's getting in the aftermath of her father's busting the gambling book! Even though she wasn't the one that told on Andy, they all think she did. Deirdre takes it quite lightly and Tracy goes off in a snit with a bag of crisps, startling Alf who calms down again when he sees Deirdre going to pay for them.
Liz puts on her morning face. Jim is putting on his coveralls and telling Liz about his busy day ahead. Steve skips breakfast on his way out the door and Andy has decided he's not going in at all. In fact, he's quitting school!! Jim rounds on him, "SIT!" He paces and hollers and threatens andy into going back to school. Andy refuses, saying it holds no interest for him anymore. Jim accuses Andy of running away when things get tough (too right! Chicken!), unwilling to face the fallout of the gambling book scandal! He and Liz both try to impress upon the lad how important qualifications are. No good. Andy tells them he only went back the last time for their sakes, not because he really wanted to. Jim tells him this and tells him no more, things aren't any easier on the outside! Liz shunts Jim off to work and sits down and tries to deal with Andy more gently but agreeing with her husband in theory. Andy whines how can he make his point if every time he disagrees with her, she calls it a tantrum (that's because it IS!) She knows from experience and regret how important it would be to get a good education and she finally gets Andy to agree to think about it, though she believes that him thinking about it after quitting and then maybe going back is really the long hard way to do it.
Vera is comparing a photo of her Terry with one of Prince William, looking for any resemblences. For every one she thinks she sees, Jack denies. Vera insists there's proof of their Royal blood, that embroidered handkerchief the late King gave to the Yorkshire house maid that would be Joss's grandmother in time. (Hankie!!!! was there any DNA on it? Inquiring minds want proof!) Jack is astounded that Vera would believe such a flimsy excuse. He's come up with thinner and only got thumped for his troubles when he wasn't believed! Ivy arrives looking for a ride to work and reminds Vera of their Bingo date that evening. Jack takes the opportunity to have a little fun at Vera's expense, joking that THE Vera Duckworth could only possibly go to Bingo if she wore elbow length gloves to mark her card. Ivy is confused, Jack highly amused, Vera wallops Jack but nobody enlightens Ivy.
Steph is nearly all packed for her trip, in spite of her broken foot. Des still thinks she's having him on and humours her, saying he can't be home to wave her off, he has to work. He says his good byes now and before she can attempt to make peace with him, he leaves for work and Steph sits there with her chin on her chest and shoulders slumped.
Jack has told Alec about Vera's Royal connections and Alec is highly amused. Liz arrives late, apologizing as there was trouble at home. Alec, in a sarcastically sympathetic tone of voice, quips "Surely Not!" then says to Jack, aside, They aren't the Walton's are they? Alec complains that there's never a "normal" day in the pub. Jack, fed well up, asks him to reckon what he's feel like over at their house. Alec winces and speculates, "D'you know, i'd rather not!" Aye, agrees Jack, wishing he didn't have to, either!
In school, Ken is giving some poor girl a load of teacher's codswallop about homework and assignments. He sees Steve talking to Tracy in the hall and, assuming the worst, barges in like a bull in a china shop with an accusatory tone, wondering what STeve is saying to his precious little princess. Tracy does not appreciate the gesture and, highly embarrassed, tells her contrite father that Steve was apologizing and storms off. Steve takes that opportunity to get his digs in, slyly letting Ken know that he at least won't have Andy to kick around anymore, Andy's leaving school. And given the hassle his brother has been given, he can't blame him and he struts off to class.
Back home at Number 11, Jim arrives, turns off Andy's loud music and goes tot he sink to degrease his hands, not saying a lot to Andy who tries to be amenable, offering to make his father some lunch. He is turned down curtly. Jim, we shall soon find out, is a man with a mission.
The jolly Mrs. Barford arrives at the shop to see Alf. Audrey looks on with amusement and a calculating gaze as Vivian bubbles over with enthusiasm now that Alf has decided to run for council. Alf attempts to introduce Audrey but Vivian jumps to the conclusion, in her enthusiasm, that Audrey is a mere employee but Alf knows which side his bread is buttered on and manages to correct the error, introducing his wife who is just off for her dinner.
Over at the pub, Joss has stopped in for a drink. Alec takes the opportunity to have a little fun with him over the recent revelation, calling Joss "Squire" and teasing him about crystal glasses and royal crests or certificates for over the bar to note Royal patronage. Joss is angry, realizing Jack has told the secret. He grabs Jack's arm and spits out Dangerous Talk costs Lives! (PHtttt! *wiping tea off the tv* Get real! Hands up who believes this crackpot!?) Jack confirms that he doesn't believe a word. Jim arrives, looking very handsome and spiffy in a black suit. He's decided to go to the school to talk to the Head. (cleans up nicely, so he does!)
Audrey returns to the shop after dinner, determining that Alf's grocer groupie has left and proceeds to make fun of her rotund little figure. Alf is annoyed at her attitude, the election is really getting to her isn't it? No, she sighs, because she's not letting it. The stress of the last election gave him a heart attack and she had to clean up the mess. So what if he gets in this time? What's in it for her? Leaflets and door to door? No thanks, his merry band of heavyweight grocer groupies can help him. Alf seems to let all this roll off his back, amused that she appears to be jealous!
Back to the pub, where Des must ask Liz twice for his pint as she is rather distracted by events of the day at home. Des confirms with Don that Steph is going on holiday alone, so she says. He assures Don he'll still get the taxi fare that he would have had for the airport run even though (he believes) Steph isn't really going. Don throws his hands up, wondering if they got married just to torment each other! Des smirks, isn't that what marriage is for? Don almost agrees with him! LOL Des is later seen in the shop buying wine and chocolates for a romantic night in.
Tracy clumps in the door after school, in a bad mood. Deirdre shuts off the hoover and apologizes for not taking Tracy seriously that morning, trying to sympathize with her. She remembers what it was like being teased about her specs! Not the same thing! (not at all!) Her biggest complaint is that her dad works at the same school and she never gets to hear the good gossip anymore because they all thing she tells! she wishes he dad would change schools and teach at Bessie Street.
Jack compares Terry's photo to one of the late king in a book on Royalty he borrowed from Percy Sugden. He doesn't really see any resemblance but when Joss comes in, Jack decides that the tabloids would pay a lot of money for the story anyway, whether it was true or not. Joss tries to impress on Jack the importance of keeping the secret of the Royal Blood, Official Secrets Acts and all that. There were many times he could have improved his lot by using the information but didn't out of respect (for the law knowing it could be proved otherwise, no doubt!). They squabble with Joss insisting Jack keep his gob shut. Vera arrives home and starts to give Jack grief for his continued attitude problem and suddenly Joss is all fatherly toward her, telling her it's just a big adjustment is all.
It seems Jim didn't get very far with Mrs. Head but having had his point of view heard, Mrs. Head now wishes to speak to Andy and hear his. Andy just doesn't see the point of it all, he really hates school and the argument begins again. Jim accuses Andy of lacking guts. Andy accuses his parents of using emotional blackmail and sulking to get him to do what they want. Ohh, That's it.... Jim, dangerously quiet, tells him this and tells him no more (again!) Don't speak to him like that and if he's not going back to school, he's not getting a free ride. He's to get a job and start looking tomorrow! Right. Just as stubborn as his old man, Andy agrees and announces not only that, he's going to move out and find new digs! Liz follows Andy out the room with a wail and Steve keeps his head down, finishing the washing up in the kitchen.
Des hides the wine and candy in a kitchen cupboard. When Steph wobbles in on her sticks, he makes up to her, apologizing for letting it get so far out of hand. It al started when he bought the boat which he truly did do for them, for a dream trip. She softens and they kiss and make up. Yep, fresh start. Right after she gets back. She hops up the stairs to get ready, laving Des looking astonished at how far she's willing to take it!
Audrey meets Deirdre at the pub and they chat about the upcoming elections. Deirdre is confident that she is still what the people of the ward need and welcomes a good honest challenge from Alf. Over in the corner booth, Ivy wonders why Vera has a daft grin on her face. Vera sighs about how happy she is to have her father around in spite of Ivy's cautions. Vera has thought about visiting Osborne in the Isle of Wight where Queen Victoria once lived but doesn't tell the astonished and mystified Ivy why!
Don comes to the Barnes house to pick up his fare with a grin, thinking he's in on the joke. Steph hands over her bags to be loaded and Don goes along with it, winking to Des. Des and Steph begin to say good bye but Des takes a phone call. While he's on the phone telling Martin he has to cancel their plans for tonight, Steph slips out. Des runs out after her only to see her drive away in the cab and he cries after her in disbelief!
Vivian Barford - PAULA TILBROOK
Writer - PAUL ABBOTT Director - OLIVER HORSBRUGH
Tuesday (3204, Monday 25 March 1991)
Ken drops into the McDonalds to try to talk Andy into staying in school. Jim is all but outright rude to him, but Ken doesnt seem to notice. Later that night, Jim drops into the Rovers to tell Liz that his mum has taken a turn for the worse and he has to go to Belfast in the morning.
Gail has all 3 kiddies at home today, as it is a school holiday. Later that morning, Sally drops in for a chat and tells Gail that Rosie slept through the night. She also whines about the poor money Kevin is making at his new job, and Gail offers to mind Rosie so Sally can go back to work part-time at the corner shop. Audrey has a go at Gail when Gail drops into the corner shop, saying that shes letting herself go, but Gail tells her she has other priorities right now. Then Audrey pops into the caf and has a go at Martin, telling him he should take Gail out, and she will babysit and Alf will pay (unbeknownst to Alf, of course!). At the end of the busy day, Martin tells Gail that he will mind the kids while she goes back to work at the caf.
Mike and Jackie go to look at a lovely, large, old home in the country. Before they left, they jokingly proposed to each other, and while at the house, Jackie comments how lovely the wedding would be in a marquis on the grounds.
Deirdre has asked Liz to be her agent in the upcoming election, and Liz agrees. Emily has assumed that Deirdre would ask her, after all she was last time, and they were successful. When Deirdre tells Emily that she has asked Liz, Emily is quite hurt. And it may backfire on Deirdre, as Liz ends up not being sure if she can, if Jim is in Belfast for long.
Des tries to talk Angie into cleaning his house, (starting at 3 and moving up to 5 an hour) but Angie declines, telling him he should do it himself.
Writer: PHIL WOODS Director: BRIAN MILLS
Wednesday (3205, Wednesday 27 March 1991)
Martin is brightly chirping about, getting the children's breakfast when Gail comes in, filled with eager anticipation for her first day back at work. She is excited at the idea of feeling a part of the outside world again but she wonders if Martin is absolutely sure he wants to stay home. He reassures her that he will be fine, the kids will be fine and she *knows* this is what she really wants. "Yes, Cinders, you *will* go to the ball!" Gail, with a renewed appreciation for Martin, goes all giddy, giving him a big cuddle and plants numerous affectionate kisses on his neck.
In Alf's Mini Market, Audreh is being run off her feet when Ivy drops a tidbit about Baldwin and his "lady-love" and the fact that they are looking at "posh" houses. Irritated, Audreh tells her she is too busy to be bothered about Mike Baldwin; she has all she can cope with, running the shop while Alf's gadding about, gearing up for the election. Suddenly, she stops and asks Ivy if she wouldn't consider quitting her job and working at home. Ivy laughs at the notion, she wouldn't be able to scratch out a living sewing at home. Audreh disagrees and anyway, then she would be free to give Gail a hand. Ivy immediately takes exception, doesn't Audreh think she does her fair share? That's not what Audreh was getting at, at all - she only wishes she could be of more help to Gail but Alf's got her stuck in the shop every hour God sends!
Ivy, sympathetic as ever, says Gail has only herself to blame for the situation she finds herself in. "That last baby was a big mistake and you know it!" (Eh, Ivy? You mean God made a mistake?!) Now it's Audreh's turn to be affronted and good on her! She tightens her jaw and says, "I know no such thing! David's a lovely little baby and Gail wouldn't be without him - none of us would!" Ivy is unmoved. "All the same, when you cock a snoot at holy matrimony, you can't grumble when the going gets rough!" She notices Des standing beside her waiting to be served and reels on him next: "And you'd do well to remember that an' all! Next thing to separate holidays is separate lives! It's about showing a bit of appreciation - if my Brian had been shown a little appreciation in his marriage, he might still be alive!" With that, she smacks her intended purchases down on the counter and blows out of the shop. Des is bewildered as to what he's done wrong and Audreh assures him, he only decided to buy his beans in the wrong shop.
At the McDonald residence, Liz is ironing a few things and giving Andy and Steve some instructions about what to cook while she and Jim are away in Ireland. Jim comes in and tells her there's really no need for her to accompany him. She wants to go though, it may be her last chance to see him mother. Andy wants to know if their gran is dying and Jim refutes the notion, until Liz reminds him that the boys are not babies and they deserve the truth. He allows that her condition is pretty serious and then has a quiet moment of reflection before deciding to go off to the yard and see if he can't get in a bit of work before they have to go. Andy offers to go along and help but Liz stops him as she thinks Jim needs to be alone for awhile.
Gail is thoroughly enjoying her first morning back in the cafe. She bustles around, greeting all the regular customers and they in turn are happy to see her back. Moving behind the counter, she joins Alma, who is busy at the chip pan but not too busy to show off her new earrings and tell Gail about the new ivory silk teddy she bought, "very page three"! Gail asks what the occasion is and Alma says she just came to the conclusion that no one else is going to spoil her so she might as well splash out on herself. Gail realises that Alma still misses Mike and Alma wistfully admits she would take him back tomorrow. Shaking her gloom, Alma tells Gail that she is very happy to have her back. Martin does fine in the cafe, but he's no substitute when it comes to having someone to talk to!
Emily comes into the cafe and is surprised to see Gail back. Is Martin ill, she wonders? Gail explains their new arrangement but Emily raises a disapproving eyebrow. Alma jumps in to defend Gail's decision, pointing out that Martin is more devoted than most women when it come to looking after children. Emily is reticent: "He isn't... a *mother* though, is he?" Gail replies with some agitation, "No, he's a *father*." Emily brusquely places her order and turns to find a table, whereupon Alma comments to Gail that she thinks she "stepped on her corns". "She stepped on mine first!" retorts Gail. Alma delicately points out that Gail can't expect everyone to approve, leaving Gail to augur Ivy's reaction when she hears of the arrangement: "Whoever could you mean, Mrs. Sedgewick?" she sighs to herself.
As they stroll through the factory together, Mike and Ivy discuss business briefly then Ivy inquires whether Mrs. Ingram will be buying the posh estate they were looking at. Mike curtly informs her that "they" will be putting in an offer. Ivy ventures to remind him that she's known him a long time, which Mike interprets (accurately) as her feeling she has liberty to speak her mind. She continues, "That Mrs. Ingram seems like a nice woman." "Is" a nice woman, Mike corrects her. "Alma was a nice woman, too." Ivy spouts. "I just hope you treat this one right!" Mike has had enough of her sermonizing and he sharply dismisses her now, scowling after her as she walks away.
Back in the cafe, Gail's exhilaration seems to have evaporated. Alma asks why she is so downcast as she was "a revolting little sunbeam" earlier. Gail explains that she is missing her baby. "I have a desperate need to be with him. Like a steel wire is pulling me back..." Alma comments, "If that's what they call "mother love' it sounds jolly inconvenient to me!" Gail tells her it's called "bonding" to which Alma replies, "Does that mean you'll be dashing home every few minutes? "Oh, can't do this egg, sausage and chip just now - I have this uncontrollable desire to change a nappy'!" Gail tells her she isn't actually going to go, she wants to be *here* too. She simply has to face the same problem all working mothers have: "guilt, hormones and identity crises, in equal parts - a lethal cocktail."
In the playground with the kiddies, Martin seems to be managing in his role as caregiver quite well. Sarah Lou comes to him with a complaint about her big brother pushing her off the swing and Martin soothes her and tells her to push him back the next time. (LOL - Not advice a mother would ever give but then, it's not a white bread world, is it?)
In the corner shop, Audreh is commending Deirdre on her bravery, taking on the McDonald twins while their parents are away. Deirdre jokingly protests that she'll only be looking in on them, not adopting them. Anyway, if she hadn't agreed to do it, they would have been stuck with Percy Sugden and she couldn't inflict him on the lads! (That would have been very funny, IMO!)
Sally comes in looking for Alf but as Audreh tells her, he is hardly around now that he's declared for the election. Sally only wanted to tell him that she is ready to start back part time at the shop. Audreh is ecstatic to hear it. Deirdre asks who will be looking after young Rosie and Sally tells her that Gail will be. Audreh thinks Gail has quite enough on her plate but Sally tells her she thinks Gail is the best judge of what she can cope with. Emily has entered the shop by now and joins in the conversation, saying she wonders if Gail does know what she can cope with. She was most surprised to see her back to work in the cafe so soon. Sally face falls at this report while Audreh conjectures that she must only be filling in, perhaps Martin is poorly? Emily insists that Gail told her this was their new arrangement; Martin stays home with the children while she works in the cafe. A rather "unnatural" state of affairs in Emily's opinion but then, it's really none of her business, she says with a sniff.
Liz and Jim are setting off to the airport in a taxi and just before they leave, she has a word with Andy. She asks him to promise that he'll still be there when they come home and he assures her that he will. Comforted, she smilingly waves to her two sons as she and Jim drive away. The boys wave back but as soon as their parents are out of sight, they let up a cheer, "Alone at last!"
Sally goes into the cafe to confront Gail. She'd like to know what Gail thinks she's playing at, agreeing to child-mind Rosie if she intended to go back to work herself. Gail is flustered at Sally's tirade and it takes her a minute to figure out what she's on about. When she catches on, she apologises and explains that the decision to come back to the cafe was all very last minute, she and Martin only talked about it last night. Sally angrily tells Gail that she made her look a right fool and that she and Kev were really counting on the money. Before Gail has a chance to answer, Sally turns and huffs out of the cafe.
At Ingram's factory, Mike is busy at his desk when Jackie comes in with some sandwiches for their lunch. She's been to see her solicitor this morning and when Mike asks whether she told him to put in an offer on the house, she tells him there are certain matters she needs to discuss with him first. Mike wants to know what's up but she puts him off, saying they'll talk about it later at home.
In the McDonald household, the boys aren't wasting any of their free time. Andy is on the phone inviting friends to a party that night when Deirdre comes to the door. Hearing part of the conversation, she asks about the party and Andy lets on that it's to be at a friend's house. That's alright then, she says. As long as they aren't going to be having it here. Their parents have enough to worry about at the moment, after all. She coyly reminds them that she'll be popping in to check on them from time to time and adds, "Isn't it lucky I'm only a few doors away?" When she leaves, Andy perfunctorily returns to the phone to call the party off.
In the cafe again, Don and Des are sat a table together enjoying a fry-up. Don comments that Ivy would have a fit if she saw what he was eating and Des retorts, "Doesn't take a lot to upset her, does it?" When he tells Don about the episode in the corner shop this morning, Don explains that Ivy has jumped to the conclusion that Des has been fooling around on Steph while she is away. It's all the women she's seen going in and out of his place. Des allows that there have been a lot of women coming into his house but only because he is looking for a someone to clean it.
In the Rovers, Deirdre and Bet are having a chuckle over what Deirdre calls her "dragon lady" routine with the McDonald lads. Making her way to a table, Deirdre joins Emily with a drink for each of them. Emily coolly thanks her for the drink, then broaches the subject of the election. Now that Liz is away, how will she manage? Deirdre says she doesn't think Liz will be gone for long and she wonders if that was that an offer to help. Oh no, Emily will be far too busy with the shop to work on Deirdre's campaign. Just as well she asked Liz to run it as she would have only had to refuse, she says. (I never knew Emily was given to pettiness but I suppose no one is perfect.)
From behind the bar, Alec has listened to the exchange between Deirdre and Emily and is indignant to learn that Liz will be running Deirdre's campaign. He turns to Bet to complain about this act of treason, his staff working for the other side. Bet's retort: "You believe in democracy, don't you? Or is that only as long as people vote the way you want them to?"
Mike and Jackie are just arriving home now and as soon as they get through the door, he asks her what it is she wants to discuss with him. She doesn't want to talk about it just yet, not until she's had a cup of tea and a nice bubble bath. He is a bit miffed at being put off again but she insists that she needs to unwind a bit first.
In the Rovers again, Sally and Kevin are dressed up and supposed to be enjoying a rare evening out together. Their respite is dampened by the fact that Sally won't stop ranting about Gail letting her down. Kevin tries to be understanding but he feels she is making too much of it. He becomes slightly annoyed when she tells him what she told Gail, that they really needed the money she would have brought in. He thinks they do alright and she shouldn't have let on they are in the poor house. Sally just wanted to make "the rotten cow" feel guilty, she says. He reminds her that they have a lot to be grateful for and she finally relents and cheers up a bit.
As Don and Ivy enter the Rovers, we hear him explaining to her about all the women going in to Des' place lately. Ivy isn't convinced, she still thinks the Barnes marriage is in trouble. Kevin and Sally approach and sound Ivy out on their problem. They wonder is she happens to know anyone who baby-sits. Sally goes on to explain that Gail was going to look after Rosie but that plan fell through when she went back to work in the cafe. Ivy is gobsmacked at the news and Don starts sputtering in anticipation of her reaction. He meant to mention it, he was going to tell her, he only just found out today as he happened to go into the cafe and... (Lookout, Gail!)
At the Baldwin-Ingram love nest, Jackie, post bath and tea, joins Mike in the sitting room so they can finally have their talk. When she mentions that she's put a casserole in the oven, he sarcastically comments that maybe they have time for a quick game of Scrabble now. She takes the hint and finally reveals what's on her mind. She starts out by reminding him that she went to see her solicitor, Gordon, this morning. She also mentions that Gordon is someone she's known for a very long time and that Peter had a great deal of faith in his judgment. Mike seems genuinely unprepared for what she is about to say: Gordon thinks that before they take the serious steps of getting wed and buying a home, Mike should sign a pre-nuptial agreement. While he absorbs this, Jackie hastens to point out that it's nothing personal, just a common sense precaution. Mike's jaw tenses and she asks if the idea upsets him. "Upset? Why should I be upset? Just because my fiancee asks me to sign a pre-marriage contract? I can't think of anything more romantic!" He storms out of the room, leaving Jackie distressed and confused at the strength of his reaction.
This truly excellent episode was written by the incomparable ADELE ROSE.
Thursday (3206, Friday 29 March 1991)
Audrey scores a point or two off Ivy in the shop this morning, needling Ivy on working on a Holy Day, Good Friday. A bit of banter about jobs and Phyllis testily points out that at her age you can't work cause nobody will hire you and she goes off in a huff with her basket of purchases. That manages to make Ivy and Audrey look like scolded children for a minute but it doesn't last. Ivy is on a roll, ranting about Gail going back to work and leaving Martin in charge of the children, some things just fly in the face of nature! Audrey sees no harm, as it's Gail and Martin's decision anyway and (inspired) she quotes the Bible at Ivy, Judge not lest Ye be judged!
Mike and Jackie discuss the prenuptial contract and it's implications. They reassure each other that they wouldn't be marrying if they thought they'd be divorcing. Jackie says the contract would prove to a few friends of hers who think Mike is trying to get his hands on the factory by marrying her. Mike agrees to sign when it is drawn up but seems genuinely bewildered by the whole idea. I wonder if he's disappointed in her? It certainly doesn't look to me as if he's trying to scam her.
Since it's a bank holiday, Kevin's giving Sally the day off and taking over child minding duties. He and Rosie set off for a walk and Sally plans to enjoy herself.
At the MacDonald's, Steve brings in the milk and the boys discuss what to do with their freedom. Steve suggests a party in spite of their guard dog, Mrs. Barlow but Andy thinks they'd get into trouble and be accused of doing exactly as their parents expected and they'd never trust them again. No, he's going to do the unexpected.
In the cafe, Sally and Gail are friends again. After all, Sally can hardly blame Gail for wanting to go back to work since she does too. Gail chuckles that Martin insisted. They discuss child minding problems and Gail suggests Sally ask Martin to mind Rosie on a part time basis, though it is still up to him if he accepts the job. Audrey comes in to spread the news about Ivy on the warpath. Alma comments that at least you always know where you are with Ivy. Audrey suggests that would be the 1950's but Alma had more in mind the middle ages and they cackle with delight at their own cattiness! They all agree, both generations, that in this day and age there's nothing wrong with a man minding the children.
Jackie heads off to the solicitors. Mike wonders if the whole contract isn't a waste of time and money. It's only effective if they split up and that's not going to happen. He's only interested in the one contract that says "To Death Do Us Part". ( I really get the feeling that Mike is fond of Jackie but doesn't truly love her. His original motive was the factory but i think he got caught farther in than he expected. Still i do believe this marriage contract has caught even him off guard).
In the pub, a very wrinkled and rumpled looking Des tries once again to get either Angie or Sally to do his cleaning but they are of the opinion that it wouldn't do him any harm to get up close and personal with a broom and iron. Des goes to the bar to get some darts and mentions his cleaning predicament and the trouble he's likely to be in if it's not solved before his wife gets back. Phyllis is at the bar and perks up at this. Betty is asked to work an extra shift to cover for Liz while she's away in Ireland and Phil and Deirdre come in for a drink. Deirdre mentions she's keeping an eye on the twins. When Phil realizes both Jim and Liz are away he wonders why the door to the bike shop is open. They both hurry out, promising Bet to return for their drinks.
The something unexpected Andy had in mind was to keep the bike shop open, take a few messages, sell a few parts. Responsibility! Phil and Deirdre come in to investigate and Phil jumps right in their faces until Deirdre tells him who the lads are. Andy explains he's just keeping things ticking over until their father gets back and lies, saying sure Jim knows all about it!
Sally and Angie emerge from the pub. Kevin comes around the corner behind them. Angie takes off and Sally and Kevin walk down the road arm in arm pushing the pram happily. Sally sounds out Kevin on her plan to ask Martin to mind Rosie. Other than the fact that Sally and Gail have already volunteered Martin's services, Kevin doesn't seem to have a problem with it so Sally plans to go round that afternoon.
Which she does. She asks Martin if he'd mind. He seems a bit surprised and makes a few smart remarks about cots in the attic nursery, publishing a book for baby care and inventing leakless nappies. However he takes a vote and Sarah and Nicky say it's ok with them so Sally has a sitter!
Jackie brings the contracts for Mike to sign. He plans to sign them unread though she thinks he should read them. He begins to sign one as the scene fades to a commercial. A bit later, Mike is alone in the office with his contracts when Ivy comes in, asking if they can leave early as they've ended a run. Mike must be distracted because he actually agrees. Ivy makes a remark about the Gail and Martin situation and asks Mike if he would ever stay home and mind a baby while his wife goes out to work. Mike thoughtfully says probably not but he's old fashioned like Ivy is. Fuel for more of Poison Ivy's rantings about the way things should be and the way things are not these days, not natural! On top of it all, there is no sanctity of marriage, why do things always need to be turned on their ear? She leaves an old fashioned Mike to thoughtfully begin to read over the contracts. (I smell dissension!)
Phil sits in the cafe. Alma and Gail have their heads together speculating about him. Alma thinks he's attractive in a rough sort of way. Gail doesn't trust him an inch and thinks he's rather spivvy! The sort that never pays full price for anything and always knows where he can get it cheaper. They jump when Phil interrupts to thank them on his way out. The girls stand close together, Alma with a silly grin on her face and Gail beside her with her chin (what there is of it) practically on Alma's shoulder. They look just like two schoolgirls caught out by the boy they were just talking about! Gail teases Alma about her grinning at Phil like a Cheshire Cat and they giggle with their heads together. Phil passes Andy at the fruit machine on his way out the door. He makes a veiled threat to Andy about not giving Mrs. Barlow any trouble or he'll be upset. Get me drift?
Ivy is now at the Platt/Tilsey household. After handing out treats to the older children and sending them upstairs, albeit at their request, she gives Martin a large piece of her mind. Martin, cuddling David, lets it roll like water off a duck's back and even throws a spanner in the works by telling Ivy next week he'll also be minding Sally's baby! Ivy is horrified and leaves with a warning about playing games with the lives and happiness of her grandchildren! Martin explains to baby David that that was *not* the Spanish Inquisition (which *nobody* expects!). It was his Granny Ivy!
Back home, Mike doesn't feel like eating out so Jackie wants to have a bath before making dinner. She reconfirms that the marriage contract is really just like an insurance policy that you hope you won't need but is there just in case, according to her solicitor. She realizes something is on his mind but he just sends her off to the bath.
Martin is snoozing on the couch, tired after a busy day. Gail tells him that looking after kids is harder than a proper job. Martin mentions Sally's visit and that he agreed to mind the baby. Gail reminds him he doesn't have to do it and they can always swop back if he would rather work in the cafe. Martin doesn't mind and besides then Ivy would think she'd won. He tells her about Ivy's ranting visit.
In the pub, Ivy's blasting Don's ear off about what Martin told her but Don thinks it's just a joke. Martin was having her on. She's not so sure and when Sally comes in the pub with Angie she wants to ask but Don holds her back. It's none of her business. Too right it is, she insists. Angie and Sally have a chuckle over Des and his cleaning problem.
Cleaning problem no more it seems. Des's house is spotless. A home cooked dinner is served, with wine and flowers on the table and an ever so grateful Des beaming up at Phyllis! (An era begins!) Phyllis promises to take good care of her Desmond, much better than any of those young girls would have anyway!
Jackie returns from her bath and Mike starts in. Why are they bothering to get married? Marriage is about sharing everything and being united but the contract implies they will still be living separate lives so why bother at all? She sputters and protests but Mike is adamant. He's not willing to get married, wondering what if it all goes wrong, which is what will happen if he has to sign these contracts which he has now read. Jackie is crushed. They look at each other, seemingly at an impasse. So now we know, she utters bitterly.
Writer - PETER WHALLEY Director - BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3207, Monday 1 April 1991)
April Fools Day and a Bank Holiday!
Jackie is trying to make it up with Mike, but he is having no part of it, and is off to work, even though it is a bank holiday. Jackie drops into the office later, to try to tempt Mike with a lunch out, but he is still resisting. He will not give in over the marriage contract. He tries to rationalize his feelings about it but it seems that Jackie sees through him. It comes down to trust does she or doesnt she? He ends up walking out on Jackie. Later that afternoon, Mike is back at the office when Jackie calls to tell him he is expected for dinner and he will have to eat what he is given. When Mike arrives home, Jackie has a fire going and a lovely table set, and she serves him the marriage contract all ripped to bits! She is going to eat her words, or rather, let the lawyer whom wrote the contract eat his words! The marriage contract is history and Mike is grinning from ear to slimy ear.
At the Duckies, Jack is tucking into breakfast, glad to see the back of Joss, when Vera opens a birthday card.from the Queen! Vera is touched and delighted and Jack encourages her. At the Rovers later, Jack tells Alec that he sent Vera the card from the Queen, and relays how thrilled Vera was. Alec reminds Jack that there is no post today as it is a bank holiday, so Vera must know the card is a fraud. Alec thinks that Vera would be announcing this excitement to the world if it was real which gets Jack thinking, as Joss has always told Vera that she must keep the blood lines a secret, and Jacks card emphasized the same thing. Jack asks Ivy if she has seen Vera, and Ivy has, and not a word was mentioned about the birthday card. Poor Jacko is getting worried! Back at home, Vera has framed a lovely collage of photos of the Royal Family and she has hung it prominently for all to see. She hugs her card, certainly not suspecting a thing. When Jack arrives home, Vera shows him the collage and tries to tell her that it was him that sent the card, but with no luck, Vera is so proud of the card, and so touching in her belief of the changes knowing has brought about. She credits her restraint in sharing this exciting news to her royal blood.
Phyllis is cleaning at Des', and she spies a postcard from Steph. Phyllis is really enjoying taking care of poor Des, and relishing every moment. Des tells her he wants the place spotless for Stephs return. Later in the Rovers, Phyllis tells Betty how hard done by poor Des is by Steph.
Martin and Nicky are having fun at home, teasing Gail with an April Fools joke. Over a the corner shop, Ivy starts her complaint tyranny for the day with Audrey, talking to her about Martin watching the kiddies, and dropping the news that Martin will also be watching Rosie. He next stop on the complain train is to Vera, but Vera is much too distracted to really sympathize. A little later, Ivy tries to corner Alma, but she too is distracted and not very interested. Alma is more interested in finding out from Martin if Gail is around. Shes at home, says Martin, and then we pop to Audrey visiting Gail, and telling her how she is taking advantage of Martin and not for much of a job anyway. Kevin and Sally are enjoying the bank holiday by taking Rosie to feed the ducks, well, actually Kevin feeds the ducks. Sally is having second and third thoughts about having Martin mind Rosie, but Kevin finally tells her it is a financial necessity. When Martin arrives home, Gail tells him that Audrey has been around and now she is having second thoughts about going back to work and leaving the kids with Martin. Martin builds up her confidence in her decision, telling her about the value of her job. (Nice guy, that Martin. I think nursing ruined him.) At the pub, Ivy is still moaning to Vera about the babysitting arrangements when Sally spies her and ends up giving the deserving Ivy an earful. Alma drops into see Gail at home and drops the bombshell that the rent on the caf is going from £225 to £900 monthly and they cannot afford it.
Writer: FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE Director: JULIAN
JARROLD
Monday (3208, Wednesday 3 April 1991)
Gail and Alma spend the day discussing the 400% rent increase with each other and anyone else that will listen. Alma seems ready to give up and sell up. Gail wants to fight it. Ivy and Audrey both think it might be a good thing if Gail gives up the cafe but for different reasons. Ivy, because of course mothers *should* be at home. Audrey, because Gail has so much stress in her life.
Sally starts back at the shop but spends much of the morning on the phone to Martin who's minding Rosie. Martin and Rosie are getting on just fine but Sally is feeling the anxiety of separation and driving poor Martin potty.
Vera is still starry eyed over the card she received "from the Queen". Jack tries to take her down a peg, naturally. Later on, his partner in crime, Angie, asks how Vera enjoyed her April Fool's joke. Well Jack hasn't told her yet but he will do. But when he does, Vera doesn't believe him and calls him jealous because she's got blue blood and he doesn't. The card is too convincing in its looks even though Jack tells her he had help. He even brings Angie in the house to back him up but Angie turns the tables on Jack when she plays innocent. This infuriates Vera even more, thinking Jack is roping in a sweet young girl for his nefarious ways. Jack does not take Angie's "April Fool's, Jack!" very well.
Jackie still insists that they should have a pre-nuptial contract but this time, she'll have her solicitor draft one that is to Mike's advantage, not just hers. She and Mike sign an hand written pre-contract contract "We will not fall out" and she goes off to do her business. Her solicitor is horrified when she says she wants Mike to have 50% of everything. He tries talking her around in every way possible and finally gets her to agree to a compromise. Jackie later brings a new contract for Mike to sign. He asks what the gist of it is and is astounded when she has agreed to give him 25% of the factory on their wedding day. His no matter what happens. Mike wastes no time signing the contract, unread, this time!
Kevin picks up Rosie at dinnertime but is perplexed when he is greeted by a stony faced Sally at home. Seems he picked up the wrong baby from Martin's! Kevin starts to chuckle but Sally does not see the humour in it, highly offended that Kevin didn't even recognize his own daughter. Poor Kevin apologizes all the way to Martin's and all the way back and all the rest of the day. It looks like he's never going to hear the end of it so he stalks off to the pub, but manages to soften Sally to a smile when he comments, We'll have something to tell her when she's older! Sally finally sees the humour in it and gives in to a chuckle of her own.
Jim, ever so subtly (?) manages to get Alec to admit in public that Liz's job is going to be held open for her upon her return from Belfast nursing her mother in law. Des seems to be having second thoughts about his new housekeeper after hearing her war stories several times over.
Gordon Barrett - CARL FORGIONE
Writer - PETER WHALLEY Director - JULIAN JARROLD
Tuesday (3209, Friday 5 April 1991)
Gail prepares for another day of work, commenting to Martin that she has to sort our their increased rent on the Cafe immediately, or she may soon not have a job to go to. Martin tries to reassure her by saying that if worst came to worst, he could always go back to his hospital job. Sally arrives with Rosie, and when Martin cracks on about Sally bringing the right baby, she isn't amused.
While Vera's dad witters on about what he was up to the night before, Vera reverently shows him the card she received, supposedly from the Queen. Her impressed father says the card is "something to be treasured," adding that he hopes Vera intends to honour Her Majesty's request for discretion. Jack comes into the room as Vera's dad remarks that he's never received a card from the Queen, causing Jack to retort "because I never sent you one." Vera explains that Jack is letting on that he sent the card as an April Fool's joke; Jack explains that he had the card made and printed, "end of story." Vera puts this explanation down to simple jealousy, because Jack can't stand the thought of his wife having royal blood in her veins. Vera's father scolds Jack, saying that if he has no regard for Vera's feelings, he could at least show some respect for the royal line. Vera calls Jack "pig ignorant," before leaving for work. After her departure, Joss asks Jack to stop mocking Vera, but Jack repeats that he sent the card, and if Vera is upset, it's her dad's fault for starting the whole thing with his "cock and bull story of Edward the flaming Seventh!"
Mike Baldwin is also preparing for his day at the office, even though Jackie is trying to convince him to spend the day at home, with her. Mike can't meet her for lunch, either, as he has a business appointment. She mentions that she thought she'd visit a few estate agents that day, looking for a place of their own.
At the Cafe, Gail tells Alma that she's going to discuss the rent hike with the owner, and suggests Alma close the shop for an hour and join her. Alma feels there's no point, but Gail reminds her that if they can't get the rent reduced, they're going to have to close the Cafe. Alma wonders if that would be such a bad thing; she's thinking of cutting her losses and starting fresh somewhere new. A shocked Gail sarcastically thanks Alma for telling her this. She snaps that perhaps Alma should remember that this is her only source of income. Alma suggests that Gail could always get a new partner, but Gail retorts that people will hardly be queuing up to be her partner when they learn she's facing a 400% increase in the rent.
A pensive Sally stares at a pacifier when she is greeted by Betty in the Corner Shop. When asked how she's coping, Sally responds that she misses Rosie -- but they need the money. Betty reassures Sally by saying that she knows Rosie is in good hands, but Sally goes on about how she's being told she should enjoy the baby because they grow up so quickly. Without thinking, she moans on about being stuck in a corner shop, serving people she doesn't care tuppence about, and realizing what she just said, she apologizes to Betty.
Phyllis is picking through clothing at the Charity Shop, and holds up a pair of frilly knickers just as Joss Shackleton walks in, teasing her by calling her a "Jezebel." They all laugh over Joss' remarks, and Emily asks if he's come to buy something. He's looking for trousers, and Emily finds a pair in his size -- but they're too long. He doesn't know his inseam length, and suggests Emily measure him, but in great discomfort over those sorts of intimate investigations, Emily suggests that that sort of job would be better suited to Percy Sugden, whom she claims will be there soon. Mr. Shackleton says he'll wait, and caught in the lie, Emily says she never knows when Percy will show up. Ever helpful, Phyllis offers to go and find him. Even though Emily declines the offer, Phyllis rushes off in search of her beloved Percy.
Behind the bar, Jack tells Percy stories of his father-in-law, but Percy righteously informs Jack that he doesn't indulge in "tittle-tattle," and suggests that Jack change the subject. Meanwhile, Betty serves Jim MacDonald some hot pot and makes the observation that she hopes he's eating properly with his wife being away. Jim fears Liz will be away longer than she first expected, and he only wishes he could be with her. Phyllis enters the pub and sidles up to Percy, who refuses to buy her a drink. She tells Jack that his father-in-law is at the Charity Shop, and that he and Emily are getting along "like a house on fire." Percy's eyebrows shoot up at this information, and he hurriedly drinks his half, supposedly to relieve Emily for her lunch break.
Gail enters a realty office and shows the receptionist their new rental agreement. She asks why the rent increase was sprung on them without warning, but the receptionist doesn't deal with that side of the business, and refers her to Mr. Kendrew, who is busy with another client at the moment. Gail sits and waits.
At the Charity Shop, Mr. Shackleton is still waiting for Percy, and makes Emily very nervous when he begins to examine a straight razor. Percy arrives a moment later, and is very curt with Joss. Emily leaves for her lunch, and Joss offers to join her, much to Percy's disapproval.
Back at the realtor's office, Gail explains to Mr. Kendrew that the Cafe can't sustain a 400% rent increase, and wonders if a lower figure couldn't be negotiated. Mr. Kendrick indicates that he can't speak for the owner, but asks Gail what sort of figure she's thinking about.
Against some objections, Nicky finally begins to set the table for tea at the Platt household, while Martin puts baby Rosie into her carrier. Sally arrives at that moment, and confesses to Martin that she can't bear to be separated from Rosie. She apologizes for being so snappish that morning, and Martin jokingly asks if she's sure she's got the right baby this time!
Gail leaves the realty office and bumps into Mike Baldwin, who is perusing the adverts in the window. When she tells Mike she's afraid they're going to lose the Cafe, Mike offers to take her for a drink so they can talk.
At the Corner Shop, Phyllis tells Audrey that it's her last day with Des, and that she'll miss working for him. She asks about a job, but Audrey reminds her that Sally is just back from her maternity leave.
In a pub somewhere, Gail and Mike discuss the rent problem. Mike suggests that she find out who owns the cafe and deal directly with him, but Gail says that the realty company won't disclose that information. He also wonders why Gail is dealing with the rent increase, since Alma is the senior partner, and Gail tells him that Alma is thinking of moving on. He offers to see what he can do, and Gail gives him a copy of the lease. Mike asks Gail to keep his involvement a secret from Alma.
Jack and Vera bicker while she tries to vacuum. Jack jokingly enquires if the Queen is coming for tea, much to Vera's distress. "Go on, mock," she screams at him. Jack tells Vera that her father was "chasing" Emily Bishop in the pub at lunch, and Vera responds that that's not too surprising, given that he's a "red-blooded" man. "I thought he were blue-blooded" mutters Jack. Vera rushes off to the hairdresser, leaving an unhappy Jack to make her dad's tea.
Gail apologizes to Alma for her remarks earlier in the day, noting that she doesn't want to give the Cafe up without a fight. While not divulging her earlier meeting with Mike, Gail asks that they just continue working until they're forced to surrender the lease.
Back at the Rover's Return, Des and Jim discuss Steph's anticipated return the following day, while Percy tells Emily that Mr. Shackleton is after only one thing -- "to ingratiate himself into your favour." Emily scoffs, but Percy pushes his point by saying that even his son-in-law says as much, so she'd be well-advised not to fall for his flattery. Emily assures him that she's not that gullible. Audrey, meanwhile, complains to Betty about Sally "dumping" Rosie on Martin.
At the Webster's, Sally entertains Rosie with a stuffed toy when Kevin arrives home. After some discussion of their respective jobs, Sally suddenly bursts into tears and confesses to Kevin that she doesn't want to work. She wants to be at home, with Rosie.
Heather Morlan
Mr. Kendrew: STEPHEN TINDALL Lady Estate Agent:
GRETA MICHAELSON
Written by KEN BLAKESON Directed by JULIAN JARROLD
Wednesday (3210, Monday 8 April 1991)
It's the morning of the day Steph is due back and Des has made sure that Phyllis has the place in top notch shape for her arrival. Phyllis is obviously very fond of Des and she takes more than a passing interest in the fact that Steph has seen fit to go off on her own, intimating that there is something wrong with her. When he tells Phyllis what a crackin' lass his wife is, she tells Des the way to keep her at home is babies!
At the Tilsley-Platt residence, Gail is on the phone telling Alma that she'll be a bit late in this morning, the reason being that David was a little fussy. Martin is a tad miffed that he can't be trusted to see to David, especially in light of the fact that Sally has just stopped the arrangement for him to look after Rosie. Gail takes a breath and assures him that it's not personal, only that Sally was missing her baby too much. He asks about the possibility of the cafe closing and Gail dismisses the idea until she can see what's to be done about it.
Sally is in the shop apologising to Audreh about for her change of heart. She just isn't ready to leave Rosie and return to work, she explains. Audreh says she understands and not to worry, she will find a replacement. Phyllis happens in and stops to admire the baby. She also opines that the Barnes' wouldn't be taking separate vacations if they had one of those!
In the charity shop, Joss is merrily listening to old records while talking to Ruby and Emily about the music of the good old days. He claims Al Bowley (?) died in the line of fire as he was conducting his orchestra at the time of his death, keeping up the spirits of the fighting men. Percy walks in, just in time to hear this piece of trivia and his snort belies his skepticism. Joss continues with the revelation that he himself once shaved a man while the bombs were dropping, prompting Percy to remark, "I don't know how anyone can listen to that man!" before taking his leave. Joss reckons Percy's problem is that his hat is too tight, it cuts off the blood flow to his brain!
At the airport, Des catches sight of Steph hobbling down the terminal alongside a very good looking man who is helping her with her luggage. The other man is Alan, someone Steph met at the lodge and he was kind enough to give her a hand with her trolley. After introductions, Alan cheerfully suggests that Des join them for the next ski trip and bids them goodbye. Des eyes the other man suspiciously as he walks away then turns to Steph with a questioning look. She tells him very curtly not to be daft!
In the cafe, Deidre has just enjoyed a meal and is complimenting Alma on what good value it was for the money. Alma makes a remark about that circumstance being short-lived, prompting Deirdre to ask if the cafe is putting up its prices. Alma tells her more like putting up the shutters and explains about the rent increase. Gail happens by and puts in a word about not calling it quits yet which Alma dismisses as Gail deluding herself.
As Des and Steph drive up in front of their house, she asks him what kind of shape the place is in. He tells her he can't lie, that he didn't clean it. She says she can't bear to go in, in that case, but he insists - her holiday is over, it's now time to face reality. With that, he sweeps her into his arms and carries her into the house. She can't even open her eyes to look at first but when she does, she is chuffed to see how clean it is. He happily ports her upstairs so they can celebrate her return.
Back in the charity shop, Joss and Emily are dancing the tango to the strains of another old record as Angie and Ruby look on in amusement. "The mating dance of the scorpion" he tells her. Emily is a bit flustered by the attention and registers a girlish protests as Joss whisks her around. Percy walks in and is shocked to see what is going on. He immediately places himself between the couple with the intent of cutting in. Unfortunately, he is too rough in pushing poor Joss back and the other man falls to the floor, hitting his head on a shelf on the way down. Percy is quite alarmed and shouts to Ruby to call for an ambulance.
As an unconscious Joss is loaded into the ambulance, Jack is trying to glean what happened to him. Percy stands silently by while Emily sputters an explanation of sorts. She avoids mentioning Percy's role in the accident. Jack seems genuinely concerned about the old man and when he goes off to break the news to Vera, Percy volunteers to accompany Joss to the hospital.
Des and Steph are in bed, glowing in the aftermath of their reunion, when he asks if she has any confessions to make. She turns the tables on him, asking if he has. He surprises her by admitting that indeed, he did have a woman in during her absence. She braces herself to hear the rest of his confession but he lets her off the hook, admitting that it was Phyllis, who did the charring.
At Ingram's, Jackie tries to drag Mike away from his desk to go and have some lunch with her but he won't budge. There is no time, he tells her, deals to be made. She is worried that he is just like Peter was and expresses her fear that he will end up like Peter. He tells her to plan something nice for the next weekend and he will make the time for it. She is consoled a little by the prospect and kisses him lightly before going off to lunch on her own. As soon as she leaves, Mike picks up the phone to book an appointment with the property manager for the Cafe. He makes arrangements to discuss a deal, saying that he wants it kept in the strictest confidence.
Des is now bringing Steph coffee in bed and she is lapping up the attention when he happens to notice some writing on her cast. Deciphering the Italian inscription, he concludes that she has something to hide. She becomes indignant when he accuses her and they are at war again.
In the Rovers, Jack is expressing his remorse about Joss' condition to Ivy. He feels bad because he has wished him ill. Ivy comforts him, saying that she is also guilty of having wished people ill at various times. When Jack asks her if that isn't contrary to her faith, she abruptly changes the subject.
At the hospital, Emily and Percy are going to visit Joss when they encounter Vera in the corridor. Vera blames Emily for her father's condition, hasn't she already had one funeral this year! Emily is sheepish, still not exposing Percy's role in the mishap and listens intently when Vera talks about a transfusion. Percy volunteers that he has "Type O' blood, the blood of the Yeoman of England" and would be happy to donate for Joss. Vera rebukes the offer, telling him that Joss' blood group is "Type A. Yours is no good, you see!" she tells him with the secret satisfaction that she and Joss have "Royal blood".
Quitting time at the factory now and Jackie is on her way home to start cooking Mike a "special" meal. He isn't ready to leave just yet, he tells her but will be along later. She tells him not to stay too long and goes out the door. Again, he makes a clandestine phone call the minute she closes the door, this time to Gail. Reaching Martin at the other end, he pretends to be a realty agent. As Gail takes the call, Martin stands by, listening keenly. Mike hints that he may have some good news for her and they covertly set up a meeting for the following day to discuss matters. When they end the call, Martin asks about it mildly but Gail tries to put him off so he loses his cool. He knows it was Baldwin and he doesn't think she should be having any dealings with the man, "that snake in the grass" as Martin calls him. Gail becomes defensive, telling Martin that she must do what she can to save the cafe and that it's not for Martin to concern himself with, anyway!
Ruby Mottran ANN RYE Alan JAMES McMARTIN
Writer JULIAN ROACH
Thursday (3211, Wednesday 10 April 1991)
Friday (3212, Friday 12 April 1991)
Martin is up very early this morning, agitating over the deal Gail is making with Mike Baldwin. When she gets up they argue about Mike's possible motives for helping out. Gail figures he must feel guilty about the way he treated Alma but Martin wonders why he doesn't then deal directly with Alma instead of doing it behind her back. Because, as Gail points out, he knows that Alma would rather drown than accept help from him! And why the new name then, Martin wonders - instead of "Weatherfield Estates", the name on the contract is "Alcazar Holdings". "How should I know?" Gail cries. All she knows is she can now keep her job and that's all she needs to know! Martin thinks she is being altogether too trusting about the situation.
At the Duckworths, breakfast table, Joss is getting the royal treatment from Vera, which includes two sausages to Jack's one. Jack protests but Vera points out, as Joss has been for a walk, he's had more exercise than Jack. Miffed, Jack brings up his doubts about Vera and Joss, relationship again. Besides the fact that their blood groups are different, he says they are different as night and day. "It's in the breeding - like with the GGs", he says. "Joss here is a sprinter, and you", (meaning Vera) "are more like one of them that dumps their rider and the first fence" Vera and her father are unimpressed with Jack's theory. In the face of Jack's skepticism, Joss says, "There's nothing so certain as uncertainty". Vera heartily agrees.
At the Barnes', Steph beseeches Phyllis to go to the chemist's and buy some tissues for her. They'd be cheaper at the Kabin but Steph insists the high altitudes from her ski trip has made her skin tender and she needs the softer version, sold only at the chemist's. As Phyllis reluctantly gets her coat, Steph suggests that since she's going to the chemist's *anyway*, she could pick up her holiday snaps for her while she's there. The cleaning lady reminds her that she already gave "Desmond" the ticket for them last night in the pub. "Get them anyway", Steph implores. She's betting that Des will have forgot all about them by now, hoping at least.
Gail arrives at the cafe late but when she shows Alma their new lease from Alcazar Holdings with the rent being reduced from the original rate of £600 to £350 a month, Alma is too happy for words. She wonders what on earth Gail could have said to make them change their minds. All Gail can think is that they decided £350 was better than nothing at all! Anyway, who cares if it means they can now keep the café!!
In Mike's office, he's busy finalising arrangements with Weatherfield Estates on the phone. Don't post it, he tells them - he'll pick it instead. And, he doesn't want his name on it - it's got to say "Alcazar Holdings". Just as he closes the call, Jackie comes in asking about their wedding date. "How does this Saturday sound?" he asks lightheartedly. She laughs off the idea, saying she needs at least a couple months to plan. He picks July and she suggests the 5th. Looking in his planner, he notes that it's her birthday and joking about the money he'll save on flowers, writes, "Happy Birthday Mrs. Baldwin".
Phyllis returns from the chemist's remarking, "Scandalous, scandalous!" as she comes through the door. Steph looks anxious and asks if she managed to get the photos. But Phyllis was talking about the price of the tissues, 93p compared with 60p that the Kabin charges! "Never mind the tissues - did you get the photos?" Steph asks. It was too late, Des had already picked them up, she says. Steph's disappointment is evident so Phyllis offers to go to the bookie's for them. "Don't bother", she replies with a sinking heart.
Emily and Deirdre are in the pub for lunch when Betty complains that she's rushed off her feet as Jack hasn't turned up yet. Emily suggests that Jack has been under a strain trying to cope with his new father-in-law. Percy, who has been standing at the bar waiting for service, overhears and interprets Emily's remark as apportioning blame to him for Joss, accident. He's already apologised, he says. He even offered to donate his blood! When Audreh comes in and orders a drink, telling Betty to get one herself, Percy turns his attentions to complaining about Audreh being served before him. He accuses Betty of running a speakeasy. "I see your game - you get no service here unless you put your hand in your pocket for the staff!" he complains. He asks to see Bet but Betty says she's in the back on the phone and if she doesn't find Duckworth soon, *she'll* be handing in her notice!
Jack is nowhere near the pub at this moment. He combs his way through an entirely different neighbourhood until he finds what he's looking for - the blood donor clinic. Timidly entering the place, he sits down to wait until the doctor becomes available. The man beside him recognises Jack from the Rovers and Jack remembers him as a co-worker of Eddie Ramsden. When Jack explains that he isn't actually there to donate blood, he draws sharp glances from the waiting donors and the other man takes him to task for it. It's the pain, Jack nervously explains - he can't abide it. "It's nothing to the pain them that needs it's in!" the other man counters. He doesn't have the time - he's late for work as it is. "It only takes half an hour." As Jack fumbles for another excuse, the man points out that he may need blood himself someday, especially in a job like his with the likes of Eddie Ramsden coming in and breaking glass! A little less sure of himself now, Jack weakly counters that Eddie Ramsden never comes in anymore.
Deirdre has dropped in to see Steph. She asks if Des is still acting jealous over her holiday. Steph confirms the fact and Deirdre laughs as she recalls being in similar circumstances once - the time she returned from Majorca and Bet showed her fiancé her holiday snaps. "Billy Walker had quite a temper and when he saw Pedro's arm around me I thought he was going to kill me!" she chuckles. Steph takes small comfort from the anecdote.
In the blood clinic, Jack is now lying stretched out on one of the gurneys, evidently having succumbed to the persuasions of his friend in the waiting room. As the doctor passes by, Jack waves him down to ask the burning question of whether Joss can be R Vera's dad. When the doctor tells him it is possible, Jack figures on not wasting any more of his time here. To his disappointment, however, the procedure has already begun and now he's stuck waiting for the bag to fill up with his blood!
Alma pops into the Corner Shop to tell Audreh the good news about signing the lease at the café. "She's got a good head for money, your daughter", she happily relates. "I don't know where she gets that from!" Audreh laughs.
Tea time for the Duckworths and as Jack, Vera and Joss are gathered around the table, a sullen Jack doesn't seem to have much of an appetite. (I got a look at the food and I can't say I blame him - Vera was ladling out big sloppy servings of what looked like wet hamburger, alongside mountains of mashed potato and mashed parsnip!) Vera accuses him of eating too many hotpots at the Rovers but then she notices the band-aid in the crook of his arm. She demands to know what he's been up to so he lies that he was pecked by a pigeon. She believes he's been pecked all right, only not by a pigeon! Joss says he can guess, Jack has been donating blood. Vera immediately says she knows what brought that on and Jack's entreaties that he was being public-spirited fall on deaf ears. "So what did you find out then?" she demands. Jack relates that it's all very complicated but the doctor says it, s possible Joss *isn't* related. Joss expresses his disappointment, saying he had hoped he could trust Jack and Vera jumps at him for upsetting her poor father. "You're a heartless swine, you are! A pig! Ignoramus!"
Des comes in from work and is greeted by a somewhat jumpy Steph. When he ignores her query about his workday, she asks if he's looked at her holiday photos. "Any reason why I shouldn't?" he asks sarcastically. "Des, it's not what it seems", she pleads. "You had this all planned, didn't you?" he accuses. "Didn't think I'd find out, did you?" She maintains they were only larking about but Des doesn't buy it for a minute. He's recognised Clive Parnell, her old Pomme Delite boss, in the photos and he's sure it was all a set up. Steph swears she didn't know he would be there but Des says he knows what the odds are, working in a betting shop as he does!
Betty is incredulous when Jack excuses his absence from work earlier in the day by saying he was doing his "civic duty". She guesses the real reason for his trip to the blood clinic and though he points out that she may one day be the recipient of his generosity, he grudgingly admits that his visit left him none the wiser. "Ah well, at least some good came of it, Luvvie - after all, you might save my life someday!" she replies ironically.
At the bar, Emily offers to buy Percy a drink for helping out in the charity shop all day. He gratefully says he'll have a large brandy and though she's surprised it's not his usual, half a bitter, she orders the drink along with a sweet sherry for herself. Percy says his is a small sacrifice, that he's only too glad to help out, but Emily insists that it's people like him that keep health services going. Jack offers that blood donors also do their bit and when Emily expresses surprise at his being one of that ilk, Betty chimes in that he doesn't like to advertise the fact.
Des has packed his bags and as he now prepares to leave, Steph pleads again for him to believe her. Tearfully, she says she loves him and that the only reason she didn't want him to see the photos was to avoid "this". Unmoved by her entreaties, he makes his way toward the door. "Please Des! You've *got* to believe me - I love you!" she begs. He gives her a cold snarl, "Well then - you've left it a bit late!" he says, slamming the door firmly behind him.
Anita Bélanger
Dr. Bannerman - TYRONE HUGGINS Blood Donor
- ROD ARTHUR
Written by PHIL WOODS Directed by DAVID RICHARDS
Monday (3213, Monday 15 April 1991)
It's morning. Lace curtains twitch. Steph looks out on the morning activities of the Street.
Vera helps Joss downstairs but Percy is already across the doorstep with crime prevention flyers and an offer of his services to Joss. Joss hushes Vera's snarky comments, saying he bears Percy no grudge. Vera's gob continues with remarks about self defense classes. Joss offers to cook a meal for Jack and Vera and sets out a shopping list for Percy who seems a bit surprised that his offer was taken up!
Tracy wants desperately to go to a pop concert this Friday. Everyone is going, why can't she? Deirdre feels 14 is too young but offers to take her. Appearing at a concert with your mother would be the ultimate in geekdom! Tracy argues that she doesn't kick up a fuss when her mother wants to go out with Phil (And the comparison with this entirely different situation would be what?) Deirdre gets accused of not letting her daughter grow up and in the timeless gesture of all 14 year olds who are disgusted and utterly frustrate with a parent, Tracy storms out in a snit!
Phyllis has stopped by but is told by Stephanie there is no work for her today, not even Des's shirts because he's packed up his things and left. Steph also doesn't care where he's gone and she's on her way out as well. Phyllis correctly deduces that this upset is over the holiday snaps, tormented he was over them. Steph snaps, too, Tormented and Demented! she's in fine form, castigating the lad in his absence and listing all his past, current and future faults, the greatest of which these days is jealousy, looking to make mountains out of molehills where there were none to begin with! Phyllis tries to make peace, telling Steph that Des loves her and she could go a long way to find a fella as nice as Des. Steph hisses that that is exactly what she did, in his opinion! She is tired of everyone being on Des's side, wishing she could have a sympathetic ear as well. Phyllis follows her outside to her waiting taxi, and jumps to a conclusion that Steph is going to see a divorce solicitor. She warns the young woman against the evils of solicitors once they get their hands on a situation but Steph says nowt, neither admits nor denies if that is where she's heading. Des comes round the corner as the taxi drives off and he doesn't look happy.
Curly strolls the aisles of his kingdom. Angie is there doing the shopping and needs a bit of coordination with him on the shared items of the list. He's not particularly bothered what kind of beans she gets, could she please not call him Curly there at work (Oh on your bike, she teases, oh all right i'll stoop to calling you Norman if you like) and he is warned about using up all her hair gel (which i haven't seen on his head in weeks, that hair is flopping all over his eyes!) Raquel watches the whole encounter with suspicion and is very catty about Angie's homemade (designed) clothes. Vera admires Angie's style however but Raquel takes no notice, and proceeds to interrupt the intrepid shoppers. Poor Curly has a lot of 'splaining to do and i get the feeling it's a regular thing these days. We next see them later in the afternoon in the staff room with him defending himself further. He explains that this is the first normal house he's ever lived in, after the convent-like atmosphere of Mrs. Bishop's and Vera's gob spouting all his business everywhere. (what about his sojourn with Shirley and living on his own in Alf's flat after? Continuity, people!) Raquel decides too much freedom can be just as bad as not enough. He realizes she has something against Angie which Raquel admits, "She flirts!" Curly morosely repeats that Angie doesn't flirt with him, girls never do! And anyway, he isn't attracted to women with brains. Ooops! Raquel instantly takes this the wrong way, assuming Curly is calling her a bimbo and clatters off. Curly sighs. (he's good at that!)
Joss and Phyllis share a drink in the Rovers, much to Jack's chagrin. He has a moan to Betty who reminds him that the accident could have been more serious. Yeah, trust Percy Sugden to only do half a job! LOL Phil and Deirdre are discussing Tracy. Phil doesn't see why Tracy shouldn't go to the concert, seeing the marketing aspect of it all (hear the tape, see the video, attend the concert). He tells her he was scalping tickets outside such concerts when he was 14 (why doesn't that surprise me!) Stephanie hops up to return her plate to the bar but doesn't tell a curious Phyllis where she went that morning. Phyllis speculates the rest of the day to whomever will listen that Steph is been to a solicitor. Joss buys her another drink but they are interrupted by Percy who had been trying at number 9 to deliver Joss's groceries. He is not best pleased to see Joss living it up it in the pub when he was supposed to be in his sick bed recovering. Percy realizes he's been duped and used and tells Joss he can carry his own groceries back from Mrs. Bishop's!
This is one of those scenes that seem thrown in just because the actors are contracted for so many episodes a week, and the scene has nothing to do whatsoever with today's storylines. It's in the cafe and Alma and Gail are stirring pots and flipping eggs. Gail wants to make improvements to the cafe to draw in more customers though a bank loan might be needed. Alma is just happy and eternally grateful to have her home secured. There is a point to the scene, in the end. Andy has sold Tracy a cheap poster advertising the concert and seems to be getting her to take names at school for anyone else that wants one. It's a cheap knock off of the official poster that will be sold at the concert, apparently but i'd like to know how he made them! No computer, no printing press, no lovely box of 64 Crayola crayons with the sharpener in the back of the box!
Steph goes home but who's waiting in the chair with a face like a thundercloud? Des! Ready for the next round. Steph thinks Phyllis called him but no, she didn't tell Phyllis why Des left. Des begins and continues on and on about Clive's presence on her holiday and it doesn't' matter how much she tells him that nothing happened. She accuses him of wanting to believe she ran out on him. He's not giving in, throwing her used air ticket in her face that has Clive's phone number written on it (in his handwriting, not hers, i might add) Stephanie loses her temper altogether now at realizing that Des has rooted through her handbag. He is not sorry and cites all the damning evidence against her, no matter what she says to the contrary. The single holiday sans husband, the suggestive notes on her cast, the photo of her and Clive and now the phone number! Phyllis arrives in the middle of this all and in her own interfering way, tries to make peace by telling Des that Steph has been to a solicitor and if he's not careful he'll lose his wife. I guess she hopes the news will shock him into realizing they've let things go too far.
At home, Joss witters on about his fine name and reputation while half heartedly stirring something on the cooker. Poor Jack ends up defending his job as good honest work after Joss looks down on it. (And when did a Barber have to put on airs over a cellarman?) Jos brags about his past successes and fortunes working for and living with the aristocracy, receiving £50 tips for his skills. (oh right. And how many rich people would stay rich if they gave the man that shaved their face that much money which was a fortune in the old days, on a regular basis. This man is sucking everyone one in, i tell you no lies!) Jack perks up, however, as Jack is wont to do, at the idea of so much money but he wonders what happened, where did all the fortune go? Well, Joss quickly recovers, when you live with the aristocracy, you spend like them too! But he had Respect with a Capital R! All this bragging leaves him weary and he shuffles off to lay down (before he blows his cover no doubt) and leaves jack with the orders to peel a few spuds. Jack takes up the magazine that Joss was leafing through, a magazine all about the lives of the Rich and Famous.
Back at No1, Tracy is still whining. Deirdre assesses just who "everyone at school" is who she says is going to the concert and finds out that it doesn't include Tracy's closest buddies, Debbie and Lyndsay! (Are you surprised! My mother used to check with the mothers of all my friends too to see if they were "everybody" who were going to do something she didn't want me to do! LOL) Phil pops in and tosses a new tape of one of the concert bands to Tracy as compensation for missing the concert. Tracy has the grace to thank him but goes off to do her homework. Phil spies the unofficial poster that Tracy got from Andy and when the explanation is done, tells Deirdre that Andy could be in a lot of trouble. It's not illegal to copy official concert promotions but the official producers won't be too impressed either.
Des and Steph are still bashing. She tells him she hasn't been to a solicitor no matter what "Miss Marple" thinks, she went to see the girls at work to find that sympathetic ear. They are quieter now, exhausted and fed up no doubt. Nothing is resolved so Stephanie decides to come clean and totally honest with Des about everything. Get a drink first!
Betty puts the run to a few cocky youngsters who were trying to drink without valid ID proving their age. Jack still has the magazine and is now starry eyed about living like the other half lives and getting £50 tips for himself. Curly is in the booth defending himself with that broken record to Raquel. He insists he and Angie don't fancy one another and just then Angie sits down and wants to confirm that she's cooking dinner for the three of them later in the week. Raquel feels a fool now. Curly wanted to arrange a nice dinner so that Raquel could get to know Angie, confident that that is the only reason Raquel can't stop her jealousy. Vera arrives and Jack tells her about a driver and housekeeping job he's seen advertised in that magazine. He wants the two of them to try for an interview at the posh house that's hiring. Vera's well aware that they would be much out of their element, they aren't qualified. Jack thinks they could find out all they need to know from Joss who might actually be of some use for a change! (Anyone think Joss is going to slip up and blow his cover on this one? Methinks Vera wouldn't see it anyway!)
Steph tells Des that she told Clive from day one that she wasn't interested. He left her alone for a few days but then showed up by climbing to her room from the outside balcony. She strenuously objected but he persisted through the rest of the holidays though got nowhere with her. Even on the last day he wrote his number on her ticket but she never asked for it. Des finally admits he believes her. Des apologizes and they finally kiss and make up. He lifts her to carry her upstairs but then he threatens grievous bodily harm to Clive and she jumps down and hollers at him yet again, he'll never grow up!!!
Writer - PAUL ABBOTT Director - RICHARD SIGNY
Tuesday (3214, Wednesday 17 April 1991)
Angie tackles Curly at the breakfast table about the idea of getting Raquel to come to dinner. He seems reluctant and she supposes it's because Raquel really doesn't like her, even though Curly strenuously denies it. She's only "shy", he tells his housemate. Angie doesn't buy that one for a minute - Raquel's a beauty queen, after all - hardly the wallflower type. Curly promises he'll see what he can do.
Jack has got hold of a publication for domestic positions and now as he combs through the adverts, he muses about a new life for himself and Vera. There is one drawback to domestic service, he notes to Joss - he'd have to spend more time with R Vera! One of the ads, a husband and wife vacancy for chauffeur-housekeeper catches his eye and he's especially interested when he reads that expenses are covered if invited for an interview!
The morning after learning what *really* happened between Steph and Clive Parnell at that ski resort Des is out for blood. Steph tells him he's making too much of it - everyone flirts, she points out, even he does! To Des, mind, however, flirting is one thing and climbing in hotel windows is something else. Parnell needs to be taught a lesson and Des reckons he's as good a teacher as any!
Phil runs into Andy on the street and asks him if he knows what (or rather *who*) he's up against distributing pirate posters. Andy tries to blow him off - he's supplying a demand at half the price and he doesn't see a problem. Phil warns him to be careful - the people who paid for the distribution rights to the posters might take a different view!
In Bettabuys', Curly tries to persuade Raquel to come to dinner tonight. She's very cool on the idea as she thinks Angie will probably cook "summat foreign". Besides, she tells him, her cat needs worming. Vera happens along just as Curly is called away and Raquel tells her about the invitation. Vera readily offers that Angie is "different" from them, reinforcing Raquel's own reservations.
In the pub, Jack tells Joss that he's decided that he and Vera will be going to apply for the job he saw advertised. Joss says Vera might object to the idea but Jack tells him *he* makes the decisions in the family. Joss doesn't agree that's the case, not from what he can see. Jack says that's only because Joss doesn't know what goes on "behind closed doors". "Not much, according to R Vera!", retorts Joss.
Phil Jennings spots Alf in the pub and goes over to have a word with him. He hopes this election will be a "nice clean fight", he says. He would hate to see people's private lives being dragged into the arena. Alf answers that in a "ideal world" there would be no cause for worry but he hints that it's not such a "ideal world".
Deirdre has dropped in at the Barnes' to see how Steph has been getting on with her broken leg. Steph takes the opportunity to sound off about Des, "mad jealousy". Men turn into "a bunch of wallies" once they're married, she says. Deirdre jokes that she knows all about husbands, thank you! Becoming serious again, she wonders if Steph's tendency to play games may have contributed to Des, jealousy
In the pub again, Des has had a few drinks by now but, as Betty points out, nothing to eat. He refuses the offer of a hot pot and orders another pint before going to the phone to ring Clive Parnell. Posing as "Jack Newton", he tells Parnell he is interested in doing business with him. They arrange a meeting for eight o'clock that evening and the dye is cast. With an air of satisfaction, he tells Jack his plan and where the duel is due to take place - at the Gallery Pub.
In the cafe, Tracy is upset when Andy gives her the brush off. He doesn't want to talk to her since she blabbed to her mother's boyfriend about where she got the poster. "I didn't know it was a secret", she protests. "It's not now!" he retorts.
Angie is in the Corner Shop getting the ingredients she needs for tonight's meal. Steph hobbles in looking for "something special" to prepare for Des and Angie tells her what she is making, Hungarian Goulash, is "dead simple". Unconvinced, Steph opts for something from the freezer instead. Alf asks Steph if she's on the electoral registry but she says she doesn't know. "I'm soliciting your support for the election", he tells her. "I thought soliciting was against the law!" she cracks.
Back at Bettabuys', Curly is still trying to convince Raquel that her cat need not be wormed *tonight*. She comes clean with the real reason she doesn 't want to have dinner with Angie - she thinks Angie fancies him! Curly says the idea is ridiculous and points out that Angie has a boyfriend anyway. Raquel apparently wasn't aware of that fact and now that she knows, she finally agrees to come, much to Curly's relief.
Jack wanders into Bettabuys and finds Vera stacking shelves. He tells her she is to take tomorrow off - they are going to have a day away. She's delighted at the notion until he tells her the reason - they are going to interview for the domestics' jobs. Over her objections, he explains that the interview isn't the point, it's having a day off with expenses paid!
Des is enjoying the special meal Steph has thawed and cooked for him and wonders what it's "in aid of". Just to celebrate her being home and their making up, she tells him - and there's cheesecake for afters! Excusing himself from the table, Des says he won't be having dessert just now - there 's something he has to see to. Surprised, she asks where he's going but he refuses to say, only telling her he'll be back before she has a chance to miss him!
The goulash is ready and Angie has the table all set in anticipation of Curly and Raquel's arrival. Ben idly wonders why she's invited Raquel for dinner since (it's his impression) she doesn't think very highly of her. Angie denies having negative feelings about Raquel and cringes when he reminds her that she said Raquel was "as thick as a 3-B pencil"! Curly and Raquel arrive and Angie warmly welcomes them, complimenting Raquel on her 60s style dress. Unfortunately, Raquel assumes Angie is implying that the dress is old and an awkward moment follows with Angie trying to clarify. Curly quells the misunderstanding by quickly suggesting a drink.
The Duckworths are home now and Jack is on the phone with Mrs. Maxwell-Glover asking for an interview tomorrow. When she agrees, he ends the call by telling her they'll make an early start from Southampton in the morning. Vera is appalled at the lie. He explains that they'll get more money for expenses by saying they have travelled farther. Unimpressed, she calls him "twisted". "You'd make a corkscrew look straight, you would!"
Less paranoid now, Raquel seems to be enjoying the dinner now. She compliments Angie's "stew" as she helps herself to seconds. Angie starts to correct her that it's Hungarian Goulash but catches on when Curly reiterates that it's "stew". Noting Raquel's height and figure, Angie suggests she would make a good model. To Raquel's surprise, she makes the tentative suggestion that she could have her model some of her collection.
In the pub after dinner, Vera tells Jack they could be "done for fraud" for what he's planning. Jack remains nonplused, telling her the middle classes are "expected to fiddle expenses"! He warns her that she's in danger of preventing his "upward mobility"!
Steph comes into the pub in search of her husband and is shocked when Jack tells her what Des is up to. Jack says he should think she'd be flattered but Steph rushes out again protesting that she doesn't want "fellas" fighting over her - "especially not Des!"
After dinner, Angie has Raquel trying on some of her designs and everyone is impressed with the effect. To Raquel's delight, Angie proposes that she model for her in the upcoming student fashion show.
At the Gallery, Des has located Clive Parnell and now angrily confronts him. Clive tries to talk Des out of a fight, but seeing he won't be dissuaded, follows him outside to the street. Once outside, despite the other man's warning that he's trained in unarmed combat, Des throws a punch. A swipe from Clive knocks Des off his feet but he staggers up again and takes aim once more. Just as Clive knocks him down again, a taxi pulls up and Steph jumps out. As she rushes over she screams for them to stop. Clive asserts that he wasn't the one who wanted to fight - it was her "idiot husband"! Infuriated, she screams that her husband is *not* an idiot! Furthermore, she tells him, she wouldn't be interested in *him* if he were "the last man on earth"!! He begins to walk back into the pub but turns around to answer glibly, "Sweetheart, if I *were* the last man on earth, you'd be at the end of a very long queue!"
Ignoring the comment, Steph stoops on the sidewalk to cradle her wounded husband. Tenderly, she calls him an "idiot" and tells him he's the only man for her. He's gratified to hear it and when she offers to kiss his injuries better, he coyly suggests that he thinks he was also hurt "below the belt"!
Anita Belanger
Joss Shackleton: HAROLD GOODWIN Clive Parnell:
CHRIS HUMPHREYS Ben Williams: PAUL WARRINER
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by RICHARD SIGNY
Wednesday (3215, Friday 19 April 1991)
The day following Des' scrap with the ill-intentioned Clive, our hero is basking in the attentions lavished on him by Steph. He is slightly scuffed but now firmly convinced that there was nothing between her and Clive.
At the Duckworths', Joss is singing gloom and doom about the fraud Jack and Vera are about to commit by going through with the interview for positions as domestics. Over his protests, Jack argues that it's only a bit of fun and tries to persuade Vera to call in sick for the day so they can be relaxed when they arrive. Joss contends that this will only compound the lie but Vera finally relents and has Jack call Holdsworth for her. She isn't prepared however for the excuse Jack offers, "Her gallstones kept her up all night"!
Andy and Steve discuss the business of Andy hawking the knock off posters. Steve warns his brother that Phil Jennings won't be pleased if he hears that Andy is still doing it but Andy doesn't seem concerned.
At Bettabuys, Curly is talking to Raquel about modeling for Angie in the poly fashion show when Reg comes along to complain about Vera taking off sick. He doesn't believe the gallstones story for a minute.
Vera doesn't think it's very believable either, as she tells Jack. Why couldn't he have said she had a cold, for gawd's sake? He thought something slightly out of the ordinary would be just the ticket, he tells her.
The Barnes are busy affectionately horsing around when Phyllis walks in. She is delighted to see that they have made up and are now getting along so well.
At the Rovers at lunchtime, Curly asks Joss how Vera is. The old man is oblivious and answers that she was fine when he last saw her. Betty chimes in from across the bar that Jack also took the day off, for "urgent personal business" he said. That's all the convincing Curly needs... He asks Joss just what the Duckies are up to but Joss flims out of it, saying he isn't their keeper. Curly grumbles, "Gall-flamin'-stones!"
After a leisurely drive, Jack and Vera arrive at their destination, a mansion in the country. Vera is getting cold feet and proposes that they find a nice tearoom and forget about the job interview but Jack wants to go through with it. It'll be a lark, he convinces her as he rings the bell. He also argues that although these folk have a posh house and a flash car, *she's* got something they haven't - royal blood! Vera concedes the point and holds her head up.
In Bettabuys again, Angie interrupts Raquel's shelf-stacking to measure her arms when Reg happens along again and objects. Looks like Reg does not want Raquel to participate in this fashion show, much to Angie's and her disappointment.
Seated in Mrs. Maxwell-Glover's elegant study, Vera is explaining her cooking skills... "I'm alright with a chip pan but I don't go in for any of this 'novel' cuisine" she says. When Mrs. MG asks about their former employer, the Duckworths get their signals crossed and each answer with the name of their respective employer. Jack makes a good recovery by correcting, "Sir Alec and Lady Gilroy-Holdsworth".
Back at Bettabuys, "Sir Reg" is expressing his objections about the fashion show to Curly. He doesn't want Raquel to get "ideas" and feels she will be too easily dazzled by the so-called glamour.
Mrs. Maxwell-Glover has now completed her interview with Jack and Vera and happily pays out their (inflated) "expenses" of £30. When she asks for a number she can reach them at, she comments that it's not a Southampton number and Jack explains it away by stating that they are staying with a friend in the "quaint little town of Wetherfield" at the moment. Mrs. MG suddenly remembers the matter of references and Jack stumbles for a minute before saying that he will send them on by post.
We next see young Andy, out in the street flogging posters. From within a shop behind him, he is approached by a man who doesn't look too happy. The man examines one of the posters before ripping it in half and when Andy protests, he grabs him around the neck and threatens him for impinging on his business. Andy looks very helpless and we wonder how he will get out of this jam but luckily, Phil Jennings happens along. Phil tells the other man, Jimmy Charlton, that Andy is just a kid who doesn't know any better and that he'll sort him out. Charlton reluctantly releases Andy with a warning to watch his step. Once out of danger, Andy tries to recover his pride as he tells Phil that he could have handled himself. (Not likely!)
At home again, the Duckworths discuss the events of the day from very different points of view. Jack is chuffed to be up 30 quid but Vera feels guilty because they ripped off Mrs. Maxwell-Glover and she seemed like such a nice lady, "not stuck-up at all". Joss informs them that Curly visited while they were out but not to worry, he didn't give them away. Jack wonders what Joss told Curly and isn't best pleased to hear that he invited him to come back later.
As he reports for work in the Rovers, Betty asks Jack what he and Vera have been up to today. Jack is evasive but Betty guesses the truth, they are looking for another job. She reckons there's only two reasons Jack would shave twice in one day and he wouldn't have Vera along for one of them!
Phil Jennings seems to have taken a shine to Andy and makes him an offer to come work for him. Andy is pleasantly surprised but says he'll have to clear it with his parents first. Phil promises that he can teach Andy all about being in business!
In the Rovers again, Curly is telling Angie about the Duckworths' latest adventure and that he thinks they are out of their league this time. She asks about their son out of curiosity and Curly asserts that he is even worse. "Jack's harmless but Terry has a real mean streak!" he tells her. Raquel enters the pub in tears and tells Curly that Mr. Holdsworth will not permit her to take part in the fashion show. He must do something, she tells him!
Vera comes in and tells Jack that Mrs. MG just rang to say that they have got the job. Jack is elated until Vera points out that she wants references - from "Sir Alec and Lady Gilroy-Holdsworth"!
Mrs. Maxwell-Glover SALLY FAULKNER Jimmy Charlton
SAM WEBSTER
Writer: ADELE ROSE
Thursday (3216, Monday 22 April 1991)
Alf is in full campaign mode this morning and pounding on doors. Alec's to be precise. He's anxiously waiting for his new leaflets that are being printed by a mate of Alec's. Alec promises to pick up the leaflets after breakfast but Alf, in the throes of high blood pressure, hollers at Alec to do it now.
Joss pours the morning tea and takes the time to rake Jack over the coals to Vera (and Jack not even there to defend himself!). Jack shouldn't have put Vera through all this. Vera acknowledges it wasn't all Jack's fault, nobody forced her to go on the interview at the home of the Maxwell-Glover's. When asked why she went through with the interview, Vera sighs that the closes folk like her get to posh places like that is with their noses pressed up against the glass looking in. Nonsense! Joss tosses out. He's been in plenty and wasn't' impressed. Jack arrives and is told to call Mrs. M-G to turn down the job. He tries to get out of it, figuring the erstwhile employer will soon forget about them but Vera insists they should show the woman the courtesy of calling. jack admits he never expected to be offered the job and eventually grudgingly promises to call. Vera loses her temper and bitterly accuses Jack of building her hopes up and letting her down yet again.
Angie urges and flatters Curly into persuading Reg to let Raquel to model in the student fashion show. Reg is only on a power trip and is jealous of Curly having such an attractive girlfriend!
Alf is heading back down to the Rovers and seems to be regretting having Alec as his agent. But it's too late now and Audrey sighs with exasperation, knowing alf was probably lured by the promise of saving a bob or two. Alf at least has a good excuse, as legally candidates are only allowed to spend just so much money. Don is asked to pass out leaflets but is turned down. Andy comes in for a couple of steak and kidney pies and tells Audrey Liz will be away a little while longer. Phil is in the shop too (a busy spot!) and approaches Andy again about the job he offered the boy. Andy has to talk to his dad first and isn't optimistic about the outcome.
At the Rovers, Alf admires the leaflets but is upset that his posters aren't ready. Bet is not so admiring as she reads the message on the back which could be interpereted as a slur against a certain lady opponent, it endorses Alf's family values at the expense of the other candidates. An obvious slur against Deirdre who is the only single parent running! (This does not bode well!)
Curl scolds Vera over her fake illness which he had to cover for. Speccy-four-eyes (Reg) still thinks she had a gall stone attack But Reg's gurning face and snide tone to her, inquiring after her health, leaves no doubt as to his perception of the lie. Raquel is all upset about the fashion show and Curly is fed up with being all things to all people. He arranges to speak to Reg in private a bit later.
In a very realistic father and son scene, Andy approaches Jim in the shop. No there's no trouble and yes, he's eaten, he's just had a sausage roll (what happened to the frozen steak and kidney pie he just bought? Oh, continuity people...!) His father observes that there is something on Andy's mind, how does he know? Well he's known the boy from the minute he was born! Andy admits and gets to the point. He did want to talk to his father away from "Big Ears". There is a little discussion on the bonding of twins and Jim mentions that Andy was always the one with the wilder streak. Steve was always more sensible like his mother (Boy oh boy things are sure gonna change!!!) He's been offered a job from Phil Jennings. Jim doesn't say no outright and they chat about Andy's future, wanting to have a business of his own someday, be his own boss, and this will give him good experience. He is reminded by a bemused Jim of his wanting to join the Army. Andy smiles and says that was just to needle his dad, but he's grown up since then (LOL) There isn't an end result to this scene but it is apparent that evening at the Rovers that Jim wanted to talk to Phil first. They discuss Andy over a pint and Phil promises not to exploit the boy or interfere with his studies. He dare not, with Jim as a father defending his chick! On the provision that Jim talk it over with Liz, the men shake hands on it.
But back to the day's events. In the manager's office, Reg insists that Raquel cannot do any extra curricular modeling. She should have enough recognition as Miss Bettabuys while being able to have her feet planted firmly on the ground. He lays on the cods wallop thick, describing the slippery slope downhill from the catwalk to Page 3 type model in lacy garter belts and wet t-shirts (and seems to be enjoying the mental image of THAT!). Curly protests that Raquel wouldn't do that but Reg insists the lure of fame could be very powerful and he's doing this for her own good.
Jack is at work and seems rather bewildered. He asks Don how a small skirmish can explode into full scale warfare so quickly? Don shakes his head and figures that if they knew the answer to that, marriage guidance would go out of business. Aye... Aye they agree. Alec and Alf are discussing leaflet distribution routes and after a snide crack by Jack, Alec recruits Jack as dogsbody and makes him take leaflets on a route! Should have kept his mouth shut! Percy and Emily, exhausted from a morning pounding the pavement with Deirdre, come in for a restoring drink. Percy gets ahold of one of the leaflets and he and Emily realize the negative impact this is going to have on their candidate!
At number 1, Phil and Deirdre find an Alf leaflet that has been dropped through the letterbox. They too are astounded at the depths Alf has gone to (at the hands of Alec, though, really!) Deirdre is furious at the implications of the leaflet, it isn't her fault she's had two husbands give her the elbow! The leaflet also twists a few facts and Deirdre is prompted to defend her record to Phil. and it's hard and respectable work bringing up a child on your own as well! Will the public believe all this nonsense? Phil thinks they might and she should get even but Deirdre isn't one to sink to Alf and Alec's level but what to do? Well, Phil reckons if she were single, and he were so inclined, which neither of them are, they could get married and beat them at their own game but instead, he advises fighting fire with fire!
Angie arrives at the supermarket just in time for Curly to break the bad news. No fashion show for Raquel. Reg was adamant though he kept going on about wet tshirts and garter belts. Raquel is alarmed, she's not going to be wearing that sort.... is she? of course not, Angie assures her. Pity, though, observes Curly, the way his glasses were steaming up at the thought, it might have been the only way he would have let her but the Ego On Legs cannot be talked round.
Bet still doesn't believe in the tactics but Alec defends his methods and it turns out he's more interested in making sure Phil doesn't get the club open which will affect the business at the Rovers. So it's all about what's good for you then, not the electors? Of course not, not just that, but the best man happens to be Alf with his stellar record and wins over Deirdre who hasn't near the experience and is not more than a jumped up shopgirl! And if that benefits them in the end , so much the better!
Jack is home from his trek and rubbing his bare sore feet under Joss's nose. the old man strenuously objects but that's too bad isn't it!. Vera arrives home, complaining about her day and Joss again suddenly turns loving and supportive. Vera sighs longingly about the posh job they could have had and is angry when she finds out Jack hasn't called Mrs. M-G after all. Jack snaps back, that if it's that important, call her yourself. He's off back to the prison camp with clean socks in tow. He leaves and vera has a little cry on Joss's shoulder. The more she thinks about that job the more she would have liked it. But they've blown it, they have no references. Hmmmm....Joss has an idea.
In the pub that night, Phil and Deirdre come in and order champagne in anticipation of next week's victory. Phil turns the knife a little and tells Alec that, with the effects of Alf's leaflet, Deirdre is now the underdog and the British public love nothing better! Alec realizes this to be true and it's put him off his tod, much to the delight of Deirdre and Emily. Ken comes in and pledges his outrage and support for Deirdre who wants him to keep out of the controversy but Ken spots Alf and Alec and lays into them. A large loud argument ensues with various punters taking sides, physically and verbally. Deirdre and Bet try to diffuse the situation but it doesn't calm down quickly. Even after Bet lays down the law a few sarcastic words are flung. Joss comes in a bit later and tells Jack that he thinks they should go for that job. It can be more than just a dream after all! (What's he got up his sleeve?)
Writer - ADELE ROSE Director - BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3217, Wednesday 24 April 1991)
Bright and early on the Street, a sleepy Alec comes to answer an impatient banging at the Rovers front door. His candidate, Alf, demands to know where his election leaflets are. "They should have been here first thing!", he yells. "This is no way to run a campaign!" Alec sends him away again with the promise that they'll be here soon and not to worry, they'll be worth the wait.
Vera tells her father that she is worried she and Jack will be found out in their fraud against Mrs. Maxwell-Glover. Joss listens sympathetically but Jack thinks she's taking it all too seriously - it was all only meant as a lark. He is unprepared for her sudden outburst as she rails at him for building up her hopes only to dash them! "Sadist!" she shrieks.
As Curly goes off to work, Angie asks him to try again to convince Reg to allow Raquel to take part in her student fashion show. He doesn't think his efforts will avail much but Angie has confidence in him. Only he'd better hurry, she emphasises - they're running out of time!
In the Corner Shop, Alf is grumbling to Audreh about the leaflets not being ready. She thinks he's got just what he deserves for trusting a mate of Alec 's to do the job! Don happens in and Alf changes gear to ask him if he can help out with delivering the leaflets. When Don asks if he is short of volunteers, Alf scoffs at the notion, saying people are queuing up to help! "Well then, in that case, you won't be needing my help!" says Don.
Andy comes into the store and happens to run into Phil Jennings. Phil asks if he's still interested in the job offer and Andy says that he definitely is. Has he talked to his father about it yet? No? What does he have to lose by asking? Andy answers that Jim might just kill him for asking!
In the Rovers, parlour, Alf and Alec are joined by Bet just as the leaflets are unwrapped, "hot off the press". Glancing at one of them, Bet comments that they're "a bit off". The two men look at her quizzically and she quotes, "Alfred Roberts - 'the Family's Champion' - a bit below the belt, is that!" They argue that it's just politics but Bet takes it as a personal attack on Deirdre. She thinks that's how the voters will read it too!
In the aisles of Bettabuys', Curly tells Vera that he is both disappointed and surprised at her for scamming a day off work to go and interview for a job she wasn't really after. "But Curly", she pleads, "it were Jack's idea!" Nevertheless, he expresses wonder that she could stoop to such behaviour, especially as he considers her to be a member of his "extended family". When she hears he has intervened on her behalf with Reg to prevent her being found out, she pats his shoulder gratefully. "Aww - thanks, Petal - I knew I could count on you, Cock!" she beams. "Vera, I'll thank you not to call me Curly, while we are work, *or* Petal, and *certainly not* Cock,! It's Mr. Watts, here - do you think you could manage that?" he asks. "Mr. Watts!" comes Reg's shrill voice, "I hear you've been looking for me?" Turning his attention to Reg, Curly informs the manager that he would like to speak to him about something important. "Five minutes then, lunchtime", answers the manager shortly before turning to Vera to sarcastically inquire on the state of her gallstones.
Andy goes to talk to Jim in his repair shop about the job offer Phil Jennings has made. Jim comments that Andy's "always had a wild streak", unlike his brother, who, "taking after their mother, is the sensible one". (Huh?) Dismissing his father's (nonsensical) remarks, Andy explains that he thinks the job could lead to something important for him. He wants to be his own boss one day, really make something of himself.
In Reg's office, Curly makes a pitch for Raquel to be in the fashion show. Reg is against the idea, (he says) because he has her best interests at heart. As Raquel is Miss Bettabuys, Reg has to consider the store's reputation. He can't take the chance that this venture may lead to other, less savoury endeavours. "Today the catwalk, tomorrow wet T-shirt contests!" he warns. In the face of Curly's protests that it wouldn't be like that, Reg remains unmoved. There will be no fashion show for Raquel.
Alec and Alf stand at the bar proudly looking over their leaflets just as Percy and Emily come in from handing out Deirdre's. Realising they are behind the game, Alec instructs Jack to get out and start delivering theirs. Jack scoffs at the idea, he is a barman, after all, but Alec insists. As they argue, Percy closes in to swipe one of the leaflets from under Alf's nose, which action is met with mild protest.
Phil and Deirdre are just returning from pounding the pavement when, as they enter her house, Phil scoops Alf's leaflet from the floor on the other side of the mail slot. As he skims the flyer, he notes with foreboding that the other side has "taken the gloves off". Having a look herself, she comments, "Flamin, cheek!"
In the Corner Shop, Audreh is working alone and chatting to Ken when Percy comes in and shows him Alf's leaflet. Angered by what he sees, Ken asks Audreh where Alf is. "He'll be out pressing flesh', as the Americans say - a disgusting phrase!" she tells him. "THIS is disgusting!" retorts Ken, waving the leaflet at her.
Angie has dropped in to Bettabuys to see if Curly managed to persuade Reg. Finding Raquel in an anxious state, she tells her not to worry, that Curly knows which buttons to push. Just at that moment, Curly comes down from Reg' s office and breaks the bad news. The girls are deflated to hear it and shocked when they hear Reg's rationale for the decision. As Curly explains, he's worried about everything from wet T-shirts to frilly suspenders!
Deirdre is still reeling from the shock of Alf's election leaflet. She wonders what her crime was except to have two husbands give her the elbow. She's done her best and now finds she has to defend herself against the accusation that she's morally deficient. Phil tells her it isn't enough to stand on her record - she must fight fire with fire.
Bet is still giving Alec a hard time over the jargon on the campaign literature. She asks what he stands to gain besides preventing Phil Jennings from getting hold of the Graffiti Club. Alec claims it's all in the cause of a much higher ideal - the good of the common people. He thinks a man with Alf's experience will make a much better councilor than someone like Deirdre, "a glorified shop assistant with ideas above her station"!
Jack is home giving his sore feet a rub after being forced to go out and deliver Alf's brochures. Vera comes in from work and asks him what Mrs. Maxwell-Glover had to say when he called. He didn't call? But he promised! "That were before I came to be one of Gilroy's storm-troopers!" he bellows. Now he's off to get a clean pair of socks and then back to "prison". If she' s so anxious about Mrs. MG, Vera can ring her herself! Poor Vera looks about to cry when Joss tells her to sit down and let him fix her a nice cup of tea. Then, they'll have a "nice chat", he promises.
In the Rovers, Phil makes a show of going up to the bar and ordering champagne from Alec. They are celebrating in anticipation of their victory, he explains. "The voters love an underdog and that's just what you've made Deirdre into!" From their table, Emily asks Deirdre how he can be so confident. "He's not", she explains, "he just wants Alec to think he is!" The ploy has the desired effect as Alec appears to be quite perturbed.
While Alec gets the champagne into some ice, Phil wanders over to sit with Jim. He asks if Jim has any thoughts about Andy coming to work for him. Jim has some definite thoughts - mainly that he doesn't want Andy's studies to suffer. Phil assures him that he'd only be part-time and should have no trouble coping if he's really keen. In that case, Jim says he wouldn't want to hold Andy back.
Ken comes into the pub and asks Deirdre if she has seen the "garbage" Alf Roberts is putting about. She answers, "I've had it shoved under me eyeballs ad nauseam today, thank you very much." Just as Deirdre is politely declining Ken's offer to get involved, Percy steps in to add his two pence worth. Alf overhears from the bar and says he can't see what all the fuss is about. Ken turns to confront him, saying, "God help the person stupid enough to vote for you after this stunt!" and Phil joins in from behind with, "Here, here!" Ken whirls round to inform him that he doesn't need any support from him, which results in a shouting match between them, with Alf, Percy and Alec yelling from the sidelines. Bet steps up to the bar and orders an end to election talk. The eruption quelled, Phil and Deirdre leave the pub, he, angry and she, embarrassed.
Back at the Duckworths', Vera tells Joss how disappointed she is that they can't follow through and take the jobs with Mrs. Maxwell-Glover. He agrees it's a shame and says he thinks Jack is mad to turn down such an opportunity. "What about the references though?" she wonders. With a twinkle in his eye, Joss tells her to leave *that* to him. "They don't call me Joss Fix-it Shackleton, for nought!" he promises.
Anita Belanger
Joss Shackleton: HAROLD GOODWIN
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Monday (3218, Friday 26 April 1991)
Alf plans to be out of the shop and we soon find out he's going to be on the radio on a programme called Shop Talk. Emily finds out too, courtesy of Audrey's gob and finds it somewhat coincidental that Alf should be on the radio just before the election! Alf patiently explains that it has nothing to do with the election, it's a grocer's show! He has a hard time convincing Emily and after she leaves, having only come in for a box of matches anyway, he yells at Audrey. Why? Was it a secret and what would you be up to, Audrey asks. Not a thing, Alf insists, it really is to do with W.A.R.T.S. (Well, we'll see...)
Curly and Reg talk about the fashion show, which Bettabuys is now sponsoring. Curly assures Reg there will be plenty of positive exposure for the store. Reg has also convinced himself that the sponsorship is good for employee morale. Is it, now? Raquel's morale seems to leave a bit to be desired. She's broken a nail stacking shelves with Vera and demands to know what Reg is going to do about it. Reg is all protective and smarmy and leads her away to take over on check out, as now, of course, Bettabuys' reputation will be at stake! Vera looks down on all this preferential treatment, vowing to Curly that she is looking forward to a job in a nice place for a change where they treat you with respect.
Alec adds a bit of "stiffener" to Alf's cup of tea for Dutch Courage before his interview. This scene is classic weasly slimy Alec material! He reviews Alf's speech and keeps hinting that Alf should get a few insinuations in about Deirdre and how upstanding a citizen he is! Various subtle ways to give the impression that Alf is dependable, reliable. Alf is genuinely only thinking of his grocery itinerary but you and i both know that Alec would have Alf's words twisted round so badly that you'd think Alf were running for Prime Minister. Alec even suggests Alf make up a story about Deirdre, when she used to work for Alf, spending more time chatting up male customers than serving peppermint lumps! Alf insists he's playing no dirty games, he's running on his integrity!
In the pub, Don is reading out loud from the Gazette which has published a very flattering profile of Deirdre Barlow. Alec is astounded and Alf is appalled. He insinuates Phil had some undue influence over the article's reporter and hearing this, Percy cries Libel! Alec quickly ushers Alf out of the line of fire, on the way to the radio station. The news about the phone in radio show spreads around the pub shortly after.
Next door, Phil and Emily are assuring Deirdre that the Gazette article is not over the top and is very good publicity. Phil has heard a rumour that for some reason doesn't surprise the ladies, it's about some lady Alf is seeing that lives in Nightingale Street, the Widow Barford (remember her? One of Alf's Grocery Groupies from W.A.R.T.S?) and Alf has been seen making a few "late night deliveries"! Deirdre refuses to sling that particular mud pie, eschewing any low tricks. She isn't even interested in listening in on the radio programme as she has leaflet distribution to organize but from the expression on his face, i'd say Phil is going to have a crack at it. But i was rather surprised that Emily and Deirdre weren't shocked as all get out at the rumour, this would be very out of character for the Alf they know and love!
Alec hasn't given up and at the radio station, he's still giving Alf ideas for ensuring his upstanding, dependable and generous personality comes through in the interview. But for every idea Alec has, (i.e. Tell them you like children) Alf has an equally negative response (Yeah, except them MacDonald lads!) Alec is about to give it up for a lost cause but when Alf is summoned for the interview to begin, he urges Alf to stick the boot in when he gets the chance. Deirdre is just laughing at you now, after that Gazette article.
Shop talk begins with an introduction of Alf and his business and various and sundry types of customers that frequent his shop. One of Alf's remarks sound to me to be quite patronizing towards the elderly customers (so lonely they might come in for a box of matches just to have a bit of company.... and who was just in that morning for matches???) We cut back to the shop several times during this scene as Audrey listens in with Jim who has come in for a grocery order.
Over at the pub, Bet realizes the show has started and she hurries jack off to get the radio and tape the show for Alec. Joss is over to one side of the bar, writing furiously, that would be the made up references for Vera and Jack to pass off to their potential employer! Phil is there while the radio plays and dashes out for a minute to his car to "fetch his wallet" But he gets in the car and picks up his mobile phone (i think that's the first mobile we've seen on the Street? Am i wrong?)
In the studio, the next caller is a Mr. Owens with a strong Welsh accent but the tone of his voice sounds suspiciously familiar. He begins by asking Alf's opinion on Sunday trade. Alf launches into his business vs. Family values speech. The caller then delights Alf by asking if he is the same Alf Roberts who is running for council. Alf sits up straighter and gets ready to take the opening but the caller continues and we cut away to see that it is indeed Phil on his mobile making the call. He asks if this is the same Mr. Roberts who has been seen making late night deliveries to a certain Mrs. Barford on Nightingale Street, is that personal service or what? Rumour firmly planted! Alf is stunned and the radio announcer ends the show. But the damage is already done and to more than just the electoral front. Audrey is also stunned. Jim is bemused. Audrey seems to believe it, too and is so angry she threatens the Widow Barford and Alf both with bodily harm and lets Jim take his box of groceries home for free!
Later, Bet is reclining on the settee, wiggling her toes in the air. Alec is listening to the tape of the show and moaning Disaster! He believes the rumour too and thinks he's been stabbed in the back! He foretells victory for Deirdre leading to the planning committee and Phil opening up the new club. That spells bankruptcy for him. Bit lets him rant for a bit and then says that she thinks someone else will have even more to say about the whole ...er... affair!
And more she is saying. Audrey drags Alf into the back room of the shop. Alf defends himself. Vivian's husband Desmond Barford was a long time mate of Alf's before his death and his widow is just a bit dependent on Alf, there's nothing more to it. Those late night deliveries were really only the odd lift home from a W.A.R.T.S. meeting! Strewth! (lol) But this is the first Audrey has heard of any of this and figures she wasn't told because Alf has something to hide! Audrey has had enough and storms out of the shop.
Joss has presented Vera with a suitable reference letter from someone he says he used to know but who is dead now (no way to verify). Jack and Vera are thrilled and Jack posts the letter with a kiss!
The fashion show is about to begin. Music pumps out of the speakers. Makeup and hair is artfully arranged. Curly is backstage while Reg is out front amid the students by his Bettabuys sign. The models are dressed and pacing the catwalk and now it's Raquel's debut! She's wearing a lovely fuschia (or maybe it's red, i can't tell) tunic with black leggings and a black shawl over one shoulder with a pink/red cloche hat! She Looks Marvelous and struts her stuff like a pro! Reg lets it be known that she is Miss Bettabuys to several bystanders and waves at Raquel.
But backstage, we see one of the male models has come over ill. Angie and Raquel try to persuade Curly to strip and don the costume but he refuses and escapes to the audience where Reg thinks the publicity might have gone down well. No matter, Angie comes back out front. Curly apologizes but she's not upset. Because... There's Raquel again in an orange and yellow man's suit and fedora. This innovation brings the crowd to their feet, cheering Angie's designs. Angie basks in the glory of success as the credits roll...
Tuesday (3219, Monday 29 April 1991)
Alf is in a hurry to get off to the shop this morning as the new breadman is touchy about being kept waiting. Audreh says she doesn't want to hold him up and it's clear she has no intention of coming with him. Alf can't believe she's still upset about the radio broadcast and again reiterates that nothing improper went on between him and Mrs. Barford! Audreh doesn't really think anything did - it's what "others" are thinking that bothers her. Well if that's the problem, she really ought to come in, he points out. After all, what will folk be saying if she isn't there? "Same as they'll be saying if I am there", she answers wryly, "only I won't be there to hear it!"
Angie comes downstairs in the morning and Curly greets her with a cup of coffee. She expected champagne in bed after her success of the evening before, she quips. There was no time to chill champagne, Curly humours her - not with reporters camped out on the doorstep all night and the phone ringing off the hook! "I'll be lucky to get a line in the poly magazine!" she laughingly replies. Joking aside, she tells him she doesn't know where she would have been if not for Raquel, especially after the way Ben let her down!
In the parlour of the Rovers, Alec is "pacing up and down like a caged lion in heat", according to Bet. He's worried about what effect Alf's embarrassing radio shot will have on the voters. Moreover, he's utterly convinced that Deirdre's camp is behind it. Bet points out that they can't prove Deirdre is involved so they'd best leave that out altogether. Besides, the damage is done now - it's better to do nothing and let the scandal die down. Denials will only serve to remind the voters of what was said in the first place.
At the Duckworth's breakfast table, Jack says Mrs. Maxwell-Glover will have their references by now as he posted the letter last night. He and Vera want to ring her and ask what her decision is but Joss cautions them not to rush her. She'll want to take her time, he points out, give it her due consideration. On reconsideration, Jack agrees they'll wait - "It's all over but the shouting, anyway", he says.
Alec drops into the Corner Shop for a quick consultation with Alf. He advises his candidate not to mount a smear campaign against Deirdre as it will only feed the flames. Alf is taken aback by this, commenting that it almost sounds as if Alec believed the charge! Of course he doesn't believe it, he protests. It *isn't* true -- is it? "Of course not!" Alf blusters. Right then - then the best way to combat the rumour is for Alf to get out and meet the voters. "Close the shop you mean?" That's up to him, Alec replies. "Do you want to get back on council or not?"
In Bettabuys, Curly comes over to the checkout to tell Raquel what a fine job she did last night. He's careful to mention Angie's praise, adding that she thinks Raquel has a future in modeling. "She isn't the only one", Raquel proudly informs him. She's been invited to have a consultation with a photographer tonight. "Are you going?" Curly asks cautiously. Of course she' s going - "What have I got to lose?" she replies excitedly.
Deirdre pops into the Corner Shop for a few provisions and is greeted quite coolly by Alf. Stating she is sorry about what happened during his interview, she's quick to add that she had nothing to do with it. Alf stops short of accusing her outright but he says that it could only be someone "with a great deal to gain". Offended by the inference, she says that since he has such a low opinion of her, she's surprised he allows his premises to be "sullied" by her poster! "And for your information", she shouts, "that wasn't my idea either!" "What poster?!" he sputters, following her from the shop. Looking around and then upwards, he spies the offending item in Ken's flat window. There, for all to see, is a poster of his opponent smiling at the masses!
In less time than it takes to say "Flippin' cheek!", Alf is on the phone to Weatherfield Comprehensive asking to speak with Ken. Told he is unavailable, Alf leaves a message for Ken to call him on an "urgent" matter!
Percy comes into the Rovers and joining Phil at the bar, he launches into the matter of the call-in program yesterday, which he feels was "offensive to public decency" and "over the top". Theorising an attempt by one of the other candidates to blacken Alf's character, Percy opines that it will have the reverse effect. He turns to ask Jack if *he* would be put off voting for Alf because of what he heard. Without hesitation, Jack answers, "Of course not - fella's gone up in my esteem!"
Alf is still trying to reach Ken over the phone. His frustration increases when he verifies that his earlier message has been passed on. Impatiently, Alf decides he's wasting his time and hangs up.
When Deirdre comes in to the pub, Phil offers to get her drink and she grudgingly accepts. She remarks to Bet that she's a bit surprised they are even serving her after the reception she got from Alf. Alec butts in to say that he and his candidate are not as vindictive as her camp! Deirdre and Phil object to the remark but Bet calls for an end to election talk before it can get out of hand. "There's been enough damage done", she points out firmly. "There's been no damage to my candidate", Alec says with assurance. "Quite the opposite", he adds. Phil jumps in with, "And there's been none to mine, either. So I guess everybody's happy". "No, Phil", replies Bet, "everybody's *not* happy!" It wasn't Alf and Deirdre she was referring to - "it was the innocents, like Audrey Roberts, for one!"
Being the man of action that he is, Alf has decided to take matters into his own hands. Having let himself into Ken's flat, he now unceremoniously rips the poster from the window and tears it up, crumpling the pieces and throwing them down to the floor.
Bet has called round to pay a visit on Audreh. She's come as a concerned friend she says, not on Alec's behalf as Audreh presumes. In tones of sympathy, Bet asks what Alf has to say about Mrs. Barford. He says it's all a lie, answers Audreh. "But you don't believe him? All the signs are there?" asks Bet coyly. "No, of course I believe him - it's what *other folk* believe!" Audreh answers. Bet tells her softly that folk who know her and Alf think the whole thing "stinks" and the only way to convince those who don't know them is to "carry on as though nought happened"!
In Bettabuys, Vera is busily stacking shelves when Reg comes along and watches from over her shoulder to see that she is doing it "in the prescribed manner". She answers that she ought to be, he's told her often enough! Rising to face him, she tells him bitterly that he can stop picking on her. And if he doesn't like the way she does her job, he can do it himself!
In another aisle of the store, Curly is asking Raquel about this photographer she's going to see - what exactly does he have in mind? She doesn't know yet but he's told her with the right "exposure", she could go "right to the top"! Reg interrupts to ask if there's a problem and Curly fibs that there was but now it's been sorted. Perhaps in that case, Reg tells him, he wouldn't mind going and sorting out Mrs. Duckworth as she seems to have one!
When Angie comes into the Corner Shop for a loaf of bread, Alf asks her to wait behind the counter for a minute so that he can get some stock from the back. Audreh tentatively enters just as Alf returns to the front of the store. He's surprised to see her but pleased to hear that she's stopping.
Back at Bettabuys, Curly takes Vera aside for a quiet word. Unrepentant, she tells him that Reg "had it coming" when she told him off. He's always nit-picking, she claims! Curly tells her she's lucky to still have a job after the way she spoke to him, but Vera answers that her "days of bowing and scraping to the likes of Holdsworth are numbered" - she'll soon be able to tell him where to stick his job!
In the Corner Shop again, Audreh hands a Mrs. Harper her change and bids her "good day". As the woman leaves the shop, Alf comments that she must have a memory like a sieve - she's been in three times today! Audreh returns cynically that now she's here, the woman has finally got what she came for! Ken enters rather abruptly and tells Alf he wants a word. Alf answers that he would like a word and all... What right has Ken to display posters of the opposition on *his* property?! Angrily, Ken demands to know what right Alf has to commit illegal entry, trespass and willful damage to *his* property?!
In the Rovers' parlour, Alec wonders what Bet said to Audreh to persuade her to go back to work. Bet says she only had a "woman to woman chat" with her, "told her what's important in this life". Alec says he hopes she pointed out to her where "her duties lay". He continues, "Where would Audreh be without Alf? She wants for nought! And all the man asks for in return is a bit of loyalty!" Bet tells him he missed his calling - he should have been in the diplomatic services! Taking her remark at face value, Alec says he can now concentrate on the campaign - he has a feeling that from now on, everything will run "like a well-oiled machine"!
Alf and Ken are now in the flat above the shop, still locking horns over the poster. Alf reminds Ken again that the flat is his property and he won't have it "defiled" with Deirdre's poster and be made into a laughing stock. Ken tells him he's being ridiculous. Everyone around here knows that Ken rents the flat and as Deirdre's husband, he's naturally going to support her in the election. He maintains he has the right to display whatever he wants in his own window. "And I have the right to choose who I want for a tenant!" counters Alf. He tells Ken heatedly that if he persists in placing *that* poster in the window, he's out!
Phil comes around to Deirdre's to try to smooth things over with her but she 's not eager to overlook his stunt. It could have split up two of her friends and now half of Weatherfield thinks she'll stoop to anything to win this election! Phil admits he was stupid to have made the call but there's nothing he can do to change it now so can she please let it go? Grudgingly, she says she would rather give up now than engage in anything other than a fair fight. Phil answers that he understands that now and apologises again for being out of order. She'll forgive him on one condition - that he not interfere in her campaign again.
In the pub, Alf is unwinding with a pint as he tells Alec he wishes the whole thing were over with. Wearily, he begins to recount the episode of the poster
Vera and Curly sit in one of the booths she tells him about the new position she and Jack hope to fill shortly. Curly brings up the question of references and is dismayed when Vera tells him that she and Jack wrote their own. She points out that they're only a formality, something to say that she and Jack are "honest, reliable and trustworthy". (LOL!) "What happens when she checks them?" asks Curly. "Do you think she will?" Vera wonders. "Of course she'll check them, Vera! She's rich enough to buy this whole street - do you think she'll take you and Jack on without checking?" Deflated, Vera can only answer that they haven't done anything criminal -- have they?
Back at the bar, Alf winds up his story. When Alec warns him not to get into it with Barlow, "tricky customer" that he is, Alf tells him not to worry. "I 've marked his cards good and proper. We've no need to bother about him anymore!"
At this moment, Ken is up in his flat, shmoozing with a reporter from the Gazette, Pete Waring. Over cans of beer, the two discuss the poster incident. Ken's landlord threatened to evict him for displaying a poster of an opposing candidate who happens to be his estranged wife - is that it? Ken nods his affirmation. In other words, he faces eviction if he supports his own wife in the election? Again, Ken confirms that's the way it is. With a note of arrogance, he tells the reporter that since election coverage can be so "turgid", he thought the voters might go in for a bit of "light relief". Waring is glad he called - "Cheers!" the reporter offers. At the end of the day, a self-satisfied smile spreads over Ken's face...
Anita Belanger
Pete Waring: PETER ESCREET
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by JULIA JARROLD
Wednesday (3220, Wednesday 1 May 1991)
As her husband and her 'father' tuck into their breakfast without a care in the world, Vera laments that she hardly slept a wink, worrying about the scam of the references. Jack opines that it's no worse than ringing in sick to get a day off work. Joss is inclined to agree with him that the prospective employer is unlikely to check into the references too deeply as "good help is hard to come by these days". Anyway, reckons Jack, they haven't done anything *that* wrong - "What could they be done for?" he asks, rhetorically. "Accepting money under false pretenses", offers Joss. That's all Vera needs to hear. Over Jack's protests, she goes to ring Mrs. Maxwell-Glover to say that they cannot accept the job so would she please return their references.
Curly is almost ready for work when Vera comes to the door to ask for a lift to work. She asks Curly to intervene with Mr. Holdsworth on her behalf, to explain that she wasn't really wanting to pack her job in. Curly points out that when an employee shows as much disdain as she has, the employer is bound to think she doesn't really want to keep her job, but in spite of that, he will see what he can do for her...
In the back room of the Rovers, Alec is talking to a reporter from the Gazette about his candidate, whom he refers to as "Councilor Roberts", only to have the reporter make a sly comment about Alf not having won the election just yet. Alec calls it a slip of the tongue and smiles that Alf "is a natural, after all". The reporter wants to know about the business of Alf threatening to evict Ken over displaying Deirdre's campaign poster. Alec didn't know of the incident but proffers the explanation that there is something "peculiar" about Ken's and Deirdre's relationship. When the reporter presses the point about the eviction, Alec clams up with a "no comment". The reporter suggests that a "no comment" and a threatened eviction are a "loaded combination"...
At Deirdre's place, she and Emily pour over a map of the area slated for canvassing that day. Deirdre comments that she thinks Alf is doing a pretty good job of winning the election for her as he seems bent on demolishing his own campaign. Emily agrees and tells Deirdre they are in the home stretch now, stick to "sweetness and charm".
At this very moment, Percy is loudly and persistently knocking on the door of one of the constituents. A big burly man answers and is obviously not happy at the disturbance. Percy complains vigorously about the man's letter slot, which springs are much too tight and he almost broke his hand on. The householder is not so bothered about the state of his mail slot as he is at being woken. He tells Percy to be on his way, that he works nights and was asleep until Percy called and anyway, who asked him to go shoving things into his slot? Percy won't give up, though. Could he have one of the leaflets back as he shoved two through inadvertently? The man gruffly tells him to be on his way. "You're a head case and if you come back here, you'll be a stretcher case!" he shouts as he slams the door. (In case you can't tell, this scene was absolutely hysterical!!!)
As Percy departs in one direction, Alf rounds the corner from another, armed with his own campaign literature. Just when you think he is going to knock at the door of our shift worker, Alec rolls up, tooting his horn. When asked about the business of threatening to evict Ken, Alf defends himself, saying that he had every right to insist that Deirdre's poster not be displayed on his property. Alec is hearing none of it. He tells Alf that he's arranged for him to be interviewed tonight at the Rovers and that the situation had better be resolved by then. Alf insists he did nothing wrong but Alec is adamant. He tells him there are two things the voters won't brook - that a candidate has threatened his tenant with eviction, and that the candidate's agent has resigned the day before the election! With that, he tells Alf to go and make peace with Ken, "or else!"
At Bettabuys, Curly slips in to Reg's office to ask the manager if he'll have a word with Vera. He pleads on her behalf that she's been under a strain since her mother's death and is sorry about the way she spoke to Mr. Holdsworth. Reg cavalierly agrees to see Vera and Curly ushers her in before leaving them alone. Vera starts by offering an apology and explains that she hasn't been herself, lately. Reg cuts her off, saying it's her fellow employees she ought to be apologizing to for it is they who do the work that she expressed such contempt for! Having made his point, Reg magnanimously accepts her apology "on their behalf".
In the busy corridors of Wetherfield Comprehensive, Alf wanders around looking for his tenant. Ken spots him first and gloats as he realises that Alf has come to offer the olive branch. As the two walk into the schoolyard together, Alf tells Ken that the whole affair has got out of hand. He admits he was wrong to enter Ken's flat and remove the poster but asserts that Ken was wrong, too. Ken doesn't see it quite that way, he feels he had a perfect right to display the poster. Alf makes an appeal on the basis that as a schoolteacher, he shouldn't want his name bandied about the papers and Ken finally agrees to end their feud.
In Bettabuys again, Curly is trying to dissuade Raquel from keeping her appointment with the photographer. He reckons that she'll be required to have her clothes off for the photo shoot and is worried that she'll be taken advantage of. She insists that the photographer is a "professional" and that Curly's fears are unfounded.
Another hilarious scene, this time at the Duckies' as Jack ushers in two policemen who are there in search of himself and Vera. No use pretending they are anyone but the couple in question, before they have the chance to pretend otherwise, Joss tells the detectives they have found the pair!
Detective Sergeant Richardson asks Jack and Vera if they can account for their whereabouts between two and three o'clock that afternoon. They both stammer that they were at work at that time and poor Vera goes into a complete panic. With a grab at her purse, she starts confessing to their fraudulent scheme in applying for domestic positions. Jack heroically steps forward and confesses that he is "the villain" and wonders how much time he'll get for it. The detective tells him possibly six months, possibly six years.
Vera has fished the ill-gotten £30 from her purse by now and is almost hysterically waving it at the detective. He assumes that she is offering a bribe and issues a warning before asking who their accomplice was. Jack only too eagerly points to Joss, who looks up anxiously at the police, wide-eyed at the accusation. The officer expresses his surprise that Joss could get "in by the pantry" and asks the old man's age. Vera asserts that her father uses the door like everyone else and it finally becomes clear that the Duckworths and the police are at cross purposes. Jack steps forward to ask just what it is they are being accused of. They are stunned to hear that the Maxwell-Glover residence has been burgled that afternoon!
In the corner shop, Audreh tells Alf she is glad that he and Ken have made peace now. Alf states that he still doesn't care for Ken, he gets up his nose. Don walks in and remarks that Deirdre's campaign poster is back in the upstairs window and Alf goes ballistic. He runs out to check for himself and then comes back in, expressing his outrage at Ken's effrontery while Audreh pleads with him to let it drop.
Back at the Duckworths', things are considerably calmer now as the situation seems to have been cleared up over a pot of tea. The two detectives are getting ready to leave when Det. Sgt. Richardson stops to flatter Joss that he must be quite a scholar to have executed the letters of reference so ably. Turning to Jack now, he says that he may be calling around again, as the mood takes him - he can always use a good laugh in his line. Jack, grateful to be off the hook, answers, "Anytime you feel like dropping in!" (ROFL!) The officer then cautions Vera not to go around flashing money at CID officers in future. Vera, looking relieved, gives her assurance that she'll be returning the money to its rightful owner. When the officer suggests they might still have the job if they wanted it, Vera sorrowfully says that she couldn't face Mrs. Maxwell-Glover now.
In the Rovers, Bet and Ivy stand at the bar chatting about the election. Deirdre and Phil come in and Bet tells them that Alf is due to arrive at any minute. Deirdre smugly retorts that aside from the fact that he's a hypocrite and a liar, she has nothing against him. When Ivy comments that it remains to be seen who will win, Deirdre snaps back, "I'll make you a bargain, Ivy. I won't campaign in here if you won't." (Arrogance does not look good on Deirdre!)
In the back, Alec is trying his best to entertain two reporters from the Gazette while anxiously awaiting Alf's arrival. One of the reporters, Peter Waring, decides to have some fun at Alec's expense. He talks about "the one story" he "would give anything for". When Alec rises to the bait, he tells him, "A dog with two tails - if you ever see one, call me immediately!" Alec is completely dumbfounded at the revelation. He gives a weak smile as he wonders to himself if the man is playing with a full deck. He tries to change the subject, wondering what could be keeping his candidate...
In the public section again, Alf and Audreh have just come in. Bet tries to hustle Alf into the back where Alec and the reporters are waiting but he insists on having a pint first. Jack rushes in with his excuses for being late but Bet isn't interested, she orders him to see to Alf's and Audreh's drinks as she retreats to the parlor to inform the waiting reporters that Alf has arrived. No sooner has Alf been served his ale than Ken bursts in, demanding to know what Alf thinks he is playing at. Apparently, Alf got hold of a ladder and glued one of his own campaign posters over the one of Deirdre that Ken had placed in his window! (ROFL again!) Deirdre, from the nearby table that she and Phil are seated at, says she doesn't want to stick around for the blowout, but Phil is quite amused by the situation and insists they stay and watch.
In the back, Alec and Bet, waiting with the reporters, shudder as the argument erupts. Hearing the fracas, Waring decides he'd like to have a picture of "the people's man sipping a pint". The Gilroys stand by smiling helplessly as the reporters make their way into the pub.
The dispute between Alf and Ken has heated up by now and has become physical as the two grip each other's lapels. Oblivious to the photographer, their shouting match degenerates into a shoving match as the camera's flash goes off. Alf and Ken suddenly become aware of what has happened and look on in horror as Waring glibly comments, "Not quite the dog with two tails, but it will do!"
Det. Sgt. Richardson: GARRY COOPER Peter Waring:
STEFAN ESCREET Shiftworker: BILL RODGERS
Writer: JULIAN ROACH
Thursday (3221, Friday 3 May 1991)
It's election day! Alec is raring to go, talking about destiny and Brave New Worlds. Bet's just sleepy and wants it over with, after seeing the effect it's had on the folk round here. She shakes her head over the fracas in the pub the night before. Alec attributes it to free speech and democracy and besides, their lot started it! Alec is still moaning on about that club business with Phil Jennings too.
Deirdre tells Emily all about the fight in the Rovers the night before and about the newspaper photographer. She thinks they were set up. Surely not! Tracy brings a tray of tea and listens in. Deirdre really wants to win now, she really does! Ken arrives apologizing for his performance (and yes, he did start it!). Deirdre's more worried about the fall out what will be in the paper because even at this late stage everything matters. Ken pledges his support but Deirdre declines, just vote for her if he wants to help. That goes without saying! (Can you say "Stuff the Ballot Box with votes for Deirdre?)
Alf prepares to leave the shop for the last minute push. Audrey will be on her own all day and isn't pleased about it and lets her opinion be known as is her wont. Alec shows up to wish the candidate luck and offers his support, which doesn't extend to, apparently, driving old people to the polls. He feels they all take advantage and then vote for the opposition just for devilment! Audrey's mood doesn't improve when the Widow Barford arrives to pick up Alfeh. (and I don't think she's all that large a woman, even compared to Audrey!) It doesn't sound like Vivian has had any wind of the radio scandal involving her name and Alf hurries her out the door before Audrey can interrogate her. Audrey makes a disparaging comment to Alec about Vivian's size and Alec unkindly jokes that if Mrs. Kettle (Vivian) and Alf were on the same platform they'd have a landslide victory. Audrey squeals in delight while i am just disgusted. But that's par for the course for someone like Alec who should really be called Mr. Pot in this instance!
Curly is getting the chapter and verse from Raquel about her first modeling session (underwear and swimwear, the photographer's specialty). Curly keeps his jealous nature in check but is rather dubious as to the legitimacy of this bloke. Oh no, Raquel cries, he's for real, keeps changing his cameras and everything! Raquel is enjoying herself immensely and plans to go back for another session, she just has to ring the photographer at dinnertime to arrange it. Curly offers to go with her but is somewhat alarmed when told the photographer doesn't like to have anyone else in the studio when he's working.
Alf and vivian vote and ken shows up. He tries to make peace but it's a half hearted attempt since he still thinks Alf started the whole fight (but Ken DID antagonize Alf by pasting Deirdre's poster in his window above Alf's shop, let's face it!) When Alf doesn't take the olive branch well, Ken has the arrogance to say he tried to be civil but Alf just isn't interested, is he and more angry words are exchanged.
In the pub, Angie brags to Bet that a Manchester manufacturer is interested in producing some of her designs. Percy butts in and puts his two pen'orth in (as usual) by ridiculing the daft designs you see on the runways and never ever see normal folk wearing them on the street. He offers his flat cap for inspection, pointing out it's design is perfection, no body could ever improve on it. Jack tries to get Alec to let him off for a bit while it's quiet in the pub so he can go vote. (I didn't know there were polling stations in the Bookies' now!?) Alec will only let him go if he votes for the appropriate candidate but Bet has a laugh at the whole prospect. Jack's never voted in his life, more like! Proven by the fact that when Bet asks him who's name is he going to put his cross by, Jack indignantly retorts that he can write as good as anyone!
At Bettabuys, Vera seems all would up, minding her P's and Q's, jealously scolding Raquel for calling her boyfriend Curly on the shop floor. (course he doesn't mind it when Raquel does it though i always admonished Kimberly and Vera!) Vera goes off to lunch and Raquel asks to be let off work early for another session. (photography!!!! Oh come on!) Curly grins and leers at her when she promises to ring him when she's done and make it all up to him tonight.
Back to the pub, Alf and Vivian stop in. Mention is made how a lot of people don't vote till the evening so it's hard to tell yet how it's going. Alec sits down with the campaigners while Jack takes note of how women seem to be all over politician. Bet is bemused and asks if that's why men go into politics. Jack snorts that that's why men go into anything! Why should politics be any different! (what do they say, out of the mouths of children? (couldn't bring myself to call Jack a Babe LOLOL)) Bet joins the merry group as Don comes in, again with a newspaper. (remember the upset he caused last time he had the Gazette and read from it? That flattering article about Deirdre that preceded the radio interview) He displays the photo of Ken's hands round Alf's neck and a very nasty headline indeed. Jack shows Alf and Alec and Jack proves his literacy by reading a bit out loud, about Deirdre's ex-husband threatening her opponent and the bit that implies Deirdre spends more time on Grabber Granny weekends to Paris with a multitude of men. Alec is thrilled, good publicity for their side but Alf looks as if things have really got out of control!
Percy takes the paper next door and Deirdre is horrified and angry and threatens to go to the pub and give them what for. She feels like giving up now but they all pledge their support and Tracy hugs her mom and tells her she won't speak to her again if she quits! But how did they find out about Paris? Emily urges a last minute push.
Back to the supermarket and Vera doesn't help Curly's fears any by telling tales of evil photographers and what will it all lead to? Top shelf magazines and mucky clubs in Soho! She warns Curly that he ought to look after Raquel better.
During closing time, Bet interrupts Alec having a snooze on the settee. She mentions the newspaper article and fears it may be Deirdre's downfall and correctly guesses that it was Alec who told the reporter about Paris. Alec justifies it with the same old boring excuse about preventing Phil from opening his club in competition. Bet tells him not to sink to Phil's level. But Alec reckons, with a bit of delight, how he's not done that, he's done well below it!
Deirdre campaigns door to door and in back gardens as well. Phil drives up in his car which is plastered with her posters and he's using a loudspeaker to sound her praises. She is grateful but tells him about the newspaper story and really just wishes he'd keep a low profile the rest of the day. He's angry for her but there isn't much he can do to help and he also guesses the information about Paris came from Alec.
Don and Ivy come into the shop. Audrey's mood is still bleak and she's moaning under full steam. Alf arrives and the Brennans assure him they both voted for him. Ivy's ears snap to attention when Audrey starts sniping at Alf about his election groupies, one in particular but Don whisks her out the door and out of harms way in time. Alf sharply points out that Mrs. Barford has been a lot more support than some people!
It's 9 o'clock and Curly is moping about the house waiting for Raquel to call (uh oh!) Angie figures Raquel has simply had a bath and an early night after a long session (don't we all?) Why doesn't Curly call her? But he's too stubborn for that and storms out to the pub instead.
The waiting begins at town hall as the votes are counted. Vivian is excited and gushing all over Alf which is more than Audrey is doing, sitting like a lump bored stiff. Alec passes by Deirdre, Emily and Tracy and offers his sentiments that it was a good contest. More like Blood Sport, Deirdre says drolly. Alec has the nerve to say that he doesn't have the tricks of the trade that they have but Deirdre again snaps that he seemed to be a fast learner. He's not going to get a civil word so he gives up and joins Alf and company. He is introduced to Vivian who invites him back to her place along with the others for a victory supper. Audrey, not to be outdone, invites Alec to theirs after that for a drink.
Back in the pub, Phil arrives and tries to buy a somewhat drunk Ken a drink. At least he seems to be in that state, drooping over his pint and speaking with a slight slur. Ken won't be pacified with a drink even if they are on the same side for a change. Curly comes in and spouts off to Jack about underwear models and sordid evil minded photographers. Phil asks after Alec and Bet tells him Alec is at town hall (where Phil no doubt knew he'd be). Phil gets his own back on Alec by telling Bet to pass on a message. He's not opening up a club after all. Never planned to, in fact, it was just an idea he had floated. Alec didn't take him seriously did he? Bet is astounded, knowing all the grief and sleepless nights her Alec has spent worrying.
The ballots are counted and Alfred Sidney Roberts is the winner! (one sad person only got 37 votes!) Alf steps up to the podium to make his thank yous but in the process a very presumptuous Mrs. Barford endeavors to take her misguided place by his side and is jostled out by Audrey. The two women push each other until Audrey gets fed up and rushes off the stage. Alf is alarmed and says a very brief thank you and hurries after her. but he can't catch up due to all the well wishers stopping him to offer congratulations.
Writer - PETER WHALLEY Director - JULIAN JARROLD Vivian Barford - PAULA TILBROOK Returning Officer - STEVE HALLIWELL
Friday (3222, Monday 6 May 1991)
The day after her defeat in the election, Deirdre is out bright and early hanging her wash on the line. Tracy remarks that she'd have thought she would want a "lie in" but Deirdre says there'll be plenty of time for that, now she's a "lady of leisure". She wonders if Tracy would like to do something together today since it's a bank holiday. Tracy already has plans with Graham - she did mention it Saturday. Deirdre says she must have had her head in the clouds as she doesn't remember. Tracy offers to cancel but her mother tells her it's alright - go ahead and see Graham and she'll just have a quiet day in. "Just don't sit around brooding", Tracy urges. (Now I have to say, I was impressed with Tracy's thoughtfulness in this scene. Her concern for her mother was heartwarming!)
Alf suggests that he take Audreh for a run into the country. He proposes they find a nice little pub somewhere and have lunch. Still miffed about Vivienne Barford's behaviour after the election, Audreh coldly informs him that she is "otherwise engaged". One track-minded Alf points out that the shop is shut today! "I do have a life outside the narrow confines of this somewhat *rocky* relationship!" she snaps back. "Audreh, I only want to celebrate my victory with the lady who made it all possible", he pleads. "Then I suggest you phone La Bella Barford'!" she retorts. Alf doesn't think she's being fair - she was the one who started the pushing and shoving. Anyway, Vivienne Barford is a loyal supporter, the one who persuaded him to run in the first place - she had every right to be there! "Yes", agrees Audreh, "so ask *her* out! I can just see the two of you in the back of her mini - it'd be like one of them elephant jokes!" Taking exception to the crack, Alf says he will not be ridiculed! If Audreh insists on carrying on this childish behaviour, he'll have no alternative but to go to the Rovers for his dinner! She doesn't take the slightest notice of what he's saying, going upstairs while he's in mid-bluster. "And a bit of respect and appreciation and all!" he finishes anti-climatically.
In the pub, Alec leans across the bar and muses contentedly, "Behind every successful man there's an even more successful agent. 'King-makers', that's what we are" Polishing glasses in preparation for opening, Bet quips, "King of comedy by all accounts!" He protests that he had nothing to do with the fracas and she agrees, it was more to do with Vivienne Barford! His client's "personal life" is not something Alec can comment on. All he knows is he's scutled "the Good Ship Deirdre Barlow" - there's no way "that pirate she hangs around with is going to get his license now!" he notes with satisfaction. Bet looks a bit guilt-ridden as she confesses there's something she found out last weekend that she's been meaning to tell him. Phil Jennings gave up all ideas of opening that club weeks ago. Alec is not pleased at the revelation!
Curly is disgruntled this morning. He hasn't seen or heard from Raquel since she went off to keep her appointment with the photographer three days ago! Angie asks if he's tried ringing. He has but her parents seem to be away for the weekend. Maybe Raquel's gone with them, she suggests. He sulks that he planned to take her out today, someplace special. Angie asks if she could have forgotten but Curly explains that he hadn't told Raquel - it was meant to be a surprise. "Do you fancy going out together?" he inquires of his roommate. "Nowhere romantic of course!" he hastens to add. Angie thanks him but says she'll be working all morning and going to see a buyer this afternoon. She's very hopeful about selling some of her designs to this one! Ah well, Curly sighs, maybe he'll just pop into the Rovers then. "Maybe you, ll come across someone there!" Angie offers brightly.
On the street outside No. 5, Don is giving his taxi a wash when Percy approaches and complains that the Corner Shop isn't open. Don reminds him that it's a holiday and Alf is entitled as anyone to take a day off. Percy r eckons now that Alf's a councilor he's getting ideas above his station. "You can say what you like about Mrs. Barlow - she were always there when she was needed!" Percy comments before going on his way, presumably in search of a shop that *is* open. Don continues to hose down his car but is surprised when mid-spray, the water suddenly stops. He assumes Ivy has shut the water off until Vera pops her head out of No. 9 to say her water also went off, just as she was filling the tub!
The Rovers is apparently without water now too, as Jack discovers when he tries to wash some glasses. Alec tells him to get down to the cellar to check the stop cock which he's sure Jack must have accidentally shut off - "Why must I employ morons?!" he gripes to no one in particular. Percy has just come in and now asks Alec if can have a minute of his time. "What do you want?" snaps the landlord. "Well, that's a fine address from someone who professes to be a public servant!" Percy complains. "Percy, I'm a landlord, not a public relations consultant", Alec corrects. "Now what is it you wanted?" Percy says that he would like to have a loaf of bread please. Alec nearly busts a gasket in response. "This is a pub - not a corner shop!" Taken aback at the outburst, Percy observes that he's sure changed his tune since *before* the election when he couldn't do enough for folk! Jack returns from the cellar to report that the stop cock is on, which news doesn 't serve to lessen Alec's anxiety. Bet comes through and asks Alec what's up and he tells her in disgust the water's been shut off and Percy wants bread! In one fluid response, Bet replies that it's a rotten time for the water to go off and tells Percy of course he can have a loaf! As she goes off to get it from the freezer, Percy remarks on how "refreshing" Bet's attitude is. "Unlike some I could mention, who when they get their man elected, wash their hands of all responsibility!" he adds for Alec's benefit. Alec retorts that if he *could* wash his hands he'd be a very happy man! "Now go and sit over there while you wait for your bread, whilst I get on with less important matters - like how I'm going to keep the pub open with no water!"
Ivy has gone across to the Kabin to ask Rita if she has water. Mavis is sent to the back to check and shortly returns to report that yes, they have. "Must be only your side of the street", Rita concludes. "I do hope so", says Mavis. "It would be most inconvenient to be without it!" She seems completely puzzled at the withering look Ivy gives her and turning to Rita for enlightenment, is met with a look of utter dismay.
Again in the Rovers, Alec learns from Des that his side of the street seems unaffected by the water stoppage. Bet comes from the back to report that it isn't only they who are affected - it's Rosamund Street, Inkerman Street and Mosley Terrace as well. Absently handing Percy his loaf, she informs Alec that she's been on the phone to the Water Board and they are trying to locate the problem.
Holding up the bread, Percy leans across the bar, "Excuse me, Mrs. Gilroy - this is white bread - I'd prefer oatmeal", he says. "If I were you, Percy Luv, I'd take what's offered", Bet answers smoothly. "It's just that I'm loathe to pay for something I don't want", he explains. "Then regard it as a gift, a gesture of good will - all right?" she smiles through clenched teeth. "Thank you! I'll take it home then", he answers, pleased. "Yes, you do that, Flower", she replies. "I'll come back later for a drink", he promises. "I can't wait, Percy" she answers flatly. Alec sees Percy leaving and asks if he's paid for the bread but Bet tells him to forget the bread and concentrate on the water problem. "What am I to do?" he asks in despair. Bet suggests he seek Alf's assistance - after all, he spent a lot of time and money getting him elected. Right, agrees Alec. "It's time to pay the piper!"
At that moment, Alf himself walks in to the pub. Alec greets him with a handshake and tells him he's glad to see him. As Alec pulls a pint for him, Alf says he's glad to be back on council - the great man that people can rely on. "I'm so glad you feel that way", Alec replies. Informing him of the water problem, Alec tells him he can "get that pint down and then see what's to be done about it!"
In the Kabin, Mavis and Rita are having a tea break. "You never really appreciate something as simple as a cup of tea until you're deprived of it", says Mavis. Rita turns to her in surprise, "Mavis - you're *not* deprived of it! It's them across the road that don't have water!" She knows that, she was merely "empathising". Deirdre comes in and Mavis empathetically asks how she is coping. She replies that it was a shock and Mavis agrees it would be, it always happens when you least expect it! Deirdre relents that perhaps it was for the best - anyway, she can't help the way people vote. "Oh", Mavis explains, "I was talking about the water, not the election!"
Don comes in and mentions that he's looking to Alf to do something about the problem. Mavis protests that the man's only been in office "five minutes" and already people are "expecting minor miracles"! Don returns, "Aye, it's all right for you - your toilet's still working! Deirdre shakes her head in mild disbelief at Mavis and leaves the Kabin.
Alf is just back from the Water Board and now enters the Rovers to report to Alec. As he comes in, we hear Percy recalling to Alec what they did in the war without water: "Cactus, that's your answer. For all intents and purposes, a prickly, hostile creature" "A bit like Alec", Bet interjects. Ignoring the interruption, Percy continues with the instructions for mixing cactus juice with gravy browning No one pays him the slightest mind as Alec turns his attention to Alf, demanding to know how he got on. He didn't find out much, a fault in one of the mains has caused the interruption. The bottom line is, it'll be a day or two before the water's back on. "A day or two!" Alec blusters. "That could cost a month's profit! Now get back out there and start living up to the reputation I've built for you!" he shouts.
Angie is packing up her portfolio to go and see her prospective buyer just as Curly returns from Raquel's house. He didn't find her, he reports listlessly. The neighbours said the family is away but Raquel didn't go with them. Angie tells him to be patient and she'll turn up. At that minute there 's a knock on the door. Curly answers to find Raquel standing there, all smiles. Angie brushes past her and Curly wishes her good luck as he invites Raquel inside.
Emily has gone over to the Wiltons, to get a pitcher of water. She apologises for the inconvenience but Mavis tells her not to be silly, what are neighbours for? Vera arrives just as Emily is leaving with a "desperate" request to use the facilities. Mavis repeats distastefully, "You want to use my toilet?" She uses the excuse that Derek is in the shower but Vera pleads again, promising she won't look! Just then, Derek appears from around the corner of the house, watering can in hand. "Hello Vera! The daffodils have come up a treat this year, haven't they!" he says cheerily. Fuming, Vera turns to Mavis, "In the shower, eh?" By way of an apology, Mavis offers Vera a jug of water if she wants one. Going off in a huff, she shouts, "I'd rather die of thirst!"
Sitting together on Curly's sofa, he and Raquel pour over the photographs that "Frank" took of her while they were in London, where they stayed with his parents. Curly is still mystified that she went off without a word but as she explains: "Frank says a photographer has to have a relationship with his subject in order to present her in her true light!" Curly answers sarcastically, "And what sort of *relationship* do you and *Frank* have?" "Well, it's complicated", she says awkwardly. "It looks fairly simple to me!" he retorts, slapping one of the photos down. "Curly, this is my *career*!" she pleads. "And what about *our* relationship?" he asks expectantly. Raquel gently breaks it to him that they'll be moving in "different circles" from now on. She thinks it's best if they split up before one of them gets hurt. "I see", Curly answers blankly. Seeing his pained expression, she hastens to add, "Don't get me wrong - you're great at duty rosters and displaying tins of soup - probably one of the best!" Pausing briefly, she adds with a note of sadness, "You're just not for me anymore"
A fatigued Alf comes home at the end of his long day of chasing answers in the water crisis. Audreh makes a crack about the "Merry Widow" but he tells her not to start, he feels "like Boris Becker's tennis ball" after the day he's had! As he sinks into his chair, Audreh says she doesn't see that not having water is such a monstrous problem - after all, folk can drink bottled water. A spark lights Alf's eye as the thought sinks in, "Aye - they can, can't they?"
A crestfallen Angie comes in after her meeting with the buyer. Curly's sitting on the sofa, aimlessly peeling the label off a bottle of red wine. How did the meeting go, he quizzes her. She tells him of her shock when she discovered her designs had been ripped off! The same clothes Raquel wore in the student fashion show last week were on display in the buyer's showroom. As far as he is concerned, the designs legally belong to someone else! "Is there nothing you can do?" Curly asks. "Well I can have a drink if you're offering", she says, eyeing the bottle in his hands.
In the Rovers, Alec is the picture of dejection. He looks out from behind the bar at an empty pub. Well, near empty - Rita and Deirdre have been innovative enough to bring some plastic cups along and they now sit sipping their drinks. Alec bemoans the loss of business and Bet pleads with him to shut the place. He won't hear of it as he's lost enough revenue already! He does send Jack and Betty home though, no point in paying their wages on top of everything else.
Deirdre and Rita decide to go over to Rita's for a drink rather than stay and look at Alec's glum face. Bet thanks them for trying but Alec mutters under his breath, "Rats! Deserting a sinking ship!" He'll be seeking compensation for this, he promises. And Alf Roberts will be the one to get it for him!
Back at No7, Curly and Angie have mellowed considerably over their wine. He tells her he wishes he'd thought to point out the example of Andy Warhol to Raquel. "He started out painting tins of soup!" he states emphatically. "Raquel's a fool", says Angie. Curly says he can't really fault her for not wanting to stay behind a cheese counter for the rest of her life. "Success isn't what you do with your life so much as what you make of it", Angie reckons. When she sees her designs on the street, she'll know they are hers and no one can take that from her, she says determinedly. "Do you really think you'll feel that way?" asks Curly. "Probably not", she giggles. As if it's the most natural thing in the world, Curly leans over and kisses her. Drawing back quickly in embarrassment, he apologises. "Don't be sorry", she tells him. "I'm not..." She reaches up to pull him back towards her and they share a long warm kiss
Anita Belanger
Written by KEN BLAKESON Directed by DAVID RICHARDS
Monday (3223, Wednesday 8 May 1991)
Audrey makes Alf wait until she gets her makeup properly applied before they can leave for the shop. Alf is about to use his newly acquired political influence to pull a few strings with the water department after the water main near Coronation Street went bust. Audrey must have been listening at least part of the time because she actually has a few intelligent things to say about the whole situation. She could hardly help, she says, he's talked of nothing else!
Vera arrives back at the house with a bucket of water from nearby Rosamund street. She proceeds to ladle water into the kettle as they both vow never to take such things for granted again. Jack tells Vera that some parts of the world don't even know what it looks like. Yere Daft! , she scoffs, Everyone, even those what live in t'desert knows what water looks like! No, Jack corrects her, the end product, he means, like tea, ale, lager... Right, you've got a one track mind, Vera accuses, not entirely surprised. Vera leaves for work, giving Jack his orders to haul more water to fill up the bath tub for a reserve supply. When Jack thinks he can just stay home since there's no water and the pub probably won't be open, Vera insists he not give Alec any cause to sack him and show up when he's supposed to.
It's the morning after the night before (nudge nudge wink wink). Curly earnestly prepares a tray with tea, toast and juice for two and turns to take it to Angie's bedroom. But she's already downstairs! She's very abrupt and forbids him into her bedroom. She rushes back upstairs leaving a bewildered Curly at the foot of the stairs.
Jack arrives at work, late, which is immediately picked up by Alec who is determined he is going to open business for the day. Bet is relaxing against the bar with her newspaper, ciggie and a coffee. Alec notices and wonders where she got the coffee! She got it from Rita's across the road. Alec petulantly asks why she didn't bring two cups over. Because!!! She's cutting down on coffee, he knows that! (LOL) NO matter, Alec has a quest and he drags Jack out with him.
Don and Percy are in the shop trying to get information on how long the water will be off. Audrey is fielding the questions since Alf is in the back on the phone to the water department. Percy volunteers to be the messenger for any news (ah, but you know what happens to the messenger for bad news, don't you?) Audrey scoffs and casts Percy's reliability in a dubious light which of course gets Percy's back up and they start squabbling. Alf, meanwhile is on the phone trying in vain to get the water department to fix the problem, NOW! when he returns to the shop floor it's obvious he got nowhere and there's nothing new to tell. It'll be fixed when it gets fixed. Percy sighs and leaves with the warning that he'll manage to convince folk that their new councilor is trying to do summat when it's obvious he isn't! Audrey sighs with exasperation, Honestleh that man is all gob! Alf's comment is "He's not the only one" but when Audrey asks what was that he said, he just covers his er... tracks and says he was just clearing his throat.
At the supermarket a downcast Curly is playing with tomatoes and making disparaging remarks about all women in general. Vera asks what's wrong but he doesn't say much and leaves. Raquel comes along and tells Vera she and Curly have broke up. She admits she only went with him for what he stood for - power, influence, intellect (???) Now she's all google eyed over her photographer, they're powerful too, y'know, look what they did for Marilyn Monroe! She wafts off, leaving Vera to glare after her with a priceless look on her face that practically snaps "And you're no better than you ought to be for hurting RCurly, too!".
At the factory, Ivy updates Mrs. Ingram on the broken circuit thingy that Mike will not be pleased to hear about. But just then Mike steps jauntily up with and ear to ear smile and he has already heard about the breakdown. No matter, he has better news for Jackie and pulls her into the nearest office. Ivy hovers at the door listening to him tell Jackie that he's booked a fancy hotel/hall for their wedding on July 5.
A busy dinnertime at the pub and the ale is being served in plastic cups. That's what Alec and Jack had gone out for earlier. Jack moans about dragging buckets of water to the loo all morning, his poor back! Deirdre and Rita share a drink and agree they've never really liked Alec, election tricks or no and clam up guiltily when alec brings over more drinks! Oops! Rita asks what's next for Deirdre. She plans to work once her ego recovers from the election defeat but she'll manage.
Alec is dead chuffed that people are still supping in the face of adversity. He wonders if there's money to be made in a retro Blitz theme night. Jack comes through with water buckets and tells Alec "phone!". Alec asks who it is and Jack gives him *that* look and snaps, "Answer it with me teeth, do i?" Alec sighs and goes for the phone while Percy asks Jack if he's about to water down the beer! Jack almost dumps a bucket of water over the old man who then wonders why Jack is so cranky today!! (and he's dead serious, not an ounce of a sense of ha-ha in Percy Sugden!) Percy does admire the Gilroys for carrying on but alec doesn't look happy anymore. Seems Nigel Ridley is afraid that the pub will be shut down by the health people for lack of running water and ordered Alec to close the pub! There has to be a way, there just has to!
Curly is now moping into his tea cup in the staff room and a concerned Vera sits with him. She tries to comfort him but can only think of clich type things to say (i.e. more fish in the sea etc.) so she gently offers an ear to listen instead. Curly says he'll be fine but jumps, thinking Vera is psychic when Vera says she blames Angie. But no, Vera explains that if Raquel hadn't modeled in Angie's student fashion show, she wouldn't be breaking Curly's heart now. It put Raquel's head in the clouds! She tells Curly sometimes it's just not his fault if a woman hurts him. Curly keeps his gob shut.
Don comes out of the Kabin and tries to help Angie down the road with her buckets of water but she's too independent for it and won't be helped. Jack comes hobbling down the pavement from the shop so Don joins him, noticing Jack looks pretty rough. Jack's back is killing him and he just thought this herbal stuff from the store would help. But Don chuckles and Jack hangs his head when he realizes the herbal remedy is meant to be poured in hot water in a tub for a soak... Uh oh!
Bet tries to convince Alec not to bother reopening for the evening. The place is like a tip and he's so tired! Alec has been keeping watch at the door, trying to think of a way to get round the running water problem so Bet steps out for a minute.
Audrey is about ready to leave the shop for the day and home to her house for a proper cup of tea. Alf, too, is on the lookout and Audrey thinks he's being quite mysterious. Alf does admit he has a plan and an itchy nose (you know, that THING they do!) They actually end up batting eyelashes at each other as she leaves and Bet arrives to get some milk. She too wonders why Alf is staring out the door and figures he and Alec both are up to something.
Alec certainly is. He's over at the Wilton's house. Derek and Mavis are busy making the tea and setting the table and the banter between them is related to their meal of fish, a missing fish fork and table settings as they scurry to and fro around Alec who is trying in vain to get out his mutually beneficial proposal. Because poor Alec is only getting his words out in fits and starts, Mavis and Derek pause for a moment and, realizing Alec wants something more than just to pass the time of day, accuse him of being shifty and evasive. Alec gets all huffy and tells them that he was going to pay them to pipe water across the road to the pub (the new side of the street wasn't affected by the broken water main, by the way) but they can stick it! "I'll say good night to your fish, your sauce and the trivia you surround yourselves with! How's *that* for shifty and evasive!" And he stalks out with as much dignity as he can muster, leaving Mavis and Derek stunned and mystified.
Ivy is out on the loading dock supervising a shipment and telling her friend Lynne about the burdens of taking on all this responsibility. Lynne seems uncomfortable when Ivy proceeds to vent her acid tongue in the direction of Mrs. Ingram and the sacrilege of her taking another man to her bed when her dead husband was hardly cold! Another crack about Mike having no friends to invite to the wedding causes Lynne to scurry back in where it's safe. You know what's coming don't you? The truck pulls away and there's Jackie standing behind it. She orders Ivy into her office. NOW!
Alf sees a man into his delivery van and looks up the street to see the goings on. It looks like Alec has found a source for his running water. There's a garden hose snaked out of Des's upstairs window, across the road and into the pub sink! We see Curly arrive home, oblivious to the maneuverings.
Rita is inside number 7 collecting rent from a very distracted Angie. Just when Rita jokes and asks if Curly is behaving himself, in walks Himself! Angie perks up, which Rita also notices but the light doesn't click on and she leaves them to it and they awkwardly go about the business of getting tea on the table.
Alf pours a glass of clean clear water...from a bottle. The camera pans back and Alf's plan is revealed in a large display of bottled Mineral water for sale!
Alec is pouring water too, triumphantly, from the garden hose which he instructs Desmond to go and shut off for five minutes until Jack can take the hose upstairs to fill the bathtub and cistern out back. Poor put-upon Jack staggers up the stairs!
Back to number 7. Angie and Curly are eating tea in silence, the tension thick in the air. Angie finally breaks the ice, "About last night..." See, he lost Raquel and she was upset about her designs being pinched and they weren't themselves. So does she regret it? Yes she does. She never ever thought of him in that light before but blames her upset but not for a minute does she think he took advantage of it. She was just as much to blame and thinks they should just forget it happened and go back to being friends. He offers to move out but she doesn't want that so they agree... it was a mistake and it never happened and they'll keep the whole thing to themselves. But neither of them looks entirely convinced.
Don pours water into the kettle. Ivy arrives home from work so Don natters on about his day. But when he turns around he sees Ivy is in tears!!! She's been sacked!!!
Writer - TOM ELLIOTT Director - DAVID RICHARDS Lynne - POLLY HIGHTON
Tuesday (3224, Friday 10 May 1991)
Jack gets up in the morning and lazily drags himself into the bathroom to get ready to face the day. As there is still no water, he foregoes a shave and brushing his teeth, settling for a spritz of deodorant under his arms. Going downstairs, he tells Vera to consider buying him an electric razor on his next birthday. "You'll be lucky!" she answers. He then complains that Joss has made himself scarce now that "times are tough". She doesn't blame him - for 2p she'd join him, she says. "Now get yourself down to that stand pump with that bucket and start filling the bathtub!" He has no intention of trudging back and forth with water all day and anyway, they only have the one bucket, he argues. She hands him some money from her purse and tells him to get himself over to Rosamund Street and buy another. "Call it yer birthday present!" she smiles.
At the Brennans', Don tells Ivy he'll be going down to the stand pump soon to fetch more water. She's still moping about getting the sack and tells Don that she should have taken his advice to keep her trap shut. He soothes her that everyone speaks out of turn sometimes but she knows she went too far this time. He wonders if it would do any good for her to go and speak to Mrs. Ingram today, or even Baldwin. But no, Ivy thinks she'd only be wasting her breath.
In the factory, Jackie suggests to Mike that Laura Collins might be suited to the supervisor's job now that Ivy's gone. He'd be careful, he says, she was a mate of Ivy's and may have picked up some of her tricks. Jackie agrees to give it some more thought and says perhaps she'll have a look at the accounts instead. Mike tries to divert her by saying he'll go over them personally and suggests she concentrate on filling the supervisor's job instead.
In the Kabin, Rita is telling Mavis and Percy that she thinks Alec very innovative for rigging a water supply from Des, place to keep the pub running. Percy agrees and adds that it shows his public spirit. In times of war they had to resort to all manner of ingenuity, he relates. Mavis doesn't see that public spirit has anything to do with it - more a question of looking out for number one! Rita says she doesn't see anything wrong with that but Mavis takes pride in telling them that Alec came to her and Derek first about using their water supply. "We refused, of course", she says smugly, "That business of the holiday left a very bad taste". Percy can't believe they turned him down - in times of need, you're supposed to "suspend all grudges"!
Across the road, Alf is putting up a new sign, "Bottled Water Available Here". Percy comes over and commends him for his community spirit and asks if there's a limit on the number of bottles he can have. "Help yourself", Alf says, "it's first come, first serve". Percy helps himself to four bottles and proceeds to be on his way but Audreh calls him back and asks for payment of £1.40. He can't believe they are charging for water "that falls from heaven" but she tells him to take it up with Alfeh. Denouncing the scheme as "profiteering", Percy leaves the shop indignantly. Audreh tells Alf that all of his customers are going to be "moaning" over the bottled water and she has no intention of stopping to hear it. Announcing she is "feeling poorly", she puts on her coat to leave. "What's the matter with you?" he demands. "Water on the brain, same as you!" she answers wryly.
In Bettabuys, Curly happens upon Vera and Raquel stacking shelves in one the aisles. He stops to talk to them briefly but keeps it to business, even when Raquel offers to show him her portfolio. As he goes on his way, Raquel turns to Vera to complain that he doesn't seem nearly as upset as when Kimberly Taylor dumped him! She thinks he could at least "crack on that he's desolated". She resumes her work with the lament, "Fellas - they're all dead fickle!"
The pub is buzzing with activity now that there's a water supply from Des Barnes, place. Alec goes out into the street to give Des the signal to start it running and encounters Mavis coming across to the Rovers. He stops her to ask where she thinks she is going and when she tells him, he brings up the the Wiltons, refusal to let him use their facilities. Mavis argues that the difference is his is a *public* house, whereas hers is a *private* one, but Alec rejoins that she is as welcome as she made him when he requested to use her water! Infuriated by the rebuff, she calls over to Deirdre who is briskly making her way towards Alf's Mini Market. Did she hear what Alec said to her? Deirdre stops to tell her she reckons it's time "Councilor Roberts" did something about the water problem and she is on her way to see him about it now!
In the Corner Shop, Alf listens sympathetically as Ivy tells him she is out of a job. Deirdre enters the shop and starts complaining bitterly that the water has been off for three days and Alf's doing nothing about it. It isn't his fault the water went off, Ivy points out. Still, it's his fault it isn't back on yet, she argues. Maybe if he still lived around here he would have acted sooner, she charges. As it is, he's content to "cash in" on the problem! She leaves as abruptly as she came in, and Ivy turns to Alf to tell him to take no notice. As she turns to go, he stops her to ask if she fancies working for him.
In the pub, Audreh joins Rita and Emily for a drink. Emily brings up the bottled water issue but Audreh says it's nothing to do with her, it's the reason she left the shop. Rita relates that Mavis came back to the Kabin "spitting fire" over Alec's refusal to admit her to the Rovers. "She went straight to the phone to tell Derek to sort him out!" Behind the bar, Jack turns on the water tap only to discover that it's now dry. He reports it to Alec who immediately goes out to see what the problem is.
Going into the street, he sees the problem - Derek's car is parked on the hose. Derek is just locking the door when he notices Alec, so he suggests to Mavis that they take a "nice walk to the Flying Horse for a leisurely lunch"! Alec rushes after them to explain that there's been a "misunderstanding". Derek coolly replies, "People have misunderstood who they're dealing with". Alec tells them that he was only joking when he spoke to Mavis earlier - of course they are welcome in the Rovers! Derek says he thinks Mavis is owed an apology. At first Alec counters that there is nothing to apologise for as he didn't mean anything by what he said before but when they start to walk away, he quickly changes his mind. "I'm very, very sorry that you took my little joke amiss", he says, offering them free drinks and lunch by way of recompense. They reluctantly accept the offer and start towards the pub but Alec tactfully suggests that Derek move the car *first*.
In the Corner Shop, Alf is on the phone to his water supplier doubling his order for tomorrow. Audreh comes in and calls him "hard-faced" but grudgingly agrees she'll stop. From the back, Ivy comes out and stops at the counter to get her coat on. Audreh is surprised at seeing her and stands by in silence as Alf tells her he'll see her first thing in the morning. Ivy thanks him and goes, leaving Audreh gawking after her. Alf explains that he, s taken Ivy on. "Yer kidding meh!", she laughs, then, suddenly realising he is serious, "Yer not kidding meh!"
At the factory again, Jackie has turned up some accounts under "Alcazar Holdings" and now asks Mike about the name. He gives her some doublespeak about it being a "shell company" devised to "maximise tax benefits". In order to avoid further giving details, he quickly changes the subject, asking if she's made any decision yet about the supervisor's job.
Curly comes home from work to find Angie busy at her drawing easel. She tells him that she has learnt her lesson and from now on, no one except those she trusts will be allowed to see her designs. Curly agrees it's a good idea and tells her he also has started taking a more "aloof" approach to life. "Detachment is the watchword. Approach things with a less emotional view", he exhorts. She agrees and points to what happened between them the other night as an example. "It was meaningless", she asserts. "Of course", he confirms. Curly offers to do their tea for tonight, beans on toast and Angie agrees, saying beans on toast is something she'll have no trouble remaining detached about.
As the Roberts arrive home, they are still arguing about Alf's decision to hire Ivy. He points out that she's a hard worker, someone he can depend on. Audreh still thinks he should have his head examined but since she's not the one who will be working with her, she doesn't care. Alf contradicts that it is she who will be mainly working with Ivy as he'll be off taking care of council business. He hired her as an assistant, he says, not a replacement. Audreh, acquiescing with her usual grace, says she would rather work nights at a sewage farm!
Mavis and Derek are again in the pub and at Bet's suggestion, Alec grudgingly agrees to their drinks being "on the house". Bet refers to Alec's "joke", telling the Wiltons that she loves a good one, which is why she married him in the first place! Their car being parked where it was, "squishing his little hose", has given her some ideas, she adds with a wink.
Down the bar, Des has asked for another pint. Noting the amount he has already supped, Alec expresses concern that he's in danger of becoming an alcoholic. Des says that he can always shut off the supply and Alec capitulates by offering him a half. "I'll let you know when I want to start on halves", Des answers smilingly. Percy comes in and asks Jack what he's doing filling the sink from a bucket. The water's been back on for the last hour, he informs him. Alec has just served Des his pint and immediately on hearing the news, demands payment of 98p! "But Alec, I only wanted a half", says Des.
Contented after their repast of beans on toast, Curly and Angie relax on the settee with some red wine. Curly is still talking about "detachment" being the secret to good organisation. "One emotion begets another, wreaking havoc and leaving human wreckage in its wake", he says. Angie agrees, "Unplanned ventures are for the foolish". In the face of their resolution, the pair fall into each others arms and share a passionate kiss.
Coming out of the pub, Jack and Vera make their way home. She compliments him on being devious enough to get off early and playfully suggests they can take a bath together now that the water's back on. It wasn't a ploy, Jack insists - he's "knackered" from carrying water around for the last three days and he certainly isn't interested in taking a bath together! They open the front door and the subject is suddenly as they are shocked into silence by the scene before them. In horrified shock, they survey their ruined home as water drips from everywhere. The taps have been left on all this time, resulting in a flood!
Anita Bélanger
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by DAVID RICHARDS
Wednesday (3225, Monday 13 May 1991)
First thing in the morning and Vera, looking quite perturbed, is knocking on Curlys door. He greets her with the speculation that she is here to ask for the day off, which she is - owing to the flood she and Jack have had. He tells her that its rather inconvenient but she asks to come in and explain. He blocks her with the excuse that Angie "might not be decent", then, realising his gaff, suddenly changes his mind and tells her to take the day off. She is most grateful and turns to be on her way but as Curly shuts the door, the penny finally drops and Vera questions, "What dya mean might not be decent?"
As they open the corner shop, Alf and Audreh are discussing their new employee, Ivy. Alf can do nothing but praise the woman, saying how honest and hardworking she is, while Audreh seems indifferent as hes the one who will have to work with her (she thinks!). Meanwhile, at the Brennans, Don and Ivy are debating Ivys new job from the other angle; can she get along with Audreh? Ivy resents reminding her of the reason she was lately sacked from Ingrams (for slagging off Mrs. Ingram) and points out that its Alf shell be mainly working with and shes never had a cross word with him.
Jack and Vera are getting down to the business of cleaning up after the flood, dragging a wet carpet into their tiny back yard. Veras already discouraged by the mountain of work ahead of them, so upset in fact that when she thinks about it, she wants to scream. With that, she stands, fists clenched, and lets out a piercing primal scream. Jack stands by and when she finishes, asks her to have one for him. "You cant do ought for yerself, can yer?" she replies angrily. Jack decides he cant hack staying around home anymore and announces that he is going to work early.
In the shop once more, Alf is showing Ivy the ropes. As he explains to her that the cash register is "the pulse of the entire business", Audreh comes from the back and announces that she is off to the cafe to get a thermos filled with tea. Ivy innocently asks if there isnt a kettle in the back and Audreh retorts that a kettles not much use without running water. Ivy reports that the water has been back on since last night and Alf suddenly remembers that he has another shipment for bottled water being delivered which he now hurries to the back to cancel, leaving Audreh to resume Ivy's training. Audreh is left all dressed up with nowhere to go and as she glowers at Ivy, the other woman apologises for interfering with her plans to go to the cafe. Changing the subject, Audreh pushes behind the counter to stand beside Ivy. "Now what is it you need to know?" she asks sharply. "Ask and ye shall be told".
In the Kabin, Rita remarks to Phyllis on her constant cheerfulness and asks what her secret is. Phyllis maintains its as simple as this, she has no imagination. Rita sees her point and offers Mavis as an example of what a misery you can become with too active an imagination, always fretting. Phyllis points out that Percy is another case, "Too much going on in his head", she says. "Now me, Im a physical person!"
As Phyllis exits the shop, Rita turns her attention to Mavis. Rita picks up a magazine and begins reading aloud an article which she teases may be of some interest to Mavis as it pertains to a "powerful aphrodisiac", *parsnips*. Mavis expresses her skepticism and feigns disinterest until Rita moves into the back to brew up, at which point, she eagerly snatches up the magazine and peruses the wonders of parsnips for herself.
In the corner shop again, Sally happens in and sees that Ivy seems to be getting the hang of things. As the two are chatting, Audreh comes through from the back and announces that since Ivy has things so well in hand, she will be off for the afternoon. She makes a show of telling Sally how well Ivy is doing and echos Alfs words about how hard-working and honest she is. Telling Ivy to think of herself as a "manageress", Audreh wastes no time in getting out of the shop. In Audrehs dust, Sally comments about how well Ivy and Mrs. Roberts seem to be getting on and Ivy affirms this, saying, "If shes going out of her way to be nice to me, shell find me the same."
In the Rovers, Betty and Percy are talking about "real" disasters, such as earthquakes, as opposed to lesser ones like floods, which at least you can see coming. Phyllis listens in admiration to Percys opinions but Jack, from behind the bar, retorts that at least Noah had a warning from the Lord, whereas, he and Vera had none! Percy points out that people carry insurance for such eventualities and that Jack should check his policy to see if they have coverage.
Alf returns from the his morning meeting and is furious that Audreh went off and left Ivy working alone in the shop. Ivy tries to deflect his anger by asking how his committee meeting went. She is making every effort to stay out of any conflict between the Roberts, for now, at least!
Jack comes home to find Vera sitting in a chair in their tiny back yard. She tells him she is waiting for the sun to come out and we sense that she isn't talking literally so much as philisophically. Reflecting on her lot in life, she complains that shes been cleaning up her whole life - even her mother used to keep her home from school to clean up. As Jack gingerly hands her the hot pot hes brought from the pub, he tells her that if they play their cards right, they might both "clean up".
In Bettabuys, Deirdre pushes her trolley leisurely down the aisles and reflects to Emily about what her prospects are, now that shes out of a job. Emily suggests that she must have made some contacts in her four years on the council and Deirdre points out that she has also made a few enemies. She relents that she has actually been considering using some of her contacts, since it isnt what you know, its who you know. Curly greets the two women and as he rounds the corner, runs into Angie.
Angie looks pleased to see him but he reacts with nervousness and asks what she is doing there. She is amused when he tells her that neighbours from the street are in the store now and he doesnt want people to start gossiping about them. As Deirdre and Emily round the corner, Angie sees a chance to tease Curly. She can barely keep a straight face as she asks the two women to please move on to the frozen veggies as she and Curly are in the midst of "a difficult exchange of intimacies" and she is liable to start crying at any time. Slightly puzzled, Emily and Deirdre continue on their way, leaving the two roommates on their own. Curly looks very embarrassed but Angie is smiling at her little joke.
Sending Angie in the direction of the lima beans, Curly wastes no time catching up with Emily and Deirdre, offering in explanation for Angies behaviour, "Polytechniques - theyre all mad!"
Back in the Kabin, Rita observes Mavis reading the article about parsnips. "Could Derek do with some G-ing up?", she asks coyly. Mavis is a bit defensive, saying there is nothing wrong with Derek, but then she relents that there may be something wrong with her, suggesting they do have a problem. Rita apologises that she didnt know and suggests that perhaps Derek is feeling stressed at work and a holiday might help. Mavis tells her that she has suggested a holiday but Dereks idea was to go off to Scotland for a week and sleep! Rita doesnt know what to tell her in that case... Perhaps she *should* try the parsnips?
Audreh breezes back in to the corner shop after an afternoon spent shopping. Alf demands to know what shes about, staying away all afternoon and she casually retorts that he was away all morning. He contends that was different as he had a planning meeting but Audreh argues that she was "planning", too - planning to make the best of herself for when they take holidays! She goes on, saying that they yet have more planning to do, speaking of holidays. Alf is not going to let it drop but not wishing to continue the argument in front of the new assistant, he packs Ivy off for the day, telling her again how well she has done.
As Ivy leaves the shop, the Roberts continue their shouting match which is loud enough to be heard outside and catches Ritas notice from across the road. Ivy shakes it off and spotting Rita as she tucks her signboard away for the day, crosses over to bid her a good evening. Rita asks Ivy how her first day at work went. Ivy pauses momentarily before replying, she doesnt know whether shes mad or has a streak of wickedness, but she thinks she enjoyed it!
At Deirdres, Phil is trying to get her to come out and have a drink with him but she isnt in the mood as she has things on her mind. He finally persuades her by saying that she can use him as a sounding board and he will happily listen over a drink. She doesnt want to go to the Rovers though, not after the messiness of the campaign. Again, he persuades her that its handy and she has to deal with Alec sooner or later. He advises her to take the high road by initiating the fence mending and she finally agrees, the Rovers it is.
In the Rovers, Percy is waylaying Don as he tries to get three drinks from the bar to his table, where Ivy and Vera are waiting. Percy has a beef with someone who parked in the wrong space apparently and informs Don now that he will be writing letters to everyone from the Borough Engineer to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents! Don tells Percy that he could do with a fax machine. On the other hand, he could have just left a note in the fellas windshield. "Oh, aye - I did that too!" Percy reveals. "Told him in the note about all the letters Ill be writing and all!"
Deirdre and Phil make their way to the bar and Deirdre is relieved when she hears from Betty that Alec and Bet are out for the evening. Seated now with Vera and Ivy, Don is hearing all about the damage caused the Duckies house by the flood. Jack, on his way to clear up some glasses from another table, now chimes in and confirms that it was like "Niagra - bleedin- Falls. In the face of the Brennans sympathy, Vera and Jack tell them their plan for recovering the damages from the insurance company. They plan to refurbish the entire house, everything from new carpets and drapes, to wallpaper and furniture.
Seated at another table are Rita, Mavis and Derek. Mavis tries to run interference when Rita questions Derek about how hes been feeling lately but to no avail as Derek seems only too eager to discuss the matter. To Mavis consternation, Rita mildly asks him if hes been feeling tired lately and whether hes been suffering from headaches. While Derek readily confirms these symptoms, poor Mavis asserts that he is exaggerating and pleads for them to go home now.
In the privacy of a booth on their own, Phil listens as Deirdre goes over her options for the future. She mentions that she has contacts from her time spent on the council and that she may be able to secure a job through one of them. Phil reminds her that he is one of those contacts and asks her if she would accept a job from him. She denies that she was fishing for any such offer, then realises he was being serious. She tells him that she thinks hes very sweet - mad, but very sweet, and that she will manage somehow, not to worry.
Writer - JULIAN ROACH
Thursday (3226, Wednesday 15 May 1991)
Deirdre collects the post which is full of bills and is dismayed at the size of the phone bill. Tracy reminds her mother of the 75 quid needed for the school French trip and is told it will come. Deirdre is planning on a trip to the Job Centre this morning. (Why doesn't she ask Ken? He should be responsible for some of the expenses of child rearing too!)
Jack fills out an insurance form, planning to take the insurance people for all he can. Vera warns him to have a hand in clearing up more of the mess too while she's at work. He walks her out the door, discussing the whole matter and as we emerge onto the street, we see Percy Sugden industriously washing Mrs. Bishop's car. Jack sees Vera off optimistically, "the sky's the limit!".
Audrey appears to be talking about Ivy's inexperience to another customer which distracts Ivy from Alf's shelf stocking instructions. Mavis enters looking for parsnips but is told they're out of season. Alf offers carrots but no, it has to be parsnips. Ivy ruffles Alf's feathers by suggesting Mavis go to Bettabuys though the parsnips won't come cheap. Mavis leaves and Alf has a go at Ivy for sending customers to another shop and Audrey takes the opportunity to do so as well in her smirky sanctimonious way. Bettabuys don't pay your wages, we do! Ivy holds her tongue.
Mavis returns to the Kabin, unsuccessful in her quest and now her schedule will be all set off course if she has to go to Bettabuys on her lunch hour. Rita lets her go now since the shop is quiet and though Mavis won't admit to Rita what she's after, Rita knows. Mavis leaves gratefully as Deirdre arrives on her way to the job center. Rita assures Deirdre that the paper bill can wait as long as need be and is sure Deirdre can get a job with all her experience and qualifications. Rita asks if Deirdre can't go to any of her ex-council contacts but Deirdre is reluctant to pull strings on the old boy network. Rita reminds her that sometimes you have to swallow your pride. Yes, Deirdre muses, Phil said the same thing and even offered her a job but she feels it was just a charity offer, not a proper job at all.
Ivy makes a mistake on a price for something that Percy wanted, and of course he pointed out the error, a whole 3p! Audrey is in her element, being extremely condescending to and about Ivy to Percy, the poor old man just trying to manage on a pension. Ivy again, admirably, holds her tongue even when Audrey makes Ivy take a late lunch as she herself has shopping to do.
Vera should be stacking shelves but Curly finds her comparing two tins, one of beans and one of pineapple chunks. He finds it extremely unlikely that even Jack could manage to stomach that particular combination but Vera was actually after comparing the colours on the two tins to see if they went together, with a mind to her upcoming decorating project. Curly is no help at all on this and nearly lands himself in it when Vera snarks at him and wonders what side of the bed he got out of that morning. He snaps that his sleeping arrangements are none of her business. Mavis happens by and asks after the parsnips. Curly escorts her to the frozen veg as there are no fresh. Curly pushes the merits of the freshly frozen young vegetables as the ultimate parsnip and offers to sell her two of the 2 pound bags. Mavis demurs and takes just the one and waits awkwardly until Curly is paged away. Immediately she snatches up not one, not two, but Three Bags Full of parsnips to go with the one she already has in her basket. (Desperate times call for desperate measures! LOL)
In the pub, Jack asks Angie if Curly is behaving himself, if everything's going ok. Angie manages to hold her tongue until she susses that Jack only means if Curly is a well behaved house mate and that he knows nothing about "that other night". Jack changes the subject to his redecorating project and plans to bilk the insurance company, which elicits scorn from a newly arrived Percy. What is the world coming to! Jack is given food for thought when Percy warns that over-assessment might lead to a special investigation and getting caught out for fraud.
At the job center, Deirdre finds out that all her clerical experience is sadly out of date and even her council background might put some employers off. She is advised to take some retraining, a word processing course would not go amiss. In the meantime, for income shortfalls, the social must be consulted.
Back to the Kabin, Angie has a laugh at the magazine article that touts the aphrodisiacal qualities of parsnips. Mavis, to Rita's amusement, hotly defends it, figuring there must be something to it if a respectable magazine prints it. Angie scoffs and says it's just a gimmick to sell magazines but she buys it anyway. Rita laughs that the young people don't need special recipes to get them going. Angie smiles secretively and leaves. Rita again tries to find out what Mavis is fixing for Derek's tea but the only reply is "A Surprise".
Deirdre visits an old council contact. She accepts sympathies and compliments on recent defeats and past successes on council. She gets right down to business and tells Clive she needs a job, listing her qualifications. He hedges and tells her the only position he has is that of a cleaner. She isn't proud and is quite willing but he wouldn't dare offer it to her, she's over qualified. No it just won't do!
In the corner shop, late afternoon, Ivy and Audrey have a coo at Sally's baby. Ivy is just on her way for a very late lunch which is going to be cut short because Audrey has a hair appointment. You just know Ivy isn't going to last much longer with Audrey's attitude and taking advantage like this.
AT home, Deirdre deals with a complicated form for social security while Emily looks on sympathetically. Emily hears the story about Deirdre's frustrating day and lack of successes and is very supportive. Deirdre now regrets all those years of staying home just raising Tracy when she probably should have been working on a career instead of relying on her husband. The phone rings so Emily is dispatched to make the coffee while Deirdre answers. Good news! Deirdre has a job interview for a phone sales job. Emily is dismayed, this is not the best job for Deirdre she feels but Deirdre has bills and school trips to be paid for and is determined.
Jack puts his plan into motion. He removes the brass plaque from the front hall and starts sponging down the wallpaper from a bucket of water. Vera, meanwhile is perusing decorating magazines in the Kabin, looking for ideas. She sees curtains in one that put her in mind of the Sheers that Mavis has. Mavis talks about ambiance which Vera considers and then invites herself to Mavis's for a look around to get some ideas. Mavis is not able to dissuade Vera who manages to clear out of the shop before Mavis can tell her that she and Derek "are busy" tonight! Rita just stands back and chuckles to herself.
Phil and Tracy arrive together but Tracy's in a blue funk, highly embarrassed because she and one other nerd haven't paid for their trip yet and everyone knows. Deirdre tells her she has a job interview and promises the money. Phil offers to take them both for a slap up meal to celebrate and sends Tracy off to change clothes. But he is horrified to hear what the job is! She's way better than that sort of job. He offers to pay for Tracy's trip just as a loan but Deirdre declines the offer. She has to stand on her own two feet for her self respect!
Vera has had a good look all through Mavis's house and is very complimentary. Mavis is unsuccessful and trying to get Vera to leave because Vera keeps finding things to explore and talk about. Vera spies the bag of parsnips and this leads to another conversational tangent about Jack preferring chips and a burned down chip shop. Mavis is nearly beside herself with anxiety, having yet to even begin to fix the tea for Derek. She heaves a great sigh of relief when Vera finally goes and proceeds to her recipe for Parsnip Surprise, adding an extra half bag of parsnips to the pot for good measure.
Back at the Duckies' Vera is horrified to find Jack peeling the corners of the damp wallpaper and demands an explanation! (I'd say his life depends on it, judging from her fury!)
At the Wilton's, tea has been consumed and Derek is in raptures over his casserole. He feels transformed into a new man and Mavis is fairly quivering with excitement in her chair!
Jack has explained his plan to a dubious Vera. He'll have the decorator from Classic Interiors in tomorrow and make sure the bloke leaves lots of samples for Vera to see. Then the wrecked wallpaper will convince the insurance assessor to see how bad the flood was and they'll be able to up the insurance claim! Ohhhh! they both cackle with glee over Jack's "brilliance" and Vera helps him splash the bucket over the remaining wall as they dance around laughing and singing and sponging the wall!
Job Centre Clerk - JOAN CAROL WILLIAMS Clive
Wallace - CHRISTOPHER WILKINSON
Writer - HARRY DUFFIN Director - RICHARD SIGNY
Friday (3227, Friday 17 May 1991)
Apparently the parsnips didn't achieve their desired effect last night. Derek starts the day by praising Mavis over breakfast. What a "canny little shopper" she is, a veritable "homemaker extrordinaire". Far from pleased, Mavis yearns for the days when he compared her to Marilyn Monroe. "What happened to not realising the power of my own sexuality?" she wonders. "Huh?" replies the witless Derek. "Oh -- eat your egg!" she answers in frustration.
Later on in the Kabin, she comments to Rita that Derek wouldn't have noticed red lace knickers last night - in fact, she didn't get so much as a handshake from him at bedtime! Give the parsnips another shot, advises Rita. Or, you could try red lace knickers.... Opting for the former, Mavis again prepares parsnip for their dinner, this time in a curried soup. Derek, who's brought home flowers as a guilt offering, praises his wife's cooking to the hilt. Mavis is delighted to hear that he loves "everything about her", but deflates rather rapidly when she hears that her cooking ranks "second only to (his) own dear mother's"!
Vera makes it clear to Jack she wants a "classy" decorating job now that the house is in ruins. Nothing is too good since the insurance company will be footing the the bill, he agrees. She's going to try to get off work early so she can be here when the appraiser comes in but Jack assures her there's no need - he can show him around the place. Nevertheless, Vera does make it home on time and is somewhat disillusioned to find that she recognises the appraiser as one of Jack's drinking cronies from the Legion. That doesn't mean he isn't a professional, Jack hastens to assure her. No, Lew Crowther really knows his stuff when it comes to wallpaper and paint... When Jack inquires about the prices of the "quality" materials, hand prints at £55 or a Chinese silk at £40, he wonders, "Is that all?" but Lew informs him those are the prices per bolt! Satisfied with these figures, Jack sets about submitting their claim to the insurance company.
Vera is thrilled with the prospect of getting the place redecorated, even the name of Lew's company, "Weatherfield Classic Interiors" excites her. But she starts to wonder why suddenly Jack is showing her £10 bolts in the wallpaper sample book instead of the ones they talked about earlier. Evidently, Jack's plan is to show an inflated set of figures to the insurance company. When it comes right down to it, do they really need Chinese silk on the walls? Moreover, think of the money they'll save if they don't have to pay the cost of the labour. Why, they can net a £700 profit from the total £900 claim if they do the work themselves!
Ivy has made herself indispensible as far as Alf is concerned. He only wishes Audreh would take as much of an interest in the Corner Shop as Ivy does. Lapping up her boss' praise, Ivy makes a suggestion that garners even more favour - what about the idea of keeping the shop open in the evenings? Chuffed at the plan, Alf later repeats it with enthusiasm to Audreh in the Rovers but far from liking the idea, she sees it as a "tactic" on Ivy's part, a manouver designed to get into Alf's good graces and show her up as "lazy"!
She tells Ivy herself what she thinks of her plan at the earliest opportunity. Ivy holds her own, saying she was only trying to help Alf. In the midst of their arguing, Martin comes into the shop to ask a favour of the two grannies. Can he leave Sarah Lou with them while he takes Nicky to his soccer match? They agree, of course he can, both trying to give the appearance that nothing's amiss.
Another day of being unemployed and Deirdre finds herself thankful there are no new bills but increasingly concerned about her future and how she's going to cover the cost of Tracy's trip to France in particular. Tracy reckons if her mother married Phil Jennings, all their problems would be solved. He must be "rolling in it" after all, didn't he spend £34 on a curry dinner last night? Not that Phil himself has mentioned marriage, but there is still the offer of that job... But as Deirdre expresses to Phil and others, she can't just keep running "from one safety net to the next". Rita tries to be supportive by giving Deirdre a pep talk and Emily even offers to lend her the money to pay for Tracy's excursion. But, determined to stand on her own two feet, she gives telephone sales (kitchen remodelling) a shot.
The girl who interviews her, Lara, (her "mother was a fan of Dr. Zhivago") makes it all sound a snap - all she has to do is convince the person on the other end of the phone that she's their "friend". Unfortunately, between the hang-ups and the attempted pick-ups, she finds the whole experience degrading and gives up in despair. As a last resort, she bites the bullet and calls Ingrams about the position of Area Sales Rep she's seen advertised, even if it does mean working for Mike Baldwin...
Anita Bélanger
Lara Warren: TRICIA WILCOX Lew Crowther: DAVID
WILLIAMS
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by RICHARD SIGNY
Monday (3228, Monday 20 May 1991)
Des asks the MacDonald lads to help him shift a table into the boat which they do in spite of goody-goody Andy wanting to get right to school. (Which is a switch, he was moaning about it not so long ago!) He does get his way after the chore is done though, and manages to get Steve away from the boat. Steve seems to have taken a fancy to the boat which warms Des's heart.
Ivy's mouth is going full tilt, with every thing imaginable nasty to say about Audrey but she's saying it to Don over the morning washing up. He's sick of hearing it and thinks she's well on her way to talking herself out of another job by slagging off the boss's wife, same as last time at Ingrams though it was the boss's boyfriend that time. She shouldn't even be telling him (he tries desperately but it doesn't work). She insists it's ok to get it off her chest to her own husband who advises her to just rise above it. (That woman isn't happy unless she has someone to gossip or complain about!)
Tracy is nagging again about the money for the French trip and Deirdre promises her she'll find it somewhere. Tracy picks up the ringing phone on her way out. It's Mike! He's seen her job application and wants to talk to her about it. They fix up something more informal than his office, planning to meet at a canalside pub at dinnertime.
Mavis is over an hour late for work and gets the sharp side of Rita's tongue for it. But there's a very good reason! Mavis blushes and says she started out in good time but sometimes Derek can be just so insistent! Masterful! (OH. I see. It's like *that* is it???) She tried to demur, knowing Rita was alone in the shop, but, well.... Rita chuckles and reckons the parsnips are doing their job, right? Well... Mavis admits she had them mashed with carrots on Saturday and since there were some still left over, roasted some with the Sunday joint but she doesn't really take much stock in all that. (oh NO???) This woman is glowing so much she's a veritable beacon! Rita is pleased for her though. (and jealous?) Mavis is embarrassed enough and suggests they change the subject to something... er... more uplifting.
Des is busy beavering away at the boat when Percy Sugden arrives, pointing out the lack of security in Des's unlocked gate, anyone could come in! Des can see the truth in that! ;) Percy witters on about the eyesore of a boat (which of course only pains the eyes of the one neighbour and anyone that happens to "just" walk into the back garden through the unlocked gate!) Des asks didn't he ever want to just float away from it all? Oh aye but the only time he did that was on the escape from Dunkirk, waiting two days in a little dingy to be picked up. (wait a minute, what happened to the desert?)
Audrey is bored, the shop is not busy and Alf gets an earful but that opens the door for Alf to decide on his newest plan, to open up later in the evenings. Apparently a great suggestion from his newest employee, which Audrey isn't too pleased about. Ivy is going to work her evening shift around Don's evenings on. Audrey has no intention of working nights and thinks it's utter rubbish but the more she tries to put her foot down, the more he digs his heels in. It's his shop and he'll do what he wants and if she doesn't like it, hard luck! Ivy continues to sweep the floor wordlessly. Audrey sticks her nose in the air, pouting.
Deirdre meets Mike in a lovely pub. He expresses sympathy over her loss in the election and surprise that she didn't make any useful contacts. She tells him, though she has no sales experience, she learned to be persuasive from the council and how to press people. That should stand her in good stead but she doesn't want a charity job, she wants to earn it on her own. He knows and respects her for it. (But then he always did have a soft spot for her!)
Dinnertime in the pub, Don's not happy that Ivy's working nights now, it was her idea and she didn't even tell him about it first. Mavis and Derek are cuddling and acting like honeymooners which doesn't escape Bet's notice. Derek even suggests a "nooner" and manages to talk Mavis around to the idea but then remembers a pressing appointment so they plan to make up for it tonight.
Steve shows up to help Des after dinner. He tells Des there is no school that afternoon for him but though Des sees through him, he lets him help anyway. Later when Steph gets home, she is introduced to the first mate and they offer him a meal to thank him for his help.
Deirdre tells Emily about the job opportunity with Ingrams but Emily is cautious. She warns Deirdre not to trust Mike, she isn't impressed that Mike had the job interview in a bar, meaning he must be after something else. Deirdre insists she's only after a job, nothing else and besides they've both changed over the years since their affair. Emily suggests that Mike hasn't changed at all, he's still an unscrupulous opportunist, remember she's worked for him before! She hopes Deirdre doesn't regret this but Deirdre is confident it's all above board.
Alf shows Ivy the ropes in the stockroom. Gail comes in so Audrey takes the opportunity to vent her frustrations about working all the hours God sends. Alf joins in the argument and they both try to win Gail to their respective side. Gail stays well out of it! Smart girl!
Des heads to the pub after tea. Steph clears up and then has a chat to Steve. He gazes at her silhouette and tells her that school is a waste of time and he doesn't even think he'll pass any of his exams. Doesn't know why he's even bothering (oh, i can see where this is going !)
In the pub, Jim tells Betty that Liz should be back from Ireland this week (was this Beverly Callard's maternity leave? her son is about that old i think.) Des comes in and they chat about steve helping out Des. Rita is in for a wind-down drink with Bet who asks after Mavis, describing the lovebirds that were perched in the booth at dinnertime. Rita explains about the aphrodisiac qualities of parsnips. Who would have thought?
Aphrodisiac, indeed! Derek arrives home, looking like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. Mavis is primping inside, spraying cologne down her cleavage, fluffing her hair and leaving the top button open on her blouse. Derek comes in the door and she rushes to him with a cry of delight but is stopped short when he wails, Oh, Mavis! He doesn't even think she'll ever forgive him and doesn't know how to find the words to tell her...He was the last one out of the office except for the cleaning lady who was down on her hands and knees scrubbing when he was overtaken, no, SEIZED! He was in the grip of a primitive instinct more powerful than himself and couldn't help it. He slapped the bottom of the cleaning lady! Well, it was more of a tap, really, not a fondle at all! What is he going to do? (Besides ease up on the parsnips, i presume!)
Writer JOHN STEVENSON
Tuesday (3229, Wednesday 22 May 1991)
I'm sorry to say most of this episode was missing from my tape. From what was on tape, I'll try to piece together what's happening...
Derek is home after an apparently tough day at PPP, still shocked and horrified at his own transgression, he tells Mavis he doesn't want to discuss the events of the day, except to say that he managed to keep his hands off the company's one remaining cleaning lady! What he doesn't realise is, she also feels guilt over what happened, after all, the parsnips were her idea. Anxious to ensure that people won't find out about his indiscretion, Derek implores her not to breathe a word to anyone!
Too late, Mavis has already confided in Rita. Of course, Rita couldn't resist telling Bet so now the parsnips saga is generally known to quite a few in the street. Bet asks Rita if disguising parsnips as chips might entice Alec to try them, but Rita rues the day she heard about the root vegetable and thanks Bet to not mention them, even in jest!
Gail tries to persuade Audreh to at least try to get along with Ivy, for Alf's sake. Audreh pleads that though she wanted him to hire *someone*, she never expected he would take Ivy on. After all, she and Ivy and like "chalk and cheese". If Alf truly were a "caring, loving" husband, she reckons it wouldn't be too much to ask that he keep normal hours, hire a "regular" shop assistant and get shot of Ivy!
Still coping with the boys on his own, Jim argues with Steve over his intention to quit school. Steve admits he didn't take his practicals because he doesn't want to continue. His plan is to leave school behind and take on a job. Jim prevails upon Andy to make his brother see reason but Andy knows that if Steve himself doesn't see the value, nothing he can say will change his mind. In the midst of their arguing, Liz rings from Northern Ireland to say she'll be home tomorrow. Speaking into the phone but aiming his comments at Steve, Jim hastens to assure her that there are no problems on the homefront. "That's the last thing you need after what *you've* just been through!"
Anita Bélanger
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Wednesday (3230, Friday 24 May 1991)
Subbing for Anita today. I think i'll title this episode "Secrets and Lies"
Steve is determined he's not going back to school and wants Andy to back him up. Jim'll listen to Andy. Like it'll make any difference! Andy wonders where Steve's support was when *he* wanted to quit school but of course that was different as Andy was making top marks whereas Steve hasn't got a snowball's chance! Andy does see his brother's point but reckons their dad won't see reason. Their dad, as it happens is doing last minute cleaning before Liz gets home later in the day. He allows Andy to stay home to help him as Andy only has games this morning but insists Steve go to school. Steve says he's not going which only elicits a look that could kill from Jim who sends Andy off to the corner shop with a shopping list.
Deirdre is deep in thought, wondering how she's going to be able to tell Tracy she has to cancel the French trip. But Tracy's already figured it out, has done since her mother got the gas bill! Deirdre is grateful Tracy's being so understanding and Tracy promises to hold her mother to a promise to make it up to her at a later date.
In the shop, Andy is trying to decipher Jim's writing on the shopping list. Ivy is having a natter with Betty about all sorts, mostly gossip about Mike Baldwin and Jackie's upcoming marriage. Of course she has nothing good to say but clams up when Don pops his head in the shop, knowing he wouldn't approve. Jim drops in to find Andy and solicits his support to talk to Steve. He'll listen to his brother. Hmm where have we heard that before? Andy tells his dad he rather thinks he's on his brother's side but yes, will try to make Steve see sense (though probably won't) before his mother gets home so she won't have to know. Meanwhile, Don's all pouty because he got up and Ivy was gone and he's not pleased to find her in the shop since she worked last evening. She tells him she's helping out Alf since Lady Muck is boycotting the shop due to the long hours opening. He hopes Alf isn't taking advantage of Ivy but Ivy snaps that she likes this job and wants to keep it. Ivy will never learn, flinging more nasty barbs at Audrey's expense, which is how she lost her last job and all!
In the Kabin, Audrey and rita talk fashion evolution, remembering such cutting edge looks as halter tops and hot pants. Mavis emerges with cups of tea after Audrey leaves and Rita asks about Derek's predicament. Mavis tells her that Victor has sacked the cleaning lady which is just as well because Derek never found her work satisfactory anyway.
But Derek's situation goes from bad to worse. Though the new cleaning lady is working out fine, Victor tells Derek that Mrs. Shaw is suing PPP and talking Derek to a tribunal for sexual harassment. Oh NO! Victor doesn't want to be involved so he is depending on Derek to resolve the situation even though he was the one that sacked the woman.
Steve is home when Bet brings flowers around to welcome Liz back. Well half of them are a welcome from her and half are a "when are you coming back to work" from Alec. Only of course, Liz isn't home yet. Bet notices that Steve looks rather glum and makes herself at home, seeing the boy needs someone objective to talk to.
In the pub, Des tells Don about a mistake he made at work and how, though he always does a good job, the mistake is the one thing the boss points out, not the good stuff. Don, seeing Alf enter the pub, takes the opportunity to loudly agree that employees are often taken for granted. He points out to Alf, who was gasping for a pint after the council meeting, that Ivy has been slaving away all morning without a break so Alf sighs and forgoes the pint to relieve Ivy for dinner. In a booth, Derek has told Mavis about the latest bad news and lays it all at Victor's door. Betty clears the plates and notes that Derek hasn't finished his. He wasn't hungry and says he found the hot pot a bit bland but Mavis thought it had a lovely flavour. Bet is spied behind the bar sporting a very evil grin. We soon find out why. Betty tells the hapless pair that there were parsnips in the hot pot today, Bet's idea! Derek is aghast and highly embarrassed that Mavis has told all and sundry and stalks out with a trembling Mavis behind him, protesting that she only told Rita.
In other news, Jim is trying again to talk to Steve about school and qualifications and it's the same old same old. Jim won't listen to Steve's side, Andy agrees with Steve but before the argument can get loud, Liz arrives home. There are hugs all around and Liz asks Andy about school while Steve volunteers to make tea.
Mavis charges back into the Kabin and gives Rita Holy Hell for embarrassing her, telling Bet and putting Bet up to it. Of course we know Rita did tell Bet all about it but she lies bold faced and says she didn't. She tells Mavis a song and dance about Bet buying the very same magazine that Mavis had seen with the parsnip recipes in it. They had a laugh over the article but that was all. (Rita is doing a good eye rolling job behind Mavis' back here and probably crossing every available body part against the lie) And anyway, why would Bet have made a special hot pot just for them in a busy pub at dinnertime? Mavis buys it, hook line and sinker and apologizes. Rita decides to leave her alone to calm down and run an errand and hot foots it out the door.
In the pub after closing, Bet, Liz and Betty are sat in a booth having a good laugh over the whole parsnip episode and it's climax this dinner. Liz wishes she could have been there to see Derek's face! Betty accuses Bet of setting her up too and just then Rita comes in and tells Bet off for putting her on the spot. No more confidences for you. And then collapses over the table laughing with the rest of them. Bet goes to the bar to open a bottle of wine. Betty lets slip about Steve quitting school! Oops!
Ken finds Tracy in the shop and wants a word about her not going on the French trip after all. She lies and tells him she changed her mind and doesn't really get on with the French teacher so he leaves it at that. He doesn't seem to know about the financial difficulties as far as i can tell.
Liz sits Steve down to talk to. She is about to listen to his side of things when Jim gets home and realizes she knows and gets angry. But she had a right to know and no, Steve didn't tell her. Jim goes to the kitchen, muttering derogatory things so Liz sends the boys upstairs and tries to get Jim to see that hollering at Steve isn't going to accomplish anything. Liz seems inclined to be on Steve's side, knowing he isn't going to be able to pass his exams anyway, just not cut out for advanced education like Andy is but Jim despairs for Steve's future.
Des and Stephanie stand inside the back door looking at the boat through the rain. steph dreams of a proper garden but Des romanticizes the boat and tries to talk her into trying the cabin as an outdoor love nest. She is persuaded and they climb aboard the boat but are interrupted by Steve, who wants to work, seeing the boat as a refuge from parental strife.
Time warp. Steph and Des are in the pub. Des asks Betty's opinion on what to name the boat but she's no idea. Des thinks "Steph the third". The three greatest loves in his life, first the boat, second the car and Steph the Third! he gets a whack in his arm for his joke! Liz and Deirdre catch up on news while Jim is at the bar but Liz turns around to see Jim has left.
Jim has gone home to confront Steve again. Another argument naturally occurs and Jim finally hollers that if Steve is chucking his life away, he might as well do it somewhere else!
Writer PAUL ABBOTT Director BRIAN MILLS
Thursday (3231, Monday 27 May 1991)
Steve hasn't come home al night, so it seems. Andy confirms Steve's bed hasn't been slept in and has no idea where he might be. Jim is exasperated at his son, wondering if it is a wee girl at the core of it again (like last time) but Liz is just worried. now what do they do?
Well, over at the Barnes', Steph spies someone moving on board the boat through the kitchen window and calls for Des. Des runs out, "'ere, let's be 'avin' ya!" with Steph running behind wanting Des to be careful. But it's on Steve who has spent the night on the boat.
Back at the Macdonald's, the phone rings and Andy groans when he hears it's Steve. Good one, Steve. (Andy says that a lot, d'you notice?) He tells his parents that Steve has spent the night on a boat, leading Jim to presume he's run to the Lakes again. He heads to the phone, ready to bark at Steve but Liz gets there first. Steve tells her why he didn't come home and Steph assures Liz that she'll feed the lad and keep him there till she comes for him. Liz hangs up and lays into Jim for telling Steve to clear out! Jim tries to deny it but reluctantly admits he did say something like that in the heat of an argument and now pouts that Liz always blames him for everything then she can just sort it out. (And why would that be, i wonder? Can you say "TEMPER"? "BIG GOB"? a lethal combination) Liz is pushed past the point of sanity and dreams of another trip away from which she won't return, next time!
Deirdre works earnestly on her telephone sales but isn't having much luck. (One of her targets is a Mrs. Naylor... Wasn't that Maureen's married name before she married Reg? Maureen Grimes Holdsworth Elliot (Webster presumably) by this day and age) Tracy arrives downstairs in her robe (bank holiday). No she hasn't told her French teacher about canceling her trip, not had the chance but she will do. Why does it seem to me like she's stalling for time?
Rita has a little joke at Mavis' expense regarding aphrodisiacs and then asks about Derek's situation regarding the tribunal. Mavis is incomprehensive of a justice system that could allow a man like Derek to be persecuted by a woman like Mrs. Shaw. (Ooh, looking down your nose, again, Mavis?) Steph, meanwhile, is killing time in the Kabin so that Liz and Steve can talk privately though she doesn't tell Rita and Mavis these specifics.
Liz is trying to convince Steve, who is busy scraping paint off the boat, that Jim didn't mean what he said, you know him and what he's like. They talk of failures, successes and hopes for the future with or without the benefits of school qualifications. Steph returns and Steve asks can he keep working on the boat. She ok's it but Liz doesn't want him making a nuisance. Steph tells her Steve's done more work on the boat in a few days than Des has managed in a few months! Liz leaves him there, vaguely explaining there had been a falling out between father and son, typical of that age.
Derek arrives at the Kabin to cancel a lunch date with Mavis. He intends to visit Mrs. Shaw in person to reason with her! He's full of resentment and blustery confidence that he can expertly manage the woman's conscience. Which usually means he's bound to make matters worse! He leaves and Mavis and Rita discuss the situation further until Rita suggests they shut up shop and go to lunch together.
Which they do. They have their lunch and continue their discussion in the Rovers. Rita wonders why Victory is keeping well out of it all, implying by not saying so that he should be supporting Derek all the way. Jim sups a pint and Liz arrives, telling Bet she can come in to work tonight. Jim promises he'll make peace with Steve if and when he comes home. Deirdre arrives with Ken following on her heels (they didn't arrive together however). He wants a word about the French trip. Seems Tracy's told him about the financial problems (but all we saw was Tracy telling her dad she changed her mind so i think there is another one of those annoying little writing continuity blips here). He offers to pay the balance owing on the trip though Deirdre doesn't want him to as he already pays maintenance. (Why the H*** not!? This woman is enough of a feminist to be a politician yet doesn't think her ex-husband should help out with child expenses like this? ) Anyway, he insists, since he can afford it and it's for Tracy isn't it? She really wants to go so Deirdre relents and accepts his help. They seem to have got past all that bitterness finally which hasn't gone unnoticed by Ken.
Derek arrives at Mrs. Shaw's home and sets to his task of persuading her that his indiscretion was merely a moment of madness. There had been no history of any other impropriety, had there?. She does agree on that point, but what about her job? He attempts to make her realize that this tribunal isn't the way to get it back and suggests they forget all the unpleasantness and he'll give her a good reference. She seems about to agree to drop the matter when her pig headed husband comes home. He's angry and aggressive and demands an explanation and it doesn't look good for Derek who cowers in the wake of the man's anger. As usual. Derek tries to stutter out a defense but Mr. Shaw decides he smells a cover up and ends up throwing a shaking Derek out the door telling him to do his talking to the Shaws' solicitor.
Steph brings a cup of tea out to Steve who is still industriously working out all his frustrations on the boat. Steve asks if he can stay another night. She's reluctant but if he asks his parents and they say it's ok then he can.
Tracy makes arrangements to have her tea at Lyndsay's after telling her on the phone that she can go on the trip after all. Phil arrives, not having been able to contact Deirdre by phone for a few days as it's been engaged. Tracy joyfully tells Phil about her trip and runs upstairs to get ready to go out. Phil thinks it only proper than Ken should chip in. Deirdre takes a phone call from her employer who berates Deirdre's phone manner as the reason she hasn't managed to get any referrals for the fitted kitchens she's supposed to be flogging. She loses her temper and isn't surprised when she is subsequently sacked. Phil sits her down (well figuratively as she's already seated) and tells her it's fate telling her she should be working for him. He plans to bring round some takeaway and a bottle of wine tonight to further discuss the matter and won't take no for an answer.
Victor drops in to see Mavis and asks her as a friend, if things are all right between her and Derek. He tries (to make trouble by ) putting the idea into her head that men only do the sorts of things that Derek has done when there are marital troubles. It's a warning sign! (But quite the opposite, as we know. Derek had been so poisoned by parsnips and their effects that his was overcome with lust!) Mavis loyally pledges her support of her husband to the erstwhile rival, as does Victor, "In his own way" (?)
Steve is home trying to get permission to sleep on the boat again though Liz doesn't understand why. She thought he understood that he knew his father wasn't serious but Steve just wants a break. In the end, Liz can't really come up with any really good reasons why not as it's only just across the road under adult supervision and gives her permission with misgivings. But Jim won't be pleased, so he won't!
Derek arrives home in a depressed state, full of the woes of the world but is startled to see Victor who didn't think it very wise of Derek to go to the Shaws on his own. He really should have stayed put and now victor will have to see that he himself must do something though he doesn't know what as of yet! (i smell bad news for Derek)
Steph persuades Steve to sleep indoors in the spare room as it's going to rain and she won't be held responsible if he gets sick sleeping in a damp unheated boat. Des just finds the whole thing amusing while Steph is very sympathetic to the plight of teenage angst.
Derek and Mavis have a drink in the pub that evening and pledge to talk about something else but Derek can't manage it, insisting the tribunal members will believe that there is no smoke without fire. Jim is offended that Steve still prefers to stay away even though Liz had a talk with him. Ken thanks Bet for all her help in the past (that New Year's Eve episode) and truly feels much more optimistic about things these days (just as i thought. Is he getting his hopes up again about Deirdre?)
Meanwhile Phil is working on persuading Deirdre to take the job. She righteously refuses a charity job which is what everyone will think. He persists but when she asks for particulars of what she'd be doing all he gives her is a load of flannel about tying the moon on a string and other sorts of head-in-the-clouds types of things. But he gets her to say yes and tells her that she'll be working for a new company he's just formed (just that very instant i suspect), PJ Promotions and they drink to success. Go on then.
Mrs. Shaw JANE COX Mr. Shaw BERNARD WRIGLEY
Writer PETER WHALLEY Director JULIAN JARROLD
Friday (3232, Wednesday 29 May 1991)
Monday (3233, Friday 31 May 1991)
There's a puddle of water all over the corner shop floor leading right to the deep freezer! Uh oh! Alf and Audrey arrive, trying very hard not to start bickering and arguing again today but failing miserably once Alf sees the disaster of all the thawed out frozen goods going to spoil! Upon investigation, Alf find that the switch to the freezer has been turned off. Audrey insists she didn't do it and Alf was out all afternoon at a meeting. Audrey and Alf set to cleaning up while Audrey maintains that when she left the shop, everything was fine and implies rather strongly that since Ivy was the one that shut up shop the night before, she must have been the one that switched off the freezer. Alf doesn't think she'd do something daft like that but Audrey thinks she's just the type that would, always switching lights and things off , a fuss pot. (But she's not a stupid fusspot!)
Des is off to work, teasing Stephanie about her young "swain". He doesn't really believe stephanie's suspicions that Steve has a crush on her. Steve arrives downstairs and praises Steph's cooking abilities, which Des knows to be limited to opening tins and microwaving things, so he begins to realize the lad must be smitten but thinks it's highly amusing. After he leaves, Steve leans "seductively" (mphthh!) over Steph's shoulder, dead chuffed to discover she has a day off and then goes to help himself to breakfast.
Across the road in Number 11, Liz hands Andy a full cooked breakfast and goes to pick up the post. Jim pouts that he didn't get a plateful like that but Andy analyzes the situation and decides his mother is compensating for losing Steve in the house by stepping up the attention on him. Liz returns and the following exchange had me chuckling..(not that it was particularly funny, but the timing was spot on) What are you two whispering about? Whispering? (Andy) Whispering? (Jim) We weren't whispering were we, Dad? Noooooo. Well i'll be off! And with that he does, leaving Liz to speculate about the reasons Steve doesn't' want to come home. Cattily she thinks Stephanie is using her feminine wiles on Steve, that tramp! She's old enough to be his mother. Andy looks at his mother, judging, not quite!
Mavis' theory of the day, she and Derek give off mutually destructive vibes. Come again? Questions Rita. Well they seem to jump from one pan of hot water into the next (they do, don't they?). They each has a tendency to adversity and by marrying, it seems to have doubled the effect. Rita agrees they do seem to have had more than their share, "Eee, Mavis, you do come up with some posers!" Poor Mavis is having sleepless nights beside an annoyingly sedated Derek who can sleep through anything. (Ah and that's the problem, those 3 a.m. theories will get you every time, i find!) Rita reckons the present situation will work itself out for the best. Mavis believes by going to Mrs. Shaw herself, she's done all she can to help and hopes that Mrs. Shaw will see her way clear to do the sensible thing and drop the matter. But even if it does work out, she frets, there is always the next crisis!
Tracy encounters Ken and tells him about Deirdre's new job/partnership with Phil. When Ken encounters Deirdre in the pub later, he congratulates her though she still doesn't know exactly what her duties will be.
Stephanie returns from the shop and Steve is right there to help her with all her bags. Steph notices the lace curtains twitch at Number 11, revealing a very disapproving countenance with frizzy red hair around it. She follows her houseguest into the house and makes a decision. She asks Steve to do a favour for her, go back home. Steve is shocked and dismayed and protests, even trying to use guilt but it's not on. Stephanie really thinks it would be best if he goes home, he can't stay with them forever! But why not? Steph tells him he is still welcome to come over and have a meal, play a tape or just talk whenever he likes, it's only across the road, and she's firm with him so he has no choice.
Alf puts the damaged, thawed stock on sale in hopes of recouping some of the loss. Ivy finally arrives for work after it's all cleaned up. She notices a bit of a chill in the air and it's not coming from the freezer. Audrey escapes to the back room so Alf has to tell Ivy what happened but Ivy immediately defends herself as knowing better than to unplug a freezer on purpose. Audrey gets her tuppence in, sarcastically wondering about a poltergeist (patronizing cow!), well anyone can make a mistake when they're new on the job. Even Alf seems to believe that Ivy did it. I don't know why Ivy stayed on the rest of the day when that happened, i sure would have left with a righteous on, but she did.
Liz is ironing and chatting idly to Andy about dinner plans and wondering if steve is eating properly at the Barnes'. After all "she" probably thinks a square meal is a slice of toast! (LOL) Someone comes in the door and it's Steve, tail between his legs, announcing that he's back. Andy doesn't help matters by ragging on him unmercifully. Liz tells Steve that it's up to him whether he resits his exams, the ones he ducked out of. But later she asks Ken if he would talk to Steve as Steve might listen to him (oh right, to a teacher he has absolutely no respect for!?). Ken is dubious but says he'll have a go.
Des is served burgers for his dinner with the prospect of more for tea, as they were on sale at Alf's. He's delighted that Steve has gone.
In the pub, Jim has heard that Steve is back but neither parent knows why and Jim's head is done in by all teenagers in general! Poor little Donny is feeling like a latchkey husband, pouting in a corner because his wife is out working during the day and night and just not there for him. (What on earth did he do when she was working all those other jobs? as a taxi driver he always worked shift work so would often be home in the day when she was at the factory or Ingrams. At least now she's in the shop where he can at least pop in and say hello!!! Honestleh! Grow up!)
The chill in the air at the corner shop is even more evident as all three workers studiously avoid each other where possible. When there is conversation, it's Audrey's sarky remarks about Ivy being confused and it must be her age mustn't it? Martin comes in just then to brag about David's healthy checkup and thank Audrey for minding Sarah Lou and Nicky yesterday afternoon, mentioning in passing that they kiddies had the place looking like a disaster zone for awhile. Martin doesn't take notice of Alf and Ivy's glares of death in Audrey's direction and leaves. Alf realizes the children must have switched off the freezer, he didn't even know they were there at all! Audrey conveniently "forgot" to mention it (in her eagerness to find something that might cause Alf to give Ivy her cards, perhaps?). Audrey goes on the offense to deflect the accusations, her face a picture of guilt, nose firmly in the air but at least, Alf, Gentleman that he is, apologizes to Ivy. Audrey is offended that Alf would believe anyone else had done it rather than his sainted Ivy!
Back in the Kabin, Mavis is on tenterhooks waiting to hear any news. Surely Derek would have called if there had been any change in the situation? She's very distracted from her work, causing Rita with the day's second jewel of a line, Mavis go home, you're neither use nor ornament in that state! But who walks in just then but Mrs. Shaw! Mavis holds her breath. (oh, not literally!) Mrs. Shaw seems to be very impressed by Mavis' loyalty to her husband and since it's true that there had never been any other indiscretions by Mr. Wilton, she has decided to drop the matter! derek has his wife to thank for it! Mavis is delighted! Mrs. Shaw, in reply to Mavis' reference yesterday to Derek's little problem (i.e. the need for parsnips in the first place), suggests that a pinch of nutmeg in his rice pudding always does the trick for Mr. Shaw!
Deirdre sits at a clear desk in a sunny office. Doing nothing. She tries to get out of Phil what is she going to be doing? He feeds her the usual line of horse hockey, mentions some advertising leaflets and answering the phone. But make sure she's judicious when she tells people where he is to be found and when he'll be back, no need to let the VAT and Tax men in on his whereabouts. I sure hear the warning bells ringing but Deirdre is blissfully oblivious!
Ken manages an encounter with Steve on the street and tries to convince him of the importance of getting his GCSE'S in this day and age. Why not resit the exams? If he's done the work he might as well, it'll only cost him the ink in his pen (oh right, and a crushing sense of failure if he doesn't pass them! Just what his self esteem needs, you plonker!)
STeve goes to find Steph who is hanging her laundry in the back yard (though i'd like to know where since the boat is taking up most of the room!). He's bought her a box of chocolates to thank her for taking him in. She's pleased but dampens his ardor a bit by making sure he knows how much Des will enjoy them too and lays them in the basket for later. He launches into a tirade about his parents setting him up with Barlow and nothing's changed. He earnestly praises her, she listens to him! She doesn't treat him like a kid! (uh oh!)
Derek is home for the day, and apparently does know the matter has been drops but doesn't seem to realize Mavis' part in it. He witters on about their powers of recovery in a crisis, the complete opposite of her (much more accurate) theory earlier in the day. She just lets him drone on about the Wilton teamwork in the face of adversity, disasters zones they are individually but together, they are invincible. He almost looks forward to the next new catastrophe! I don't! Mavis exclaims but he wasn't paying attention, more concerned about what's for afters.... Rice pudding! (with nutmeg? Will you never learn, Mavis?)
The day is nearly done at the corner shop. Audrey is leaving even though Alf tries to make her stay and work the night shift. She refuses, in fact, she says she's never coming in that shop ever again! Ivy can't stay, as she had plans with Don and Alf sighs, saying it's ok, he'll stay. It's better than going home tonight anyway!
Mrs. Shaw - JANE COX
Writer - LESLIE DUXBURY Director - JULIAN JARROLD
Tuesday (3234, Monday 3 June 1991)
Vera leaves the house in the morning with a caution to Jack to tidy the place up. He points out that it's the insurance company who's coming around, not "Ideal Homes" and they expect to find a mess when they get here. Despite that, Vera doesn't want them thinking the flood happened through their own neglect and is anxious that they present a "respectable" impression. Jack points out that he doesn't have the time, he's due at work this morning. But Vera maintains the insurance claim is worth hundreds more than what he could earn for a morning's work.
Alf has a council meeting scheduled for this morning and he's busy rifling through papers in search of the file folder he needs. To Audreh's annoyance, he can't say enough about how punctual, efficient and reliable Ivy is - he simply doesn't know how he would manage without her. Audreh says she's glad he finds her so wonderful, in that case she won't be missed as she has no intention of coming back to work while Ivy's there.
Alf isn't the only one who has a high opinion of Ivy. When Liz comes in the shop, Ivy tells her she is practically running the place. (This is probably true at present with Alf focusing on council concerns and Audreh not willing to be in the shop with Ivy around but her smugness is still irritating!) Alf bustles in from his meeting and is relieved to hear that Ivy has fended off yet another crises. The fish delivery was all wrong but not to worry, she put it right. Not only that, but Alf forgot to order peanut caramel ice cream - horrors! "How will I ever manage without you, Ivy?" he asks. Ivy's ears perk up at the word "will" but Alf smoothes things over by saying he meant "would".
Gail doesn't understand Audreh's upset with the current arrangement. She hates being in the shop anyway, so she should be glad Alf has such a reliable assistant as it means she doesn't have to go in. But it's a territorial thing - Audreh doesn't want Ivy knowing their business. Gail points out that it's going to be awkward for Alf to sack Ivy at this stage but that doesn't concern Audreh in the least. As a matter of fact, "Watching Alfeh squirm is one of the few rewards of being married to him!"
Steve's crush on Steph Barnes is upsetting to a number of people, not least of whom is Stephanie herself. As she looks around for her missing scarf, she complains to Des and Phyllis that she doesn't know how to handle the teenage boy, he's always sniffing around her. Des doesn't take it too seriously, he reckons Steph will find a way to deal with it. Phyllis is a bit more sympathetic. She knows what it is to have that "chemistry" that attracts men to you! Despite his seeming indifference, Des defends his wife when later, in the pub, Liz intimates that Steph's been "encouraging" Steve's attentions. He doesn't seem to need much "encouragement" according to Des. Jim is a bit more understanding - he remembers what it's like to be Steve's age.
Common sense might dictate that Liz at least consider the possibility that Steve's infatuation has less to do with Steph's guiles and wiles than it has to do with Steve's own fantasies. If she had seen him hanging around the perfume counter mooning over her while she was at work, she probably would. But when it comes to older women brazenly toying with her son's feelings, she won't tolerate it! Despite Jim's reservations, the discovery that Steph has "given" Steve her scarf as a memento incites Liz to say she is going to "tear a strip off" the hussy!
Mavis is unhappy that instead of an "urban oasis" she's stuck with a "vale of tears". The flowers she planted specifically to attract butterflies in the back garden are wasting in the shadow of the Barnes' boat. Derek is reluctant to complain as he doesn't want to cause dissension with their neighbours but he brings home a birdhouse to appease Mavis. If she can't have butterflies, perhaps birds will lift her spirits. Unwilling to suffer the "virtual theft" of their garden any longer and seeing Derek won't say anything, Mavis goes over to have a word with Des herself. Glowing with pride, he shows her the motor he's just purchased for the boat. This means the launching can't be far off and Mavis is delighted to hear it. Jill Devonshire, the insurance claims adjuster turns up in the Rovers looking for Jack. He accompanies her back to the house to have a look around. She takes pictures and asks questions, wondering at the "incredible" amount of water there must have been to result in the extent of damage! When she's ready to leave, Jack asks what her recommendation will be. She can't tell him of course but she assures him he'll hear from the insurance company in very short order. As Jack later tells Vera, he takes this to mean they'll have a "big, fat cheque" by the end of the week!
Jackie and Mike seem to always be arguing these days. He keeps second guessing her business decisions and she resents him treating the company as more than a means to an end. Some people work to live but it disturbs her that Mike seems to live to work. In the wake of their latest dispute, he redeems himself somewhat by presenting her with a diamond engagement ring. As he explains, they've been so busy with marriage plans, they'd forgot to become engaged!
At the end of the day, Alf decides he simply can't let Ivy go. She's sensed something's up but when she asks, he assures her that she's his right hand and her job is safe. Gratified and relieved, she goes on to remind him that milk and toilet roll are the two things they need to stock up on - opening late as they are, those are the things people tend to come in for most. Audreh isn't happy at all with Alf's "spinelessness". It's nothing to do with being spineless - Ivy's the best thing to happen to the shop since Sally worked there, he points out. He challenges Audreh to go in to work and show him that she can work harder - either that, or if she will have Ivy gone, she can sack her herself! Calling his bluff, Audreh agrees to do just that tomorrow - with pleasure!
Anita Bélanger
Jill Devonshire: JANE LANCASTER
Written by FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE Directed by DAVID RICHARDS
Wednesday (3235, Wednesday 5 June 1991)
Thursday (3236, Friday 7 June 1991)
Alf is finishing off his breakfast, self made, when Audrey finally makes her appearance. He confirms she will not be in the shop as long as Ivy is, so that's it. Alf reminds her she won't get any pay but she expects to be supported as his wife! Alf insists there is no good reason to sack Ivy so we are at an impasse.
Stephanie has another day off. Phyllis and Kevin arrive at the same time. Kevin is going to get the boat's motor running so they men go out back, leaving Phyllis to have a gossip with the lady of the house. She tells Steph what happened yesterday when she was having a bit of a laugh with some of the ladies in the shop about Steve's crush on Stephanie, how he's been pestering her and how he's managed to get possession of her scarf. But Steve overheard and was highly embarrassed. Poor Lad.
Jack and Vera have begun redecorating. Vera is slapping paste on the wall paper and Jack is hanging it. They chat about togetherness and what to do with the leftover insurance money since they are doing the work themselves. Well, better wait until they see how much they're getting before they start making plans. But as usual, Jack makes a ball up of it by hanging one strip upside down, causing a row when Jack tries to bluff out of it by asking Vera to make up her mind which way she wants the wall paper... this way or that way! (When it should be obvious!)
mavis is very self satisfied this morning, smirking over something. She admits to Rita that she had mentioned wanting a sun lounger for the back garden and she's seen brochures for them in Derek's briefcase just this morning! She's sure he's going to surprise her with one and is feeling all pleased that he's such a romantic fool. (well part of that is right anyway) Rita wonders if Des's antics on the boat will be an interesting view for Mavis to watch from her new sun lounger but Mavis insists it will be pointing in the other direction... when...if she gets one.
Steve is working on a bike outside his dad's shop. Steph approaches to thank him for the return of her scarf and to tell him that she's heard about the incident in the shop and the origin of the gossip didn't come from her. After a brief interruption by Jim, they agree they can still be mates. She treats him like an adult, leaving him with dignity in an embarrassing situation and his wounds seem to have covered over somewhat. Jim later seems to find it amusing that his son is friends with a woman such as Steph.
Jack and Betty chat behind the bar about Vera's decorating skills, comparing her skill at filling cracks to her years of experience fixing up her face (well, Jack did the comparing, did you guess?) Oh Give over! Rita does a little filling in of her own, telling Liz of Steve's recent most embarrassing moment. Audrey arrives and before she joins Rita for a drink, calls Alf at the shop.
Ivy and Don are chatting in the shop and Ivy gives the phone to Alf who wants to take it in the back room. Don has to prod Ivy to hang up the extension (cow!) Alf restates to Audrey his views on Ivy and Audrey tells him she'll be in the Rovers if he wants to talk. Alf takes the hint and leaves. Ivy rolls her eyes and remarks about how Audrey snaps her fingers and Alf jumps. That only makes Don sigh and say "She's 'is wife, Ivy Love, What did you expect the fella to do?"
When Alf and Audrey meet in the pub, it's more of the same with each side's heels firmly dug in. Alf is clearly in the wrong here as far as i can see, in the interest of marital harmony. Audrey's very valid point seems to be that he casts her as a much lower priority behind the shop and his council duties while he insists that everything he does is for her! Well if that's true, then sack Ivy! But he won't back down even though it would make her happy. Alf points out that Audrey wouldn't work there 8 hours a day so he'd still need to hire someone to work there so it might as well be Ivy. Audrey wonders if he'd even notice if she walked out. he insists he would but she's dubious. Neither wants to be a spineless, docile spouse being taken for granted by the other but Audrey's insistence is met by a solid "no". Ivy stays. Then there isn't any more to be said, sighs Audrey in a resigned tone of voice.
Vera arrives with a letter from the insurance company. It seems their claim was rejected! They aren't going to get a penny. Vera is near hysterics because it's all Jack's fault for falsifying the claim in the first place and he is ordered to sort it out or not come home! Rita and Audrey, of course sympathize. Audrey and Vera both agree they'd be better off single. Alf and Jack's eyes meet in mutual bonding over their heads. Cheers, Jack. Cheers, Alf!
So later, we find Jack across the desk of an insurance adjuster, trying desperately to convince the man to give him some of the claim at least. The adjuster believes the assessor's report that some of the damage could not possibly have resulted from the flood. Jack tries to bluff by threatening his solicitor against these slanderous remarks, calling him a liar but the insurance man calmly explains that if part of the claim is false, it invalidates the claim in its entirety. Jack begs and pleads to no avail and in the end has to leave with his tail between his legs, to face the inevitable...Vera!
Liz and Jim discuss the gossip going around about Steve's crush on Stephanie. Jim mentions Steph's visit and Liz seems highly suspicious. Andy interrupts and is made to leave again. Andy correctly assumes they're talking about Steve who arrives just then. Jim leaves, realizing Steve has left the shop unattended so Liz makes Steve sit down and suffer the further indignities of talking about the whole situation with his mother! He defends his friendship with Des and Steph when Liz thinks he should be making friends his own age. You have friends of different ages! That's different! Oh. I see. Well he insists they are his mates and there's an end to it. he leaves, dragging what's left of his dignity behind him.
Jack arrives home to face Vera, trying for the sympathetic approach first. He was practically called a liar to his face! Well you are! (that didn't work!) Vera works up to a disgusted rant, ruing the day she married him and decides she's having nothing more to do with the redecorating. He had better see to it himself and it had better look good or she'll be filling out an insurance claim and all, life insurance... on him!
Derek joyfully arrives at the Kabin, full of suppressed excitement. He reveals his surprise, yes, he's bought Mavis a sun lounger! Mavis acts suitably surprised and excited. Derek has been home putting it together in the garden for her so Rita allows Mavis to go home early. She teases Derek, what if it rains? Derek is confident they are in for a very calm and settled evening. (And in another newsgroup i participate in, statements like these are referred to as SOPOD's. Soap Opera Phrase Of Doom!)
Back in the pub, Liz and Jim discuss teenage hormones. Jack and Don discuss the fateful insurance claim and Vera's reaction. Jack tells Don that Vera enjoys putting him in the doghouse and reminding him of it for all eternity! Des and Steph come in , Steph is treating drinks and Liz gracefully accepts one as a peace offering. Kevin arrives to tell Des the motor is ready to be put back on the boat so the two of them trot off happily.
Audrey's bags are packed and she's ready to go. She calls Alf at the shop and tells him she's leaving. He can't say too much with Ivy's radar on full power but can't stop her.
Now here my cable transmission went out so much thanks to Anita who supplied the end of the episode...
With Gail and Ivy on the other side of the counter idly chatting, Alf flies out of the shop to go home and try and stop Audreh leaving. He begs Ivy to stay on another half hour which she grudgingly agrees to. Gail asks what's going on and Ivy says that she's been criticized in the past for gossiping about people and she's not going to indulge now. Gail points out that she isn't just another customer and Ivy relents and fills her in. She complains that this is the second time today that Alf's left the store in a hurry after a phone call from Audreh.
In the Wiltons' backyard, Derek is showing Mavis her new sun lounger for the first time. She is delighted with it and the two prepare to sit and lounge in the sun. Their solitude is broken by the business of the boat next door, as Des, Kevin and Steph prepare to mount the boat's motor. Determined to enjoy themselves, the Wiltons take turns reminding themselves that they will ignore the intrusion.
Alf arrives home to an empty house. He calls out for Audreh and in despair, realizes that she has made good her threat.
Again at the Wiltons', Derek inquires what the launch date might be now that the motor is installed. Steph can't resist teasing him by speculating that 1996 seems likely and Des agrees, "Depending on the weather, of course!" Derek returns to the sun lounger where Mavis joins him with a tray of drinks and snacks for them to enjoy. As the two sit down again, Des decides to fire up the engine of the boat. As soon as it rips, Kevin yells a warning that you're not supposed to do that and at the same time, Steph cries out for Des to be careful! Des realizes too late that he shouldn't have test-fired, as the boat vibrates strenuously before crashing down into the Wiltons' yard. Mavis and Derek manage to jump off the sun lounger in the nick of time.
In the final scene, Mavis and Derek huddle in the corner of their yard, she weeps as Derek looks on in shock. Des, Steph and Kevin gradually filter over, and all five survey the destruction caused by Des' over-eagerness. The boat has crushed the Wiltons' fence, and now rests on Mavis' new sun-lounger, now bent and broken.
Mr Thomas - NICK ORCHARD
Writer - PETER WHALLEY Director - DAVID RICHARDS
Friday (3237, Monday 10 June 1991)
I missed the first few minutes of this episode, owing to a certain little person who likes to hide things on me. She was using the remote control for the VCR in a manner for which it was never intended and by the time I found it, the show was already in progress!
In the Barneses' back yard, Des and Percy are surveying the damage from the boat fiasco of the previous day. Des remarks that Mavis is a "highly emotional person", which sentiment draws ready assent from Percy.
At Ingram's, Mike wanders into Jackie's office in search of coffee. She expresses her concern that he drinks too much of the stuff, that and scotch, when he's under stress. He brushes off her concern, telling her that alcohol and caffeine cancel each other out, a "well known medical fact!" He is worried about what effect the recession may have on business but Jackie's mind is on wedding plans. They talk at cross purposes for a few minutes before Mike goes off to attend a meeting with some "union blokes", leaving her to "handle" the arrangements for the wedding!
In the Rovers, Alec is philosophising to Ken about God's bias against humans, as evidenced by the fact that He created nature more perfectly than He did man. When Ken spots Derek with a long face, Alec tells him about Des' boat crashing into the Wiltons' yard. Ken thinks the Wiltons might claim the boat as marine salvage and Alec wastes no time in passing this on to Derek. Derek is skeptical until Ken explains that they could use the boat as leverage to get compensation from the Barneses. Derek brightens at this thought and decides to celebrate with a scotch.
In the cafe, Martin and Gail are working together as Alma is away on vacation. (Who is minding the kids?) Gail tells Martin she isn't so much worried about Audreh as she is mad at her. She reckons Audreh is playing games again. Martin wonders if the timing of Audreh's flit and Alma's vacation isn't more than coincidental but Gail doesn't think so.
The phone rings and it's Audreh. She has taken a suite at a five star hotel and just wants to let Gail know that she is alright. Gail asks the name of the hotel but Audreh refuses to say as she doesn't want Alf to know. She pauses before asking Gail whether Alf is upset about her being gone. Gail is incredulous at the question. "Of course he's upset!" Audreh suggests that he's probably not so upset that he didn't open the shop today and Gail reluctantly concedes that Alf is in fact open for business. Gail pleads with her mother to come home before it's too late but Audreh declines on the grounds that Alf needs to be taught a lesson; he needs to get his priorities straight! She sulks momentarily before ringing off to go to lunch.
In the Kabin, Mavis ruminates about the bad luck she and Derek have endured since moving to their house. Rita is startled to hear she now blames the house as not long ago, she was saying that she and Derek were an unlucky union! Mavis is not amused at Rita's joking banter that the Wilton's ought to be pleased to have a boat in their back garden, a status symbol to most. In comes Derek, bursting to tell Mavis that their predicament is the hot topic of conversation at the Rovers. Mavis is upset at the news - she feels they are being made a laughing stock once again. Derek assures her that Ken Barlow offered a solution in all sincerity - they should claim salvage rights. Mavis doesn't see this as a solution at all. She thinks Ken must have been laughing up his sleeve when he made the suggestion and anyway, she doesn't want a boat in her garden. She wants a garden, not a marina!
Ivy turns up for her shift at the corner shop to find Alf in a melancholy state as he has had no word from Audreh...
In the Rovers again, Audreh's flit is being discussed by Alec, Don and Jim while Betty looks on. Alec's take: "Us men place ourselves in terrible jeopardy." He receives ready agreement from the men but Betty stays in the background and silently rolls her eyes. They discuss their thankless lot in life, trying to keep their womenfolk happy. Betty can no longer keep quiet. Fed up, she throws in her two pennies worth (that they are all full of sh*t, basically) before stalking off to resume her duties, leaving the men to wonder what her problem is.
Gail has hurried to the corner shop to let Alf know that she's heard from her mum. Alf, far from being relieved at the news, demands to know where she is and what she thinks she's playing at. Gail helplessly tells him the little bit she knows, that Audreh's staying in a five star hotel but wouldn't say where. She tries to console Alf by reminding him that she can't stay away too long as her money is bound to run out. Alf shouts that Audreh won't be needing money - she has flippin' credit cards!
Meanwhile, Audreh is, at this moment, licking her wounds in the hotel's spa. As she sits in the whirlpool, another woman introduces herself as "Avril" and tries to make chit-chat. Audreh smiles wanly as Avril chatters about her membership and the enjoyment she derives from coming here, but declines to give any details about herself. We can see that Audreh's not having quite as good a time as she would like. Could it be she's really worried about the prospect of losing Alfeh?
The Wiltons are now home and awaiting a visit from the Barneses. Derek has shut the drapes so that they can't see the boat and assures Mavis that he has left a note for Des to come over and speak to them as soon as he arrives home. He urges Mavis to keep cool about the situation but she vents her spleen, saying that just knowing "it" is there upsets her. "It's there - a great monstrosity - throbbing, pulsating!" (LOL) Sympathetically, if vainly, Derek makes a plea for no "hysterical fantasies". (LOL!!!!!) They hear their neighbours arrive home and a minute later, the doorbell rings. Steph and Des are ushered in and unthinking, Des remarks on the Wiltons' curtains being closed on such a lovely day.
As the four settle down to discuss the matter, Des begins by saying that the "bloke with the crane" has promised to come by the weekend to remove the boat. He also assures the Wiltons that they are willing to compensate for any damages. Mavis says that she hopes "blokes with cranes" are more reliable than builders, as one can spend months waiting for *them* to keep their ëpromises'! The remark is not wasted on Steph, whose father built the units that the Barneses and the Wiltons live in. Mavis continues by saying she expects compensation for her shrubs, their fence and the new sun lounger and Derek points out that there is the question of "mental damages" too. As Derek hands over his bill, Mavis mentions that they expect to receive compensation for loss of amenities, too, such as loss of the use of their garden.
Des is staggered when he sees the bill - £850!!! Derek pleads for calm and reason, saying that the amount includes "emotional trauma". Steph snaps that emotional trauma is nothing new for Mavis and Derek! Derek offers that there is some scope for bargaining, say £50 or so, but Des is still adamant - there is no way he's going to cough up anything like 800 quid! Derek pulls out all the stops and threatens marine salvage as a last resort. Des is not moved. As he and Steph head for the door, he angrily invites Derek and Mavis to enjoy ëtheir' new boat and suggests that they use Derek's ëbill' as a sail!
As the door slams behind them, Mavis lights into Derek for bringing up the question of salvage. Now they'll never be rid of the boat!
Avril PAM CONWAY
Writer LESLIE DUXBURY
Monday (3238, Wednesday 12 June 1991)
Gail hangs up the phone from talking to Alf. Audrey is still gone and Alf's planning to stick it out. What's she playing at, Martin wants to know, gallivanting around Cheshire? Gallivanting??? Oh, Audrey could gallivant in broom closet, you know that! Gail reminds Martin that Audrey left because she was feeling neglected. So, Martin asks, Why has she hid herself away from everyone in a hotel if she was feeling neglected? Martin reckons in a battle of wills, Audrey will have Alf for breakfast!
But Alf is starting the offensive attack by canceling Audrey's credit cards! Ivy arrives for work and with a (very) small glimmer of sympathy for Audrey, deduces that Audrey must have been very upset to leave. This elicits no sympathy from Alf, who thinks he has more good reason to be upset, she left him with the shop to run and council business and all! We'll see who can do without who!
Mavis is nearly beside herself with her frustration over the situation with that great hulking monstrosity in the back garden! Derek is calm and cool, telling her that Des is bluffing and he knows this because he's used to businesses full of con men who bluff all the time and... (yawn) Yes, Derek, But what about the boat, Mavis interrupts (as bored with his speech as i am) Derek states that since they have the boat in their yard, they have the advantage, they have Des by the short and cu... well, anyway. Just leave it to him! (i shudder whenever Derek says that, i really do.)
Derek proves my misapprehension by charging next door to Des's and putting the claim in the letterbox. But a cocky Des throws it back at him, refusing to accept any responsibility for Mavis's nutty nightmares. After all she wasn't physically hurt! He shuts the door in Derek's face, hollering, keep the boat, God Bless her and all who sail in her, with a wide grin. But Derek isn't going to take this lying down. He decides they must match Des bluff for bluff. We're going to sell the boat and advertise it today! (I HATE this pompous self righteous sanctimonious egomaniacal jumped up little geek! The only difference between Derek and Ken Barlow is education and the "Jumped up" part! Thank you. I feel better now...)
Mike comes to see Jackie about an invoice but she's still all wedding talk. She shows him an estimate for the flowers and Mike blanches when he sees the letter. She assures him the estimate is reasonable but once he mutters "Maggie's Flower Shop!?", I make the connection. It's not the cost that shocked him, it was the Maggie part! She wants to have lunch with him but he says he's meeting an old mate later, boring, just an old drinking partner really. He'll sort out the invoice and see her later.
Mavis peruses a boating magazine and contemplates what kind of asking price they can put in the advert for the boat. Rita doesn't think they can get very much as it isn't in the water yet and ridicules Mavis for doing Derek's dirty work. She's pretty sure Des was only joking when he said the Wilton's could have the boat but Mavis insists she doesn't mind being Derek's Aide-de-camp, looking after the details as he is such a busy man. Right, doing his dirty work! Changing the subject, Rita tells Mavis that Audrey has left Alf but before they can speculate on what really does go on behind closed doors, Alf himself comes in and announces it to them himself. Audrey has thrown down the gauntlet and he has picked it up, he brags.
In the shop, before Alf returns, Martin stops in for a packet of biccies. He makes a joke about Audrey out spending alf's money but Ivy doesn't think it's funny. But then we all know what Martin thinks of the sanctity of marriage. She also speculates that Audrey will get her way in the end. Martin has a few harsh words to say under his breath but he soon rattles Ivy's cage a bit more by wondering if that means Ivy will not be working at the shop for much longer since that was the main bone of contention between the Roberts'. Ivy launches into a fierce defense of Alf, ending with a diatribe about how if anyone should be leaving, it should be Alf leaving "her"! Open a door, you know Martin's going to walk right in and in he goes, gleefully throwing Ivy's words on the sanctity of marriage right back at her and then gets out while the getting's good, leaving her fuming.
In the pub, Ken is flabbergasted to hear that Mike is getting married but when he finds out that it's to the rich widow Ingram, all is suddenly clear. It's not a marriage, it's a merger of balance sheets! Don likens the upcoming marriage to frying pans into the fire, mentioning Alf's current predicament. Ken can't resist showing off, casually mentioning that it isn't the same for the mendacity and the overall scurrility. Don asks for a dictionary and Ken doesn't even have the grace to apologize or reword what he said! Ivy joins them, having been let go for her dinner and tells them that the shop is much happier without Audrey. Don hurriedly shushes her, thinking people will think she's only stirring it and warns her not to interfere. Interfere? Me???
Elsewhere in the pub, Des is trying to enlist Rita's aid to talk sense to Mavis. Can't be done and Rita wants to stay out of it. He admits to joking about giving the boat away in lieu of a settlement but she warns Des that Derek and Mavis have taken him literally and are planning to sell it! Right! Des scurries off in an angry panic to the Kabin, followed by Rita where he finds Mavis on the phone to the advertisement people. She lays down the phone to go talk to Des who lays into her about the boat. Mavis smirks with annoying smugness but is soon faltering when an angry Des threatens to take up beekeeping in his garden, before he leaves. Rita assures mavis that Des was again only joking, she thinks, and, upon finding the phone still off the hook, tells the woman on the other end the boat is not for sale after all. Mavis wonders how Des found out about the sale but soon realizes where it came from. She angrily goes to lunch with a very good shot in Rita's direction, "I'll leave you to talk care of your own business since you seem to be so good at taking care of everyone else's!"
We see a woman and a man emerge from a flower shop. The man, a customer, leaves and the woman watches a flash car drive up with Mike Baldwin at the wheel. He gets out and approaches her, she's not surprised to see him. It's Maggie Redman (Dunlop as was, she had an affair with Mike, had his baby but wouldn't marry him (smart chick!) and married an old friend instead). Inside, among the flowers, she tells him she put two and two together after hearing Jackie rabbit on about Mike this and Mike than and send the bill to Mrs. Baldwin. She is surprised and somewhat concerned, thinking Jackie knew all about her and had come to look over the ex-competition. Mike assures her that nobody knows and they agree it's best to keep it that way. Mike asks after Mark and is told he is fine but Maggie wants to keep her boy out of it too. Mike confirms he will leave the boy alone, restating a promise he had made not to contact the boy until he was 18. Just when he's about to leave, a small boy about 7 or 8 runs out, ready to go back to school (wait a minute, the other day, Tracy and Andy both mentioned being on holidays!!!) Mike is introduced as an old friend and in the end, Mark goes off with 20p of Mike's money in his pocket for a treat. Mike is delighted to see the boy but settles back down after a word of warning from Maggie. He takes a bouquet of flowers with him for Jackie and goes on his way to meet his mate.
Back to the corner shop, Don is letting Ivy know he might be late to tea, having a long distance fare to Leeds. Alf takes off for a committee meeting, complimenting Ivy's efficiency. Ivy tells Don that Alf's joviality is just a brave front, down deep he's quite upset at the whole situation.
In the hotel bar, Audrey enjoys one of those cocktails that have the little paper umbrella in it. She is approached by a middle aged man called Dave but before they can start a proper conversation, he is called away but hopes to see her later. She seems tickled at the attention.
Jim, Kevin and Ken play a game of darts . Jim and Don are discussing the boozy fishing trip they're going on tomorrow night. Kevin wants to go too but can't because of family and job commitments. Over at the bar, Mike and Phil Jennings order scotches. Mike asks his old drinking buddy about the wedding invitation. Is there a guest? Mike seems a bit taken aback when he realizes Phil is dating Deirdre, though he pretends he already knew. He seems rather thoughtful as he sips his drink. Uh oh! I have a bad feeling about this!
Des comes to Number 4 in hopes of negotiating a compromise. He apologizes to Mavis for his earlier outburst but it seems Derek isn't prepared to budge a penny even though Des promises to pay all damages and get in a proper builder to do the work. Des doesn't want to pay the "pain and suffering" clause and that's when Derek jumps on to a higher horse and spouts off about immaturity, irresponsible behaviour, shored up by a defiant Mavis who insists they have Des by the short and cur... Oooh. er. More shouting and hollering as the discussion deteriorates into a row and des leaving, promising to play as rough as Derek. Another bluff, Mavis, Derek insists, doubtfully.
Don returns from Leeds, with raised eyebrows when he sees Alf tucking into a big meal at his table. Ivy seems to have taken pity on Alf who really doesn't like dining out and couldn't face the empty house. Ivy and Don have a giggle in the kitchen at Alf's unaffected appetite.
Derek decides they must still get their fresh air so he opens the windows. However, the fresh air is saturated by a sickening stench! They investigate and find Des painting the part of the boat on his side of the property line with a barnacle-resisting paint that's making Mavis nauseous! He's doing what he wants with his half of the boat that's on his property so Derek runs inside to fetch his ax! If that's the case, Derek is making firewood out of his half! Des protests and Derek raises the ax but we don't see what happens!
Audrey is having a drink with Dave who turns out to be a traveling salesman obsessed by his job (doesn't seem like she can get away from that sort does it?). He rabbits on about hardware, lavvy brushes and pot scrubbers until Audrey is nearly bored into a coma. She makes excuses, explaining she's waiting for a phone call from her husband. Dave's face falls even further when Audrey fibs that her husband is in the marines. Would he like to meet him later? Er. not, i think. Dave backs out quickly, he has to go too!
Alf lays back in Don's chair, sated by a big meal and a glass of whiskey in his hand. He and Ivy discuss the ups and downs of marriage and he admits this has been a bit of a strain on him. But Don comes in with a fishing rod Jim's lent him. When Alf finds out about the fishing trip, he comes alive, wondering if he can go along with! Ivy wonders what if Audrey returns while he's gone? Audrey who??? (so much for strain!)
Maggie Redman - JILL KERMAN Mark Redman - MICHAEL
BOLSTRIDGE Dave - MICHAEL STROBEL
Writer - HARRY DUFFIN Director - SPENCER CAMPBELL
Tuesday (3239, Friday 14 June 1991)
Morning begins in the usual busy way for the Platt family. In the midst of Baby David's tears, Martin cajoling Nicky to hurry up and Gail trying to soothe the baby while coaxing Sarah Lou to eat, the phone rings. Audreh wants to know if Gail can see her and as she and Martin are on holidays, Gail readily agrees to have Audreh around later. When Audreh comes for their talk, she admits to her daughter that she's staying at the five star "Post Gate Hotel". Alf doesn't know of course - he'd have another heart attack if he did, chuckles Audreh.
In an effort to get to the heart of Audreh's problem, Gail points out that she isn't making things easy for Alf. She doesn't want Ivy in the shop and yet, she doesn't care to work there herself. "Mum, what is it you want?" Gail asks. "Because if you don't know, how is Alf supposed to figure it out?" What Audreh wants, is to feel like she is "number one" in Alf's life.
Gail reckons that Audreh told her where she is staying so that the information can be passed on to Alf. She waits for Ivy to go for her lunch before going to the shop to relay the news. "By 'eck - she doesn't do things by 'alves, your mother!" Alf thanks Gail for letting him know but states that he has no intention of getting in touch with Audreh. She may have seen fit to tell Gail where she was staying but she's made no effort to contact him!
Ivy's worried about the fishing trip Alf intends to go on with Don and Jim. She's already cautioned Don not to encourage Alf to come as she doesn't want to get the blame if Audreh should return and find her husband gone. She tries to talk Alf out of the idea but his heart is set on it and since Audreh is pampering herself at a five star hotel, he doesn't see why he shouldn't please himself!
When Jim comes into the Corner Shop, Alf broaches the subject of the fishing expedition to ask if he minds him coming along. Except for the problem of the transport, Jim has no objection. He was planning to give Don a night off driving, but his transport only carries two people. No problem, Alf says they can take *his* car and he will do the driving! Jim's just as happy with this arrangement anyway as it means he doesn't have to bother staying sober. Before the three fishermen set off, they go into the Rovers for a brew - uh, make that two pints and an orange juice, since Alf is driving. A little hi-jinx in anticipation of the great outing, Don uses a piece of bait, (maggots - eeewwweee!!!!) to tease Alec, "Hey, what's this I found in my beer?" and Alec almost falls for it until Jim produces a whole carton of the slimies, at which point he thinks it's time the three stooges were on their way!
From their table, Ken and Rita observe the merry trio. Neither can relate to the attraction of sitting on the drafty banks of a river waiting for a fish to bite. At the same time, Rita can't get over seeing Alf looking so happy. Ken agrees, he certainly doesn't give the appearance of a man pining for his wife. "Especially when he knows she's living it up in a five star hotel", adds Rita wryly.
But is she? Well, as it turns out, Audreh has come down to the reception to settle her bill for the week. The clerk asks whether she intends to stay on and she says she definitely does, although she can't say for how long. A few minutes pass and the receptionist returns with the news that there's a problem with the credit card... "A problem?" Audreh repeats vacantly. "Yes, I'm afraid it's been canceled." Angrily, Audreh heads for the phone, only to reach Alf's answering machine which jauntily informs her that he's gone fishing!
Also in the Rovers, Mike asks a favour of Phil Jennings - he wants him to be his best man. Phil is flattered but wonders if there isn't someone more suitable. Actually, there is, but as Mike explains, it would be a very short marriage if he asked his real best mate! By way of explanation, Mike goes on to confide in Phil... When Jackie wanted to sell the factory, he knew it was a big mistake. So, to save her from herself, he got his best mate, Charlie, to go in a pose as a buyer. "And offer her peanuts..." Phil interjects. "Right - so it wouldn't do for her to suddenly come face to face with him as my best man!" Phil laughingly agrees to the request, not to save Mike's bacon, but to spare Jackie from finding out what a "rat" she's marrying!
The Wiltons and Barneses are stalemated as far as the boat is concerned. More accurately, Des and Derek can't agree. Derek has decided that in the face of Des' obvious disregard for doing things "the neighbourly way", he must "take the gloves off". To that end, he's seeing his solicitor later today to find out exactly what their legal rights are! Mavis hates the idea of taking the matter into the legal arena. She tells Rita that all she wants is to have the thing settled quickly and quietly. Rita sees how worried her assistant is - how can they ever return to living peacefully beside Des and Steph once Derek has taken them to court? In an effort to help, she has a talk with Derek, telling him firmly that Mavis wants nothing to do with legal solutions and that if he cares about her, he'll think twice before going ahead with his plan!
While Rita is out talking to Derek, Des comes into the Kabin for a word with Mavis. Getting down to brass tacks, he points out that the problem is the boat. If the boat is gone, and she gets her fence repaired, it's end of problem - right? Mavis agrees with the assertion, but on hearing that Des plans to have the boat removed to the canal this afternoon, she is mortified at what Derek's reaction will be. Wringing her hands in despair, she is about to call Derek when Rita returns to the shop. Hearing Des' plan, Rita convinces her that it doesn't matter what Derek thinks. For once, Mavis should put her own feelings first!
Convinced by Rita, but against her own instincts, Mavis refrains from telling Derek the plan. But when the crane arrives on the street to collect the boat, he catches on and starts barking orders. In a frenzy, she tries to keep him calm but when he directs her to get out front and "stop them" she does as she's bid. Racing out to where Des and Steph are standing, she pleads for them to stop the crane. Mystified at her behaviour, they point out that as soon as the boat is gone, her problem will be solved. Over her protests, Des assures her that by the time Derek gets home, the whole thing will be taken care of. "That's the problem!" she gasps, "Derek *is* home!!" As they watch the boat being raised overhead, Mavis and her neighbours hear the strains of Derek's anxious voice. From down below, they look up in surprise as he cries from the boat, "Help! Get me down! Helppp! Maaavisss - get me down!"
The fishing trip is well underway - sort of... Alf seems to be self-appointed caterer, seeing to the food and brew. Don, who looks nearly ready to pass out, refuses the offer of the pork pie but accepts another can. Taking a bite of the pork pie himself, Alf says he'll just go and check on Jim, down river a ways. Jim isn't having much luck with the fish and he doesn't appreciate Alf's prattling while he's trying to concentrate. Alf says he hasn't caught anything yet himself but Jim soon works out that he hasn't been using bait either. (Poor Alf - even *I* know you have to bait the hook!) They hear a splash and Alf wonders what could have caused the sound. Jim is unperturbed, thinking it's only an animal of some kind. "What animal?" Alf wonders with trepidation. "How should I know what animal? A fox or summat..." answers Jim impatiently. Reassured, Alf decides to go back and check on Don again. To his utter dismay, the chair Don sat in only moments before is now empty. Panic rising in his voice, Alf calls for his missing friend, "Don? Don? Don! DON!!!" As the credits roll, we see the rushing stream carrying Don's white cap down river.
Anita Bélanger
Hotel Receptionist: LIZZIE McPHEE
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Wednesday (3240, Monday 17 June 1991)
In the early hours of the day, Alf and Jim comb the fishing site in an attempt to find Don, who disappeared into the darkness some hours previous. Alf has fished a cap from the river that looks like Dons and now recalls he heard a splash around the time they last saw their mate. Jim pooh poohs the notion as he doesnt want to jump to any conclusions. He points out that Alf should have been keeping tabs since he was the only sober one.
At the Wiltons, Mavis is up early to get the Kabins papers done and urges Derek to go back to bed with the offer of a nice cup of tea. He is sulking about the events of the day before and refuses to even answer her. She becomes increasingly frustrated trying to explain why she did what she did - none of it was to hurt him - but he maintains a stony silence. She finally blows her top, telling him what a silly child hes behaving like!
Back at the banks of the river, Alf and Jim are still debating what could have happened to Don. Alf favours calling the police but Jim thinks that would be jumping the gun. They ultimately decide that hes probably home safely in bed, having obtained a ride from someone he met at the pub or suchlike. They discuss whether to call Ivy but decide better not to, just in case. Having convinced themselves that it will all come out right in the end, they agree to pack up and head for home.
Sally goes to the corner shop in search of laundry detergent and finds Ivy just opening for the day. When Sally asks after Alf, Ivy says he is putting a brave face on things, even diverting himself by going on an all night fishing trip with Don and Jim. She projects that hell be no good at all in the shop when he does get back!
Don suddenly appears in the brush, wandering kind of aimlessly down the road beside the river. He comes upon a fellow fisherman and explains that hes lost his bearings having found himself in the drink! The other man gives him a hot cup of tea from his thermos and then directs him to where the pub is. Thanking the man, Don turns to start out on his way but doesnt get far before he spots Alfs car, merrily driving away! He shouts to get his buddies attention but its too late. Left in the dust, all Don can say is, "Flamin Nora!"
In the Kabin, Mavis complains to Rita about Dereks sulky mood this morning. Rita is quick to offer a word of advice, essentially, leave him alone and hell get over it. Mavis agrees in theory but says that she might sulk too, if Derek had done to her what she did to him. Nothing's ever simple with these two, is it? :-)
Gail rushes into the cafe and apologises to Alma for being late. She has had her mum land with them, as she tells Alma. Run out of credit and no place to go, has Audreh.
On the street, Jim has been knocking loudly on Dons door. Having no answer, he assumes that Don is probably fast asleep. Alf isnt convinced they did the right thing by coming home without him but before Jim has a chance to reply, Alf spots Audreh going into the corner shop and does a fast duck behind the nearest car.
Audreh barges in to the shop and demands of Ivy where "he" is! Ivy, surprised to see her, nervously explains about the fishing trip but Audreh doesnt want to know. She pushes Ivy aside and over Ivy's protests, opens the till to get what cash is inside. There isnt much so she wants to know where the cash box is. Ivy tells her that Alf has it hidden and she is under instructions to tell no one where it is. Audreh is furious to hear this but before she can let loose, Liz, who has been browsing (and listening) at a distance, steps up to defend Ivy. She tells Audreh that it isnt fair to take it out on Ivy, she is only doing her job. Audreh snaps back for Liz to mind her business, hasnt there been enough interference in her marriage already?! Ivy comes the innocent, "I hope you dont mean me!" to which Audreh replies sharply, "If the cap fits, Ivy!"
Alf and Jim are still standing outside of Dons door trying to decide whether they should be worried yet, when Audreh storms from the shop. Alf does another duck to avoid her seeing him and this time, a passerby stops to look quizzically in his direction. Alf pretends to be admiring the car and makes sure Audreh is well out of the way before he stands to tip his hat to the lady and bid her good morning - LOL!
Alf and Jim have finally decided its time to tell Ivy that they dont know where Don is. They go into the shop and she starts to tell Alf about Audrehs visit but he cuts her short to ask whether shes heard from Don. Of course, she hasnt and immediately flies into a panic when she learns they have returned without him.
Around Ivys dining table now, she, Alf and Jim try to make sense of whats happened. It must be difficult to explain to your pals wife that you lost her husband but it was just "one of those things" with all the drinking going on... Getting angrier by the minute, Ivy says she never liked the idea of this expedition to begin with! When Jim tells her that Alf reckons he heard a splash, she becomes even more upset and when Alf produces Dons cap from his pocket, she goes into a complete panic. Why in heavens name havent they called the police? Alf is quick to point out that he was in favour of calling them but Jim didnt think they should. A blaming game ensues between the two as Ivy despairs of her husband.
Audreh has made her way to the cafe by now where she is telling Alma how clever Alf has been about her leaving. She is bereft of a home now and whatever will she do because she cant go on staying with Gail who has a houseful as it is... Alma takes the hint and offers to have Audreh stop with her and you know Audreh jumps at the chance. Still, she laments Ivys influence on her husband. First, "that woman" has got him opening the shop all hours and now, shes got him going fishing!
At this moment, "that woman" is being interviewed by the police. She tells the sergeant that she doesnt even know if Don can swim, theyve never been swimming together and as they havent been married that long, its never come up! When she shows the officer Dons cap, Alf (in the background with Jim) asks if shes sure its Dons cap as one looks much like another. Of course shes sure - she bought it for him didnt she?! Just then, the door opens and in walks Don, fatigued but relieved to be home and none the worse for wear. He expresses surprise at seeing the police there and wonders whats happened. Met with a chorus of "Where were you?" he starts to explain. The officer gets up to go and Jim and Alf quickly head for the door but when Alf hazards to remark, "Alls well", Don retorts what a fine couple of pals they turned out to be!
In her boat-free back garden, Mavis is serenely laying the table for her dinner when Des pops over to see her. She is a bit defensive at first but relieved when he tells her that he wants the mess sorted as quickly and painlessly as she does. Hes brought her a new sun lounger, a state of the art one and wishes her many happy days with it but she wonders what Derek will say. Des reminds her that its in everyones best interest to get back to normal as soon as possible so she finally relents and accepts it with gratitude.
At the Brennans, Ivy has made Don a full fry up. While he raves about what a treat it is and how hes planning to stay the day in bed, she gripes about the way Alf and Jim handled the affair. Dons attitude is a bit too carefree for her liking so she impresses on him how worried she was. He apologises but not contritely enough to suit Ivy. She lets him have it with both barrels. Hasnt she buried enough dead family? He tries to appeal to her calmer nature but she continues to lash out. She tells him that if he ever decides to get drunk and roll into a river again, he neednt bother pulling himself out!
In the cafe, Audreh has tied on an apron and is serving Ken while she confides in him about what a mess Alf has left her in. As Ken listens politely, Alma and Gail look on in amusement, wondering if Ken will get to have his tea and toast before its gone stone cold.
At the Wiltons, Mavis is carefully preparing a fancy dessert when in walks Derek with a big bunch of flowers for her. He apologises for being so childish in the morning and promises her that whatever anger he may feel towards their neighbours, he will never again take it out on her! She is overcome by this change in attitude and they share a tender embrace before he spots the sun lounger and promptly forgets his promise. "Mavis, how COULD you?!" She tries to sputter her justification for accepting the thing but Derek feels its inexcusable! "Youve betrayed me again! You have actually aided the man in his scheme to emasculate me!" ROFL!!!
At the Rovers, Phil leans on the bar chatting with Alec about Mikes wedding. Will he and Bet be coming? Phils to be best man and he plans to take Deirdre. Its to be quite an affair, champers flowing and all that. Alec says he doesnt think they are going and its clear he resents Phils cavalier attitude. When Ken walks in, Alec sidles over to tell him the news. Ken makes a "birds of a feather" remark and Alec conjectures that Baldwin must be mad to trust Phil Jennings with a 24 karat ring - why, hell wheel and deal and have the bride wearing brass on her finger!
Liz stands beside the booth where Jim and Alf are seated and reminds Jim that he ought not drink too much if he expects to put in a days work tomorrow. Alf cant resist saying that he doesnt have to suffer through nagging any longer. Ken notices Alf and offers that Audrehs now staying with Alma at the cafe and Liz suggests that shes waiting for him to come around and talk things out. Alf tells her shell have a long wait!
As Alma comes into her flat and kicks off her shoes after locking up downstairs, Audreh is preparing a couple of cool drinks for them. Alma asks Audreh about her money situation and Audreh confides that although Alf has canceled her credit cards, she has a plan. Apparentleh, Alfeh has a stash of money that he keeps in a secret hiding place and Audreh knows just where it is! The two happily drink to the fact that she is about to come between Alf and his banknotes - Cheers!
Police Sergeant JAMES MASTERS Angler JOE BELCHER
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Thursday (3241, Wednesday 19 June 1991)
Gail has plenty to say to Martin about her mother's antics, making a scene in the shop in front of Ivy of all people. Martin calls Audrey a Drama Queen and mentions that women often do strange things when they're upset! He gets the back of the hairbrush upside the shoulder for that. Nicky tries to work out where a Drama Queen might live and questions his mother about the falling out between Grandma Audrey and Grandpa Alf. It's glossed over but Nicky susses out that he's been lied to. (you know he's not such a bad actor at the moment. But of course he's only what? 8? he's not trying to act and that's the difference isn't' it?)
Meanwhile, Alma's getting ready for work and Audrey's up and moaning about being woken up so early. She's had Alf trained to get up in the morning quietly. Alma tries to persuade Audrey that she misses Alf, not just the home comforts. Audrey does admit to being fond of him but is very disillusioned with her humiliation at his hands. Alma thinks she should put aside her pride and sort things out with Alf.
Mavis is about to take the plastic off of the new sun lounger out in the back garden. Derek hurries out and stops her. He's offended that she should be giving in, has she no pride? He refuses to let her keep the sun lounger and tells her several times that she is just putty which she doesn't appreciate. Derek is seeing plots where Mavis just sees a genuine effort by the Barnes's to make reparations. (Derek's pride won't let him give in, it's gone too far now!) Steph leans out the window and "Woo Hoo's" at Derek in his PJ's and he giggles! He really does! Mavis gives him "the look" and hisses at him... "Putty!"
Gail arrives at the cafe. Alma opens the post while describing her evening with Audrey who kept her up until midnight moaning about Alf then fell asleep, leaving Alma awake to worry. Only to hear Audrey tell it, *she* was the one awake all night! Alma sees that the quarterly rent bill has arrived and she sighs, hoping this new company, Alcazar holdings won't get greedy and raise the rent like the old one did, or she's out of a home as well as a business. Gail tries to smooth things over, hoping to divert Alma's attention.
Don gets a good ribbing in the pub over his recent drunken midnight swim. Alf seems to be the only one of the three fishermen not in the doghouse over their antics. Alf insists Audrey will come back but on his terms! Deirdre arrives and joins Rita and Liz (who's behind the bar). Rita offers Deirdre a lend of her new straw had that has a cabbage rose the size of a dinner plate on it to wear to Mike's wedding. Society "do" like that, at least her hat could make an appearance even if she isn't invited! Deirdre laughs and says she'll let her know, hasn't even thought of what she'll wear yet. She's really in the pub to try to track down Phil. It's getting embarrassing having to tell all the callers that she doesn't know where he is. They're partners and he should shoulder some of the responsibility!
Des orders some lunch in the cafe from Gail while Alma is still perusing the rent notice. She mentions the name of the holding company, Alcazar and Des perks up. That means "Castle" in Spanish, he says, he's pretty sure anyway. Quite common for things to be called "Castle" really. But inside Alma's brain, the adding machine gears spin.... 1 + 1 +...
Audrey makes an appearance but she's not stopping, she has things to do and she promises Gail to steer clear of the shop.
The next time we see Audrey, she's opening a small wall safe in Grasmere Drive. Phyllis nearly beans her with an umbrella, thinking there was a burglar in the house. Audrey thought there would be Alf's usual stash of cash but the safe is empty. She's also taken aback when she finds out that Alf has paid Phyllis to do the cleaning. She is rather nasty to Phyllis, insinuating things about Phyllis's nosy nature, wondering if she knew where Alf moved the cash. Phyllis gets her own back though by making a few insinuations of her own about the lack of housekeeping skills of the previous cleaner!
Ken encounters Deirdre on the street but she turns him down on his offer to share lunch. He seems to have only used this as an excuse to harass her about going to Mike's wedding. Mike ruined the life of his daughter, Susan, and now is going to ruin someone else's life and does Deirdre really think, (given her history) that it is the best place for her to be? Deirdre admirably stands up to him and in so many words tells him to get stuffed! He just smirks annoyingly.
Alma is on the verge of putting 2 and 2 together. she's unearthed an old photo of the gas station in Spain on the property that Mike bought. The name of the station is also Alcazar. What a coincidence!!! (that was that disastrous land deal he got caught up in with the boyfriend of his former lady, Dawn Prescott)
Derek arrives to apologize to Mavis for snapping at her earlier. He offers her a slap up lunch to make up for it but it doesn't mean he's given in, he still wants Des and Steph to pay the extra compensation, he's just sorry he was so owly that morning. Mavis gets permission to take an extended lunch from Rita and they drive off just as a truck with a load of wood or something in the back arrives. A workman gets out and knocks at Des's door and it certainly sounds like he was expected.
Ivy is industriously cleaning shelves when Phyllis arrives to tell Alf about Audrey's visit. He's very smug that he got one step ahead of her by cleaning out the safe before she got to it. Ivy cautions him to keep his business more private than discussions in the middle of the shop. Alf agrees but points out that it was Audrey that brought it out into a public forum in the first place.
Back at the cafe, Gail witters on about trying to change the menu a bit to include a moussaka or a lasagna but Alma is miles away. (Spain probably). She tells Gail about the Mike connection to the name Alcazar and Gail hastily tries to convince Alma that it is just a coincidence but Alma's suspicions are aroused now and Gail knows it.
Audrey arrives back at the cafe and it's obvious that she has hit bottom. Gail follows her upstairs. In a magnificent scene, Audrey works herself into tears, sobbing about her humiliation and defeat. She tells Gail about the empty safe and now she's at the end of her rope with no shred of dignity left! It never used to bother her what people thought of her, "silly" Audrey Potter who raised two kids out of wedlock. But marrying Alf and now she's older, she thought she had finally got to be somebody, get some respect! But everyone knows about her predicament and they're all laughing at Silly Audrey Potter only it's just the name that's changed. Gail is amazed that Audrey was just going to take the money though Audrey maintains it was legally hers, well half of it. After all, Alf canceled her credit cards, hid the cast *and* her bank books! Gail scolds her and Alf both for acting like children scoring points off each other. They need to sit down and talk to each other.
Mavis and Derek return from their boozy lunch. Derek's high spirits are quickly dashed when he looks out into the garden and sees a brand new fence up between their garden and the Barnes's. Mavis is pleased, it really looks nice doesn't it! But Derek is horrified, seeing what little advantage he thought he had ebbing away.
Later that night Gail airs her fears to Martin who doesn't think it will be so bad if Alma finds out that Mike is Alcazar holdings. She is bound to find out about it sooner or later. Gail explains that she may lose her friend once Alma makes the connection and realizes that Gail was colluding with the man that dumped her!
Deirdre still hasn't tracked down Phil and is getting frustrated. She's back in the pub with Rita and Liz and is cheesed off at him now! Derek arrives, lugging the sun lounger still in it's wrapping. He lays it on the table in front of Des and Steph, demanding they take it back! He's also not pleased that they replaced the fence behind his back either. Steph laughs, it's not behind your back, it's behind your Dahlias! Alec scolds Derek for bringing in his own seating, what's next? bringing your own refreshments? Des doesn't know what more he can do after replacing the lounger, flowers and fence but he isn't going to pay extra compensation. Rita takes Des's side and gets a tongue lashing for influencing Mavis. Derek tries to leave without the lounger but Des calls him back and like the weak Wiltie he is, he comes back and retrieves it.
A lady comes up the driveway beside a lovely garden that has a fountain, fake flamingo and .... a garden gnome! Now the truth is out! It's Alf and Audrey's house!!!! The woman is the Widow Vivian "Barracuda" Barford! she's there to deliver the WARTS newsletter. Alf is in his bathrobe because he was about to take a bath but lets her in. She is eagerly grinning from ear to ear with a hungry look in her beady eyes as she sympathizes with Alf and his situation, offering her help to him. He seems a bit wary though, closing himself off with that arms crossed against the chest stance. He thanks her and leads her back out. Meanwhile, Alma is bringing Audrey home in a cab. Audrey doesn't feel she has any choice now but as they cab arrives, Audrey spies Barracuda Barford (she's wearing a BLUE dress too!!!!) leaving the house, waved off by a very casually clad Alf. Audrey is stunned and cries to the cabbie to drive off!!!
Mrs. Barford - PAULA TILBROOK
Writer - ADELE ROSE Director - BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3242, Friday 21 June 1991)
Morning on the Street as the residents begin their workdays. As Des heads for his car, he cheerily greets Alf outside his shop but gets no response. Then he sees Derek and bids him a good morning. Derek snarls back, "That's *your* opinion!" but Des, unfazed, tries again. "Yes well, it is a good morning, in my opinion!" With Derek growling and Des smiling, the two set off in their separate vehicles.
Alf goes into the shop and complains to Ivy that he feels like shutting up and going home - his heart isn't in it today. Ivy takes a stab at pleading Audreh's case but is interrupted when Ken pops in to leave his key with Alf. He's having a chair (a sunken Victorian rocker, to be exact) delivered today and wants Alf to let the delivery man in. Once Ken is on his way again, Alf resumes complaining about Audreh. "She'll do anything rather than be reasonable!" he contends.
In the cafe, Gail has set Audreh to work so that she can "feel useful". When Don comes in for his breakfast, Audreh demands to know how he can even show his face. She reckons the fishing trip was a ruse made up to help Alf cover up his time with his "fancy piece"! Don protests but Audreh is having none of it. "First your wife, now you!" she accuses. Don doesn't stick around for any more. Canceling his order, he makes a hasty retreat, leaving Gail sounding off at her mother for driving customers out. Audreh is so upset that she leaves the cafe in tears and goes upstairs to Alma's apartment.
Into the fray steps Martin, just back from taking young David to the baby clinic. Gail expresses concern that the baby is wearing a woolen cap "in this weather" but Martin tells her he knows exactly what he's doing, to leave well enough alone. He shines with pride as he repeats what the doctor at the clinic told him: The baby is a "credit to motherhood"! Alma interrupts to ask Martin if the name "Alcazar" rings any bells for him but Martin feigns ignorance and takes the baby upstairs to visit with his grandma.
In the corner shop again, Alf tells Ivy he's just going out for a while, probably to the Rovers. Sally's in the shop and Ivy barely waits until the door is shut before unloading on her. "I hope he's not going to drown his sorrows!" she says. Sally wonders if the Roberts will work out their troubles since half of all marriages end in divorce. Ivy is quick to answer, "That's because they make it all too easy, luv!" Sally wonders if she means marriage or divorce and Ivy informs her, "Both!" Sally can't imagine having a row with Kevin serious enough that she'd walk out (Hmmm... Give it time Sal - you will!) and Ivy tells her, "That's because you're like me!"
As Alf walks into the Rovers, he is greeted by Alec, who asks him what his "pleasure" is. Alf can't see any pleasure in anything anymore, he says. Phil and Deirdre come into the pub and she is having a go at him for not keeping in closer touch with her during office hours. He makes light of his tendency to vanish but she finally succeeds in getting him to agree that he'll at least leave his mobile on. Don comes over to Alf to have a quiet word about Audreh's behaviour towards him in the cafe. Alf thinks the idea of his having a mistress is pretty rich, Audreh must have gone barmy to come up with that one! On second thought, he tells Don, if that's what she wants to think, let her!
Alma meekly enters her flat to find Audreh still sulking. Audreh offers an apology but Alma tells her there's no need. Audreh goes into a tirade of self-pity. She doesn't deserve this - she's given "that man" "everything"! Alma tells her to get real - no one gives someone else "everything", except in cheap novels! She pleads with her to stop feeling sorry for herself. Audreh digests this and manages a weak smile. Seeing her friend a little brighter, Alma asks her to go downstairs and give Gail a hand so that she can make a phone call.
With Audreh out of the flat, Alma sets out to confirm her suspicions, re Alcazar Holdings... She steels herself and dials the number on the lease agreement. A man answers and Alma introduces herself as "Mr. Baldwin's secretary". When he fails to ask, "Who is Mr. Baldwin?" her suspicions are confirmed - Mike is behind the lease. Pretending she is calling to find out whether the rent for the cafe has been received, she quickly ends the call, then sits and contemplates her next move.
Outside the pub, Deirdre and Phil are going their separate ways after lunch. She wants to know if she'll be able to reach him this afternoon and he assures her she can call him on his mobile. As he drives away, a look of suspicion crosses her face.
Alma comes down into the cafe and indignantly confronts Gail after finding out who their rent is being paid to. Gail shouts back that she's rowed once already today with her mother and she doesn't want a row with Alma! Alma isn't backing off, though - she figures she has a perfect right to know what's been going on! With a sigh, Gail petitions Audreh to look after the cafe for five minutes so she and Alma can go upstairs and talk. Audreh looks helpless at the idea of "taking over". She casts around asking what she should be doing, then realises she has a plate in each hand, decides, "I'll just put these down here..."
In the corner shop, Alf is back from the Rovers and bending Ivy's ear about the latest. He can't believe that Audreh is telling people he has a fancy woman. Ivy begs him to consider how upset Audreh must be to be saying such things and she wonders where she got such a notion. But Alf only sees it from his own perspective. It's all in her own mind, he says, calling the allegation "character assassination". He suddenly decides to leave for an hour, saying he is going home to do "a job".
In Alma's flat, Gail pleads for her partner to see reason. She didn't do anything "behind her back", she says. Rather, she did it "without her knowledge". Alma doesn't see the difference as she is still working her fingers to the bone "for him"! Gail reminds her that they work for themselves, not for "him" and that "he" bailed them out when they thought the business would have to fold. Alma can't fathom what inspired Mike to do such a thing. When Gail offers that he must have acted out of guilt, she expresses her loathing at being the object of his pity.
Walking past Jim's fix-it shop, Deirdre stops to have a chat with him. She confides she has no idea what she's supposed to be doing (in her job) and Jim jokes that she must be pretty important in that case. A P.J. Leisure's delivery truck rolls up and the driver, "Dean", asks Deirdre if she knows the boss' whereabouts. Does she 'eck as like - has he tried (someplace whose name I didn't catch)? He has tried it and there's a sign up saying that branch is closed until further notice! This comes as news to Deirdre, she doesn't know what's going on. Young Dean is apparently used to Phil's mysterious ways as he tells her not to worry, there's a method to his madness! As the truck rolls away, Deirdre turns to Jim and wonders what she's let herself in for!
Closing time at the cafe and Martin arrives to collect Gail. She's had a rotten day, she tells him, feels like she's running the Heartbreak Hotel! Never mind, he's left the kids with Pauline and is taking her out for the evening. He reminds her that she is lucky to have him but it doesn't look like she needs reminding - she knows!
Upstairs in the flat, Audreh is packing her suitcase! Alma listens sympathetically as she relates that she is useless on her own. The first night she spent in the hotel she was up all night watching telly - ice hockey at 3:00 a.m.! All the same, she hates the idea of crawling home at this stage. Alma reminds her that she is going back to a good man.
Down in the cafe, Gail has finished the last of the closing up duties and tells Martin she fancies a night in alone since the kids are with Pauline. The door to the flat opens and Alma announces that she is off to take Audreh "home". Gail is chuffed to hear it but offers that she and Martin will do the honours since they are leaving anyway. Audreh moans as Gail unthinkingly adds, "Anyway, you did it *last* time, Alma."
In the Wiltons' back garden, Derek is still licking his wounds over the fiasco with the Barnes. Mavis doesn't understand what his complaint is, since everything has been restored to the way they wanted it. From his viewpoint, the neighbours have deprived him of his claim by satisfying it! (Okay, Derek - anything you say!) Mavis thinks he's become obsessed with getting compensation and perhaps he should put in a claim for being obsessed! (Good one, Mave!)
As Audreh arrives home, she is relieved to see that Alf's car is not there yet. She tells Martin and Gail she'll be glad of the chance to get her breath before seeing him. Martin takes her suitcase to the door and she tells them that she'll be okay from here, they should get off home. She rummages in her purse for her house-key as they drive off, wishing her luck. Coming up with her key, she slips it into the lock only to find it doesn't work. Alf has changed the lock on her! (So that's the job he needed to rush home for this afternoon.)
Meanwhile, Alf is stood at the bar of the Rovers, calmly enjoying his lager. Des and Steph are seated at a booth discussing the situation with their neighbours, the Wiltons. Des complains that he's done everything humanly possible and yet Derek still isn't satisfied. Steph points out that Des has a tendency "to pour oil on troubled waters - and then light it on fire". The Wiltons come in and Derek cheerfully takes a seat opposite Des and Steph, proposing a "libation" as an end to their dispute. Des becomes defensive, telling Derek, "If that's the way you want it. I'll call my solicitor and you call yours!" "No, no - a 'libation'!" chuckles Derek, "A celebration drink, in honour of the claim being settled." Relieved to see the matter at an end, Des agrees to the drink and Derek orders a bottle of mead.
Ken has now joined Alf at the bar and the two discuss the rocking chair that Ken has decided not to keep as it's a bit pricey after all. Alf suggests he might like to take the chair. He seems well pleased with himself for having locked the money-sucking Audreh out and tells Ken he may start living a bit of the high life from now on.
Their mead having been brought to the table, Derek pours a round and proposes a toast to "mended fences" only to have Des say the stuff tastes horrid and he'd rather kick the fence down again than have to drink it! He is joking of course but it takes R Derek a moment to realise it!
At home without the kiddies, Gail and Martin are nice and relaxed. He is giving her a neck massage while tossing around fast food suggestions to see which one appeals to her. A knock at the door and Martin slowly gets up to answer, cursing the interruption. He is greeted by a tearful Audreh, who asks him to see to her cab fare. Audreh collapses in a chair and relates to Gail what Alf's done - changed the lock to "her home"! She's not going crawling anymore, she vows. She's now bent on getting "her half" of everything and "bloody divorce"!
Dean Lockwood CHRIS HARGREAVES
Writer JULIAN ROACH Director BRIAN MILLS
Monday (3243, Monday 24 June 1991)
Ivy is first into the shop followed closely by Vera who's after telling Ivy that there's a job going at Bettabuys. They discuss the way Audrey laid into Don in the cafe yesterday. Ivy still feels loyalty to Alf though recognizes the pay would be better at Bettabuys with the added incentives of cheaper grocery shopping and working with Vera again. She feels she can't let Alf down and feels responsible since it all started with her taking the job in the shop. Vera doesn't think Ivy's responsible, Alf is! He never should have married Audrey in the first place, and should have known he couldn't handle her... Of course, just after that, in walks Alf so the conversation screeches to a halt. Which doesn't go unnoticed. Vera makes herself scarce. Alf knows his private affairs are the fodder for all the gossip lately and thinks maybe it's time to go and have an adult discussion with his wife! Ivy is pleased he's making the first move.
Audrey is making a move as well, letting her fingers do the walking through the yellow pages, where the solicitors are listed. Martin is in a knot, finding shoes and juggling babies while Audrey is off in another world. He plunks the baby on her lap and retrieves Nicky's shoe from under the settee and tells Audrey he thinks she's going a bit over the top, talking solicitors! Audrey has all her spunk back and lectures Martin, correcting him on who was over the top! Alfeh locked her out of her own home after all! Add to the list of humiliations his canceling of her credit cards and shenanigans with the widow Barford! Well, he's not breaking her spirit! She's going to make him pay one way or another. Martin also advocates an adult face to face discussion. The longer it goes on, the worse it will get, especially if she involves lawyers. But Audrey has made up her mind and will only take him back if he comes begging on bended knee for forgiveness!
Gail serves Don and apologizes to him for Audrey's behaviour. alma isn't putting any effort into the cafe, finding the latest Hello magazine much more riveting. She gets a scolding from Gail but takes no notice. It's difficult to be motivated knowing she's just lining Mike's pockets and "Hers!". Poor Gail. Here in the cafe all day, it's Mike Mike Mike and she goes home and all she hears is Alf Alf Alf! Oh, Hello, Alf! In lumbers the big guy himself though why he stopped in at the cafe to tell them all he was going to see Audrey to talk to her instead of just going right over, i'll never know! Well i will, it's just a plot device to inject more pain into this overly drawn out storyline! Gail applauds Alf's decision and makes the mistake of mentioning Audrey's search for a solicitor (Plot Device 368). Don also sticks his opinion in, hoping that the two of them work it out soon what with Ivy moaning at him at home and Audrey having a go at him in the middle of the cafe. Alf loses all control and it's all like a red flag to the bull! Gail tries to reason with him, asking for a bit of give and take but alf sounds off against Audrey. Gail defends her mam and attacks Alf, saying Me mother was right about you!
Mr. Sugden runs across the road to intercept a somewhat distracted Mrs. Bishop. He's been waiting in the shop but she hasn't turned up for her shift and he's missed his elevenses. Not that he couldn't miss a meal, oh no, he's gone three days with nothing but water and biscuits during a siege and .... well you get the picture. Emily sternly tells him that her whereabouts don't concern him and she escapes into the shop for a bit of peace. She doesn't find it. She tells Alf and Ivy she's booked herself a holiday by the sea but hasn't found the nerve to tell Mr. Sugden yet. Alf snaps. He loudly lectures that she should just tell Percy, You can bend over backwards for some people but they just walk over you, Draw the line in the sand! Just do it! Emily hesitates, cowers and hastily agrees to do just that and beats a hasty retreat! No peace! Ivy wonders aloud if that wasn't a bit strong, you need a bit of give and take with Folk. (there's that red flag again!) Alf hasn't finished, it seems, and boldly accuses Ivy of causing all his troubles in the first place by working at the shop! I see!!! He realizes what he's said and apologizes profusely, citing all the emotional stress. It seems to satisfy her for the moment.
Back to the cafe, Gail is getting fed up with Alma's sulking and sarky comments, accusing Gail for involving Mike in the first place. She'd much rather be exploited than be in his debt. Gail wants no more to do with it, it's between Alma and Mike now and advises her friend to speak to Mike. That's the whole problem, Alma wails, she doesn't want to see Mike. She thought she had managed to get over him, and get him out of her life and now he's back in it. Gail scolds Alma to either live with it or find another backer because she is just interested in keeping the business going so she can feed her family. Alma launches a "Nobody cares about me" pity party and goes up to her flat to continue it on her own. Gail gets an idea and makes a call (any guesses?)
At the pub, Emily is having a large sherry for dutch courage and tells Liz about her holiday. Phyllis , however, is suspicious when she finds out Percy isn't invited. She assumes Emily must be taking some other man instead and confides to Liz (once Emily has sat down in a booth) that she can hear opportunity knocking! (Percy alone for a few days? or something else?) Well, later she runs into Percy and after establishing that he knows nothing about Mrs. Bishop's holiday, spills the beans. She makes sure Percy knows her theory, if she isn't taking you, who is she taking?
Audrey has a visitor. Alma. They get to moan to each other about the men in their lives. Audrey speculates that Alma is still carrying a torch for Mike and this rent business has upset her because, Audrey theorizes, Alma thinks Mike is still carrying one for her as well. Alma doesn't exactly deny this but tells Audrey how Gail stood up for her against Alf that morning. For a change, Audrey says ruefully, Gail seems to think her mother is past it, that all she can get is someone like Alf and nobody better at her age. Well she'll show them all. She suggests the two of them hit the clubs and find some young fellas to spend pots of money on them but Alma isn't keen. Audrey pulls out her address book and starts turning pages, with a crafty look on her face and a plan on her mind. She's going to make some lucky man weep for joy!
Alf greets Martin and the kids outside the shop. Martin makes sure Alf knows that Audrey is shattering his nerves but Alf doesn't care. He cites Audrey's firing of the first shot by walking out and her latest stunt of calling a solicitor. Martin tells him that Audrey is only crying for help! She only wants him to go talk to her but Alf insists he's done all he can, Ask anyone! (like what? change the locks? hide the money? cancel her cards? not fire Ivy? What has he done to try to resolve things?) He invites Martin to even ask Ivy but Ivy says not to involve her. Right, Martin shouts, because you started it all in the first place! He storms of with the kids in a haze of frustration.
Audrey makes a long distance phone call just as Martin arrives back home. She shoos them out to the kitchen. Turns out she's calling her son Steven in Canada, wanting to talk to his father! But Dad is in Winnipeg on business so Audrey asks Steven to get him to call her soonest and hints that she might see him very soon!
Alma is just about to lock up when Mike comes in (Gail called him). He thought she might want to know why he bought the building and the lease. The best defense is a good offense right? So Alma comes out shooting. They exchange awkward comments on whether they should talk in the cafe or the flat and in the end, the flat is chosen but you can see Alma is going to make this difficult. We'll get back to this in a minute...
Martin and Gail discuss what to do about Audrey who is out of the room at the moment. gail is now firmly on her mother's side after Alf was so horrible today. Audrey returns just in time to pick up the ringing phone. She names no names, we know who it is but Gail and Martin only hear one side of the conversation filled with suggestive comments on who loves ya baby. We understand that Steven is telling his mother that his father still isn't back and will call her when he can. Martin and Gail wonder what she's up to now but Audrey plays her cards close to her chest and only says that she could be out from under their feet in a matter of days. Forward Planning, she called it. Gail mentions that she doesn't know if she did the right thing, calling Mike when she knew Alma was looking so tired. Audrey thinks the past should be left in the past and Alfeh is certainly the past for her. (So why is she looking up a boyfriend from even further in the past???)
Back to Alma's flat. You could cut the tension in the air! Every time he tries to say a civil word to her, she puts up a roadblock and comes back with a sarcastic shot. She doesn't care why Mike bought the place and he might as well go since she didn't ask him to come! Fine. He gets to the door and she cries out Why!? and launches her accusations, he hurt her and just when she thought he was out of her life, it turns out she's not allowed to forget because he's bought a place back in it! Bravely holding back the tears from the edge, she realizes that money *can* buy anything, it seems. He returns into the room and searches for the right words. He doesn't know why he did it except that he still cares for her, and didn't want to see her hurt. It makes him feel good to help her out but she feels like a charity case especially knowing it was jackie's money! She is very surprised to find out that Jackie doesn't know anything about it. Oh so you're having a secret meeting with your ex just days before your wedding? He doesn't want Jackie to know about this whole deal. The argument descends into even more personal matters when Alma wants to know if he would have fallen in love with Jackie if she hadn't had all that money! Mike insists he would have and makes his second trip back to the doorway but Alma's next words stop him in his tracks. She says she wasted her time feeling sorry for herself when she should have been sorry for him. He's lost, he doesn't know who he is or where he is and doesn't even know if he's marrying her for her money or not! He doesn't address this, but returns and promises he isn't going to raise the rent, he'll just be a name on a piece of paper. No interfering in her life. She keeps her head turned away from him, knowing she'd break down if she looks at him. She quietly wishes him happiness. He thanks her and finally gets to actually leave this time on his third trip to the door. He leaves and Alma's face crumbles.
I wish that had been the last scene in the episode but there's one more. In the pub, Vera shares a table with Don and Ivy who asks Vera to look into that job at the supermarket as she's changed her mind. Had enough of the aggro and accusations today i expect. But Alf comes in to apologize to Don for Audrey's behaviour and for his own. He doesn't know what he'd have done if not for Ivy there to help carry on. He'd probably have had to close up the shop and is eternally grateful for her loyal support! Ivy's face twists in guilt. Uh oh!
Writer - FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE Director - JULIAN JARROLD
Tuesday (3244, Wednesday 26 June 1991)
As Ivy heads off to work at the Corner Shop, she is greeted by Vera on her way to Bettabuy's. Vera can't resist mentioning the lure of working in Bettabuy's together but Ivy hushes her when Alf comes out of the shop to arrange some flowers. For his part, Alf is so grateful to have Ivy on board that he's even giving her a raise, premature though it may be. When lunch time rolls around, he makes a point of telling her what a "tower of strength" she's been to him. Ivy feels a debt of loyalty to Alf, more out of pity than anything. Reg spots her in the Rovers at lunchtime and wastes no time in trying to sell her on the idea of coming to work for him. Apparently Vera has told him that Ivy's in the market for a job, and Ivy is now faced with the challenge of convincing Reg that she isn't interested.
Alf later hears about the encounter, when Betty mentions that Reg was "hounding" Ivy at lunchtime. It doesn't take him long to figure out the lie of the land although Ivy tries to tell him it was "Summat and nothing". When the two men come face to face in the Rovers that evening, Alf takes Reg to task for trying to poach his staff. "Bettabuy's poaching staff from a corner shop?" he counters with an air of ridicule.... "That would be like Manchester United poaching a center forward from Arsenal!" (I don't know that Reg actually said "Arsenal".... This name was inserted at the suggestion of a friend - thanks, Nikki! - as what he possibly *could* have said since I couldn't make out the last bit. Anyway, the inference was that it just wouldn't happen.) Insulted by Reg's arrogance, Alf huffs out of the Rovers with a warning, "Keep your hands off my staff or you'll find my hands around your throat!"
Percy is increasingly disturbed about Emily's planned outing to Rhos-on-Sea, all the more so when Phyllis plants the suggestion that she's going with a beau. Making it plain that he's free to accompany her, Percy is crestfallen when Emily tells him she got the last available coach seat - no matter what he thinks, she is going *on her own*!
At Ingram's, Mike is trying desperately to collect three months' arrears from a long-standing client, Tom Miller. Jackie doesn't feel he's going about it very "diplomatically" but as Mike points out, £50,000 is a lot of money. When he uses the phrase, "The buck stops here", Jackie gets the shivers, recalling that Peter used to say that. To Mike's great disappointment, he learns later in the day that Miller's has gone bust. In an effort to see the silver lining, he reports to Jackie that they can still afford to pay their staff - just - but it would help if they could elope to France or Italy and find a "little village church" to marry in, instead of spending brass on a big wedding here. She laughs at the notion of course, no one is going to rob this girl of a wedding with all the trimmings!
On the Audreh front, Gail reckons her mum must be "out of her mind", thinking that "another fella" is the solution to her problems with Alf. It's just a row and will blow over in time, even "die of fatigue", conjectures Gail. But Audreh figures that being locked out by Alf is a pretty clear sign it's over and she intends to make hay while the sun shines, i.e., get a "fella" while she still can!
At the cafe, Alma confides to Gail that she has no intention of telling Mike's fiancée about the arrangement with the cafe. It gives her a feeling of superiority, knowing she knows something about him that Jackie Ingram doesn't! Gail shares her worries about Audreh with her partner and the two agree that Audreh isn't facing reality. To further complicate the situation, Martin arrives with a report that Audreh's been trying to contact Malcolm, her son Stephen's foster father in Canada. In Audreh's words, he's a lovely man - very... Canadian!"
Gail can't believe that Audreh seriously expects to pick up from where she left off the last time she saw Malcolm. "What are you going to say, Mum? 'I'm free to take you up on the offer you made me four and-a-half years ago... Meet me at the airport, I'll be wearing tan pumps!'?" Audreh doesn't think it's all that unreasonable.... After all, Malcolm was "obsessed" with her then and she ventures to say he probably still is! She's left a message with Stephen and expects to hear back from Malcolm at any time.
Martin proposes a round of Scrabble or Monopoly, to get their minds off the situation but Gail snaps that there's too much "game playing" going on already! When Martin suggests a walk, Gail replies that he ought to take Audreh for a walk, the fresh air might clear her head. "And if she still won't see sense, you can throw her into the canal!" When the phone finally rings, Martin drags a reluctant Gail from the room to afford her mother some privacy. During the conversation with Malcolm, Audreh slowly faces the realisation that she's too late - there's another woman in his life. She makes a valiant effort at bravery in wishing him and his soon-to-be bride well before hanging up in despair. As Gail comes back into the room, Audreh relays the shocking news but not wanting to be pitied, resists her daughter's offer of sympathy. A sad ending to a sad chapter in Audreh's sad existence, it seems....
Anita Bélanger
Written by LESLIE DUXBURY Directed by JULIAN JARROLD
Wednesday (3245, Friday 28 June 1991)
Curly and Vera head out their respective houses on their way to work and Curly begs a lift off Vera as his car is on the blink. From the front of the corner shop, Alf happens to glance in their direction and starts complaining to the pair about Reg Holdsworth trying to poach his staff. By this time, Ivy is coming up the street on her way to begin her workday at the corner shop. She stops with Curly and Vera for a minute, long enough to warn them both to call off Reg as he is upsetting Alf. Vera is far from sympathetic, saying it's no wonder Audreh left Alf!
In the Platt/Tilsley home, Martin and Gail sit and whisper about the fact that Audreh is leaving them to go back to Alma's. Audreh comes in and guessing the gist of their conversation, announces that she doesn't feel welcome here and that if anyone is capable of understanding how she feels, it's Alma. Gail starts to protest, "Mum, all I said was...", but Audreh cuts in, "Act sensibly". She continues, "Act my age... Well, I'm middle-aged and I've been turned out of my home - I feel a bit desperate!" Gail and Martin try to let her know they sympathise but Audreh says she doesn't want their pity. She just wants things with Alf to be settled on her terms. With that, she goes out to her waiting taxi.
In the cafe, Percy is trying to enjoy his tea and toast but Phyllis will not leave him alone. As she talks about Emily leaving him on his own, Percy beseeches Alma to do something. Phyllis has another go before Percy threatens to leave but she moves to another table so he won't have to. Audreh arrives and Alma greets her and opens the door to the upstairs flat for her before returning to her customers. Phyllis just won't let up on poor Percy. From her own table she tells him he's had a lucky escape as Emily would have ended up treating him the way Audreh has Alf! That's it for Percy. He gets up and stalks out of the cafe, leaving Alma to warn Phyllis, if it happens again, she'll be barred! Phyllis sits wondering, "What have I said?!" LOL
In the corner shop, Alf has just had a call from Gail, who phoned to apprise him of her mother's new whereabouts. Frustrated at the news, he tells Ivy that Alma is another one who's "footloose and fancy free" and he reckons she's always been a "bad influence" on Audreh. Ivy is quick to point out that Audreh doesn't need to be influenced, she has enough ideas of her own. Alf wants to know what *that* is supposed to mean and, curiously, seems placated when Ivy more or less reiterates. She continues by saying that Audreh's taken to flitting around from home to home like a grasshopper. Alf nods his agreement and points out that she's "unstable". Ivy is on a roll now, telling him that Audreh's not the only unstable one. He flares up at the least thing now too, just look at his reaction to Reg Holdsworth. Alf vehemently denies he does any such thing and launches into another diatribe against Holdsworth!
Going up to the flat to check on Audreh, Alma tells her that she knows about Malcom and his impending marriage. Audreh broods that Gail probably took great pleasure in telling her but Alma protests that Gail was only worried about her. Alma reckons it's mainly Audreh's pride that's hurt but Audreh points out that's all she has left. She turns the table on Alma asking if Mike wanted her back, would she have him? Alma reckons at this point, she would, if he really meant it. She wouldn't let "pride" stand in her way, she emphasises. That doesn't help Audreh who now regrets that she "threw herself away" on Alf.
At Ingram's, Jackie drops into Mike's office where he is compiling a list of customers to call on. The problem, he tells her, is that they'll know that he's in a tough position and will screw the price down on him. She asks if he can't count on some of his friends, as Peter did and Mike explains that Peter was a Mason, whereas he has to rely on his ingenuity. She wonders if they can even afford the wedding at this rate, maybe they should call it off but Mike won't hear of it. He's always believed in spending your way out of trouble. "Let them share in a shaft of your light and they'll be lined up to do business!" he tells her. All the same, Jackie thinks she ought to trim expenses where possible. Showing less bravado than a moment before, Mike agrees. "Trim, but don't ruin it..." he urges.
In the Rovers, Betty wonders why Percy is looking so glum but when he tells her it's "women troubles" she says she doesn't want to hear about it. As Phil brings drinks to a table for himself and Deirdre she comments that she thought he was broke. He gives her a snappy answer which I didn't quite get and then they start talking about Mike's forthcoming wedding. Deirdre says she wants something nice to wear, not just because Phil wants her to look "posh" but because she needs to feel special "for deep psychological reasons". He tells her to choose something and he'll pay for it but she says all she wants is her week's wages so she can buy something for herself. With suave assurance, he tells her she'll get her wages.
Alf comes in to the pub and when Liz greets him with, "Back again?", he gets defensive and asks her what she means by it. She back-peddles, then asks what he'll have. Good thing Alf is easily distracted, he'll have a shandy and a sandwich. The door opens and Reg is about to enter when he sees Alf is in the pub. From behind the bar, Betty and Liz watch as Reg signals that he'll be back later. Alf catches them looking past him and demands to know what they are looking at. Luckily, by the time he turns to see for himself, Reg has gone.
And where has Reg gone to? Straight to the corner shop! He proudly presents himself to Ivy, who in a state of surprise, asks what he's doing there. He coyly answers, "This is a shop, isn't it? Well I'm here to shop!" At the cafe, Gail and Alma are wringing their hands and wondering what to do about Audreh. Alma suggests they try a "two prong approach", talk to her together. Gail figures she's had enough of that from her and Martin, both following Audreh around shouting for her to go back to Alf. Well then, suggests Audreh, why don't we tell her to try something else? "Someone else, you mean? No thanks!", Gail retorts. Before Alma has the chance to reply, Audreh appears and stuns them both by announcing she is off to the job center! Gail turns to Alma to ask if she's been filling her mother's head with "daft ideas" but Alma knows nothing about it.
Reg returns to the counter with a basketful of "shopping" and informs Ivy that he is about to give her a "test". A test to determine whether her "mental and digital dexterity" comes up to Bettabuys' high standards! She tells him that she isn't taking any test and she doesn't want a job at Bettabuys, now would he please leave before Alf returns and finds him there. Reg recites the reasons Ivy should want to leave Alf's employ and come to work for him: "six-thousand a year, 39 hour weeks, five weeks holidays, profit sharing, staff restaurant AND a discount card!" Ivy looks suitably impressed but still says she isn't interested. Reg pulls out the reverse psychology, saying he doesn't think she could pass the test and she takes the challenge. No sooner does she start ringing through his items than Alf walks in and demands to know what's going on.
Reg sputters that he was only trying to come up with tips from the competition but Alf isn't fooled and Ivy reluctantly tells him the real reason for Reg's visit. Alf wants to know what Reg's "shopping" comes to so Ivy finishes ringing it in and announces the total, £18.70. Alf demands payment and Reg tries to wheedle out of it but finally pulls out his billfold. Oh dear, what a shame - he hasn't got @18.70, only £10, 20p. Never mind, says Alf, directing Ivy to take off the difference. As she begins taking items off the bill, Reg protests again but Alf sharply tells him to hand over the £10.20, take his shopping and get out! Reg cowers and starts jamming things in his pockets, piling them in his arms, anywhere he can fit them. He momentarily forgets himself and asks for a bag and Alf tells him they are 10 p. "I haven't got 10 p!", screeches Reg. Alf starts a countdown for him to get out of the store and Reg makes a grab at the last couple items before running out the door and down the street, dropping things as he goes.
Having been to the job center, Audreh sits waiting for a taxi in what is apparently the taxi office. (Where did Audreh get the money for all these cabs all of a sudden?) In walks Don and it turns out, he's there to pick up Audreh. She flatly refuses to go with him and when Frank, Don's boss asks what the trouble is, Don says never mind, he'll sort it out. Audreh tells him he can sort Ivy out instead. She shrieks at him that Ivy's responsible for wrecking everything. "Since Ivy came to work in the shop with her smarmy ways, she's got Alf jumping through hoops!" Don throws up his hands and walks out of the office with her shouting after him, "See? You can't deny it!"
Mike returns to the office and reports to Jackie that he received an order for £5000 from Conroy. She in turn tells him that she was able to cut back on the expenses for the wedding, mainly by cutting the honeymoon back to a weekend instead of a week. He beams as he tells her the next customer he goes to see, she is coming with him. He thinks they make a good team and he wants her to know, he'll make up to her for the honeymoon when the "good times" are back. She wants to know that they won't only be a "good team" in "good times" and Mike becomes pensive, saying, "That's what we're finding out now".
In the Rovers again, Deirdre and Phil have a boring, inconsequential scene, talking about the dress (for Mike's wedding) that she saw but can't afford. Then, Ken and Liz have a boring, inconsequential scene, talking about what Ken will do on his vacation, which is nothing. Then, Betty watches from behind the bar as Phyllis comes in and takes her place beside Percy. She asks him to buy her a drink and he refuses, "Certainly not!", which shocks Betty just a little. Phyllis announces the source of Percy's angst to Betty, filling her in on Emily's trip with the "other man" (who doesn't exist, except in Phyllis' over-ripe imagination). Percy moans at hearing the story again but Phyllis challenges him to walk out on her again, reminding him, "You've nothing to go home for but an empty house!"
Don returns home to find Ivy hanging the wash in the backyard. He delights to hear that she has made bangers and mash for tea, his favourite. She tells him about the "argy-bargy" in the corner shop and he tells her about the set to with Audreh. Ivy shakes her head sadly and says that Alf and Audreh are driving one another into the ground.
Back in Alma's apartment, Audreh feels totally discouraged about her day at the job center and life in general. She gets a pep talk from Alma but to no avail. She feels completely useless. First, she picked all the wrong fellas. Then she all but abandoned her children. Now, she's messed up her marriage and probably her only chance at security in her old age. "Why don't I just top myself now and save others the bother?", she asks rhetorically. All Alma can say is: "Oh God..."
In the corner shop, Alf sits behind the counter looking bored and tired. He's only had four customers all night and is thinking of shutting up when Ivy comes in. "A friendly face", he's very happy to see her. He's so happy that he offers to get her a bottle to take home to Don for his tea, to make up for all the recent bother. Ivy breaks his happy mood by forcing out the announcement: she's giving in her notice. Alf reacts by heatedly blaming Holdsworth but Ivy tells him that isn't it, not directly, anyway. It's the atmosphere she can't stand, all the tension since Audreh left. She has no plans to go to work for Bettabuys, she says. She just can't take working here the way things are. Quietly, she goes out the door and Alf is left alone to ponder his predicament. "How am I going to run this place by myself?" he sighs.
Frank BRYN ELLIS
Writer LESLIE DUXBURY Director JULIAN JARROLD
Thursday (3246, Monday 1 July 1991)
Ivy seems to have given Alf her notice after all. Rita is trying to convince her to hang on just a bit longer until Alf and Audrey sort themselves out. Rita explains that all this has taken more out of Alf than he'll admit and what will happen if Ivy leaves now? Ivy is determined however, she's already promised to start at Bettabuys on Monday. (huh? did she actually say that on yesterday's show? i didn't think so!) Ivy's had it up to here with all the aggro. Just then Ken comes in so the argument ceases for a minute. Ken's after some salmon sandwiches, barm cakes and some milk but is willing to wait until Ivy's finished serving Rita. Ivy glares up at Rita and snaps, I have finished! Rita sighs and takes the hint. She leaves after mentioning to Ken that Ivy won't be working there much longer. Ken will miss Ivy and her liberal hand with the sandwich fillings as opposed to Alf's scanty servings!
Emily's day out seems to have done her a world of good. She's all smiles even though Percy persists in trying to find out what she did and who she did it with. She insists she was on her own and only chatted to a friendly man on the coach which alarms Percy even though she put his mind at ease by telling him the man was only on his way to pick up his wife. She had a lovely day out on her own, peaceful, tranquil, On Her Own (emphasized several more times).
Deirdre approaches the young man who is in Phil's warehouse fixing video game machines and gleans some interesting facts from him even though he doesn't know where Phil is at the moment. He's been with Phil since he left school and there have been cash flow problems before which have even prevented him from being paid on more than one occasion. He doesn't mind though, Phil has always managed to come through it before and no doubt will do again.
Percy instructs Audrey on the precise method of preparing his toasted tea cake (not burnt to a crisp and not swimming in butter) but she is distracted and impatient with him so Alma takes over and hints to Gail to have a sit down with her mother for 5 minutes. Gail tells Audrey to snap out of it but understands she's going through hell and feeling at her lowest point. She has to drag herself out of it though, she's got to assess her life and pick up the pieces. You mean going back to Alf? Gail ruefully admits that's one of the options her mother needs to weigh up.
Phil finally surfaces, at Ingrams. He asks Mike out to lunch to talk about the wedding but Mike is swamped and turns him down. Jackie is there too and tries to insist Mike go, he needs to take a break but Mike takes a rain check. Ok, Phil considers, how about tonight in the Rovers? Mike tries to put him off but Jackie pushes and he says he'll try to make it. Later when he's scarfed down a sandwich at lunchtime, Jackie scolds him, telling him she's already lost one husband to the factory and doesn't want to lose another. He needs to take care of himself and not work quite so hard. Mike looks somewhat abashed and agrees to meet Phil even with his busy schedule.
Rita returns to the Kabin, apologizing to Mavis for her delay. Only Alf managed to corner her and spent the last half hour bending her ear about his troubles. Mavis and Rita agree on some people's stubbornness and Rita mentions to Mavis the same thing she did to Ivy, how hard Alf is handling the stress. Rita sympathizes with Alf, she knows what it's like to come home to a lonely empty house. Mavis warns Rita not to let Alf get too dependent on her. After all, Alf has always had a soft spot for his old friend and given and inch... well, Mavis purses her lips, she's said too much. Yes.
In the pub, Emily is teased by Betty about being swept off her feet by a handsome man met while on a day trip. Emily takes it in good spirits, laughing that Mr. Sugden seems to have the same alarming suspicions. He can't accept that she could have a perfectly good time on her own and it was quite a tonic having the day to herself with NO Mr. Sugden around! Don arrives for a quick orange juice and confirms to Betty that Ivy is going to Bettabuys. Betty clucks sympathetically and wonders how Alf is going to know which way to turn! Don figures that's Alf's problem. (i see a distinctly black cloud forming and i don't like it's implications!)
The phone rings in the Kabin and it's Alf to speak to Rita. From our end of the conversation, it seems Alf is pledging his eternal gratitude to Rita for her supportive words and wants to take her to lunch to thank her. Mindful of Mavis's earlier warning and feeling Mavis's disapproval wafting over the shop, Rita turns Alf down, telling him she isn't the only woman that understands him so well! Right. Rita decides she is going to have to go have a word with Audrey, next.
She arrives at the cafe and asks Gail to fetch Audrey but Gail thinks Rita is doing Alf's dirty work. Rita is adamant, she's only there trying to help. Alf doesn't know she's there and since she cares about the two of them and has already said her piece to Alf. She intends to give Audrey equal air time. She can't watch the pair of them go on like this when neither really wants it. Gail agrees and calls Audrey. Rita sits Audrey down and tells her she's going to listen to what she has to say but we don't hear what it is.
Something she said must have made an impression because later on, Audrey decides to head over to the shop to talk to Alf. Only before she gets there, she sees Ivy returning to the shop after her dinner break and loses her nerve. She returns to the cafe, defeated and explains she didn't see Alf after all. She just didn't have the bottle to talk to Alf with Ivy there. Gail tactfully keeps quiet and pours her mother a cup of tea.
Jackie is about to get out of her car but the mobile rings so she sits back in and takes the call. It's a surprise call from Ralph Dobson, the man who used to be the works manager at Ingrams. He wants to meet up with her after working hours in complete secrecy. That means don't even tell Mike. I guess she still has some loyalty to him as an old friend because she agrees to meet him at a quiet bar later, knowing Mike is supposed to be meeting Phil anyway.
Rita returns to the Kabin again, well she's done all she can and it's up to Alf and Audrey now. Mavis wants to know if Audrey said anything. Not really, she just listened but made no comment She thinks she got Alf to have a long hard look at his life and situation and hopes she got Audrey to do the same at least because without each other, they're going nowhere.
Back to the pub, Percy and Emily are sharing a table. He explains to her that he wasn't trying to pry into her personal business (yeah, right!) but he understands that she just didn't want to take advantage of his generous nature. She's just a very considerate person. He doesn't think it wise for an unattached lady to go out on her own, though she insists she is well able to take care of herself! (it's not as if she was braving the dangers of a rough area of town alone at night after all! It was just a coach trip to a seaside town!) He offers her his services as an escort should she ever need them. The soothing effects of her day out are fading as she gets frustrated with him, saying she isn't planning to go away again (not after all this aggro!) but will keep his offer in mind. (Run away! Run away!)
Phil and Mike meet but it isn't wedding stuff that Phil wanted to talk about after all. He wants a loan of 6000 quid to get in on a deal he has to move quickly to get! He tries to persuade Mike, he is good for the money and will pay him back but Mike isn't interested. He's got this expensive wedding and honeymoon coming up but tells Mike to ask again after it's all over. That will be too late for Phil though. Over at the bar Alec and Ken cast suspicious glances over at the wide boys with their heads together and moan about the validity of putting in an honest hard day's graft when there are flashy shifty posers like that around.
Ralph meets Jackie at a nice little bar and catches her up with everything he's been doing since he left Ingrams. Consulting work and now with a large textile firm. That's nice but she still doesn't know why she's here? Ralph tells her that the firm he works for wants to buy Ingrams! (That will make Mike a bit of brass won't it? Jackie is giving him what? 20% of the factory on their wedding day?)
closing time at the cafe. Audrey tells Alma she's not going to try to talk to Alf tonight by phone or otherwise. She's had enough today and if it didn't go well, she doesn't think she could take anymore rejection. She'd rather wait until the morning. Alma sympathizes but when they are about to go up to the flat, there is a frantic pounding at the door of the cafe. Whoever it is won't go away so Alma goes to see. It's Ivy! Yes there's something wrong. It's Alf. Audrey is summoned and her face drains of all colour when Ivy says Alf collapsed in the shop and has been rushed to hospital!
Dean Lockwood - CHRIS HARGREAVES Ralph Dobson
- MICHAEL LEE
Writer - Barry Hill BARRY HILL Director - DAVID RICHARDS
Friday (3247, Wednesday 3 July 1991)
The morning before the big day, Jackie is worried that Mike won't be in any fit state for a wedding tomorrow. Ignoring her concerns, he buzzes around the house preparing to leave for the office, his only focus, to try to keep the business going. He gives her his assurance that he'll be charming when the time comes, especially to her friends and relatives, whom, he cracks, they may just need to fall back on if things don't start happening for the business!
As Betty makes her way to the Rovers, she passes Percy who is busily shining up Mrs. Bishop's front window. She stops a minute to chat and when he notices that she seems tired, tells her she ought not let them take advantage of her good nature, working her as hard as they do. She assures him that she welcomes the work as it's preferable to sitting around home on her own. Nothing like companionship, Percy agrees. Speaking of which, is there something up between him and Emily, Betty wonders? Percy snaps that there isn't and anyway, that's his business! Mavis happens along and having just been to the Corner Shop asks if they've heard the news about Alf. They haven't so she reports that he's ill in hospital. Percy steps forward to offer his opinion that it's Audreh who's put him there and Betty sharply reminds him that he tends to be rather selective about whose business he minds!
Restored to her own home again, Audreh is ironing a few things when Gail comes in with a pair of PJs for her to take to Alf in hospital. Gail asks how Alf is and Audreh is evasive, telling her that they have been "a bit vague" about things. Gail presses her, "Come on, Mum, he collapsed - something caused it!" Audreh reacts defensively, "Oh yes, and I know they'll all be blaming me!" Gail reassures her that no one will blame her and Audreh relates what the doctor has told her, that Alf is suffering from nervous exhaustion. She hastens to add that she was only trying to make a point by leaving, that she never meant for this to happen. Gail understands and gently urges her mother to go upstairs and get ready and she will finish the ironing.
Deirdre goes into Phil's offices and finding Dean but no Phil, asks about the boss' whereabouts. Dean jokes that he's organising a telepathy course for Jennings' employees and Deirdre says he can sign her up for it! He informs her that Phil came in for a file earlier and he hasn't seen him since. Relieved to hear that he's been around at least, she decides to leave early, taking some work home with her.
Jackie comes into the office to find Mike in the thick of his work. She mentions that one of the employees stopped her to ask about the contract that's been canceled. She evaded the situation by telling her to focus on the work at hand instead of worrying about things that don't concern her. Mike says he thinks the employees should be told the bad news, they might be inspired to put in a good day's work! Anyway, that isn't what Jackie's come to discuss...
She wanted to let Mike know there's a problem concerning the reception, the hall has underbooked. "Well, get it sorted!" he snaps, telling her he hasn't got time for such matters. As far as he's concerned, the only important thing about tomorrow is that they both make "the appointment" and nothing else matters! Realising he's said the wrong thing, he tries to soften her mood, pleading that it's up to him to keep the factory running. It's Jackie's turn to be angry now. She tells him not to be so rude. It may be only another "appointment" to him but it's of paramount importance to her! She now turns to walk out and he starts after her but when the phone rings, he hesitates only briefly before deciding to stay behind and take the call.
Audreh is quietly taking stock of her home and replacing a few statuettes on the shelves when a surprised Phyllis comes in. Audreh sits her down to explain about Alf being in hospital and why she is there.
In the Kabin, Derek is telling Emily about his latest coup at work, having just landed a contract he's been after for months. She congratulates him and ventures to compare his business with her charity shop, both recycling, as it were. Magnanimous as ever, Derek puts in, "Ah - except for the small matter of the effect it has on the economy!" Piqued, Emily asks if what she does is then "socially ineffectual". "Oh no. No, no, no!" smiles Derek, patronisingly. "As long as it keeps you ladies happy!" He continues that what he prefers is a greater challenge, for life to offer a few surprises. Emily bites her tongue before saying that she doesn't think Derek is too different from anyone else - except perhaps for the fact that some have learnt not to rely as much on "touch wood for self improvement"! Derek muddles this over as Mavis comes back into the shop with Emily's change which she apparently had to go across the street to get. As Emily leaves, Derek muses to Mavis that he finds Emily a "bit truculent" lately. Mavis says she's found her rather "chirpy" lately. "Well, it doesn't suit her!" snaps Derek.
Having told Phyllis of Alf's situation, Audreh says that she will be looking after things from now on. Phyllis assumes her services are no longer required and rises to leave. Audreh tells her to hang on, she didn't say they wouldn't be needing housekeeping, only that she'll be in charge. She doesn't see why Alf should sneak in a cleaning woman only when they've had a row and anyway, shouldn't they all take a lesson from Alf, in terms of what overwork can result in? Phyllis is willing to stay on but since she'll be cleaning for two now, she wants a 50p increase from the £2.25 that Alf was paying her. Audreh counters with an offer for £2.50 and they agree. One final condition Audreh insists on: her "Capita Monte" (those little statuettes) stays where she wants it!
In the Rovers, Percy asks Betty as she serves him if he can "pick her brain" regarding Mrs. Bishop's behaviour of late. He confides that she seems to have no appreciation for him, not matter how helpful he's been around the house, he can't seem to do right for doing wrong. Betty musters her diplomatic skills and gently suggests that perhaps what is called for is some time apart. She points out that living in the same house can wear people down, that everyone needs a bit of "space to breathe". Despite Percy's inability to see the problem, Betty gently urges that it's worth a try at least.
At the other end of the bar, Alec gristles to Don about Mike's working "more hours than a lightbulb" motivated by greed, pure greed, he assesses. Don offers that he's not a fan of Mike's either but he has to give him credit for being clever enough to have got where he is. Alec's hypothesis is that he's attained "wealth by association", i.e., his upcoming marriage to Jackie Ingram. He then makes a pretense at apathy with the conclusion, "Oh well, them clever enough to earn it, are daft enough to want it!". Don nods in agreement but reminds Alec that he'd like his pint filled to the top, please. Alec looks askance as he picks up the glass to top it off.
Phil has resurfaced again and as he and Deirdre sit at her dining table, they talk about the wedding tomorrow. Phil offers to give Deirdre a preview of the speech he intends to deliver as best man and she clears away her paperwork and settles back to listen. There a couple of jokes and those she finds mildly amusing but when Phil goes off on a tangent about Mike's past romances, she strenuously objects. "You can't say that", she tells him. "It's in very bad taste!" Phil doesn't see anything wrong with it but when he realises how serious she is, finally catches on that there's something he may not be aware of.
In the back room of the Corner Shop, Ivy is busily unpacking boxes when she hears the door open. Calling to the unknown customer, she says she'll be out shortly. To her surprise, she is met with Audreh's voice telling her to take her time. Entering the public part of the store, Ivy greets Audreh with reticence and inquires after Alf. Audreh replies that Alf is fine and asked her to say hello for him. Ivy thanks her and there follows a moment of strained silence between the two before Audreh takes the reigns. "Well we can't stand here gabbing - there's work to be done, Ivy!"
Back at Deirdre's, she is telling Phil all about her ill fated romance with Mike Baldwin. He is surprised but symapthetic as she recounts how their involvement nearly cost her marriage over eight years ago. She also tells him about Mike's marriage to Susan, Ken's daughter, some three years following their affair. Phil is shocked at the revelations and promises that he'll change the speech and keep Deirdre's confidence.
In the cafe Gail observes Alma being quite snappish with the customers, particularly young Dean. Gail is aware that Alma's got Mike's wedding on her mind so she quietly offers to take over for the remainder of the day so Alma can have a break. Alma maintains that she would be alright if only people would stop reminding her. They are either breaking their necks to avoid mentioning Mike or asking her how she "feels" and she's fed up with it! She continues, she just wants it all over with so she can get on with her life. With a tender pat on her friend's shoulder, Gail goes off to clear some tables just as Mavis comes to the counter. Mavis orders some pastries to take back to the Kabin, then pauses to ask Alma sympathetically, "How are you feeling?"
After his day at the factory, Mike comes home and is given a cool greeting by Jackie who is still ticked off at him for his boorish behaviour earlier in the day. He knows he needs to start making up with her. Taking the bull by the horns, he says that he loves her and wants more than anything to marry her, it's just that he let the pressures get to him. She sighs with exasperation that this is her whole point - "business chips away at people's resources!" She's marrying him so she can spend the rest of her life with his positive aspects, not so that she can watch him be dragged screaming into retirement - or worse! Ignoring her concerns, (or incapable of hearing them) Mike assures her again that he isn't like Peter, it won't happen to him.
Unconvinced, Jackie decides to shelve the matter for the time being as she has a friend (Hazel) coming over to share a bottle with her. It's time Mike got ready for his stag night anyway, Phil is picking him up at 7:30. Just as Mike turns to go and get ready the phone rings. Shooing him from the room, she answers and confirms with the caller an engagement for 8:30.
At the end of her workday, Ivy spots her old workmate, Lynne, from Ingram's walking down the street. She catches up to her and the two decide to go for a drink in the Rovers.
Emily has sat down to tea by herself and is nearly finished when Percy comes in. Slightly annoyed with him for keeping her waiting, she softens when she hears that he's been for a long walk, apparently in a bid to give them both a bit of "space to breathe"! He cheerfully tells her it did him the world of good, too! Meekly she invites him to have his meal though it may not be warm any longer. He tells her it won't matter, her cooking is always lovely!
In the Rovers, Don is getting the low down on Ingram's factory from Ivy's friend, Lynne. Don can't help gloating as he hears that Baldwin's having such a struggle, though Ivy tries to emphasise that Lynne is here to ask about getting in at Bettabuys.
An interesting exchange takes place at the bar as Deirdre runs into Dean who asks her about the wedding. He comments that she seems to be regarding it as a funeral, yet according to Phil, it's going to be quite a good do. Will she be needing time off work afterwards to recover? Amused by the question, Deirdre tells him she thinks she can "pace" herself. Dean says he thinks she's been good for Phil, that he's settled down a lot since meeting her. "You make me sound like a social worker!" she replies. "At least you've lasted longer than any of the others!" he tells her with an encouraging smile. Deirdre can only attempt to hide her surprise at this remark.
Back at Emily's, Percy is still espousing the benefits of getting away for that "breathing space" and by the look on Emily's face, he has been since he sat down. She draws a breath before interrupting him to say that her day trip to Rhos-on-Sea was more than a diversion. She had a look around the place and on reflection, has decided she wants to live there! Percy greets the news with stunned silence.
Mike and Phil arrive at a noisy bar together and to Mike's surprise, Phil has arranged for a flock of his buddies to be there. "Cost me a fortune in bail money!" he cracks. Mike reckons a night out with the boys after the day he's had is just "what the doctor ordered".
Right on time, Ralph Dobson arrives at Jackie's for their 8:30 appointment. She ushers him in, offers him a glass of wine then suggests they get down to business right away, as she has a friend coming around. She informs him that she doesn't wish to drag things out, she has decided to sell the factory. Ralph expresses surprise that Mike agreed so readily but Jackie cautions him that Mike knows nothing about it and that is how she wants to keep it - for now.
Dean Lockwood CHRIS HARGREAVES Ralph Dobson
MICHAEL LEES Lynne POLLY HIGHTON
Written by: PAUL ABBOTT Directed by: DAVID RICHARDS
Monday (3248, Friday 5 July 1991)
It's wedding day! Mike has his good suit in a garment bag and is off to the hotel to get ready for the wedding. He doesn't really want to bother, since it's more convenient just to stay home but a glowing, happy Jackie, sans makeup, won't have it. It's bad luck, right? and she has her friend Hazel coming over to make her into a blushing bride any minute anyway, a girl needs a bit of mystery! He tells her he loves her and leaves with a kiss.
Emily finds Percy at the table looking like the weight of the world is on his shoulders as he sits there face in hand. He tells her she's making a terrible mistake, moving to Rosse-on-Sea, away from her friends and loved ones. who's going to look after her if she gets poorly? She could be lying there dead with nobody to know or care for days! Emily allows as how there are some drawbacks but the advantages far outweigh them in her opinion. It's a chance to start a fresh new life while she's still young enough, meet new people! Percy tells her she's far too old for that sort of thing which elicits a vehement disagreement on her part. She's already thought it through and apologizes for putting him in an awkward position but will help him find new lodgings. But it is her life, and she's putting her interests first! He warns her to think on.. when she gets old and ill, who's going to go for her prescription? Who's going to pick up her milk? (i.e. what am i going to do if i don't have you to look after, a purpose in life!)
Audrey is letting Gail know that Alf is sitting up in his hospital bed eating grapes and feeling fine. He's waiting to see the consultant later today for an assessment but will likely have to take it easy for awhile once they let him come home. Audrey moans (just the way most of us do, looking for sympathy) about having to run up and down the stairs after him and now she's got to run the business all by herself and all! Alma snaps at Audrey, pointing out that she promised "in sickness and in health" and now she'll just have to look after Alf now he's sick, quit complaining! Alma is quite touchy about Audrey's marriage but Gail reminds her mother that today is Mike's wedding day and Alma is reacting badly to it. Audrey starts a fresh moaning session about Ivy leaving her high and dry in the shop. Mam! You could hardly wait to get her out! Too right, she wouldn't go but now Audrey needs her, she won't stop, insisting she has to start her new job at Bettabuys. Audrey's not getting any sympathy so she leaves. After the door closes, Alma begins to criticize Audrey's complaining again but realizes what is really going on and orders Gail to make her shut up when she starts bitching about other people's marriages... But really what kind of a nurse will Jackie make if Mike gets poorly, she won't be running the stairs will she? Alma? Shut up! Right.
Jackie and Hazel survey the outfit and accessories laid out on the bed, discussing and arranging the whole "Old, New, Borrowed, Blue" thing. Jackie makes a quick phone call to Ralph Dobson who is in Mike's office perusing all the accounts in preparation for making an offer on behalf of the company he works for to buy Ingram's. He's getting all he needs and the cooperation of the staff and wishes Jackie well, sincerely. She tells him he's got all weekend if he needs it, they shouldn't be back in the office until Monday.
Deirdre makes her arrangements with Phil who is going to drop her at the registry office before picking Mike up. She's got on this awful blue two piece dress on that has lapels and collars and frills, accompanied by a hat of near-Queen-Mum proportions (i wonder if that was that had of Rita's?) But Phil thinks she looks lovely! *sigh* Anyway, she's having regrets. No not about the dress, about telling Phil about her past with Mike and warns him not to say a word, not even in jest at the wedding or in his speech as Best Man. Not to worry, he's got bigger secrets on Mike than that and describes the incident when Mike had one of his mates pretend to want to buy Ingram's when Jackie wanted to sell up in order to stall for time so he could get into Jackie's "good graces". You better not mention that either! Phil teases, it would make things liven up though!
Percy is horrified to discover an estate agent being escorted around the house! He makes himself scarce, retreating to the pub while Emily assures the agent that Mr. Sugden, though a lodger, isn't in a formal agreement and it won't be a problem involving the sale of the house.
Audrey is accepting Ivy's work pinnie and half heartedly offers to make a little speech of gratitude. Ivy doesn't think it's necessary. That's a relief, Audrey sighs. LOL! Under the circumstances that is. which means she basically is blaming Ivy for causing the stress that put Alf in hospital. Ivy takes exception, she helped ease some of the stress and doesn't want to hear anything like that again. Audrey reluctantly agrees. Ivy does apologize for leaving Audrey in the lurch but isn't stopping. She offers her best wishes for Alf and will keep them in her prayers. Audrey graciously thanks her though raises and eyebrow archly when Ivy suggests this all might be God's way of bringing the Roberts' back together again. Audrey concedes, Happen it is and Happen your new job is too, God's way of saying you should never have taken this job in the first place! Ivy drops her chin and comes this close to letting Audrey have it but shuts her gob again and gets out. She manages to hold it in until venting her frustrations to Don later in the pub.
Alma is still nattering on about Mike and Jackie. The problem is, she doesn't think she IS better off without Mike but she is just going to have to live with it. She knows he'd be happier with her so it's all his fault. He's got what he thinks he wants but also what he deserves.
Phil tries once again to get Mike to lend him some money but Mike is evasive even about his earlier suggestion for Phil to come see him once he's back from his honeymoon. The wedding goes off without a hitch even though i thought Mike rather hesitated over "To Be my lawful wedded wife".
In the pub, Phyllis has seen the estate agent come out of Emily's but doesn't know who he is. She speculates Emily might be getting her will written or else a new fitted kitchen! She and Betty are shocked, however, when Percy tells them Emily is selling up and going where nobody knows her. He recommends all her friends tell her she's making a mistake! Phyllis establishes that Percy isn't moving with Emily after he testily informs her he's only her lodger, not her husband! You know what's in her mind now, don't you?
Elsewhere Alec teases Ken about his son-in-law getting married today and doesn't he think of it as a great personal loss? Ken grits his teeth and hisses, Don't tempt me! Alec feels sorry for Alma. Ken doesn't, she's not the one marrying Baldwin! Credit where credit is due, Ken was pretty good, pretty believable in this understated scene. Did you ever think you'd hear me say that? ;)
At the reception, Phil makes his speech and jokes a bit at Mike's expense, telling the truth about the kind, caring, lovable, generous, understanding moral churchgoing man. He also manages a sly dig about Mike getting the factory and the wife in one fell swoop, well not using those exact words of course...something like "The lengths to which Mike went to keep the factory....keep the factory going (after Peter's death)" A toast is proposed to the happy couple. Later Jackie happily mingles and greets her guests. Her lawyer condescends to admit to Mike that he's never seen Jackie happier because of him and Mike assures the man that the prenup contract will never need to be acted on. Mike and Deirdre share a sentimental moment over her best wishes.
Meanwhile, Ralph takes a break from the books which seem to hold some interesting revelations. He takes his coat and ends up at the cafe where Alma is sure she recognizes him from somewhere but can't place the name. Gail visits with Phyllis, commenting that she hopes Emily is very happy in her new plans and smiles at Phyllis's plans to lure Percy into being her new lodger.
Emily has another attempt at smoothing Percy's ruffled feathers, promising to help him find new lodgings but he's fixated, wanting to put off looking as long as possible. They go over the same old ground until her patience is nearly at an end when he remarks why folk just can't be satisfied with what they have.
Jackie takes Mike aside to tell him about her wedding present to him. She works up to it slowly, explaining how she is making sure he can't work himself to death like Peter did. She's got Ralph Dobson in today looking over the books (Mike turns pale) in preparation for his company's bid to buy Ingrams! She outlines all the advantages of living the life of leisure for a year or two and then starting up a new business but Mike is shocked and appalled! How dare she let Dobson in there and make these plans without telling him. She doesn't' want to argue today and he tries to restrain himself but they argue all the way out to the car amid clouds of flower petals and rice and good wishes and drive away for their honeymoon.
Ralph introduces himself to Alma before he leaves which jogs her memory. He establishes that Alma and Gail own the business and run it together. I think he's discovered Alcazar holdings!
Hazel Lightfoot - CAROLINE HOLDAWAY Ralph Dobson
- MICHAEL LEES Mr. Simpson (Estate Agent) - NICHOLAS FRY Registrar
- GEOFFREY ANNIS Gordon Barrett - CARL FORGIONE
Writer - PETER WHALLEY Director - DAVID RICHARDS
Tuesday (3249, Monday 8 July 1991)
A marching band wends its way through the street as the residents begin their Sunday....
Don and Ivy have just come from church and stop to have a word with Jack on their way home. He stands on his stoop reading the paper while waiting for Betty to come and open the pub. "Shame the Gilroys didn't have the foresight to give someone who lives nearby the key whilst they're away - I guess I'm not *trusted*!" he complains. Moving along to No. 3, where Emily is busy polishing her windows in an effort to make the house as attractive as possible for any potential buyers, Ivy comments that as far as she is concerned, they'll never have a better neighbour than Emily. "And that's despite your lodger!" adds Don jokingly.
Gail rings Alma to invite her to join the Platts and the Websters on an outing they have planned. Alma, still abed, tells her that she had planned to tackle the bathroom this morning... As she soaked in the tub contemplating slashing her wrists the night before, she couldn't reckon with the idea of her lifeless body being found in so "shabby" a mess, so decided she must set about cleaning it today! After that, she plans to catch up on some correspondence, "some poison pen letters", she jokes.
The honeymooners don't seem to be having a very nice time. While Jackie waits for Mike to join her for lunch in their swank hotel, the head waiter brings complimentary drinks for them. Mike comes in from golfing a moment later but it's obvious he's in a foul mood. As he sees it, she has a habit of "kissing and kicking in the teeth". She did it when they became engaged, by having the pre-nuptial agreement drawn up and now they're wed, she's done it again by planning to sell the company. Jackie thought she was doing it for him of course, so they could spend more time together. Mike points out that he was running the factory for *her* and now she's gone and made him "redundant"! Annoyed by his "ridiculous" assertion, she walks out, leaving him to dine alone.
They eventually talk things out, over sandwiches and champagne ordered from room service. What he resents most is not being consulted in the matter. Her objective was to see that Mike enjoy some quality living before he died of overwork like Peter. When she tells him she pictured them in a tropical paradise for a couple of years, he gives an indignant snort that makes her realise she married another workaholic. "A couple of weeks I could manage but a couple of years? We'd go crazy!" She seems resigned to the fact that Mike won't give up working, just the "nature of the animal" as he tells her. Realising his triumph, he magnanimously offers to take her on another honeymoon in the future to make up for this one being such a downer. "But first thing in the morning we're back in the office - so I can show Dobson off the premises!" he says firmly.
In the Rovers, Percy is sporting a different look to his usual flat cap. As he informs Don and Jack, "This is a genuine Panama hat". According to Percy, a "genuine" Panama hat is one the natives weave from the palm leaf while standing waist high in water. Despite their apparent lack of interest, Percy would no doubt be willing to continue, except for a more urgent matter. "Well I can't stop here educating people all day - Mrs. Bishop is a woman of many virtues, but making gravy isn't one of them so I'll bid you good day!" (LOL - I miss Percy!!!!!) Once the pensioner leaves, Don and Jack enjoy a guffaw at his expense but Betty defends him - he is only making conversation, the poor old soul. Don points out that Emily is having to move away just to get shut of Percy and challenges Betty to know if *she* would take him in. "Well, I really couldn't", she explains, "I'm rather set in my habits.... Besides, I like to keep a room free for when Gordon comes down to visit...." Noticing they don't believe her excuses, she adds with abandon, "I'd sooner set fire to the place!"
With the end in sight, Emily seems not to mind Percy's company at this point. She compliments him on his wonderful gravy, saying she'll definitely miss that! He's only too glad that she appreciates it and wonders if anyone else ever will. Encouragingly, she assures him he'll find new lodgings equally suitable to him. "I can get along with anybody but you've made me very hard to please, Mrs. Bishop!" he compliments her. "Oh now, Mr. Sugden - I'm sure you're as easy to please as you ever were!" she answers sweetly, the irony of her statement completely escaping Percy.
Monday morning now, Vera and Ivy are setting off for Bettabuy's on what is to be Ivy's first day there. Don gives her a kiss for luck, which Vera assures him she won't be needing, not with *her* expertise to guide her!
On the way in to Ingram's, Mike drops Jackie at home with the assurance that he won't be "too hard" on Dobson.... Despite what he tells her, he can't wait to confront the man and is further enraged on his arrival to find Dobson sitting in his chair. Ordering him up, Mike demands to know what the hell he's been up to. Surprised to see Mike back so soon, Dobson quickly collects himself and defends the proposed sale as being advantageous to "Mrs. Ingram". Mike flares even more, "That's Mrs. Baldwin now! And how dare you think you can go around the chief executive!" Calmly, Dobson states that he would have presented "Mrs. Baldwin" with a fair offer, comprised of shares and money.... "But it would never have occurred to me to buy her with confetti." Infuriated at the charge, Mike orders him out but Dobson gets in one last word, "No doubt we'll meet again, very soon..."
Percy drops into the café with a notice that he would like to have placed in the window. As he explains to Gail and Alma, although Emily hasn't actually sold her house yet, he'd rather be in a position to choose where he next lodges than one where he has to beg. Gail reads the notice aloud: "Accommodation wanted - Respectable lodgings required by retired gentleman of the old school. Excellent cook, quiet, companionable and in good health." With an air of mischief, Gail wonders that he didn't add, "Good with children and doesn't bite" as the ad makes him sound like a Labrador! Percy takes the ribbing with good grace and mentions confidentially that he really would prefer to stay in Coronation Street if at all possible. "Oh, have you anyone in mind?" asks Gail. "Well, I've narrowed it down to one or two but you can't go knocking, can you?" says Percy. With Gail's assurance that the ad will be posted, he's about to leave when Phyllis happens in and makes her way towards the counter. Panic stricken, Percy demands the notice back and cautions Gail and Alma not to say a word about it!
As if you couldn't guess what he has in mind, Ralph Dobson goes straight round to Jackie.... He finds her fatigued from her tension-fraught honeymoon and sulky over her failed plan to sell up. She berates herself for thinking Mike would let go of the business. Rather than tell her the truth outright, Dobson drops hints about Mike being up to something so that Jackie finally demands to know what he's on about. With relish, he tells her about Alcazar Holdings... "Oh that - he told me it's just a tax dodge", she explains. "Oh - is *that* what he told you?" Dobson replies. "Did he tell you that its main interest is the lease on a café on Rosamund Street in Weatherfield? That your company has been a very generous landlord to its tenants - the partnership who runs it - one of whom is Ms. Alma Sedgewick?" Pausing for effect, Dobson continues with the most damning piece of information.... "And did he tell you that the rent for the café includes the flat above - where *she* lives?" As the truth unfolds, from Ralph Dobson's lips to Jackie Baldwin's ears, her eyes fill up and her dreams disappear in a cloud of smoke.
Anita Bélanger
Head Waiter: CHRIS WORTH Ralph Dobson: MICHAEL
LEES
Written by JULIAN ROACH Directed by RICHARD SIGNY
Wednesday (3250, Wednesday 10 July 1991)
Mike returns home from the office to learn that Jackie, having been paid a visit by Dobson, knows all about Alcazar Holdings and his arrangement for the cafe. He assumes Dobson has "put the poison in" but as she retorts, the facts speak for themselves.
Sally tells Kevin that she's talked to Audreh about returning to work in the shop part-time. He's impressed by her negotiating skills as she relates that she's told Audreh she wants £3 an hour and refuses to work more than four evenings a week.
Mike explains his motivation for helping Alma keep the lease on the cafe, guilt. Jackie is angry that he used company money to bail out his old girlfriend and wonders if there isn't something still between him and Alma.
After paying for his fags, Jack scurries out of the Kabin to avoid Percy, who (Jack thinks) is going to ask for lodgings. When Percy complains to Mavis, she is sympathetic but defends Emily's right to sell her home. Anyway, she doesn't think he'll have to worry about moving too soon with the realty market as it is. He tells her there is a prospective buyer turning up that afternoon and then asks her about her house. Mavis explains that although they have three bedrooms, one is merely a "box" and Derek uses the other as his study.
Vera pops in to the charity shop in search of a sexy gown. As she explains to Emily and Ruby she's after something to impress her old admirer, Lester Fonteyne, whom she anticipates seeing when she and Jack go away for a holiday weekend.
Taking coffee in the back garden with her friend, Hazel, Jackie gives vent to her suspicions about Mike. Hazel's advice is to find out one way or another whether Mike is still involved with Alma before making a decision.
In the Rovers, Phil explains to Dean that he's hit a rough spot but he expects to be able to pay him any day now. Percy comes in looking for Jack but when as soon as Jack spots him, he runs down to the cellar.
Gail and Alma are surprised when Jackie walks in to the cafe. She and Alma greet each other formally before going upstairs for a word as Jackie requests.
Emily gets a little tense as her prospective purchaser is due but Percy insists on staying in the house. Her fears are not unfounded as after showing Mr. and Mrs. Wallace (a mother and son) all round the upstairs, she comes back down with them to discover Percy is busily taking care of some "plumbing problems" in the kitchen!
Alma explains her position to Jackie, that she had no knowledge of Mike buying the lease at the time he did it and when she did find out she was quite upset about it. Jackie admits it was a "cockeyed" way to go about it but says that Mike was trying to do the right thing. Alma suggests that Jackie is only so understanding because they are still on the honeymoon, something she never had. She doesn't care if she sounds bitter, why should she put on a face for Jackie? Jackie feels sorry for her and wishes her good luck as she leaves but Alma says that she'll be the one who needs luck, being married to Mike!
Recounting the experience to Gail later, Alma tells her that she was surprised at feeling no emotion while dealing with the new Mrs. Baldwin. Gail asks if she didn't think of doing something to make things worse for Mike but Alma says what goes around comes around and she can wait.
Phil comes to Mike's office to ask for a £6000 loan but Mike refuses on the grounds that the company is looking to consolidate rather than speculate, these days. Phil is taken aback at the refusal but when he intimates that Mike could get hold of the money easily enough now that he's married Jackie, Mike tells him "That's not the way it works, sunshine. I'm a businessman, not a gigolo!" Phil pleads to get even £3000 but Mike turns him down flat and shows him the door. Dejected, Phil vows that he'll regret it but Mike doesn't seem worried.
When Emily confronts him about his plumbing stunt, Percy insists there were tea leaves blocking the drain while the Wallaces were viewing the house. Emily doesn't believe a word of it, chalking the whole incident up to Percy's "sheer bloody-mindedness". She becomes even more annoyed when, to no one's surprise, Mr. Wallace rings to say that they won't be putting in an offer.
Mike comes to see Alma as she is closing up the cafe. She tells him that Jackie's already been to see her and assures him that she only told her the truth about their arrangement. Mike seems very relieved to hear that she didn't "put the poison in".
In the Rovers, a drunken Phil stews over Mike's refusal to lend him the money. Vera comes in for a drink after work and is disappointed when Jack tells her they won't be going on the holiday weekend after all. The reason? "Two words - Lester Fonteyne!" Percy comes in and unable to run away this time, Jack finally faces him. Percy exclaims that he's been after Jack all day. He only wants to borrow a ladder so that he can paint the trim on Emily's house.
They are joined by Phil who philosophically reflects that no one really has friends, they only *think* they have. Jack talks to him about everyone having "ups and downs" which starts Phil on, "What goes up must come down." Everyone is puzzled by his words but in a soliloquy, Phil continues, "Sometimes it needs a helping hand..."
Mike returns home to find Jackie in a mellow mood, reflecting on her visit to Alma. She tells him that she was jealous and that she thinks although his heart was in the right place, she doesn't like what he did and the way he did it. Nevertheless, she forgives him - on the condition that he promise there will be no more secrets and no more lies! He offers his assurance but Jackie isn't quite convinced. She draws back from their embrace to impress on him that she means it. "Mike I want you to promise me that it's all out in the open now." The worried look on his face belies his conviction as he holds her tightly with the assurance, "I promise".
Ruby Mottram ANNE RYE Hazel Lightfoot CAROLINE
HOLDAWAY Mr Wallace GARY LUCAS
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by RICHARD SIGNY
Thursday (3251, Friday 12 July 1991)
Mike and Jackie have made peace. Jackie apologizes and says she's sure now, and Mike confirms he has no doubts either. What about the factory? He thinks if he can save it, they'll keep it going. He won't be beaten, it's not in his nature...Trust me! (Why do i get the shivers everytime Mike Baldwin says that?)
Mr. Sugden finds himself on the cool side of Mrs. Bishop's shoulder this morning after his antics with the kitchen plumbing yesterday which scared off potential buyers. He protests that he didn't sabotage the sale. She sidesteps a direct accusation by informing him that he needs to take a more positive approach. He insists he would never do anything to interfere. She gets ready to go out and lets him know there's a lady coming to view the house at 11 and could he please find somewhere else to be? (You know, I never took Percy for a dishonest man. Not outright anyway. He played up the plumbing on purpose to manipulate the buyer and he damn well knew what he was doing. But i never took him for an outright liar, telling her he would never interfere. Does he use an alternate-universe version of the dictionary or something?)
Jack's ordered a full breakfast at the cafe and is joined by Don. It seems Jack has a tip on a horse, given to him by a bloke down at the legion who got it from his cousin who knows a man who's daughter's going out with... well you get the idea. Don shakes his head in disbelief over Jack's very very remote connection to the tip. Don's not in the best of moods to start with over this quiz night organized by Reg Holdsworth. It isn't enough that he has to hear all about the Bettabuys shelf stacking policy at home without spending his free time listening to Reg Holdsworth play quiz master. Over at the counter, Gail and Alma discuss Jackie's visit from the day before. Alma actually seems sympathetic, sisters who have been wronged and all that. alma hopes Mike doesn't mess Jackie around like he did her.
The secretary at Ingrams, Amanda, is being given a neck massage but it's not Mike doing the deed, it's Phil. Mike is not best pleased to see Phil nor what he's doing and hollers that this isn't a massage parlor and a few other harsh words. He takes a cocky Phil into his office and tells him he can't even lend him the reduced amount of £3000. Phil doesn't mind but how about £500 to get through the next couple of days? Mike turns him down flat, he wouldn't lend any money to a man who is that desperate, even a mate. Phil doesn't take this kindly but Mike has run out of patience. He rushes Phil out of the office as the phone rings. He attempts to write something down and realizes that Phil has walked off with his gold pen!
A middle age woman rings at No3. Percy answers and verifies that she is the woman expected to view the house only she's early as she had thought the journey there would take longer. He allows her to enter since he's there anyway and escorts her through the house. He even behaves himself through all that. She is quite impressed and really likes the house. Percy is pleased she does and tells her it's a great neighbourhood, very lively. Lively??? Oh well, there's the motorbike shop down the road but a man's got to make a living doesn't he when he has a family and two teen age boys. You like teenagers don't you? Well, er.. And then there's young Tracy next door, you'll be hearing her choice of music through the walls but her mother's not married so you have to make allowances don't you? Anyway, he loves to see young people having a good time. And there's the pub a few doors away and the shop opens late. Very convenient although it attracts the young people too. You can see her face fall further with every sentence he utters and decides it isn't quite what she was looking for after all. Emily comes home just as she is leaving and she's in such a hurry to push past Emily and escape that Emily knows Percy was at it again. He rushes upstairs to avoid her but it's useless. She's sussed him out yet again!
Phil arrives at his warehouse to find Dean and another worker waiting outside the locked doors. Dean takes him up on when the pay packets will be handed out. He's getting impatient and has commitments of his own. Phil snaps that he'll get his money, he always does eventually. He orders Dean to stop moaning or he'll let all those women and their offspring know where they can locate the young man! This isn't improving Phil's mood, that's for sure!
Emily and Percy have their dinner and Emily calls him on his behavior. She's verified that the woman made complaints to the estate agent about the neighbourhood full of teenage motorcyclists and delinquent children of single parents populating the Street. She warns Percy that she will brook no quarter and it doesn't matter how hard he tries to block it, the house WILL be sold. He'd be better off using his energies to find new lodgings.
Phil arrives at Jackie's house. She's surprised but lets him in. He starts slowly, by telling her he's in a cash flow crunch and needs to borrow some money. But when she finds out that Mike already turned him down, she tells him she can't help. Phil testily accuses her of letting Mike make her decisions for her but she defends herself as an equal partner who always consults her husband on decisions such as these. It's too much for Phil and he lets loose with insinuations and nasty remarks. It didn't take Mike long to sort you out did it? I beg your pardon, and she invites him to explain that. Invitation accepted. He invites her in return to sit down and have a drink, she's going to need it.
Meanwhile Mike is staring at the phone, willing it to ring. Amanda comes in with a coffee for him and he asks her if Phil should come around again to tell him Mike is out even if he's not. She apologizes for the massage thing that morning but he's not bothered. He knows Phil can charm the leaves off the trees, you can't turn your back on him (you don't know the half of it, Sunshine!). He's more concerned with the phone call he's expecting, confirmation on the success of the deal he's spent the last two weeks setting up. It'll be the savior of Ingrams. The telephone does ring and he has the secretary answer it. Sure enough it's the call he's been waiting for. He listens, braced for bad news just in case but it isn't! He's got the deal! Once off the phone, he jumps and shouts with excitement, even kissing Amanda on the cheek in his triumph.
But at home, Jackie is a smeary mascara'd bitter tearful heap on the settee, drink in hand. The answering machine picks up the call, a jubilant Mike crowing about his success. Put the bubbly on ice, Darling, and put on something sexy because they are celebrating!
Alma is ready to close up but Percy reckons on another 5 minutes before it's six by her own clock. She sees there is something wrong, that he doesn't seem to want to go home and sits down with him. He admits there's something worrying him but it's his business. She thinks he's worried about finding another place to live once Emily moves but tries to reassure him that he'll find something and probably close by so he can visit. He sadly remarks that Coronation street has been more than just bricks and mortar to him, or so he thought it was but you don't know how wrong you can be. Time's up and that is as much of his feelings as he's prepared to vent so he adjusts his cap and gets up to leave. She offers to sit and talk to him some more but he declines and bids her good night.
A quick scene at the Webster's house as Sally gets ready to go back to work for her first evening shift at the corner shop. She doesn't seem too bothered about leaving the baby this time because Kevin is the one looking after her.
Mike arrives home ready to hug his wife but she pushes him away. Don't touch me! She throws ice cold water on his enthusiasm and astonishes him by her screaming at him that she doesn't want him in her house or in her factory! She throws it all in his face, all the information she's learned. About Alma, About Deirdre and was that before during or after you were married to her step daughter? Phil Jennings! Got it in one! And the worst, she also knows he got his friend Charlie to pose as a buyer, offering a low bid so he could stall her from selling up long enough to worm his way into her bed! She has no interest in his attempts to explain. she's been set up! He protests, she's got it all wrong but when he tries to take her arm she shakes him off, pulls off her wedding rings and chucks them across the room. She runs upstairs to get away from him.
At the pub, Don is chagrined to discover that Jack's remote tip on the horse paid out! The quiz is mentioned again with Don wondering why he can't have a day out at the track without Ivy finding out when Ivy thinks nothing of going to Bingo to gamble. That's different isn't it? At least they think it is, Jack offers. (ah but Ivy doesn't have a gambling problem) Phil overhears and offers to set up a poker night for the men. Don is all for it but Jack hesitates. He is persuaded however and Phil promises to make the plans and let them know. (They don't realize Phil is part shark and part snake. Disaster in the making, lads!) Reg comes in and ascertains from Betty that Emily is still selling her house and nobody's bought it yet.
Mike finds Jackie upstairs emptying the closet of all his clothes. She still won't listen to his explanations. This time when he takes her arm, she spins away and pulls a shotgun out of the back of the closet and aims it at him, ordering him to leave. He defies her and pushes his body up against the barrel, calling her bluff. He's got nothing to lose so she might as well shoot! Go on! Do it! But she can't as he knew she couldn't. See? It wasn't loaded anyway. She pushes past him and runs down and out to the car. He follows her, rifle in hand. (I guess their neighbours must be further apart through the trees. I sure would have been on to the police if I saw a crying woman and a man pursuing her with a shotgun). He's not aiming it at her, however, just trying to get her to stop but she drives away in a skid of gravel. His eyes widen in shock when he cocks the barrel and sees that it was loaded after all!!!
Mrs. Cudlip - PAULINE JEFFERSON Amanda Worsley
- SARA NIXON Dean Lockwood - CHRIS HARGREAVES
Writer - KEN BLAKESON Director - RICARD SIGNY
Friday (3252, Monday 15 July 1991)
The morning after their big fight, a disheveled Mike is on the phone to Hazel in search of Jackie. He minimizes the situation, saying they had a "tiff". She hasn't heard from Jackie and Mike asks her to pass on the word, he's in "sackcloth and ashes" if and when she sees her.
Don and Ivy are just getting into the car as he takes her to work when Jack passes by on the street. Jack signals a reminder to Don that they have a poker game on that night and Don makes his excuses to Ivy for not coming to her Bettabuys staff quiz night.
At Deirdre's, Phil is telling her just what kind of trouble he's in financially. Actually, he's only telling her what he wants her to know, making it sound like a temporary cash flow difficulty. She is moved to offer him what little she has, £200 from the last of her council pay cheques and what she was saving for a holiday. He gratefully accepts with the assurance that he'll pay her back as soon as his prospective buyer comes through. (As soon as he wins at poker more like!)
Mavis rushes into the Kabin after going across to Alf's store for some tea. Rita is gobsmacked to hear the latest gossip: Reg has been showing an interest in buying No3!
In the Rovers, Bet and Alec are discussing Emily's plans to leave the street. Bet will miss her but Alec can't think why - she doesn't spend much in the pub! Alec is called away to the phone. Jim and Des, from the other side of the bar discuss the card game tonight. Alec returns from his phone call and appears shell-shocked as he informs Bet that his first wife, Joyce, has suddenly collapsed and died.
Phil has joined Jim and Des at the bar by now and tells them he is looking forward to tonight's gambling session. He reckons that Jack and Don are only "mid-weights" and Jim, another "entrepreneur" like himself, will be his real competition. Des will be there in his capacity as bookie, just to take the bets. Jim wonders if Phil anticipates winning a repair shop full of motorbikes and Des points out that Jim could just as easily walk away with some slot machines.
At the perfume counter in her store, Steph is paid a visit by a good-looking young man, one who apparently has been coming around a lot lately. He is an architect doing some renovating work for the store and he's not put off by the fact that Steph is married. She doesn't flirt back but neither does she refuse the business card he hands her, "Simon Beatty, ARIBA", as he invites her to call him "anytime".
Mike tries to enter his office at Ingram's but is blocked by his secretary, Amanda. Dobson opens the door from the inner office and Mike is furious to see him there. Inviting Mike into his own office, Dobson invites him to sit down while he explains the situation as follows: Jackie has decided to sell the factory and Mike has been made redundant. Oh yes, and his belongings have been placed in bin bags. Mike is enraged at the news and tells Dobson not to celebrate - he'll be back!
As Bet tries to comfort Alec over Joyce's death in their parlour, it soon becomes apparent that he is more concerned with his own mortality than his ex-wife's. He recalls that she was three years his juniour, never smoked and took long walks and concludes that he'd better see a doctor. On the other hand, he suggests, maybe it's better not to know if he's doomed. Bet asks how Sandra is holding up - it was her mother that died after all and Alec says she is fine, "stoic, like her father"!
Deirdre has dropped in to see Liz and is briefing her on the situation with Phil, the loan she's made him as well as the fact that she's been told her side of the business is "in abeyance" for now so she doesn't even have a job to go to! Liz doesn't think any of it sounds very promising. Their exchange is cut short when Jim comes home and Deirdre makes her excuses.
At the Barnes', Steph isn't too pleased to hear that Des is playing cards tonight as she had hoped he would take her out. He thinks she's just being awkward but just the same he offers to forgo the game. She says it's too late now - he can do whatever he likes. Des feels he just can't win!
Alec is pouring over the VAT paperwork when Bet ushers Sandra in. By rights, it ought to be Alec going to visit her but she says she understands. She talks about losing her mother, so suddenly that she can't believe it and Alec is sympathetic but taken aback to hear his daughter refer to her step-father as "dad". She catches herself, saying that she feels very lucky to have two men in her life she can call "dad". She wonders if Alec will be coming to the funeral but he thinks it would be better not to. He doesn't want to intrude on the grief of Joyce's family and Sandra's dad.
The big poker game is now underway. Jack, Jim, Phil and Don settle in for an all-nighter, Jim having gone to Rosamund Street for the ale to avoid suspicion. Jack is anxious to get started and keeps asking what the stakes are but he has to wait for Des to finish telling about Steph's irritation at his choosing to play cards instead of bringing her out. At home alone, Steph sits idly watching telly for a few minutes before giving up in boredom. She digs in her purse and comes up with the card Simon gave her and goes to the phone...
Back to the card game and it looks as though Don is pretty confident. Phil wonders that his wife should complain about him playing as he plays so well. Jack starts to recall the time Don lost dismally to Mike Baldwin but Don tells him to "shut up". The stakes are getting higher and Jack and Jim have folded their hands, leaving only Don and Phil in the game now. Phil raises the stakes again and Don bids higher despite his friends' urgings to stick to the rules. Phil pulls out a wad of bills and says he hopes Don can pay up if necessary...
At the Rovers, Ivy and Curly are back from the Bettabuys quiz night. Ivy recounts to Bet that Vera, when asked what an "abacus" was, answered "the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest"! As Liz serves her drink at a nearby booth, Rita inquires if she has heard anything about Reg wanting to buy No3. Liz hasn't heard and offers to ask around but Rita says no thanks - she wants to be able to sleep tonight! Ivy wonders if Liz has seen anything of the men folk tonight but Liz doesn't let on about the card game and Ivy concludes that Don must be out boozing with Jack.
Back at the poker table things are getting tense. As Phil and then Don escalate their bets yet again, Jim tries to stop them from betting any more, things have gone far enough. The bets are made and it's time to show their hands. Phil confidently turns his over to reveal a full house, queens over tens. The silence is deafening as Don places his cards down one by one, showing that he has four of a kind. Jubilantly, he proclaims himself the winner and is met with hearty congratulations all round. Well, almost all round. Phil asks Don if he will take a cheque but when Don says he'd prefer cash, Phil says he'll pay him tomorrow.
The party is in celebration mode now. Don is up £450, only a "drop in the ocean" to Phil, he remarks. Phil wears a superficial smile as he rises from the table. Slowly, he goes to the window and stonily stares out into the darkness, in stark contrast to the celebrations behind him.
Ralph Dobson MICHAEL LEES Simon Beatty PETER
GOWAN Sandra Arden KATHY JAMIESON
Written by TOM ELLIOTT Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Monday (3253, Wednesday 17 July 1991)
Des is describing to Steph the fun they had playing cards and the exciting finish. Steph is skeptical that Don could have won £650 quid and how much did Des lose? Des confesses that he came up just a little short. She's in a mood today, seems like she's disillusioned with him (yet again) and snaps that "come up short" seems to sum him up perfectly these days and makes a snide remark about the childishness of card games and gambling. He tries to joke her out of it, saying that was what she loved about him, his boyish charm, that little boy quality. Oh. Is that what it is.
Don hedges on where he and Jack went last night, implying they went on a pub crawl because Jack wanted a change of scenery from the Rovers. He distracts Ivy from asking any more questions with a joke and then an invitation to a nice night out just the two of them, to celebrate. Celebrate what? er... You being you and me being me and us being us, and he picks her up and swings her around with a kiss. You Daft Bugger! she cries with a smile.
Liz is also getting the rundown on events of the last evening. Jim says he and Des and Jack didn't get in on the big jackpot (clever boys). When he tells Liz how much Don won off Phil and that Phil only had £200 cash to pay, Liz bets Don will never see the rest of it. Jim doesn't think Phil can afford to welsh on a bet what with his reputation at stake. (But we know that Liz has already heard from Deirdre about Phil's cash flow troubles so she's probably got insider trading on that bet had she been serious) She's more interested in finding out how much Jim lost. Because she knows he did or he'd be bragging about how much he won. He admits he lost only £30 which gives Liz reason to give him a bit of grief over it.
Alec is still depressed and sad about his ex-wife's death. Bet tries to cheer him up, saying it might bring him and his daughter closer together now her mum's died and she doesn't have to be considerate of her mother's ill will towards Alec. Aye, 'appen it might, and he reminds Bet that Joyce always poisoned Sandra against him, telling her he was a bad father. Oh but she doesn't see you like that anymore. this cheers him up a bit but his face soon falls, thinking about dealing with the death of someone who was part of your life and all the regrets. Bet reminds him he's lucky to still be here to be depressed so stop being depressed about being depressed, Enjoy it! You can't change the past anyhow.
Rita asks Angie if Curly has mentioned anything about Reg possibly putting in a bid on Emily's house. Now you mention it, she thinks he did. Rita is dead set against Reg moving in across from her and waving at her last thing at night before he draws the shades. Angie grimaces and supposed he might not even draw them shades! They both shiver. Rita also doesn't fancy seeing him grinning in the morning over the milk bottles, pretending to be all sophisticated like Noel Coward, wearing a red silk dressing gown. Angie teases her about her knowledge of his slumber attire and they have a giggle over the image all this presents. But Rita is really dreading it if he does move in.
At Bettabuys, Reg takes Curly aside and lectures him on not being too friendly with the staff, his one real weakness preventing him from being a head office high flyer. Curly tries remembering some inspirational words Reg had for him when he started, about Napoleon guiding his troops. ah but Napoleon did not Hob-Nob! Reg, of course, is twitching and waving his arms around descriptively but the pair of them stand still for a moment and look around them furtively. Reg then leans in and whispers to Curly, asking him if the For Sale sign was still up on Emily's house. IT is but Curly, not wanting Reg for a neighbour any more than Rita does, tries his best to put Reg off. Does he realize he'd be living right next door to Ivy and just three doors down from Vera. HobNobbing is inevitable! But he's given another lecture on the differences between wearing the on duty professional hat and the civilian hat.
We're in the pub now, somewhere near the middle of the day. Rita buys Deirdre a drink and asks her to put a flea in Emily's ear, to ask her to discourage Reg from putting in a bid to buy her house. Deirdre can't do that, however as a matter of ethics. What if she tried to tell Rita who she could sell newspapers to and who she couldn't. Aye, when you put it that way but Reet reminds Deirdre how she tried to prevent Ken from moving back to the neighbourhood. Deirdre admits this but said he moved back anyway and she did get used to it, eventually. Des and Jim console themselves to losing the big pot last night. Des is optimistic, unlucky in cards, lucky in love (Soap Opera Phrase Of Doom! SOPOD!)
Sandra Arden arrives to have a word with Bet and Alec and as she is led to the back, Rita is informed who she is. She must have got her mothers looks, Deirdre muses. Just as well, Rita observes. They take their drinks to the booth, chuckling. In the back, Sandra has a favour to ask of Bet and Alec. Her mother's funeral is tomorrow over in Whitby and she and Tim are driving over and planning to stay overnight rather than make the long drive back on the same day. They aren't taking Vicky as it would upset her but her boarding school breaks up for term tomorrow at noon. Could Bet and Alec meet her at the train and keep her overnight? They'd be delighted!!
Angie runs into Reg while she's choosing a bottle of wine (red?) He flirts expansively and imparts his knowledge of the various vintages. Then she brings up his yearning to buy No3. Only if he were to bottle the vintage of the way Rita feels about having him as a neighbour and drink it, it would burn the roof of his mouth and cause steam to come shooting out of his ears!
A very disheveled Mike arrives at Deirdre's, loaded for bear. or Phil. Whichever he sees first! She's astonished at how awful he looks! He is nearly hysterical, telling her he and Jackie are finished and it's all Phil's fault! She doesn't know where Phil is but sits Mike down and tells him she better know what's going on. Mike, near tears and exhaustion (sleeping in his car it looks like), blames it all on Phil for telling Jackie about his past loves and dirty deals, breaking her heart and poisoning her against him. He'll kill him! He tells her that he turned Phil down for a loan, he had to as Phil was already on the floor and it would be throwing good money after bad and now Phil is getting his revenge. Deirdre can't accept that Phil's going bankrupt, that it's really only just temporary as it has been before and then Deirdre sets him straight. Probably she's the only one he'd let tell him the hard truth too. She points out that although she's sorry for him, he's only got himself to blame. Phil didn't invent any of what he told Jackie did he? No because it was all true. He lied to and cheated Jackie himself and got found out. He's got to face it and accept the blame but he's not very receptive just now to hearing the truth.
In the cafe, Alma wonders if Jackie will turn around and raise their rent since she can't be very happy that her money is supporting Alma. Gail assures her Jackie won't break the iron clad 5 year deal they signed but when Alma expresses further doubt, Gail decides to call Ingrams. But she is taken aback at what she hears when she asks for Mr. Baldwin. Sorry? Oh, i see. No, it's ok. She turns to Alma once she's rung off and quotes "Mr. Baldwin is no longer employed here"! What does that mean, Alma wonders. Search me, Gail shakes her head. Uh oh, Alma postures, Mike's in trouble!!!
Deirdre discusses her troubles to Liz. She doesn't know where to find Phil and has been getting funny calls from people she suspects Phil owes money too. Even Don is looking for Phil but that can't be about money. Liz takes a breath and decides to break a confidence. Oh yes it can, as a matter of fact, and tells Deirdre all about the card game. Deirdre is dismayed when she realizes the £200 he paid to Don was the very same £200 she lent him!
Ivy's almost ready to go out to dinner, a nice little Italian place Don has hear about. He asks if anyone has called him while he was out but Ivy scolds him that she would have told him. He decides to wait for her at the pub in spite of the fact that all she's got left to do is put on her earrings. (hoping to find or hear of Phil Jennings!)
Steph is making a furtive call to Simon. They bill and coo and make plans to meet tomorrow night. She hastily (and guiltily) hangs up the phone when Des comes home and lies that it was someone trying to sell fitted kitchens. He tells her he's going to take her out tomorrow night to make up for leaving her alone last night to go play cards. Cinders shall go to the ball! But tonight,... he's feeling a bit frisky and begins to nuzzle her around the ears and neck, seductively.
At the pub, Alec worries that the pub may be too down market for Victoria. Bet teases him that what he's really worried about is her and how she'll behave! Swearing and all that. Well don't you worry, sunshine, I can be quite the lady when i've got me stall out. Alec's eyebrows raise so high you'd almost think he had hair, and he wonders with amazement at this side of her personality that he's not yet glimpsed, he's quite looking forward to it! LOL
Over in the booth, Reg joins Curly and Angie and tells them he's not going to try to buy Emily's house after all, citing the possible complications of fraternizing with the enlisted ranks (when it's really the Wrath of Rita he fears). Angie thinks it's quite sensible of him. Deirdre comes in just as Jim is telling Don that it sounds like Phil is dodging him. Deirdre tells Don right up front that she doesn't know where Phil is and hoped he might be able to tell her. She realizes Phil owes him money but he's not the only one. Don is adamant that he get paid by Phil but Ivy arrives, earrings firmly in place, so Don whisks her out even though she wants to stop for a drink. (Too likely she'll hear about his gambling!)
Simon Beatty PETER GOWAN Sandra Arden KATHY
JAMIESON
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Tuesday (3254, Friday 19 July 1991)
In a good mood the morning after their evening out, Ivy tells Don they ought to splash out more often. She remarks that it must have been expensive but after all, they don't do it often, and promises she'll pay the next time. Don seems preoccupied and when Ivy offers him breakfast, he becomes annoyed by her fussing and makes his excuses to leave. He has a fare to the airport, he explains, leaving her holding the teapot in mid-pour.
The Barneses are on different wavelengths, too. Des mentions having an evening out together tonight but Steph says she can't make it - there's a leaving "do" for one of the girls at work. Des comments sarcastically that he ought to take up a hobby or a girlfriend, possibly even "one and the same" but Steph dismisses his remark as childish, warning him not to "frighten" her.
While Don is still out Deirdre calls around for a word with him. When Ivy explains that he's had a booking to the airport, Deirdre wonders if his passenger might be Phil. Ivy says she'd be in more of a position to know that and it comes out that Deirdre's been worried sick about Phil's apparent disappearance and all that's been going on. She mentions Don playing cards with Phil the other night, realizing a minute too late that Ivy knew nothing about it.
In the Kabin, Mavis confides to Rita that she and Derek had an invitation to go and stay with Victor and Mrs. Pendlebury for the weekend at their home in Darlington. Rita teases that she can understand refusing Paris or Venice but she doesn't think *she* could have turned down *Darlington*! Mavis goes on to dreamily explain that she thought it for the best, in view of the fact that Victor still carries a torch for her. While she doesn't agree with Derek's assertion that Victor married Yvonne because she reminds him of her (Mavis), she does believe he married "on the rebound". With a sigh, she tells Rita that she'd only be "playing with fire" by going, Derek being "insanely jealous" as he is. Rita ever so gently suggests that Mavis may be flattering herself *just a bit*, but Mavis remains convinced that Victor would have been "unable to contain himself" in her glorious presence.
Don arrives at Phil's offices in search of the elusive debtor. He finds only young Dean on the premises, who easily guesses that the boss owes Don money too, "like a lot of others". He tells him he'll have to join the queue, and that if Phil doesn't show up by tonight, he'll be emptying his slot machines to collect the three weeks' back wages he's owed!
In the Kabin again, Rita is relieved to hear that Reg won't be moving in across the road. Liz tells her that he went off the idea when he realized he'd be living next door to a "common employee" in the person of Ivy Brennan. When Mavis comments that she thinks that's nothing less than "snobbish", Rita doesn't disagree but praises the Lord for snobbery with all her heart! Mavis doesn't understand what Rita finds so objectionable about Reg anyway, but as Rita explains, it isn't *her* he's been chasing after! Harkening back to their earlier exchange, Mavis coyly suggests that Rita is "flattering herself" just a little, to which Rita can only reply, "I guess I had that coming."
Alec and Bet are taking leave of the pub soon to go and meet Vicky's train at the station. Alec bustles around in nervousness and reminds Bet to be ready on time. He then informs Liz that they're thinking of taking Vicky out for the evening and laments that there's no zoos around. Liz says she hardly thinks a 14 year-old girl would be interested in going to a zoo anyway and suggests she might prefer some other activity. Surprised, Alec inquires, "Like what?" When Liz tells him that teenage girls have the same interests as "us older girls, only more so", he changes his mind about going anywhere and announces they will be coming directly home instead!
Still fretting over Phil's whereabouts, Deirdre confides in Liz that she accidentally spilled the beans to Ivy about Don playing cards. She feels bad for Don's sake and all the more because he also has been searching for Phil. She doesn't like to think how Phil might react when Don does catch up to him if he feels "cornered"!
Meanwhile, Don arrives home, only to be given a very icy reception by Ivy, who confronts him now about gambling behind her back and then lying to cover it up.
Just as Alec and Bet are off to the station, a policeman arrives with some very grim news for them -- Alec's daughter, Vicky's mother, Sandra, was killed this morning in a car accident near Whitby! Disbelieving, Alec protests that it can't be true, there must be some mistake. With regret, the sergeant confirms that it is true - Sandra and her husband, Tim, were both killed this morning while en route to Joyce's funeral. He hastens to add that Sandra didn't suffer, she died within minutes of the accident. Tim, he explains, died on the way to the hospital.
Beside himself with grief, Alec barely has time to absorb the news before he remembers that Vicky will soon be arriving at the station. With horror, he suddenly realizes that it falls to him and Bet to break the awful news to her...
At the Brennans', Ivy is screeching at full blast now. Don defends himself, saying it was only a "friendly card game" but Ivy insists that since money was involved it boils down to gambling. He asserts that she also gambles since she goes to her Bingo games, but Ivy doesn't see that as the same thing at all, the difference being that *she* knows how much she's going to lose since she knows when to stop! "Ah, but I didn't lose - I won!" says Don. "Yes - *Deirdre's* money!" shouts Ivy. "Anyway Don, it doesn't matter to me if you win or lose - because when you gamble, I've lost you!"
As Bet and Alec arrive at the station just as Vicky's train is pulling in, she gives him a pat of encouragement, reminding him that they are all Vicky has now, and they must be strong for her sake. Vicky bounces off the train and spots them immediately. She greets them happily but soon realizes that something is wrong as Alec somberly places his hands on her young shoulders to prepare her for the sad news...
Alone at No. 1, Deirdre is startled when she hears someone enter by the back door. Calling out to Tracy, she is surprised to see Phil come in instead. The frustration of the last few days surfacing, she asks where "the hell" he's been and informs him that people are looking for him, including Don Brennan and Mike Baldwin. Phil blows off the interrogation, even when she demands to know when she'll be repaid the £200 she lent him. He pleads with her to bear with him, excusing his mysterious recent behaviour as being the "usual ups and downs" of business. Incredulous, Deirdre points out that she finds it hard to believe that in view of his sneaking in her back door like a fugitive. He assures her that everything will be getting back to normal in a day or two, and begs her to "just trust" him. Not having much alternative, she reluctantly agrees.
Back at the Rovers, Bet sits quietly with Vicky in the back room, offering what comfort she can to the poor girl for the loss of her parents. Vicky looks positively shell shocked but tearfully nods her agreement when Bet softly tells her that she and Alec have each other to look after now. Alec comes in, having just been on the phone with the authorities in Whitby. He'll be on his way now as they need him to come and identify Sandra's body. Vicky pleads to be allowed to come with him and though he gently tries to discourage her, Bet interjects that Vicky feels the need to go, as he does.
When Don stops back at Phil's office, he finds the businessman in but none too pleased at the interruption. Don announces that he wants the £450 he's owed but Phil tells him he can sing for it, he's got more important concerns at present. In the face of being warned not to keep pestering Deirdre for the money, Don stands firm, insisting that he's not leaving until he collects. He pays when he loses, he says, and he expects the same consideration! "Then you're a mug", Phil replies coolly.
At this point in their exchange, they are joined by two more men, "Scotch Tommy", the bigger-than-life presence Phil has employed for "physical" work in the past, and a smaller but equally threatening man. Scotch Tommy inquires whether there's trouble and Don, suddenly feeling his nerves, explains that he's only here for his money, he doesn't want any trouble. Phil cockily tells Tommy that Don needs to be "taught some manners" at which Tommy offers to hit him. At Phil's direction, Tommy looks about to pound Don but turns instead to give Phil a belt. As Phil falls to the floor, Tommy warns Don to get out and "keep *it* buttoned" and Don readily starts backing out of the room, leaving Phil to take his lumps.
Steph and Simon are lazily strolling along a promenade when he asks her if she's interested in theatre. She laughs that she hasn't been to a "theatre" since going to 'pantos' at the age of six. After tossing around ideas to fill the evening, Simon suggests they retreat to his place and Steph agrees that she would "like that"...
Des, oblivious to his wife's deceit, is propped up at the bar in the Rovers, telling Liz that Steph is having a "night out with the girls". "Lucky her!" says Liz.
At a nearby table, Bet is talking quietly with the Wiltons about the tragedy that called Alec away. Sympathetically, Derek offers that going down to Whitby will "help" Alec and Vicky to come to terms with it all. Mavis laments poor Vicky's fate, being "all alone" in the world now. "Oh but she isn't 'all alone' - no, she has me and Alec", corrects Bet optimistically. Mavis contrives to manage a smile as she refrains from saying what she is obviously thinking - "small consolation *that* is!"
Back at the bar, Don spots Deirdre and casually, almost gleefully, informs her of the scene taking place when he last saw Phil. Deirdre is horrified to learn that Phil looked to be in for a "good hiding" when he left him!
Mike is vastly relieved when Jackie finally comes home but his relief is short-lived when he sees she is with her lawyer, Gordon Barrett. He orders the solicitor to be on his way, saying the matter is between husband and wife and they need to have a private chat. But Jackie is having none of it and tells Mike it's over between them and she wants him out of her life. When he fails to take her seriously, Barrett intervenes to say that the police might be interested in knowing that Mike misappropriated funds from Ingram's to support his girlfriend's business interests. Far from being intimidated, Mike says he has nothing to hide, that the whole deal was above board and "legal". As Mike dismisses the lawyer's instructions to vacate the marital home immediately, Jackie angrily turns to leave. In disgust and frustration, she says she can't bear being in the same room with *him*!
Anita Bélanger
Dean Lockwood CHRIS HARGREAVES Police Sergeant
JAMES MASTERS Scotch Tommy CLIVE RUSSELL First appearance of
CHLOE NEWSOME as Victoria Arden
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Wednesday (3255, Monday 22 July 1991)
As the Brennans prepare for their workday, Ivy is still annoyed with Don for breaking his promise not to gamble. He doesn't see why she's so upset as he won this time and wonders that she isn't more concerned with Phil Jennings, who still hasn't paid up. Ivy doesn't care that he won and besides, she thinks Jennings has more sense than to pay for his loss. Don becomes frustrated and throws up his hands - it's "no use" trying to make her understand. He slams the door on his way out and drives off in his taxi just as Deirdre steps out to have a word with him.
Back from their grim duties at Whitby, Alec and Vicky pull up before the Rovers. Vicky has fallen asleep in the car and as her grandfather gently rouses her, she seems disoriented, wondering momentarily where they are. He tells her they are "home" and the realisation pricks her, "Oh, *your* home, you mean."
Across the road at the Barnes,, Des is moaning about his head as Steph primps in preparation for work. He asks what time she came in last night from her "leaving do" and she pretends it was around midnight but he knows it was closer to 2:00 a.m. When he tells her he was hoping for some late night cuddling, she snorts that he was well past it! She doesn't hang around to argue the point, it's time she got to work.
At Jackie's house, a disheveled Mike is on the phone arranging for a locksmith to come around. When he hangs up, Deirdre rings and asks him to meet her but Mike tells her he is sorry but he can't leave.
In the living quarters of the Rovers, Bet has prepared some breakfast for Vicky and Alec. Bet notices the girl hasn't touched her food and Vicky excuses herself to go upstairs to her room saying she has no appetite. With Vicky out of the room, Bet asks Alec about the trip. He tells her that Vicky showed no emotion while they identified her parents, bodies and that her being with him gave him strength. He would have fallen apart if not for her.
In the Kabin, Percy tells Mavis and Rita that he thinks Mrs. Bishop is making a grave mistake, selling up and moving to Wales. Rita says she agrees with him but isn't sure it's her place to say so. Percy expresses surprise that Mavis can't see it also and appeals to her to talk some sense into Emily. He goes too far when he suggests that Mavis would be a "fool" to let Emily go through with the move and Mavis snaps back that he's the fool for not seeing why Emily feels she has to move in the first place! "If she is making a stupid blunder it's because you,ve put her in a position where she has to sell her own home to get any privacy!" Percy is devastated at the revelation and meekly leaves without another word. Mavis knows she's said too much and she and Rita share a look of remorse for Percy's hurt feelings.
The locksmith is busily taking Mike's directions to change the front and back door locks when Deirdre arrives to talk to Mike. He tells her that he's trying to outwit Jackie's lawyer by changing the locks before he can. He reckons if he can only talk to her alone, he can make her see "sense". Deirdre says she is sorry it's come to lawyers but she has come to ask his advice about Phil. She tells him how worried she is as no one has seen him since Monday night when he was reportedly being beaten up. Mike isn't in the least concerned, he reckons Jennings had it coming. He couldn't care less what happens to him after what he did to him and his marriage!
In her lawyer's office, Jackie is angrily pacing the floor and shouting that she wants "him" (Mike) out of "her" house and gone from her life. When Barrett calmly reminds her that not long ago she was set to live "happily ever after" with the man, she retorts that she doesn't want that thrown in her face from now until doomsday. She made a mistake and now she wants out, whatever it takes!
In the Rovers, Bet is talking to Rita about Vicky's situation. As Alec is Vicky's only relative, Rita wonders if that means she,ll be stopping permanently. Bet only wants to get through the funeral before thinking about the rest of the future!
Further down the bar, Kevin gets defensive when Liz suggests that Sally's working evenings will put quite a strain on her. He fiercely points out that he,ll be the one home changing nappies while Sally is at the corner shop. Never let it be said that *he* is one of those idle husbands who lets his wife do it all!
Also in the pub, Percy has been mulling over what Mavis told him earlier and now puts the question to Jack, asking for his honest opinion: Does *he* think Percy is the reason Mrs. Bishop is moving to Rhos-on-Sea? Jack doesn't hesitate before answering with a straightforward, "Yes, certainly!" Percy takes him as being flippant and walks out in disgust.
Deirdre is increasingly worried about Phil so she pays Don a visit while he, s home for lunch. Don becomes irate when she questions that he walked away and left Phil with a couple of thugs. Angrily, he tells her not to expect sympathy from him. After all, Phil had ordered the same two thugs to bash him! And now, if she doesn't mind, he has to get out and try to earn some of the money that Phil did him out of!
Alec is on the phone with the Vicar making funeral arrangements for Sandra and Tim. As he goes over the plans with Bet, she pleads for him not to leave Vicky out of things. Alec doesn't think she can handle it as she is so young but as Bet tells him, "This is the kind of thing that makes you grow up - fast."
Spotting Don's taxi outside the cafe, Deirdre goes in to have a word with him again. He apologises for being abrupt earlier, saying it's Phil he's angry with, he didn't mean to blow up at her. She again tells him how worried she is. By this time, she's called all the hospitals and there's no clue where he might be. She is now on the verge of going to the police. Don is quick to say that he doesn't think Phil will thank her if she does. "He lives on the fringes of the law at the best of times!"
Steph is having an intimate phone conversation with Simon, telling him she can't get away to see him tonight. When Des comes in the door, she switches tones and sleekly says goodbye to "Carol". Des expresses surprise that she has anything to talk about with Carol, having worked with her all day. Steph makes up a story about Carol being away that day and calling to find out what she missed. When Des takes hold of Steph and plants a kiss on her, he is oblivious to the fact that she doesn't share his passion, keeping her eyes open during the embrace.
Having been to see Mike, Gordon Barrett now informs Jackie that her husband won't hear of a divorce and insists on talking only to her. Mike obviously thinks that he'll be able to "twist her round his little finger" once he sees her alone. She retorts that's not going to happen but when her lawyer informs her that it could take as long as five years to end the marriage through "the usual channels", she relents that maybe she "ought to" talk to him!
At Emily's house, Percy finally comes in after being away so long that Emily wondered if he,d "emigrated". Somberly, he tells her he leaves that to others - England's always been good enough for him! She ignores the remark and tells him he's missed both lunch and dinner. He doesn't recall saying he would be present for either meal and she says that she just "took it for granted" that he would. He tells her one should never "take things for granted". Then he informs her that he's found a new billet and he,ll be out from under her feet by week's end - he hopes that is soon enough? As he goes upstairs, Emily is left to ponder his newfound reconciliation with her decision...
Victoria Arden CHLOE NEWSOME Gordon Barrett
CARL FORGIONE
Written by JOHN STEVENSON
Thursday (3256, Wednesday 24 July 1991)
This episode is filled with regrets over past mistakes and fresh starts in difficult situations.
Don paces around the living room. Ivy can't think why Don is protecting Phil Jennings by convincing Deirdre not to go to the police after Phil was beaten. It could just as easily been him on the receiving end of the beating! Don explains to her that nobody saw the thugs come or go except him so he could very well have been the last person to see Phil Jennings. What if he turned up face down in the canal? Don had the perfect motive, didn't he? Phil owed him money and wouldn't cough up! Ivy's eyes widen in shock. (And given Don's previous record with the police, i think that might have been a wise move!)
Percy is determined to move right away even though a somewhat guilty Emily reasons with him, the house isn't even sold yet so there's no rush. She takes a phone call from the estate agent who makes an appointment for someone to view the house later today, a Mrs. Ellis. Mrs. Ellis is later shown through the house and is quite pleased by what she's found. It will take some getting used to, a smaller house but there's only her now, her husband having passed on and children grown. Emily seems pleased that the woman appears to want to buy the house and smiles back into the room as she follows Mrs. Ellis out to see the back yard.
Dean comes to see Deirdre because the shop is all locked up but she has no idea where Phil is.
Bet smokes thoughtfully and pours cups of tea for herself and Alec. Vicky is upstairs, wanting to be alone. Alec feels he and his granddaughter are virtual strangers and wonders how he can help her come to terms with everything. Bet soothes him with some good advice, one step at a time at Victoria's pace. It won't be easy for any of them. Alec expresses regrets because he should have made more of an effort over all those years but there's no point in dwelling on past regrets and mistakes, Bet rightly points out. He and Victoria need to get to know each other now, spend some time with each other but Alec is unsure Victoria would even want to. But the young girl arrives so, at Bet's nodding prompt, Alec gingerly proposes a day out, anything she wants to do. She brightens up a bit, and asks if he can take her to see her horse Saracen. Whatever she wants! With the first smile on her face in days, she goes off to get ready but Alec looks full of trepidation.
Jackie visits Ralph Dobson in the Ingram's office. He tells her that the deal to sell the factory is going to go through and a very good price too! She regrets not listening to his advice after Peter died, then she wouldn't be in this mess now. He cautiously agrees but tells her to look to the future rather than backwards. She'll be relieved to have the burden of the factory off her shoulders so she can move on with her life. She picks up a picture of Mike and says there is a divorce to see to and a house to get back first. She slams the framed photo on the desk and marches out, leaving Ralph to examine the photo and then drop it in the bin beside the desk.
Alma is fizzy with curiosity about what could possibly have happened to cause Mike to leave Ingrams. (the gossip mill has been disappointingly slow but i'm sure it won't take long for the real meal deal to get told!) Gail assures her the cafe's lease with Alcazar is legally binding and anyway, why should she care what happens to Mike after the way he treated her? Alma protests that she doesn't care... and aside to herself, comments that it doesn't stop her wondering though.
Jackie arrives at her house, on a mission. But she can't get in! Mike's changed the locks already but he lets her in just the same. He is a mess. It looks as though he's slept in his clothes and he's got a serious case of bed-head! But he still has his arrogance and thinks she's come back to sort things out with him. Well she has but not in the way he thinks and she puts him to rights quickly. No matter how much he claims he loves her and wants only her, sod the business and the money, she isn't going to buy it. But she is going to buy him and only wonders how much it will cost her to get her life and house back. He is nothing if not persistent and insists she can't just pluck a figure out of the air after all they've been through, all their dreams and hopes. She doesn't think it, she's sure of it!!!
Phyllis is still trying to persuade Percy in the bar to move in with her but Percy is still resisting her every logical reason why it would be beneficial. You just won't be told, woman! Liz has a chuckle at Phyllis' endless optimism but Bet's mind is on other things. She can't get Victoria out of her mind. How is that poor kid going to cope and move on after being so rudely and abruptly ripped away from her safe cocoon of friends and family and everything she ever knew!
Out in the country, Vicky returns from her ride. She tells Alec about her horse but then stops short when she unthinkingly begins to make a comment about Mum... He understands though she doesn't see how, they were *her* parents after all. Alec gently reminds her that it was his daughter as well as her mother. He goes on to explain that many families spend most of their lives away from each other but still love each other just the same. He assures her though he might not have seen much of his daughter, he loved her and thought of her always. She'll understand when she gets older and has a family of her own someday. She seems contrite and apologizes for not understanding but Alec is very gentle and comforting to her, telling her that her mum and dad would want her to go on and live her life, do things like ride her horse, recognizing that it will be very hard to go on at first. She asks if she'll be able to keep Saracen, the only thing (familiar) she has left. Alec is startled but says she can if that's what she wants. He wisely keeps his concerns over what might be involved to himself and she leads the horse away to stable him after rewarding her grandfather with a kiss on the cheek.
Jackie offers Mike £100,000 to wipe the slate clean, no contest to the divorce and an immediate eviction from her house. He continues to try to talk her around, you know what Mike is like, never believing he could do anything else but charm the birds out of the trees if he so willed it!
Alec is still not back and Bet is worried how things are getting on. Betty wisely thinks that it must be going well or they wouldn't still be gone. But Bet feels there's a hand of doom hovering, hell bent on causing destruction. She can't understand why these sorts of things happen to a young kid who never did anything to invite it. 'Eee ah doan know, luv', Sighs Betty. Jacko inquires about arrangements for the pub while Bet and Alec are at the funeral tomorrow, reckoning he won't mind giving up his night off if needed to keep things ticking over. She and Alec will have enough on their plates getting that lass through tomorrow. As he turns away, Bet predicts, tomorrow I can cope with, it's the rest of her life i'm worried about.
Mike decides to try to bargain with Jackie since he can't talk her around. With a cocky grin he decides he should be paid his fair share of the factory and the house. The grin is wiped off his face, sharpish, when she coldly threatens to call the police and charge him with at least fraud. You wouldn't! Try me! He only has one request, let him take Alcazar Holdings off Ingrams' books and she agrees (does that mean he will own Alcazar instead of whoever buys the factory?) He tries one last time, professing his love and offering to do anything to prove it. Right, prove it by walking out of her life, now, she snaps.
Victoria and Alec arrive back home, finally. Vicky sits at the table, dejected while Bet and Alec exchange a few words outside the closed door. Alec didn't seem to think it went well though i thought i went ok, as well as can be expected any road. They join Vicky and there are a few cheery smiles and some small talk about the horse until Victoria's dam bursts and she cries that she doesn't want to be there, she wants to be home with her own things and her own friends (and her own parents). She rushes out and upstairs in floods of tears. Alec sighs that it had to happen, it's been like walking on eggs all day. He really did think they made a start, they talked but now it looks impossible. Bet advises, as always, one day at a time, Alec.
Mike loads his suitcases into the car and hands Jackie the keys to the house. It doesn't have to end this way (one last desperate attempt) but she coldly says good bye and he drives off. If a car could slink, this one would, with it's tail pipe between it's ... erm... tires. She turns around and shuts the door symbolically on the past.
Last appearance of Ralph Dobson and Jackie
Ingram/Baldwin
Dean Lockwood - CHRIS HARGREAVES Mrs. Ellis - MARGO STANLEY Ralph
Dobson - MICHAEL LEES
Writer - BARRY HILL Director - BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3257, Friday 26 July 1991)
In the quiet of the early morning' Alec talks to Bet about what's ahead this day, the funeral of Vicky's parents. He bitterly reflects that it's "unnatural" for a parent to have to bury his child. Bet quietly reminds him that's something she knows a bit about and he quickly apologises for his remark. Still, he laments that he wasted years of his life not knowing his own daughter and only found her in time to bury her.
Percy catches Don on his way to work and arranges for his services to transport his belongings to his new home. When Don asks where he'll be going, Percy postpones telling him as Phyllis is hanging about waiting to hear also! She volunteers to come and help out on moving day but Percy turns her down flat and walks away. As Phyllis remarks to Don' "He's a proud man - that's one of the things she admires about him!"
In the Brennan house, Ivy is on the phone with her former Ingram's co-worker' Lynne. Lynne has an upcoming job interview at Bettabuys and as it 's Ivy's day off' she arranges to meet her friend later in the Rovers to find out how it went. Don comes in and Ivy starts asking about Phil Jennings again. He informs her that he had a fare to the hospital so decided to check the admissions while he was there and there was no sign Jennings had been there. Ivy maintains that proves nothing - he could have been admitted under a different name' or worse' not have been in a fit state to get to hospital!
Percy interrupts Emily's ironing to ask if she minds his leaving some cases in the front hall, only he wouldn't want to inconvenience her. Of course she doesn't mind' she tells him. He also wants her to know he'll be giving his room a good clean as he won't have her remembering him by the mess he left behind. He ignores her pleas that it really isn't necessary but goes on to remind her that she'll need to alter the milk order; it wouldn't do to be having too much milk delivered in this weather. And, if she doesn't mind, he noticed a couple of jars of chocolate spread in the cupboard and since she isn't partial to it, may he bring it with him? Of course he may, Emily rolls her eyes. Oh yes, and she'll find he's left some fresh fuses and some new lightbulbs for her in case anything goes out. Stopping her ironing with a sigh, she thanks him for his thoughtfulness.
In Deirdre's sitting room' Liz is taking in the news about Phil's disappearance and Deirdre's concern. As Deirdre explains' she suspects Dean knows more than he's letting on but the trick is to find him to talk to him. They are interrupted by a loud knock at the door and Deirdre answers to find an angry Mike, on the warpath in search of Phil. Liz decides to get out of the line of fire and meekly goes off' leaving Deirdre to deal with Mike. She repeatedly tells him she doesn't know where Phil is but he thinks she is covering for him. Angrily, he tells Deirdre to give her boyfriend a message when she sees him: "He's going to pay for what he did to me and my marriage!"
As Alec, Bet and Vicky get ready to leave for the funeral, Bet gives Vicky an idea of what to expect. She tells her about the ceremony in the church and the burial, followed by a reception for friends and family at Vicky's house. Vicky feels bad about saying earlier that she didn't want to be here but when she apologises, Bet comforts her with a hug and tells her to just think about her mum and dad today.
In the pub, once the Gilroys are gone, Jack remarks to Liz about Vicky's situation - a young girl with all that wealth! Liz retorts that she's sure Vicky would rather have her parents in the land of the living and Betty rejoins by saying they could have done without "that kind of talk" today! Jack sheepishly answers that he was "only saying"
Ivy is sitting at one of the tables waiting for Lynne when she is joined by Phyllis. When the older woman openly criticises Emily for "throwing Percy into the street"' Ivy answers that Emily is perfectly entitled to sell her house. And anyway' she points out' Percy is not "being thrown into the street"! "He might as well be - for all *she* cares!"' replies good old Phyllis.
They are now joined by Lynne who triumphantly tells Ivy that she got the job and will start Monday. Ivy asks why she decided to leave Ingram's in the first place and Lynne informs her of the Baldwins, marriage collapsing. Since things look so unsettled, none of them expects to keep their job for very long! No one at the factory knows what happened but they are inclined to ask for their gift of a carriage clock back as it's only been three weeks. With Ivy and Phyllis hanging onto her every word, Lynne tells them that all they do know is that Mr. Baldwin's office has been cleared and Mrs. Baldwin has been walking around "with a face like thunder"!
Emily enters the pub and Betty greets her from the bar. Emily confides that since Percy has given his notice she has come to the "awful" realisation that she has no desire to move at all. She has *never* wanted to move, only to have her house to herself! Now, she confesses, she feels she has deceived Percy. Betty comforts her by saying she didn't intend to and perhaps it was the kindest approach to take. Emily says it was the most cowardly way to go about it and now the only thing to do is be completely honest with him!
Phyllis has gone into the cafe to ask Alma if she knows where Percy is moving to. Alma says she knows nothing about it so Phyllis takes herself off again but as she's leaving she speculates that Mike Baldwin will also be in the market for new digs - now that his marriage is kaput! The news takes a second to register with Alma by which time Phyllis has gone. Frantically, she wonders what has happened between Mike and Jackie.
Back from the funeral, Alec sees Vicky into the parlour while Bet goes into the bar to see how Betty's managed in their absence. After telling Betty about the funeral ("it was nice' the church were nearly full") she comes back into the parlour to find Alec sipping a brandy. Vicky has gone upstairs to her room so Bet asks him to pour her a small one and she sits down to unwind from the strain of the day. Alec is at a loss as to what they will do about Vicky. She's gone from leading a life of privilege to a "back street pub with two middle aged people she doesn't even know"! Bet says firmly that she'll just have to get to know us then' won't she? But Alec remains unconvinced. Suddenly' Bet gets the notion they should all go for a holiday. It would be the perfect chance for Vicky to get to know them better! Alec seems reticent about the idea...
In the cafe, Alma's imagination is working overtime. As she tells Gail, she has "got to" find out about Mike's marriage. Gail teases her that she doesn' t "have to" know and watches in amusement as Alma claims it's only "natural curiosity". Alma suggests that Deirdre might know the score and wants Gail to call her but Gail refuses. Then what about a drink in the Rovers tonight? Again, Gail says no, Alma doesn't need her as a pretense to go into the Rovers.
At Emily's, she and Percy have just enjoyed what Percy calls their "last meal" together. He watches the clock as he reckons that at 7:00 p.m, he'll have spent "Three years' two months and one day" in this house - "the happiest three years' two months and one day that any man ever spent". Poor Emily is beside herself with guilt as she assures him there will be other meals together and the time he lived in her home was happy for her too. He pauses before asking her whether he is the reason she is moving and she swallows hard before answering' "No!" He then says he wishes she would tell him if that were the case as he's always respected her for her honesty. Again, she asserts that he is *not* the reason, which news Percy greets with "relief".
Vicky is down from her nap and when Bet suggests they all have a holiday in Tourquay together, she timidly agrees. Alec leaves them to talk about the details and goes into the bar to see how they are managing. In the bar, he asks Betty what she thinks about Bet's plan and she says she thinks it'll be wonderful for them.
Liz uses the bar phone to ring Deirdre and say that Dean has just come in, in case she wants to talk to him. Alma enters the pub and asks for Deirdre only to see her arrive a minute after. She has to wait to talk to her though as Deirdre heads straight over to Dean, where he and his companion have just begun a game of darts. Alma follows her meekly and hangs in the background waiting for a word. Deirdre pleads with Dean that he must have some way of contacting Phil in emergencies? When she promises not to say where she got it from' he gives in and scribbles down an address for her. Turning to go, she is again intercepted by Alma, who shyly asks if she has any knowledge of the "wild rumour" she heard - that Mike's marriage to Jackie is over. Deirdre leaves her wondering, claiming to know nothing about it as she politely excuses herself.
At the Brennans', Ivy asks Don if he isn't hiding himself away because of the "Phil Jennings thing". Losing patience, he tells her that has nowt to do with him and nowt to do with her either! Ivy angrily accuses Don of being another "Pontius Pilot" and having said her piece, goes up to bed. Alone now, Don momentarily glowers over her rebuke and then wonders if she is right.
After closing the pub, Alec and Bet stand in the darkness of the bar quietly talking things over. As he wonders what they are to do, a loud noise from the street interrupts their discussion. Going outside to investigate, they find a drunken Mike harassing Deirdre about Phil's whereabouts. Deirdre was obviously asleep or at least in bed before he arrived as she stands now in her housecoat with the door half open and shouts for him to leave her alone, that she doesn't know where Phil is! Bet pleads with Mike to calm down while Alec tells him to be on his way. They have a young girl sleeping upstairs who's just been to her parents' funeral and he doesn't want her disturbed! Mike is incoherent and oblivious to anyone's problems but his own as he laments that he doesn't even have a home to go to! By this time Deirdre has slammed the door shut and Bet pleads again for him to go quietly. "Oh' I'll go" he finally agrees, and staggers away down the street mumbling to himself about having nowhere to go, Bet looking after him in pity.
Inside her home again, Deirdre contemplates yet again where Phil could be. Remembering the address Dean provided her with, she reaches for her purse and digs out the coaster he wrote it on. Holding it in her hand she considers her options for a minute before boldly deciding she has no other choice but to go
Lynne Fenwick POLLY HIGHTON
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Monday (3258, Monday 29 July 1991)
Everyone is making attempts at exciting new lives today...
Des is cuddly this morning but Steph pushes him away, much the same way she apparently did last night (one of the warning signs, me lad!). She uses the work excuse, tired, on her feet all day. But she can't go out tonight at his invitation as there is another leaving party, that nice Scots girl Fiona. (Careful Steph, can't keep turning down every invite from your husband!)
Deirdre greets Tracy who's getting ready for a trip to Chester with her friend and friend's mum. Deirdre apologizes for all the disturbance of the night before, that where a drunken Mike Baldwin woke the dead banging on her door looking for Phil. She's getting ready to go out and Tracy guesses that she's off to find Phil. Deirdre realizes her little girl is growing up!
Don has the cab loaded up with Percy's bits and bobs, ready to move him to the new lodgings in a boarding house run by a Mrs. Dyson. Percy plans to walk the birdcage around as Randy doesn't take well to changes, him and Randy are alike. Don, in "fine" form, teases, "birds of a feather?" No! Sensitive! (Percy?) Emily guiltily reacts to Percy's opinion that his new lodgings are comfortable enough but really just digs, not a real home. She tries to be encouraging about new and exciting experiences, you know what they say "A change is as good as a rest". Aye, and they also say "The devil you know.." He imparts one last warning to Mrs. Bishop who is also about to embark on a new exciting adventure, reminding her to remember where her true friends are when she's looking out at the sea view through her new bay window.
Outside, Don tries to make peace with Deirdre who admits that she isn't about to fall out with him but coolly points out that she also expects people to behave in a decent and responsible manner and goes to corner to catch her bus. Mr. Sugden and Emily emerge and say their good byes and good lucks on the pavement. Percy admits he's been a nosy interfering old codger (in so many words) and tells Emily to enjoy her new home and send him a postcard now and then. She apologizes for not being as patient as she might have been sometimes but he insists that she's been a Saint. She kisses him on the cheek and he strides down the road with his bird in hand ... er... bird in the cage that is... You can tell the guilt is written all over her face as she watches.
Bet and Alec have taken Vicky to Torquay (hopefully not to stay in Fawlty Towers!) Jack takes full advantage of their absence. He's lounging out full length on the settee perusing the racing form while Liz scolds him for it but he takes no notice. Sergeant Major Turpin barges through the door barking orders at the lazy sod and he moves quick enough then! LOL She orders him to KP, peeling spuds and scoffs at his protest that he doesn't even peel them for Vera! Well then it'll be a change since you're always saying how boring the routine is. He insists, O Quibbling One, that he's bar staff not the scullery maid. Betty straightens her shoulders and wags her finger and tells him, O Idle One, that while Bet and Alec are away, SHE is management and what she says goes and not only can he peel the spuds, he can do the turnips and the onions and all, now Move It! And he does, to Liz's amusement.
The very substantial Winnie Dyson greets Mr. Sugden. She's cheerful but has very sad taste in eyeshadow, glaring green that make her eyelids look like very obvious garage doors closing when she blinks! Seems the name of the guesthouse is NorWin and she explains, citing a subject that i think we'll soon be very bored of hearing about, her late dearly departed husband, Norman. She directs Percy to his room to unpack and asks him if he could keep Randy in his room for a few days until her dear Fluffy gets used to sharing his territory. It gives Percy "pause" for thought to discover that Fluffy is a kitty cat! (how could i possibly have resisted!)
Vera, Rita and Mavis have a sympathetic cluck about poor little victoria. Vera mentions her grandchild, whereabouts unknown. Mavis decides she feels worse for Bet who has to take care of a young girl who is practically a stranger, it won't be easy. Now i do agree with Mavis' statement but Rita decides to be awkward about it. After all she took in Jenny and she wasn't even related by marriage. Mavis bitchily points out to Rita where and how that ended up. Rita, now with her back up, citing more sympathy for Victoria, would Mavis have that poor girl put into a home? Mavis accuses Rita of twisting what she meant (she did too!) so Vera interjects, figuring Mavis would do the same for any grandchild of Dereks (take her in). Derek doesn't have any children or grandchildren, Mavis correctly but annoyingly missing the point altogether. Vera laughs as she turns to leave, RJack probably has 2 or 3 little Duckworth clones about, all as ugly as him! After she leaves, Mavis calls down from her high horse, scoffing at Vera's common ways. Rita snipes back that at least Vera would take in an orphaned teenager, no questions asked.
Deirdre gets off the bus (number 53 Bellevue for the anoraks in the audience and before you point it out, yes i know what that makes me for noticing in the first place! LOL) She asks directions from a passer by and locates a rather smudgy brick building of flats. She rings one of about a dozen bells and a battered and bruised Phil answers the door, glancing quickly over his shoulder when he sees who it is.
In the pub, Angie agrees to babysit for the Websters so that Sally and Kevin can have a night out at the pictures. Betty continues to boss Jacko around. Liz gives Don hassle over not going to the police with Deirdre. Don reminds Liz that (a) it's none of her business and (b) he's had enough dealings gone wrong with the police in the past. Curly teases Angie about the quality of her cooking or lack thereof and Don teases Phyllis when she tries to get Percy's new address from him. He does give it her after swearing her to confidence with a smile.
Later in the day, Emily gives Angie custody of a cactus. Phyllis gave it to Percy for Christmas but he never liked it much, though they are very alike...prickly! She takes a call from Mrs. Ellis who wants to come over tomorrow to measure up, curtains and things. Emily isn't as satisfied over the impending sale of her house anymore and her face shows it.
Deirdre is now inside Phil's flat behind a closed door. She notices luggage packed and waiting by the door and realizes he's going on the run. He insists it isn't from the police but she knows there's a list as long as his arm of other people he's running from. He says it all got a bit out of hand but she corrects him. His life has fallen apart and hers with it. They were supposed to be partners, how does he think she feels! A woman comes through the door and answers for him. About the same way she's been feeling for the past few years! Deirdre is horrified to find out this is Phil's wife and that she (Deirdre) is just one of many of Phil's tootsie's. But he always comes back to his wife and she, admittedly a fool, always takes him back for some twisted reason. She reckons she's got what she deserves and isn't under any illusions and anyway, it's time Deirdre leaves, they have a plane to catch. Deirdre, who's illusions are shattered, escapes out the door, tears flooding her face. Phil runs after her but finds it prudent not to attempt more than a few plaintive cries of her name down the road.
Stephanie has her green dress painted on and is ready to go out. Thankfully she buttons a short double breasted jacket over it to ward off pneumonia just as Des comes home. She tells him she would love to spend the evening with him but everyone else is going to the party and she'd be a party pooper if she stayed home (lying tart!) She rushes out, leaving Des frustrated at the prospect of another lonely night in alone.
Liz makes tea for a tearful Deirdre who alternates between hate for Phil, greater hate for herself and crying jags. She moans about her taste in men, "I sure can pick 'em" (and your choices in men are not about to get any better in the near and far future for the most part, Luv!) She feels so stupid for not seeing the signs and wonders how she's going to explain this to Tracy! Liz is soothing and offers a supportive shoulder to lean on.
At NorWin, Percy is woefully holding a cactus, with Mrs. Dyson on one side of him on the settee and Phyllis, the donor of the cactus, on the other. The women make small talk while Phyllis scratches the fur of Fluffy. Dearly departed Norman is discovered to be spending eternity in an urn on the mantle while Winnie wistfully remembers their musical evenings, Norman on the viola and she on the piano. She gets up and demonstrates her half of the duo by tinkling the ivories and bursting into a rendition of the Merry Widow...Picture the sound Fluffy would make if you caught his tail in a door and cross it with Edith Bunker. She hasn't a patch on RHilda, so she doesn't!
Rita tries to make amends to Mavis for gobbing off earlier but Mavis is still stinging over Rita's hurtful remarks earlier and cites that Derek feels the remarks were uncalled for, too! Rita huffs that Mavis shouldn't be telling Derek every time they have a little squabble. Mavis counters with a righteous but accurate zinger, "I don't, otherwise we'd never talk about anything else!" LOL Kevin drops in for an evening paper and mentions that he's taking Sally to the pictures. Rita thinks that's a good idea and offers her sulky colleague a night out at her treat since Derek's going to be out with a client. Mavis takes further offense at the label "sulky colleague". Rita and Kevin roll their eyes at each other!
Vera tells Ivy she's just seen Deirdre Barlow looking shattered and had obviously been crying. What do you suppose is wrong? Ivy professes not to know but privately has a very good idea. She hustles Vera out the door when Don comes home and has another go at him about his attitude about not helping Deirdre out. He's sorry Deirdre is upset but stands his ground.
Derek leads his client across a crowded room in a posh pub, spying two empty seats in a corner. There is a couple snogging at the table just next to the empty seats. Derek excuses himself to ask if the seats are taken and the couple unattached themselves and face him. Derek is shocked and appalled to see it's Steph Barnes! He backs away and leads the client to another corner while Steph's face falls and fills with dread.
Last appearance of TOMMY BOYLE as Phil Jennings.
Valerie Jennings - MEANIE WALTERS Winnie Dyson - JUNE ELLIS Simon
Beatty - PETER GOWEN
Writer - ADELE ROSE Director - KEN HORN
Tuesday (3259, Wednesday 31 July 1991)
Tracy comes downstairs in the morning knowing her mother has spent a weepy night. Deirdre tries to put on a brave face but Tracy guesses that Phil Jennings is at the heart of the matter, so Deirdre allows her to make the assumption that he is still missing and she is 'merely' worried about his whereabouts.
Over the Wiltons' breakfast, Mavis can see that something is bothering Derek. He seems distracted, hardly paying attention when she mentions switching their milk to semi-skimmed. On questioning, Derek reflects that he is glad they didn't meet when they were much younger. Mavis finds his comment strange, remarking that if they had, they might be grandparents today. "Or divorced", answers Derek flatly, causing Mavis to wonder if he's seen Angela lately since encounters with his ex-wife usually "start (him) thinking morbid thoughts about marriage". He hasn't, he assures her, it's only that young people are commitment shy. Now she really wonders what he's on about. After securing her solemn promise not to tell *anyone*, not *even* Rita, Derek confides in her about his disturbing encounter of the day before, running into Steph Barnes with her boyfriend.
Steph is at this moment hurrying around getting ready for work. Des questions her about coming in so late the night before but she makes the excuse that (she and the girls) just "got talking". He reaches out for her but she brushes him away, saying now isn't the right time. "It's never the right time!" he shouts but immediately regrets the outburst and apologizes. She assures him he's done nothing wrong and the guilt she's feeling is evident as she readily agrees that they haven't spent much time together lately. She proposes a night out this evening which seems to placate Des, only when he tries to embrace her again, she wriggles away, leaving him to lament, "I know, you've got to get to work..."
Don and Ivy are arguing about "moral principles" over their breakfast table. Ivy tries to impress on Don that what he witnessed (Phil's beating) ought to be reported to the police. He doesn't want to become involved, but she points out that if good people don't involve themselves, they are "helping the sickness of society to grow"! She has a personal stake in all this, too, she reminds him. "If someone hadn't come forward when R Brian was killed, his murderer might still be free!"
Curly calls in to see Emily on his way to work. He wondered if when she moves, she planned to bring the small bookcase that's in the spare room with her. Most people don't want to pack *everything* and if she is thinking of selling it, he'd like first refusal, he says. Surprised by the query, Emily says she hasn't even thought about it yet. As Curly turns to leave, she calls him back to ask whether he thinks she's doing the right thing by moving. He answers that he thinks she's doing the "best" thing - that he would jump at the chance himself! As she closes the door, Emily ruefully answers to herself, "Yes, that's because *you're* thirty years younger than I am!"
At his new lodgings, Percy and his landlady discuss the merits of Mrs. Phyllis Pearce. Mrs. Dyson suggests that she seems to be quite sweet on Percy. Anxious to dispel any question of the feeling being mutual, Percy is quick to denounce Phyllis as "delusional". All he cares about is "a bit of peace and quiet", he says firmly, to which Winnie offers the assurance that he'll certainly have that here. He believes he will, he says, taking Randy's merry chirping this morning as a sign of the budgie's contentment. "He's like a son to me, that bird". Mrs. Dyson understands completely as she feels the same way about her beloved cat. She reflects that she couldn't be doing with a big dog, another sentiment shared by Percy, who says he wouldn't have moved in if there had been a dog. With a smile of satisfaction, Percy concludes that he believes they'll be very well suited indeed.
Upset over having lied to Tracy about the real situation with Phil, Deirdre confesses to Liz her fear that Tracy would lose respect for her if she knew the truth. In her words, she has "lurched from one disaster to the next". As a role model, she feels she has let her daughter down sorely. Liz offers that it was not *her* fault that Ken left her for another woman, no more than it was that she lost the election or that Phil turned out to be "a devious lying little swine"! "On the other hand", counters Deirdre, "it could be said that her husband left her because she wasn't exciting enough, she lost the election because she wasn't good enough and she got taken in by Jennings because she wasn't smart enough!" Indulging her bitterness, Deirdre projects that Ken will be gloating over this, "from here till next Thursday" when he finds out. Liz points out that it isn't fair of her to assume the worst about everyone - she shouldn't lose sight of the fact that she has people in her life who will want to help her pick up the pieces. (Liz was solid in those days. I really liked her then!)
In the Kabin, Betty tells Ken, Rita and Mavis about Bet ringing the evening before, just to let her know that she, Alec and Vicky had arrived safely at their vacation destination. She suggests to Ken that perhaps on their return, Vicky and Tracy could strike up a friendship, an idea Ken doesn't seem too sure of. Anyway, Betty says, Bet seems to be her optimistic self, prompting Rita to remark that she's probably "the best thing" that could have happend to young Vicky at this point. Betty takes note that Mavis, who has maintained a sulky silence throughout the exchange, doesn't seem herself today. Before Mavis can answer for herself, Rita pipes up that she's just sulking because of a "con-fab" they've had and not to mind her. Mavis protests that Rita is "only embarrassing" Betty and Ken but Betty quickly counters that if they want to see real fireworks, they should come over to the pub and watch her and Jack in action! "Duckworth seems to think he's in for two weeks of skiving while the boss is away!" she informs them before going back to work to check on the skiver.
As Ken turns to leave too, Rita jokingly asks him if his holiday plans include sunning himself on an exotic beach somewhere. He answers that he hasn't made definite plans yet but that "exotic beaches" aren't really his scene. In his wake, Rita reflects that she doesn't envy him in his situation. "You see his type at holiday spots... always on their own, that bit away from the families and the couples... sipping their wine and doing a crossword puzzle..." Mavis finally answers with, "Maybe people should consider the consequences before they go around breaking up marriages!" Rita expresses surprise that she's speaking to her after all and clues in to the fact that Mavis has something on her mind. Her probing is first met with Mavis remaining tight-lipped over the news that Derek made her promise not to tell *anyone* but Rita soon cracks her silence with, "But I'm not *anyone* - I'm Rita, queen of the undead, so come on - out with it!"
Chastened by Ivy's persuasiveness, Don knocks at Deirdre's door to let her know that he's reconsidered and is now willing to go to the police with her to report what happened to Phil. She thanks him but says it won't be necessary now, leading Don to suppose she's seen "the scumbag". He demands to know where he is, shouting that he still owes him 450 quid. Deirdre advises him to write it off to experience, "a lesson we all have to learn", before firmly shutting the door after him.
In the pub, Jack laments being slave-driven "on a day like today" and asks Ken why he is staying in since he doesn't have to. Betty directs Jack down to the cellar to fetch more crisps, ignoring his complaints of being overworked. Chuckling at the scene, Ken tells Liz that he really ought not be stuck inside on such a beautiful day - maybe he'll go drag Tracy out for the afternoon. Liz is quick to suggest that Tracy isn't at home, infoming him that according to Deirdre, she's in Chester for the day. In that case, Ken decides to get some "serious" reading in, something he's been putting off for some time now although as he jokes, he'd rather be tucking into a good Dick Francis at the moment!
Mrs. Ellis, the lady who proposes to buy Emily's house, pops around to No. 3 to take some measurements. As she prattles on about the many intricacies of moving, Emily interrupts to say that she is dreadfully sorry, but she's had a change of heart and decided not to move after all.
Again in the Kabin, Rita and Mavis are treated to a visit from Phyllis who is busily singing the praises of Percy's new landlady. Rita finally musters up the nerve to ask Phyllis (as tactfully as she can manage) why she isn't seething with jealousy over Winnie Dyson. Simple, explains Phyllis - Mrs. Dyson is totally devoted to the memory of "Norman", her late husband whose ashes are kept in an urn on her mantle - she wouldn't dream of looking at another man. Rita politely refrains from saying anything but Mavis concurs with Phyllis' opinion that it's very "romantic". With a note of irony, she adds, "It's a pity some women can't feel the same devotion while their husbands are still alive!"
At Mrs. Dyson's, the landlady becomes concerned when Percy develops a sudden fit of coughing. She reckons he's coming down with a cold and offers her home remedy of hot toddy, something dear Norman used to love. Percy can't understand being choked up this suddenly as he felt fine when he awoke this morning.
Liz pops over to tell Deirdre of her deception to Ken and Deirdre is grateful that she won't have to face him for the day. The last thing she needs is Ken knowing she is jobless and broke. Ignoring the self pity, Liz prompts her friend to handle the first problem by slapping on some makeup and going job hunting. Deirdre brightens but when Tracy arrives home, she says she wants to set things straight with her first. Liz takes her cue and leaves them to talk.
Taking a deep breath, Deirdre calls Tracy in and sits her down for a heart to heart. When she reveals the truth about Phil, that not only did he rip he r off but he turned out to be married, Tracy shows sympathy and understanding beyond her years. In a bid to comfort her mother, she offers that he made fools of them both. With Tracy's assurance that she doesn't blame her, Deirdre is smiling once again.
Don is still foaming about the money Phil owes him and the fact that he'll never see it now. Ivy preachily asserts that people like Phil Jennings play by a different set of rules and it's Deirdre she feels sorry for! Don doesn't share her empathy, remarking that Deirdre has to look to her own stupidity for being in this situation, she should never have become involved with the "scumbag" in the first place. Ivy reminds him that Deirdre must have been "lonely", and having been widowed, she knows as well as anyone what lonlieness is like. "Yeah, but you didn't go getting yourself took in by some scumbag!" answers Don. "No, Don - I was *lucky* - I met *you*", she says assuredly.
In the Rovers, Emily has confided her reversed decision to Betty. She feels awful about letting Mrs. Ellis down but Betty offers reassurance, saying she had to do what was right for her. Emily admits it's a relief to know she's made the decision, that she"d become increasingly uneasy about the idea of moving. Betty wonders if Percy knows yet, setting off another set of anxieties for Emily - how to convince Mr. Sugden that she didn't plan the whole thing just to be rid of him!
Rita and Mavis are enjoying a drink after work when Mavis tells Rita she'd best be off to get Derek's tea ready. Rita half-heartedly tries to persuade her to "surprise" Derek by not making any, but Mavis says she enjoys fussing over him and after all, he does work hard all the day long! "Well so do you!" answers Rita. Des and Steph enter the pub, he obviously in high spirits. Stopping at Rita and Mavis' table, Des offers to get their drinks but Mavis declines, saying she has to be off. Des comments about "last night" jokily infering that he and Mavis spent the evening together since Steph was out "with the girls". Mavis is startled momentarily at the reference to "last night", thinking perhaps that Des knows about his wife's infidelity. She soon realizes the joke and giggles with relief, telling Steph, "Oh - he's only joking!" Steph replies ironically, "Don't worry, Mave, I believe you". Mavis suddenly feels embarrassed and as she rises to be off, Rita accompanies her to "walk her home". As they make their way from the pub, Mavis turns to look back at the Barneses, but Rita pushes her on with, "Don't even think about it!" Mavis answers that she had no intention of saying anything to Des, but Rita says she'd best not say anything to either of them - just keep out of it!
Mavis arrives home a moment after Derek and rushes in to start preparing his dinner, apologizing for being "late". He readily excuses her saying he hopes she doesn't feel he's one of those husbands who expects his supper on the table the minute he arrives home. "Oh no, Derek! I think I married the most wonderful, considerate man in the world!" she says as she throws her arms around him. Gratified and surprised at her display of affection, he asks what sparked it. She explains that she's just seen the Barneses in the pub and that Des looked so happy she can't bear to think their marriage in ruins over "a few stolen moments of excitement". She wonders if Derek could just "have a word" with Steph, show her the error of her ways. But Derek apparently feels as Rita does and wants to remain firmly out of it!
Tracy has managed to hook up with Ken and the two now share hamburgers and some father-daughter chatter at a fast food place. Ken tells her about Liz saying she'd gone to Chester for the day, reckoning that he isn't the only one who's confused about his daughter's social schedule. But Tracy says she knows why Liz "lied" about it. "Not a 'lie', surely, a mistake", Ken answers. "No, she knew me mum wouldn't want me seeing you today", replies Tracy assuredly. With Ken listening intently, she goes on to explain Deirdre's situation, how she is now without a job and broke, thanks to Phil Jennings' deceptions. Contrary to what Deirdre projected about him, Ken reacts with genuine concerned. "Poor Deirdre!" he gasps. "But that isn't the worst of it", Tracy continues, "he turned out to be married." Ken is speechless with shock on hearing it.
Anita Bélanger
Winnie Dyson JUNE ELLIS Mrs. Ellis MARGO STANLEY
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by KEN HORN
Wednesday (3260, Friday 2 August 1991)
Pouring over the morning paper, Deirdre is doggedly circling 'help wanted' ads when she notices Tracy hanging about. She suggests that she might like to go to her friend, Lindsay's but Tracy says Lindsay has gone shopping and she didn't want to go along as she has no spending money. It occurs to Tracy that she could ask her dad for the money but Deirdre would rather not involve Ken as she doesn't want him finding out about the Phil debacle. Tracy wishes Deirdre had said! Her mother moans with the realisation that Ken already knows but tells her not to worry about it.
Across the road at the Wilton's, Mavis watches Des leave for work before making an appeal to Derek to have a word with Steph. Derek firmly believes this is one situation they should keep well out of but Mavis thinks if he doesn't say something the Barnes' marriage could collapse. She calls it being a "good Samaritan", but as Derek says, "Stephanie Barnes isn't lying injured in the road, she's having an affair!" He also points out that Des and Steph are a modern couple and suggests that for all they know, they may even have an open marriage!
At the Barnes residence, Steph is wistfully gazing out the window as Des goes off when Phyllis remarks about her pensive mood and asks if she is sickening for summat? Just a bit tired, says Steph. Phyllis attributes Steph's mood to a summer cold starting and relates that Percy has one, an event that could have been avoided if he had come to live with her - she'd have kept him nice and warm! Steph smiles at this and asks Phyllis if she minds coming back for her money later as she's a bit short at the moment. "So long as I'm paid by weekend", she tells her.
Don is giving his cab a wipedown as Emily picks up her milk from the doorstep. He asks about her move and she tells him about her change of heart, that she's decided to stay after all. His amusement is apparent as he notes, "So Percy moved for nowt!", but Emily isn't smiling as she quietly agrees, "I suppose so..." Don asks if Percy knows yet and Emily somberly answers, "No".
Derek is off to work now and Steph runs out for a word as he's getting in to his car. (So this is the reason she hung about.) Derek squirms as she smilingly proffers an explanation for what he witnessed the previous night. It was "only a bit of fun", she tells him and there is no reason Des should know, as he'll only "be awkward" about it. Thinking the matter satisfactorily at an end, Steph turns to leave but Derek tells her he can't leave it at that. She is startled to hear that although he didn't initially think it his business, she is now asking him to collude in keeping something secret from Des. Steph is irritated at this response and again walking off, tells Derek to forget it. He calls her back and says that he can't forget it - she is asking him to take part in a conspiracy! Indignant now, she tries to walk away but he holds her arm as he asks her to understand his position. From within the Barnes house, Phyllis witnesses the dissension which to her appears to be a case of Derek imposing unwanted attentions on Steph.
As they ready the pub for opening, Betty tells Liz about Bet phoning from Tourquay. The holiday with Vicky is proving to be more of a challenge than she expected as they've tried "everything" to keep the girl entertained but she just doesn't seem to be enjoying herself. Liz agrees that handling teens can be difficult at the best of times and hopes they'll get on okay. Jack hustles through the door with his excuse for being late - he had to place a bet. Betty snaps back that she hopes his horse wins as she's docking him a quarter of an hour's wages!
Ken comes to see Deirdre and she reluctantly allows him entry, saying she hopes he isn't there to give her a lecture. On the contrary, he tells her he is here to help.
Percy calls at Mrs. Bishop's to let her know that he's now comfortably settled in his new abode. Emily is pleased to hear it and takes a deep breath before she gently breaks it to him that she has decided not to leave Wetherfield after all. Percy is taken aback completely at the news. Remarking that she's "knocked the wind out of his sails", he goes on to say that he went through "all that upset for nothing"! Tentatively, Emily reminds him that he *did* say he was settling in at Mrs. Dyson's. Unrelenting, Percy retorts, "So, all this selling malarkey was nothing but a subterfuge!" Vexed, Emily answers that it was nothing of the kind. It was a perfectly genuine change of heart, she protests. Percy isn't attending as he states that he takes offense at being "duped". Well she takes offense at being accused of subterfuge! Aggrieved, he walks out telling her that he can only view this as "a very curious and upsetting state of affairs!"
At Deirdre's, she has recounted the whole sordid story to Ken, about losing her job, Phil owing her money and finding out he was married. She also tells him that she feels cheap, stupid and naÔve for the experience. Ken reassures her that it wasn't her fault and she needn't kick herself over what's past. It's the future she needs to concern herself with now and he's willing to help out by lending her some money.
In the Rovers, Jack is pleading with Betty for a break. He was only ten minutes late after all... But Betty is digging in her heels - it counts for a quarter of an hour. The look of defeat on Jack's face is replaced with a sly grin as he spots Emily at the bar. She orders a pineapple juice and as he pours her drink, he congratulates her on her "ruse of pretending to sell up" in order to get shot of Percy. Indignantly, she refutes the charge and walks out, telling Jack he can keep his pineapple juice!
In a booth, Derek is relating his morning encounter with Steph and explaining how he can no longer stay out of the situation since she has asked him to be party to a deception. As they whisper conspiratorially, Des spots them and comes over to joke about "the lovebirds whispering sweet nothings to each other". Mavis and Derek compose themselves and ask if he and Steph don't believe in togetherness. Des lightly replies that he thinks it's better to let your partner "off the leash" once in awhile - makes you more appreciative of one another, he says. Derek asks if he doesn't think there is a danger of "Out of sight, out of mind", but Des answers with confidence, "Not with me and Steph!"
Ken is trying to persuade Deirdre to let him give her some financial help but she is most reluctant. There are no strings attached, he insists, but she just doesn't feel she can take money from him. Consider it a loan, he tells her, to be repaid with interest, if you must! She explains that she really can't as none of this is his fault. He points out that no one is apportioning blame - but, if they were, *he* could be said to be at fault, if only indirectly! A final appeal to let him help, if only for Tracy's sake. Leaving the cheque on the table, he goes towards the door. She thanks him and he assumes she is thanking him for the loan. She clarifies that she's thankful he didn't give her a hard time and he relents that he is the last person who should cast aspersions!
Steph is having lunch with Simon and confides her worry about Derek knowing what they are up to. He asks if she intends to tell Des and she admits she wouldn't want him hearing it from a nosy neighbour but she'll wait it out...
In the cafe, Gail lightheartedly teases Tracy and the McDonald boys about occupying their table for a whole and ordering only a coke apiece. They order another but Tracy doesn't seem to have enough money to pay her shot so Andy tells her he'll get it. The boys propose seeing a movie but again, Tracy hasn't got the brass. Then they come up with the brilliant notion of building a radio broadcast station.
Percy comes in to his new home and greeted by Fluffy the cat, picks him up and starts ruminating over his day. He's been to play bowls but his heart wasn't in it. It's been a very sad time and he's learnt you shouldn't ever turn your back. Wearily, he sits down on the sofa and closes his eyes for a snooze.
Steph is in the Kabin, purchasing a couple of items including a box of chocolates. Rita remarks about indulging herself and Steph answers, looking directly at Mavis, that she plans to sunbathe in her back garden and mind her *own* business! Giving Mavis a sharpish look, she turns and walks out again. "I think you've been warned, Mavis!" says Rita. Mavis is affronted at Steph's brazen behaviour and goes straight to the phone to call Derek. Rita advises her to leave well enough alone but Mavis has decided that Steph needs to be straightened out on a few things.
Emily is having a visit with Deirdre, who tells her about Ken's offer. Deirdre explains that she can't accept a loan from the man she plans to divorce and she isn't convinced there won't be strings attached, anyway. Emily offers to make the loan instead if it will make things easier for her. Deirdre says she would prefer not to borrow from anyone but if she has to, she'd much rather it be Emily than Ken!
Derek enters the Barnes' back garden to find a bikini clad Steph sprawled out soaking up the sun. She isn't best pleased to see him and says right off the mark that he should mind his own business - in other words, not say anything to Des! Derek protests that he has no intention of saying anything to Des, he wants her to do that. She looks at him as if he's mad. He goes on to say if she is unwilling to tell Des the truth, she ought to end the affair. She indignantly tells him that she is *not* having an affair and anyway, how does he know she *hasn't* ended it? Angrily she tells him to just leave her alone, what right does he have to interfere, anyway? He wants to know what right has she to involve him in her scheme of deceit and trickery? Steph really doesn't want to hear another word now. She furiously rises from the lounger and orders Derek to leave her alone. Phyllis appears at the doorway just in time to again witness the scene and again draw the wrong conclusion. She demands to know what is going on but Steph tells her it's nothing, that Derek was just going.
Percy's new landlady returns home and is shocked to see Percy, writhing on the floor, hands clutching his throat and barely able to draw breath!
Deirdre goes into the Rovers and locates Ken having a drink alone. She sits down long enough to tell him thanks, but she won't be needing the cheque. He wonders how she will manage and she tells him that she's been able to get the money from another source. He says he understands. She gets up to leave but he asks her if he can at least buy her a drink, and facetiously adds, "no strings attached". She really has to get back, she tells him, she left Tracy cooking the dinner.
At the bar, Phyllis is bending Betty's ear about what she *thinks* she witnessed between Derek and Steph. Betty is incredulous, pointing out Derek's obvious devotion to Mavis, but Phyllis insists, she knows what she saw! They both agree that if Des finds out, it's "woe betide" to Derek!
Percy looks seriously ill as he is lifted on a stretcher into an ambulance outside his new lodgings. Sirens blaze as he is brought to hospital, Winnie looking very worried in his wake.
Winnie Dyson: JUNE ELLIS
Written by: HARRY DUFFIN Directed by: KEN HORN
Thursday (3261, Monday 5 August 1991)
Now that Derek has been told off by Steph, he advises Mavis that they should wash their hands of the whole matter. Mavis who is washing up whole dishes, hates to sit by and watch Steph digging a pit for herself. Derek wants nothing more to do with it, you try to help someone and get called a busybody for your troubles. He even decides that he would avoid helping a man out on a ledge lest he be called a busybody and advises Mavis to develop the same hard shell. Our sensitive Mavis scolds him for his unChristian attitude!
Next door, Phyllis and Steph discuss buying on credit vs. paying cash and i'm not sure how, but the conversation takes a 180 turn to "him next door" with Phyllis warning Steph about Derek. He's had a past history bothering women and needs no encouragement, that one. (that incident where he was almost charged with sexual harassment) Steph thinks for a minute that Phyllis has heard about why Derek was talking to her but breathes again when she realizes Phyllis was only on about Derek in general.
Andy and Steve have told Jim about their idea to start a small radio station but he's skeptical that their plans might be a wee bit illegal! They try to talk him around by explaining the history behind other laws that were repealed.. like CB radios that were illegal and now aren't because the original law was wrong. LOL But Jim, never one to pay strict attention to minor illegalities, goes out later on and buys the boys a kit of radio parts that they will have to sort out themselves. Something to keep them busy, he reckons and out of trouble (HA!) They're chuffed, Aw that's brilliant, Dad!
Kevin pops into the Kabin while out on a test drive and gushes about his baby girl. Mavis comments that it is at least one happy marriage (isn't it wonderful to be able to see into the future??) Mavis and Rita argue semantics with Mavis insisting that she wasn't gossiping about Stephanie (no, of course not, just telling the truth?) Rita wonders what Steph what thinking of anyway with a nice man like Des on her doorstep. It's one of the mysteries of life, is that. Angie pops in to pay her rent and wonders what's one of the mysteries of life? You tell me! So her particular mystery of life turns out to be the way human kind has managed to muck up a perfectly good planet, indeed. A cracking line from Rita.."It's us stupid beggars get t'blame for everything and it's the clever ones that muck things up!" Angie leaves, Emily arrives for mints for Mr. Sugden and tells them that Mrs. Dyson called and told her Mr. Sugden had been rushed to hospital last night, some sort of attack. At that, poor Emily bursts out in tears and is led to a chair by Rita.
Deirdre is in the cafe having her very own Pity Party, wondering what on earth was she ever thinking of (re: Phil) She's old enough to know better! Alma sympathizes and reckons it's because he made her feel the way she used to feel before she did know better. Deirdre continues her dreary moaning, knowing her own unforgiving nature and is sure she'll never forgive herself. Oh, Alma sighs, you've GOT to forgive yourself, that's one of her own personal secrets to success, she always manages to be able to forgive herself!
Emily walks slowly though the hospital ward, looking for Mr. Sugden's bed. She adds her packages of grapes and a bottle of something identical to one already on his side table, possibly brought by Mrs. Dyson, whom she finds occupying the guest chair. He looks very bad, still not breathing well (and where's the oxygen i ask!), weak and washed out. He had some sort of an attack it seems, he woke up from a snooze and couldn't breathe! Winnie found him on the floor gasping for breath when she came in from Bingo. Now he's been given several large hypodermic shots, elephant sized, he describes and has been told he's had a severe asthma attack! Never had asthma before but there you have it. Mrs. Dyson wonders if it could be stress that brought it on because it can, you know. Emily looks suitably guilty. (I blame the cat! he started sniffling the other day, remember? and thought he was coming down with a cold!)
Angie is back in the Kabin passing the time with our Ladies of the Retail Kingdom and Phyllis as well. They chat about summer plans and the suitability of Curly for a potential marriage partner, nice lad with prospects Phyllis reckons. Angie agrees Curly is nice, got a sense of humour when he's not doom struck or crossed in love! Angie and Phyllis both leave as Emily comes in looking rather worried but only says good day to Phyllis as she passes. She tells Rita and Mave about Percy's asthma attack and that she's under strict instructions not to tell Phyllis where Percy is. Rita figures that Phyllis will hear via the bush telegraph soon enough and Mavis adds to Emily's guilt by supposing the asthma attack is stress related. Emily admits she wonders too though hates thinking about it (and her contributions to it!).
Steve and Andy are hard at work, soldering and assembling bits and pieces. Jim warns them not to tell their mother (illegalities, remember?) before he leaves to go home for the day.
Dreary drags her sorry butt into the shop, moaning to Sally about what people must be saying about her. a bit of history, i really like it when the past is referred to...Dreary mentions Elsie Tanner, "You won't have known her, would you?" Sally had never met the lady in question but has heard the name. Dreary remembers how Elsie Tanner always had something to cause the tongues to wag...Men, Elsie Tanner and her men and it feels like she's now taking up that position. Thing was, Elsie seemed to like it, maybe she ought to learn to do that! Sally tries to tell her that it doesn't matter how people feel but when you're on a good moan, nothing is going to stop you. Even the idea of working for Alf in the shop for the day shift doesn't go over well. Deirdre actually manages to laugh at the absolute absurdity of her working in a shop for Alf of all people! Sally bristles that working in a shop isn't so bad. (Sounds like Dreary isn't ready for "such a come down" after being on the high political arena of the local council) The very thought!
Alma and Gail have a break, leaning over the counter. Gail reminds Alma it is her turn to clean out the freezer. Alma tells Gail about Deirdre's visit and they have a sympathetic chat about Drear's plight. At least when Mike dumped her, she still had a job, and is now realizing that the cafe saved her life and her sanity which surprises Gail (considering the lackadaisical attitude Alma used to take to a hard day's graft!).
Obligatory pub scenes: Liz is starting to be suspicious after finding out the boys have been working together all day at the bike shop. Jim assures her they are not getting up to any trouble. Kevin comes in and challenges Jim to a game of darts. Liz mithers and interrupts the game a bit later until Jim tells her he bought the boys a radio kit, harmless but keeps them occupied. I suppose she thinks they're putting it together to receive radio broadcasts and he doesn't tell her any more than that. Jack tells Liz that he had hoped Terry would have gone into business with him, window cleaning but he wasn't interested. Vera always thought the boy was suited for bigger and better things anyway. Liz asks what Terry's doing now... he's selling sink cloths!
Mavis decides to try to talk to Steph herself. Steph is reluctant to let her in as she's busy sorting laundry...dirty linen she might as well be airing in private but Mavis doesn't seem to want to let her. Mavis persists. She attempts to talk about the whole situation, trying to make Steph realize what she's throwing away. When she is older and has seen what it's like to throw away happiness then she'll understand why Mavis finds it difficult to see someone else about to do the same thing! But Steph rigidly keeps her head turned and avoids eye contact, typical defensive body language and nothing more gets said because Des arrives home. Mavis leaves with a warning, think on what she's said. Steph lies to Des about what Mavis was there for, telling him Mavis's knickers were in a twist because Steph's sunbathing was having an unfortunate effect on Derek.
The twins are finally done assembling the radio transmitter with the parts Jim had and some others traded with pals on the provision that they play a homemade tape that pal's band recorded (in a basement no doubt). Music by the people for the people will be their motto. It might be garbage but it's from the people! Anyway, Steve takes a radio outside while Andy uses the assembled one inside the bike shop for a test broadcast. And it works!!! They are ON THE AIR!
Later in the pub, Derek is admonishing Mavis for ignoring his most excellent advice. She should have left Steph to her own devices. Mavis only wishes she had been able to tell the young woman that her concern was well intentioned. Phyllis arrives looking for Percy. Derek condescends to her and righteously says he has no business monitoring the movements of Mr. Sugden, keen observers of humanity though he is. She snaps back, We all know you're a keen observer.. You're *noted* for it! Derek looks puzzled. Was that a compliment do you think? (Is it ever?)
Emily returns to hospital with some books from the charity shop for Percy. this time his visitor is Phyllis who glares at Emily so fiercely i thought Emily would stagger under it's weight! Percy is sitting up and looking better, and also very annoyed at the presence of his erstwhile admirer. Phyllis has a go at Emily for not telling her about Percy's illness, not a word!! Emily weakly protests that Mr. Sugden didn't want her to tell but Phyllis isn't satisfied with that and tears a strip off Emily, telling her like it is... Accusing her of throwing Percy into the street, tearing the roof from over his head, telling him he's not wanted... Has she got no conscience at all!? Emily sighs and decides to take her conscience home.
Winnie Dyson - JUNE ELLIS
Writer - JULIAN ROACH Director - MERVYN CUMMING
Friday (3262, Wednesday 7 August 1991)
In the Kabin, Phyllis is still steamed at Emily and is now venting to Mavis and Rita. By Phyllis' reckoning, Percy's hospitalisation is Emily's fault and she knows it! Mavis doesn't see how Phyllis can say such a thing and in her friend's defense, she insists that no one knows the reason Percy is in hospital. But Phyllis is adamant - she knows and Emily knows - only *she* won't admit it! As she leaves the shop, Mavis remarks to Rita that the whole notion of blaming Emily is "ridiculous"! Rita agrees but she thinks there is someone else apart from Phyllis who also blames Emily.
That person is at this moment having a visit from Liz who is doing her utmost to persuade Emily that it is not her fault Percy's in hospital. Emily feels she is at least indirectly responsible for his collapse; because of her plans to move, Percy has been under the strain of finding a new home. Liz reckons that it's all too intricate. "If everyone of us could see how everything we did would affect everything else, we'd all go home and shoot ourselves!"
In the hospital, Percy is having his arm charted out in preparation for some allergies testing. He asks the doctor if the pen he's using is a special pen for doctors. Teasingly, the doctor tells him "Only when a physician uses it!" But he assures R Percy, it is quite sterile. "Will there be blood?" Percy inquires as they prepare for the scratches. "Only if something goes very wrong", Dr. Sharma jokes, "in which case we'll have to amputate. That's why we use the left arm!" he quips. Percy agitation is apparent as he doesn't share the doctor's sense of humour.
Jim comes into the shop to hear from a jubilant Andy that the radio transmitting system works brilliantly. Jim asks about its capabilities and Andy tells his dad they can broadcast for about two square miles. Jim advises caution and asks where the law stands on such undertakings. Andy isn't sure but says he'll ask if the authorities should come around. "They'd better not come round here!" his father says.
Having done the scratch tests, Dr. Sharma now analyzes the results: Percy has a mild allergy to grass pollen, no problems where bee pollen, housedust and feathers are concerned. There is a very extreme allergic reaction to one of the substances, however - cats!
In the Rovers, Jack is conducting 'Marriage 101', according to Professor Duckworth. He first speculates as to why a "honeymoon" is called that. Two good English words but stuck together, they mean nothing, like marriage itself, according to Jack.* He asserts that women stop making sense as soon as they are married. Des counters that he and Steph are still able to talk to each other, albeit not always on the same subject. Not in Vera's case. Jack reckons he can talk to his pigeons easier! Betty, who along with Liz has been listening to Jack's ideas, suddenly pipes up, "Pity your pigeons don't do the washing and scrubbing and cooking for you!"
*NB: Jack obviously doesn't know this but as a matter of interest, I happened to come across this little item which refutes his assertion that "honeymoon" is meaningless:
"It was the accepted practice in Babylonia 4000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in- law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because their calendar was lunar based, this period called the "honey month", became what we today call "honeymoon"..."
Phyllis, who has been stood beside Des the whole time, says she objects to hearing a man run his wife down. Jack tells her in that case, she should stick to bachelors, which idea Phyllis finds most appealing. "Chance'd be a fine thing!" she cracks. She returns to her original point saying you'd never hear her friend, Des, running his wife down. Des tells her not to be so sure - Steph gets very funny at times. Jack steps in again, "They ALL do over the years, mate - I've noticed that about women!" Betty tells him he's noticed nothing except when there isn't one around to do everything for him! Jack tunes her out as he expands upon his philosophy. He says that all women are discontented. They seem to take an unhappy view of life. Liz cracks that if he is talking about all the women who ever went with him, she can well understand their unhappiness! Jack goes on, "No, anywhere I've seen a group of middle aged women standing about, they have a look on their faces like they've just ate a moldy nut." Betty chimes in, "It isn't eating a moldy nut, it's finding out they married one!"
Asking Betty to be serious, Jack wonders why it is that so many women seem to be disappointed with life. Liz volunteers that if more men could work *that* out, they probably wouldn't be! Des puts in that that is typical - they won't tell you what's bothering them but if you don't know you get a crack on the back of the neck. At this juncture, Betty interrupts to say that Jack had better move some crates in the yard as they are in her way. They've always been there, he tells her. "Then you'd better move them!" she replies. Tentatively he asks, "Betty luv, if I ask you what's bothering you would I get a crack in the back of the neck?" Betty growls in reply but Liz gleefully issues a mock rap at Jack's neck as he makes his way towards the back.
Des and Phyllis seat themselves at a nearby table and Phyllis can't stop herself bringing up the issue of Derek and Steph. She thinks she is being discreet, suggesting that Des put up a "proper fence". Puzzled, Des tells her he just built a new fence. She goes on with the statement that Derek "has been done at work for bothering women". When she suggests that a word from him would put Derek right, Des begins to clue in to what she is trying to say. But, he asserts, if Derek were bothering Steph, she would "see him off". Phyllis tells him not to be so sure that Steph can handle this alone. "She's very sensitive, you know. Much more sensitive than you think!"
Sensitive Steph is quite cozy at this moment. She and Simon sit gazing into each other's eyes as they toy with the idea of not returning to work. "I'm in enough trouble as it is." she tells him. "So what if they do tell him?" Simon wonders. "You don't know what he's like!" she replies. "Okay then", he counters, "you tell him and save them the trouble." "Do you want me to?" she asks. "Yes", he replies. A moment's contemplation and she decides she just can't, not yet. "Or", continues Simon, "if this is just a fling maybe you'd better tell me". Earnestly, she answers that if it was "just a fling", it isn't now.
Perennially cheerful, Mrs. Dyson comes to see Percy in his sickbed and bring him a gift of some pears. He grumbles about having too much fruit, "It goes right through you and you're up and down to the loo and everybody knows what you're about!" Changing the subject, she asks what his allergy tests turned up. He tells her the results were quite conclusive - they now know what caused his asthma attack. "Well? What is it you're allergic to?" she asks. Ever the diplomat, Percy replies, "Have you thought about putting your cat to sleep at all?" Liz is keeping herself busy today. She's at Deirdre's now, giving her a pep talk about her job prospects. Why not try Alf, she suggests. Deirdre points out that but for Alf, she'd still have a job! Then she confides that Tracy is the only reason she isn't "halfway to Patagonia" by now. On the other hand, she thinks moving away might be a big relief to Tracy. At least then she wouldn't have to put up with what folk are saying about her mother! Liz tells her to stop wallowing but Deirdre maintains there are a lot of people who are happy now she's had her "comeuppance". She reckons they thought she was above her station when she was at the Town Hall and are now pleased to see her down in the gutter. No, asking Alf for a job is one humiliation she can do without.
As Steph gets ready to take off for her "aerobics class", (Is *that* what she calls it?) Des relates his conversation with Phyllis. Annoyed, she says that Phyllis should stick to cleaning, she isn't paid for her opinions. He wants to know if "Dirty Derek" has been bothering her. She denies it but adds that if he were, she would sort him out. Seeing that Des is still angry, she makes an appeal on Mavis' behalf, making him promise not to go over and thump Derek.
A social worker from the hospital, Mr. Malcolm Goodwin, calls to see Emily about Percy's situation. Now they've determined he is allergic to cats, he can't be going back to Mrs. Dyson's. He wonders about Emily, now that her plans to move have changed. She quickly interjects that they haven't changed to the extent that he may be about to suggest! She goes on to say that although Mr. Sugden is a wonderful man, she has stood her watch and doesn't want him back. The social worker gets the picture and says he'll have to see what other options are open. In any case, he assures Emily, Mr. Sugden is not *her* worry. She remarks what a pity it is that a bit of cat fur had to ruin things just as he was getting so settled. Mr. Goodwin agrees, saying he is allergic to melon but it's an easy thing to avoid. He wonders has Emily got any allergies? She tells him only one ñ Mr. Sugden! Jokingly, he asks her if she has ever thought of getting a cat? "Please!" she groans.
Mavis and Rita are having a drink in the Rovers before going off to a concert. Neither of them cares for the movies. Rita can't think of one she'd even want to see. And as for telly, there's nothing but noise on offer. Liz concurs, but it's the noise that attracts the kids, she says.
Speaking of noise, in Jim's repair shop, Andy and Steve are just about set to go on the air. Sounding out one of the tapes they've got hold of, Andy asks if it comes out in "diabolical messages" if you play it backwards. Andy says it's diabolical enough playing it forward and that makes it good enough for him. Steve wonders if there's anything they won't give air space to and Andy points out that one of the "rules" is they want to give everyone a chance to be played. Picking up another tape, he reads the name, "Slime", and decides this will be another good one.
Liz is happy to see Deirdre has decided not to keep hiding but come into the Rovers for a drink. Liz suggests she might want to accompany Mavis and Rita to their concert but she says no thanks, she might feel like screaming and end up embarrassing herself. Des comes in and in answer to Jack's query, says that Steph is at her aerobics class. Rita announces it's time she and Mavis were off, "Can't keep all those little lads waiting after they come all the way from Vienna!"
Liz leans over the bar conspiratorially to inform Deirdre that Audreh told her there's a job going in the corner shop. Deirdre figures it would only make things worse for Alf's bad nerves to have her working for him. But Liz tells her Audreh said she wasn't to concern herself about that and she would be grateful to have the help.
From further down the bar, Jim asks Liz if she'd like him to tape a film that's on TV for her that evening. She would and Jack comments that he can never figure out how to work those VCRs. Jim reckons he can manage since he did repair them at one time. Liz says that she'd prefer one of the boys do it as "they get it right every time"! Jim suggests that Steve and Andy are much too engrossed in what they are doing at the moment. Liz says as long as they're not running a book or running up her phone bill, she doesn't mind. Jim looks to the heavens as much as to say, "That's what you think!"
As they get ready for their virgin broadcast, Tracy comes in to the repair shop bursting with the news that she's been ringing "everyone" to get them to listen. Unmoved, Steve comments that it seems a "bit daft", calling people to tell them to listen to the radio. Tracy enthusiastically wonders if everyone who was called makes two phone calls and each of those called makes two phone calls, how long would it take to ring everyone in the world. Steve tells her sharply, "Everyone in the world doesn't have a phone, thickhead!" Poor Tracy! She next wonders what they need her to do and Andy tells her to stand by the door and be a lookout. She obeys then wonders who she is looking out for. He tells her, "The Gestapo - anybody". He then calls for silence. "JCWFM is on the air! 'JCW' for 'just can't wait'!" The premier record to be played is "Grace Pace and the Nosejobs". Tracy races home to switch on the radio.
By the time she gets there, she hears Andy announce the first commercial: "For brown bread like in the olden days, indeed, for brown bread actually baked in the olden days, shop at ëFat Alf's' in Coronation Street, where ësell by' dates are a thing of the past!" Tracy smiles her approval at Andy's jab.
Calling at the Wiltons', Des finds Derek in pinny with scrubbing pad in hand. Just finishing the washing up, Derek explains. "Mavis not home?" Des wonders. Hearing that she's gone out for the evening, Des forcefully suggests it's the ideal time for them to have a chat. Derek nervously invites him in and Des helps himself to a chair before asking Derek what *he* thinks they should chat about. Derek nervously replies that he isn't sure. Des says sarcastically, "That's understandable -- lay off my missus!" Shocked, Derek stutters that he is sorry, he thinks he's got the wrong end of the stick! Des informs him that if he persists in bothering Steph he'll be facing a very big "stick". Derek musters the nerve to say that if that is what Des chooses to believe, he can't help it. Angrily, Des tells him that he'd better not have any reason to believe it in future! Then he asks if Derek has anything else to say. Derek starts in saying he has plenty to say, but thinking better of it, decides he'd better not. As Des is walking towards the door, he stops to turn and glare at Derek. With bitterness in his voice, he remarks, "Mind you, Derek - you must think I'm daft - I do have eyes and ears in me head you know!" Derek is left to rue ever getting tangled in the Barnes' marital mess...
Dr Sharma DOMINIC HINGORANI Malcolm Goodwin
MALCOLM RAEBURN
Written by: JULIAN ROACH Directed by: MERVYN CUMMING
Monday (3263, Friday 9 August 1991)
Good Morning Weatherfield!! Radio WJC FM on the air! Steve is at the mike this morning. Andy giggles in the background over comments Steve is making about an anonymous friend who lurks about waiting for a glimpse of a pretty blonde papergirl.
Des has found the pirate station on the dial of his radio and even thinks he recognizes the voice but Steph abruptly switches off the dial. She's in no mood for white noise with her toast and Des deduces she's still angry at him for having a go at Derek. (No wonder, she must be barely holding it together for fear Derek would have let the cat out of the bag) She looks at him in contempt and calls him pathetic for rushing next door full of macho hormones when Derek is really all exaggeration as Des well knows. Des jealously points out that Derek has always fancied her and anyway doesn't know why she's so sensitive since she never really liked Derek anyway. She cites neighbourly harmony which makes Des frown in confusion. (Very unlike Steph is this.)
Meanwhile, the next door neighbours are having their breakfast. Mavis is having a major righteous over Des's treatment of her husband, the gall of him accusing Derek of pestering his wife! Derek describes his superior feelings of contempt for Des, why his lip nearly curled with it! Internally, that is (LOL Elvis has left the building?) But then he turned his emotions to pity for this man who has been cuckolded and betrayed by his wife and doesn't know it. They congratulate each other on their empathetic attitudes (gag!) but Mavis still thinks Des had a damn cheek! (and you know Mavis means it when she starts to swear like that!)
Deirdre greets an early shopper in Alf's, a Mrs. Sowerbutts (LOL and the name suits her to a tee!) who is known to Deirdre from the neighbourhood I imagine. Mrs. S is surprised to see Deirdre back at the corner shop after a 4 year absence but is glad to see her back as she can't really take much of Alf, especially early in the morning. Emily arrives shortly after. Deirdre greets her with a cheerily professional smile which soon turns to a rueful grimace when Emily wonders if Bettabuys might steal away Deirdre like they did Ivy. She says she's anybody's for 5 quid a week and the remnants of the pity party leak out at the irony of her working for Alf so that he can be free to do his council work, a job he was responsible for doing her out of in the first place. Deirdre asks after Mr. Sugden and is told he is fine, physically but has other problems.
One of which is tottering down the ward as they speak. Percy is not pleased to see Phyllis who has talked her way around the ward Sister with a fib to be able to get in outside visiting hours. She's brought still-warm raspberry buns but he focuses on his newspaper and tells her to take them back, he won't be needing them where he's going. That gives her a fright but it turns out he's not ready to meet his maker, he's just being sent to a nursing home, St. Winifred's, since Mrs. Dyson wasn't willing to give up her cat! The idea of it is almost as bad as Phyllis's offer of a (shared) bed at her place (so that's a narrow escape at least!)
Back in the bike shop, over the airwaves, Jim warns the boys to be careful what they broadcast when he overhears them invite all listeners to a birthday party at a mate's house. Jim has an idea, what if they gave free advertising to local businesses that might even lead to more listeners and paid-for ads, they might even make some money out of this venture! The boys conspiratorially nudge each other, they are already ahead of that game i.e. "Shop at Fat Alf's" of the other day! I don't think that's quite what Jim had in mind but I also think Jim would see the humour in such types of ads! LOL
Emily's next errand is in the Kabin and she asks Rita why Mavis doesn't seem to be very forthcoming this morning. She's simmering, Rita explains, pursing her lips and snorting, not very good for trade. Emily sympathetically notices that Mavis is very good at simmering and Rita agrees wholeheartedly. Phyllis, with blue hair blazing has followed Emily into the shop and begins to sharply criticize Emily for Mr. Sugden's current predicaments, especially now she's found out that Emily isn't moving away after all. She puts the blame squarely on Emily's shoulders but rather than argue in public, Emily guides Phyllis out and across the road to Number 3 for a private discussion. Meanwhile, the phone rings in the Kabin and Rita is told by a "lad" to listen to the radio to hear a message that could be beneficial to them! They fetch the radio from the storeroom and tune in to hear a familiar voice, Steve MacDonald they realize, broadcasting an advert for the Kabin. He makes Mavis and Rita sound like good time Page 3 girls! A customer has come in but leaves immediately when she overhears the radio comments that the proprietors have a tendency to impropriety. Rita and Mavis are mortified!
Over in the Rovers, Jack is unrecognizable as a model of an efficient barman, server and lunch caterer. Betty attributes it to the fact that Bet and Alec are due back tonight and he's making up for two weeks of skiving with a day of smarming! Rita arrives and fills Liz in on the activities of her sons of which Liz was totally in the dark! Rita insists she was highly embarrassed at the "ad" and tells Liz to warn the boys that the Kabin is off limits! Jim has overheard from the other side of the bar and rolls his eyes "innocently" while Liz confronts him about the shenanigans of the boys' radio broadcasting and dodgy ads. Jim just sups his pint and wonders what on earth put a stupid idea in their heads! I wonder!!
In a booth, Emily is outlining the case for the prosecution, and the verdict is guilty. It probably is her fault that Percy has had such a bad time of it but Rita reckons he'll be running the home in no time, conducting inspections and organizing everyone. After all, he was only supposed to be with Emily for a temporary measure and he got 3 years out of the run! We cut to a quick wordless scene of Percy packing his bits and pieces at the hospital with an air of resignation.
Then it's over to Mavis and Derek having a shop in the same department store where Steph works, in fact a mere stone's throw away from her area where she and Simon are leaning across the counter top toward each other flirting and making plans to meet tonight if Steph can think of a plausible excuse to get away. They are soon spotted by Mavis and Derek. Mavis assessed the man and doesn't think he's much to look at, and Derek agrees that Simon is rather nondescript which must be difficult to tell from their position high up on that horse! They are shocked and appalled to see Simon kiss Steph's hand and Derek fairly gasps (with horror? Or with a touch of lasciviousness as well?) "If he's kissing her hand in the middle of the afternoon in a public place, then goodness knows what" (he must kiss in private!) That will do, Derek, Mavis interrupts (and it's a wonder the man can stand up straight at the images that must be going through his dirty little mind! LOL)
Emily arrives at the hospital but doesn't get a chance to say much because Percy takes the opportunity to grouse about how being in hospital makes him feel like a sickly kid again with people bringing him chocolates and grapes and playing games of Snakes and Ladders. Then he moves on in a more morbid vein ending with mentions of the undertaker and his will leaving what pitiful belongings he has to her as he bears no grudges. MISter SUGden! She finally gets a word in edgewise enough to tell him she's there to take him home, to Number 3 if he wants to come! Percy shoots up out of his chair, not one to be asked a second time, and dashes down the ward, case in hand, excitedly making plans to pick up the rest of his things and Randy of course, from the boarding house. Emily follows, rolling her eyes.
Back to the bike shop but the news is not good. Jim arrives to literally pull the plug on them now that their mother has found out what they've been doing, embarrassing the neighbours. They couldn't keep it in moderation could they? And now it's more than Jim's marriage is worth than do defy his wife and turn a blind eye to the project so it's out of business for WJC FM.
Back to the corner shop and still no sign of Audrey but there's Angie in a very lovely and colourful sleeveless dress and matching head scarf, looking fresh and just like a fashion plate from King's Road! She heads out and Ken comes in, aghast at seeing Deirdre behind the counter. She makes light of it though he seems intent on making her feel even more low with his sighs and "too bad's" He's actually there to drop off the key to his flat, so that Tracy can mind it while he's away on a walking holiday.
Sometime later in the caf, Gail decides it is time to oust the three loitering teenagers who have been lounging there for two hours. Steve, Andy and Tracy, all of whom are feeling depressed that their radio careers have been cut short. On the way out, Tracy makes mention of her father's empty flat which turns on a lightbulb over the boys! Fancy that!
Mavis is still stewing over Steph's shameless spectacle that afternoon after the indignity of Derek having to take abuse at the hand of a bookie of all people and his adulteress wife (I know now why Mavis never sits down on the job, there's a reason why it's called a "poker" face! LOL) Rita advises her to stay well out of it but Mavis doesn't see why she has to given all the circumstances!
Percy is back in Number three with his feet firmly under the table and crowing to Mrs. Bishop about her narrow escape. She was meant to be there with him and Randy and she'll be thankful in coming years (and years and years and years!) She pulls a not so patient face but hey, St. Mary Martyr, you made your decision, you have to live with it!)
Des stops in the Kabin for a Gazette. Rita serves him but isn't overly friendly. I think she's having a hard time looking him in the eye! Mavis keeps her head turned away while she stands at the magazine stand, straightening up and avoiding Des in the process. He asks her if she's all right? Why wouldn't she be? Well he noticed she wasn't talking and she snootily sniffs that she's choosy who she talks to and calls him a lout. They argue about the "Derek pestering Steph" thing and neither is very nice to the other. Rita warns, "Mavis" when she sees the dam is about to burst but it's too late. Mavis warns Des that he's barking up the wrong tree and instead of threatening her husband with violence, he ought to be threatening the man with whom his wife is over familiar. He stops, shocked and accuses her of a cheap shot but she says it's true! He leaves quietly and Mavis realizes what she's said. "Rita, What have I done!" Rita looks on with sympathy and reckons Des had it coming.
Mr. Sowerbutts - ROSALIE WILLIAMS Simon Beatty
- PETER GOWEN
Writer - LESLIE DUXBURY Director - MERVYN CUMMING
Tuesday (3264, Monday 12 August 1991)
Good Tuesday! Tentatively(in both senses of the word) filling the capable shoes of Lori, I am guest updating for a few weeks - taking the big plunge into the hallowed brother-and-sisterhood of updaters. That I'm not worthy is a given; is this, I wondered to Diane Johnson, what an Olympic Diver feels like when she stands on that big platform? No wonder so many updaters succumb to the temptation of steroids to deal with the pressure! But never mind, the play's the thing, so without further ado, let's hope that tecno-glitches and formatting bugs don't interfere asÖ
ÖWe join a fretful Mavis and Derek, who are fluttering on as only they can about Mavis' huge blunder of the previous day. Reaching the end of her rope at Des besmirching her Derek due to Steph's attempt to cover up her extramarital fling, the Mave let the proverbial cat out of the bag by blurting the truth out to Des. "I can't believe you lost control!" Derek says, but knowing Mavis it occurs to me that she lives her life walking a line between complete prim control and complete disintegration anyway. "What exactly did you say?" witters Derek. "I *just* said that if he wanted to get jealous of his wife she was giving him plenty of opportunity by seeing another man behind his back!" (Is that all?) Derek gets Mavis' assurance that she didn't reveal *where she got this information (from Derek), and Mavis goes on to say that she did it to get Des off Derek's back, that Des deserved it, so don't make her feel as if she were completely at fault! "How do you think *he's* feeling knowing that his wife is having an affair?" Derek wonders.
How indeed? Well, let's find out, with a quick scene shift next door. Des sits moodily contemplating a can of lager. He seems to make a decision, and determinedly gets up and heads off...
...to the corner shop, where a refreshingly pre-personality-change Sally is chatting with Tracy. Could Tracy get into her dad's flat to use the stereo while Ken is away? She has some new tapes and Deirdre hates them. Fine, says Sally, unaware that those tapes may well be broadcast over the airwaves by Steve and Andy's pirate radio station! Des strides in and asks for a bottle of champagne. Now what was it Sally wanted to talk to Des about, she wonders. Oh, yes, would he and Steph like to come over for a meal with her and Kev? Yeah, Des says. Only it seems like they hardly ever see each other anymore, Sally adds. Yes, Des agrees distractedly - Steph seems so tied up at work these days. "Are you all right, Des?" inquires Sally. Yes, yes, absolutely, says Des, and he's definitely up for that meal. They'll sort it.
Having gotten access to Ken's flat, Tracy, Andy and Steve are quickly installing their pirate radio setup. Tracy is having second thoughts but the MacDonald boys talk her out of her doubts. She quickly realizes that the situation is getting a bit beyond her control, however, when she catches Steve and Andy going through her father's student assessments! Steve reads Andy's aloud: "Andrew is too easily entertained by his own sense of humour, which no one else seems to share...!" Even the intially furious Tracy has to smile when she reads it.
Back at Des', Steph has just returned from a hard day at work. Des has the champagne on ice. Is this the big setup scene? Will he ease her into a false sense of security and then pounce on her with the information Mavis gave him? Alas, no; he seems to have reacted to the news by simply feeling that he has been neglecting his wife, and treats Steph first to a foot rub and then the prospect of a night in. Steph seems less than enthusiastic at the prospect of a romantic evening in with the man she's cuckolding. She's too tired, she whines, all she wants is a hot bath. Des' promise of a shared hot bath, the champagne and a back scrub allows Steph to make very little headway - refusing such pampering would seem suspicious when her only excuse is that she's tired! She relents and feigns enthusiasm.
At the corner shop, Sally is dragging a heavy flower display into the shop while her barefoot husband "supervises" her from in front of their place. "You could help me," she says pointedly, but Kevin "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Sense" Webster points out that he *is*, in fact, unshod, and listening for Rosie in case she cries (for a bar of hand soap? she's no doubt already being trained). Finally he relents and helps her get the display through the front door while she tells him that Des accepted their invitation for him and Steph to come around for a meal. "Only he seemed dead strange," she adds, in one of those cases of soap opera prescience.
At the end of the Street, Alec, Vickie and Bet return from the holiday that was to help Vickie with her healing process following the tragic loss of both her parents. After Vickie goes upstairs, saying she just wants to rest, Bet and Alec have a word. It didn't go too badly, opines Alec. It wasn't easy making conversation sometimes, but "at least we didn't have any tears, did we?" Oh aye, agrees Bet, "she *smiles* plenty, Alec.". "It's just that she's so... dignified. So quiet and dignified." he continues, that it makes it difficult. Bet concurs - Vickie has just lost both her parents in one fell swoop yet she is walking around, smiling when appropriate, acting perfectly normal - "like a Barbie Doll". It's _not_ normal, Bet says. Vickie isn't grieving. Well, Alec says, he thought she'd just gotten over it. "In less than a month?" asks Bet incredulously. No, she observes, Vickie needs to talk about it. Alec is encouraging Vickie to hide how she really feels, says Bet, and he shouldn't be. "Unless," Bet adds, "you're doing it for your own sake." The shocked look on Alec's face at this suggestion speaks volumes on how this never occurred to him, and yet how it perhaps might be true.
At MacDonaldland, the clan is gathered for a meal. Liz is harping at the boys about their recent adventures in pirate radio, unaware that they have only moved, not closed, shop. Even Jim, who encouraged the cockeyed scheme, seems to have accidentally stepped in some common sense. "You wouldn't have had a smirk on your face if you'd jammed the Emergency Services Signal?" he asks. Once the old folks are out of the way, though, the two junior deejays ignore the chores they've just been handed and are off to continue broadcasting from Radio Free Ken - Andy's written a script. "Jamming the Emergency Services Signal?" scoffs Andy. '"Is that what they call havin' a bit of fun?" Well, love, it's not what *I* call it, but you're younger than I and perhaps more given to euphemism.
In the Rovers, Alec is getting things in order again after his absence. To be more precise, he is searching for something Jack has misplaced. Vickie comes through from the back and hears her grandfather muttering to himself. Can she help? No, help, they pay for that - but it backfires from time to time. "That Jack, you mean?" asks Vickie. Yes - he's got his bad points, but he can surprise you from time to time. "You talk about him as if he were a dog," smiles Vickie, giving Alec pause. "What?" asks Vickie. "When you smile like that... you remind me of your mother when she was a girl," Alec says. Sensing an impending uncomfortable moment, Vickie says she'll just go finish her book - but realizing that he needs to take Bet's advice and help Vickie deal with her grief, Alec seizes the moment. "I miss her, too, Vickie... not like you do, of course, but..." In a sudden almost confessional, rush, he adds, " I've cried, you know..." The dam breaks and Vickie begins to weep. "You mustn't hold back, love," Alec says. "It's not good for you, not good at all." "I want them back!" sobs Vickie. "We all do, love," says Alec, holding his granddaughter as she cries.
At the perfume counter where Steph works, Sleazy Simon is lurking about. He has made a lunch date for the two of them, half twelve at the Italian place. Just like that? asks Steph. She doesn't want him to think she's as pushover. (This to the man she's having an affair with? I say!) Nevertheless, Sneaky Steph agrees that she can hardly wait for thier tryst.
At the Rovers, we are treated to a lovely small scene where Betty commends Saint Emily of Bishop on her decision to take Percy back in as a lodger. There's not many as would do what Emily's doing, says Bet. No, sighs Emily. Folk don't put themselves out for each other like that any more. No, sighs Emily. "I mean, you could've gone your own sweet way, couldn't you? Sold your house and gone. But you didn't." No, sighs Emily. "As long as it's what you both want," continues Bet. Emily can't take it any longer - and she lays it on the line as firmly as Emily ever does, saying that she *hardly* had any choice in the matter of taking Mr. Sugden back. "But it's NOT what I want, is it? It never is!" she says, taking her hot pot and stalking off to a booth.
Bet returns to the Rovers where Liz informs her that Alec is in the back with Vickie - and it appeared to Liz that "Vickie didn't look too good." "Didn't she?" asks Bet with a small smile that suggests that she made herself scarce so that just this breakthrough could happen.
Sure enough, in the back, Vickie and Alec are still talking through their mutual loss. Vickie tells Alec some things that are difficult for him to hear - that her mother told Vickie that Alec made her feel "as if you made her uncomfortable, and that made her uncomfortable." "Did she say that?" asks Alec in a small voice. Vickie also tells Alec that she sometimes, in the night, sees them - her mother and father. Alec takes the opportunity to gently tell Victoria that she must treasure those memories, as he treasures the memory of holding her mother as a newborn, but that they must both face up to what they're left with - that's the challenge. She must also plan for the future. Bet joins the pair of them and gently puts an arm around Vickie's shoulder. "I think we've got it sorted," Alec says, "going in the right direction."
We're whisked back to the perfume counter, where Steph is getting off work just in time to keep her date with - Des? Yes, there's her eager husband, who's popped into work to surprise her and take her to lunch! Steph quickly runs out of excuses why she can't join him. Lunch it is, then, Des pronounces, - at the Italian! No, no, Steph hastily says. Okay, she relents, they can do lunch, but not at the Italian - the service is bad, and she only has an hour, and besides, her lover will be noshing on breadsticks and checking his watch waiting for her! Well, of course, she can't say that last bit, but manages to convince Des that the Italian is *not* the place to lunch.
Back in the Pub, Bet tells Betty that things are working out in the back room. Alec and Vickie are sorting through their mutual loss together. There's still the paperwork to be dealt with, Bet says, and there's no holiday from that when somebody dies. Surely Vickie won't have to deal with that? Betty asks. Vickie's paternal grandfather will take care of most of it, Bet says, but of course Vickie will have to be involved. "I think," she adds, referring to Victoria and Alec, "they've both done some growing up today."
At the bar, Mavis is having a go at Jim about the outrageous slander perpetrated upon the good characters of herself and Big Red Rita (who in these episodes is just little red rita, her hair having achieved nowhere *near* the impressive dimensions of the 1999 BRW) by the two demented deejays, Steve and Andy, in their joke ad for the newsstand. "They portrayed us as a couple of - of - good time girls!" sputters Mavis, leading me to picture both of them in Gay 90's-style saloon dancer gear, complete with fishnet stockings and ostrich feathers in their hair! Jim allows as how both his boys are old enough to take criticism themselves, so if Mavis has a problem, she is free to take it up with them. This doesn't satisfy The Mave, who huffs that as there seems to be no parental responsibility anymore, and she is clearly not going to get any satisfaction here, perhaps she will take it up with Councilor Roberts! Jim replies that the boys' parents have "parental responsibility up to here" and anyway, both those lads will be old enough to vote for whomever they like in a little while anyway! Mavis does some more heavy breathing and departs to a booth. Liz stops by to tell Jim to stop winding Mavis up - "I don't try to, I really don't!" Jim protests, and we sympathize - but Liz points out that if Mavis goes to Alf, Liz will have to listen to Jim complaining about the mess! She sends a sighing Jim over to apologize to Mavis.
Jim does so, with tongue firmly in cheek, saying that does apologize, so he does, and he has had a word with the bad boys, but he agrees that what they did was wrong and he is willing to take sterner measures if that's what Mavis wants - punching his fist into his palm for emphasis! He's ex-Army - he knows how to make a point stick! Mavis' eyes grow wide as she begins to backpedal - that isn't necessary! Oh no, Jim says, Mavis is quite correct and he is not a stranger to laying this sort of thing on when necessary! Mavis ends up pleading with Jim to leave this sleeping dog where it lies, to his amusement and Liz's eavesdropping eye-roll.
The sleeping dogs are in fact very much awake at Radio Free Ken. Andy and Steve are further injuring Ken's unknowing hospitality by making fun of him on-air. Captain Kenny and his Mechanical Sheep, Baaaa- rlow, the stars of Andy's script, are the sources of amusement at the moment, much to Tracy's distress. "This is his flat!" she protests (she might've thought of that before letting the terrible twosome in in the first place!) They don't mean any harm, they say, as Tracy grabs the script for closer inspection!
Speaking of sheep, mechanical or otherwise, in the corner shop Deirdre is *still* bleating, now to Emily, about how unworthy shop work is of her. (I know, my dear. Your other careers on Coronation Street, neuro-micro-surgeon and helicopter rescue pilot, must have been far more satisfying on both a fiscal and human-service kind of level.) Emily agrees that choice is a myth invented in paradise - a reference to her unchosen lodger. Worse again, Deirdre is muttering ungratefully about how much she hates working for Alf Roberts, who *is* putting a paycheque in her pocket even if he did win the Council seat she previously held. (If self-pity was a saleable commodity, Deirdre would never have to work for Alf or anyone else ever again!) Sometimes, Deirdre says in a shocking flash of insight, she worries that her constant dreary outlook might affect Tracy.
Tracy is at that very moment giggling to herself as she reads through the rest of Andy's script about Captain Kenny, the mild mannered English teacher turned superhero, and Baaaarlow, his Mechanical Sheep. Andy nudges Steve as Tracy laughs - see? They've won her over again and Radio Free Ken is safe for the time being.
In a plaza, Steph runs to meet a very annoyed Simon. She is wearing a truly hideous early-90s ensemble - a holstein-cow-patterned jacket and skirt over a shocking pink t-shirt. It makes me embarrassed that my generation were in charge of trends at the time. At any rate, Simon is quite peeved that his planned lunch date transmogrified instead into nothing more than a "cryptic message when I got back to work". Steph apologizes, saying that Des showed up unexpectedly to take her to lunch. "He never does anything spontaneous!" she blurts in confusion. Can they meet now? (oh not while we're here, please! shudder) But Simon's being sent to London for five days to a week and is already late to meet his supervisor, so their tryst is off.
At the MacDonalds' Liz and Jim are doing the supper dishes when - uh- oh - what's that on the radio? Yup, it's JCWFM, and the fruit of their loins are once again having a good go at "Captain Kenny and Baaaarlow". Even Tracy is now doing sound effect and voices on the Captain Kenny segments. Jim can't help laughing out loud at the kids' pokes at Ken, but Liz looks as if she's had more than enough!
Steph the holstein (the cow) arrives home, where the newly re- romanticized Des is thrilled that she's back in the bosom of Casa Barnes. Predictably, she's not thrilled that he's thrilled. She tries once again to beg weariness, but her husband wants to go out for a drink. He wants to chat, at the Rovers, and is not about to be put off. "Des!" she shouts in frustration, then suddenly realizes that she may be protesting too much. "Oh, okay, just one," she relents.
It's a busy evening in the Rovers. Steph and Des join Kevin at the bar. Alec appears and tells Betty that he's rented a video for him, Bet and Vickie to watch, so they'll be in the back - could Betty hold down the fort out front? Certainly, says Betty - what did Alec rent for Victoria? "Rocky 5 - what did you think?" says Alec sarcastically before disappearing into the back. At the bar, Des nuzzles Steph's neck affectionately as Mavis and Derek observe, then exchange raised- eyebrowed looks.
In the back, Alec, Bet and Vickie are settling down for a pleasant, family-style comfort evening. Bet has made popcorn and Vickie assists techno-wizard Alec in getting the tape rolling by pointing out that he'd had "lock" engaged on the remote control. In one of Corrie's less subtle, if still poignant, use of music placement, "When you Wish Upon a Star" comes out of the telly as Bet, Alec and Victoria settle in. "Are you allright, love?" Bet asks Vickie affectionately. Yes, says Vickie, but I think I'll feel better when I get back. "Back?" asks Bet with some uneasiness. "Back to the house," clarifies Vickie, not taking her eyes off the tv. It's been nice, Vickie adds, going on holiday and visiting with Bet and Alec, but she must start thinking about getting home. Bet and Alec exchange worried glances over Vickie's head as Alec realizes that the message he tried to impart to his granddaughter earlier in the day has sunk in for Victoria, but in a totally unexpected and unwelcome way. She is ready to go home, she says - to face the future.
Simon Beatty - PETER GOWEN
Writer - PAUL ABBOTT Director - SPENCER CAMPBELL
Wednesday (3265, Wednesday 14 August 1991)
The episode opens in the Barnes' kitchen, as the couple prepare for another working day. Des, obviously still smarting from Mavis' remark about Steph's extramarital activities, proposes a weekend away, but Steph dismisses the idea immediately on the grounds that she has too much work to do. When Des proposes a picnic on the boat instead, Steph agrees that this is a "lovely" idea before rushing off.
Meanwhile, at the Rover's Return, Bet and Alec are discussing Vicky's notion that she will return to her late parents' home to live. Alec moans that he has no experience in dealing with teenagers, but he's interrupted mid-moan, when Vicky enters. Bet offers to take Vicky shopping that afternoon, but Vicky points out that she can't go because she'll be busy moving back home. When Bet and Alec remind her that the house is empty, and that she cannot stay there by herself, Vicky counters that she will simply get Mrs. Cooper, their housekeeper, to stay with her. When Bet and Alec try to dissuade her from this possibility, Vicky petulently protests, "I'm not a child!"
At the MacDonald home, Jim is enjoying a few laughs with his sons over their radio humour, especially their ridicule of Ken Barlow. When Liz points out that what the twins are doing could be dangerous -- they could be interrupting broadcasts for emergency services -- Jim asks the boys to stop transmitting. However, the boys assure their parents that emergency broadcasts go out on a different band. Liz asks how Tracey feels, having her father slagged off, but the boys point out that not only does Tracey enjoy it, she's also aware that her father could not have heard their jokes, given that he's away on holidays. Clearly, the lads won't be dissuaded, and Liz sighs in disgust.
Gail stops in the corner shop for a chat with Deirdre, and learns that she is contemplating a trip to visit her mom. Gail encourages Deirdre to go, and leaves just as Bet enters. Bet briefly describes the problems she and Alec are having with Vicky, and asks Deirdre if she could "casually" stop by the Rover's Return with Tracey, for a coffee. Deirdre is unsure about fitting this into her schedule, and of talking Tracey into it, but when Bet emphasizes how important it is to her, Deirdre says she'll try.
Back at the Rover's Return, Vicky is coming downstairs with her packed bag, ready to go home. Alex intercepts her, tells her how much he loves her, and begins to explain that he simply can't let her go. Vicky protests that she won't be living alone, but Alec tells her that her plan is merely "a pipe dream." An angry Vicky screams that it isn't, and begins to leave, but Bet gently tells her that if she'll wait a while, they'll both drive her over. Meanwhile, Bet is expecting friends she'd like Vicky to meet. "Boring," mutters Vicky, but she goes back upstairs with her bag.
Tracey is listening to the pirate station when her mom enters, so she quickly turns it off. Deirdre tells her about the proposed coffee date at the Rover's Return. Tracey isn't terribly interested in having coffee with that "toffee-nosed" girl, but when Deirdre points out that Vicky has lost her mom, her dad, and her grandmother all at once, Tracey capitulates.
Meanwhile, at the Rover's, Bet is telling Vicky about their expected visitors. Seconds later, Deirdre and Tracey arrive. Neither of the girls is pleased to see each other, and when Vicky learns of Tracey's upcoming trip to France, she poo-poos Tracey's destination as being inferior to the one her parent's preferred.
Back at Ken's apartment, the MacDonald boys are continuing their pirate broadcasting careers. Tracey arrives and tells them of her boring afternoon with Vicky, and characterizes her as a "been everywhere, done everything" type.
Bet, Alec and Vicky arrive at her parent's home. "I'm home," Vicky announces.
Back in Weatherfield, Martin arrives at the cafe and tells Gail that Des has invited them for an outing on the boat. "Great!" is Gail's enthusiastic response. Martin takes over, so that Gail can enjoy some time to herself.
At Vicky's home, she is commenting to Bet and Alec about the tidiness of the place. She sadly tells them that her mom could never stand a mess. At a desk in the living room, she picks up some travel brochures that her parents had been looking through for a planned vacation in the Tuscanys. It was to be a motor vacation, she notes, and then realizes that driving was what ultimately killed them. To change the sombre tone, Bet encourages Vicky to collect her belongings from her room, but Vicky defiantly informs Bet, "this is my home, and I'm staying here."
Steph arrives home, and Des asks her if she fancies a meal out. "Not tonight," is Steph's reply. Des then tells her that he thinks he may have dropped a clanger. Over a few jars at the Rover's, he asked Martin if he and Gail would like to join them on the boat on Sunday. To his surprise, Steph thinks that would be fun. She suddenly remembers that they need a loaf of bread, and as she runs out, Des notices that they still have bread in the kitchen.
Still at her parents' home, Vicky and her friend Belinda are talking in the yard. Belinda comments that it must be strange living in a pub, and Vicky tells Belinda of her meeting with Tracey. Both enjoy a chuckle when Vicky says that when she spoke about riding, Tracey countered that she had been riding too. In her case, though, she was riding a donkey! Bet and Alec approach, and inform Vicky that it's time to leave. When Vicky asks to be dropped at Mrs. Cooper's, Alec loses his patience with the situation. As usual, Bet saves the day by suggesting that they go back inside to discuss a suggestion that she has.
Back on Coronation Street, Des peeks out the curtains to observe Steph. Instead of going into the corner shop, Steph is waiting outside the phone box on the corner. When the person occupying the box steps out, Steph quickly steps inside and closes the door. Steph rings Simon's hotel, and asks to be connected to his room.
Tracey answers the door, and finds Steve there. He's returning the key to her father's flat. He asks about her upcoming trip with her mom, and wonders if he and Andy could continue transmitting from her dad's apartment. "No," is Tracey's angry response. The argument escalates until Deirdre interrupts, and Steve beats a hasty retreat. Deirdre bemoans the fact that Vicky and Tracey didn't get along as well as she'd hoped.
Des checks the telephone in their living room to be sure that it's in working order, and is greeted by a dial tone. Steph enters seconds later, and when Des cracks that she must have walked quite a distance to get the loaf, Steph claims that there were no whole wheat loaves at the corner shop. He points out that there's still half a loaf in the kitchen, but Steph claims that it's old, and besides that, she needed a lowfat spread. She goes upstairs in a huff.
At Vicky's home, Alec has departed, leaving Bet and Vicky, who are now making dinner. Vicky speaks wistfully of the foods her parents enjoyed. She tells Bet that she never wants to forget her parents, and is reassured by Bet that this will never happen. As Bet attempts to console Vicky, Vicky asks if Bet has ever lost someone she loved deeply. Bet tells her that it has indeed happened, but that eventually the pain lessens. She proposes that they eat their meal and then curl up in front of the telly. It's now clear that enquiries were made, but that Mrs. Cooper is simply unable to move into the house to care for Vicky. Bet suggests that Vicky wait to see what her Uncle Nicholas will have to say about her future, given that he's expected to visit the Rover's Return the following day.
At the Rover's return, Des is telling Martin that he's convinced that Steph is having an affair. After a few probing questions, it's clear that Des knows nothing about the man, so Martin points out that this is not the first time Des' suspicious mind conjured a lover for Steph. Des eventually agrees with Martin, but his doubtful look gives us to believe otherwise.
Belinda ANNA FRIEL
Writer ADELE ROSE Director SPENCER CAMPBELL
Thursday (3266, Friday 16 August 1991)
Victoria greets the morning sun and wakes Bet by drawing the curtains. She's made breakfast in bed on the best china, silver, the works! Bet is touched and pleased as it is a treat she doesn't often get. Vicky has been up for awhile already, and has had a ride on Saracen and she even offers to find some kit and teach Bet to ride! (ROFL Can't you picture that? Bet with spurs on her high heels in the stirrups on a horse?) Bet gently explains that they won't have time for that as they have to be at the Rovers. Mr. Wilding is coming round later to discuss business and since some of it concerns Vicky, she should be there. Vicky looks a bit apprehensive but agrees if she can have another ride on SAracen first. Bet comments that Vicky sure loves that old horse, doesn't she? Vicky, without malice and not thinking of the effect her comment is having, says the horse is really the only thing she has left!
Today is the day Martin and Gail and the kids are going out on the boat with Des and Steph. They are in the cafe getting some picnic things, crisps and drinks. A sleepy berobed Alma comes down from the flat to see them off. She wishes them a good time and asks where they're going. Not really sure but there isn't a lot of choice, either upstream or down! Gail wonders if there's a current in the canal but Martin is only worried that he'll have to row or push! Alma warns them not to fall overboard as neither of them can afford to shrink! :)
Des, meanwhile, is examining the small life jacket he borrowed for Sarah Louise. Canny isn't it? She'll look a treat in it! Steph is applying the finishing touches on her makeup, looking in a hand mirror and is a bit detached and unenthusiastic when Des suggests they get to know the people down at the boat yard, not just for boating which Steph doesn't care for, but also for friendship, a social life. She's not interested and is only going because he asked her too. He narrows his eyes suspiciously and wonders if she had anything better to do or is having second thoughts, loaded questions! But she doesn't realize he's been twigged to the possibility of her extra-marital activities and snaps at him impatiently, she's said she'll come and she will. He soon backs down and turns away. He starts to ask her something, "Steph..." and judging from his face it looks to me like he's shoring up his courage as if to jump off a cliff (or ask a very important question) but he only ends up asking if she'll wear a life jacket as an example to the children. (Oh, right, the current correct term is Personal Flotation Device isn't it? PFD.) He helps her on with it. Her face is racked with guilt and his face, as he stands behind her, hands on her shoulders, is full of apprehension and denied suspicions.
Alec is setting up the bar when Vicky and Bet return. He has a good laugh at the thought of the possibility of Bet on a horse (same mental image i had no doubt!) even though Victoria is serious about teaching the both of them to ride. He informs them that Nick Wilding will be visiting after lunch so Vicky goes through to the back. Alec is dismayed to be told that Victoria still believes she will be able to go back to her own house to live until school starts back up. Alone.
The crew is assembled at dockside, Des's boat looks very spiffy in its white paint job with blue trim. PFD's are handed out. Des is in high spirits, playing pirates with Sarah Lou. Des is having as much fun as the little 'uns are but Steph sourly watches, barely tolerant of his immature behaviour. Gail takes the more typical attitude most of us women do, indulgently smiling in that "boys must have their fun" way. Steph gets ready to board with a look of utter dread on her face. It's all going to end in tears, i predict. It just seems like a situation asking for a boiling point to be reached!
In Ken's flat, the radio magnates are broadcasting further adventures of Captain Kenny and his computerized carpet slippers. Andy reveals his latest script which may prove to be even more scandalous but they egg each other on past the suggestion of caution.
Des is in the cabin of the boat, singing loudly while he steers and Sarah Lou is with him joyfully ringing the ship's bell. Steph is hiding down below decks with baby David who is having a sleep (in all that noise?) while Gail and Martin schmooze on the deck, enjoying themselves. (I'm going to be picky here: Nick is mentioned as having as much fun on the boat as Sarah Lou but there was no sign of him either before in the cafe, on the boat now nor anywhere else in the episode and the actor's name was not listed in the credits! Maybe he was there but was very well disguised, blending in with the "planks" of the deck or something! ;-) )
Steph pops her head up and informs them that David has woken up and Des notes that she's been hiding all day, calling her the Creature from the Black Lagoon) She sneers at him and retreats back down the steps.
Next we have a taxi in front of the train station. Well, well, well! It's Captain Kenny back a day early from his adventures in the Pennines! Apparently he didn't find the peace and tranquility there that there used to be in years gone by, modern civilization has intruded so he decided to come back. As the cabbie turns into the Coronation Street neighbourhood, the radio station broadcast runs into interference and a very familiar voice is heard ...WJC FM! Ken immediately recognizes him and is flabbergasted to hear Tracy's voice as well as the kids read out their latest libelous script, concerning Fat Alfphonse Robots and Mr. Bettabuy-Far!
Gail and Martin and Steph are on the canal side pavement. Martin and Gail are trying to pull the boat in closer to the mooring by a rope and Steph is walking moodily away. I want to know how they all got off the boat since there seems to be still a good 6 feet of water between the boat and the side of the canal! Gail accurately deduces that there is something going on between Steph and Des who is hollering for Steph to help but she's either out of range or ignoring him, a fact which doesn't escape Des's attention.
A bit later, they are back in the boat. Sarah Lou is crying (hungry and a bit seasick) and Steph is arguing with Des, ordering him to stop at the next canal side pub they see so Sarah Lou can have her feet on solid ground for awhile and stop her crying.
Ken walks into the flat and interrupts the intrepid trio in mid sentence. he orders Steve and Andy out and he doesn't need to tell them twice as they gather their gear and scurry past. Tracy stays as she is told to do and she attempts to apologize and explain that it was only a bit of fun, nothing personal against him. He can't seem to make up his mind which he's angrier about, the fact that what they were doing is illegal, what they were saying is libelous or the fact that she betrayed his trust by allowing them to use the flat without his permission. If it were up to him she wouldn't be going to france later today on that school trip but he'll let Deirdre deal with that decision and he lets her leave.
Nick Wilding arrives and is greeted fondly by Victoria, the daughter of the man that was his legal partner and friend. Bet is introduced and tea is served up all around so that they can get down to business. He explains that Victoria comes into all the money when she turns 18 and there is definitely enough in trust so that she can keep going to her private school. But Alec doesn't automatically get to be her legal guardian since it wasn't specified in the will. He must apply to the courts which Alec says he will do right away. Vicky is told there is no legal reason why she can't live on her own. However, the local authorities won't allow it in a child of 14 and she will either have a court appointed guardian or will be taken into care. She is crushed and Alec sees no reason to go through all that. He'll apply to the courts and Vicky will come to the pub to live when she isn't at school.
Ken arrives on Deirdre's doorstep to firm up the time he is to take Tracy to the coach for France since Deirdre's off to visit her mother for a few days. (she just started a new job and is leaving them in the lurch after only a week?) Deirdre is surprised to see him back early and it is revealed that Tracy "forgot" to tell her mother that her father was back and what happened when he arrived at the flat. He doesn't tell on her after all. Deirdre mentions that she still has to go over the ground rules but Ken looks Tracy hard in the eye and says he's confident she'll behave. She is given a reprieve and thanks her dad for more than her mother realizes.
In the pub later, Liz chats to Jim about Gail and Martin's day out on the boat. Jim grimaces and finishes his pint, asking for another. Better them that him he comments. Liz sighs a long suffering sigh and wishes his aversion to water extended to beer as well. Ken arrives, having waved Tracy off and with a few pointed remarks about a Captain buying an ex-sargent a drink, makes it clear that he knows what the kids have been up to. Liz and Jim look rather sheepish and accept his offer of a drink. Bet and Alec are talking quietly in a corner about Vicky's guardianship and Alec plans to have a chat with her a bit later.
At a canal side pub at an outdoor table, Martin brings a tray of drinks over. Sarah Lou is apparently feeling fine now and over at the playset (and now 8 month old David is missing and all!) Steph is leaning against the moored boat, with an antisocial knot in her face, clearly at the end of her tether. Des decides to go fetch her and Gail is now positive there's something going on. Martin tells her that Des thinks Steph is having it off with another bloke, he mentioned it last night but Martin was skeptical as des is often jealous beyond reason.
Des confronts a sulky Steph and all his anger and hurt spill out into biting accusations of phone box calls to another man. Steph doesn't see the point in denying it and admits she's seeing someone else. They start screaming at each other and Des seems to push her around a little , hollering why did she even come today? Why didn't she go off with her boyfriend? He is devastated to hear she was killing time because Simon was out of town on business. Martin and Gail can hear every word and they cover their faces in embarrassment. Gail insists on fetching the kids and taking a taxi home.
Alec comes into the living quarters to talk to Victoria who is glancing through a horse magazine. Victoria informs him she's going to live with her friend and neighbour Belinda. Alec objects because for one thing, Belinda's parents don't seem to have been consulted and for another, he knows they won't want the extra responsibility of legal guardianship over Vicky. She loses her temper in frustration and screams that she doesn't want to be here and wants to live with people she knows! She runs out past Bet who is just coming in. (Poor lass, Alec is only trying his best in a difficult situation. She has been through so much change that her whole world must seem alien to her right now!)
The canal side screamfest is still going on. Steph spews all the cliché's you usually hear in these situations... It just happened, I didn't do it on purpose, I didn't mean to hurt you. Poor Des is crushed and angry. Martin interrupts to tell them he's taking the rest home in a taxi. Steph decides to leave with them but Des grabs her arm and hisses that she won't be allowed to come back if she leaves now. He means it but she leaves anyway. He calls after her but she doesn't turn around or look back. When she's out of earshot, he begs, in a soft broken voice, Steph! Don't Go! Please!
Nicholas Wilding MARK LINDLEY Cab Driver BIG
PETE MORRISON
Written by KEN BLAKESON Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Friday (3267, Monday 19 August 1991)
Derek steps into his back garden for a breath of air on this lovely fresh morning. He looks a bit uncomfortable when Steph appears in her own garden to empty the trash. Valiantly, he bids her good morning and is met with a sneer for reply. When Derek cheerfully suggests that Des would be better off in the sunshine than stewing up in bed, she coldly informs him that Des isn't home and hasn't been all night. She pauses for effect, then turns to face her neighbour, "There's a juicy piece of scandal for you and your wife!"
Far from reveling in the juicy scandal, Gail is still upset over the previous day's events. She tells Alma she has never seen two people tear each other to pieces like that before! Sally comes in and guesses they are talking about Steph and Des. Gail asks if she knew about Steph's "fella" but Sally is just as surprised as anyone. Alma isn't surprised as she figured them for "one of these trendy couples" who don't take marriage too seriously. She reckons they were asking for something like this. Shocked at how "old fashioned" she must sound, she apologises for speaking so plainly but Gail tells her she happens to agree!
From the sitting room in back of the pub, Bet hears Vicky on the phone in the hallway. Young Vicky is casually talking to her friend, Belinda, about going to stay at her house and it sounds to Bet very much like a fait á complet.
Back at the Barnes', the phone rings and Steph jumps to answer. She's hoping it's Des calling but it's his boss, wondering why he hasn't turned up for work. She's quite distressed to hear it and signs off rather abruptly.
Bet informs Alec that Vicky's plans (to go to Belinda's) seem to be pretty solid but he figures it's only kids' stuff and until he hears from Belinda's parents, he isn't going to take any heed. Besides, he feels, what harm can it do for Vicky to spend a few days at her friend's? Well, Bet reckons it might just be a bit harder to persuade Vicky to come back once she's installed at Belinda's. Alec wonders if it might be the best solution anyway, maybe his wish to have his grand-daughter stay was only a "pipe dream" to begin with.
In the pub, Don is having a drink and chatting to Curly and Angie. Curly's got a complaint today - he's been left in charge of Bettabuys while Reg is off playing golf. He wonders what his life has become since he started wearing a business suit. He never reads a book anymore and there is no music in his life - he's afraid he'll one day end up like Reg!
Steph interrupts by coming in and asking Don to drive her to the boatyard. He protests that he's on his lunch hour but she's most insistent, she wants to go now, so he reluctantly trudges out behind her.
Once at the Marina, they spot Des' car, still parked where it was left the day before. Steph jumps out of Don's taxi to go down to the canal and have a word with a man who's working on his boat. She learns Des hasn't been seen and returns to Don, asking him to drive down in one direction looking for Des while she goes in the other. Without waiting for an answer, she lets herself into Des' car and speeds off in search of him. Don is left muttering that he hasn't had lunch, he has a fare at 1:30 and she didn't even pay him!
Further down the canal, Steph walks along the dock hoping to find Des but seeing he's nowhere in sight, she turns to go back to the car. Cathing sight of the waiter who served them the day before, she calls him over. He remembers their party and tells her that Des sat on his boat looking quite forlorn after they all left. He was there until at least midnight which is when he left work for the day. He comments about their argument, assuming it was about boating and tells her he's seen it all before. Steph flatly informs him that the fight wasn't about boats and walks away.
Alec interrupts Vicky's musical enjoyment to get down to the awkward business of where she's going to live. Grudgingly, she removes her earphones to hear what he has to say. Has Belinda's mother actually been consulted about their plans yet? Well, not actually - but it wouldn't be a problem. Alec asks if Belinda is her only reason for wanting to go. Vicky explains that it's also being closer to her horse, plus the fact that she really doesn't like living in a pub. There's no garden, she looks out the window and can only see the opposite side of the street which she finds "so ugly". She also doesn't like living with the smells of beer and smoke. Alec is quick to suggest that he and Bet can stop smoking but is taken aback when Vicky sweetly reassures him there'll be no problem with her at Belinda's so he and Bet can keep on smoking.
The McDonald lads are in the corner shop where Audreh is giving them an earful over their little broadcasting enterprise. She dreads to think what would have happened if the papers had got hold of it - a pirate radio station coming out of a flat owned by a councilor! The boys aren't too bothered about it. They point out that Alf would have benefited from all the "teenage" votes! Percy has happened to overhear the exchange and comes forward to opine that the teachers today are too slack. Youngsters in his day would never have got away with running a pirate station as they were too busy rubbing their backsides! "Oh, was that a quaint little tradition in your day, Mr. Sugden - rubbing backsides?", asks Andy.
Steve asks Percy if he would allow them to broadcast from his room. Sally, just coming in with Rosie, can't help but giggle at Percy's resounding "No!". The boys leave and Percy blusters that it's no laughing matter, but "the thin edge of the wedge"! He snorts out and Sally and Audreh have another giggle at his expense but when Steph comes in to buy a box of tea the air gets a bit thick. As soon as she leaves, Sally informs Audreh of the latest gossip about the Barnes.
At home again, Steph rushes to answer the ringing phone. It's only a wrong number and she sighs with disappointment as she hangs up. "Where are you Des?", she whispers desperately.
Bet comes into the parlour where Alec is still brooding over the business of Vicky's future. She joins him at the table and lights up a fag. She offers him one too but he pointedly refuses. Bet suggests that it's time to make a decision; either he lets Vicky go to her mate's or he tells her "no dice". Alec says he doesn't feel he has the authority to make her stay, that she doesn't like being there. He tells Bet what Vicky said about the ugliness of the place and that she doesn't like them smoking. Bet relents that Vicky may not think the place comes up to scratch, but she will be looked after here, and *loved*. She reckons Belinda's parents would have to be very special people to treat Vicky as anything more than a guest. And it's very possible that Belinda herself will grow tired of having Vicky around. "Blood is thicker than water." Leaving Alec to think about it some more, Bet goes back to bar to give Liz a hand. She reminds him that there won't be any "easy" decisions to make where Vicky is concerned from now on. As he digests this thought, he fingers the package of cigarettes left on the table before replacing it without taking one.
In the pub, Sally and Kevin are having an evening out with Gail and Martin. Topic for discussion is the Barnes marriage and everyone has something to say. Martin thinks they should go and talk to Steph, find out if Des has turned up yet. Gail is dead set against that plan, she wants to stay well out of it. Sally supposes "poor Steph" must be terribly worried by now. Gail says it serves her right, she ought to have taken better care of him when he was there! Derek, who has been sitting in a booth behind them, gets up to leave and Sally catches him to ask if he's heard anything about his neighbours. Obviously distressed, Derek says he knows nothing and walks away.
Curly is nursing his wounds at the bar when Reg bounces in, gleeful after his day on the golf course. Reg's outfit is worth remarking on, bright red pants and royal blue polo shirt, topped with a cream coloured flat cap. When Reg says he'll have a pint of bitter if Curly's offering, Curly flatly says, "I wasn't". Reg sniffs before ordering from Liz, "A pint of bitter, Precious!" He notices Jim glaring at him from down the bar and hastily offers, "Just a friendly expression, Squire, not a term of endearment." "Glad to her it, Son!", answers Jim.
Curly is critical of Reg for having taken the day to play golf while he was left to run the store alone but Reg assures him, he was also running the store, from the golfcourse! Liz returns with Reg's drink and Reg leans over to tell her that he thinks that husband of hers should be muzzled. She asks if she should tell Jim he suggested it and Reg is quick to back away, he was merely joking.
Reg returns his attention to Curly, singing the praises of conducting business on the links. He came up with a brilliant scheme somewhere around the ninth hole! Curly doesn't share his boss' enthusiasm - Reg has chosen him to organise the Bettabuys float for the upcoming Weatherfield Carnival. Liz returns with Reg's change and he tells her he would have bought her one only he was afraid her husband would have taken offense. She smilingly affirms that he would have. As she retreats, Reg tells Curly that he thinks she fancies him, really - he senses it - LOL! Curly doesn't care about that, he just wants to know if Reg was serious about him organising the float. But of course, he was! In fact, he may be playing golf again soon, to see what other great ideas he can come up with!
Bet comes in to the back to check on Alec again and he informs her he's come to a decision. He's going to phone Belinda's parents. If they are as keen to have Vicky as she is to have them, then so be it. All she can see here is a load of ugliness, anyway...
Angie is busy at her drawing board when Curly comes in and starts to complain about his latest assignment from Reg. She quips about his acting like a "disgruntled husband" but Curly can't see anything funny about it. He says it might be nice to get some sympathy but Angie returns that if she gave him any sympathy he might just fall to pieces.
Sally and Kevin have decided to check in on Steph on their way home. They find her down in the dumps over the fact that Des still hasn't returned and she hasn't a clue where he might be. She's been to the Marina and back three times by now. She knows now, she should never have left him there on his own. Kevin suggests that's not all she shouldn't have done and Steph answers that she never set out to, things just "happened". He answers that things can happen, but they can be stopped too. "Not possible now", Steph replies. Sally asks if Des seemed very upset when they left him and Steph says that he must have been. She admits that she really didn't notice as she was too busy sorting things for her own benefit. Calling Des a very emotional person, Steph says she is now scared he might have gone and done something daft. Really scared.
Man on boat JOSEPH LEY Waiter MATTHEW RADFORD
Written by LESLIE DUXBURY Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Monday (3268, Wednesday 21 August 1991)
In the corner shop, Audrey and Liz chat about the upcoming Weatherfield carnival. Audrey daydreams of preferable carnivals in warmer climes. Liz optimistically predicts decent weather for their own carnival but Audrey pooh poohs that, it's just not the same is it? Liz asks about the float representing the corner shop but Audrey explains with a measure of exasperation that it's a state secret! Mainly because she doesn't really care what Alf ends up sorting out.
Angie looks at a small vase of flowers on the breakfast table, puzzled. It's not her birthday, is it? Curly comes in with the teapot and a flurry of effusive compliments so she knows something's up, what does he want?? He admits he's at a loss when it comes to ideas for this float for the parade. All he has at the moment is a lorry!
Alec has rung Belinda's parents and they have arranged to come round this dinnertime to discuss the situation. Bet is horrified and starts planning the housecleaning purge! (as we all do!) Never mind that, Alec says, what about Victoria? They don't want her to get the idea that the Johnson's are coming to take her home with them when in reality they don't even know how the Johnson's are going to feel about Victoria living with them and they agree that Victoria should not be present at the meeting.
Phyllis arrives at the Barnes'. Nobody is downstairs though the radio is playing. Steph runs down the stairs still in her dressing gown and informs Phyllis there might not be much point in her cleaning today. Phyllis is concerned that Steph isn't well and offers to make her a cup of tea which is sure to fix her up. Steph unhappily relates that tea isn't going to fix this problem. She switches off the radio and sits and the table, joined by a concerned Phyllis. Steph tells Phyllis half the story, implying only that she and Des have had a fight and he hasn't come home since. Phyllis thinks it will pass soon enough and though Steph says nothing to contradict her, we know the situation is probably irreparable. Steph gets up to get dressed and tells Phyllis to tidy up anyway. Her comment, "Time everything got tidied up" concerns the older woman even more.
In the pub at dinnertime, Alec, Kevin and Derek chat briefly about they carnival and floats. Bet, smiling from ear to ear, leads Victoria out for a shopping trip. Phyllis arrives for a half while she can still afford one, remarking that she might have to look elsewhere for her pin money soon but for now, not spreading any gossip or speculations she might have.
In the office on a construction site, a telephone rings. Simon in a hard hat answers it and it's Stephanie who is perched on a chair doubled over and holding herself (together? I know that body language well) She is calling him for encouragement and courage. She tells Simon that she has told Des and it was awful. Simon is soothing and encourages her to pack a bag and leave as the next step, and go to his place. She seems relieved to hear his voice and assurances that he still wants her, as she sighs that she loves him. But she can't leave yet, Des still hasn't come home and she is afraid he could have done something daft. Simon urges her to go to his place and he will arrange to come home on the afternoon train tomorrow. She smiles gratefully at his confessions of love and gently replaces the phone.
Alec greets the Johnson's, an elegant fashionable couple who speak with a cultured accent. Small talk by way of breaking the ice and all agree that the terrible deaths that have left Victoria homeless were shocking. Alec gets right to the matter at hand, what are we going to do about it? Alec explains Belinda and Victoria's plan. Belinda's parents agree that sort of thing sounds like their impulsive daughter but make it clear the offer for Victoria to stay with them did not come from them. They have definitely not considered taking her in, as a family decision although they have certainly discussed poor Victoria in a sympathetic manner since the accident. They assure Alec they would never presume to usurp his rightful claim to guardianship. Alec outlines the recent history of his estrangement and rediscovery of his daughter, hoping they would have mended fences. But it wasn't meant to be. Although they don't say the words specifically, it seems clear the Johnson's are not prepared to take in the orphan, given how much Alec adores his granddaughter, they add facetiously.
Martin has stopped in at the Barnes' and is sitting there when the phone rings. Steph picks it up on the first ring and sure enough, it's Des. Martin removes himself from the immediate area so he won't overhear. Des is calling from a phonebox on the side of the canal near a bridge. He sounds lost and bitter, tired and drunk and he rambles a bit while Steph tries to talk reasonably to him about not stuffing up his job by disappearing like this. They agree not to replay their horrible confrontation of a few days ago. Des seems resigned that it's finished between them but he tearfully asks her to confirm it in person, tell him face to face that the marriage is over and they'll give it a decent burial. She agrees, hangs up and tells Martin where Des was calling from before leaving to go find him.
Alec has told Bet about the Johnson's visit. He's under the distinct impression , though they didn't say it in so many words, that they won't take on Victoria. Right. They meander around the subject, realizing it probably would have been best for Victoria as the Johnson's could have given her everything the child is used to having, trying to convince themselves that they too have something of some substance to offer her, a good home with or without a horse after Alec wonders how much it costs to maintain a horse. The phone rings and it's Belinda so Victoria is called to the phone. I have a feeling Victoria is about to get disappointing news broken to her!
Martin brings David and Sara Louise (again, where is Nicky?) to the café. He tells Gail and Alma about the reappearance, so to speak, of Des and that Steph is on her way to pick him up. Alma predicts it will all be all right and the two of them will patch it up before they even get home.
Not likely. We next see Des sitting on the deck of the boat, drinking and talking dejectedly through his tears to the old boat, his old mate. "It's time, aye, it's time action stations, skipper" He's feeling depressed and broken hearted and tells the boat "She'll come, she'll be here" He glances up and salutes a passer by who was about to walk past with his dog but thinks the better of it and turns around to go the way he came.
Alec overhears Vicky telling Belinda that she didn't know a thing about "it". He retreats to the bar to nervously wonder to Bet what on earth those two girls could be talking about all this time. Well they do at that age, don't they, Bet tries to make him feel better and not succeeding. Curly walks into the bar, followed by Angie. He spots Reg and tries to beat a hasty retreat but is spotted in return and Reg calls them over. He buys Curly and Angie a drink. Seems Angie has agreed to design the Bettabuys' float for the carnival parade. She confirms Curly's suggestion that the float be colourful and imaginative and make Alf Roberts' float look like a dog's breakfast! Reg grins and agrees, that's about right! Alec objects that hiring Angie is tantamount to hiring a professional. Angie protests, she IS a professional! Alec doesn't think it fair but Reg stoutly defends the corporate and professional reputation of the supermarket as justification.
Vicky rushes out in hysterics, screaming at Bet and Alec, angry that they never told her that the Johnson's were coming. She accuses them of arranging her life without any input from her! Bet and Alec excuse themselves, leaving Betty and Liz to manage on their own and gently guide the girl into the back room while she continues her angry, frustrated tirade against their betrayal. They gently try to make her see that she couldn't just move into the Johnson's unannounced without allowing them to consider and think about all the ramifications. The poor kid is beside herself and collapses on the settee into Bet's arms. She quietly expresses her understanding, they can't bring her mum and dad back and though this is no palace, she can stop here. She'll just have to call this place her home. Victoria can't accept it and runs up the stairs sobbing her heart out. Bet holds Alec back from following her, telling him the poor lass has every right, every flaming right. Their faces mirror the shock, doubt and heartbreak they are feeling. Alec barely gets a few words out, attempting to show his gratitude to Bet for taking all this on, as Victoria isn't even her flesh and blood. They hold each other for comfort and strength, listening to Victoria's sobs upstairs.
Back at the canal, Steph is standing on a bridge looking down at Des on the boat. He spies her and invites her down but she insists he come up to her. He can't, he says, staggering to his feet, the captain mustn't desert the ship. He roots around in a storage bin while she tries in vain to find out what he wants her to say or do. He stands upright and glares up at her, eyes bleary, face unshaven, tears on his cheeks. Is it over? Is it finished, he just wants to know. She sighs and hollers back, he does know! He tells her he loves her but he needs her to look at him and say it's overis it? She answers in a voice that reflects compassion but a bit of impatience as well. Yes. He thanks her and invites her to stop awhile and watch the fireworks. Fireworks??? She watches in horror as he splashes gasoline all over the boat. Got a light, he asks, with false bravado, no? Oh I have one. She runs down the hill as the boat ignites and something within explodes! Her heart stops for a minute until she sees Des sitting on the grassy bank, toasting the fire with his bottle. Didn't it go with a bang?! She screams, You Child!! What d'you think you're doing??? He answers in a voice that is bitter, eyes full of grief, Watching our marriage go up in smoke. She turns and runs away.
Diane Johnston
Written by JULIAN ROACH Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Tuesday (3269, Friday 23 August 1991)
Corrie opens with a shot of Phyllis crossing the street and going into Des and Steph's home - or at least what used to be their home. (You'll remember that in the previous episode Des has set fire to his boat after finding out Steph has been unfaithful, telling her he is "watching our marriage go up in smoke". Steph's reply, with a nod towards the boat - "It [the marriage] wasn't as hot as all that, Des!" was so cutting it made *me* cringe in my living room.)
Phyllis, whose hair is a particularly fetching shade of lavender today, is met at the door by Steph and her suitcases. Phyllis asks if Steph is leaving? Yes, replies Steph, she is going to work and then she is, in fact, leaving. If Phyllis wants someone to blame, she continues, blame Steph. Whatever Stephanie has done, Des will forgive her, Phyllis urges. Yes, says Steph - she knows he will, and that's what makes it worse! She thanks Phyllis, says there's money on the table, and kisses her on the cheek. She walks out as Phyllis' face crumples in despair.
Over at the Platt's, the kids are discussing what a good time they had on Des' boat! (At least someone did, then.) Just then, Martin takes a phone call, and upon hanging up, says to Gail, "Problem." She steps away from the breakfast table to have a quiet word with him out of the kiddies' earshot. "That," announces Martin, "was Des." He was calling from a police station - been there all night. He's set fire to his boat. Burned it. The police have arrested him, and now he needs Martin to come collect him. That's all that Martin knows for now. Can Gail handle this lot - nodding towards the children - until he gets back? "Well, I'll have to, won't I?" replies Gail in the same partly -resigned, partly-amused, partly-worried tone as Martin.
At the Pub, Vickie is still unable to come to terms with the reality of her situation. Alec is trying to make her understand that she cannot go and live with her friend Belinda's family, the Johnsons, without making it too obvious that they just don't want her. The unspoken understanding here is that with what Victoria's been through recently, she doesn't need the outright, blatant rejection of a family she erroneously sees as surrogate parents. Alec is trying to make the point without being too blunt, but this is just giving Vickie more room for false assumptions. "You didn't even ask them, did you?" she cries. "Maybe not in so many words, but..." "See? You didn't even ask!" Vickie believes that Alec hasn't given the Johnsons the option of fostering her because he and Bet selfishly want her at the pub with them.
Bet tries to break the pointless argument. She is going shopping. Would Vickie like to come? (Bless her heart, Bet thinks that shopping is the tonic for everything. No doubt if she found herself working with Kosovar refugees she'd try to arrange a field trip to Harrod's.) "No, I'm going to my room. And when I say 'my room' I mean *that* room I'm being kept in!" Vickie spits, before stomping off. "Give her time, Alec," says Bet. "It'll be all right." "Will it, though?" worries Alec.
It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood, - and here's Des and Martin coming down the steps of the police station in the sunshine. Des expects to get off lightly, apparently. (Really? As the owner of a very humble but much beloved little boat, I know that if someone was so foolish as to set a fire in our marina I'd want him eaten for breakfast.) Speaking of breakfast, has he had any? asks Martin. No. (Don't they serve hot baloney, eggs and gravy for brekkie in the lockup, to quote a country song? Oh, perhaps that's just in the U.S.) Des is all out of sorts, but Martin finally loads him into the auto to get something to eat.
Don Brennan is making a purchase at the corner shop when in comes Percy. He's passed inspection, he thinks. Oh? By whom? asks Audreh, who's serving. By the ladeh who is in charge of the Weatherfield Traders' Float in the upcoming carnival. - the one who's filling in for Alf - does Audreh know her? "Oh, yes, I've come across her," says Audreh without enthusiasm. "What's the float design?" asks Don. Oh, my goodness, that's a top secret, that is! Percy couldn't possibly tell anyone. Audrey feigns disinterest in the whole matter until Don leaves, then leans towards Percy conspiratorially - what *is* the design of the float? "You can tell *me*!" she urges. Absolutely not, say Percy (no doubt reliving his more espionage-oriented war fantasies), but she can tell Alf that everything is under control. "I'll keep you updated!" shouts a most self-satisfied Percy as he leaves the shop - and in a moment so natural I suspect it must have been an ad-lib, Audrey rolls her eyes, laughs and asks of no-one in particular, "Do you *have* to?"
At the Platt's, Des is finishing breakfast. "Thanks," he says to Martin. "I didn't know how hungry I was!" "That's sailing for you - gives you an appetite!" Martin quips. Suddenly out of nowhere Des announces, "She's got another fella. That's what this is all about." Before Martin can respond, Nick comes into the kitchen for a biscuit, breaking the moment. Yes, of course Nick can have a biscuit - would he like a Plywood Patty, a Sawdust Square or a Chocolate Chipboard? Actually, of course, Martin doesn't offer these choices, but it's an interesting theory, isn't it?
After Martin ushers Nick back into the living room, Des, embarrassed by his outburst now that the mood has been broken, jumps up to leave. Nurse Florence Platt won't have any of that, however - "What's this about another fella?" he asks. Well, says Des, he hasn't met him and doesn't want to - "Probably woulda ended up setting him on fire an' all!" he muses. Is Steph leaving with this guy? Martin asks. "If she wasn't before, she probably is now," Des correctly guesses. Martin urges Des not to be so resigned - he has to fight for her! Tell her how he feels! "Do you think she doesn't know?" asks Des. She might, says Martin - or she might need Des to say it! Was Steph there when the boat burned, Martin asks. Des confirms that she was. "Good!" says Martin. Why? Because whatever Des says, she'll know he means it.
In the Rovers, Betty serves a hot pot to Derek. "That hot pot smells very appetizing today," Alec says (part of his new, more grandfatherly image, I assume). Betty says suspiciously that she *hopes* they smell that way every day. "No need to take offense!" says Alec. "I was only trying to pay you a compliment. "Oh. Thanks." says Betty, just as suspiciously! Not given to random acts of kindness, our Alec. He moves down the bar to speak to Bet about getting Vickie something proper for lunch. (I *do* find it quite touching how these two hard-as-nails characters are trying so hard to be nurturing.) Bet goes into the back to inquire what Vickie would like for lunch, but comes out a moment later. Had Victoria said anything to Alec about going out? No - she's taken off! Alec guesses immediately.
Following a commercial break we join Alec and Bet in the pub living quarters. Alec is on the phone saying he'll be right over... Vickie has headed right to the Johnson's via taxi, it turns out! What will Alec do if Vickie simply refuses to come with him, asks Bet? Well, he'll play it by ear. Does he want Bet to come? No, he'll deal with it. This time, Alec has a distinct air of determination about him as he goes to collect his errant granddaughter.
Des returns to the house to be greeted by Phyllis. Is Steph here? he asks. Steph's at work, Phyllis replies. Is she coming back? "Yes - for these," confirms Phyllis, pointing at the packed bags still sitting in the living room. "All her clothes are in there," says Phyllis. "I know 'cause I've had a look!" LOL! Don't worry, says Des, she won't be leaving with them. Well, says Phyllis, she doesn't know what's going on with the pair of them, but from what she's seen, Des is back in the nick of time! Des says ominously, "She can talk all she wants, but she's not going anywhere. I'm her husband and this is her home and she's staying here." (This is the kind of talk that tends to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.) Well, Phyllis helpfully mentions, she can stay for a while longer! (Her anguish over the breakup of her favourite young couple has clearly not overcome her urge to snoop.) No, Des says, he doesn't need Phyllis anymore today. Does he want her to continue working for her, she asks? "Of course," says Des in Denial: "Why not? That's what I'm saying. Everything will be as usual."
At the Johnson's, Mrs. J. is calling Victoria out into the gracious back garden where she is meeting with an exasperated Alec. As she rejoins Alec and waits for Belinda and Vickie to appear, she snipes at Alec, "I *do* hope you don't think we encouraged her! When she turned up here I thought it was with your blessing - I mean, I imagine you *do* keep *some* sort of eye on her!" Me-yow! Just then a sheepish Vickie and Belinda appear, and begin to plead for Victoria to stay with the Johnsons. When Alec says it is out of the question, Victoria turns on him once again with the accusation that he is not allowing Mrs. Johnson to answer. Finally Alec gives up and puts the question directly to an uncomfortable Mrs. Johnson. Would she like to be completely responsible for Victoria, be her legal guardian? Well, squirms Mrs. Johnson, who was clearly more than pleased to put all the responsibility on Alec, they don't have the room. Vickie can share my room! volunteers Belinda. Other attempts at waffling the question fail, until finally Mrs. Johnson must admit that no, the Johnson parents *don't* want Vickie to live with them. She can come visit... begins Mrs. J., but Victoria says stonily, "Never mind. I'm going." "Oh, dear," says Mrs. Johnson icily, casting a baleful eye on a smiling Alec, "I seem to have been cast as the villain of the piece." No, says Alec - Victoria needed to hear those words to understand that their humble pub is really the only home she has now.
At the caf, Alma, Martin and Gail are discussing recent events. Has your friend Des set fire to anything else recently? inquires Alma mildly. "No," confirms Martin, but he didn't think Des saw it as a career! It seems the police aren't going to charge him. More to the point, asks Gail, how are things between Des and Steph? "I gave him the Martin Platt Lecture on How to Save Your Marriage," confirms Martin. There, now everyone can sleep more soundly.
In the living quarters of the pub, the prodigal granddaughter has been returned. What would Vickie like to do that evening, asks Bet? But Vickie is still angry and bitter about the events of the day. Belinda can come and visit, says Bet, trying to soothe Victoria. "Oh, visiting hours, now?" snaps Vickie. "Noooo," says Bet very slowly in her 'lid on a scream' voice, "they only have visiting hours in hospitals and prisons and you're in neither of them." "Am I not?" asks Victoria bitterly. (Ah, the teenage years. Every day was a grand drama, an epic film, and you were the star. I'd sooner eat bees than find myself back there.) Vickie wants to go out alone. Of course she can't, says Bet - does she think Belinda's parents let her go out alone at night? That's different, says Vickie. How? "They're her parents. You're not my parents." (Aha! *There's* the shoe I've been waiting to hear drop!) "No," confirms Alec. "We're not your parents. We're in place of your parents. And we're doing our best, and sorry if that isn't good enough!" He excuses himself, frustrated. Bet watches him go, sadly. "You're upsetting your granddad," she says to Victoria, who merely says with no visible remorse that she is going to her room.
A remarkably powerful scene begins to unfold in the Barnes house. Des is sitting in his living room chair as Stephanie comes in. "Hello," says Des, brightly. "Hello," replies Steph. "Never guess where I've been," says Des, as if nothing has happened. "Police station. In a cell..." Steph interrupts him. Where are her suitcases? "They're here," Des says, throwing two obviously light and empty cases from beside his chair onto the sofa. "I put your clothes away." She wouldn't be needing them, he said, 'cause he's back now and everything's okay. Steph says she thought she'd told him how things are. Yes, she told him, and now he's back and he's her husband and she'd his wife and this is their home! He tells her to forget leaving, stop playing silly games. "Games? Yes." agrees Steph. "Games, games, games." Des, realizing that his attempt at denying reality doesn't seem to be working well, is in tears now. "I said, let's *stop* playing games!" he sobs.
"And I agree," says Steph. "Let's stop playing games. I love Simon, and I am going to be with him - " "No!" interjects Des angrily. " - and I'm sorry, it's my fault, all of it," Steph continues, "but I love him and I can't help that."
Des tries again to regain a grasp on the situation, on his marriage, his life. "You're my wife! You're not going anywhere! Understand that! You're my wife!" Steph says she has tried to tell herself that, to stop feeling this way about Simon - it's not that she hates Des - she doesn't - and she doesn't want to do this to him. "Then don't do it!" Des wails. She can't help it, Steph continues - there's no other way.
"Then why did you marry me? Why did you marry me if you were going to do this to me?" Des asks, getting to his feet.
"I thought I loved you," says Steph as Des crosses the room to her. "You're not going anywhere!" he says again. "Understand that! 'Cause I'm not going to let you!" He kneels in front of her chair, holding her head in his hands.
"Des - please -" says Steph. Des hears the note of fear in her voice. "I'm not going to hurt you. Of course I'm not," he weeps. He is rubbing his face against hers. They are both crying now. Poor Des, at the end of his rope, abandons all his dignity and pride in a final, desperate plea... "Don't go. Please don't go. You want to see Simon? You want to see Simon? Then you carry on seeing Simon. You carry on seeing Simon." He continues caressing her face, her head, trying to connect with her. She says something unintelligible. "I don't want to meet anyone else," he responds. "I've got to go, I've just got to go," she weeps, and gets up to leave. As she stands in the doorway a devastated Des blurts out a final plea - "Steph, please, please don't go, please Steph, listen, what have I got to do, what have I got to say?" But she's gone. Des shrieks after her once more - "STEPH!!!"
Such a draining scene would have been a powerful show ender but for some reason the Director decided to throw in a few more scenes which are throwaways at best and anticlimactic at worst! Curly and Angie meet in the Rovers to discuss the Bettabuys float, which she has agreed to design, with Reg. Audreh, who is in the pub, is less than pleased to see that Reg has hired "a professional" (Angie) to design his float. In their booth, Angie tells Reg that they need someone to play a central part on the float, a man, dominant - to play the role of Bacchus! He'll be surrounded by food, wine, handmaidens, says Angie. Who could play such a role? Who indeed? "How about.... *you*, Mr. Holdsworth?" asks Curly. Why, Reg thinks that's a splendid idea! "And you, Curly, you can be Mercury," adds Angie. Oh no! If Angie thinks she's dressing Curly up in a sheet and making a fool out of him she has another think coming! - except that Reg thinks that's a great idea, too, so Curly is well and truly drafted.
Alec and Bet discuss Vickie again. Alec has seen Bet talking the situation over with Liz and says he'd prefer if she didn't talk about the situation to others. Will they have to watch her every move, now, every minute of the day, so she doesn't run off again, Alec says? Alec isn't sure how much more he can take!
We close with Steph meeting Simon at a train station. "I've done it. I've left him, and I don't ever want to go through something like that again!" Steph says as they embrace. "You won't. I promise," assures Sleazy Simon. They kiss. We cut to a quick shot of a despondent Desmond, back in Coronatin Street, watching the Street go by outside his window, and then cut back to the Traitorous Twosome, crossing the train station arm in arm.
ronniecat
A tip of the hat to Peter Whalley for his incredible scripting of a desperate man trying to use sheer force of words alone to stop his marriage from disintegrating before his eyes. (Who among us at some point has not thought, "Maybe if I just say it often enough, it will be true."?) The climactic scene was extremely well acted by Philip Middlemiss, who managed to convey the desperation lurking so very near the surface; less so by Amelia Bullmore , but it was at least nice to see her putting some emotional investment into the breakup of her marriage. For most of this episode and the previous one, she had seemed almost stonily unmoved by it. Pity it didn't close the show, but an excellent scene nevertheless.
Annabelle Johnson - PHILIPPA HOWELL Belinda
Johnson - ANNA FRIEL Simon Beatty - PETER GOWEN
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Wednesday (3270, Monday 26 August 1991)
It's Bank Holiday on Coronation Street, and the episode opens with Bet and Alec packing a picnic and planning a special day for Victoria. It's obvious that Bet has taken the blanket they planned to use for the picnic, taken it out to their tiny yard, and shot it at point-blank range, so as to fashion her blouse from it's sorry hide. Anyways, the Gilroys are clearly enjoying themselves as they anticipate the day, when Vicky enters and asks what they're doing. Bet explains that they'd planned a picnic especially for her, but Vicky protests that they never even asked her if that's what she'd like to do. What if she doesn't want to go? Bet makes it clear that Vicky can do whatever she likes, to which Vicky's response is, "can I go and never come back?" Instead of joining them, Vicky says she'd rather stay at home and have some time to herself, but obviously Bet and Alec are not about to go off on a picnic and leave her behind. Vicky angrily tells them that if they're worried about her running away again, they can "lock the doors and bar the windows." She sarcastically suggests that they go on their picnic and smoke to their heart's content. Grasping for another way to entertain his grandchild, Alec suggests that they stay home instead and play scrabble. "Oh, puleeze," is Vicky's exasperated response.
Gail and Martin are also planning a picnic for the kids, and Martin is telling Nick to change out of his wellies into his trainers, which Nick can't find. Gail enters, holding said trainers in her hand, and as she and Martin chuckle over Nicky's apparent desire to live in his wellies, they hear a loud bang, followed by the sound of baby David, screaming. Gail and Martin rush to investigate, and learn that Nick accidentally hit David on the head while swinging his cricket bat. As Gail panics, Martin gathers the baby up and announces that he's taking David to casualty.
Over the road, Vera is coaxing Ivy to go to Bettabuys with her to view the float that will be entered in the upcoming parade. Ivy prefers to stay home with Don, but he quickly informs her that he'll be working. He encourages Ivy to go with Vera, but Ivy's sentiments are that she spends enough time at the store, and besides that, she's not sure she wants to see Reg Holdsworth "tarted up." When Vera points out that the entire effort is in aid of charity, Ivy decides to go.
As Ivy and Vera leave for Bettabuys, they observe a very dejected Des leaving his residence and getting into his car. Vera, somewhat akin to the pot calling the kettle names, comments that there'll finally be some peace on the street without Steph around to fight with des, but Ivy notes that it's always sad when a marriage ends.
Meanwhile, at the Rover's Return, Bet and Liz MacDonald are discussing the cancelled picnic when Vicky enters and wonders if they're talking about her, "again." When Bet asks Vicky where she's going, Vicky's terse response is, "out," followed by a sarcastic "is that a problem?" Not surprisingly, Bet loses her patience with Vicky's attitude, and points out that Alec went to a lot of trouble to make the day a special one for her, including laying on extra bar staff. Untouched by any of this, Vicky leaves in a huff, and heads for the phone box, where she encounters the MacDonald twins. They're trying to find somewhere to stow their radio equipment, and they try to convince Vicky that the huge transmitter is actually a car radio, which they've purchased as a surprise gift for their dad. Vicky looks unconvinced.
Back at the Rover's Return, Mavis asks Alec if it was Vicky she just saw on the street. Alec begins to panic, thinking that Vicky may have plans to run away again, but Bet quickly points out that Vicky told her she would be out for a while.
At the corner shop, Gail arrives with the children, and Audrey reassures her that they'll be fine with her while Gail goes to the hospital. Percy Sugden tries to engage Gail in a discussion about the floats, but Gail dismisses him impatiently, and rushes off. Percy begins to lament the lack of manners in the younger generation until Audrey puts him in the picture about baby David.
At Bettabuys, Vera wonders what sort of vestal virgin she would make, until Angie corrects her, and tells her she's to be a hand-maiden to Reg's Bacchus. Ivy immediately states that she won't wear a skimpy costume, but Vera laughingly says that she wouldn't mind a bit. Meanwhile, Reg Holdsworth is languishing on Bacchus' lounge. When Curly explains to Reg that Ivy is opposed to a suggestive costume, Reg lecherously comments that neither Ivy nor Vera will do as his hand-maids, who are, after all, supposed to be voluptuous and nubile, "a feast for the eyes." Both Ivy and Vera take umbrage at these comments, and immediately decide that they'll not only participate, they'll wear any costume, regardless of its skimpiness.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, poor Martin is waiting patiently for medical attention for David.
Back at the cafe, Vicky is sitting at a table when the MacDonald twins enter, still hauling their radio equipment. Vicky asks what they're carrying, and is told again that it's a car radio. When it's clear that she isn't that gullible, the boys confess that it's their broadcasting gear, and they desperately need someone to keep it for them. Vicky tells them she's broke, and that perhaps if they bought her some tea and cake, she'd be more open to discussing the situation.
Martin is still waiting at the hospital, and out of patience, he approaches the receptionist with David in his arms. Enquiries follow about David's name, and when Martin explains that his son's name is David Tilsley, but that his name is Martin Platt, the receptionist becomes suspicious, especially when Martin explains that the baby had a blow to the head. Martin gets angry, explaining that he IS the baby's father, even though they don't share the same surname, and that the injury was an accident. The receptionist explains that she's only doing her job, just as Gail arrives.
We return to Bettabuys, where Reg is being measured for his toga by Angie. He's also holding forth on Bettabuys' image, and how important it is that he project that with propriety. Angie explains to Ivy and Vera that they will be wearing peach dresses with gold trim, and shows them her sketches. "Dead glam," remarks Vera, clearly chuffed by the opportunity to wear something so out of the ordinary. To the ladies' great surprise, Reg waxes eloquent on what delightful additions they'll make to the float. When Ivy and Vera ask Angie about his change of attitude, she points out that Reg was informed that he'd better be nice, because Bacchus was torn limb from limb by his angry hand-maids!
Gail and Martin have returned from the hospital, and Nicky is told in no uncertain terms to put his bat away and never play with it in the house again. Martin is still upset by the hassle he was given at the hospital about his and David's last names. Gail laughingly tells him he's being old-fashioned, but Martin doesn't share her amusement. He points out that his son has Brian's name, and Gail suddenly looks thoughtful and a little dismayed.
Ivy has arrived home, and is describing the Bettabuy's float to Don. When she shows Don a sketch of the costume she will wear, Don expresses his shock and outrage, ultimately forbidding her to wear it. "It's not decent," he protests, but Ivy simply tells him that he'll have to put up with it, because she's going to be in the parade, and she's going to wear the dress.
Alec is discussing the break-up of the Barnes' marriage with Liz and Jim MacDonald in the Rover's Return. Mavis approaches Des, who is seated at a table by himself, and expresses her regrets that Steph has left -- she sincerely hopes that her own remarks had nothing to do with the break-up. Des puts her mind at ease, remarks that he's "well shut" of Steph, and unconvincingly tells Mavis that his "heart is like a singing bird." The subject, though, has obviously upset him, and he abruptly leaves, telling Mavis to give his untouched drink to Derek.
Alec goes into his livingroom, and finds a happier Vicky, who is telling Bet that Steve MacDonald has loaned her some of his records. While she beats a hasty retreat to her room to listen to the music, Alec wonders aloud to Bet if he's on the right planet. He can't believe the change in Vicky, and although he's pleased that she seems to be adjusting, he tells Bet that he's not about to tolerate Vicky hanging around with the MacDonald boys.
Back at Gail's and Martin's home, the children are in bed, and when it's clear that Martin is still troubled by the difficulties he encountered at the hospital that day, Gail assures him that should the occasion arise again, she'll take David to casualty. Martin tells her she's missing the point -- David is his son, yet he has Brian's name. He feels as though he's been denied membership to an exclusive club, because everyone else in the household has a different last name from his. Gail suggests that they change David's name to Platt, but Martin wants more than that. He wants Gail to marry him. Gail wonders if he wants to get married so he'll no longer be embarrassed by the different surnames, but Martin says no. He wants Gail to marry him, because he wants to be married to her. And on that romantic note, the program ends.
Heather Morlan
Casualty receptionist LESLEY STAPLES
Written by TONY COTRELL Directed by KEN HORNE
Thursday (3271, Wednesday 28 August 1991)
Rivalries, conflicts and Fancy Dress!
Martin allows Nicky and Sarah Lou to eat their breakfast out in the back garden so he can have a few minutes to talk to Gail. Another round of aggro ensues with her trying to avoid more marriage talk with the excuse of being late for work. She insists she feels the same as she did a year ago but Martin thinks the past year of happiness should logically lead to the next step! She was happy the way things are and seems to be worried that it would all change for the worse if circumstances changed.
Phyllis arrives at Des's house, opens the curtains to let in the morning light, turns and starts at the sight of Des asleep on the sofa, empty glass on the table by his head. She shakes him awake, fearing something might be wrong but is relieved to see he's only got a fierce hangover. She then takes the opportunity to give him a rollocking about getting his backside to work, life does go on you know, none of this wallowing in self pity, hear? She'll make him a bit of breakfast and then it's off to work you go, young man. He's obviously depressed and she tries to cheer him up, pointing out he has made many friends in the neighbourhood and has her to look after him and all. He ruefully admits she's right and has done a lot for him without nearly enough thanks. She's been mothering him for the last few days (and he genuinely appreciates it, he hasn't said this in any other tone of voice that said otherwise). She manages to bring a smile to his face by teasing him that she'd fancy him for herself if she was 50 years younger!
Vera comes to fetch Ivy for work. Don grouses about the thin fabric their costumes are made from. Why with the bright sunshine behind you, they'll see everything you own! Vera reassures him they'll have underwear to cover the naughty bits but Ivy decides to have a bit of fun and tells Don they won't be wearing any underwear. The Romans didn't go in for that sort of thing, after all! He bites the bait and goes off in an incredulous state, leaving Vera and Ivy to have a giggle over his reaction.
Percy is in the shop, boring Audrey to tears with his dissertation on the parade route and the best vantage point from which to view it. (and him, he's substituting for Alf on the float for the Grocers' association.) Audrey doesn't really care, seems she isn't going to bother going. The phone rings and she puts Percy in charge of guarding the till. He dutifully stands at his post. Phyllis is pleased to enter and see her beloved standing there but the feeling is not mutual. She is looking forward to seeing him in all his splendor on the float tomorrow. Just then Vivian Barford arrives as well, looking for Percy. Seems she's on the float too and had to inform him that his costume would be ready at 4 p.m. She flatters the old man by telling him with a smile and a bat of an eyelash that he will be an admirable substitute for Alf Roberts and looks forward to spending the day with him tomorrow. Percy laps it up and uses it to further aggravate Phllis who doesn't take it well and after Vivian introduces herself, barks at Percy and storms out in a jealous rage.
Liz and Bet are sorting things out before opening the pub. Bet and Liz discuss the budding friendship between Victoria and Liz's lads and her efforts to try to fit in. Maybe she might even change her mind and go to school locally rather than return to boarding school, she suggests. Perish the thought! Bet won't have any of that, she's only managed to make it through the past four weeks with jangled nerves and isn't up to 12 months a year of it!
The twins and Vicky are in the café, grimacing over the choice of music on the jukebox. (Lady in Red - Admitedly not my favourite Chris DeBurgh song either) Andy complains to the management, Gail, and only gets a verbal hiding for his trouble by a cranky Gail who has been in a bad mood all morning after her confrontation with Martin. Alma asks Andy what he'd like to hear and will try to see if the music distributor can get it for him "Half Man, Half Biscuit" LOL Alma can't even manage to raise a smile from Gail by joking that the group's name might well be an alias for Percy Sugden. Back to the teen table, the trio are determined to find a new place from which to broadcast. Strangely enough, Deirdre has left her key with Liz for plant watering and such while she's at her mother's and Andy and conveniently nicked it!!
Over at Bettabuys, Reg has decided he must use a bottle of champagne on the float instead of the lower priced and less realistic Asti Spumanti. (oh yeah, as if the Roman's had champagne! It was more like cheap plonk!) Curly grumbles about budgets, but Reg is on a roll, anticipating his role as Bacchus the god of wine and over indulgence! You can't portray the glories of ancient Roman Gods sitting on the back of a lorry with a half a shandy and a packet of crisps!
In the pub at dinnertime, Percy brags up the carnival float and when Angie comes in, he even buys her a drink. Alec stops, looks up into the distance and remarks, astonished. "Did you see that!?" They both look around, What? Alec points - A flying pig! Angie giggles and Percy looks embarrassed, "Very funny!" Don brings up his displeasure with the nearly pornographic costume his wife is due to wear, and if it rains, there will be nothing left to the imagination! Alec eagerly asks when the parade is? Alec! Snaps Bet, reeling him in. She turns back to Liz, worrying that the twins might have undue influence on the vulnerable 14 year old but does realize Vicky is a sensible girl after all and Liz assures her she's had a word with the boys, not to worry. She even hopes Vicky might have a steadying influence over Steve and Andy.
Who have just walked into Deirdre's house through the back door, accompanied by Victoria. They crouch down on the floor and plug in their gear. Victoria has a root through the kitchen and returns with a tray set up with glasses and a bottle of sherry she found, much to the boys' delight! Steady on!
A surly Curly, Reg and Angie stroll the aisles. Curly is not taking well to Reg's requests and orders today but grudgingly does fetch Ivy and Vera to help Angie choose appropriate fruit and veg for the float. Reg wonders if there's room on the float for some end of season sale merchandise, garden equipment! After all, Romans had hedges to clip just like the rest of us! Reg sorts Curly out with another task and Curly stalks off muttering Yes O Bacchus, Anything you say O Bacchus! Angie informs Vera and Ivy that Curly's unhappiness stems more from his worry over the character and costume he'll have to wear tomorrow!
Victoria is nibbling a sandwich with Bet and Alec, keeping her hand close to her mouth so the sherry-breath doesn't waft over their way. She is anxious to finish so she can rejoin Steve and Andy. Alec starts to criticize the boys but is cut short by Bet and is then forced to pretend that the MacDonald lads are nice young men! Vicky takes off to meet them with a request from Alec not to go too far. She won't, she promises (just through the other side of the wall by the loo, as a matter of fact!) Bet understands Alec's dislike but the girl needs to have friends and a bit of freedom.
I think I've got two separate scenes mixed in together here but the gist of it is correct! Percy has collected his costume and stops in to rabbit on to Audrey some more about his mission being successful in case Councilor Roberts wants an update. She could care less, as judged from her face. Audrey tries her best to put him off but he insists he must try it on so she can report back to Alf. Before he can, Reg comes in and the two stags rustle their horns a bit at the pending rivalry, each confident that their float will win the competition. Audrey fields an inquiring phone call from the intrepid Widow Barracuda, er, Barford and then Percy emerges from the back room! Black top hat and tails, white fluffy ascot tie and riding boots up to his knees over baggy britches, looking splendid in his waistcoat depicting the red, white and blue motif of the British Flag! Audrey is taken aback at the sight and asks him where his cigar is, "He always had a cigar didn't he?" Who? Percy asks, mystified. Winston Churchill of course! (and as he is unencumbered by his spectacles, he does resemble Churchill a bit!) He testily corrects her, He's John Bull! (who was an Elizabethan musician (16th century) according to my books. I don't think the Union Jack existed until the 18th Century which seems to be the same era that Percy's costume represents!).
Martin and the kids (all of them, Nicky now being in evidence contrary to the last week or so!) pop into the café but they've just missed Gail. While the kiddies play with the jukebox, Martin helps Alma stack chairs so she can close up. She knows there is something wrong and finally gently draws it out of him. He explains the situation. He thought Gail loved him but since she won't marry him, he's got to wonder!
Back at home, he sulks. Gail finally has it out again, spouting the same old party line. She is happy with the way things are and doesn't want to get married so he should just stop putting all this pressure on him. He tries to reassure her of his love and commitment but although she reiterates her love for him in return, is stubbornly determined that things will not change rather than risk spoiling it. She loves him but doesn't see that as sufficient reason to marry someone! (and what better reason could there be, silly cow!) he can't get through to her so decides to give it a rest and heads for the pub.
Angie waits for Curly to try on his costume. He's succinctly unenthusiastic as he clumps down the stairs. He's wearing a short Roman toga with a gold upturned bowl on his head which has little gold wings on either side of it above his ears. He peers out from under through his coke-bottle lenses, skinny legs encased from the knees down in fashionably golden straps woven down to the sandal. That man has the skinniest legs I have ever seen on a human being bar none! He really thinks the character of Mercury, messenger to the Gods is how Reg has been treating him of late. He can see the subservient role being subliminally conveyed to the crowds as well and he's not happy. Total Humiliation! Angie tries to tease him out of it and they both hear Reg singing from inside the living room, fully into his role of the God of wine and overindulgence! The door opens on a truly bizarre sight. Reg, his white hair circled by a gold laurel leave crown to which is attached russet brown "hair" framing his face. There is also a scruffy equally russet "beard" stuck precariously to his chin. He is brandishing the champagne bottle and his toga has a royal purple sash wrapped around his shoulders and framing his round stomach. What do you think? Curly mutters, he can't quite find the words! LOL! Angie tactfully predicts he'll be the centre of attention, "as usual" Curly glumly adds. Reg suggests Curly get him to the kitchen to fetch some drinking vessels but Curly has had enough and belligerently bellows for Reg to get them himself!
We get ourselves to the pub, next where Martin is joining a subdued Des, saving Des from another evening in with the vodka bottle. Martin has a moan about Gail not wanting to marry him and tries to cheer up Des, At least they never had children! Des would have loved to be a father and thinks Martin has the best of all worlds. A smashing lass, Smashing kids, he's happy and he's not even married!
Meanwhile Alma visits Gail, anxious to try to prevent two of her best friends from throwing away their happiness! Yes she knows the situation and warns Gail, who really doesn't want to talk about it, that Martin really does want to marry her and prove his commitment but if she doesn't do it, she could lose him. Then where would she be!
Diane Johnston
Written by PHIL WOODS Directed by KEN HORN
Friday (3272, Friday 30 August 1991)
The day of the Weatherfield Carnival has arrived and as Bet and Alec lazily sip their morning cuppa, she wonders whether they'll go. Alec launches into a sermon on what a carnival *should* be - Rio de Janeiro, Spanish girls in grass skirts waving "Aloha"... He remembers when it used to be called the Weatherfield Horse and Cycle Parade... Bet reminds him that she only asked if they were going, she didn't want a lesson in ancient history. When Alec answers with a succinct "No", she tells him she thinks they ought to go. It's an opportunity to have a family outing and she feels they ought to take Vicky and act like a real family. That puts things in a different light for Alec and he reluctantly agrees they will go.
Over the road, Vicky is making some inquiries of her own. She asks Steve and Andy about the parade and is told it's good for a few laughs and they plan to attend. When she asks about their radio broadcast, Andy tells her they are off the air for the day, it's too risky to run it every day. Vicky protests that she wanted to have a turn today and reluctantly, the boys agree to forego the parade in favour of running the station.
At the site from which the parade embarks, Vera and Ivy are resplendent in their little peach coloured togas. They are quite short and Ivy wonders if they don't look "common". Vera snorts that they look "dead classy" - anyway, if you've got it, flaunt it! Reg appears as Bacchus and compliments them on meeting the theme - "abundance" - so ably, before climbing aboard to assume his position as the centerpiece of the float. Curly skulks out in his costume looking none too chuffed and when Vera asks who he is supposed to be he explains that he is "Mercury, messenger to the gods, also known as Hermes". As he moves past to take up his place, Vera whispers to Ivy that she thought Hermes was a disease!
Like any good manager, Reg is thinking ahead. He tells Curly that after the parade he wants him to salvage as much of the produce as possible, to be put on display at the store on Monday at a reduced price. He also informs Curly that in keeping with his role as "messanger", he will be passing out leaflets during the parade. He hands his rueful assistant a stack of papers, entreating the public to shop at Bettabuys, where they have "food fit for the gods"! As Vera and Ivy climb aboard, Reg instructs them to take their places near the horn of plenty and reminds them to "grasp the horn firmly".
In the corner shop, Derek asks Audreh why they don't stock recycled toilet paper. He remarks that they don't seem to carry any organic products at all and she tells him that Alf doesn't think people will pay the extra for them. Yes, but there's an ethical consideration, Derek points out. Audreh says she can't see why recycled products are more expensive anyway, if they've already been used, they ought to come cheaper, she reckons! Percy comes out of the back room and announces he is leaving to join the parade. Audreh invites him to model his costume for Derek but Percy says it wouldn't do, he'll keep it as a surprise. Once he leaves, Audreh tells Derek that if he goes to the parade, he'll be in for a laugh, seeing Percy decked out as John Bull!
In the cafe, Gail sits with Alma as she waits for Martin and the kiddies to show up so they can go to the carnival. Alma asks if she's given Martin an answer yet and she says that she's told him she won't marry him. Alma cautions her to go easy as men have such fragile egos and Gail points out that it's not a rejection, she just wants things to go on as they are.
At Deirdre's, Vicky and the McDonald boys are getting set up to broadcast. Steve returns home to replace Deirdre's keys before his mother misses them.
At the Rovers, Alec is still talking about the old days and asks Phyllis if she recalls when the carnival was called the Horse and Cycle Parade. She informs him that she certainly doesn't - it was before her time! Bet smirks that he walked into that one. He wants to know where Vicky is and she informs him that she's decided to attend with the McDonald lads. Bet calls for people to hurry and drink up so they can go but stops to ask Don if he'll have another. Still agitated about Ivy's get-up, he declines, saying he'll be off soon to go and watch for "Lady Godiva".
At a booth, Mavis and Derek are supping up to go and watch too. She asks why he didn't enter a float in the parade, "Paper rolls through the ages". He says he would have done but was afraid Victor Pendlebury would steal the credit "as he always does". Mavis has heard this song a million times and says she wants to leave, she feels a migraine coming on.
As the Rovers empties, Alec is clearing up when he stops and listens for a noise coming from next door. He panics as he realises there's someone inside Deirdre's place. He shrilly informs Bet and Liz of his suspicions and while he goes off to ring the police, Liz rushes home to fetch Deirdre's keys.
Next door, Andy is announcing the opening of their broadcast, "JCW FM, the channel without the flannel is on the air!", before handing the mike over to Vicky who proudly introduces herself as "Victoria, queen of the airwaves".
Alec and Liz wait for the police in front while Bet has been posted to stand guard in the back. She stands puffing on her cigarette, then decides to have a peek inside Deirdre's gate. What she sees within evokes a shocked, "Flaming Nora!" and she tiptoes forth to go inside.
In the front, Alec and Liz greet the arrival of the police and explain the situation. As Liz hands over Deirdre's keys, the officer goes to the front door. Meanwhile, Bet is quickly ushering Vicky and the boys out the back. As they hustle out, she instructs them to go next door and wait for her there. Then she picks up a watering can and heads toward Deirdre's front door.
Opening the door, Bet feigns surprise at seeing Alec, Liz and the police there. Alec's surprise is genuine but Bet prattles on about how she came in to water Deirdre's plants and isn't it just like her husband to forget a thing like that. Alec is still stuttering his surprise when Bet smilingly suggests, through clenched teeth, that he's said enough. He finally clues in and remains silent while the police officer assumes the whole thing has been a misunderstanding. The officer departs, gently suggesting that they communicate with one another, which strategy he has found to be most useful in his own marriage.
With the police out of the way, Alec demands to know what the hell is going on. Bet quietly informs him that it wasn't burglars in Deirdre's house, but Liz' lads. He is indignant to hear that she's made him "look a prat" just to protect Liz' lads until he hears that they had help - from Vicky.
On the streets of Weatherfield, the parade is in full swing. From the sidelines, Don snickers when he sees Reg's costume and asks who he is supposed to be. Angie informs him that it's Bacchus, god of wine. "He's supposed to be the spiritual embodiment of abundance and revelry!" she explains. "That's not what Ivy says about him!" Don quips. Sighting Curly, Don calls to him that they all look like a "load of wallys" to him. Curly steps off the float and tells Don that Angie designed their float and Don quickly apologises for his comment. Reg spots Curly away from his station and shouts for him to get back in place.
On the float representing Alf's Mini-Market, Percy and Vivienne Barford are smilingly waving to the crowds. Percy pauses to complain to Mrs. Barford that she keeps stabbing him with her "fork" and she retorts that it's a "trident", not a fork! Anyway, she informs him, he is in the wrong position - she, as Britannia, ought to be in front! Percy insists that as Alf's representative, he is in his rightful place and he's staying there!
As the din of the passing parade filters in to the Rovers' parlour, Alec is lecturing Steve, Andy and Vicky about what could have happened if they'd been caught in Deirdre's house. Steve sarcastically remarks that they didn't ask to have the police called and Liz pipes up for him to button it and listen to what Mr. Gilroy is saying. Vicky protests that they weren't burglars so she doesn't see what harm they were doing and Alec points out that running a pirate station is a criminal offense. Andy protests that it isn't a *real* crime, "not like stealing or anything" and Alec tells him he'd have a tough time convincing anyone of that when it comes time to apply for a job with a criminal record!
Liz interjects to say that the boys can say goodbye to their radio equipment. It's to be locked away until their father can get rid of it for good. They protest but she reminds them they could have been having this conversation at the police station now, if not for Bet's quick thinking. She instructs them to thank her for getting them out of the situation before packing them off home.
Back on the parade route, Gail, Martin and clan stand watching the parade along with Alma and Audreh. As Alf's float passes, Audreh points out Percy as John Bull. The "cow" behind him is Alf's admirer, she explains, "the grocer's groupie"! From the float, Percy is having the time of his life, smiling broadly and tipping his hat to the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd. He is completely taken aback when Phyllis comes out of the crowd to cheer him on, running alongside the float in her excitement. As he attempts to wave her off, he loses his balance and falls over, upsetting Mrs. Barford on his way down. As she lands on top of him, he shouts at her, "Get off, woman!"
In the aftermath of their near encounter with the Weatherfield police, Bet is sitting quietly in the parlour when Vicky brings her a cup of tea, to thank her for getting them out of trouble. As Vicky sits down beside her, Bet puts her arm around the girl affectionately. It could have been awful, Vicky admits. She is sorry to have caused them any worry. Bet smiles as she recalls the look on Alec's face when she met him at the door! She tells Vicky that he's a "worrier" but that he can see the funny side of things, it just takes him a bit longer than most folk. Vicky confides that it really was fun, broadcasting with Steve and Andy - the most fun she's had since... Bet quietly assures her, "I know, Luv, I do know."
With the parade having concluded, there's a celebration going on within the pub. Reg is jubilant at having been awarded the grand prize and it's drinks all around for the participants. He toasts their success, a model of teamwork with him as their leader, "Keep them coming - the night is young and we at Bettabuys are beautiful!"
At a nearby table, Percy is telling Audreh that he thinks Vivienne Barford is "unbalanced". Audreh readily agrees that she was unbalanced when she came down from her perch! That isn't what he meant, he explains. He meant that she is "two or three slices short of a loaf". Audreh reckons he's right - after all, the woman fancies Alfeh! Percy continues with another complaint, this one about Phyllis causing the upset. "In the days of the Weatherfield Horse and Cycle parade, she'd have been locked up for frightening the horses!" he contends. (Aha! Someone other than Alec does remember it then!)
From the bar, Reg decides it's time to say a few "words of condolence" to the losers and jauntily invites Curly to accompany him over to Percy's table. Smiling at Percy, Reg says something in Latin, "Neo desparadum" (?) followed by, "Better luck next time and perhaps next year will bring a brighter idea!" Percy is indignant. "A brighter idea? There's no brighter idea than being British and proud of it!" he exclaims. "None of this foreign *Roman* rubbish - some of us happen to be patriotic!" Reg takes umbrage at this, saying he is as patriotic as anyone, but Percy points out that ninety percent of the produce in the Bettabuys float was "foreign". "Those were French apples and I bet the potatoes were foreign and all - they don't peel like ours, you know! 'British and best' - that's what *our* float stood for!", he says proudly. "And fell for!", quips Audreh.
Reg, smarting from Percy's rebuke, starts fingering the pensioner's jacket collar to prove he isn't quite as patriotic as he claims. As Percy tells him to get off, he turns the collar to look at its label and snorts in triumph as he invites Curly to read it aloud. Curly obliges, saying that the jacket was "Made in Korea". Percy shrugs free of his grasp and stomps out in disgust leaving Audreh to protest that they were only teasing him.
Gail has just seen Alma off and as she closes the door, she remarks to Martin that Alma is quite a fan of his. She comes over to give him a hug and teasingly admits that she rather fancies him herself. Martin wants to know, if that's the case, why she won't marry him. With a sigh of exasperation, she tells him to just leave it. Why can't he just be happy as they are?
Angie has come into the pub where the celebrations are still happily underway. Catching Curly at the bar, she declines his offer of a drink, (he's getting a tray-full for the celebrants) saying that she's going to a "rave-up" at the university so he shouldn't wait up for her. She only popped in to deliver her account, a nominal £406 since it was for charity, she explains. She breezes out again, leaving the bill with Curly.
Behind the bar, Alec is blustering to Bet that Vicky is to curtail any future association with the McDonald boys since they are clearly responsible for the situation earlier today. Bet tries to cajole him, it was only a bit of fun, after all. Nothing doing, Alec says - it could have ended in juvenile hall! He wants Bet to tell *her* barmaid to tell her lads to keep away! With a nod in Liz' direction, Bet says *he* can tell her himself and after he does, he can start looking for a new barmaid. Oh yes - and he shouldn't forget to get a "bit of steak" for the black eye he'll get from "Big Mac"!
Carrying the tray of lagers and ales over to Reg, Curly hands him Angie's account. Reg summarily dismisses the bill, saying she must be joking, that it was for charity! He cavalierly hands Curly a slip of paper with instructions to give it to Angie as "payment" for her efforts. As Curly examines the paper, Vera stops him to ask what it is. He tells her it's Angie's compensation, a Bettabuys voucher for ten quid! She reckons Angie will be dead chuffed with it. "Oh yes, she'll set fire to his toga when she sees it!" Curly moans with a mixture of irony and dread.
Anita Belanger
Vivienne Barford PAULA TILBROOK; PC Betts MARK
JORDAN
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by KEN HORN
Monday (3273, Monday 2 September 1991)
This morning Gail is avoiding Martin, kissing the kids good bye but not him and then has the cheek to be snarky when he acts resentful! Martin, having already tried the "If you love me you will" approach, tries moral blackmail instead. He asks her what would happen if God Forbid, she should get killed, an accident or something? What would happen to the kids if that happened? Ivy or Audrey would get them unless the pair of them fought over who and what so badly that someone else altogether got the kids instead. In any case, Martin wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on because he's just the boyfriend! ACK! Gail is not impressed with his sabotage tactics and leaves with her nose in the air.
Angie reminds Curly that he has to give Reg her bill for her expenses and fee for designing the float. Curly beats around the bush as only he is able to do. She is hoping she'll get the money by the end of the week at least as the rent is due. Finally there isn't much left of the bush and Curly has to admit that he gave the bill to Reg in the pub last night. Reg seems inclined to regard her services in the same vein as the whole concept of the parade, which was put on for charity! He passes her the shopping voucher hopefully. After she makes confetti of it, she explodes and insists he make Reg pay for her services and expenses out of pocket and he promises he'll sort it out. He'd better, she rages, or she'll go down there and sort it out herself. Curly's face seems to reflect the desire that she would do just that if it would save him the aggro but dutifully accepts his mission.
Phyllis offers to do Des's shopping and scolds him for not eating properly. Des snaps at her but decides that her mothering him is a damn site better than her asking about Steph. He tells her she can clean and worry about his matching socks all she wants but the subject of Steph is off limits. He gets his coat and leaves Phyllis who nearly reels back from the verbal rollicking he gave her.
At Bettabuys, Reg is proudly polishing the plaque (they call it a shield) that was won for the best float in the parade. It is mounted on a bit of wall near the check out lines under a triumphant sign boasting it's reason for being. He brags about it to Vera but gets snarly when she changes the subject from him to Curly who has just approached. Curly makes his first attempt to bring up the little matter of £406 but he's too excited about the shield and sidesteps Curly's inquiries. He orders his messenger to inform the gods at Head Office about their triumphant achievement forthwith.
Curly is not to be put off for long, however and in the office later confronts Reg again. This time Reg sternly points out the charitable aspects of them all donating their time and effort. That's different, we're Bettabuys employees! Reg sees no difference and adamantly refuses to pay Angie's bill no matter how much Curly tries to talk him round. He only sees Curly sticking up for his attractive room mate. Right, Right, if you want to be like that about it, spits Curly. Reg leaps, hearing threat in Curly's voice and offers the opinion that Curly had better watch is p's and q's and there will be no more of that "right" nonsense! Curly appears to back off but is belligerent and probably has a plan.
In the corner shop Percy is complaining to an very disinterested Audrey about the injustice of a patriotic float losing out to the Greeks (Romans, Percy!). Jack hadn't seen any of the spectacle so Audrey fills him in, describing John Bull rolling around with an overweight Britannia on the back of a lorry and now Percy wants a prize for it! Jack seems to slap Percy on the bum and jokes that he's already has his prize! Percy protests Jack all the way to the door, defensive in his efforts to resist being crushed by said Britannia. No use, Jack leaves laughing. Sally arrives and Audrey confirms that Sally will be able to come in on time tonight as Alma has twisted her arm into signing up for some night class or other. All is set and Sally leaves again. Percy approaches the counter with something he wants to buy and an idea for next year's float - Army field kitchens 1939 to 1945! Audrey rolls her eyes!
Phyllis is ready to sit down with a coffee when she hears the door open. Steph enters with two empty suitcases. She has come to get the rest of her things while Des is at work but had forgotten about Phyllis, judging from the look on her face. She criticizes Steph for coming behind Des's back but she is informed of the suitcase slashing incident and told to leave it out. Steph takes her cases upstairs to pack and Phyllis discreetly makes a phone call to let Des know his wife is at the house.
When Steph comes back downstairs, Phyllis stalls her until Des arrives then puts on her coat and leaves them to it, hoping they can make up. Des pleas for Steph to give him at least 5 minutes though she protests that it will be of no use. She reluctantly agrees to stop for a minute but refuses to discuss Simon. Des begs her to tell him what he did wrong! Nothing! Well then she must have already been going off him. Maybe, she admits. But she bravely tells him she accepts all the blame for their marriage going bust and generously lets him have the house, the car and all the furniture. Even her father won't interfere, she promises, anything to make it easier on him. It can't be harder, can it! Poor dejected Des reaches out to touch her cheek. Steph rears back as if she was scalded and points out he's making it more difficult on himself. She decides it's better to leave but he is desperate for a few more minutes and follows her out the door.
He begs and pleads but she knows he really doesn't have anything more to add and loads her suitcases in the boot of the car. Spying Sally across the street, she hails the young mother. Sally, completely ignorant of what's going on, seemingly at least, chats to Steph but is taken aback when Steph admits she's breaking up the happy home! See Ya! Yeah, says Sally softly as she wheels Rosie away down the road in the carriage. Steph gets in the car and Des tries to prevent her from closing the door so he can make one last plea. He anxiously informs her that should she ever leave Simon, (She won't she insists) then she can come back, he'll have her back anytime! She tries to drive away but a white van cuts her off causing her to stop short. Des catches up and repeats his offer through the closed window but she stonily looks forward and drives away, leaving a bereft and broken man in her wake.
Reg is horrified to see an empty space and bare looking nail on the wall where the shield used to hang! He stammers and sputters, hopping mad as Curly spies on him from around the corner, casually sauntering up when Reg brays Mr. Watts! Mr. Watts! Mr. Watts coolly and defiantly explains that he has taken the shield hostage until Reg pays Angie's bill! Reg threatens Curly's job but Curly isn't backing down. Reg drags Curly by the arm over by the ladies' tights and insists he's not a man of straw that can't live without some poxy shield, sacrificing his principles! Suit Yourself, Curly stalks away, calling Reg's bluff. Successfully it seems as Reg then decides to be generous and not ruin Curly's career even if he does have a death wish! He offers to pay Angie's expenses, £306 but not the £100 for her fee though Curly insists on all of it. Reg points out that Curly ought to be graceful in his victory and they are to meet later in the accounts office.
In the café Sally has wasted no time spreading the gossip about Des watching Steph drive out of his live and defiantly insists if Kevin were ever to leave her, she'd not watch him go, she'd kill him (and 8 years later, emotionally, she very nearly has!) Alma describes the secret to a successful marriage, if sex doesn't work, try violence. Gail folds her arms across her chest and ruefully comments that isn't new, it's always been that way. After Sally leaves, (gets around today doesn't she?) Gail tells Alma about Martins' comments that morning. Alma feigns shock that Ivy could possibly get her hands on the kiddies if Gail dies and frantically urges Gail to get married! Tomorrow! They both laugh but Gail seems to have been given something to think about, and I wonder if she's remembering how suddenly people can pass away (remember Brian?).
Curly presents Angie with a cheque for £306 and when she inquires about the rest, hand over 100 quid in cash. Creative accounting practices although I suspect the creativity came straight out of Curly's own account. She is grateful for his "successful" efforts and promises to buy him a drink later to celebrate.
Alma and Audrey wander among the displays for all the night classes. Audrey is reluctant but Alma enthuses about all the things they could try. Audrey surmises that Alma is just interested in finding a new bloke and Alma protests just a little too much that isn't true! Alma spies a queue for conversational Spanish and drags Audrey over despite protests that you don't need Spanish to visit Spain. No keep your hands off is understood universally, Audrey reckons! LOL ! But Alma, who always wanted to learn another language, prevails and signs them up.
In the pub, Audrey and Alma return from registration and join Mavis and Derek in a booth. The conversation naturally turns to night classes. Mavis and Derek both enthuse about the classes they have taken in the past, Mavis with her pottery and English Literature and Derek revealing a class in photography in his past. They both confirm that you can meet wonderfully interesting people, mentioning two nuns and a tax man as proof of this. Alma whispers to Audrey, Courage! And Audrey deadpans, "I can hardly wait!"
Propping up the bar are Des and Jim. Des is positively polluted and Jim is egging him on, buying him more drinks. Des is sadly bleating about his failed marriage and blearily pointing in Liz's direction, reckoning that Liz will never leave Jim for another man. Jim, almost as hard up for the drink as Des, cheerfully (but well out of Liz's earshot) points out that no other man would want her (except, in about 2 years from now, your brother, Des me old mucker!) Betty finally refuses to serve Des and Jim helps Des stagger out of the pub and across the road, rather like the blind leading the blind!
Curly and Angie are having their drink when Vera passes by, stopping briefly to ask about the disappearance and reappearance of the shield. Curly doesn't elaborate but does tell Angie he used the shield to persuade Reg to pay her fee er expenses! Angie quickly picks up on this and correctly adds 2 and 2 together to make 100 and when she realizes Curly has paid out of his own pocket, insists he take the money back. She wants to be paid but not from him!
Gail sends Nicky to bed with an armload of clean laundry to be put away. She sits down with Martin and proposes a compromise. She still doesn't want to get married but since the thing he seems to be upset over most is that he has no legal rights to the kids, why doesn't he adopt them? Then they'll have his last name! What about her, she'll still be Mrs. Tilsley? She says she can change that easily enough and then they'll all be Platts! The kids will be his in name and by law! Martin thinks it over and smiles, she's got a deal!
Diane Johnston
Final appearance of Steph Barnes (AMELIA BULLMORE)
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Tuesday (3274, Wednesday 4 September 1991)
It's early morning on Coronation Street and who is this who is being awakened by the insistent ringing of his alarm clock? It's' a very hungover Des, who responds by viciously hurling the offending appliance at the wall. There!
A very different scene unfolds at the Platts' - well, it's the Platt- Tilsley's, at the moment, isn't it? Martin is discussing with Baby David the fact that ever since the Bible people have been having trouble keeping track of who begat whom. Isn't that right, Mother? he asks as Gail joins them. She doesn't answer to that name, she replies, never will, not if she lives to be 60! she responds - it's what old middle-aged men call their wives. "Well, you're not my wife, are you? asks Martin pointedly. "No, and I'm not your mother either!" replies Gail. But that's okay, she adds, as she says to baby David that "We're all going to become little Platties, now, aren't we, sweetheart?" Martin takes the opportunity to let Gail know that, while he's happy she hasn't changed her mind about the plan to have him adopt the children and change her own name to Platt - thereby unifying them at least nominally - it isn't what he wanted, which was for them to be married. He also says that he will look into the details of the adoption and name change, noting that since Gail isn't giving him *any* say in these matters (and he's right, she isn't), she can at least let him make some of the arrangements!
At Casa Curly, Angie is serving breakfast - ten crisp £10 notes artfully displayed on a plate. She is insisting on returning the £100 that Curly gave her. Curly insists that he wants to pay her for the design work she did on the Bettabuys float. Angie agrees that she wants to be paid, too - but by Bettabuys, NOT out of Curly's pocket. Curly says that he hired her and he feels he should pay her, but Angie recognizes this as a ruse on Curly's part - it's easier for him to take the loss from his own pocket than to confront Reg Holdsworth and make him face up to his debt! "You're taking the path of least resistance!" she points out. Fine, Curly acquiesces. He will talk to Reg again today. Oh no he won't - *Angie* will confront Reg and demand the £100 in question. Curly would rather she wouldn't - what she doesn't understand is that in business matters one must have a "modicum of decorum." "Modicum of decorum!?!" Angie spits. "God, you're even starting to SOUND like him!", meaning Reg. And anyway, Curly isn't being consulted on this particular decision of Angie's!
On the Street, RJack Duckworth is just leaving his abode, as are Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald next door. They briefly discuss the condition that Des went home in last night - an almost equally-drunken Jim poured him into his house. Jack can't understand why Des is taking things so hard, he says with the laissez faire attitude of someone who's discussing someone else's problem. Why, his marriage has just broken up! Liz reminds Jack. "Yes, but as I was telling him last night, he's young, There'll be another. So she's got a bonnie face. And good legs. And a sexy figure. Aye." says Jack having well and truly talked himself out of his point. As he departs, Liz urges Jim to check on Desmond. He is reluctant to intrude. "He won't thank me for sticking me nose in," Jim predicts. "You're not sticking your nose in - his marriage has just broken up!" retorts Liz. "Too wet behind the ears to get married in the first place," Jim mutters, causing Liz to retort that she and Jim were younger than Des and Steph when they got wed, and that "that could've been us, but for the grace of God - or a friend's shoulder." Jim finally agrees, saying that she's a soft Nelly, isn't she, for any lame dog... aye, well she married you and all, Jim. Whether the irony of his comment is lost on James, I don't know!
Seconds later we see a miserable, hungover Des stomping downstairs in response to Jim's bell. He's not best pleased to see anyone this morning but lets Jim in. "So people think I need minding now, do they?" he asks. No, no, says Jim, they're just concerned. "Well, they'd be right. Shouldn't be allowed out on me own. Any bloke who's too dim to notice his wife's fooling around with another fella." Jim protests that while 'dim' doesn't have anything to do with it, what about pride, Des? "Pride? What the hell does *pride* have to do with it?" replies Desmond. A lot, says Jim - you can't lose all your self- esteem just because your wife fancied another man. Desmond predictably responds that it would be different if it were Jim's wife having an affair, though, wouldn't it? "Do YOU know what it feels like to be dumped?" No, says Jim (ah, just hang on, lad. Hindsight's 20/20, so it is.) But Jim can imagine. No, he canNOT imagine, responds Des. Well, Jim knows that he would be angry. He knows he'd be upset. But he'd be damned if he'd let it cripple him for the rest of his life!
At the Caf, Alma and Gail are chatting about Alma's plans to take conversational Spanish. She thinks it might come in handy if she is ever asked to accompany some millionaire on his yacht in Puerto Something-or-Other! (Actually, Alma knew exactly where in Spain the millionaire's yacht would be. It's me who couldn't make it out.) The conversation takes a sudden turn towards Mike Baldwin, as Alma muses, "I wonder what 'will you help me set fire to this petrol station' is?" (in Spanish). "You don't hold things against him?" asks Gail. No, not after all that's happened, Saint Alma admits. Gail notes that now she and Mike are even - two ruined marriages each. "At least yours were both to the same bloke," observes Alma. Alma notes pointedly that failed past efforts aside, she'd jump pretty quick if some half-decent bloke offered her a gold ring! "If that is a reference to me and Martin," responds Gail, "he is adopting my kids, and I am changing my name."
Just then Sally comes in with Bebeh Roseh. She's been up crying since five o' clock with her teething (Rosie, not Sally) and poor Sal is exhausted. She needs a cuppa! "Changing your name, Gail?" asks Sally as she overhears Gail and Alma's conversation. "Are you getting married?". No - Gail has a "better" idea, and explains it to Sally. "Wouldn't it be easier to just get married?" asks Sally. "She doesn't like doing things simply, our Gail" understates Alma. Gail assures both friends that what Martin was really concerned about was his son not carrying on the Platt Dynasty (if *I* see that Martin's motives here are a lot more complex than that, and I only spend 20 minutes a week with the man, how can his spouse be so thick?); the kids will all be named Platt, as will Gail, and all will be well. "This arrangement suits us all," flatly declares the Little Dictator.
In the former Barnes marital boudoir, Des is sweeping cosmetics, hairbrushes and other feminine bric-a-brac into boxes. Hearing Phyllis downstairs, he shouts for her to come up. He's clearing the house of all things Steph - "Give me a half hour and you'll never know she'd lived here," he declares. Phyllis casts an eye over a pile of boxes. "What's all this?" she asks, picking up a photo album. "A pile of old junk she didn't want," says Des. "This is your wedding album!" says Phyllis in shock. "Yeah - like I said, a pile of old junk she didn't want." "Oh, you can't throw this away," protests Phyllis. "Why not? She threw the marriage away," responds Des tartly. "What's the point of keeping a few scraps of photographs around?" Phyllis is leafing through the album. "Oh, she were a lovely bride," she says. "Yes," Des continues acidly, "She were a very pretty woman, my wife. Everybody said so." Maybe that's where he went wrong, he muses. Should've married someone with a face like the back of a bus. Phyllis tries to convince him to keep the wedding photos. "Someday you'll be able to look at this and it won't hurt," she assures him. "Doesn't hurt now," says Des matter-of-factly, looking at the book. "You know, when I look at these two, smilin' their silly heads off, they're strangers - and what's the point cluttering up the house with pictures of strangers, eh?"
At Bettabuys, Vera greets Curly in a lovely little scene. "Oh, how's me favourite ex-lodger, today, then?" she asks brightly. "You're wheedling, Vera," deadpans Curly. "I know," she says with a charming smile and cock of her head. "I hate it when you wheedle," Curly continues. "It's not necessary. If you want to know something, just be up front about it." All right then - what was all that between Curly and " 'is 'oliness" yesterday, and with Curly nicking the shield (the award plaque the store won for its Carnival float)? He didn't *nick* it, Curly protests, he just "took charge" of it. All right, agrees Vera, but what about it? He did say be up front! Curly looks left and right and conspiratorially asks Vera, "Can I trust you?" (Good Lord, did he fall off that float onto his little winged helmet?) "With yer life, Chuck," assures Vera. Well, confides Curly, "it's not that momentous, it's just that Angie was upset because Mr. Holdsworth has reneged on his promise to pay her for designing the float." Vera's face is a picture of outrage and horror. "He *never*!" she sputters. "What's 'reneged'?" (LOL). "You know," Curly carries on. "Rescinded. Retracted. Didn't do." "Rotten swine," says Vera. "Now, can I trust you?" asks Curly. "Oh, yes," says RVera, just before turning to say to another Bettabuys staffer, "'ere, 'e's just been tellin' me what a dirty trick 'oldsworth played!" Vera quickly turns back to a stricken-looking Curly to add, "I'm not giving any secrets away 'cause she already knows."
Just then Angie strides up. "Don't look so shocked," she says to Curly. "I told you I'd come." Vera gives her full moral support! (Few Street actors do a wholly unjustified sense of moral outrage than Elizabeth Dawn.) "You stand up for your rights, Chuck," she urges. "He'd not have done that to you if you'd a been a man." "I think you hit the nail on the head, there, Vera," agrees Angie (and me, for that matter, this time). "Or a PC," continues Vera. "A what?" asks Angie. "I think she means a QC," corrects Curly. "Vera's delusion is that if she came back in another life she'd make it big in the law courts. I think she may be right. She's certainly got the gift of the gob," he concludes, looking pointedly at Vera. "Yeh, well, you just go in there and give 'im 'ell, flower," encourages Vee. "Aren't you needed in Cut Meats, Vera?" snaps Curly. Vera manages to throw a few more candidates for insults to be used on Reg Holdsworth (including "miserable toe-rag") at Angie before she leaves. When she has parted, Curly has a quiet word with Angie. He knows she wants to have it out with Reg, but Reg is off out to Chair a meeting of Branch Managers, which to him is the equivalent of being Speaker of the House of Lords! This delay isn't just a ploy to put her off, is it? asks Angie. "Could I put you off?" asks Curly hopefully. "No," confirms Angie. Well, in that case, it's not a ploy. More of a tactic. Many battles are won by choosing your moment - or *not*, he goes on. Angie agrees to delay for a day - but she'll be back to do battle with the dragon Reg tomorrow - and she'll nail him then even if he's off for an audience with the Queen!
Curly does try to have one more go at Reg as he's leaving for his Branch Managers' Meeting about the matter but is told in no uncertain terms that Reg's decision is final. Frustrated, Curly goes into the Bettabuys accounting office and hands something to Dennis Proctor, the accountant. "What's this?" asks Dennis. "It's an account for payment," replies Curly, for the Bettabuys carnival float. Dennis has already written a cheque for that, he says (but we know that that merely covered Angie's £360 worth of expenses, and not her £100 designer fee). Curly says as much to Dennis, who replies that nobody told him anything about a "designer's fee". "Well, I'm telling you now, Dennis," says Curly, "and I'm authorizing it." "This is irregular," comments Dennis. "Of course it's irregular," says Curly, "how often do we have a float in a flamin' carnival???" It's a billable item, says Curly, £100, and she would like it in cash, please!
In the corner shop, Sally is nattering on to Audreh about a cute dress the lady in the second-hand-shop set aside for Rosie. Audreh admires the little garment and reminisces about when she was expecting Gail, she wanted a "little girl with lovely hair that I could put satin ribbons in." She got it, she said - the only time she ever got what she wanted! (Yes, but Audrey, did you realize that forty years on your little girl would still have the same hairstyle?) Gail was like a little doll, Audrey recalls. Sally smiles that Sara Louise is like little doll too, and then drops a clanger when she asks how Audreh feels about Gail and Martin's plans? Audreh looks uncomprehending. You know, Sally goes on - Gail changing her name to Platt, and Martin adopting the kiddies so they'll be Platts too. Sally professes shock when she realizes that Audreh didn't know ("I thought she would've told her *own mother*!" she declares sanctimoniously) but I can't help but think that she figured out why Audreh's mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish's long before she pretended to!
A little earlier, we saw a very brief scene of Martin wheeling Bebeh David into the Citizens' Advice Bureau (if these are what they appear to be - one-stop public advice centres - what a good idea! I wish we had them here!) Now we eavesdrop as he chats with A Very Nice Lady about how to go about making the planned name changes. As for Gail changing her name from Tilsley to Platt, there appears to be no problem, says the Very Nice Lady. She doesn't even have to change it via deed poll. Martin is pleased at this news, and moves on to the other; his adoption of all the children. "Well, *that* is not going to be quite so straightforward, I'm afraid," says the Very Nice Lady.
Des has obviously decided to take a very "hands-on" approach to his decision to chuck Steph out of his life. He's driven right to the municipal dump and is personally chucking her stuff on the trash heap! As he throws the boxes containing the vestiges of their life together out of the back of his car, the wedding album falls to the ground. Des picks it up and considers it for but a moment before, with an air of satisfaction, hurling it to the top of the rubbish pile. He gets back into his car and then, as an afterthought, he takes off his wedding ring and drops it out the car window and onto the ground before driving off.
Ad break! Gold Bond medicated powder soothes itchy skin! Now in extra strength formula. (If your skin is *that* itchy, shouldn't you get it looked into?) Eggs are good for you. And Bangkok Hilton was to be shown on WTN last night. That's it. You across the pond get all the good ads in Corrie.
Not surprisingly, Audreh has headed straight over to the Caf to confront Gail about this plan of hers. "I don't know *how* I gave birth to such a perverse child," wonders Audreh. "I mean, I'm not perverse, am I, Alma?" she asks. "Not if you get your own road, no," Alma agrees. "I'm not being perverse, mother," says Gail, "I am just doing what feels right." But it's so *peculiar*, Audreh says. "You're going about it in such a cockeyed way. Unless of course, he won't marry you!" Is Martin afraid of taking the final step, she prys? No, says Gail shortly. "'Course," Audreh goes on, "I can understand why he'd be scared, him being so much younger than you are!" "Thanks for reminding me, Mam!" blurts Gail exasperatedly. Should she talk to him, Audrey offers helpfully? Gail is nearly at the end of her rope in this very funny scene. No, it's nothing to do with you, she insists and stalks off to clean tables. Audrey says that she has already seen Gail suffer so much unhappiness in her life, she just doesn't want to see Gail make a mistake that will lead to more. Gail assures her that she and Martin are doing this because they *are* very happy together and just want to tie up some loose ends. "You don't object to the name Platt, do you?" she inquires. "Well, I've never had any great love for the name Tilsley!" Audreh agrees. (Can you IMAGINE when IVY finds out???) But why can't they do it with a wedding certificate instead of an adoption certificate, continues Audrey? That's what she wants to know. That's what everybody will want to know. Well, says Gail, they will just have to carry on wanting, won't they? Because it's *their* decision, *their* choice. "Oh, Gail," sighs a still-unsatisfied Audrey.
Des is home. As he is carrying his briefcase, it looks like he at least managed to go to work today. As he throws the case on the sofa with an air of unhappiness, the doorbell rings. It's Liz. "I suppose you're wondering which meddling busybody this is?" she asks. "Course not," says Des, then confesses, "Well, yeah. They do seem to be coming out of the woodwork at an amazing rate." Liz tells him that people just want to help. "Do they?" asks Des bitterly, "or just feast like vultures on the bones?" "Oh, Des," says Liz. "Some of them are genuinely caring. Everyone's been through their own bad patch. It's not a time to shut yourself off." Liz invites him to come to their place for tea. No thanks, says Des - Phyllis will have left him something - she always does. She's taking good care of him - look at how tidy she is keeping the house. It wasn't like that when Steph was here, he says. As soon as she was through the door, coat, bag, shoes, it all went flying in all directions. The place even smells different now, he adds poignantly. Her perfume isn't here anymore. "I used to walk through that door and know instantly if she was home," he reminisces. Liz promises that with the passage of time it will be a bit more bearable. "You can guarantee that, can ya?" Des asks miserably. No, Liz can't, she can't guarantee anything - except that they're there if he needs them.
Curly is home and triumphantly shows Angie not only £100 in cash, but a statement showing that the money came from Bettabuys accounts as payment for her services, and not out of his own pocket this time. "What made them change their mind?" she asks. "I just used a little initiative," says Curly in a remarkable use of understatement. "Aw Curly," says Angie, "I shoulda trusted you. I shoulda known you wouldn't let me down."
At the Tilsley/Platt House of Nomenclature, Martin is taking something out of the oven for tea. Gail admires it and reaches for a taste but Martin waves her off. "Ooh, I love it when you're masterful," Gail teases, adding that she doesn't like it as much when *other* people tell her what to do. She shares with Martin her exasperation at Audrey's interference. "She prefers if we get married," says Gail. Martin can't get too worked up - after all, he reminds Gail, he's on Audrey's side on that one! Gail says that she just resents people acting as if they don't know what they're doing when they do. Ah, well, that's the other thing, says Martin. Maybe they don't know what they're doing as much as they thought they did. He tells Gail about his trip to the Citizens Advice Bureau today, and first gives her the good news: Gail's changing her name will be relatively simple. Now the bad news - it's not as easy as all that when it comes to adopting the kids. They're going to have to go before a Judge, Martin tells her, "and more than likely he's going to want to know why we're not married!" You can imagine it, Martin says, taking on a Deep Judicial Voice: "And you say you want to make a lifelong commitment to these children, Mr. Platt, but you're not prepared to enter into a similar commitment with their mother! I find this rather odd!" "You mean he might refuse?" Gail asks. Yes, they could do. According to the woman from Citizen's Advice, their being married isn't an essential requirement, but if they're not, well, it won't help. Gail sighs.
In the Rovers, Phyllis (whose hair just matches her lavender-pink sweater today, a lovely touch) is opining to Vera and Liz that Steph "wants her bottom slapped" (oy, you, down in the back, we didn't say we were taking volunteers!). "She'll wake up one day to realize she's lost a lovely lad," she continues. Liz mentions that she invited Des to tea today but he didn't come. "Leave the boy alone," opines Jim, who's been listening. "He probably just wants to lick his wounds in peace." But here comes Des now, with a big smile for all. "I decided to take your advice," he says to Liz, who says she's glad to hear it. Des orders a spritzer - "I'm not going to do me falling down drunk act two nights in a row," he laughs. "Good, 'cause I'm not going to do me carryin' you home act two nights in a row," agrees Jim. Curly joins them. How is he, asks Des. "Rather chuffed with meself, as I've just carried out a rather neat bit of negotiation," Curly says, "can I buy you a drink?"
What's that about Soap Opera Phrases of Doom? For just then, Reg Holdsworth heaves onto the horizon. "I'd like to have a word with you, Mr. Watts," he says. (Honestleh, if my boss followed me into my local to discuss business I'd kill her, I really would.) Curly follows Reg to a corner of the Rovers. It seems that Reg "ran into Mr. Proctor today on the way back from my meeting. Dennis Proctor, from Accounts." "We've only got one Dennis Proctor," points out Curly, puncturing Reg's dramatic delivery. "He was very agitated about a highly unorthodox transaction," continues Reg, "which he was forced to participate in. I take it Mr. Watts knows the transaction to which I am referring?" "Of course," replies a defiant Curly. It was the payment for Ms. Freeman's float design fee, and Curly makes a good show of standing his ground about it! Reg says the transaction documentation was "false" because Curly, not he, signed it. Curly waffles beautifully that he though that in balance, all things being equal, perhaps Reg didn't have the time? "I am aware," he says, putting a hand on Reg's shoulder which Reg gazes at as if a pigeon had pooped on his jacket, "of the high-octane pressure you operate under and take it as part of my job to relieve some of that pressure." "It is *not* part of your job to flout my authority, or the company's rules!" says a near-apoplectic Reg. "Angie - Ms. Freeman - is a friend," continues Curly, and he doesn't let his friends down. "Ah, well, that's another thing, isn't it," Reg spits. " Abelard and Heloise! Samson and Delilah! Me and Mrs. Holdsworth!" "Wha?" asks a baffled Curly. "Whenever a strong man crumbles, it is always a case of 'cherchez la femme'!" LOL! If Curly's friend had been a man, Reg continues, he'd wager that Curly wouldn't be in this pickle - and pickle is precisely what it is, a whole JAR of pickles! (Ever the grocer.)
Curly now puts his arm around Reg's shoulders (!) and says in a reasonable tone that he admits he has bent the rules a little, and he is sorry if he has caused any inconvenience, but he is sure all that needs to be done for everybody to be happy is for Reg to countersign the document - the invoice for Angie's fee. Oh, no, no, says Reg. "Two wrongs don't make a right. There's no way I'd put my name to such subterfuge" (has the Personality Transplant Fairy been around for a visit, then?) and even if he were willing to, it would be too late." "What do you mean, too late?" asks RCurly. With smugness pouring out of his ears, Reg informs Curly that the auditors are coming in tomorrow. The whole details of this sordid little affair will be brought to light. "You took the law into your own hands!" declares Reg grandly, (such hyperbole, to be fair, can be better understood if you realize his entire worldview does largely consist of a meat counter and four rows of freezers), "and now you're up to your neck in the brown mucky stuff, my heady young friend! Good evening to you!" He sweeps out, leaving a crestfallen Curly in his wake.
ronniecat
Citizens' Advice Bureau Advisor (Very Nice
Lady) - ALEX HALL; Dennis Proctor - DAVID WOODCOCK
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Wednesday (3275, Friday 6 September 1991)
Today's episode opens at Angie's and Curly's residence, where Curly is struggling with his tie in preparation for work. When Angie brings up her design fee, and the trouble Curly may be in over his way of acquiring it from Bettabuys, Curly abruptly leaves.
Across the road, Martin and Gail are discussing Martin's plans to adopt Gail's kids. Martin despondently points out that he has no job, no prospects, and that a judge could easily say no to his adoption petition on those grounds. He points out to Gail that the kids could end up being terribly disappointed it that happened, so he's decided to drop the whole matter.
Curly has arrived at work, and is desperately looking through the petty cash box for the docket he signed for Angie's design fee when the auditors arrive. Curly claims he is looking for staff sickness records, but Mr. Proctor, one of the auditors, tells him he's looking in the wrong file, and hands the petty cash records to his partner.
At the corner shop, Phyllis and Audrey are discussing the recent departure of Steph. Sally enters, and Audrey reminds her of their agreement that Sally will work that evening so that she and Alma can attend their first conversational Spanish class. As Phyllis leaves the shop, she bumps into Mavis and comments that Derek must miss Steph. When Mavis remarks that she's not sure what Phyllis means, Phyllis replies that Derek will no longer have anyone to "ogle!"
Meanwhile, at the cafe, Angie and Alma are having a chat about Alma's plans to study conversational Spanish. When Angie asks if Alma is planning a vacation in Spain, Alma replies that she won't be going soon, although she's always fancied buying a little bar on the Costa del Sol. Angie suggests that a course on assertiveness might be more appropriate for that, but Alma replies that she's never fancied doing something like that. "Strong willed women end up on their own," is her conclusion. Gail isn't speaking, but it's clear from the expression on her face that Alma's remark has her thinking. Alma goes on to say that men are off her menu, while Angie remarks that Gail has a good man.
In Reg Holdsworth's office, Curly asks him if he could counter-sign the docket for Angie's design fee, but Reg declines, stating that that would only make matters worse by turning the transaction into a cover-up. Curly even offers to pay back the fee with his own cheque, but Reg draws a parallel between the trouble Nixon created for himself by covering for a subordinate. Curly argues that Angie was entitled to her fee, but Reg merely harps on about Curly undermining his authority. The only hope he holds out for Curly is that perhaps the auditors won't notice.
Back at the cafe, Gail tells Alma that Martin is scrapping his adoption idea, and explains that he doesn't want to risk a judge saying no to his petition, and disappointing the kids. When Alma asks Gail how she feels about it, Gail's response is that she feels "like a heel." Alma can't understand why Gail is allowing "a piece of paper" (a marriage certificate) to cause her so much aggravation. Gail's attitude is that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but Alma wonders out loud how long things will stay "unbroke," if Gail allows Martin to continue to brood over the matter.
At Bettabuys, Curly, who is obviously stressed-out over the situation with the auditors, is giving Vera a hard time for the state of the store freezers. Vera compares him to a "bear with a sore whatsits," and calls Reg Holdsworth an "old skinflint" for trying to cheat Angie out of her design fee. At that very moment, Reg appears and tells Curly that the auditors have found the docket in question.
Gail is just hanging up the phone at the cafe, and explains to Alma that she's been talking to her own solicitor, who agrees that a judge would have all sorts of reasons to deny Martin the opportunity to adopt her kids. Alma wonders if Gail called her own solicitor because she doubted Martin's explanation, but Gail immediately says that she'd never doubt Martin, who is as honest as the day is long, to which Alma responds, "and you won't marry him...."
In the Rover's Return, Jim MacDonald is bemoaning the fact that Steve wants to quit school. Jack reminisces about his own youth, when he quit school and took a job working as a binman. He thought he had it made when he received his first paycheque. Meanwhile, Mavis and Betty discuss the recent breakup of Steph and Des. The discussion moves to the possibility that Des may want to make up for lost time now by throwing a few wild parties. Mavis looks concerned.
Curly and Vera are having a discussion when Angie arrives. Vera compliments her again on the costumes for the Bettabuys float, and remarks that she could have been a model in her younger days, except that her mother thought that "model," was simply another euphemism for an older profession. Curly sends her off with a flea in her ear, and Angie tells him that she was concerned about his abrupt departure that morning. Just then, Curly sees Reg with the auditor. As the auditor leaves the store, Curly asks what's going to be done about his going over Reg's head to acquire Angie's fee. Reg mithers on, but eventually says that it will be reported to Head Office. However, Reg assures him that he'll intercede on Curly's behalf, point out that he has had an exemplary career with Bettabuys, and tells him not to worry.
Back at the cafe, Des is finishing his tea, and tells Gail that he met Martin earlier in the day as he was out walking the baby. He wistfully comments that perhaps if he and Steph had had kids, they would still be married. He knows that Gail and Martin aren't married, but he makes it clear that kids often bring and keep people together.
The discussion between Angie and Curly continues, and Angie wishes that Curly hadn't put his job on the line for her fee -- she's grateful, but now she feels responsible for the trouble Curly has created for himself. Curly reassures Angie that Reg has offered to intercede on his behalf and put in a good word for him. Angie compares that to a reference from Attila the Hun!
Alma and Audrey arrive at their night school class, and timidly enter a class already in session. An irritated Spanish teacher asks them to be seated, but she does in it Spanish, so neither Alma nor Audrey understand. The teacher, Senora Robinson, asks in Spanish what their names are, but again, neither woman understands what she is saying. Out of patience, the teacher asks for their names in English, tells them to sit down, and informs them that from now on, only the Spanish language will be spoken in the classroom.
Gail and Martin send Nick off the bed. Gail looks incredibly happy, and we're about to learn why very soon, but first...
At the Rover's Return, Mavis tells Derek that she doesn't think she could tolerate a lot of loud parties at Des' home, next door. Meanwhile, Des orders a pint while Jack lets him know that he wouldn't mind being invited to one of his parties. Des sits down at the same booth with Derek and Mavis, and tells them not to feel bad about the break-up of his marriage. Then he asks if they know anyone who might like to buy his home.
Reg arrives at the bar and takes Curly aside. He won't put in a good word for Curly over the fee fiasco, because the person who will be investigating the issue is none other than the dreaded Brendan Scott.
Back at Gail's and Martin's, the children are finally in bed. Gail admits to Martin that she must be the most selfish person in the world, and she's decided to change all that. She kneels on the floor in front of Martin and pops the question. "Will you marry me?" Martin can't believe his ears and asks if this is some sort of joke, but Gail tells him that she was wrong, and was just being selfish when she refused to marry him. He asks if she changed her mind because of the adoption issue, but Gail tells him that she loves him, the kids love him, she loves what they have together, and she wants to keep it that way. A giggling Martin tells her he may need a few days to think about it, but then sweeps her into his arms, spins around the room as he yells "YES, YES, OH YES." Gail warns him he might wake up the kids, but Martin doesn't care if he wakes up the whole flamin' street!
Heather Morlan
Senora Robinson: FENELLA NORMAN; Dennis Proctor:
DAVID WOODCOCK
Written by HARRY DUFFIN Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Thursday (3276, Monday 9 September 1991)
It's another sunny Weatherfield morning.
Curly is obsessing about the 100 quid disbursement that he was not authorized to make. A sleepy Angie sips her tea and remembers that she heard Reg in the pub discussing with Alec the ethics of hiring a professional to do the float. Curly only seems to be half listening as he impatiently and with increasing agitation assumes the worse of Reg who will no doubt conveniently forget agreeing to the fee in front of all and sundry in the Rovers. Certainly Brendan Scott won't care either since he's going to want revenge on Curly over the Miss Bettabuys/hotel room/Asti Spumante incident of a few months back. Angie sees the problem and earnestly warns Curly to make sure they sack him rather than persuade him to hand in his notice. It's much better for claiming benefits! She even tries to accept the blame for the whole situation but Curly gallantly and rightly puts the blame squarely at the feet of Reg Holdsworth and leaves for work.
Outside, as he's getting into his car, Martin drives up with a cheerful hello as he gets out of his car. Curly just grunts and drives away, hunched over the wheel aggressively, leaving Martin to wonder who peed in Curly's cornflakes (well he didn't say that exactly, but that was certainly implied given Curly's mood!) Gail and Nicky, dressed for school are with him, Sarah Lou and David obviously dropped at the child minder already. Nicky must obviously be in today's show due to actors' union enforcing a contract clause which determines how many appearances per month an actor gets, regardless of adding absolutely nothing to the plot. Well, anyway, the three of them are gathered in front of number 5. Nicky is warned to behave and Martin grabs the lad and pulls him close to be used as a human shield in case Granny Ivy decides not to behave.
Don answers the door and immediately assumes that there is something wrong as does Ivy when she sees the visitors at such an early visit. Gail takes a deep breath for courage and they break the news about their impending marriage. Ivy's jaw drops and a look of shock passes over her face but she recovers her composure enough to thank them for telling her though she doesn't see what it has to do with her. Don, on the other hand is dead chuffed for Martin and Gail who invite the Brennans to the Rovers for a drink that evening. Don hugs them and invites them to stop for tea but Gail declines since they still have to go to tell Audrey. Don teases them, chiding that this is what they've been waiting to hear for a long time. Ivy finally catches her breath and hastily agrees, pasting a bit of a smile on her gob. You know the sort, the kind that peels away a little around the edges!
Alec is reviewing a list of supplies that Victoria will need for her next term at boarding school while Bet contentedly arranges a lovely bouquet of flowers in a vase on the bar. Carnations, baby's breath and greenery I think. Alec assures Vicky that she'll have everything she needs. It seems to him thought, that Vicky is unsure about returning to school. She does want to go, especially as all her friends are there , only is it all right about the money? They realize that was worrying her and both Bet and Alec assure her that the money is there for her and Alec explains about probate. That must mean that Alec will pay the fees and get reimbursed --- which has the potential for allegations of misuse of funds if I know Alec!
More celebrations in the corner shop. Audrey is jubilant and there are joyful hugs all around. Audrey is a bit miffed that she wasn't the very first to find out, mind you. Gail decided it was better to tell Ivy first in case she came in to the shop and got her knickers in a knot hearing it from Audrey. (Well, if she went directly from Ivy's to the shop, surely she could have done the same in reverse!!) Well you know how Ivy is! Audrey laughs and agrees, figuring Ivy would pull one of her faces and proceeds to do a facial imitation of Ivy which had me on the floor! Audrey pulls her chin down, sucks in her cheeks and draws her lips together in a tightly knit purse while looking up through her bangs with wide disapproving eyes! Too funny! Audrey is invited to the Rovers for the celebration as well and will definitely be there with bells on, if only to have a good excuse for getting out of the Spanish class with Alma!
Curly straightens up, having had his head in a freezer examining a problem with some stock. Reg arrives and informs him not to take his lunch as Brendan Scott will be around about 1. Curly makes noises about word breaking which elicits an objection from Reg, especially when Curly reminds Reg of his promise in the pub to which Alec Gilroy would probably remember. Ah yes, another one of your friends, you all stick together, you lot! Reg tries to persuade Curly that Brendan Scott is only trying to use Curly to get at Reg so he's not going to intercede lest he give Scott any ammunition, given the way Bettabuys has operated since Brendan Scott climbed up a few rungs in the organization. It makes the Roman Empire and Lucretia Borgia look like the boy Scouts! Reg has worked himself in to a defensive lather, assuring Curly that he can best do damage control with head office by staying out of the whole situation. He still has some influence there despite Brendan Scott. Damage Limitation, Mr. Watts,! Curly resentfully accuses Reg of only wanting his name out of it. Reg reminds Curly of his own guilty involvement by pointing out that people in rubber boats should avoid the temptation to go thrashing about with knives at other people's backs!
We next see Curly sitting across the desk and under the baleful gaze of the odious Brendan Scott. (this man's eyes are way too close together and if he had had a mustache, I'm certain he'd be twirling it!) Brendan fires the first shot Does Curly have any justification for what he did?. Curly stutters and begins to explain but he is cut off. Brendan doesn't care what his justification is, only that he believes he had one. Not that that's any excuse for what he did. Once a manager is able to justify breaking the rules, Brendan points out, he is on a slippery slope, or rather a vertical drop! Curly looks duly chastened, bracing himself for the inevitable. He accepts the guilt for the unauthorized payment, contravening the rules. Scott informs him he must now perform the unpleasant duty of levying the consequences. He hands Curly a letter, offering to read it out loud but Curly salvages a small modicum of dignity and reads it himself. He looks up in astonishment and Brendan nods, yes, he prefers to give good news of promotions and that letter, once signed, would have given Curly the Supreme Executive Power over his own kingdom, er, branch of Bettabuys in Myles Platting. But that was before the unfortunate incident at hand came to light at Head Office. Because of this little lapse he is to be officially reprimanded but not sacked! Yay! Curly is dismissed and asked to fetch Reg.
Who happens to be lurking in the stairwell outside the office, hoping to overhear anything. He and Curly snap at each other as they pass and Reg goes in the office, ordering Curly to deal with a delivery just arriving. Inside, Reg closes the door and asks how Curly took the news. They discuss Curly in general and in glowing terms as a good company man. Brendan does not hide the fact that he believes Curly was delegated a good deal more of the responsibility of running the store than the average assistant manager. That was probably why he thought he had the authorization to make the payment. Reg sidesteps that by asking if Curly's chances for promotion will not be harmed in the future. Reg makes a very pointed remark about Brendan's ability to get ahead as well as his ability to hold a man down. Brendan smiles and says it's hard to keep a good man down. (Ouch!)
Outside, Curly is seeing off the delivery van as Brendan emerges from the darkness of the open bay doors. As he approaches his car, he asks after Miss Bettabuys, wondering if Curly still sees the lady in question (with a slimy leer on that face which is so thin he could fall on a pin and blind himself in both eyes!) Curly informs him that Raquel has gone on to bigger and better things as a photographic model. Ah well, then, Brendan offers, when you see her picture in a magazine you can always remember the night he laid (hesitates) the foundations of her new career! (what a creep!) Curly asks if Reg knew about the promotion. Ah I was wondering when that would occur to you, the answer is, of course, yes! He drives away leaving Curly with a sinking feeling in his stomach and growing rage of righteous indignation.
Ivy tries to get out of attending the celebrations at the Rovers with Gail and Martin by telling Don she doesn't feel very sociable tonight. (I'll just bet!) Don reminds her that they were also invited round for another celebration, Bet and Alec's fourth anniversary! Ivy also wants to know what will happen to Sarah Louise and Nicky if Gail marries Martin because she'll be a Platt then won't she? Will they automatically be Platts too? Don sees where this is going and he doesn't like it. So what? Is it that important? She snaps that it most certainly is so he loses his temper, accusing her (yet again) of being obsessed with Tilsleys. Well he's sick of hearing the name. Having a proper family will be good for them kiddies so be happy for them. Leave the dead to rest in peace and the living to get on with it, Ivy! Ivy's face reflects bitterness and a shadow of grief but no happiness.
This would be Spanish class. A woman is speaking in a foreign language that could be Spanish but what do I know? I don't speak it! A few of the students are taking notes. More than a few look utterly lost and confused, having no idea what she's saying. Senora Robinson's voice is filled with exasperation as nobody "comprendez" what she says but a dim light seems to go on over Alma's head as she recognizes a word or two relating to Next Week and 6:30, apparently a time switch for next week's class. They are dismissed with a Hasta La Vista and they all filter out into the foyer. Who should be descending a staircase but Ken Barlow who has been taking a night course in wine tasting. The two practically run to each other in their pleasure to see each other's familiar face. They chat about each other's class and decide to go for a drink somewhere. Ken leaves Alma's side to tell a fellow student that he won't be coming back for coffee, the nucleus for a lonely hearts club, he tells Alma, that he's well glad to be away from. While he's making his excuses, one of Alma's classmates gushes over the dishy Ken and is pleased to hear he's only a neighbour of Alma's. Alma tells Ken about the "dishy" thing which makes him glance over at the woman and rudely comment that the term dates the woman who probably qualifies at her age for free specs (let me tell you that woman looked younger than BOTH Alma and Ken and he's about as dishy as a faded, cracked and chipped old dinner plate I have, a remnant of the custody agreement from my marriage!) Anyway, Ken and Alma agree to avoid the Rovers as they neither of them are in no mood for anniversary celebrations.
Curly arrives at Gail's house where Angie is babysitting. Sarah Lou and David are apparently in bed but Nicky is up and tickled to find out that Curly comes armed with ice cream that they can all eat themselves sick on. (WHAT is this child doing here!) He tells Angie he didn't get the sack and will tell her all about it because he thinks he's beginning to understand the implications of it all, or rather, his thinking is getting bent enough to follow it. He gives Angie a heads up on the outcome, including the fact that Reg knew about the promotion and setting this whole thing up to knobble his chances of career advancement as usual. Curly's eyes are flashing in moral outrage, smoke is wafting from under his collar (remember the Adrian Gosthorpe confrontation? He's getting close to that maniacal state!) Angie thinks surely Reg couldn't have orchestrated the *whole* thing but is assured that she doesn't know Reg. The perfect job for him is wallpapering a spiral staircase! He'd do it because he knows the branch would go downhill quickly without Curly there to keep it running. Curly hisses and spits at the injustice of it all and vows fervently to bring Reg down. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next week, but he will have his revenge. Oh yes! He will bring Reg down, it's his solemn vow with Angie as his witness! Angie correctly points out that it's probably exactly what Brendan Scott has in mind, Curly can do his dirty work for him. Curly agrees but it doesn't seem to matter!
Over at the Rovers, there is the usual banter about the sanctity of marriage. In the back, Alec forbids Vicky to go say good bye to Steve and Andy, telling her that those lads are drawn to trouble and he doesn't want Vicky to be drawn to it either. Vicky stomps up the stairs with the typical teenage knot in the face. Alec has to fend off Liz's "What lads?" (knowing full well her lads are the ones in question) Alec just puts her off with comments about Victoria's sheltered life. Jim later notices a few barbed comments Liz makes to him about Alec and is told she will fill him in later.
A lovely white cake, encircled by a blue ribbon and topped with Alec's favourite, marzipan, is presented by Betty. Alec kisses Betty on the cheek in thanks, causing a few ribald comments from the gallery. Even Des puts on a happy face for Bet and Alec though when nobody's looking, he looks more like his theme song is Tears of a Clown. Alec cuts the cake, makes a short speech, kisses Bet and grabs her bum to the glee of the crowd and offers a round of drinks for the regulars on him. That's good timing as Martin, Gail and Audrey have just arrived. Martin soon takes the opportunity to announce their engagement. Betty admits they all already know but Martin adds that the ceremony will be the 27th of this month and they're all invited! Toasts are drunk and Don quietly suggests Ivy congratulate them. She takes out that smile that she used earlier in the day, slaps it on and raises her glass in the general direction of the happy couple.
Diane Johnston
Brendan Scott - MILTON JOHNS; Senora Robinson
- FENELLA NORMAN; Lady from night school - JEAN BURSTON
Written by JULIAN ROACH Directed by MERVYN CUMMING
Friday (3277, Wednesday 11 September 1991)
On the heels of last evening's celebrations, Martin and Gail are both in fine happy moods this morning. As Gail gets ready to go to work, Martin is telling her his family's reaction to the news of their engagement. As was the case with Audreh, they were all very pleased to hear it. Mind you, his mother did assume it would be a church affair. Martin pauses to gage Gail's response and seeing she doesn't say anything, he hints that he might prefer a "traditional" wedding himself. Half in earnest, whole in jest, she tells him that if that's the plan, she won't be in the wedding photos! He decides against making an issue of it, letting go of the idea rather than insisting. (Good thinking, Martin - she's already made the biggest concession!)
As they sort through Vicky's clothing in the parlour, Bet comments that she's going to be needing some new things before she heads back to school. Vicky's face lights up when Bet suggests they pop into town to get some shopping in. Alec comes in and upon hearing of their plans, makes a point of saying that he wants them to get whatever is needed, not to worry about the expense! He holds up Vicky's lacrosse stick, which appears tattered and worn, and says it ought to be replaced and all. Vicky protests that she doesn't need one of her own but he insists, no granddaughter of his is going to have to borrow one at school!
At the Brennans', Don is chuckling over Alec's ploy for getting out of offering free booze during last night's celebrations - using Vicky's bedtime as an excuse for not inviting them through to the back. Ivy snorts that there are more important matters to concern themselves with than getting free beer! She is worried that Martin will want to adopt "them kiddies" once he and Gail are married. Don gives her one of his, "Oh, Ivy - can't you just leave it?", speeches, ending by saying that as they are happy now, she should be grateful! But, as Ivy points out, (as only Ivy can!) "There's more to life than happiness, Don!" He returns, "You don't have to tell *me* that, Ivy!", before slamming the door on his way out.
In the cafe, Alma is teasing Audreh about missing last night's Spanish class. She paints a picture of being "overwhelmed with" blokes. Audreh wonders why the blokes were so scarce the night *she* was there! Then Alma tells her about going for a drink with Ken Barlow, whom, she says she needed to take refuge with from all the other blokes. Audreh immediately assumes there's a romance in the pipelines but Alma assures her it's strictly platonic! (Famous last words!) Audreh clings to her own notions and as she leaves, Alma turns to Gail and jokingly wonders what they should do about her. With Audreh gone, Alma confides that Ken is coming around for a meal tonight, just so she can repay the favour. Gail seems to be reading as much into the situation as her mother but again, Alma insists they are only friends! Gail doesn't seem at all convinced.
As Alec gets the bar ready for opening, Bet and Vicky come through and announce they are off for a day of shopping and some lunch. He tells them to have a nice time but is taken aback when Bet assures him that she always has a fine time when she's out spending his money! Alec is tongue-tied until Liz and Betty come in, having just met Bet and Vicky going out. Betty glowingly tells him what a grand lass Vicky is and Liz quickly agrees. To their surprise Alec snaps back that yes, she is and what has *that* got to do with their being late! He retreats to the back leaving Betty to wonder aloud what his problem is! Liz tells her she thinks he's still sulking over Vicky hanging around her lads and Betty nods and says he could have a point. "What does that mean?", inquires Liz incredulously. Betty tells her it was only a joke - she doesn't know which is worse, an overprotective mother or a besotted granddad!
As Martin is walking down the Street, Kevin pulls up in a customer's flash car. They both stand admiring it for a minute, speculating on how people can afford such luxuries. Kevin points out that what they have - family - is far more important. Martin agrees then shyly works up to asking Kevin for a "favour" - he'd like to have him stand as best man. Kevin readily agrees, telling Martin he would be "dead honoured".
Alec returns to the bar where Liz is busily getting set up for the day. He apologises for being snappish earlier, he's just having an off day. She accepts his apology and asks about Bet and Vicky's shopping trip. Alec explains that they went to refurbish Vicky's wardrobe for her new term and Liz asks if he'll be sorry to see her go. Of course he will, he tells her, but that's where she belongs, it's where her friends are. Besides, boarding school will afford her a better start, won't it? "I suppose, if you can afford it.", Liz agrees. Alec sniffs with an air of superiority and Liz is moved to tell him that Steve and Andy could have attended a public school, the army offered to pay. Alec asks in surprise what made them decide against it and she says they thought about it but decided they'd rather see them growing up - otherwise, what's the point in having kids?
In Reg's Bettabuy's office, Curly stands looming over his boss and coldly informs his that he knows all about Miles Platting and the stroke Reg pulled to keep him in this branch. Reg sits at his desk smugly explaining that it was an "act of friendship" that motivated him. He goes on to inform Curly that the Miles Platting branch is the "graveyard of the Bettabuys empire" and that one day, he'll thank him for what he did. Curly is unmoved and says he knows the real reason, Reg didn't want to have to face running this branch without him! Reg says he is very sorry Curly is taking it like this but Curly interrupts with, "I'm sorry too! Sorry I stuck up for you all those times, even lied for you!" Reg is mortified when Curly pulls out a book of tickets and waves it in front of him. Tauntingly, he asks if Reg remembers the trolley dash and how Rita just happened to end up with the winning ticket. Reg's panic increases as Curly holds out in his other hand, Brendan Scott's personal phone number. He sarcastically wonders what might happen if the two, tickets and phone number, were combined.
Alec enters the parlour where Bet and Vicky, happy and exhausted from their shopping trip, have just come in. Looking around at the multitude of bags, he asks about their day. As Vicky goes upstairs to change, Bet shows him the new lacrosse stick. He remarks that he doesn't suppose there was much change from a tenner for that! Bet smoothly informs him that it cost a mere £5, 1p less than £50! Hearing the gasp of shock, she says, "Well, you did say to get the best!" She goes on to inform him that the whole afternoon cost just under 400 quid. As he absorbs the shock, she remarks that it could have cost much more, had Vicky not insisted on visiting department stores instead of specialty shops. Bet reckons Vicky inherited her thriftiness from him! Vicky returns downstairs in time to see that he takes some pride and comfort from that fact.
In the aisles of Bettabuys, Sally stops to chat to Ivy, who is busily stacking shelves. Sally thinks it's "dead romantic" that Gail and Martin are getting wed. She tells Ivy that Martin asked Kevin to be his best man and that Kevin is chuffed at the idea. Ivy nods politely at this until Sally mentions that Martin and Kevin will be taking Des to the Rovers tonight to try to cheer him up. Ivy's ears suddenly perk up at the news that Martin will be out this evening. When Sally returns to the subject of Kevin as best man, how excited he is about giving a speech, Ivy sarcastically rejoins that he'll have "plenty to talk about"!
In another aisle of the store, Curly is on a tour of inspection when he catches Reg hovering nearby. He confronts him, saying that he's been following him around all afternoon and if he has something to say, he wishes he'd just come out with it. Reg sheepishly starts to comment on some trivial concern about the biscuits but Curly sharply interrupts to call him "pathetic". Reaching into his pocket for the tickets, he hands the book over to Reg who eagerly snatches them away. Having put Reg out of his misery, Curly pointedly tells him that he was never going to grass him in the first place, he wouldn't stoop to such a thing - after all, *some* people have standards!
At the Brennans' in the evening, Don is getting ready to go for a pint in the Rovers. He asks Ivy if she won't change her mind and come with him but she declines, saying she wants to watch telly and get some ironing done. He stops to ask if it's because of anything he said this morning but she assures him it's only that she feels like a night in. Once he goes out the door, she leaps up and peers out the window and down the street...
In the pub, Bet is telling Liz about their shopping spree when Vicky comes through to ask where the name tags are as she wants to iron them into her knickers. Bet suggests that she leave it and she'll get to it in the morning but Vicky insists, she always does it. They go into the back together so Bet can show her where the ironing board is and Don comments to Alec that he supposes he'll miss her when she goes back. Alec nods ruefully that he will. Martin comes in and Don offers to get his drink but Martin says that he'll be buying Kevin's and Des' when they get here so not to bother. Don insists and Martin accepts with thanks. He asks Don where Ivy is tonight and Don tells him she's tired after being on her feet all day and is having a quiet night in.
As it happens, Ivy is not having a quiet night in after all. She's walking briskly down the Street, away from the pub and she's obviously got a purpose. As she passes Kevin making his way towards the pub, she absentmindedly returns his greeting, but so bent is she on her mission that she calls him "Curly" by mistake. He stops to ask if she is alright and she returns, "Yes, just fine, luv", as she hurriedly moves on.
Ken arrives at the cafe for his dinner with Alma. He's bearing wine (two bottles!) and a box of "After Eights" for "afters". (What? You mean he expects to hang around that late?) Alma remarks about the calories but tells him not to worry, he'll look like the Michelin Man by the time he leaves! (Alma, fetch your specs, luvvie - he already bears a passing resemblance!)
Ivy's just arrived at her destination, Gail's house. She finds Gail just putting the kettle on for tea but bluntly refuses the offer of a cup herself. She gets right to the point, as is her way, asking Gail if Martin expects to adopt "them kiddies" once they are wed. Gail informs her that in fact he does, and that is one of the reasons they are getting married in the first place. Ivy gets her dander up, insisting that it isn't "right" and wants to know why Gail is letting him do this. Gail curtly informs her that she isn't "letting" him - she's encouraging him! She points out that he's been a good father and asks Ivy what her objection is. Ivy brings Brian's name into it and Gail loses her temper, saying that Brian's dead but her children are alive and they need a living father! Ivy is unmoved, saying she'll fight her on this, every step of the way. Gail angrily retorts that Ivy must do as she sees fit. Nicky comes in from playing soccer and gives his granny a hug. Gail calmly directs him to go upstairs and get washed up, that his gran is just leaving. He leaves the room and Ivy turns to her with scorn. "You'll not get rid of me as easily as that!", she says. Gail replies coldly, "No, you'll hang on till the end. But in the end, you'll lose. Just make sure you don't lose everything, Ivy!"
In Alma's flat, she and Ken are just sitting down to the fancy table she has laid. They chat in that ëoverly polite' way people do when they are anxious to please but not yet comfortable enough to relax with each other. Ken pours out two glasses of the wine and invites Alma to swill it around on her palate before swallowing. She attempts to follow his example but starts to crack up while holding it in her mouth. He begins to giggle and they both start to choke on their laughter before deciding it may be better to just drink it. A little more relaxed now, they make a toast, "to single people".
Bet comes into the bar in search of Alec but Liz tells her he hasn't been seen for awhile. She finds him in the back yard, having a smoke and looking quite down in the mouth. He tells her to leave him, that nothing is wrong, but Bet knows better. He's thinking about Vicky returning to school. He relents that he doesn't know what he'll do once she goes back. "Life gets more precious by the day", he says sadly. Bet is sympathetic but assures him that he is doing the right thing. "It's time to let her go, tiger", she urges. He says he knows this and she leaves him to himself saying she'll go back in and see to the pub. On his own again, he gazes wistfully upwards in the direction of his sleeping granddaughter's bedroom.
After enjoying Alma's cooking, Ken tells her she is wasted on egg and chips. She's flattered but says she lacks the confidence to do anything else. He tries to build her up a bit, saying she has looks, personality, she likes people... She interjects that she seems to be attracted to the wrong sort -- present company excepted, of course! Ken soothes that "we all make mistakes". She wonders if he met Wendy Crozier today, would he have made the same mistake. He can't say for certain but, if he'd known he was risking everything, he certainly would have done things differently! What about Deirdre, Alma asks. If she forgave you, would you go back to her? He says she wouldn't so it's pointless to speculate, then asks, "Would you go back to Mike?" She answers with another question, "You don't like him, do you?" "No.", he answers. Alma confesses that she liked him, albeit knowing he was a "sod", she still *really* liked him. She starts to get weepy and apologises for it, saying it's the wine. Ken tells her it's alright, he understands. The more she tries to regain her composure the more emotional she becomes until she gets up to leave the room in embarrassment. Ken stands up to provide a shoulder and she collapses into his arms with loud sobs. He reassures her it's best to "let it out", that he does understand.
Anita Belanger
Writer: KEN BLAKESON; Director: MERVYN CUMMING
Monday (3278, Friday 13 September 1991)
It's the day Vicky goes back to school and Alec is frantically searching for a clean shirt. He really must look his best! Bet informs him it's hanging in his wardrobe and tries to get him to calm down and sit for 5 minutes and have breakfast. No time! Alec still needs to get into the bath which elicits a light hearted joke from Bet about it not being his birthday already! He doesn't find that funny but is reminded of something he needed to discuss with her so he does end up perching on the edge of a chair at the table in the end. Subtle as a brick is our Alec as he earnestly feels it's important to put forward a good impression today. He hesitates a beat and off handedly remarks to Bet, she doesn't have to bother coming if she doesn't want to. I do want, she insists, her tone of voice conveying "There's no sense in discussing it any further".
He persists; attempting to convince her that there's no point in both of them going all that way to talk to the head mistress, she'd be bored, it's not her thing is it? Bet continues to steadily consume her egg, pointing out it isn't his thing either, (post boarding schools) and it's clear she won't be swayed. There's no pulling the wool over her eye though and she stops chewing to give him a baleful glare. He thinks she's going to show him up, doesn't he? He tries to deny it but can't look her in the eye and he admits it doesn't matter if she shows him up, he's used to that ! (LOL!) It's Vicky --- but Bet's had enough and starts to snap at him forcefully "Now look here, Clever Clogs, if you think---" But she cuts herself short so Vicky, who arrives with a smile on her face, doesn't overhear. She's all smiles because she's looking forward to going back to school and seeing her friends again. Best years of your life, Alec smarms. Twaddle! Is Bet's snorted reply, life gets better, believe me! Alec is tired of being insulted and heads for the bath leaving Bet and Vicky to giggle!
Don and Ivy are clearing up the breakfast dishes. Don is wasting no time giving Ivy Hell for going round and upsetting Gail over the potential adoption of her grandchildren. How could she tell Gail that Martin wasn't fit to adopt them kiddies!? It's a wonder Ivy can speak through lips pursed that tightly but she manages just fine, snapping that she never said that. Mind you, he isn't! Ivy makes adjustments to her makeup (or is that major renovations!) and bleats on and on about RBrian, RBrian, RBrian and Tilsleys and Platts. Don counters with Shakespeare's immortal "What's in a name" speech. Or rather, the Lancy abbreviated version of it at least. They argue some more until Don realizes he's wasting his time but Ivy keeps on so as to have the last word, as usual. She tries to pretend she's frightened that the children will end up being cut off from her if Martin adopts them. Don doesn't buy it (neither do I, the interfering old battleaxe!) and he fires a shot into the heart of the matter. There's only one person that will cut them kids off from her and her name's Ivy ---- TILSLEY! He walks away but Ivy just looks at him, chin set and expression that tells me she thinks he's just talking nonsense!
Having embarrassed herself into crawling under the nearest rock last night, crying over Mike Baldwin in Ken Barlow's arms, Alma has now tentatively emerged into the daylight. (and didn't we all feel that one!? Who among us hasn't made a right fool of ourselves over someone!) Gail arrives for work and immediately spots that Alma's not basking in any afterglows. She leans over the counter to hear all the gory details from Alma who pours her heart out, detail by detail. But Gail doesn't think it was more than just a little moan about an ex. If anyone should understand it's Ken Barlow, he's had more ex's than most after all! (what could I possibly add to that!) Alma is positive there is not a better way to kill off a really nice friendship and even worse, they've probably lost a customer too!
Ken, however, has popped into the corner shop for a package of coffee to supply the staff at school with fuel for the day. He doesn't seem at all put off because he mentions the dinner at Alma's flat and compliments her cooking to Audrey in glowing terms! As Audrey had no idea Alma was going to be entertaining Ken, her ears pop up like aerials and her attention is more riveted than a heat seeking missile and this very interesting development! She doesn't get any more information from Ken as he has had to rush off, passing Mavis on her way in. Audrey is still exclaiming in astonishment over the latest, and tells Mavis about Ken's feet being under Alma's table. Alma's said nothing to her best friend about it! Audrey surmises that this must mean things are serious!!
Vicky and Bet wait in the pub for Alec. Liz and Betty have come in early and promise to hold down the fort until the return of the Gilroys later on. The four of them make small talk about school and friends until Bet begins to wonder where on earth is Alec after he mithered the life out of her to get ready on time. Like as not he's reading on the lavvy again, Bet deduces. Alec arrives in a rush just then but stops when he sees Bet's outfit.
Which must be described because it's a classic Bet outfit, stylish from the top of her hat to the tips of her white high heeled toes. The skirt is short, tight and black. Partnered with a black scoop necked top under a stunning little jacket, resplendent in shoulder pads out to here and a peplum so full you'd think there was a bustle under it! The crisp white linen is decorated with what, on first glance appears to be black squiggles and polka dots but upon closer view is actually daisy petals surrounding the "eye" of the flower. The matching had in reverse print, white daisies on black, is the size and shape pretty near of a dinner plate and is jauntily angled to the side. "Are you wearing that?" Alec worries. Well that's a stupid question when he can clearly see she IS wearing it! And what's wrong with it? Alec doesn't push the issue in the obvious way, instead making one more "subtle" attempt to get her to stay back by inventing a worry over the impending arrival of the draughtmen! Betty scoffs and reckons her 25 years of dealing with that sort might come in handy. Alec has no choice now, so he makes sure they have all of Vicky's gear and they head out.
A quick scene in Bettabuys, probably only to establish Curly's continued resentment over losing the branch managership at the hands of President-Elect-for-life Reg Holdsworth. Curly slopes about the aisles with a face like a wet weekend and Reg makes attempts to placate him in hopes of quelling a mutiny. Doesn't work.
Back to the main storyline for today's episode.
Alec turns the car in through a large ornate iron gate in a high stone wall and the scene opens up on a large manicured lawn surrounding a splendid old stone building with a spired tower. Young people are milling around cars or walking the grounds. Alec is awestruck, Bet is no doubt intimidated and Vicky is comforted by the familiar surroundings. Alec starts gushing about money and contacts made for life in a place like this. Bet tries to undermine his statements by softening them, he doesn't really mean you should choose your pals because of their future usefulness but Alec points out that there's no law that pals have to be poor! They all get out of the car and open the boot to unload Vicky's gear. Her best friend, Susan, runs up to greet Victoria (oh sure she is. Not a hug or a touch or even a formal handshake between the two girls!). Alec is more interested to find out what Susan's dad does (or who he is!) but Bet cuts him off. Alec's attention is diverted by the sight of two young men, looking to be about 16, strolling by and is alarmed to hear that they are commonly known by the younger girls as the "Beefcake Boys"! Guess he wasn't aware the school was co-ed!
The head mistress, Dr. Carr comes striding purposefully down the walk, her black professor robes billowing in the wind behind her. Introductions are made, invitations are offered for a chat with Bet and Alec in her office and Vicky is instructed to come take tea with the Head later. Alec is practically kissing the hem of her robes as they make their way towards the school buildings, muttering to Bet to leave all the talking to him!
The pub is busy this dinnertime. Liz talks about Alec's increasing snobbery to Jim, deciding Alec's attitude has become worse since he's been responsible for Victoria. Jim thinks that's not an easy thing! LOL!
But he has and proceeds to show himself up. The Gilroys are seated in the Head's office discussing the terrible tragedy which has befallen Victoria. Dr. Carr makes all assurances that she will keep an especially watchful eye on Victoria this term. Alec cringes when Bet declines a second cup of coffee, saying it goes right through her! (spoken in a soft, polite manner of course!) Alec's attempt at playing benevolent grandfather raises the level of his bull--- er, (well, anyway), to new and astonishing heights! He pulls out his chequebook to pay this term's fees and as he doesn't realize it's the height of bad taste to talk about money, will rabbit on and on about fees, money being no object, anything Vicky needs she is to have it, and things along that line. To her credit, Dr. Carr acts as if all the parents and guardians she deals with are from backstreet Northern working class pubs and is composed and polite and "interested" in everything Alec has to say. But perhaps because of Alec's ingratiating attitude, Bet is more than forthcoming about the nature of their business. A Public House, yes that's right she answers the Head's polite inquiry. Alec quickly corrects her. It's a hotel and hostellry well known in the area for it's fine cuisine. Which, Bet points out is the best hotpot in their end of town, why they went their children on it! Alec desperately tries to change the subject but puts both feet in it when, after a few more crass blatherings about money, makes a remark that makes it obvious that he believes her title to mean that she is a medical doctor! Once the Head gently corrects him, Bet realizes she had better get Alec out of further harm's way and suggests they better leave for the long drive back. They've taken up more than enough of Dr. Carr's time. They find their way back to the car where Vicky and Susan are waiting. Alec establishes that the boys' sleeping arrangements won't interfere with the girls' before good byes and words of genuinely sincere appreciation are given from Vicky to Bet. A poignant moment when Vicky anxiously entreats her grandfather to drive safely. Aye, Alec says softly.
Back at the busy café, Audrey is dodging Gail, Alma and customers, getting under everyone's feet in her quest for the truth! She manages to catch Alma on her own while Gail is serving at a table and tries to pry information out of her about the Ken Barlow mystery date. (Door number 3, please!) She scolds Alma for keeping it quiet though, let's face it, she *could* do worse even if Ken isn't rolling in money! Leave it to Audrey to prioritize things! Alma just rolls her eyes and tries to put her straight by insisting it was only a meal and she doesn't want to talk about it (meaning she doesn't want to tell Audrey the rest of the story!). Audrey takes this as meaning Alma would prefer not to talk about it in front of Gail so she invites Alma to the Rovers tonight. You never know who might turn up, nudge, nudge, wink, wink! That's exactly what Alma doesn't want and she lets Audrey know she prefers a quiet night in.
A rather oily looking man in a coverall is knocking at Des's door. He finds nobody home and encounters Mavis on his way back to a dirty yellow van parked on the side of the road. Mavis lets the man know that Des will be back at 6 p.m. The man is a chummy sort, seems friendly enough but when he pounds on the side of the van to quiet what sounds like quite a large volume of dogs, she backs up in horror. This man, it turns out, wants to buy Des's house and therefore would be Mavis's new neighbour and she is aghast at the thought. The bloke seems well pleased with what he can see of the house and garden and assures Mavis the dogs won't be a problem. He even offers her the pick of the impending litter seeing as they'll be neighbours (bark, bark, pound, holler, shurrup you lot!) Mavis is nearly staggering she is so upset and to make matters worse the fellow insults her by helpfully offering her the advice that a dog wouldn't go amiss especially when she goes to the bank to cash her pension. He indicates he'll wait around for Des, reckoning the shop of his mate Jim MacDonald isn't far away and heads over to pass the time.
Alec and Bet have made it home safely. Bet's feet are killing her and she sits down, takes off her shoes and rubs her aching dogs. She worries that there are enough funds in the bank to cover the cheque Alec wrote and they marvel at the cost of private schooling. Alec plans to get on to the solicitor for some sort of advance on the estate to cover the school fees. Bet offers to microwave a couple of hotpots for a late lunch which launches Alec into a How Could You rant. What sort of impression d'you think we've given that Dr. Carr? She'll think we run a back street alehouse! We do! Snaps Bet. She throws his blunder about the doctor thing back in his face for good measure. He backs down, giving her the points on that score and wonders what Bet thought Dr. C. thought of them? Well, tiger, She probably thought she had a right pair here, a fat little fella thinks he's a bloke of the world and a barmaid who's married t'gaffer! See here, Alec sputters defensively. But then he laughs and says, She'd be a good judge then! They laugh and hug each other warmly in the shared joke. Alec knows what he's like really, and tells Bet to take no notice of him, not that she does anyway, but he is just concerned that Vicky's friends will give her grief for who and what he is!
Ivy serves Don's tea but declines to eat any herself. He tries to offer the olive branch in the form of an invite to the Rovers for a drink. But Ivy's still digging her feet in and threatens to boycott the wedding because she doesn't hold for what it will mean for the future. Don tries to impress upon Ivy that Brian and Bert both are dead and Martin is the next best thing for them kids. Just like he's the next best thing to Bert, making it sound very much like he believes she thinks he's second best. That stops her for a minute as she tries to reassure him that she doesn't think he's second best at all. Life goes on, Ivy, and Martin's a good 'un. Although Ivy does admit that, in her head, she knows he's right, she tearfully cries that her heart can't accept it.
Mavis is extremely distressed telling Derek about the dirty smelly man and his dozen vicious dogs that could soon be their neighbours! Derek is alarmed too and as Des is nowhere to be seen, he takes the next best in approaching Jim who's apparently a friend of the prospective buyer. Oh Frankie Worrall, oh yeah, good mate! Jim adds to the discomfort of the Wiltons winding them up with a story about Frankie the Scrapman's unfortunate habit of bringing his work home with him. He warns the Wilton's they shouldn't really leave their lawn mower outside overnight. Yes, and if possible they should even keep their car covered up as well! With a broad wink and a smile to a bemused Bet, he takes his pint over to a table.
Alec is bragging about British boarding school to Liz who, clearly up to there with Alec's posturing, insists she'd never send her children away even if she could afford a private school. Over the other end of the bar, Audrey is gossiping to Betty about Ken and Alma. Betty doesn't think them a likely romantic pair although Alma *is more Ken's age than Deirdre was. Audrey supposed that Ken has indeed been around quite a bit but then so has Alma so they should suit. (Oh that's terribly unfair, comparing Ken's tomcatting to Alma's two or three boyfriends since she's divorced from Jim Sedgwick!)
However, the silence of the darkened café is disturbed by a doorbell ringing. Alma comes downstairs, turns on the light and opens the door to find a smiling Ken on the other side, tongue hanging out and tail a-wagging for all he's worth! He asks Alma out for a drink and she quickly accepts. She lets him know that that performance over Mike the night before, was a farewell performance, ok? He says it's ok by him and she runs upstairs to smarten up for their date.
Diane Johnston
Dr Carr - VIRGINIA DENHAM; Susan Davis - ANNA
BLIZARD; Frank Worrall - DAVID J NICHOLLS
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by MERVYN CUMMING
Tuesday (3279, Monday 16 September 1991)
We open in the shop where a painfully chipper Ken buys sandwiches to fortify him during his hard day molding young minds. Deirdre comments on his bouncy demeanor and Ken blames it on his recent nocturnal activities - night classes, that is! He heartily recommends further education to Deirdre, who says that wine tasting class doesn't appeal to her all that much. Oh, Ken says, there's all sorts of classes you can take. Alma, for example, is taking conversational Spanish. "Alma Sedgewick?" asks Deirdre. Yes, says Ken, and Audreh too initially. "Say 'buenos dias' to [Alma] for me," says Dierdre, who doesn't yet suspect that Alma, far more than Cork Sniffing 101, is what's putting the spring in Ken's step these days!
At the MacDonald's, Andy and Jim are getting ready to leave. Liz had told them she wanted a lift somewhere but now she's still in her robe and holding everyone up, so she is. Liz says that she'll go in later, to a chorus of groans - now they're late, *and* she isn't going to take the ride after all! Liz is clearly impatient and finally says in response to their whinging with a 'mom glare' that she only said she *might* need a lift, she didn't write it in blood, did she! Taking the hint, Jimbo tells Andy that they'll go on without a clearly irritated Liz.
At the shop Mavis is still fretting about her encounter the day before with the dreadful man with the vanful of dogs who is interested in buying Des' house. Rita and Bet are teasing her until Mavis tells Rita that she's noticed a "for let" sign in the flat next to Rita's and as he seems to like the neighbourhood perhaps he'll settle there! For once Mavis leaves Rita speechless, and fretting herself! Mavis goes on to worry about having the "right sort of people" buy the Barnes house. In response to Bet's comment that 'at least Des and Steph had a bit of life in 'em!' Mavis flutters, 'well *you* didn't have to live next to them!' going on to say with unintentional hilarity, "Stop making me sound picky! I get along with people very well! Why, I'll bet if the next person to come through that door was my new neighbour, I'm sure I'd have no trouble striking up a rapport!" Right on cue, the door opens and in walks Alec Gilroy, to giggles all round. He's come to look for the stamps Bet was supposed to buy "only they're in danger of losing their legal tender if I'd waited any longer!" After he leaves Little Red Wig nods sagely. "Now, if he were my next door neighbour, I'd want a refund on my poll tax!"
Liz stops by the bike shop where Jim is working. She's nipping into town, she says. Isn't she due for work at the Rovers? She'll just have to be late, Liz says shortly. Jim stops her as she is going. She hasn't said two words to him since yesterday. Is he missing something? Liz makes up an excuse about having to bring the twins money at school and leaves with barely a distracted "I'll see you later."
In the back room at the Rovers, Jack is peering nosily at what Alec is writing. "Don't pretend, Jack, 'cause you know you can't," says Alec. "What?" responds Jack. "Read!" Alec retorts. Jack begins browsing through the brochure from Vickie's school. He comments on the facilities in the glossy booklet and Alec enthuses that it's a posh place. Jack is shocked when he sees the cost. Is Alec paying for that? Certainly, says Alec - he happens to think a good education is vital "Being surrounded by people like you and your Vera to drum the fact home!" says Alec to an indignant Jack. "That is more than I earn in six months!" says Jack, jabbing his finger at the booklet. "'Earn?' That's a verb. Verbs are 'doing' words. So get doing summat down that cellar - now, pronto!" Alex replies.
Bet joins Alec at the table. Astonishingly, Alec is having second thoughts about asking for reimbursement from Vickie's inheritance for the cost of the school. He tells Bet that if they are to truly be guardians to Vickie, perhaps they should contribute to something as fundamental as her education. Bet is much more firmly in the grip of reality. She tells Alec that at £3,000 a term they'll be bankrupt if they try to take that on! That's what the inheritance is there for, she reminds him, and insists that he simply send that executor the receipt and ask for reimbursement! A well and truly cowed Alec squeaks, "How do you spell 'reimbursment'?" "Just put 'refund'!" glowers Bet.
At the Caff, Alma is using flashcards to have Gail quiz her on Spanish words. She is also chittering merrily this morning about her classes, Gail wonders why, as the previous evening she was ready to pack it all in. "Well..." "Well?" Well, it turns out that last night Ken came by and he and Alma had a drink. All the previous embarrassment between them (concerning Alma getting weepy over Mike during their first dinner) is past now and Ken made Alma feel much better. "Ken's not a bad lad," she opines, leading Gail to comment that she's playing her cards close to her chest! "What's Spanish for 'second date'?" Gail teases Alma.
At a table in t'caff, Des and Martin chat while Martin balances Bebeh David on his lap. At least you didn't have a couple of kiddies before the marriage ended, Martin comments. When Des bemoans how it's all gone wrong, Martin comforts him that 'everyone makes mistakes.' Des says that Steph doesn't seem to think *she's* made one. Has Steph been in touch? Martin asks. Through her solicitor, Des replies. Well, it's Martin's turn to cook that night - does Des fancy Irish Stew? Des says thanks but no thanks, Martin doesn't want to hear his troubles. "Anyway, I'm tied up tonight," he lies. "Girl from work." Too bad, says Martin. Gail will be out that night and he was thinking of getting in a few cans of lager and a couple of movies. That sounds fine, Des agrees, visibly more cheerful. Martin kindly refrains from asking what happened to the date with the girl from work.
In the Rovers, Jack is solicitous of a not-quite-right Liz, but she insists she's fine. Mavis and Deirdre are at the bar, with Mavis wondering whether Deirdre has seen anyone looking at Des' house from her vantage across the street. Deirdre says she hasn't, but then again she didn't even know the place was up for sale! Oh, it was a terrible business, Mavis says. "Steph's gone off with a fancy man." "You're kidding!" gasps Deirdre. "No, she's not!" says Des, who walked into the bar just in time to hear the end of Mavis' comment. Mavis is mortified and she and Deirdre both apologize, but Des laughs it off, saying that the problem is that merely "'fancy' grates a bit!" Mavis takes the opportunity to mention that she's seen a gentleman looking at the house. Des knows the gentleman Mavis is talking about, but even though he's only spoken to him on the phone he recognizes that "gentleman" is not a word that really applies to the fellow with the van full of dogs! Mavis is briefly placated by Des' agreement that the potential house purchaser seems like a very bad fellow indeed, but her relief is short-lived when it becomes apparent that Des wouldn't let that stop him from selling! No, the fellow's loaded, apparently, a scrap dealer, and Des would accept hard cash, a clean deal - "well, as clean as it can be from a scrap dealer, mind!" Mavis is worrying so hard that we can nearly see those little sweat droplets that cartoonists use to denote fretting flying from her brow. (Did you know those are called 'plebes'? I don't know where on earth I read that.)
Behind the bar, Alec and Bet take a break to discuss Vickie's school. They're both pleased that she will have such a good start, so many advantages from attending such a high-quality school. She'll be a doctor, Alec predicts. No, Bet says, "Put her through Law School, Alec. Get her to write your letters for you!" The main advantage, of course, Alec goes on, is to take her out of harm's way - away from the local bad influences, he adds, casting a baleful eye at Jack who just stood next to him! Liz, who has been overhearing all this while drying glasses, finally explodes in a rage. "Does that make her better than the rest of us?" she asks. "'Cos you bust a gut to send 'er to a fancy school? *I* live round here! *My kids* live round here!" she shouts at Alec before a stunned bar. "The only 'bad influence' is folk like you who've got a bob or two more! You're a jumped-up little snob, Gilroy - and I've had it up to *here*!" she cries as she storms out of the pub.
After an ad break we join Liz at home, sobbing bitterly, as someone knocks at the door. It's a none-too-pleased Bet. "You were *well* out of order there," she says bluntly as soon as Liz opens the door. "I'm sorry," Liz miserably sniffles. "Can I come in?" asks Bet. Liz gestures her inside.
At the Rovers we join Alec, Jack and a few of the regulars in mid-conversation. "I said no such thing!" Alec shouts. "You did!" Jack is insisting. "You said her kids was bad influences." Alec says that he never said that and if she's talking that way "it's her guilty conscience!" Dreary, drinking at the bar, wades in with the opinion that, from what she's heard, Jack is right. As Jack gloats, Alec informs him that when he referred to bad influences, "it was you I was talking about, you pillocki!" At this moment Big Jim walks into the bar. The conversation suddenly goes quiet and all eyes are on Jim as Alec peeps, "was that the phone?" but finds his escape blocked by Jack. Jim, in a very subtle scene looks around confusedly at the eyes on him and says hesitantly, "I was wonderin' if there were any hotpots left." "Hotpots?" repeats Alec. "Yeah and - well - a pint please if it's not too much trouble," says Jim who, obviously not having seen Liz, is still looking around with a mixture of confusion and suspicion.
And where is Liz? She's still at the MacDonald's, where Bet is telling her earnestly, "I'm *sure* he didn't mean Andy and Steve." (And to be fair, while Alec's had naught good to say about the MacDonald twins, he *was* glaring at Jack when he made the comments that caused Liz' outburst.) "I'm sorry. My mouth!" says Liz philosophically, "I've talked meself out of jobs faster than that before." She hasn't this time, Bet assures her kindly. She only has to go talk to Alec. "Only I've had some bad news," says Liz. "I'm sorry to hear that," Bet replies gently. "And I haven't told Jim yet," Liz continues unhappily. (No prizes for guessing where this storyline is going.) Bet assures Liz that if there's anything she can do, she's there. Liz says she'll come back to the Rovers now with Bet, but Bet tells her no, she'll cover for Liz. Should she get Jim? No, Liz says gratefully, she'll be fine. An excellent scene by Julie Goodyear as Bet the tough publican with a heart of gold.
Rita peers out the Kabin door as Mavis relentlessly scrubs the door's window from the Kabin's front step. This is all in aid of eavesdropping on Des' conversation with Frank Worrell, the Scrap Man with the Barking Van, as they stand in the street and discuss the house. At regular intervals the dogs wail and bay causing the potential purchaser to pound on the van and scream at them to "shut yer gobs!" As Mavis strains to hear the conversation which includes a nice backyard for the rabid pack, a car pulls up across the street (it's Audreh, actualleh) drowning out the sound, much to Mavis' frustration. 'Oh, SHHHHHHH!' she hisses at the offending auto. As Audrey shuts off the car, Mavis manages to hear the scrap man make an offer to Desmond. "We'll have to talk to the Agent, then" Des responds. "I'm talkin' to YOU - cash!" says the Mr. Worrell ominously.
In the shop, Audreh whisks in to show Deirdre the fruits of her day's labour - dry cleaning, shoe shopping, and a missed hair appointment. She's bought a new dress to wear when she takes Gail to a clothes party. "You've bought a new dress to wear to a clothes party?" asks Dreary, apparently still trying to find some logic in Audreh's actions. She'd have been better of sticking to her Spanish lessons, Deidre laughs. Audreh says that Alma is welcome to them and then mutters something to Deirdre about the classes being full of middle-aged men when she's only looking for a laugh.
At the night school, Alma is being chatted up - well, more like pinned to the wall - by a persistent suitor and uses Ken's arrival as an excuse to escape. She's told the fellow that her boyfriend might be coming, she tells Ken, so if he hears a scream from down the corridor Ken is to dash in like a proper hero. Having delivered all this with her usual charming breathless enthusiasm. Alma whooshes off leaving a bemused Ken to smile in a manner that leaves no doubt that the idea of pretending to be her boyfriend is an intriguing one to him!
In the Rovers, Alec is whinging about Liz "showing him up in his own bar", and nattering about the fact that he's 'got a profile to maintain' (yes, Alec, and it's looking more and more like Alfred Hitchcock's famous profile every day!) until Bet finally tells him to shut up! Liz is having a hard time, she says. At a table, Mavis inquires of Jack whether Liz is working tonight? "Oh," says Jack, "we keep 'er in t'back now. Tickets £2.50!" Mavis is embarassed at being wound up over her nosiness and says she was just asking!
At another table the odd trio of Ivy, Vera and Angie are discussing Curly's unfair treatment at the hands of Reg Holdsworth. Vera spies the evil Reg as he enters the Rovers and declares that she's going to tell him to his face - and sets off to do just that, as Ivy attempts to dissuade her. "Here!" Vera says to Reg. "I've known that boy since 'e were a lad!" "I assume you're talking about the Boy Watts?" Reg inquires dryly. "Yes! Him what would've gotten that promotion if you hadn't stuck your oar in!" She continues in this vein for some time until Reg sighs, "Drink, Mrs. Duckworth?" Taken aback for a mere millisecond, Vera smiles charmingly, "Pint 'a' lager. And a pint and a half of bitter!" as she rejoins her friends, having succeeded in having Reg buy the whole table a round.
Jim joins a pensive Liz at the window of Chez MacDonald for an end-of-day drink. The boys are upstairs, he says, and notes that he didn't see her in the Rovers dinnertime. She says she did go in, but then she went out on an errand and then she had a headache and left early. "I thought perhaps you were avoiding me," Jim says. No, assures Liz, it's not him. It's just that - At that moment Andy comes into the room. He's going for something to eat, does anyone else want something? His parents decline and he leaves but as he does, Liz follows him out of the room leaving her drink on the table and a frustrated Jim behind her.
At Ken's, our "Learning is for Life" poster children are having an aprÈs-class coffee at Ken's. Alma is chattering on still about her Spanish class, being typically self-deprecating about how hopeless she is. Ken tells her not to underestimate herself and says assorted other wise things about believing in yourself and reaching your potential. As he hands Alma her coffee she says that she can see why he took up teaching. Ken kisses her and she bats those beautiful wide eyes. "Oh dear," she says. "This is tricky. I was hoping you'd do that but I wasn't sure how I'd feel if you did." She says that Deirdre is still special to Ken, and she's got her own ghosts to bury. "Still," she continues, "I'm dead chuffed that you did it!" "Me too," Ken smiles, then they both laugh, and he kisses her again, on the cheek.
Back at the MacDonald's, Liz is *still* gazing out the window searching for answers [if you see them out there. love, please let me know, ok?]. Jim rejoins her and hugs her from behind with a deep sigh. In a very moving scene, he tells her that he knows she's been to the doctor because she left the book open to the clinic number. "I've tried to start a conversation, I really have," Liz says. "I just - I couldn't believe it!" "I'm your husband," Jim says. "I want to share these things from the very beginning. I mean, how th'hell do you think I feel, shut out?" "I'm sorry," Liz says, turning to embrace him. "It's all right," Jim says, kissing her. "Hey. It's not the end of the world, you know. look at Our Sandra." "What?" Liz asks. "Me cousin Sandra," Jim goes on. "She had the test, had the smear, went to hospital, had the treatment, and look at her now! She's a healthy young woman!" Poor Jim has jumped to the conclusion that it's cervical cancer or a pre-cancerous condition that's threatening Liz. "It's not that, Jim," says Liz. "I'm pregnant!" she blurts. "I'm pregnant!" "My God," is all a stunned Jim can say as we fade to credits.
ronniecat
Frank Worrell - DAVID J NICHOLLS
Written by PAUL ABBOTT Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Wednesday (3280, Wednesday 18 September 1991)
It's early morning at the MacDonald residence, so while Jim is making breakfast, a "morning sick" Liz sits at the table with Andy. He's concerned about his mom, and keeps inquiring if she's alright, but she claims she's fine until Jim sticks a greasy plate of eggs and bacon under her nose. She pushes it away and says she just can't face breakfast. Apropos Liz' pregnancy, Andy complains about the racket Rosey made next door, crying all night.
On his way to school, Andy stops and helps Audrey with her fresh flower display outside the corner shop. As he heads off to his classes, Ken arrives at the shop and he and Audrey discuss Andy, both agreeing that he's a nice young man. Andrey quickly changes the subject to ask Ken about his "love life," but Ken takes that as his cue to rush off, but not before asking if she can fill his grocery list. Audrey peruses the list, and stops at several exotic cheeses, including Shropshire blue, but promises Ken she'll have them for him, rather than losing his custom to a larger grocery store.
Back at the MacDonald's, Jim is trying to persuade Liz to go back to bed, given how poorly she feels, but she refuses. Instead, they discuss her pregnancy, with Jim bemoaning all the years he missed of his sons' childhood (because of his army career). He tells Liz that back then, he felt a little like Santa, only seeing them once a year. He swears that this time things will be different. He wants to have a celebration by announcing the good news at the Rover's Return, but Liz wants him to keep it quiet for now. Jim promises to "pull his weight" with the new baby, and goes on to say that he wouldn't mind a pair of wee girls. Liz doesn't understand what he means by "pair" until he reminds her that given her history, he wouldn't be surprised if she has twins again. Liz looks absolutely mortifed at the thought!
At the Corner Shop, Audrey is about to go shopping, leaving Deirdre in charge. She needs to find a wedding outfit for Gail's and Martin's upcoming nuptuals, and she'll also have to locate the cheeses Ken asked for on his shopping list.
Liz has arrived for work at the Rover's Return, still looking rather unhappy, so Bet immediately asks her if she's poorly, to which she receives a rather curt "no!". Behind the bar, Jack mutters under his breath to Alec that Liz has a lot of nerve showing up for work after all the things she said yesterday. Alec reminds Jack that she did apologize, but Jack can't resist temptation, so "innocently" asks "what was it she said... you jumped-up little snob, Gilroy?" Seizing the perfect opportunity, he goes on to tell Alec that he would never call Alec a "tight-fisted, arrogant, pompous little... I just wouldn't dare." Out of patience, Alec orders Jack to clean the toilets, "and one of 'em is plugged..." Jack goes off to do the nasty work, chuckling to himself.
On Coronation Street, Jim is chatting to Sally about Rosie. She apologizes for Rosie keeping them up all night, but Jim dismisses the problem, saying he'll buy Andy a pair of ear plugs.
We're back at the Rover's Return again, where Betty is serving Deirdre hot-pot, while Deirdre tells her that Audrey is off shopping for her wedding outfit. As they discuss the upcoming wedding, Deirdre wishes out loud that she'd had a "dry run" for her two failed marriages -- at least Gail and Martin know what they're getting into, having lived together for a few years before taking the plunge. Jim MacDonald arrives, and taking Liz aside, tells her he'd love to order some bubbly, but Liz tells him to keep his voice down.
At the Kabin, Mavis is showing Sally a sweater she's knitting for Rosie, and she also offers to babysit anytime Sally needs a break. Sally immediately takes Mavis up on the offer by asking her to keep Rosie for a few minutes while she runs over to the garage to see Kevin. Just as Sally leaves, a removal van arrives and the driver asks Rita for directions to #12 Coronation Street, which is next door to Rita's house. When he informs Rita that the new tenant will be none other than a "Mr. Holdsworth," Rita's face is a picture of disgust and despair. As she nicks back inside the shop (but stares out the window), Reg pulls up in his car and unlocks the door to his new home.
Meanwhile, at Bettabuys, Vera is asking staff to sign a petition she's circulating protesting the treatment Curly has received from upper management over the fiasco surrounding Angie's fees for designing the Bettabuys' parade float. Curly arrives on the scene, and when Vera tells him what she's up to, he tears the petition up and warns her to never discuss the policies of management or risk losing her job.
Back at the Kabin, Mavis and Rita are discussing Reg's new tenancy. Mavis feels Rita is making too much of an issue of it, and suggests it could just be a coincidence, but Rita's comment is "he's up to something." She points out that he must have known for weeks that he was moving, yet he said nothing. In the meantime, Reg is talking to the mover, who is playing "toss and catch" with one of Reg's cut-glass vases. Reg rescues it from the man's hands, and gives him a few pounds to go off for a drink.
At the Kabin, Betty is asking Rita to put a card in her window, advertising various articles that Betty is trying to sell. While Betty lists some of the items left by her late husband that are "too good" to donate to charity, she can see that Rita is distracted, so asks what the problem is. Just then, Reg enters, and Betty instantly understands Rita's disinterest in her items for sale. Thinking he's springing a huge surprise on Rita, Reg opens the conversation by stating that he thought he'd just pop in and borrow a cup of sugar. He then goes on to order delivery of several different newspapers, noting to Rita that with his extra custom, she's probably glad that he's moved in!
Ken and Alma are enjoying several types of wine, as well as some of the cheeses Ken asked Audrey for earlier in the day. Not surprisingly, Alma refuses to even sample some of the them, especially the Shropshire blue, although she comments that Mike used to love some of the strong-tasting varieties. When Ken tries to change the subject, Alma observes that she doesn't blame Ken for disliking him, especially when he married Ken's daughter, Susan.
Deirdre runs into the Rover's Return and asks Bet if she's seen Ken. When the answer is negative, she says that she needs to find him so that he can sign a form for her. In a booth, Mavis and Rita are still discussing Reg Holdsworth's new residency on Coronation Street. Rita quips that she'll double-check that her doors and windows are locked when she goes home!
At the bar, Vera is telling Jack about Curly's treatment of her that day when Reg saunters in. Alec immediately tells him that he's happy he moved into the area. Reg thanks him and orders a drink for himself, as well as one for Rita. Rita refuses it, and beats a hasty retreat.
Having finished their wine and cheese, Ken and Alma are playing scrabble, not the usual sort of recreation folk on Coronation Street indulge in after red wine has been consumed. Ken plays a non-existent word, and even comes up with a definition for it, but Alma's too smart to have the wool pulled over her eyes. Just then the doorbell rings, so while Alma busies herself in the kitchen, Ken opens the door to Deirdre. She tells him she has an insurance form that needs his signature, and he invites her in. Deirdre's face visibly changes when she realizes that Alma is there, so she refuses Ken's offer to stay for coffee, and leaves quickly. Afterward, Alma is embarrassed by the awkwardness she caused, noting that Deirdre looked "wounded," but Ken assures her that Deirdre is fine. He points out that she's had several relationships since their marriage ended, and besides that, he and Alma are "just friends -- no more than that."
While Reg plays darts at the Rover's Return, Mavis is telling Bet and Alec that she thinks Rita is making too big a deal of Reg's move into No12. When Bet points out that Mavis was none too thrilled to learn that the junk man with all the dogs might move next door to her, Mavis feels that's a different matter altogether. Alec tells her though that he's heard it won't be the junk man at all, because a rather prominent-looking lawyer stopped in at the Rover's Return for a quick drink and said he represented another potential buyer. When Mavis learns that the "potential buyer" is Victor Pendlebury, she pales, but Bet and Alec both chuckle and reassure her that they're just having her on.
Deirdre arrives at the Rover's Return looking down in the mouth and orders a drink. She tells Bet she wasn't prepared for Ken's new-found happiness, and Bet pours her a large brandy.
And that's it for this episode!
Heather Morlan
Van Driver/Mover ALAN HULSE
Written by PHIL WOODS Directed by BRIAN MILLS Produced by MERVYN
WATSON
Thursday (3281, Friday 20 September 1991)
What a bright and sunny morning! Made especially so because Alec has had a letter from Victoria already! "Dear Grandad" it begins --- Does his heart good to be called that! Bet adds "And?" "Dear Grandad and Bet;" "Good Girl" Bet comments, adding that she isn't sure which is the hardest part, being a grandmother or being married to a grandad! They discuss the letter with Alec allowing as Vicky doesn't seem to make note of owt she forgot or needs. He brags about her lovely handwriting, gets that from his side of the family you know! Give over! Bet teases, his is so much like a doctor's handwriting she needs a chemist to fill his shopping lists! But Alec is instantly intimidated when it's made clear that he will have to write back to Vicky on his own. Bet reminds him what she's like when it comes to letter writing, needs a fortnight's notice to write a letter for the milkman!
Not quite as bright and sunny over at the MacDonalds however, at least not for half of the parental units, emphasis on "parental" in these early days of Liz's pregnancy. Jim sees why she wants to tell nobody but at least the boys ought to be told! No! She's adamant that she wants a few days to get used to the idea. She thought the days of sleepless nights and mucky nappies were over and now it's quite a shock to the system! Jim reluctantly agrees.
It's a rather dark and misty morning at the Kabin where Mavis and Rita are puzzling over what could possibly have brought Reg Holdsworth into the neighbourhood to live. Nothing they can do, Mavis notes, but they must be on their guard not to say any word that he might take as encouragement. Mavis' advice is to forget Reg Holdsworth and get on with their lives but no sooner said than the devil himself does appear, as the door swings open to reveal an ascotted bespectacled mongoose waddling happily into the shop. He's so full of himself i'm afraid he might explode! He starts bobbing about (he reminds me eerily of one of those weebles with the round bottom that means that they can't be pushed over, "weebles wobble but they don't fall down"!) and babbling about friends and neighbours and making veiled hints (threats!) to extend social invitations once he's settled in. Mavis snidely remarks, What about your wife, will she be joining you too? Thus reminding Reg of his last disastrous attempt at wooing the Fair Red One. The ladies are informed that the former Mrs. Holdsworth has gone back to New Zealand for a new man and a new life. He's free as a bird, what more can a man ask for!!! He spins around and leaves with a cheerful song on his lips. Mavis rolls her eyes so hard that it looks like her whole face has followed suit as she gives Rita the "Oh, Me Nerves!" look!
In the corner shop, Bet and Deirdre have a chuckle at the expense of the newest resident of Coronation Street! Nobody wants the man there, even Alec though he does figure BeTwitched is going to have to buy a lot of ale for folk to encourage them to behave in a neighbourly fashion towards him! Bet picks up her groceries in the box and leaves with a smile, greeting Alma who's just on her way in with a shopping list to be filled and picked up later. And by the way, Alma casually mentions, about last night --- it really was just a friendly meal, nothing more. Deirdre is a bit perplexed that Alma would think she cared, it's none of her business, after all, what Ken does! Alma repeats her defense once more for good measure and leaves. Deirdre still looks a bit surprised at the whole incident, and possibly a little wistful around the edges??
Ivy encounters Vera in the wines and spirits aisle of Bettabuys where she and Vera both have a moan at how hard they've been working this morning. The name of Reg comes up in conversation in unfavourable comparison to our beloved Bespecled one, Curly, wherein you always know where you stand with Curly, don't you? They too wonder why he's moved to the Street. Vera suspiciously believes he wants to spy on his staff off hours but Ivy reckons, quite correctly, that he's got his eye on someone else, implying Rita. Oh surely not, Vera decides, The Fair Red One has marked his cards and nobody's that daft to move house on the off chance of a second chance, are they? Ivy reminds her that they aren't talking about a normal person, they are talking of Rambo Reg Holdsworth! Aye, aye!
Gail and Alma are getting ready to have a tea break. Alma witters on, convinced Deirdre didn't believe a word she said and is afraid most people will be thinking along the same salacious lines. (Well they would wouldn't they, we're talking about the *Walking Groin here, let's not forget! *TM Shirley Valentine) She catches Gail's eye and realizes that Gail probably thinks the worst too! Gail is perplexed to hear Alma insist it's just a platonic friendship with no strings and no commitments and no plans for the future. Seems to contradict Gail's instincts I shouldn't wonder.
Liz stops by the bike shop on her way back from the doctor. Everything is fine only he wants to run a few tests so she doesn't want to tell the lads yet. Jim is reluctant, and thinks they might suspect something if they happen to notice the proud father walking ten feet off the ground! Liz smiles at him indulgently and turns to go. When she does, her face changes to utter misery.
Rita returns after dinner to a racket from upstairs and the news that Reg has been in twice to see if he can take Rita to lunch. Rita is horrified and now newly determined to put him straight, now! Handing Mavis her purse, she storms out the door on a mission and around the corner. Inside, Betwitched is trying to hang shelves but the least little pressure of his hand attempting to gage it's strength causes the shelf and bracket to crash to the floor! He huffs and puffs and attacks the wall with a power drill as Rita rings the buzzer downstairs. Twitching with delight (as opposed to twitching as per normal) he invites her upstairs. No, thank you, and Rita, ever the Fair Red One, politely but forcefully reiterates that she has absolutely no use for his sorry ass and not only has there never been anything between them, but there never will be. Never one to give up easily, he is down the stairs before she even finishes her rant, opening the door with a fake front of friendship. Admitting he did still harbour hopes, he does take her point. Can they at least be friends since they are neighbours? Rita says they're neighbours but she doesn't have a choice about that apparently, as for the rest, she doesn't want to know and insists he leave her alone! He watches her go, unaffected in the least by her rejection, and although he doesn't say the actual word, he shivers all over and huffs an admiring *PHWOAAARRRR! (*TM Mike Plowman)
Gail spies Ken come in the café and leaves him to speak to Alma. He's come to invite her to the theatre. One of his friends had tickets to a play and gave them over if she's not doing anything tonight? He warns her it appears to be a rather obscure play but she's eager for a night out and they fix a time to meet. After he leaves, Gail practically skips back up to the counter, hands clasped and eyes dancing in delight and devilment. Your place or his? She teases. Alma explains about the play but Gail just giggles. "Got tickets that nobody else wanted to a play? Don't think I've heard that one before!" Alma can see there's just no talking to Gail now!
Betwitched ferries his television from the car to inside the door to the flat. Angie comes by on her way to the bus and is not happy at all to see him. She rebuffs his attempts to make peace and bygones and all that and gives him a bit of difficulty over the design fee business. Still, this man has more nerve than Dick Tracy (as me dad used to say) and actually asks her to help him decorate his little palace! She shoots him down again and pushes past his insistent little body leaving him to holler persistently, You know where I am if you change your mind! He flails his arms as he spins around again and spies Alec Gilroy heading for the Kabin. He pops his head around the corner and invites Alec up for a quick look around (honestly this is getting embarrassing to watch this man, desperate for a friendly response!) Alec puts him off but not rudely so as not to encourage Reg from coming into the pub and buying drinks for all his new neighbours! LOL
Bet and Liz sit in the back room having ciggies and tea (tsk, tsk, Liz!) Bet notes that Liz is awfully quiet today but is only told that Liz is tired. Liz changes the subject to Victoria and the letter is mentioned. Bet says it's funny how quickly you get used to having a kiddie around but she's glad of the break now Victoria's gone to school. It's been a bit of a shock having a 14 year old around the house after all these years, and she can't imagine how folk manage suddenly lumbered with a nipper! It's evident that remark pushed a few of Liz's hormonally sensitive buttons since it's exactly how she's feeling after all these years and her children practically grown.
Later on in the evening Sally sees a customer out of the shop at the end of her evening shift. BeTwitched appears from out of the shadows, startling her somewhat (hey, guess what!? Very short hair on our Sal, almost Cadfael like! Somehow the pixie look suits her here, 8 years chronologically and about 30 virtual years younger (when it comes to emotional innocence that is!) He follows her into the shop on the pretence of needing milk and invites her and Kevin to the Rovers for a drink, suggesting they invite their good mates Curly and Angie along. Sally knows which side her friendship is buttered on, however, and is able to use "no babysitter on short notice" for an excuse. He could always go and ask Curly in person but Reg, suprisingly sensible, seems to back away from that and bids her goodnight, forgetting to take his milk.
We are next transported to Ken and Alma exiting the theatre, at the first interval. Ken is apologizing for the dismal play, and for wasting Alma's night. Alma won't accept the apology, agreeing it was a depressing play but the evening would be more spoiled if they spent the rest of it arguing about it. They agree to go have a drink instead to salvage the evening best they can.
We shift views to the pub, nearing the end of the licensing day here as well. Alec is asking Jack if he has any idea why Liz is so touchy, like a centipede with corns! LOL! Curly and Angie are ordering fresh pints and grumbling about BeTwitched when, speak of the devil, the door opens and he tentatively enters! He leans into the booth where Mavis and Rita are sharing a nightcap, offering to buy them one. OOOH, is that the time, Mavis squeals, Derek will be sending out a search party! Rita concurs and has an equally lame excuse for leaving, the early paper sorting. Undaunted and undefeated, Weeble wobbles over to Curly and Angie but soon sees the back of them as they scarper, leaving full pints on the bar in their haste to escape. Bet notices Liz is looking pretty bagged out and tells her to go home, the rest of them will see to the closing up. She gratefully accepts. Bet, who has noticed the most recent arrival in the bar, nudges Alec into calling for Time, pointing out Reg, who has just offered a drink to Jack as a captive audience. Jack, however, never one to turn down a freebie, happily accepts but Alec whips a bar towel over the pumps right under Jack's hand as it's reaching for a handle. Time Ladies and Gentlemen, Let's be having your glasses! Reg sputters and protests as does Jack but it's to no avail. Rats, Foiled again, Batman! Oh you just gotta feel sorry for him though don't you? Or contemptuous that he just doesn't take a hint. Sorry, contempt, sorry, contempt, Nope, appalled at the utterly ridiculous pomposity and amazed at the endless combinations of mind bending contortions the man is capable of making with his facial twitches!
It looks as if there has been another feast of wine and cheesing for Ken and Alma, this time at Alma's flat. They are enjoying a thoroughly agreeable evening salvaged from a rather uncertain beginning. Alma confesses to Ken that he has been instrumental in allowing her to build up her self respect again by conducting a casual platonic no-pressure relationship. She had really sunk to the depths of despair and never thought she could ever trust another man after Mike. (and you think you can trust Ken Bloody Barlow?) Ken winces at the mention of his life's enemy, causing Alma to apologize but it's a good sign that she can even talk about Mike now and not feel anything, pain or longing. She realizes what happened with Mike and Ken's daughter doesn't encourage warm and fuzzies. Ken tells her the feud goes back much further than that and bitterly describes how Mike earlier tried to take away his wife! Alma's face drops as she slowly realizes what Ken means. Mike and Deirdre??? Which is why, Ken quietly and with conviction, he would be quite happy to see Mike Baldwin rot in hell! (and, By God, William Roache actually acted in this scene!)
Jim is at the table doing his accounts, as evidenced by his laborious attacking the keys on the adding machine and little balls of crumpled paper surrounding him on the table top. Liz comes in the door and takes a deep breath, shoring up her courage. She goes into the back room. Jim is very caring and solicitous and concerned for her well being until she tells him that she realizes he wants the baby but she just can't do it. He thinks she's concerned for her health but is gobsmacked to hear her say she doesn't want to go through with it! He is speechless. She apologizes and hopes he can understand and flees upstairs. He sputters and calls after her, hurt and bewildered at what he's just heard and follows her.
Diane Johnston
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3282, Monday 23 September 1991)
Morning in the Platt/Tilsley household and everyone is getting ready to start the day. In anticipation of a visit this evening from Martin's mother, Gail wonders if she really approves of their getting married. Martin assures her that his mother is "over the moon". In fact, he says, she reckons that proposing to Gail was the smartest thing he's ever done! Except, as Gail reminds him with a grin, it was *she* who did the proposing. They share a kiss and a cuddle but Nicky comes in and objects: "Eeeewwweee - kissing at breakfast!!"
At the Brennans', Don is getting his suit coat ready to drop off at the cleaners so he'll have it for Gail and Martin's wedding. Ivy wonders why he doesn't invest in a new one as she is getting a new dress for the occasion. Don remarks that women go in for that sort of thing but he doesn't see the point in buying a new one; he only wears it for weddings, Christenings and funerals after all. Ivy makes a crack about Audreh, saying she'll be pulling out all the stops thinking she's "Lady Muck" and Don jokes that Ivy and Audreh will be so busy trying to outdo the other that they'll miss seeing the wedding! Ivy returns that she'll see it all right, she'll see her grandchildren being taken away from her! Don sighs that no one can take her grandchildren from her, it's only their names that will change. She retorts that it's easy for him to say, Brian wasn't his son! He doesn't have the chance to say anything back as she leaves in a huff saying she'll be late for work.
In the street, Curly and Kevin are quietly chatting when Reg calls and comes over to them from across the road. He cheerily suggests meeting Curly and his "landlady" (Angie) for a drink that evening but Curly begs off, saying they are busy. Reg isn't discouraged though - he suggests the following evening. That's Martin's stag night, Curly apologises. Reg brightens, suggesting that he can pop down and "offer his congratulations - or condolences, as the case may be"! Curly gives in, sheepishly saying they'll be in the Rovers. As Reg goes off with a smile on his face, Kevin tells Curly the stag won't be in the Rovers and Curly admits that he knew that.
The air hangs heavy in the McDonald household this morning. Liz asks about the boys and Jim tells her they've gone off to school already. She mentions that she'll take a bath before work and that her appointment at the clinic is at 2:30 that afternoon. He nods gloomily. She adds that she doesn't want him mentioning her appointment to anyone, just leave it between them. He replies that there are a lot of folk who would give her flack if they knew. She snaps back that she didn't come to the decision lightly. Jim turns to her and pleads for her to wait, just a few days. But she says the longer she waits the more difficult it will be. "I need to make a decision!" she shouts. "Sounds as if you've already made it to me!" he grunts.
Mavis is peeping out of the Kabin and spots Reg making his way over. She hurries in to tell Rita that he's coming and suggests that she go into the back to put the kettle on. Rita brushes off the suggestion, saying that she's set Reg straight already and she isn't going to go and hide! The door opens and the man comes bounding in, cheerily commenting on what a "jocund" neighbourhood he's landed in. Rita gives him a look of surprise and he informs her that it means "sprightly, merry". She already knows what it means, just wonders what he's referring to. Reg waxes eloquent, "The unpretentious cobble street, the sleepy little shops, the pub, the residents all tied together by invisible bonds of loyalty and companionship..." Rita can only reply, "By ëeck!" Reg confides that being on the Street "brings out the poet in him". He quickly adds that he has a first edition volume upstairs, perhaps one evening over a fine bottle of claret? Stunned, Rita retreats to the back, saying that she hears the kettle boiling. Mavis serves Reg and sees him off before Rita cautiously re-enters. "You may have told him", her assistant comments, "but I don't think he heard you!"
In the pub for his lunch, Jim offers to give Liz a lift to the clinic for her appointment. She snaps back at him in a shrill whisper that she doesn't want it mentioned! He goes into a quiet sulk until he overhears Alec asking Liz to give him a hand in the cellar. Jim snaps to attention and barks to the landlord that he won't be getting *his* wife doing the cellarman's job. Alec stammers that he only needs her help because he's got a delivery coming and Jack is off but Jim is not having it. "Well it's buck stupid if you ask me," he shouts, "giving your cellarman the day off when you're expecting a delivery!" Liz glares at Jim with a quiet plea to *shut up* and he turns and stalks out in a fury. Alec, shaken by the confrontation, stammers to Don that it's only because of Martin's stag night that he needed to get some extra booze in. It comes as an unpleasant surprise to Alec when Don says that Martin's not having his stag night in the Rovers.
In the cafe, Gail's reaction on hearing that Alma and Ken left last night's play halfway through is "How romantic!" But Alma quickly dismisses any notion that romance had owt to do with it. Still, Gail reckons that Ken may feel differently, he is on the rebound after all. She ventures to suggest that he's sorry for having chucked away a good marriage. Alma jumps to Ken's defense, saying that "it takes two to tango", which remark causes Gail to ask if Alma knows something. "No!" she answers, a little too quickly.
Back in the Rovers, Alec tells Bet that he's managed to persuade the delivery man to take back the superfluous booze. Bet says he should have asked Martin about his stag in the first place but Alec counters that he expected he would be having it at the Rovers out of loyalty. In frustration he turns to Liz and tells her she needs to have a word with her husband about who's in charge here. She meekly apologises for Jim's outburst as Alec leaves to go into the back. Bet confidentially tells Liz she thought Jim went on a bit, too. Liz is troubled to hear Bet say she had started to wonder if she was pregnant!
Ivy thought Nicky could do with a bit of pampering with all the wedding palaver going on so she's picked him up at school to have his dinner with her. Now, as Nick gets tucked into his whatever and chips, his grandmother starts to pump him for information. How does he feel about all this wedding business? "Okay, I guess", he answers. And what about a name change, has anyone talked to him about that? "No." Ivy then launches into a tribute to RBrian - emphasising to Nicky that Brian was his "real" dad. Don unexpectedly comes home and she looks daggers at him for intruding but quickly recovers herself and sweetly asks why he is home at this time. He's taking his dinner break and wonders the same about her and Nicky being there. She casually explains that she thought Nick could do with a bit of a treat so she brought him home for his dinner. Don dismisses his suspicions and leaving them to it, eases himself into his chair to look over the paper. Ivy asks Nick if he plays football and when he replies that he isn't much good at it, she tells him that his dad was "a great footballer". Don's eyebrows are raised when she continues by advising the boy to keep at it as these things are "in the blood"!
As Jim busily repairs things in his shop, Liz comes in to confront him about the scene he made earlier in the Rovers. "What the hell did you think you were playin' at?" she demands. He doesn't understand why she's so riled as all he tried to do was keep Alec from "exploiting" her. "I work for the man!" she shrieks back. She further accuses him of trying to bring pressure to bear on her by almost letting the cat out of the bag. He almost made a public announcement as far as she's concerned. Jim takes exception to this. He may not like what she's thinking of doing but he wouldn't stoop to emotional blackmail! Seeing his angry response, she relents that she knows he wouldn't do such a thing, she's just in such turmoil over what to do. He points out that it isn't only her decision - he is the baby's father, after all. She throws it back at him by suggesting that *he* make the decision in that case. He admits that he's just as torn up about it as she is - he doesn't have any easy answers either. She laments that she just wants it over with before leaving to go on to her appointment.
Don is in the cafe and casually mentions to Gail that Ivy took Nicky home for his dinner, did she know about it? She certainly did not and she doesn't seem very comfortable with the idea. Audreh drags herself in, exhausted from a frustrating afternoon of shopping for an outfit for the wedding. Alma announces tea in her newly acquired Spanish as she sets a cup before Audreh. Impressed, Audreh jokes that she'll be able to chat up matadors soon. Then she adds except that her "beau" (meaning Ken), might object! Alma protests that he is not her "beau" but Audreh remains unconvinced. Alma points out that men and women *can* have platonic friendships and Audreh replies, "So Ah'm told - but why would theh want to?!"
Jim's just in from work and finds Liz setting the table for tea. He asks about her visit to the clinic and she starts telling him about all the tests that are scheduled. That isn't what he meant - did they give her a date? No, they didn't. They didn't give her a date because she didn't ask - she couldn't. Jim's relief and happiness at the news are short lived as Liz informs him that she hasn't made a decision yet. Confused, he starts to question her but she's very keyed up and tells him not to ask. He tries to discuss it with her again but she shrieks at him to "Just leave it!" before he gives up and goes upstairs to shower.
As Gail and Martin scurry around tidying up for the impending visit from Martin's mother, Nicky comes in. Gail stops running the vacuum long enough to ask about his dinner with Granny Ivy but Nicky's rather close mouthed about it, saying only that they talked about football. She raises an eyebrow but doesn't have the chance to pursue it as the doorbell sounds. Martin's mother is early but she breezes in cheerfully and doesn't notice the state of the house at all. Handing Gail a present, she explains that she had to come early as she's on her way to a bridge game. Gail unwraps the gift and holds up a lacy garter belt, to be worn on her wedding day, which item draws a lecherous quip from Martin. His mother comments that Gail's going to have to take him in hand, then she rushes out again as quickly as she came in. Martin jokes that she now knows where his hyperactivity comes from and Gail laughs as she says she wishes more grannies were like her! She returns again to the subject of Ivy, wondering just what she's up to...
In the pub, Bet brings drinks over to where Ivy and Emily are sitting and asks Ivy if she's ready for the wedding. Ivy answers in a flat voice that she's as ready as she'll ever be. Emily reminds Bet that she has it all to look forward to one day, when Vicky gets married. Bet rolls her eyes at the prospect, saying she just wishes they'd settle the will. Ivy exclaims that she can't understand why it's not been executed by now and Emily opines that these things can take time. "In some cases, there are genuine misunderstandings. In others, there seems to be a perverse delight in making things difficult for those left behind", she laments. Bet shakes her head and returns to the bar and Ivy digests the remark slowly, with a glint of understanding in her eyes.
Curly comes in to the pub just long enough to have a word with Reg, who's stood at the bar alone. He tells his boss that he's had a word with Angie about "burying the hatchet". Reg smilingly nods and waits for Curly to continue. "She's told me where she'd like to bury it!" he finishes. Reg's disappointment is apparent but Curly doesn't stay around to comfort him.
In the halls of the community college, Alma finds Ken signing up for a "weekend gourmet" excursion connected with his wine tasting class. It occurs to him to ask her if she would be interested in coming as his guest, all "above board" of course. She hesitates and he assumes he's done the wrong thing by asking. He hastens to let her off the hook, saying of course she wouldn't want to cause talk. But she surprises him by announcing that she'd be delighted to come and to heck with what people are saying about them!
Don comes home at the end of the day to find Ivy admiring a fine linen tablecloth she's bought as a wedding present for Gail and Martin. He comments that it was nice of her and she smiles as she gingerly folds it and replaces it in the box. As she tucks it away, she tentatively informs Don that she's going to see her solicitor tomorrow. "What for?" he asks. She's realised that her will's not been changed since RBrian died and she's decided to leave almost everything to RNicky. Don looks up from his paper inquisitively and she goes on to elaborate, "My half of the house, that is". "Oh well, that's all right then", Don returns. "Long as he doesn't go throwing me out if you go first!" he jokes. (Famous last words, Don!!) Ivy smiles before dropping the other boot: "Of course there'll be certain conditions attached..." Don's face registers confusion. "What conditions?" "He'll have to change his name back to Tilsley first", she declares unabashedly!
Anita Belanger
Barbara Platt BARBARA YOUNG
Written by HARRY DUFFIN Directed by KEN HORN
Monday (3283, Wednesday 25 September 1991)
It's the day before the big day!
Alec, Rita and Mavis chat about the comparative economics and advantages of wintering in Spain. See, Rita is dreading the onset of winter. It's cold, dark, wet, and miserable and sunny Spain sounds like just the thing! Mavis, however, is rather looking forward to being able to fill her hot water bottle again! To their credit, neither Alec nor Rita laughs in her face or even makes a sarky remark although Alec does leave rather quickly. The thing that's really on Rita's mind is the newly close quarters with Reg Holdsworth (t'other side of the wall!) Speak of the devil, in wobbles Weeble. He wants to know if they'll perchance be at the Rovers tonight. Perchance they might, but they're spoken for, Rita advises. Hen party. (Gail's) But Mavis and Rita are both visibly grossed out at his crack about hatched eggs!
Outside on the street, Curly and Kevin are discussing the impending stand do for Martin. Curly's remark about everyone knowing a prat by the time they reach their age is punctuated by the arrival of Reg. See what I mean, says Curly aside to Kevin! They part and Reg railroads Curly into carpooling arrangements, his turn first! This is of course the first time Curly's heard of this and as Reg gets in the car, Curly briefly attempts to strangle the air in front of his face in Reg's general direction before he too gets in the car and makes Reg belt up.
It has not gone unnoticed by Ivy that Don is in a right mood this morning. Indeed, he's not doing much to hide his contention and refuses to even discuss Ivy's visit to the solicitor this morning since she's already got her mind well made up to do it. He leaves, telling her he isn't particular whether he even has any tea tonight.
Alma is busy with Audrey, who is interrogating Alma about her weekend plans. Evasive, Alma only admits to a date with Ken on Saturday and even that has Audrey giggling in delight, completely ignoring Alma's protests that it's all completely innocent. As soon as Audrey leaves, Gail wastes no time taking the mickey out of Alma for hiding the fact that dinner will actually last from Friday night to Sunday morning! Alma swears Gail to secrecy on pain of death but seems to be a bit apprehensive, herself. It's all platonic and they both are happy with that but what will she do if Ken comes a-tapping? (that's Ken, all right, short, quick and staccato. TAPPING!!)
Rita and Emily chat in the back of the corner shop. Rita is still moaning on about Reg and reminds Emily that it was her idea to go to the tea dance which sparked Reg's interest in the first place. As Audrey joins them, Rita is telling Emily she's already made it clear to Reg where things stand but even giving him the time of day and he's got his chair scraping under t'table! Up at the counter Sally seems to be swopping shifts with Deirdre who is already working. Can't be babysitting as we later find out that Angie's doing that. Unless she was asking Deirdre to babysit. I don't know, it was all a bit jumbled.
Jim comes home where Liz is chopping veg in the kitchen. He's heard from Bet that Liz came home from work early and was concerned. Liz assures him she's fine, just feeling a bit off. Jim knows there's more to it than that and solicitously leads her to the sofa to put her feet up, offering to make her a cuppa. She smiles at his caring ministrations and they end up reminiscing about the bus stop where Liz broke the news 17 years ago that she was pregnant with the boys. She asks a loaded question next, wondering if they would have still got married had she not been pregnant. Jim, knowing the proper priorities of the world, immediately answers course they would but any road, he did and has no regrets now! (Good man, so you are! Well trained!)
Kevin comes up the ginnel (right, you lot, shurrup your snickering!). His basic reason for existing in this scene appears to be a boring moan about how hard done by he is at work. Sally listens as she hangs out her washing to him go on and on, poor poor pitiful me, can you help me carry this chip on me shoulder, Sal? (boss gave him grief for wanting a day off to go to Martin and Gail's wedding). He's in such a maudlin pity party that he takes no notice of Sally telling him to take no notice so she has a few jokes at his expense and says she's glad she's going to a different party tonight! (Boring Git!)
Back at the Brennan fort, Don has not bothered with his tea and the battle begins again. She's been to the solicitor and he's confirmed that she can make a new will with specific conditions. He decides he'd better get the information now and regrets it as she confirms that she is leaving her estate to Nicky on the condition that he keep his rightful name. Sara Lou will get her bits of jewelry since she'll change her name when she marries anyway. Not much of an equal split if you ask me! Don is incensed at all this and wonders if he is going to have to pay rent to Prince Nicholas if she dies first! Oh, she gasps, and assures him the house is his as long as he's alive! Oh, Grace and Favour, is it? No thank you! He slams the door with contempt in her face!
Mavis has arrived to babysit for Gail and Martin. Gail's still in her robe but Martin's nearly ready, just deciding whether to wear a tie or not. Mavis cleverly points out the metaphor of a tie symbolizing tying the knot of marriage. Martin takes it a step further, likening it to a noose! Gail throws him Nicky's play handcuffs and the two share a joke and a kiss. She warns him not to do anything stupid nor to let them lot send him home covered in anything unmentionable or she'll kill them! Later Mavis seems to be uncomfortable when the children start asking questions about why she didn't have children and I think Sara Lou mentioned babies which sends Mavis for the storybooks!
In the Rovers, Des, Curly and Kevin meet up for a quick pint prior to going to the TicTac Club where the do is to be held. Bet asks Curly with a wink if anyone has ever told him he looked like Harrison Ford, just in a certain light? No they haven't. He knows he's being wound up but hopes the lights at the club are similarly certain! Kevin wonders why Don isn't there. He's stopped in on the way and was told Don already left. Don't matter, Curly points out, he knows where we'll be. True enough! Audrey arrives and, clapping eyes on Ken, tries to find out more information about his relationship with Alma. Ken cryptically says that he can't afford that sort of thing very often, assuming of course that Audrey knows about the weekend away. He decides it's time to leave just as Alma arrives for the hen party. They greet amicably and he goes.
Alma joins the party which is well under way. The women have a good laugh at married name changes, good and bad. Gail jokes that she might call off the wedding now she realizes she'll be Gail Platt!
Over at the TicTac club, Don finally arrives, telling the others he'd just been for a walk to clear his head. He buys his round and chats to the pretty barmaid who he recognizes because he's driven her home. She's relieved to discover the reason he knows where she lives is more innocent than stalking or something. She points out the stag do at the other side of the pub where the partiers are in a much farther advanced state of inebriation than our little band of merry men. The younger men are making the usual marriage jokes about nooses, threats and henpecking, teasing Martin about the handcuffs he's had in his pocket. Somewhat later, the lads are visibly under the alcofluence of incohol and there is much more hilarity! Don orders another round from the barmaid and is flattered when she tells him she's told a pushy punter that Don is her husband, does he mind? No he doesn't mind at all. Des teases him about it but Don *says it means nothing.
We see Derek briefly at the bar at the Rovers as we quickly shift down a few feet to Alma and Audrey. Audrey is quizzing Alma about the funny remark Ken made and Alma sees there isn't any point in trying to hide it, knowing Audrey's curiosity won't let her ease up. She tells Audrey about the weekend, making a point of saying she's paying her half and it's all perfectly innocent. Audrey doesn't believe it for a minute. Does Alma?
The next time we see Derek he's sheepishly at Gail's door. He uses the excuse that Mavis had seemed a bit apprehensive and nervous in her babysitting task so he wanted to come make sure she was managing all right. She assures him they've all got along fine. It comes out soon enough that Derek was just lonely. The pub was full of rowdy women and he missed her home alone. It suddenly came to him how bereft he would be if something should ever happen to her. Mavis teases him gently and consoles his weary heart.
It's near the end of the evening, closing time at the club. Des insists Martin must spend tonight with him, it's bad luck to spend it with the bride. Don is charged to let Gail know and the younger lads pile into a taxi. Don lingers behind, encountering his barmaid "by chance". He offers to share his cab with her and she accepts.
Guess he forgot about Gail then. Gail and Alma are waiting at Gail's and she's furious! Where's Martin!!!!
Martin has passed out on Des's settee! Uh oh!
Diane Johnston
Barmaid (Julie) - SU ELLIOTT; Pauline Lofthouse
- JUDY HAWKINS
Written by JULIAN ROACH Directed by KEN HORN
Tuesday (3284, Friday 27 September 1991)
The last time we saw bridegroom-to-be Martin Platt he was sleeping the sleep of the innocent on Des Barnes' sofa - well, not exactly the sleep of the innocent, in fact he had passed out there after his stag party buddies had insisted that he couldn't spend the night before the Big Day with his bride-to be! Bad luck, you know! Don Brennan was given the duty of ringing Gail to let her know that Martin would be staying at Des' and now Desmond comes downstairs to wake Sleeping Beauty and remind him it's the happiest day of his life, even if (as my brother used to put it after a heavy night) his hair itches and his tongue feels like it's wearing a little sweater.
At the Platt's, it becomes very evident very quickly that Don has *not* phoned a near-frantic Gail. When Audreh arrives and hears that Martin didn't come home the previous night, she greets the news with amusing calm. That's men, she mentions (twice). "He could've phoned!" Gail wails, her fear rapidly turning to fury. "Oh, ah doubt that, he were probableh incapable," Audrey says airily. Gail threatens to call the wedding off, but Audrey is having none of it - she's bought a new hat for the occasion and *nobody* is stopping her from wearing it!
In the Brennan home, Ivy is driving posts with a sledgehammer - oh, sorry, no, she's just setting the breakfast table with the ferocity of someone driving posts with a sledgehammer. She's in a fine mood, is Ivy. Don comes into the room to a torrent of abuse about being out so late the night before at Martin's stag party. He's too old for that, she snorts, "you're old enough to be those lads' dad!" "I'm not geriatric yet, even though you want me to act like I am," Don replies. "What's *that* supposed to mean?" responds Ivy. "It means, I'm sick of your moanin'!" Don says, leaving Ivy with a baffled expression on her face. (Truly, the complete non-existence of this woman's self-knowledge is incredible.)
The tension at the MacDonald house could be cut with a knife this morning. Liz sits at the table while Jim walks on eggshells across the floor to sit with the morning paper. The sense that he wants to say something but doesn't know which phrase might not end up in his head being bitten off is palpable. Finally he ventures, "How do you feel this morning?" "Like a million dollars," snaps Liz sarcastically. Jim sighs. It was a serious question. "Okay," Liz replies, "here's a serious answer. I feel trapped." Jim, losing patience, replies that he doesn't know why, because he thought that "for all these years women had been telling us men that they could 'choose' and if men don't like it, too bad!" Liz angrily replies that it's not that simple - the only way out of one trap is by ending "it" (the pregnancy, through a termination) and entering a different trap! Jim has had enough of the conversation and says, well, he's a man so too stupid to understand, but he's trapped by earning a living - of course he could "choose" - to stop, and starve! He slams the paper he was reading on the table and strides out. A frustrated Liz throws the paper after him.
It's gone 9:00 at the Platt's, and still no sign of Martin! Audrey suggests calling round to his mates' for him but Gail is far too proud. It'll be a cold day in hell when she goes calling around after Martin Platt! (At this point, Baby David began to cry and continued to wail throughout the entirity of the next scene of domestic discord, adding just a perfect touch of chaos.) Just then - yes, it's Des, delivering "one bridegroom, slightly shop worn". Gail suggests he take that bridegroom and dump him in the Council pit! "Er, - something wrong, luv?" twigs Martin as Gail storms out of the kitchen. "Where on *earth* have you been, Martin?" asks Audreh. "I was at Dessie's!" Martin protests. It turns out that nobody had phoned Gail. "I can see why she's upset!" Martin says. Des thinks that Don Brennan was supposed to call - it's all a bit blurry, but we know he's right because Diane Johnston told us so in the last update! At that moment Gail storms back into the room carrying an athletic bag, a pair of shoes and Martin's wedding suit which she throws on the kitchen table before ignoring Martin's entreaties and storming out again. "Mum's mad at you, Martin," Nicky observes insightfully. "Ah think he knows that, luv," Audrey says. Audreh sends Des off to get Martin dressed in his wedding suit, she will try to convince Gail to calm down. The great capper on this scene is Des physically dragging Martin out of the house - as they pass the stairs, Martin grabs the banister and cries plaintively up them, "Ah love you, Gail!" before being dragged out the door by Des, who yells impatiently, "Come on, she knows that!"
Ivy is grumpily ironing her dress for the upcoming nuptials. She remembers when she wore it for Gail and Brian's wedding. (Oh, *nice touch*, Mrs. Sensitivity! Why don't you wear a framed 8x10 photo of Brian around your neck an' all?) "Y'should've treated y'self," Don says. "I'd not waste me money on a frock for this do!" replies Poison Ivy. (meow!) She doesn't even know why she's going, she continues. Don suggests she do everyone a favour and stay away, if she's to be a misery! Once again, Ivy looks hurt and baffled, as if she can't imagine what's gotten into Don.
Mavis and Derek are having a lunchtime drink in the pub. Mavis comments that she had quite a nice time babysitting the Tilsley/Platt kiddies recently and she'd like to do it more often. Derek is doubtful. No, she shouldn't let people know that, there's plenty with young'uns in the street who'll try to take advantage. Mavis says she doesn't know that she'd mind that. Finally the penny drops as Derek reveals his *real* objection. While she's off minding other people's kiddies, where does that leave him? "You're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself," Mavis says, half-amused, half-annoyed. Besides, he could come with her when she babysat. "That's what courting couples do!" protests Dirk, not old marrieds like themselves. Just then Sally comes into the Rover's in a hat so big and worn so low I didn't recognize her for several moments (I actually thought it were Steph! When you couldn't see any hair at all there was actually quite a resemblance.) At any rate, her babysitting arrangements for the wedding fell through and she's trying to find a substitute sitter. Mavis begins to volunteer but Derek loudly informs everyone that Mavis has to be back at the Kabin soon! (Selfish old fool.)
Back at the Platties', Gail is feeding the baby. She's made no move towards preparing for the wedding. Audrey offers to do it but Gail snaps, "I said no! I'm perfectly capable of feeding my own baby!" "And Martin's baby and all!!!" Audrey retorts as she goes to answer the doorbell, leaving Gail to reflect on her comment. Audrey returns with Alma who looks smashing in one of those flat, round, Caballero-style hat (I don't know what they're called.) The Spanish lessons are indeed looking good on her! Audrey explains the situation; Gail says that the wedding is off!! "It *is*," Gail reiterates. "Oh, no, it's not! I bought this hat for your wedding!" protests the Cute Caballero. Gail pauses. "That's what me mum said," she muses. "Ah. See? Great minds think alike." (Yes. And fools seldom differ, but I digress.) "Now go upstairs and get y'self ready!" "So just because you two want to swank about in new hats I've got to say 'I do' to a drunken layabout," teases Gail. "YES!" Say Audrey and Alma in unison. "Yes!" concurs Sarah Louise, probably in an ad-lib, from the surprised looks on all faces around. Everyone smiles, including Gail.
Martin is at that moment being piled reluctantly into a waiting car by Kevin, Desmond and Sally. He is muttering grimly about how Gail isn't going to turn up anyway. Liz and Bet come out of the Rovers to wish him luck but are baffled by his gloomy demeanour. As the car zooms off, Liz looks down the street to see Jim waving goodbye to it with a babby in his arms. (Good heavens, that was fast. Do they deliver them Western Union now?) Actually, as Liz discovers when she gets a few moments off from Bet to join Jim at home and find out what's up, Jim has agreed to mind Rosie for Sally and Kev. "I think this is more for my benefit," Liz observes, but Jim insists that he is just being neighbourly.
An anxious Kev and Martin wait for Gail at the Registry Office. Matters are not helped by Martin's Dad who is glumly roaming around muttering about how Registries get funny about folk being late, they might bump them to the back of the queue. Thank goodness he goes inside to ensure this doesn't happen, giving Martin some peace. "She's not coming," Martin predicts, as his Best Man says, "Oh yeah? Who's this, then?" A decorated wedding car pulls up and Gail gets out. She and Martin embrace and kiss earnestly as their friends and family urge them inside, they're late, they're late!
Following an ad break, we move inside to witness the exchange of vows. Gail looks quite pretty and I'd like to note that she had her hair done in an original, flattering and interesting style for her big day! I'd like to, but I can't, 'cause she didn't. (Like I have room to critique, but it's what's done and half the fun, what?) However she did have it pulled back from her face a bit, and dressed with flowers, and she did look very nice in a shawl-collar, off-the-shoulder gown (which, as I recall, would've been very very fashionable in 1991) decorated with a rose or two. Martin looks very smart in a grey double-breasted suit. There's yer fashion report.
They exchange the Registry office vows which I find a bit less than inspiring (basically you say you can't think of any legal reason why you can't marry him, and vice-versa, then exchange rings) but who am I to judge anyone's Big Day? The characters' hearts were in it and the scene was lovely. (Me, I always cry at weddings, anyway.) Among the gathered guests, Ivy asks Sally who that is sitting with the Tilsley-Platt kiddies? It's Martin's mum, Sally replies. Ivy's eyes narrow and she scowls as she sees Barbara Platt share a whispered giggle with Sara Louise.
Back at the Kabin, Mavis is huffing and puffing and obviously in distress as she crams papers into delivery bags. In weebles Reg, who wonders oh, dear, what can the matter be? Rita's so long at the wedding! The delivery boys haven't shown up, nor has Ken who was to help watch the shop. What is she to do about the evening rounds? Reg replies grandly that he's "a neighbour and a Holdsworth and a Holdsworth is worth his word, his word he 'holds worth' more than life itself! Heh heh. Funny about surnames, you know..." "Yes, yes," replies Mavis impatiently. Does that mean he'll help? Yes! She is terribly grateful and starts describing the paper route. Oh no! Reg corrects her. There are certain things a Bettabuys Manager cannot be seen doing and delivering evening papers is one of them! As he says this he begins loading paperbags on Mavis' shoulders until she is laden like a burro and practically runs her out of the shop before she can protest. He chuckles as he turns back into the Kabin, which for the time being is all his.
We move to the Rover's where Gail and Martin's wedding reception is taking place. Poison Ivy has found no end to the things to criticize about the wedding. How did she hate it? Let her count the ways. Why a Registry wedding? Why did Gail "leave the church"? she wonders. Don patiently replies that Gail had the wedding she wanted. "But you know it's not right," Ivy sniffs. "And what's she done with the wedding ring RBrian gave her?" Don snaps at Ivy to leave it and she replies, "What's the matter with you?" He's been out of sorts all day, she says. "That is the pot calling the kettle black!" Don retorts. Once again, Ivy's "poor me" face reveals that she has no idea what a harpie she's being - or perhaps that she has no idea everyone else sees the blackness in her heart.
At another part of the pub, Martin reveals that he has a speech prepared. What will he say? Gail asks. She'll just have to wait and find out! Nicky, who's sitting with them, notices and says, "Are you going to give a speech, Dad?" "Ah, yes, son," says Martin, "if you can't make a speech on your wedding day, when can you?" In a quiet moment, Martin tells Gail he was afraid she wasn't going to turn up. Well, she replies, her mam and Alma threatened her with violence if she didn't! "You know why that is," says a pleased Martin, "that's cause they know what a cracking fella you've got!" "Might be that," Gail replies. Might be they just needed a reason to wear their new hats!
Ken has arrived to sweep Alma off on their "strictly platonic, no-sex-please-we're-British" gourmet weekend, and they go off to congratulate Gail and Martin before leaving. At a table in a corner, Nicky tells Ivy that "me dad's going to make a speech!" Ivy's face is a mask of horror. "Your dad? *Martin*, you mean!" she corrects him firmly. "Martin's not your real dad. Your real dad's in heaven." "Yes, I know," says a sobered little Nick. "And he's watching over you all the time. And he wants you to think about him. He doesn't want you to forget him, ever!" (Good God. This sort of rhetoric will give the child nightmares for the rest of his life - and I know whereof I speak!) Poor wee Nick nods somberly as Guilt-trip Granny finishes. Oh, she's a nasty piece of work, is Ivy!
Back at the Kabin, an unsuspecting Rita, pretty in pink, strolls in. "I'm back!" she chirps. "Oh, you should've seen Gail. She looked lovely. Mavis?" Her face is a picture when Reginald hops out of the back room! "Where is Mavis?" stammers Rita. There was a crisis, explains Reg cheerfully, and he stepped into Mavis' shoes. "While we're on the topic of shoes, perhaps you could direct *yours* in the direction of that door!" Rita snaps. As he begins to leave, Reg says, "Rita, can't we start all over again?" "No!" says Rita, looking briefly as though she might faint. As he walks to the door Reg says quietly, "I was just trying to be friendly. I didn't expect thanks for tonight. But I did expect fairness. I've always thought of you as a fair-minded woman - and I refuse to believe I was wrong." He closes the door behind him, leaving a discombobulated Rita behind.
Back at the Rovers Return, Kev is giving his Best Man's speech. He reckons that Gail and Martin are made for each other, and he hopes they make each other as happy as Sally makes him. (Eek! My crystal ball crack'd from side to side!) He proposes a toast "To the Platts!" "To the Platts," echoes Martin's mum merrily, "not forgetting all the little ponytails!" (That's a play on words that might be lost to non-UK viewers. What we call 'braids' are referred to in the UK as 'plaits', pronounced as 'platts'. So Barbara was making a play on words between Platts - plaits, and plaits - ponytails.) "What does that mean - pony tails?" asks Nicky. "It's a joke about you and your little brother and sister," Don smiles. Ivy glowers as if she might explode. "Likes her drink," Ivy mutters, referring to Barbara Platt. "Likes it too much if you ask me!" "Ivy," Don replies cheerfully, "nobody's askin' you!" LOL! Now Martin makes a speech about how happy he is to be finally married to Gail after lots of trying to convince her to make it legal. When he mentions his wife and "3 beautiful children" Ivy's gets her knickers twisted so hard she nearly pinches herself in two. Martin invites the guests to his and Gail's Silver Anniversary Party in 25 years' time.
PLOT CLICH ALERT - PLOT CLICH ALERT - at the hotel where the Gourmet Weekend is to be held, you guessed it, only one room has been booked and the hotel is completely full! Ken, who made the booking insists he arranged for two singles, but the receptionist says "it's down here as double - Mr. and Mrs. Barlow!" Ken and Alma look at each other, at a bit of a loss!
Back at t'Rovers, Bet tells Gail not to mind her saying it, but she can't help but remember Gail's first wedding do in that very pub. Gail agrees that she has been thinking about it, too. (Telepathic transmission from Ivy, no doubt) Gail was so young, Bet reminisces - the original child bride! How long ago was it now? Twelve years, Gail confirms. "Where the *hell* does the time go?" Bet muses, rather too introspectively! Gail was so sure that she and Brian would live happily ever after, Gail muses. "Happy ever after this time," Bet assures her, with a warm hug.
Poison Ivy grumpily breaks in to say that Sara Louise will be going with her and Don and staying at their place tonight. She's getting tired and cranky. (No, she meant Sara Louise, but I hear ya.) Gail says that she and Martin are just going anyway. She rejoins Martin who agrees that he's tired too and looking forward to an early night (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). (Okay, everyone out there who actually had sex on your wedding night and didn't instead fall immediately into a deep dreamless contented slumber with your beloved out of sheer exhaustion, raise your hand. Oh, well, *you*, but we would've expected it of *you*. As for the rest of us, I suspected as much.) "You'll be lucky to get to bed before midnight," Martin's dad says, but not for the reasons he thinks! It seems that Mr. and Mrs. Platt and Audrey (and obviously Alf - where *is* poor Alf on his stepdaughter's wedding day! Not a mention of him!) have arranged a honeymoon for our nuptial pair! It's all arranged - a lovely little suite. "Don't worry, the kiddies will be taken care of," Audrey says. "I thought I'd move into your house while you're away," Martin's mum says. Ivy is as Shocked and Appalled as the author of a letter to the Globe and Mail! She's nearly trembling with rage as she overhears this. (I'd be trembling at the prospect of my mother-in-law moving into my house while I was away but for entirely different reasons. Fortunately my mother-in-law is a fine woman who would know better than to ever suggest moving into another woman's home! She once gently chewed out my husband for saying that my chocolate chip cookies were good - "nearly as good as yours!". "You *never* tell your wife that *anything* she does isn't as good as your mother's. *Never!*" she replied. I love that woman. If I divorced my husband I'd sue for custody of her.) Anyway, Gail protests that Alma will be expecting her in the caff on Monday. "Oh, no she isn't!!!" Audrey says gleefully. So with all the details arranged, the young couple have an unexpected holiday while Ivy's bitterness festers.
At the Hotel Hideaway, Ken is attempting to explain the innocence of the booking mistake to Alma. "Seriously, Alma, I do assure you this is not some... some... gambit of mine," he says prissily. Alma says that she believes him. Not that she'd believe many men in the same circumstances, but she believes him. "I can sleep in the car," Ken says righteously. (I don't know why but in this scene he just irritated me.) Oh, that's making too much of it, Alma insists. After all, they're not a couple of silly kids. "So, it's either the bolsters down the middle of the bed, or one of us sleeps on that sofa," she says. Ken will take the sofa, since he was the one who messed up the reservations. With that sorted, he says he will go down to the bar for a nightcap, giving Alma time to get ready and get into bed. She agrees, and tells him that he is being a "perfect gentleman".
At the MacDonald's a long day is over for Liz who was serving at the wedding reception. "I'm shattered," she comments as Jim brings her a cup of tea. "So, how did your baby-minding go?" she asks. Not so badly, Jim says. What about the nappie-changing? He didn't need to - or at least, if she needed changing, Rosie didn't let him know about it! They sit quietly. Liz says softly, "I guess we'd better have it, then." "What?" asks Jim, although the expectation on his face betrays his hope. "This baby. I mean, you do want it, don't you?" "Why - yes. I was just hopin' you wanted it. Do you?" Jim asks, his face full of emotion. "Yes," says Liz, and at that moment she looks relaxed and truly at peace with the decision. They both smile; Jim is chuffed, and tells Liz, "You won't regret it, Liz - I promise you."
ronniecat
Brian Platt - RICHARD CONWAY; Barbara Platt
- BARBARA YOUNG; Superintendent - GEOFFREY ANNIS; Receptionist
- JULIE CORRIGAN
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by KEN HORN
Wednesday (3285, Monday 30 September 1991)
Today's episode opens at the MacDonald household, and Andy is rushing about, preparing for school. In the kitchen, Liz is preparing breakfast, and asks Andy if he wants some, but the response is a hasty "no," because he's off to meet a pal. As he leaves, Jim comments on Andy's age and his self-confidence, and Liz points out that when she was Andy's age, she was pregnant. They discuss Jim's bike repair business, and Liz' wonders if he can make a success of it. Jim reassures her that he loves her "and the wee baby," and will look after them. As they embrace, Steve walks in and comments that they're either arguing or cuddling these days. Jim is all for explaining their ups and downs over the past few weeks, but Liz feels the boys should be told together of her pregnancy.
At the Brennan's, Poison Ivy is getting ready for work, and is whinging on to Don about the Platts (Martin's parents) paying for the honeymoon. In her opinion, they did it only to "show up" her and Don, but Don disagrees. She's also upset that the Platts are babysitting the kids, including her precious grandchildren, and she's convinced they'll be brainwashing the children into believing they're little Platts now. She's convinced that Gail is trying to turn the children against her. To no avail, an exasperated Don tries to get Ivy to see that she's wrong on all counts. Ivy asks Don if he noticed how "tiddly" Barbara Platt became at the reception, but Don points out that most people let their hair down at those sorts of events. Then Ivy informs Don that she had a quiet word with Barbara, letting her know that if she wanted to be part of "this family," she (Ivy) had standards!!
Over at the cafe, Audrey is replacing a honeymooning Gail, and she and Alma discuss the wedding. Audrey laughingly recalls that Ivy's face was "like thunder," when the party broke into a conga line. As she prattles on, Alma wonders aloud if she's there to help, but Audrey misses the hint and changes the subject to Alma's and Ken's "dirty weekend." Alma's impatient response is that they had a good time, full stop, and asks Audrey to do the washing-up.
Reg Holdsworth pops into the Kabin, and delivering his housekeys to Mavis, asks if she'd be so kind as to let a deliveryman into his residence while he's at work. He comments that he'll be happy when his refurbishments are finished.
Sally, meanwhile is hanging her laundry in the yard, but stops for a few minutes to chat with Liz. She complains about Rosie keeping her up all night. The two women discuss their respective husbands' chosen careers, with Sally remarking that Kevin loves his work, but is unhappy with his employer. Liz' response is that Jim also loves what he's doing, but the pay isn't great.
Back at the Brennan's, Don answers the door to find that Barbara Platt has stopped by with baby David for a quick visit. They discuss the wedding, and Barbara asks if Ivy enjoyed the party. Don responds that Ivy doesn't like to drink, and Barbara asks if she was upset, because she said a few things to her, including a comment that children need a "sobering influence." Don dismisses Barbara's concerns, telling her that Ivy was only joking, but Barbara looks unconvinced. She invites Don and Ivy for their tea later in the day, and Don happily accepts.
At the MacDonald home, Jim is on the phone to a friend, trying to sell him a motorbike, but the friend declines. A disillusioned Jim hangs up, and goes into the living room, where Steve asks him if his mom is sick. Jim reassures Steve that she's just fine, but both he and Andy feel that there's something wrong. Just then the 'phone rings, and the party calling asks for Liz, who has left for work. Jim takes the 'phone instead, and is told that it's Liz' doctor calling, and he'd like to see her later in the day.
In the Rover's Return, Rita complains to Dierdre about Reg keeping her up half the night with his incessant banging around in his house next door. Jim rushes in and tells Liz about the telephone call -- the doctor wants to see her. Audrey also arrives, and seeing Ken order a sandwich, comments that she would have thought he'd buy his sandwiches elsewhere (from Alma), but Ken seems oblivious to her wisecracks. Audrey naturally assumes that Alma and Ken have had a falling-out, and as the misunderstanding deepens, Ken thinks that Audrey is letting him know that Alma is angry at him over the hotel room mix-up. He blurts out that he could have sued the hotel, he made it very clear to Alma that he did book two rooms, etc., and having gleaned new information, Audrey looks like the cat who has just swallowed the canary.
At the Kabin, an exasperated Mavis is on the 'phone to Reg, telling him that the deliveryman has not arrived yet, and she's famished for her lunch. As she hangs up, Rita arrives and tells Mavis to take her lunch break, but Mavis, not wishing Rita to know that she's doing a favour for Reg, blurts out that she isn't hungry. Rita decides to go to the wholesaler, since Mavis doesn't want a lunch, and Mavis reaches for a chocolate bar the minute Rita is out the door.
Back at the Rover's Return, Bet locks up while Liz dries dishes. Bet tells her to leave the drying and to get home and get her feet up -- she looks tired. After a short discussion, it becomes clear that Bet suspects that Liz is pregnant, noting that it's easy to recognize the signs when you've been through it yourself. Liz apologizes for her recent mood swings, and tells Bet that while Jim is thrilled with the news, she's been up and down over it -- one day she feels she's too old for it, and the next, she's pleased. Bet tells Liz of her own miscarriage, and how pleased she and Alec would have been to have raised their own child, so in her opinion, being too old is not a reason. She promises not to say a word about the pregnancy until Liz and Jim announce it themselves.
The delivery for Reg's home finally arrives, and Mavis hands over the keys and scurries back into the shop. Just then, Rita arrives, and tells Mavis that there's a delivery truck outside -- and she fervently hopes that it's either a carpet for Reg's bathroom, or a flush muffler. The two women watch with curiousity as the man unloads various odd-looking rubber pieces, giving Rita the opportunity to comment that Reg might have a fixation on that substance. Mavis, however, informs Rita that it appears that Reg is taking delivery of a water bed, which she and Derek had considered purchasing at one time because of the benefits. She tells Rita that they're supposed to be wonderful for aching muscles.
Liz is in Dr. Butler's office, where he is asking if she'd consider taking part in a health study, which consists of a questionnaire, tests, etc. She agrees, but also tells him that she's not really chuffed to find herself pregnant. She explains that she's concerned that it will strain her marriage, and that she even considered terminating.
Meanwhile, Reg arrives at the Kabin with a huge bouquet of flowers. Seeing him come into the shop, Rita rushes into the back room and calls to him that she's on the telephone. Reg lays the flowers on the counter and leaves, but Rita stomps out after him, hurling the bouquet onto the pavement and telling him to leave her alone. She locks the shop door, forcing Reg to call through the letter box that the flowers were not for her -- they were for Mavis.
Ivy arrives home from work, pleased to find that Don has already made her a nice cup of tea. He tells her that Barbara Platt stopped by with little David, and was concerned about the remarks Ivy made at the wedding reception. When he also tells Ivy that he accepted an invitation for tea with the Platts, an angry Ivy reminds him that he could have consulted with her first before accepting for both of them.
Over at the cafe, Audrey lets Alma know that Ken told her about the room mix-up, but she implies that it wasn't an accident, and that Ken planned it to happen that way. Alma refuses to discuss the weekend, except to say that it was "fine," leaving Audrey to conclude that there really is a problem between Ken and Alma.
Liz arrives home from her appointment, and her concerned sons want to know if she's sick. Jim announces to Steve and Andy that their mom isn't sick -- she's going to have a baby -- but the boys are less than impressed. While one asks if Liz isn't a bit old for that, the other characterizes it as a "sprog," and they both agree that it's fine by them as long as they don't have to share their room with it. A disgusted Jim makes it clear that he's delighted with the prospect of a new baby, and hugs Liz.
The final scene unfolds at the Rover's Return where Mavis and Derek are discussing Reg Holdsworth, whom Derek characterizes as an "aardvark," and advises Mavis to stay well clear of him. On cue, Reg arrives and presents Mavis with the bouquet of flowers. Liz and Jim come in a few seconds later, and Jim offers a round to Dierdre and Don, who are standing at the bar. Jim tells them that he and Liz are celebrating her pregnancy, and congratulations are offered all around, including from Bet, who pretends this is the first time she's heard about it.
Heather Morlan
Barbara Platt: BARBARA YOUNG; Dr. Butler: NORMAN
MILLS
Written by PHIL WOODS Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Thursday (3286, Wednesday 2 October 1991)
Start of another day and Steve and Andy are discussing the surprise announcement of the night before. Andy reckons that having a baby around the house will be a good thing, it will take attention away from them so their parents will be too busy to notice what the boys do and where they go! Freedom! Andy heads off to school and Steve opens the bike shop.
But Liz and Jim are arguing about his announcement. Not so much to the boys as they do deserve to know but to the pub at large! Liz would have preferred a bit of notice that he was going to do that. Which is cause for concern on Jim's part and he grills her to see if there is anything she's not telling him and what are those pills she's taking?? Iron tablets, all mums take them and yes, she's perfectly fine. He's still worried at the extra attention the doctor is paying and the explanation that they keep a closer eye on pregnant women over a certain age doesn't do much to soothe his concerns. He asks about the doctor and finds out the name (Dr. Butler) but doesn't elaborate on why he wants to know.
Don wonders if Ivy would like to go and see how Barbara is getting on with the kids but Ivy resists strenuously. She thinks she'll only end up accused of sticking her nose in, in spite of Barbara's invitation. Don's comment about Ivy being paranoid elicits a response dangerously close to the textbook definition of the term - why aren't they looking after the kids after all these years of offering endlessly and practically going down on bended knee to do anything to see a bit more of her grandchildren. (Ah but Gail knows that children are notoriously difficult to untangle once caught in all those emotional apron strings!) Don generously offers to go to Barbara to see if she would like Don and Ivy to take the kids off her hands for an hour or two but that doesn't satisfy Ivy either because it makes her feel like second fiddle to a woman who barely clapped eyes on those children before the wedding! Don realizes he can't win for trying and explodes. Forget it!!! She doesn't see why he doesn't understand her point of view and refuses a drive to work, she's going with Vera and sniffs that Barbara Platt knows where they are if she needs them. (sniffing must be a bit of a chore once you've cut off your nose to spite your face!)
Barbara has taken David for a visit to his Granny Audrey and Auntie Alma in the café but doesn't stay too long as David is on a schedule and she has orders to keep him on it! She exchanges a few congenial words with Alma with whom she hadn't had a chance to speak at the wedding. Alma mentions that she left early as she had plans for the weekend. Cracking that little door of conversation open gives Audrey just enough room to barge in with both feet, teasing Audrey in front of Barbara about her "assignation"! Barbara tactfully leaves and Alma orders Audrey, in hushed tones to shut her gob about the weekend's unexpected sleeping arrangements because even though there is nothing to tell, nobody will believe it, not with their notorious dirty minded speculations and she hates people talking about her! Audrey points out that "they're" just jealous! There's nothing to be jealous about! Alma exclaims but Audrey says not to be too sure about that as there's folks around here who would scratch her eyes out for a night with Ken Baldwin (oh yeah???? I don't see him having to install a "take-a-number" system on the bedroom doorway to handle the crowds of women lining up!)
Percy quizzes Rita on her opinion of her new neighbour. His own opinion seems quite high. Just the right sort we want round here and even Mavis the Traitor agrees that Rita could have done worse for a neighbour. Rita realizes she's outnumbered. Percy advises Rita to work out a code where a judicial knock on the paper thin walls could summon Reg in the event of an emergency, like if she fell in the bath. He says ta'rah and leaves. Rita asks Mavis to remind her to install a handrail in the bath and snaps at Mavis that she wishes Reg wasn't there, wishes he hadn't moved in and now he's there, wishes he'd go move somewhere else! Mavis shakes her head in pity, it's very sad that a woman of Rita's age thinks every man is after her. That's enough for Rita who decides it's time for a visit to the wholesalers else she'll end up killing Mavis!
Liz and Betty leave the pub at early closing. Liz plans a bit of shopping before putting her feet up for the night as it's her night off. They part with a smile and Liz continues on to the bike shop where Steve informs his mother that Jim isn't around, he said he was going to the doctor's!
The Doctor is in. Dr. Butler, him who Liz mentioned this morning. Jim is discussing Liz's health, wanting to hear the diagnosis straight from the horse's mouth. The horse assures Jim his wife is perfectly healthy, no cause for concern physically. Dr. Butler mentions the fact that Liz told him she and Jim discussed termination which doesn't seem to faze Jim as much as the comment that there could be more stress to her mental health having to deal with a baby after all these years.
Back to the café, Ken is having something at a table. Audrey offers to stay a bit longer but since Alma isn't busy and isn't bothered, she claims she really should get back to the shop and see how DEIRDRE is getting on. Then the silly cow makes out like it was a big faux pas to mention Deirdre's name in front of Ken and Alma and twitters off. (really, I wonder why Alma hasn't slapped a mucky dishcloth upside that woman's head!) Alma has a go at Ken for telling Audrey about them sharing a room and they soon discover that Audrey had played them both off against each other, by pretending she'd heard about the mishap from Alma causing Ken to inadvertently spill the beans. Alma decides to take proactive action. She's tired of being talked about and having folks erroneously adding two and two and coming out with five so it's best that they not go out together socially anymore. It's what she wants. He doesn't say much but I know the stubborn set of that jaw and I think he's about to get up to his old tricks and manipulations, just see if he doesn't!
Liz is setting the table for tea when Jim arrives through the back door. Even before he gets to clean up, she launches into another attack at him for visiting her doctor. He admits he thought she was keeping something from him and in fact she was! He didn't know she talked to the doctor about termination after they decided to go ahead with the pregnancy. She defends herself, he got the wrong end of the stick. She only mentioned that they discussed it as a possibility but Jim is aghast because he thought it wasn't a possibility any longer and his exasperation finally peaks and he shouts at her, he doesn't know what she's doing or thinking and doesn't even think she knows herself! The boys come through and are quickly ordered out again. She would rather discuss it later. Fine! He's fed up, can it be the last time? Can they settle it one way or the other? Liz turns her back after lashing out, it's really a question of whether they'd want to bring a baby into this house at all!!!
Don has gone to see the kids after all. He's had a footie game with Nicky and now discovers that Barbara has done him up a salad for tea. He doesn't feel he can refuse so while she's upstairs seeing to David, he makes a call to Ivy in front of Nicky and LIES to Ivy that he's been called into work! Honest!! Nicky of course calls don on the lie but Don avoids answering him and just scolds him for listening in. (the kid was three feet away!!!)
It's dark now but not that late. Reg dances down towards the pub and encounters Percy who's just entering number 3. Percy brings up the conversation he had with the Ladies of the Kabin about Reg but before they can get into the details, they notice two lads banging rather roughly on the door of the closed Kabin. They look more like drunken yobs who think the shop should be open for their needs than someone trying to break in because they're hollering at the top of their voices "Let us in, hey open up!" Anyway, the glass breaks, the alarm shrieks and Reg and Percy run across the road and scare the pair off.
In the pub, you can hear the alarm screaming but Rita, Alma and Bet are busy comparing shopping techniques. Like climbing a mountain because it's there, they all agree that buying a lovely frock because it's there is ample justification for a purchase! (I agree! LOL) Reg rushes in much to Rita's initial annoyance but when she realizes the alarm is her shop, she runs out anxiously, followed by Bet who goes to see if there's anything she can do to help.
Alma goes back into the pub as Ivy arrives and they discuss the rising crime rate with Betty. Ivy establishes that Don has not been seen in the pub this evening.
Back inside the Kabin, Rita assesses that there wasn't time for anything to be taken judging from Reg's description of immediately running the thugs off. She shuts off the alarm much to the relief of the ears of Reg, Percy and Bet and worries about securing the window for the night. Bet leaves as the others seem to have it all well in hand. Reg becomes the Knight in Grocer's Armor, calling in a favour and pulling a string or two to get the glaziers to come out tonight rather than wait for the morrow and Percy gets busy cleaning up the shards of broken glass.
We shift to the MacDonald's house. The boys are out of the way and Jim lays it on the line. Do you want the baby or don't you want the baby? There doesn't seem to be any easy answers from Liz which further complicates the issue. The poor man only wants to be supportive of whatever decision she makes, assuring her he'll stick by her no matter what. She describes all the mixed feelings she's having. She wants the baby but doesn't want to start all over again and is frightened. He tries to explain that it's also hard on him, feeling like he's being shut out. She didn't want to be pregnant, she sighs and now that she is, she doesn't want termination or a baby! She's hoping she'll grow to want it. Time is what's needed. She remembers something her midwife said when she was pregnant with the boys. Pregnancy is nature's way of giving you nine months to grow to love the baby and that's what she's hoping will happen. They end the evening at peace with each other and their final decision to have the baby and are cuddled on the couch when the boys finally return to see if the coast is clear.
Don finally shows up at the pub but Ivy has already sussed him out because she's called the dispatcher who told her Don hadn't been at work all day! Don admits where he's been and that he's had tea even though he knew Ivy had a meal all made and keeping warm for him. You don't make it easy, do you Ivy, he sighs, shaking his head. Alma decides it's time to leave and runs into Ken who has just arrived. He tries to persuade her to stay and have a drink with him but she murmurs "we agreed ". He doesn't think that "we agreed' at all but she insists she's having herself an early night. He tries to ask her out for Sunday and they needn't even tell Audrey (what did I tell you?) but she makes a feeble excuse, something about cleaning the café and leaves.
Rita arrives once the glaziers have gone and buys Reg and Percy both a drink in gratitude for his help. She even thanks him but I wonder if she thinks twice about it when she sees the ear to ear grin Reg slaps on!
Don is forcing down the dried up remnants of his tea. She's sitting sentinel beside him, with a face looking like a half-chewed toffee! He obstinately insists he likes his food this way but grimaces when she goes into the kitchen. Ivy inquires about when Gail and Martin are due back (Sunday night) and announces she will have to make an appearance at Gail and Martin's now for appearances sake since Don has been over. Otherwise they'll all think she stayed away on purpose and say she turned her back on her own grandchildren! Poor Don looks gobsmacked at the sudden about face!
Diane Johnston
Barbara Platt - BARBARA YOUNG; Dr. Butler -
NORMAN MILLS
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Friday (3287, Friday 4 October 1991)
On this bright, Sunday morning Jim is busy cooking breakfast, one egg and two lashes of bacon for Liz but it seems the boys are having to fend for themselves. As the family sits down together, Liz announces that dinner won't be before 3:00 as she is working today. Jim says he'll be putting in a couple of hours at the bike shop, too, and is depending on Steve to give him a hand. Steve asks about what Andy will be doing and Jim assures him he has something in mind for him too. He wants Andy to take some measurements in the back yard and draw a map to scale with all the fixtures. Steve wonders why the measurements are needed and Andy pipes up that it's because Jim plans a trip to the back gate and he's frightened he'll get lost. Jim tells him to never mind what it's for, just to have the measurements ready later this morning!
In the Kabin, Derek remarks to Rita that the new glass in the door is "good as new" and she thoughtfully concurs. Percy informs Derek that it was all down to Reg. He further comments that it was lucky that he and Reg were handy when it happened. As Derek goes out the door, Rita pauses before asking Percy if it isn't possible that Reg put those two boys up to breaking the glass. Before he can answer, she quickly dismisses the thought and tells him to forget she said anything. He asks why she would think such a thing and she says she must be getting cynical.
Outside, Derek greets Don as he pulls up to the curb with a hearty "Good morning!" Don tells him it feels like afternoon as he's been working since 5:00 a.m. Percy approaches and notices that Don hasn't locked his car. When he comments about it, Don offers to let Percy stand guard in case someone comes along and tries to pinche it. Leaving a puzzled Percy behind, Don goes into the house to find Ivy getting ready to attend mass. She casually mentions that she'll stop by Gail and Martin's on her way as Barbara has invited her to pop in and see the kiddies. Don is a bit jumpy at the prospect and offers to drive her over. She says the walk will do her good and she'll be fine on her own. He's still not comfortable with the idea of her seeing Barbara and he repeats the offer. She assures him that she'll just drop in, have a quick visit and proceed to mass from there. Don looks a bit dubious but settles down with his paper as she leaves.
Reg strides into the Kabin and invites Rita to come for a stroll with him in the country. She begs off, saying she's never liked the country much since the time she fell into a patch of nettles when she was a schoolgirl. He talks about how hectic things were at work yesterday and how he needs the day to unwind. He then suggests that she come up to his flat later for a quiet drink. Rita struggles for an excuse but Reg glibly persists with the invitation, painting it as a neighbourly gathering and even calling it a "flat-warming". Rita finally, reluctantly, agrees to come.
Deirdre enters the shop and passes Reg as he flounces out again, offering a cheery greeting in passing. Rita mentions the flat-warming to Deirdre - she wonders that Reg didn't invite her. After all, she is a neighbour too. Deirdre jokes that she also happens to be Ken's neighbour but if he had a flat-warming she didn't get an invitation to it! Rita says that's different as Ken is her husband. On a more serious note, they wonder if perhaps Reg has invited Ken and that's the reason he didn't ask her.
As Ivy sits and sips her tea, Barbara tells her how good the kiddies have been but that she's glad their parents are home tonight as she couldn't do this full-time! Ivy smiles politely and asks if Barbara had anything special planned for today. No, just a walk, she answers. "Well then", Ivy continues matter-of-factly, "I thought I'd just take Nicky to mass with me". Barbara is taken by surprise and apologises for not having him ready, she didn't know anything about it. She immediately calls Sarah Lou to go and look for her brother so that he can get ready. Barbara stammers another apology and Ivy explains that although Nicky doesn't attend Catholic school, he was baptised a Catholic. She further explains that Gail only married into the faith, and hasn't been committed to it since RBrian's death. Of course, she (Ivy) doesn't "like to interfere".
Nicky comes in and Barbara informs him that his Granny Ivy is here to take him to church. Nicky returns a less than enthusiastic, "Awww - do I have to?", and Barbara answers that of course he has to. Nicky protests that he wants to stay and play football and Ivy tenderly assures him that he can play later. Barbara firmly directs him upstairs to get cleaned up and as he leaves, she laughingly comments to Ivy, "They're little beggars, aren't they!" Ivy sniffs and replies smugly (yet with a smile on her face) that they take their example from their parents. Poor Barbara keeps smiling just to be polite but she really has nothing further to talk about with Ivy so she excuses herself on the pretense of going up to help Nicky get ready.
Alma is having a quiet drink at the Rovers' bar when Ken comes in and joins her. She is surprised to see him as she thought he would be away for the day. He explains that he wasn't interested in going to Wigan on his own. Her embarrassment is evident as she had told him she would be too busy cleaning the cafe to go with him. Now, as she stutters an explanation, she realises how contrived it sounds and admits that she never intended on cleaning the cafe at all today. She offers him a drink as compensation and they sit down together at a booth to chat.
Jim, standing at the bar, asks Liz for another pint. As she's pulling the tap, she asks him to get the dinner started for her and he says he can just about manage it. She asks about Andy taking measurements in their back yard and Jim quips that he wouldn't be having him take measurements in someone else's back yard. Then he tells her that he's only trying to keep the lad out of mischief. She gives up asking as she can see he prefers to be mysterious about it.
Rita appears at the bar and Bet asks her if they have caught the two lads who broke into the Kabin. Rita says she doesn't think Percy and Reg got a close enough look to identify them. Still, she reckons they were scared enough that they won't be back.
At their booth, Ken suggests to Alma that they go and get a pizza. She agrees, on the understanding that she buys. Rita comes over to ask if either of them were planning on going to Reg's flat-warming. This is the first they've heard of it. Rita says she doesn't know of *anyone* else who's been asked and wonders what kind of a do it's going to be, anyway. Alma suggests that Rita may be the only one who's been invited. "Happen that's what kind of a do it is!", she jokes. Rita's face clouds with dread at the thought.
After mass, the church is empty except for Ivy and Nicky, who remain in their pew. Nicky pleads to go home but Ivy says she'd just like to stay long enough to say hello to Father O'Rourke. The priest comes up the aisle and Ivy steps into the aisle to greet him. She introduces her grandson and the friendly priest invites him to join "the other boys" in a game of football. Nicky is overjoyed and agrees to come back with his boots in half an hour.
From Gail and Martin's (now officially "the Platt residence") Ivy rings Don to let him know she'll be delayed. He's surprised (and a bit worried) to hear she brought Nicky to church but seems reassured somewhat when he hears that Barbara does know about it. As Ivy hangs up, Barbara brings her a cup of tea to drink while she waits for Nicky. She mentions that Nicky seems delighted about being invited to play with "that church lot", especially since, as Martin has told her, he was cut from the school team. Ivy nods her agreement and they both smile their approval when Nicky appears, beaming and ready to go.
As Rita makes her way home from the Rovers, she happens to meet Sally and Kevin, out for a walk with Rosie. She asks them if they've received an invitation to Reg's for a flat-warming. They answer that they haven't. In fact, they never get asked anywhere since they had a baby. Rita is more bewildered than ever as she walks slowly away...
As the McDonalds sit down for their dinner, Jim decides to tell the family why he wanted the measurements taken. Andy says he's already guessed the reason - so an extension to the house can be built for the new baby. Jim elaborates on what he's planning, a 7-8 foot extension, same width as the kitchen with a bedroom above. Liz seems very pleased at the news but wonders about the cost. Jim says they'll manage, that he'll do most of the work himself (with the help of the boys) and that he'll only be calling on tradesmen as and when needed. Liz is chuffed at the prospect and doesn't know what to say. Andy tells her she's got the easy part - having the baby. She says she's beginning to think so too!
Rita comes back into the Rovers but when Betty offers to serve her, she says she only came in for a word with Bet. Bet comes out from the back and Rita explains that she is after a favour. "What sort of favour?", inquires Bet. "A big one!", answers Rita.
The Platts are home and happily reuniting with their family, hugs all around. Little David is not in evidence and Martin says he swears there were three when they left. Barbara explains that the baby is napping. She suggests they have a quiet cup of tea while they have the chance and goes into the kitchen to put the kettle on. Martin digs in one of the travel bags and pulls out a "pressie". He asks Sarah Lou to go and give it to Granny Barbara to thank her for taking such good care of them. As she trots off, Martin and Gail attend to Nicky, who's been bursting to tell them his news of joing a football club. They give a cheer and Martin asks who he's playing for. When he announces "St. Luke", Gail asks in confusion how that could be. Nicky tells her that Granny Ivy took him to church and Gail's blood pressure starts to rise. She repeats, "Granny Ivy took you to church?!", before Martin quickly sizes things up and urges, "Let's not worry about that now, eh?"
The bachelor pad is newly decorated, soft music is playing in the background and the bachelor is decked out in smoking jacket and ascot. He rubs his hands with glee and rushes to open the door when he hears the bell. Grinning ear to ear, he greets Rita warmly and is just inviting her in when Bet pops out from around the corner! As he steps aside in astonishment to let them in, Rita casually explains that she brought Bet along and she hopes he doesn't mind. Of course not, he stammers, "The more, the definitely merrier!"
As the two women seat themselves side by side on the settee, Bet comments to Reg on how tidy the place is. He strikes her as a tidy man, she says, smiling. With that air of assurance that *is* Reg, he admits, "I do prefer organisation to chaos, yes". "Are we the first ones here?", Bet asks coyly. "The first and the last", he informs them. He explains that he seems to have chosen the wrong night - people couldn't come for one reason or another. Bet smiles and answers in a jolly voice, "Still - *we're* here!". He answers, "Yes, yes you are... And I'm delighted you are, both of you." Bet turns to Rita with glee, "You see - I told you he wouldn't mind!", and to Reg, "I had to force her to bring me!" "Really!", he proclaims. "Well, I'm very glad you did. And of course, I would have asked you..." "But you thought I'd be working!", she finishes with a knowing nod. "Absolutely!", he replies with relief before going off to get them some drinks.
As he leaves the room, Rita urgently whispers to Bet that her suspicions are confirmed. Bet whispers back that he never even invited anyone else! They stop talking and resume smiling broadly as he re-enters the room. "I hope no one objects to Champagne?", he asks with panache. Bet casually turns to Rita to ask what she thinks and Rita replies nonchalantly that she sometimes gets bored with it. Bet nods, "Don't we all?" before turning to Reg with, "Go on then, Cock - if you've got nowt else!" As Reg pours them each some of "Bettabuys best", Rita tells Bet what a busy day Reg had at work yesterday. Bet replies that she'd have thought he was a man who takes it all in his stride. "Does it ever worry you - all that responsibility?", she asks confidentially. He answers that it doesn't, generally. In fact, he seems to "thrive" on it. She returns, "Well, you've certainly got to be thriving on summat - don't you think, Rita?" "Oh, I do", replies Rita. As they raise their glasses, Bet notices that Reg doesn't have to
With Liz having returned to work, Jim shows the boys the plans he's drawn up for the new addition. Andy says it looks complicated, more like a town hall, but Jim reckons it's dead simple. "Don't architects usually do this kind of thing?", asks Andy. "Well I'm that as well.", Jim answers. "Oh, so now you're the architect *and* the builder?", inquires Steve. Jim becomes a little exasperated at this point. Placing the pad and pencil firmly on the table, he states that their mother is having a baby and he wants to know if he can count on their support. "Of course you can!", Andy assures him with a pat on the shoulder.
Back at the Rovers, Bet has resumed her place behind the bar. She and Rita are filling Deirdre in on their evening with Reg. Rita tells Deirdre that Bet was "sending him up" but Bet flatly denies the charge. "Why ask him to show us his waterbed, then?", asks Rita. Turning to Deirdre, she says if she'd been alone with him, she'd have run out screaming! Bet interjects that there's no harm in the man - she quite liked him, in fact. "No harm?", Rita repeats, "There would have been harm in him if you hadn't been there!" Deirdre points out that two bottles of Champagne and a waterbed don't seem harmless to her and Rita says triumphantly, "Exactly!"
Behind the bar, Liz asks Betty if she's ever had an addition put on to her house. Betty tells her they had a porch added, about 30 years ago. "Did it need planning permission?" Liz wonders. Betty doesn't know as Cyril looked after it but she reckons it did as everything seems to. Liz seems a bit uneasy on hearing this.
On the other side of the bar, Don and Ivy have just come in for a drink. He's trying to establish, without having an argument with Ivy, how Nicky came to be playing for a Catholic school since he doesn't attend one. She rolls her eyes while she explains that it isn't a school team, it's the church's team for the altar boys. Confused, Don points out, "But he isn't one of them, either." Ivy looks heavenward for strength as she abruptly informs him that he's playing because Father O'Rourke asked him!
Meanwhile, at the Platts, Gail is trying to let Nicky down gently. He gives her the argument that Granny Ivy used earlier - he was baptised a Catholic. Gail says she doesn't care what he was baptised as, he isn't playing! "I am playing!", he shouts, "Granny Ivy said I could and you can't stop me!" As Nicky tears from the room, Martin tries to soothe Gail, telling her they'll see to it tomorrow. Gail can only cry out in exasperated rage, "That woman!"
I hardly ever make an extraneous comment on the episode but this time I have to. The scenes with Bet and Rita at Reg's would-be "flat-warming" were outrageously funny! Bet was in absolutely top form. Now I know why I miss her so much!!!
Anita Belanger
Barbara Platt: BARBARA YOUNG; Father O'Rourke:
PETER CAFFREY
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Monday (3288, Monday 7 October 1991)
Ivy is getting ready for work, Don is reading his paper, having a leisurely start to his day. He's reckoning that Gail won't be best pleased at all this church involvement with Nicky. Ivy believes Don's taking it all out of proportion but he feels religion's an obsession with her. She refuses to discuss it with him because (Get This!!!) He's got a closed mind! The irony is not lost on Don any more than it is on me. "That's rich!" he sputters in amazement. Ivy has faith that Gail's parental instinct will win out, she will want her children to have a good moral start in life, after all, and want them to be instilled with good decent values.
Over in the Platt household (much easier to say than Tilsley/Platt!) Martin is being subjected to a theological debate at the hands of a 10 year old. Nicky can't understand how St. Luke's and St. Matthew's and All Saints can all be houses of God as well as a synogogue and a mosque! How does God get to them all? Does He stop a few days at each one? (It must look very like that from his point of view!) Gail comes down and saves Martin from getting into details but she ends up complaining in front of the kids about Ivy's love of control. She has to back track quickly at Nicky's curious questions, assuring him that Ivy is a very good granny, she just sometimes tries to make you do things you don't want to do! Nicky, however, is totally enthusiastic about this church thing, focussing on the football aspect of it for the most part. Well, for the ALL part actually. Gail instructs him to go get ready for school, leaving Martin to soothe Gail's nerves. He thinks Altar boying will go the way of his soon-lost interest in Ninja Turtles. She ought to just keep cool and let it run its course. He reminds her of how Ivy can dig her heels in the more Gail makes an issue of it, which they both know is true. (as do we all only too well!) She reluctantly agrees to let it ride. For now.
Andy and Steve have big plans for the new extension, having decided that if they are helping build it, they should be the ones to move into it. They try to convince their parents of this, pointing out that having the baby's room next to theirs will be more convenient. Liz thinks there will be barely enough room for a cot and a baby let alone two great hulking yobs like them! Jim is amused and amazed he's getting two brickies for free That's what he thinks, they return! Liz is more concerned about planning permission. Jim as much as tells her not to worry her pretty little head about it, meaning, he's not going to bother getting the necessary permits!
Ivy and Vera get into Vera's car to leave for work. Vera describes their aborted day out yesterday. The car conked out and by the time Jack fixed it, it was filthy and too late to go. Ivy is skeptical that the car is road worthy but they make a start. Except it won't. Start, that is. Percy happens by with a bit of advice not to keep trying lest she flood the engine but has no idea whatsoever what to do other than that. He freely admits combustion engines are his weak point but if she wanted advice on suet puddings or budgies, he'd be happy to oblige. Vera gives her the sharp edge of her scathing tongue and gets out of the car to fetch Kevin.
In the Webster household, Kevin has overslept and is running about being pursued by Sally urging "bananers" on him. She sits down to feed Rosie but there's someone at the door. Vera of course who asks Kevin to have a squizz at the car. He tells her (not rudely but curtly) that he hasn't time and takes off, leaving Sally to take the heat of Vera's anger. Sally just shrugs and continues to feed her child.
Alma and Gail take the weight of their feet for a mid morning tea break. Gail teases Alma about her weekend away with Ken. Alma insists Ken was a perfect gentleman but she has mixed feelings about it. Her vanity still wants to know she's still attractive to men. Don hears the last bit as he enters and pays Alma the compliment, if he weren't married, she could cook his eggs anytime! (Me, I'd rather a man cook eggs for ME anytime!) He joins them and asks Gail about her trip. Lovely but the homecoming was less than happy, finding Nicky under Ivy's thumb. Gail has a moan to Don about Ivy's scheming and reluctance to accept Brian's death. Don agrees on that last point but does defend her as wanting to look after Nicky's moral wellfare, she just goes about it the wrong road and does mean well! Preserve me from folks who mean well, Gail sighs, they're usually the worst!
Jack fields Percy's rant about Vera's rudeness and isn't pleased to hear the car died again. Betty and Liz wind him up over his mechanical skills and Liz jokes to Betty that Jim is playing at being Maurice Jones the Master Builder. He gets big plans and then never follows through. He thinks he's going to build a four bedroom detached, she exaggerates, but she's been waiting two years for a new shelf under the sink!
Mavis and Derek are in a booth and Mavis is feeling rather broody and envious that Liz is getting another chance at motherhood. Derek takes the opportunity to "I told you so" (regarding his warning about her babysitting). She points out that women don't lose their maternal instincts just because they are more mature! Derek puts his size 11's right in it by telling her she's past it anyway and makes matters worse by reminding her that men can father children well into their 70's and 80's! Does he always have to state the obvious? Mavis is highly insulted by now and suggests defensively that he should have stayed with Angela, she could have given him lots of little Wiltons to continue the lineage (God Forbid!!!!) She stalks out. Derek attempts to follow her but bumps into Jim and asks him if all women are irrational or is it just his wife. Jim, in solidarity, assures him they're all like that and continues on his route to the bar.
Kevin comes home for dinner to get away from the oppressive atmosphere at work. Sally is still feeding Rosie from what looks like the very same bowl (no wonder the child never smiles! She's been overfed!) Kevin whines about the boss's "Little 'itler" treatment of him and shifts the chip from shoulder to shoulder. Sally makes supportive noises until he swears he was better off three years ago. She can take no more and snaps that if that's how much she and Rosie mean to him, at least they know where they stand! He doesn't take it well and goes right back out the door.
Gail's told Audrey about Ivy's latest trick and Audrey is busy blaming Martin's mother for allowing Ivy to take Nicky to church. Gail doesn't lay any blame with Barbara because she wasn't to know it wasn't a regular Sunday thing, was she? Well Audrey hopes Gail's told "madam" what for and is surprised Gail hadn't gone right round there as Ivy needs telling!! Gail warns her mother not to do the telling, she's doing as Martin suggested for now and warns her mother not to stop out of it. Alma doesn't see the problem, coming out on Ivy's side or at least Martin's. After all, Ivy isn't enrolling Nicky in the Hell's Angel's! Audrey mutters about incense and graven images.
Jack is out in his back yard and hears a ruckus from over the fence. Jim is digging and clearing out the rubbish in preparation for the extension. Jack hears all about the plans but declines to help as "Alec wants him in to work a bit early" don't you know! Oh aye, Jim smiles.
Sally has stopped feeding that child for 5 minutes and is now toting Rosie and a hefty helping of guilt through the corner shop. She feels bad that she was so awful to Kevin at dinnertime when he needed the support. (Oh please, you can only take so much whining!) Betty and Audrey are very reassuring and comforting, she's got a lot on her plate too and Kevin doesn't appreciate what a good little wife he has! Audrey advises Sally not to apologize to Kevin or she'll appear to be in the wrong. Just cuddle him and tell him she loves him, it works wonders! Sally doesn't look too sure!
Don and Jack are having a night out. Ivy has ironed a shirt for him and tells him she plans to go to Gail's to pick up Nicky for church. Father said he could come around for an altar practice tonight. Don sighs and rolls his eyes in frustration, knowing Ivy is pushing the envelope.
In the pub tonight, Betty and Liz tease Jim a bit on his usual habit of prolonging his handyman projects. Derek follows Mavis's indignantly set shoulders into the pub, trying to tell her he was only being hypothetical. She wonders though her tightly set lips, how hypothetical it is to tell someone they're past it! He tries to change his tune, and tells her she's still a desirable woman. It almost works except then he brings up Victor's name, reminding her of Victor's torch carrying for her. It peeved him at first but now he's flattered that other men find his wife attractive just as he's sure she would be if other women took an interest in him! Hypothetically of course! That turns the indignant switch back on as she wonders if the hypothetical other women might be of childbearing age! Derek once again attempts to close the subject, he's not pandering to her insecurities by continuing this discussion. She asks wistfully if he regrets not having children. Of course not, he regrets nothing! He's walked into a trap, as it happens and she springs it, Not even marrying Angela? Ah! Gotcha!
Amid the general doings at the Platt's, Nicky snickers, as 10 year old boys do, at Gail and Martin having a cuddle which they have been doing quite a bit of since they married. Ivy shows up to collect Nicky who forgot about the Altar boy practice. Gail says little since it's already been arranged but you know she isn't happy. Ivy smugly leads Nicky off to get cleaned up, knowing she's won this round. Later on at the church, she looks on Nicky with pride as he models his white robe.
Jack is getting ready for his night out with Don (and if they're only going to play some snooker and have a few pints why are the pair of them sporting jackets and ties?) Vera is grousing and bitching about the car and then the fact that he is wearing aftershave when he rarely even bothers to shave when he's going out with her. Don arrives, brimming with the news about Jim's planned extension. Already halfway up the on-ramp to the M1, Vera speeds up and blasts Jack for knowing and not telling her. She's not having any eyesore blocking out the light from her kitchen window and Jack is ordered to put Jim straight about it tomorrow first thing! (Any takers on who rats Jim out to the Planning Commission?) Jack and Don beat a hasty retreat out.
Kevin is late getting home. Sally is stirring a pot on the stove with the baby perched on one hip. That baby's not crying but I would be if were her and seeing yet more food to be shovelled in my mouth! Kevin comes in very very quietly, much to sally's relief. She apologizes for her attitude earlier but he corrects her. He should be the one to apologize. After another token moan about the boss he lays the bad news on her. He's been laid off, made redundant! (And how much do you want to bet that banty little Webster has been slinging more attitude under the boss's nose than he has tire irons? No wonder the boss couldn't take any more of it!)
Diane Johnston
Father O'Rourke: PETER CAFFREY
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by: SPENCER CAMPBELL
Tuesday (3289, Wednesday 9 October 1991)
Its early morning at the Websters and a freshly out-of-work Kevin is putting on his overalls to work on the Duckworths car. Kevin seems optimistic that he can find lots of similar jobs to keep him busy in fact, hell have to because when Sally points out that there are other garages around, he replies that theyre all laying lads off, too! I never thought Id see the day when Id be crawling to Vera Duckworth, he muses, knowing hes lucky to have the work at all after he blew off her first requests for help. Anyway, he says, Sally is not to worry as he offers to improbably eat dirt to take care of his family. (Oh, aye. I understand thats *very* useful.)
In the corner shop, Ivy is making small talk to Audrey, whos serving, but eventually notices Audreys frosty replies and demeanor. Is there summat up? she asks. Yes, says Audrey a certain Grandson of hers whos suddenly interested in being an altar boy. And if youre going to tell me that Nickeh thought of that all on his own, well! she sniffs. Ivy, who can sniff right back with the best of them, replies that she believes a bit of religious instruction never goes amiss, and in her opinion the world would be a good sight better if more people felt as she did! Meow! When Audrey scoffs at her Ivy digs the claws in a little deeper Im also doing it because I happen to think that its a *Grandmothers* duty to contribute to the moral and spiritual welfare of her grandchildren! And if you think Im taking advantage of Nicky, ask him. Go on! Ask him what he thinks of it! With Audrey speechless, she continues And while youre at it, you might have a word with that daughter of yours! Gail? Yes, Gail because if shes not complaining about what Im doing for Nicky, what gives you the right to? Ill see ya! Game, set, match, Ivy!
Outside, Derek walks cheerfully through the courtyard saying hello to the good burghers of Coronation Street. He is somewhat taken aback to see Kevin working on the Duckies car there! He beats about the bush with Kev for several minutes, asking whats wrong with the car (hard to tell) and how long it will take to fix (never know) before getting to the point the courtyard is hardly the place to be working on it, he suggests it hardly adds to the aesthetic appeal! Kevin politely but firmly tells Derek hell have to get used to it because hell be seeing a lot more of it, then adds for Derek to watch his shoes Dirk grimaces in distaste as he realizes hes stepped in a puddle of oil!
At the Mickey Ds, Steve is sent down to open up the bike shop while Jim attends to some errands, including picking up a couple of bikes hes bought. Steve leaves, and as Jim goes to follow, Liz stops him and brings up Vera. What about Vera? queries Jim. Shes not happy about the planned extension to their house, Liz explains. Well if shes not happy with the extension, she knows exactly what she can do with it! he says almost cheerfully before leaving a half-amused, half-worried Liz behind.
Right next door, Jack is attempting to make just about the same point to Vera. Every man is entitled to build in is own backyard! he insists. Not if hes building a great monstrosity outside her kitchen, Vera responds. Jack had better get round there today and get Jim to knock it off! Just then, Curly comes by to give Mrs. D. a lift to work and he is also made to suffer her whinging for several more minutes. Finally he convinces Vera to leave, but not before she warns Jack once more that hed better have a word with Big Jim today!
Percy is purchasing toffees at the Kabin, where he observes that these toffees dont taste the same since theyve been wrappin em, to which Rita concurs, aye, theres naught like a bit of fluff to give toffee its flavour. Mavis appears from the back to ask Percy if Kevin is still working outside. Yes, he says. Mavis moans that she doesnt want the street turned into a scrapyard. Scrapyard? asks Percy. He thinks shes got the wrong end of the stick. Mavis says thats what Derek suggested. For once, Percy is on the side of the young uns. That young man is trying to make an honest living for that family of his, he says, and Ive nothing but admiration for him! If other young men that were in the same boat showed the same determination to succeed, the world would be a much better place, believe you me! Good Day! he takes his leave, leaving Rita and Mavis looking at each other open-mouthed.
Percy crosses to Jims bike shop, where James is unloading some elderly motorcycles. Percy notes that there is some issue among Jims neighbours about just what hes planning, construction-wise. They want to know, and he doesnt think thats unreasonable. I agree, Jim says. You do? asks Percy, visibly surprised. So what *do* you have planned, then? Well, Jim allows as hes been away from the street for a few hours that morning but unless he missed the moving van transferring all Percys worldly goods and chattel from Mrs. Bishops to either number 9 or number 13 Coronation Street, well, Percy isnt a neighbour, is he? And Jim has more to do than stand about all day talking to him he has work to do even if, he adds unkindly, Percy hasnt! Well, I hope youve got planning permission, thats all, says an insulted Percy over his shoulder as he leaves.
He passes Jack, who is clearly highly uncomfortable as he follows Veras instructions to speak to Jim. (Poor Jack. He clearly cant decide in this scene which he is more afraid of, Big Bruiser Jim MacDonald or Veronica Duckworths dagger-sharp tongue!) He and Jim exchange greetings and Jim complains about his encounter with Percy, referring to neighbours who want to know when you rearrange the pictures on yer wall! Jim says that he told Percy that the only people who have a right to know anything about his plans are his next door neighbours, such as Jack I know you dont object, do you? Jack has been looking increasingly uncomfortable during Jims speech. Not me personally, no, he stammers nervously, but Vera Vera! replies Jim. He cant believe that Vera would object about a wee small extension for the baby. Well, if thats all it is, Jack says perhaps Jim could show Vera the plans? Now Jack, says Jim, walking over and putting a just-ever-so-slightly threatening arm around Jacks shoulder, are you doubtin my word? No, no, Jack assures him, looking anxiously at Jims large hand on his shoulder, its RVera. Well, Jim is sure that Jacko can handle Vera and dismisses him his audience with Pope James is over, the subject, as far as Jim is concerned, closed.
In the shop, Sally enters with Rosie on one shoulder and a bad mood on the other. Jims hammering kept Rursie up past 8 the night before and is disrupting their routine. She goes on to tell Audrey that Kevin wants to begin working for himself after losing his job. Audrey is uncharacteristically supportive, telling Sally that she hopes they do well and wishes them luck, and after all, hes got Sally behind him, right? Thats the main thing. What choice do I have? Sally worries rhetorically.
Jim enters the MacDonalds back yard to check on the work and teases Steve about not throwing his back into it. He warns Steve that the natives are getting restless and want to know what theyre up to, so if anyone comes by or approaches Steve about it, he is to refer them to his Dad, and Jim will sort them out. Steve asks how much more of the yard needs to be dug and Jim replies mischievously, All of it! If they want something to talk about, well give it to em! before spitting on his palms and throwing his own back into it!
In the Rovers at lunchtime, Betty and Jack share a word about Kev going into freelance mechanic work after losing his job. As Liz serves Percy, he takes the opportunity to grumble that shes more pleasant than that husband of hers. When she asks why, he tells her about Jim refusing to share his extension plans. Hes only doing it for Jims own good, Percy insists. How does he figure that? Liz asks. Theres bound to be speculation if he keeps it to imself, Percy says all he had to do was tell Percy what his plans were and Id a made it my business to put folk right! Yes, Im sure you would, Percy, says a bemused Liz before taking his payment and then whisking off. J-just a minute! - sputters Percy in a last-ditch attempt to get the information he craves but Liz is gone!
Audrey drops into the Cafe for lunch (actually she must have been relieved from her shop duties earlier, judging from the handfuls of shopping bags she is toting). She is greeted by Gail but it is evident Audrey is upset. When Gail asks why, Audrey replies that shes upset about this mad idea of not standing up to Ivy on the church/altar boy/football issue. Gail reminds Audrey that she told Audrey it was their business and for Audrey to stop out of it. How can she, asks Audrey, when Nicky is her grandson and all? You havent said anything to Ivy? Gail says worriedly. Playing with her rings, Audrey admits that she wasnt exactly approving when she encountered Ivy. Ivy gave her a right mouthful, she adds! Well, what do you expect, when you *will* go jumping in with both feet? asks an exasperated Gail. She begs Audrey to stay out of it as things are complicated enough. Audrey asks if Gail cannot see what Ivy is trying to do? Shes trying to steal Nicky away from Gail! Gail knows what Ivy is up to, all right, but how can she explain that to Nicky? Hes finally gotten into a football club, its what hes always wanted. They can only wait until hes tired of it. If they make a big deal of it, the person to suffer will be Nick and heaven only knows what Ivy would make of that! Ivy looks pensive at Gails comments.
At the Duckies, Jack is dozing with the paper in his lap and the tv on when he hears Vera come in. He quickly jumps up, turns off the set and folds the paper as she enters talking complaining about the day she had. What do you look so guilty for? she asks Jack. Guilty? he repeats. And what are ye doing with that paper? He is *folding* it, he replies, he was just about to tidy up. Tidy up? You? Vera asks incredulously. She then demands a report on his confrontation with Jim MacDonald. Jack replies pleadingly that Jim is just building a little room for the baby. Oh? Vera asks. Does Jack hear the racket next door which just started up again? Hes already dug up half his yard and now appears to be digging up the other half. Just how big are they expecting this baby to be???
At the Sports Centre, Nick is playing football. He scores, to the cheers of Martin, who is encouraging him loudly from the stands. The game takes a break and Martin shares a moment of offering soccer strategy to Nick before he goes back in. Father ORourke, whos refereeing, comes by to have a word with Martin. He comments on how well Nicky is playing and mentions a game on the coming Saturday. Martin is friendly enough, but as the Priest leaves, he shakes his head at the situation ever so slightly.
Vera strolls into the Rovers where Jim is enjoying a pint. She starts laying into him despite Jacks plea of, Vera! Leave it! Vera! smiles Jim. Just the person I wanted to see. Can ye take a wee drink? Ah, ya cant get round me that easy! Vera snaps. Aw, youre not still goin on about that wee extension for the baby, are ye? Wee extension! cries Vera. Its taking up half his flaming yard! Vera, Jim says calmly, Im disappointed in ya, I really am. I mean, do you think Id ruin my property by building a monstrosity out the back? Not at all. What Im proposin to build will enhance the property, and not just mine! The surrounding properties as well! Just like your stone cladding has done. Vera looks terribly pleased at Jims implied cladding compliment. Are ya sure? Yes, Jim says solemnly, this extension will do just as much for your property as your stone cladding has done for mine. A chuffed Vera doesnt notice the tongue in Jims cheek and says in that case shell let Jim buy her that drink after all! Jim tells Jack, who has been watching this exchange in slack-jawed amazement, to include himself in the round. Thats very civil of you, replies Jack, in the hushed, envious tone of someone whos just witnessed a master at work. Liz slides by to murmer, You crafty sod, MacDonald. Not at all, Madam, demurs Jim, explaining that twas diplomacy killed the beast. Nevertheless, youre still a crafty sod, smiles Liz. Jim proposes a toast to the extension which Vera drinks to!
In a booth, Derek is still muttering about Kevins audacity in working in the courtyard. Mavis, perhaps having taken Percys comments to heart, points out that Kevin *does* have to earn a living. Derek reiterates as Liz clears their table that the courtyard will be a scrapyard if they dont put a stop to it.
In another nearby booth, Ivy comments that Don has hardly said a word all night. He has a headache, he says. Ivy replies that they couldve stopped in, but Don firmly says that he wanted to get *out*! Ivy says that the Rovers seems to be the last place to go with a headache (course at home *youd* be there wouldnt you, Ivy, you and you alone, so). Hey, Ivy says, (with a look so excited and mischievous I actually thought for a split second she was going to suggest they go home and get horizontal, until I realized this was Ivy) they could go down to the Sports Centre! RNickys playing football! she adds. (Go watch laddies play soccer? With a *headache*? Lord, lord. I used to coach junior soccer. This could be considered an attempt to inflict cruel and unusual punishment on Ivys part. Or it could just be Ivy being entirely self-centered as always.) Dons face betrays his fatigue with the topic of Nicky and football. Doesnt she think theyve interfered enough in their lives? he asks. You are his Grandad, Ivy declares, and as she is Ivy, Dark Mistress Keeper of the Genealogy of Nick Tilsley, Lord, I for one would not argue with her. Don asks again if Ivy doesnt think theyve interfered enough. Enough, I suspect, is not in Ivys vocabulary, but instead of digging out her dictionary she replies piously, If getting my grandson wot he wants most in life is interfering, than yes, Ill admit it! Don knows how much Nick loves football, she goes on. Dyou think hed be on a team if it were left to Martin Platt? Ouch!
Back at the Platts, Alleged Bad Dad Martin Platt, who has no idea that his masculinity has just been skewered by his evil mother-in-law-in-law, is bouncing into the house with an exuberant Nick. Theyre both all smiles as Nick tells Gail ecstatically about his game. He scored twice, couldve been a hat trick! (I have read that the term hat trick originated in an old, pre-NHL hockey league, where the league owner would reward any player who scored three goals in a game with a new hat. If this is true, has the term jumped the pond and carried over into other sports? Or is the widely-believed origin of hat trick in Canada incorrect? Any etymologists?) Theres another game on Saturday and tell er what Father ORourke said! Nicky says all in one breath! Martin says that Father ORourke said that Nick was a good player and could even be promoted later in the season. See? Nicky says proudly. I knew I was good, I only needed a chance! Ill show em at school! He is sent for a bath before his tea and roars up the stairs still shouting. Gail tells him to be quiet, hell wake the baby, to which Martin excuses, Hes excited! Youre not exactly depressed, Gail notes. No, Im quite proud of the lad, Martin agrees. Gail supposes Martin will go see Nicky play on Saturday then? Hell be very disappointed if I dont, Martin says. Gail says nothing but her concern is evident. Finally Martin says that of course, he *is* aware of the situation! He laughs- if Ivy could see them now in their consternation, shed be laughin her flamin socks off! They have no choice, do they? he goes on. Why not leave it with Nicky? Hes enjoying himself. Hes got what hes always wanted. Hes not the only one! sighs Gail astutely.
Its a less-than pleasant evening at the Websters. Sally is in a foul mood as it has taken forever to get Rosie to sleep. Just then the MacDonalds start up again, and so does Rosie. Sally shouts that she just cant take it anymore! Kevin says hell see to Rosie but Sally says shell do it, suggesting that if he wants to help Kev see to Jim MacDonald instead and get them to stop if you have to put a pickaxe through his head! Instead, Kev responds to a knock at the door. Its Liz. Shes come round to warn Kevin about Derek, having overheard him say in the pub that he was quite willing to let the law sort out the auto-repairs-in-the-courtyard issue. Sally enters the kitchen with Rosie and upon being told by Kevin why Liz has come by, she sneers, Oh, playing at Good Neighbours, are we? Youve got no quarrel with Liz! Kevin interjects. Havent I? Shes a MacDonald, isnt she? spits Spiteful Sal. Whats that supposed to mean? Liz asks. Sally shouts that if Liz wants to play Good Neighbour, she start with her husband and son, tearing up the backyard at all hours, because Ive had all of it I can take! She storms out of the kitchen. I think Id better go, Liz says perceptively.
ronniecat
Father ORourke PETER CAFFREY
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Wednesday (3290, Friday 11 October 1991)
It's a contentious episode today, but it begins pleasantly enough at the Platt's with Martin calling up the stairs for Nicky to hurry. As he waits, he and Gail discuss Nicky's new involvement with the St. Lukes' rugby team. Martin's attitude is that he'll soon get fed-up, having to be up early every Sunday, while Gail points out that he's just not that good a player. Martin takes comic offence to the statement, since he was the one who taught Nicky how to play. Gail signs and comments that perhaps Martin coached him "too well."
A few doors down, Mavis is kissing Derek goodbye as he heads off to work. He jumps into his car, puts the key in the ignition, but the car won't start. He rolls down the window and whimpers, "Mavis!"
Meanwhile, it's been another sleepless night at the Webster's, thanks to little Rosie. In the living room, Kevin lounges on the couch, while Sally tells him how sorry she is now for falling out with Liz MacDonald. Kevin grumpily responds to loud banging at the door, to find Derek Wilton on his doorstep. Derek explains that his car won't start, and he was wondering if Kevin could look at it. Sarcastically, Kevin steps out onto the street, stares at Derek's car in the distance, and responds "there -- I've had a look at it!" While Derek mumbles, begs, and looks extremely uncomfortable, Kevin points out that he can't work on Derek's car, on the street, where someone might complain -- some "nosey parker." Derek tries to point out that, at least in his opinion, there is a difference, to which Kevin's response is "yes, there is -- you have a job, and I DON'T," and with that, he unceremoniously slams the door in Derek's face. Sally scolds Kevin for being rude, and points out that they could certainly use the money. They're about to discuss the issue when the banging starts again in the MacDonald's garden. A fed-up Sally complains that she's going potty with the noise, while Kevin leaves to do some mechanical work outside.
Coincidentally, Liz MacDonald is also complaining to Steve of the incessant noise, and Steve wonders aloud why his father doesn't just hire a front-end loader, and have done with it. Liz expresses her surprise at how large the hole is, and she's a little frustrated because she can't understand how Jim can plan an extension without blueprints, some sort of plan, and the proper permissions. But then again, she comments that this has always been the way Jim does things.
Percy stops from his errands to complain to Kevin about the car parts and bits and bobs that are scattered about the sidewalk for people to trip over. He suggests that Kevin find a proper place to do his mechanic's work, and shift his junk.
Sally has had enough of the banging, so she leans over the garden wall to complain to Steve. Her nerves are shattered, and the baby is constantly crying as a consequence. Steve sarcastically responds that if she fancies giving him a hand, the job will get finished faster.
Jack opens the Rover's Return for another day of business, and finds Don waiting at the door. Jack teases Don about "loitering." Don jokingly asks Liz if the Weatherfield "Permissions" man found her, and Jack takes the opportunity to get in a dig about the neighbours' renovations impinging on him.
Kevin is working under a vehicle when he see a pair of legs and feet, so he tells the gentlemen he'll have to wait until he's finished. When he hears the walkie-talkie, he realizes it's a policeman, so he emerges from beneath the car. The officer is extremely friendly, almost fatherly, and asks Kevin how long he's been working on the street. Kevin naturally asks if there's been a complaint lodged, but instead of replying, the policeman advises him to find himself a proper garage to do his work. Sally arrives, and tries to defend Kevin to the officer, but they're both adamantly told that working in the street is "not on." When the police officer leaves, an angry Kevin curses "flaming" Derek Wilton, adding that he'll "swing" for him.
Back at the MacDonald's, Steve is telling Liz that Sally went mad on him earlier in the day. She asks again if Jim or Steve have any sort of clue about what they're doing. What if they can't even get permission to do the renovation? As she leaves for work, she makes it clear that she wants it "sorted," and that means plans, permissions, etc.
Rita answers the telephone at the Kabin, and hands it to Mavis. It's Derek, and he wants to know if the police arrived on the street. She cuts the conversation short when Sally bursts into the shop. She tells Mavis that Kevin is at home, that he's finished for the day, and that the police came by. A nervous Mavis asks Sally to leave, but Sally tells her first that she and Kevin want to be left alone, and that Kevin has no choice about where he can do his work.
Emily shows Gail some fabric that she set aside for her from the Thrift shop, and Gail agrees to buy it for £20. As Emily is wont to do, she raves about young Nicky attending St. Lukes, the good influence this will have on him, etc., while an uncomfortable Don listens. Later, Gail whispers to Don that she has some uncharitable thoughts about the whole issue, and Don tells her he wishes he could help in some way. Gail tells him not to worry about it, and that she will handle Ivy.
Speaking of Ivy, she's over at the Platt's to take Nicky to church, but Martin wants to call Gail first and make sure that she's in agreement. Ivy smooths everything over by insisting that Gail won't mind, and Martin is obviously struggling to keep control of his feelings. He finally explodes when Ivy tells Sarah-Louise that she'll take her next time!
Back at their home, a very angry Kevin is wishing he could paint a bull's-eye on Derek Wilton's chest, and use some darts on him! He characterizes Derek as a "horrible, snitching little toe-rag." The banging next door begins again, and Kevin snaps, "I don't flaming believe it!" Sally sadly remarks that they seem to have fallen out with everyone on the street, so Kevin suggests that they go get under the covers. "Mind you," he says to Sally, "tomorrow it'll all start again... and Derek Wilton will still be alive and kicking."
At the pub, Jack asks Jim how long his building project will take, and Jim reckons it will be ten weeks, so he does. Jack tells him that his pigeons are getting a little skittish with all the noise, and Curly jumps into the conversation by telling Jack that the change in scenery will screw-up the pigeons' navigational systems. "Their landmarks and beacons will be rearranged," he notes, "they'll have lost their natural reference points, they'll be confused and disoriented, and they'll be banging into buildings." He even suggests that Jack will have to get "little bandages and elastoplasts" for their heads. Jack isn't amused, and tells Curly that birds have been known to fly into strange things, so Curly advises Jack to keep Vera out of the back yard! Jack takes umbrage at this remark, and asks if Curly wants his pint served or chucked in his face. As Jack leaves that part of the bar, Liz says that it isn't like him to be so "gallant" when it comes to his Vera, to which Jack responds, "two things I will defend to the death. One, my pigeons. The other is the exclusive right of a man to insult his own wife."
Derek and Mavis arrive for a drink, and Percy tells Derek that he's disappointed in him for calling the police, and others at the bar quickly point out that Kevin is at least trying to support his family. Jim remembers that he knows of some possible work for Kevin, and leaves to tell him of it. Unfortunately, Kevin is at the end of his wits when Jim arrives, and has gone into his back garden to complain to Steve, who is not only banging with his pickaxe, he's playing his radio at full blast. Kev tells him in no uncertain terms that he's had it "up to here," with the noise, and it either stops now, or he's going to call the police.
On a quieter note, Martin is ironing in their living room while Gail tells him of Don's apology for Ivy earlier in the day. Nicky comes home from St. Lukes, and tells his mom that the classes are boring. When he asks if he will always be Nicky Tilsley, Gail explains that he will soon be Nicky Platt, when Martin adopts him. As Nicky tells his mother that Granny Ivy told him that if he stays a Tilsley, she will leave him all her money, but if he becomes a Platt, she will leave him nothing, a shocked Gail stares at Martin in disbelief.
Heather Morlan
Written by MERVYN WATSON Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL Producer DAVID LIDDIMENT
Thursday (3291, Monday 14 October 1991)
Quite a few people get told today, in an even more contentious episode than yesterday's, very downbeat and filled with resentments! With one feeble attempt at humour near the end of the episode, it's a sobering update i give you today, with only with my own comments to provide a badly needed injection of the lighter side, i hope.
We start off at the Platt household where Martin is being short with Nicky and Sarah Louise (well it's not likely, given his stature, he can be anything but!) Gail, while feeding David, quite rightly snaps at him not to take it out on the kids, pointing out that Ivy would be well pleased to see the two of them at each other's throats. Martin still can't get his head around Ivy's telling Nicky that she won't leave him anything in her will if he changes his name to Platt! She's got to be stopped and he wants to be the one to do it! Gail implores him to think of the kids and she ends up making him promise to let her sort things out her own way. The kids come in and Nicky wonders aloud why they were rowing but Gail avoids his questioning eyes and gently urges him to get ready for school.
Steve is grateful for a tea break after an hour or two of digging dirt in the backyard. At least it's a sight quieter than breaking up the concrete yesterday, so the Websters should be happy at least. Liz is still mulling over Jim's lack of plans. Steve tells her Jim's got it all worked out - in his head. That doesn't exactly instill confidence, the "daft beggar"!
The Daft Beggar is beavering away on a bike when a mate comes driving up on a smallish two wheeler about the size of a trail bike, or something just marginally bigger. This is Stuart ("Stooey, mate", who has a lovely muscular thigh encased in denim. Oh, give over you lot, the cameraman was obviously a camera woman and lingered there for a good look. What was i supposed to do?? I HAVE to watch ever second for update purposes, after all !!!) Anyway, Stu is inquiring on the completion time of his other bike, upon which Jim is fixing an exhaust system (that's Muffler and tailpipe for North Americans as per a recent discussion on #coro_street!) Jim in turn questions Stu about the plans that Stu is supposed to be drawing up for Jim's extension (would that be anything like Tinky's aerial? Just asking!) but Stu has been too busy to get to it. Next week, he promises, now about his bike. Next week, Jim promises, round about the time the plans are finished! Now we understand each other, they end up compromising. Stu agrees to come around after work for a look at the building site and Jim agrees the bike might be duly exhausted by tonight! :)
Gail nearly bites off Alma's head in the cafe. All Alma wanted was for Gail to remind her to call and arrange for the roof to be fixed! Alma realizes there's obviously something wrong and gently pushes Gail to talk about it. Gail and Alma stand close together and Gail tells her friend in a hushed voice what Ivy's been up to. Strewth!!?? (Well, Alma actually said "She Never!" but her disbelief seemed to ask for a Strewth!) Gail has no intention of letting Ivy get away with it and is determined to see Ivy tonight after work. Don's away at his sister's (? **)so it will be just the two of them. She's dreading it, though, and hasn't a clue yet what she's going to say. But it IS time to say a few things she's kept bottled up since Brian died because she thought it was the right thing to do. She had hoped Ivy would eventually see things as they are, not as they were or could have been. Gail's voice is hushed and bitter and determined and filled with "fed up". She has had enough and Ivy cannot be allowed to go on as she has been, not on at her kids until they too (two!) are as bitter and twisted as she is! She'll be made to realize it once and for all!
** Now, he was out very late the night of Martin's stag do when he shared a cab home with the lovely Julie the barmaid. Now he's away a few days to his sister's and Ivy's been on the Nag Wagon much worse than usual with this Nicky Platt-over-my-dead-body business. Anyone want to take bets if he's really at his sister? Or else can an affair with the lovely Julie be far away? I want you Don, you'll end up legless dating that barmaid! ;-)
Meanwhile, Martin realizes that Nicky's been filling Sarah Louis's head with tales of money and riches if they stay Tilsleys now that she too is parroting Ivy's anti-Platt tirade. He goes all quiet and arranges to have Pauline mind the little ones for a short while. He's got something to do.
The very next scene, at the speed of transporter it seems, Martin is seen peeking around the end of a Bettabuys aisle in search of his target. Ivy. He charges, hissing and spitting his rage, nearly purple in his anger. He lets her have it with both barrels at the top of his voice, right there in the middle of the store! She's accused of turning them all against him now that Sarah Lou has been involved. Ivy is calm but defensive at first, apologizing because she never meant her granddaughter to be dragged into it. She's only concerned about Nicky! Martin isn't interested in hearing her defensive, narrow minded point of view and hollers that she's only concerned for herself and never mind how many lives she destroys in the process. She starts arguing back - My Brian, moral well being, only son, my flesh and blood! He forbids her to ever see the kids again and never to come to the house again. He completely ignores Reg's attempts to diffuse the situation, shouting at the top of his voice that he will be very pleased to personally throw her out if she even tries to come near! Having said his piece, he swiftly turns and leaves Ivy with her chin hanging, stunned!
In the staff room a bit later, Vera gets Ivy a cup of tea and tries to reason with her. All this aggro, is it worth it? Ivy stoutly insists that Martin will not keep her from seeing her grandchildren. She's only making sure they have proper upbringing so it isn't any aggro on her part!!! (Narrow minded is too liberal for this woman, who is now in full bloom as Poison Ivy!) Vera actually scolds her friend gently, she must have known how Martin and Gail would take her telling Nicky about the will! (she can be such a good hearted friend sometimes, can Vera!) Ivy is holding back her tears, whining that she is "only" trying to keep Brian's memory alive as any self respecting mother would do under the same circumstances! (No, Ivy, a truly self respecting person would respect the wishes of the mother of her grandchildren to raise them as she sees fit. Gail isn't trying to erase Brian's memory, just trying to build a stable future for her kids.)
Sally brings Rosie out to see Kevin who's toiling away under a car on the street. Just a sweet little family scene about what does he want for his tea, allowing Kevin to play with the baby and make the baby laugh. The main reason for the scene is so Sally can "bump into" Mavis who is outside the Kabin. Sally wants to have a word and even the baby has suddenly turned all wiggly and fractious. Sally looks troubled and tentatively approaches Mavis for a word about the police incident. Mavis uncomfortably apologizes for it, saying Derek merely meant to make a general inquiry. Sally assures Mavis that Kevin will find proper premises if this private enterprise is successful so it's only a temporary measure. She wines about Kevin supporting his little family and she hopes Mavis can keep Derek of Kevin's back. Mavis nods nervously and Sally takes the baby off back home.
Percy pokes his nose into the MacDonald backyard but the boys make short shrift of him, winding him up about building a moat stocked with barracuda's as a measure of burglar protection. Percy goes off muttering about the disrespectful youth these days, much to the boys' amusement. Basically a scene to make sure we remember that Percy is a nosy old man creeping around back alleys.
Ivy marches into the cafe just before closing time to have a few words with Gail. Alma is just ushering out a few lingering students and managing to play gooseberry by staying for half of the confrontation, eagerly talking it all in ! Ivy informs Gail she wants to talk about Nicky and Gail, although thinks it's a good idea and has a few thoughts on the matter herself, points out that this isn't a very convenient time or place. Ivy rails at Gail about Martin's inconvenient and embarrassing attack on her this afternoon. Gail is obviously unaware but that's no excuse in Ivy's book because she believes that Martin was only echoing what the pair of them have probably talked about in private, calling her an evil conniving woman using Nicky for her own ends and forbidding her to ever see her grandchildren! Gail does agree that Martin was well out of order for doing that but Ivy continues. She has the nerve to play loving Granny, caring only for Nicky's moral well-being. This snaps Gail's temper and she lays into Ivy telling her she has no divine right to take Nicky's moral welfare into her own hands without his mum and dad having a say. Predictably, Ivy's hackles raise even more. Alma takes the opportunity to retreat, seeing things are about to get ugly. Gail asserts that Martin is Nicky's dad now. Ivy looks like she is in physical pain so Gail attempts to be reasonable. The future is what matters for Her Kids. Ivy starts to cry and lays the traditional parent's curse on Gail, When your kids grow up she hopes they don't give her half as much heartache as Gail's given her! "If My Brian were alive now, he'd . . . " She is cut short by Gail's nearly hysterical reaction, Brian is DEAD. He might have been Ivy's son but he was HER husband. If she can accept he's gone and try to build a new life for the sake of her kids, why can't Ivy? Ivy's lips purse tighter, her eyes flash and her mind slams shut but she can't find any words to respond so she sighs and swiftly turns and leaves.
There seems to be more dissention in the pub. Jack is barely speaking to the customers and he and Liz seem to be avoiding each other. Derek notices Jack's mood but fails to lift his spirits so he returns to the booth to Mavis who repeats to her husband what Sally told her earlier about Kevin's temporary measures. She urges Derek to back off as she can't have that little family out on the street on her conscience. Alec seems very solicitous of Liz's health, asking about her apparent difficulty bending down to the lower shelves. He is taken aback when she says she's been having a rough time in bed lately (well, we all know she does love a bit of rough in her bed don't we?) but it turns out it's only a lumpy mattress causing her spinal discomfort. Alec makes sure Liz knows that if the job becomes too much, just let him know and he'll do anything he can to ease her burden. Liz is mystified at Alec's uncharacteristic caring and questions Bet about it. But Bet clues in to Alec's true motives and mentions that if she isn't able to put 110 % in her job, she's not any good to him in the pub. It's not a warning to shape up i don't think, more a warning to Liz that Alec is up to something and Liz immediately catches her drift.
Meanwhile Jim and Stu are surveying the yard and foundations and talking about the extension. Vera is next door hiding behind the wall of towels hung out on the line, listening curiously.
Gail arrives home. Martin's there but the two older children are out. The stage is set for a blazing row though at the beginning Martin is just explaining that he did plan to keep away from Ivy as he promised but when Sarah Louise started talking about staying a Tinselly to get Granny's money, he snapped and he's not sorry! Gail is exasperated at the position he's put her in, what is she supposed to do about Nicky now when he finds out Martin won't let him see his grandmother? Gail relates to Martin all about Ivy's visit and want's to know why he couldn't just keep his big mouth shut and do what she asked! Martin counters, saying that Ivy has been against him from the day he moved in and he's just surprised it didn't blow up before now. He's accused of making matters worse but she fires the final shot by insisting with all her anger that Ivy is HER Mother-in-law and Nicky is HER son!!! Martin aggressively corrects her, he's NOT Martin the lodger anymore nor is he the fancy man. He's her husband and this house and family is just as much his now and he has just as much right to stand u to Ivy or anyone else that sticks their nose in! He gets right in her face and screams that Ivy isn't the only one that needs to get one or two things straight! He grabs his jacket and leaves the house, slamming the door on a stunned Gail who fairly reels from the onslaught!
Diane Johnston
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3292, Wednesday 16 October 1991)
Things are not very merry in the Platt household this morning. Martins chewing Nicky out for something while Gail snipes at Sarah Lou not to wreck her new shoes. Then, Gail and Martin have a go at each other before Martin makes a plea not to let Ivy come between them. Gail is still upset with Martin for his "childish" behaviour of the day before. He gets his back up when she laments that he didnt let her handle it. He wants her to recognize that its "our problem" and not hers alone!
At the breakfast table, Vera accuses Jack of being too cowardly to confront Jim over the extension hes building. Jack admits he isnt happy about the prospect either since itll block out the light from his pigeons. For once, theyre in agreement and Vera reckons they should go around and see the Websters to have a word with them.
Gail starts out to work and when she mentions shell be home for tea, Nicky asks if they can have it later as hell be playing footie. She tells him that she would rather he didnt play but when he gets lippy, she goes out and leaves Martin to tackle the problem. (Well, he did say it was "our problem"!)
At the Websters, Sally cheerfully bundles Rosie into her pram so that she can have some air in the yard while Sally tackles the housework. She promises to later take her to see the "quack quacks", causing Kevin to remark that "modern mothers" would say "ducks". Sally retorts that a modern mother would make out that Sleeping Beauty had Prince Charming up on sexual harassment charges and that Noddy and Big Ears probably had a suspect relationship, but *she* wants her child to have a childhood, not a political education! (Go Sally!!!!) A knock at the door - Vera and Jack have come to discuss the "monstrosity" the McDonalds are building. Kevin reckons itll come to nothing as theyll be denied permission by planning once they discover its to be two stories high.
Andy cant find his trainers and gets an earful from Jim about doing for himself instead of relying on his mother for everything. Liz mind is on other things. She wants to know if Jim is going to do things "by the book" as regards the new addition to the house. He assures her that as soon as he has the plans back from "Stew", hell be down at the town hall to get planning permission.
In the Corner Shop, Audreh is very tactfully dealing with some awkward customers. A mother and son are in and the kid seems bent on destruction, knocking merchandise from the shelves while the mother is tearing her hair out. Bet makes the observation to Deirdre that Audreh seems to have turned over a new leaf and Deirdre concurs, shes been handling things in the shop just as Alf would. Now that mother and son have left, Audreh returns to the counter in time to hear Deirdre singing her praises. Bet jokes, "But will it last?", and Audreh quips, "Well have to see - my unpredictability is part of my charm!"
Martins just home with the kids after a trip to the store for peanut butter. As hes unpacking their purchases and baby David, Nicky starts packing his kit to go and play footie. Martin objects but Nicky refuses to listen and belligerently storms out the door.
As Rita comes into the Rovers, Bet nabs her with a promise to share some gossip. She tells Rita that shes been round to Alfs and suggested that he give Audreh a gift as a token of his affection and appreciation for all the hard work shes been doing. Rita jokes that his idea of a gift would be "a box of chocs with fur coats on them", i.e., the stock thats expired. "Close...", Bet tells her, "...he suggested a bunch of carnations as they last longer than roses." But never mind that, at Bets suggestion, Alf has agreed that Audreh is to have an eternity ring! Rita wonders why Bet is so enthusiastic about it - whats in it for her? Well, as she explains, she has been assigned to pick out Audrehs ring AND, since its "unseemly" for a lady to go shopping for diamonds alone, Alec will be going with her. She reckons if she can get her "little mutant turtle" into a jewelers, she might just be able to get him to spring for a ring for her too!
At the bar, as Liz carries a hotpot to one of the tables, Jim remarks that he hopes thats the heaviest thing she will be carrying. She assures him that Alec has been the epitome of a gentleman, seeing to it that she doesnt overdo it. Jack leans across the bar to have a word with Jim about "the stadium" hes planning to erect next door. Jim is angry when he hears that Jack and Vera have been talking to the Websters about it. He reckons its all down to Vera making trouble after eavesdropping on his conversation with "Stew". Jack says he wont stand for anyone insulting his missus (thats *his* prerogative - LOL) and Jim leaves in a fit of temper saying he *was* going to put them in the picture but now they can mind their own damn business!
At the jewelers, Bet is admiring the merchandise while Alec can only moan at the pricetags. The jeweler asks "Sir" if he would like to try one of the rings on "Madams" finger and Alec curtly informs him that the ring isnt for "Madam"! Bet clears up the mans confusion by saying they are buying on a friends behalf but hoping to get a discount on the purchase of two rings, one for Audreh and one for herself. Alec snorts that she can forget that idea but she points out that he wouldnt want to be shown up by "a stingy beggar" like Alf. She eyes the biggest diamond on the palate and decides that one is "rather me". As she slips it on her finger, Alecs eyes look ready to pop.
Nickys on the soccer field now with Ivy cheering herself hoarse from the sidelines. Just after he scores a goal, Martin runs out and grabs hold of the lad, marching him off the field. Father ORourke stands by in bewilderment while Ivy screeches her objections to Martin. Martin pauses long enough to angrily remind Ivy that shes been told to stay out of his and Gails business!
At the McDonalds, Liz is giving Jim a dressing down for his behaviour in the Rovers. Steve throws in his two pence worth - hes tired of hearing the neighbours moan too but Andy reckons the neighbours dont have that much to moan about. Jim agrees with Andy, pointing out that Jacks concern is only his pigeons. Liz doesnt care - she only wants things between the neighbours to remain civil and if they cant manage that, shed rather not have the extension!
Gail returns from work to a houseful of long faces. When Sarah Lou informs her that Nicky is mad at Martin, Gail tries to have a word with her sullen son. He refuses to listen, saying he hates her, he hates Martin and he hates everyone! As Nicky tears from the room, Gail remarks to Martin that she thought he would be over his disappointment by now. Martin glumly informs her of the new developments, adding that he made "a pigs ear" of the situation.
Audreh comes into the Rovers to show off her new bauble to all and sundry. Bet takes no small satisfaction in Audrehs joy until Audreh tactlessly mentions that it may not be "showy" as what Bet would have chosen, but its "elegant" as befits her own good taste. Bets nose gets even more out of joint as Audreh continues; she reckons Alf must have had the jeweler around so he could personally select her ring - it's hardly something he would entrust to a third party! With Bet smiling after her through clenched teeth, Audreh flounces out again to get home to Alfeh. Rita takes note of Bets pout and suggests that her plot didnt work. Bet assures her that while she didnt get a ring for herself, neither did she come away empty handed. She picks up a small leather case and slowly opens it to show Rita - an alarm clock! Well, she needed a new one, she explains. "They come in handy when you want summat to throw!" She tosses the little clock up and down, glaring at Alec who is doing his best to pretend he doesnt hear.
Seated at their table, Derek and Mavis take note of Ivys emotional state as Deirdre leads her into the pub and seats them at a booth. Bet comes over to ask whats distressed her and Ivy (resplendent in runny mascara) tells her its a "family problem". Bet sympathises and offers thats its family troubles and religion that provoke most rows. "Whats that crack supposed to mean?!", demands Ivy. Bet tells her it meant nothing at all and goes off to get them both a drink.
Gail fetches tea for two out to the back yard where Martin has been ruminating over the days events. He gratefully accepts the tea and tells her that he is sorry for blowing it with Nicky. She reassures him, he was upset at the time. Still, Martin says, he didnt have to humiliate the kid. On the other hand, he reckons he had to show Nick whos boss. She agrees, he couldnt let him get away with insolence. And the fact is, she adds, this whole episode is down to Ivys obsessions!
At Liz behest, Jim calls on Kevin and Sally to soften them up over the building plans. When Kevin says theyve been hearing stories about the project, Jim dismisses it as alarmist ranting from Vera. Just at that moment, Sally shows the Duckworths in. Jim says hes glad to see them, it saves him going around to talk to them later. Vera shouts him down - she doesnt want to hear anymore of his "Irish flannel". He tries to explain that Liz is upset by the friction but Vera counters that she and Jack and the Websters are upset too! Jim cant see why theyre making such a fuss over a "wee" extension but Vera shouts him down again - theres nothing "wee" about it, she says! Thats it for big Jim - he came to make peace but since they wont listen they can all take a running jump. Once he leaves, Jack tells everyone not to worry, once he calls the town hall, Jim wont even be able to erect a dog kennel!
Anita Belanger
Woman in Corner Shop ANNA SEYMOUR Boy in Corner
Shop CHRISTOPHER SEYMOUR Father ORourke PETER CAFFREY Jeweler
CHRISTPHER KENT
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Monday (3293, Friday 18 October 1991)
Jim leaves the house, in a belligerent, defensive mood. He glares at Kevin who's hollered "Y'all right?" from under a car and pretends not to hear Vera's pointed and very loud remarks to Ivy about him. And if this wasn't a family show, I do believe he'd have flipped Vera "the bird" when she drove past the bike shop, leaning on the horn aggressively.
Nicky is also belligerent and silently wolfing down his breakfast, ignoring Martin and losing his temper at his mother's criticisms of his manners, grousing that he can't do anything he likes including playing football! Martin thinks he'll get over his anger, Gail wonders if he will. Martin defends his actions to Gail, because Nicky defied him and had he not pulled Nicky off the football field, the child, AND Ivy, would have won. Gail seems more sympathetic to her son's embarrassment today but still, reluctantly agrees with her new husband. She supposes he had to do it.
Audrey is still showing off her eternity ring to Ken this time, who blathers on about the concept of eternity, it can be the past or future or the now which often seems like an eternity (such as this speech does!)She is not dissuaded and he duly admires it when she tells him it's from Alf. But when she asks what he's getting for Alma, he is surprised to find out that it is Alma's birthday. And since he didn't know before, now he does and Audrey seems to imply he ought to buy her something. He does thank her for the hint however and leaves her to further gaze upon her bejeweled hand.
Sally brings a cuppa to Kevin and she exchanges a friendly word with Liz who's just come out of her house at the same time. She snarks to Kevin about Liz at least being friendly. Yeah, Kevin says, unlike Jim who's been coming to the door of the shop periodically all morning to glare over at him. He tried to glare back but he's not as good at it! (Well all that practice over the years must have worked, he's pretty darn good at it now! Must be like me dad always said, "You're face will freeze that way!") The next time Jim comes out to glare (off camera) they both look over and Sally sticks her tongue out, unable to resist. The pair of them have a moan about money and Kevin comments that he won't be able to work out on the street in winter (just around the corner)
Audrey now has that ringed finger stuck in Alma and Gail's faces, neither of whom reflect the appropriate measure of pleasure in Audrey's gain. Gail moans about the eternal row at her home and Alma whines about her 46th birthday. Ken enters so Audrey retreats. Ken and Alma exchange cheerful words as he wishes Happy Birthday. She realizes Audrey was the one who told him but freely admits to Ken on her own that she's turning 46! (Have you no pride, woman?) She's horrified and says it just doesn't bear thinking about. So he, in his clumsy way, comments that she wouldn't want to celebrate with a meal out, then? Obviously working up to asking her out. She wipes the anticipation off his face by saying she already has plans for a very expensive meal by herself, at home. Alone. With everything from out of her freezer but the best of everything. Then she invites him to share the meal with her and he accepts with pleasure. They set a time and she returns to the counter where Gail and Audrey tease her about having an offer she can't refuse. Well not yet, she smirks, but hope springs eternal! Gail and Audrey both grin lasciviously over their shoulders at Ken who is beet red with embarrassment.
Jim stalks into the pub at lunchtime, pausing to shoot a look that could kill in Jack's direction. This doesn't go unnoticed by Phyllis. Jim has even more to glare about because it seems an enforcement officer has been around investigating on a complaint. He's been officially told he has to get planning permission for the extension, something he already knew he needed. Jack and Jim exchange forceful words ending with Jack hoping Jim falls under an army tank. This of course, is like a red flag to a bull and Jim attempts to charge but Liz holds him back and Alec steps in. He demands no brawling in his pub and orders Jim to sit down and Jack tot he cellar to cool off. However, he tells Jim he can have a pint on the house which amazes me but maybe Alec is too scared of Big Jimbo to actually bar him. Alec asks Liz to keep Jim on a leash but she admits even she can't do that all the time. Bet congratulates him for his control of the situation but he admits he was shaking inside (which she knew anyway!)
Martin tries to make peace with Nicky, chiding him about his sulking. Nick puts, he's not sulking he's just not talking to Martin. Martin at least apologizes for embarrassing Nicky the day before but excuses himself as having had a bad day with the younger kids and having Ivy on his back all day before Nicky went and did a bunk. He knows it's hard for Nick to understand but that's the way it is. Who said? I say, Martin insists but Nicky decides he doesn't have to do as Martin says and utters the immortal words ."You're not my father" and runs out! (And so it begins!)
Back at the caf, Gail is getting ready to go home, dreading returning to Ground Zero. She'd much rather stay here and entertain Ken and Alma can go home in her place and referee! Alma reassures Gail that the boys will have made it up, they don't bear grudges, fellas, or so they would like us to think! Gail leaves with a sigh and we watch her go down the road from the vantage point of a man in a car on the corner who is watching. It's Mike!
There is a knock on the caf door and Alma opens it to find a grinning former lover. He's cock of the walk, all teeth and boisterous confident attitude. He says he's there to sort out the roof that needs mending but offhandedly wishes her a Happy Birthday. She's caught her breath after the initial shock and is quietly dignified. She turns down his invitation for a drink, she has plans. He rightly assumes it's a bloke, Anyone I know? (Yes!) With strength of conviction, she wonders how she should know WHO he knows? He takes the rebuke lightly as Mike the Lad, offering to return later in case her date doesn't show up, unreliable these blokes can be. Oh, she assures him, this bloke is Very reliable, implying rather blatantly that he is not! Mike just gives her a cheeky grin as she closes the door firmly on him and then gathers her wits about her, trying not to show that she's shaken by the unexpected visit.
Later in the shop, Deirdre's fizzy with curiosity about the possible identity of the recipient of the box of chocolates that Ken has bought "for a friend". He's not telling so she backs off, mind racing.
Kevin watches an old black and white western on telly. Sally enters, having finally settled Rosie down after a bout of stomach upset. Vera enters with a bray, that's right, walks right in their house without even knocking! She's got another idea to fight the extension. A petition! She and Jack have signed it and she wants the Websters to as well as they are the other neighbours most affected. Kevin refuses outright but Sally appeases Vera by telling her they'll discuss it and get back to her tomorrow. Vera correctly assumes they are just saying that to get rid but Sally lies and repeats herself. Vera goes and Sally declares she has no intention of signing any flipping petition, to Kevin's satisfaction.
Alma leads Ken into the flat and offers him Gin and Tonic. They discuss their respective days, musing that she can think of better ways to spend a birthday than frying sausage and chips. The conversation turns to people doing jobs they don't like, leading Alma to the depressing comment about it being a sad old world. Ken contradicts her and makes her smile by describing the world as exciting and beautiful. She thanks him for the choccies and tells him she wants to avoid any more age talk but then asks him his age which is revealed to be 51. (making him 59 in 1999) She then blunders and tells him that Mike was around for a surprise visit. He catches his breath but after she apologizes and he makes a few caustic remarks about Chequebook Charlie, the little man with the big wallet, they decide to forget about Mike. (She says she doesn't care about Mike's visit but it seems to me she's wading ever deeper into De Nile!)
Vera is in the pub trying to persuade the Wilton's and Rita to sign her petition. They don't find that Jim's extension is of any real interest to any of them. (though it could be to me! LOL) Vera takes offence at their lack of loyalty, calling them down for their high and mighty ways on the other side of the street! Derek goes to the bar and mentions the petition to Bet within earshot of Jim while Jack goes to sooth Vera's ruffled feathers. The feathers hit the fan and a slanging match nearly starts with Jim on one side, Liz hollering at him and Jack and Vera on the other. Bet swiftly and capably breaks up the argument, demanding that Vera either leg it with the petition or hand it over until she leaves. Vera whines that Bet can't take her petition away from her! But Vera has underestimated Bet who, head back and shoulders high, resplendent in her sky blue suit with black trimmings on the collar and lapels, proclaims herself cock of the walk in this pub! She announces that there are three things barred from conversation in her pub, holding up an immaculately manicured talon as she counts them off! One, No religion, Two, no politics and Three, no pinching someone else's wife or husband. There is now a fourth subject that is forewith banned. Jim MacDonald's extension! Get it? Got it? GOOD! Carry on Supping! The combatants are duly chastened and she turns back to Alec, how did she do! He admiringly compares her to Bodecea the warrior queen. She looks down her nose at him and sarcastically wishes she could think of a warrior king to compare him to. She swans off leaving Alec to wince and look around furtively to see if anyone has overheard.
Gail kisses Nicky good night but can't get him to say good night to Martin. She sighs once again, joined by Martin (boy there's a lot of hot air in that house!) Martin puts the initial blame at Ivy's will but accepts some of it on his own actions. Gail decides that Nicky will get over it but Martin reveals that they've come up against a new problem. The social working in charge of the adoption has called. Gail realizes she'll want to talk to Nicky and Martin points out that he isn't about to give his potential new father much of a character reference at the moment is he? They both sigh. I sigh. Next scene!
Ken and a somewhat tiddly Alma chat about his past girlfriends, one of whom he stood up as a young man when he realized his date, whom he had known as a child, had now grown much taller than he. Alma pities the poor girl and laughs that the alcohol has made her maudlin. But she has enjoyed herself this evening and they spend a few sentences flattering each other on how well preserved they both are for their respective ages. (I personally think, though Amanda Barrie is stunning, does look to be in her mid 40's and Bill Roache certainly looks to be in his mid 50's as he is older than "Ken") He reluctantly decides it's time he was leaving but she urges him to stay and finish the wine, after all he doesn't have to drive. True, he admits, tentatively. Forward Madame makes it very clear he'd be welcome to stay the night. He coyly looks taken aback and then agrees to stay. I'm not quite sure his expression isn't one of a combination of gratitude and fear! Alma sighs with relief, having got that out of the way up front and lights a ciggie with a shaky hand, Ken practically panting beside her on the settee! (You're too good for him, Alma!)
Diane Johnston
Written by LESLIE DUXBURY Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Tuesday (3294, Monday 21 October 1991)
It's the morning after the night before at Alma's flat, and Ken did indeed stay over. In fact, Oops! he's slept in, and Alma apologizes for forgetting to set the alarm clock. ("I'm usually always awake at 7 sharp," Ken says, implying that he must have been quite tired when he finally dropped off! Ahem!) Alma makes some reference to not worrying as Gail could've opened up, and Ken says nervously, "Oh, will she be in the caff, then?" He is concerned about offending her "moral standards". Alma says that not only would Gail's moral standards not be offended but she'd probably bring them up a cup of tea! Anyway, she assures him, Gail won't be in yet so he won't have to face her on his way out of the flat. They do a brief, "do you regret this?" "no, do you?" and decide that they are glad they spent the night together.
Things are not nearly so placid at the Platts', where Nicky is *still* in a foul mood. When Nick ignores Martin's comments to him, Gail says, "Nicky, Martin is speaking to you," and he replies, "Well, I'm not speaking to *him*, am I?" As Nick stomps out Gail and Martin fret about the upcoming visit by the social worker who is to assess Martin's fitness for adopting the kids. Martin quips bleakly that "if he's not speaking, at least he can't say that he wants to go live with Granny Ivy, can he?" but assures Gail that he will talk Nick around somehow before tomorrow's social worker visit.
Over at the Websters', the money crunch is being felt. Kevin moans about having no pocket money until the weekend, and Sally says they will have to make do with the gas money then. While rifling through the cupboards for the gas money, Kevin stumbles upon more than £50 in a tin! He is stunned - what is this? He thought they were broke! Sally says that it is her nest egg, her safety net in case of emergencies. It makes her feel better to know it's there. When Kev asks where on earth she got it she replies that she saved it - a pound here, a pound there. Kev smiles. "You're a right little squirrel, aren't ya?" "You're not angry, then?" asks Sal and is relieved that Kevin is not.
In the Street, Jack and Jim are unfortunately leaving their houses at the same moment, giving Jack an opportunity to have another go at Jim about his proposed extension. He hasn't got a chance of getting planning permission, Jack says, "not with everyone around here against you!" "Everyone? And who would that be?" shouts Jim as Jack walks away. "Your foghorn of a wife, Jack? 'Cause stray cats and dogs don't count!" Jim is nearly shrieking now, and Liz comes out to see what all the noise is about. "Who're you shouting at now? Not him again!" she says. She thought they'd agreed to keep their heads down! "He started it!" sulks Jim, but Liz doesn't care. It's causing bad trouble for her at the Rovers - being told to read Jim the riot act - "it's humiliating as well as upsetting!" It's not worth the hassle, she thinks. Jim replies that she won't say that when "the wee girl arrives and she's got a nice new nursery!" Just then there is a priceless moment as we see Father O'Rourke coming up the street. Jim's face is a picture as he mutters under his breath, "Oh my God. He hasn't sent a Priest around!!!" "Don't be daft," hisses Liz under her breath as they both smile plastic smiles and say "Good Morning Father!"
While it might indeed take a miracle to settle things between Jacko and Jimbo, instead Father O'Rourke is on his way to the Brennan home. Don lets him in and looks furtively up and down the street to see if anyone's seen him come before closing the door! This would no doubt stir the pot if seen by Gail or Martin! Father O'Rourke establishes that Ivy is at work, and Don tries to subtly find out why the Good Father is looking for her. "Trouble in the family, Don?" asks Father O'Rourke by way of explanation *and* a question. "You mean that business of Martin pullin' Nicky off the football field," Don says. "Bit extreme, wasn't it?" observes the Priest. "Yes, well you don't know the whole story," Don says. "That's why I'm here," confirms Pater, whereupon Don says, "Have a seat, Father." Don tells the Priest that it's not only Martin's fault. "I'd be surprised if it were Nick's," says Father O'Rourke. "He's a fine young man." (Should've seen him sulking at brekkie this morning then, like we did!) No, Don says, going on to explain that "It's Ivy, isn't it? He's her grandson, isn't he - her dead son's child. She behaves as though *she* were his father - especially since Martin came on-scene and Gail married him." "She wasn't happy with that?" guesses Father. Don shakes his head with a "you-had-to-be-there" gesture. "They're talking about adopting young Nicky now. So his name won't be Tilsley, will it?" Don continues. A light of understanding comes on in the Priest's eyes. "Ivy feels she's losing him," he guesses. "Exactly, Father," confirms Don. Getting Nick to be an altar boy, having him join the football team - "it's her way of showing Gail and Martin that she knows better than them what Nicky wants. It's a - what's the word - it's an obsession with her. [Yes, that would be the word. - Ed.] She won't listen to reason."
While Don puts Father O'Rourke firmly in the picture, Gail, Alma and Audreh chat in the Cafe. Well, Audreh and Alma chat - Gail is clearly preoccupied, something that does not go unnoticed by Audrey. "It's Ivy pokin' her nose in again," she guesses. "Honestleh! She's got a nose like a trowel!" Gail won't rise to the bait so Audrey goes back to her conversation with Alma. Now, what were they talking about? Ah, yes - Ken! Surely Alma must've formed an opinion by now! Yes, says Alma. He's a very nice man, and very considerate, not like most of the men she's known. Audrey leans in to ask if they've made any "progress". Alma, mimicking her hushed tone, asks "in what way?" "YOU know," whispers Audrey. "Yes," whispers Alma. "REALLY?" Audrey leans way in conspiratorially. "And you know what?" Alma goes on. "He's kinky!" "How?!?" asks Audrey, nearly salivating. "He kept his eyes open when he kissed me goodnight on the doorstep!" says Alma, and she and Audrey laugh as Audrey realizes she's been wound up. "Talk about Ivy!" chastises Alma. Audrey is pretty good at sticking her own nose in! Audrey takes it in good humour as she realizes Alma's got her.
In Bettabuys Reg is chewing out a young employee in true bully-boy fashion when Father O'Rourke walks in. Reg is immediately the picture of Sweetness and Light, offering the good Father a basket and making several very poor jokes in an ingratiating fashion. "I'm not here to shop," Father O'Rourke says, leading Reg to say, "Not here to shop*lift*, then I hope?" and bray like a mule at his own joke. No, says the Priest, looking at Reg a little strangely, it's one of his parishoners, an employee, that he'd like to have a quick word with. "Well, just as long as it's a quick word then and not a full confession! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Reg brays. Which employee? Reg inquires. Mrs. Brennan, Father O'Rourke says. "I might've known," Reg mutters, as the Father sees Ivy and beats a hasty retreat.
"Hello Father O'Rourke! What are you doing here? I didn't know you shopped..." begins Ivy, but the cleric stops her. He normally wouldn't track her down in such a fashion, he apologizes, but he is going away for several days and he hasn't had a chance to resolve matters. "I've just come from Donald," he begins. "Oh, 'ave ye?" asks Ivy nervously. The Priest says that they didn't have a chance that afternoon to discuss "the incident with Nicky's..." "Yes, you will have difficulty finding a word to define Martin's relationship with Nicky, Father. 'Cause I do." Father O'Rourke says he fully understands Ivy's desire to have Nicky grow up in the faith. In fact, he naturally heartily endorse it! - "but there does seem to be some question of your motives here." Oh no, assures Ivy. She just wants what's best for Nicky. "And you know what's best for Nicky, then?" asks the Priest cautiously. "Yes, Father. Of course I do" - whatever Brian would've wanted. "Ivy, Brian is gone. You cannot replace him in Nicky's life. Nick's got a perfectly good and loving mother, for one thing." "Yes," says Ivy haltingly, "but what would she know?" "Enough to make him a happy lad, and that's a precious gift," says the Priest gently. Ivy looks stricken, as though she will burst into tears at any moment. Father O'Rourke goes on to encourage Ivy to stay in Nick's life, giving him the benefit of her experience. "But for Lord's sake, Ivy, you must do it gently, not like a runaway piano - it's much more effective!"
Just then Vera comes by to warn Ivy that Reg has been glaring at them for some time. The Father takes his leave but not before being buttonholed by Reg again. Always willing to help out the Church, you know. In that case, says the Padre, would he like to donate a prize to their raffle? Reg hands him a tin of biscuits (but not before considering, then rejecting, a handful of chocolate bars in an inspired Reg moment). After Father O'Rourke departs Reg turns his vitriol on Ivy. This is a supermarket, not a place for her to hold court! Would she like a private room arranged for her counselling? Vera says, "Here! She's upset!" but Reg is like a runaway train. Finally a distraught Ivy stomps away as Reg shouts after her, "Mrs. Brennan! I'm talking to you! Mrs. Brennan!" (Lord, save us all from the petty tyrants of this world!)
Kevin's at work in the Street when Des strolls up. He suggests a Death Certificate might be in order for the auto Kev is working on. Kevin replies that Des has heard of people who lay on hands to heal people? That's what he does with motors! Des asks Kevin if he remembers the time Des asked Kev to put some money on a horse for him. Des, being a bookie, is not allowed to bet in-house. Kevin sure does remember - they both cleaned up! Would Kev do it again, inquires Desmond? He agrees and is told to put a bet on "Society Belle" - and is recommended to put a few quid on her himself! Des hands Kevin his wager money and leaves.
Well, well, if it isn't Mike Baldwin knocking on Deirdre's door. She is quite surprised to see him and wonders what he's doing here. She lets him in and they chat as she gets ready to return to work after lunch. Where's Phil Jennings? wonders Mike. "Long gone - back to his wife!" replies Deirdre. "No!" says Mike. Deirdre asks where Mike has been and is told that after the fiasco with Jackie, he headed to London where there was "nothing doing" so he came back to Weatherfield. Deirdre knows Mike better than that and wonders what he's got up his sleeve. Michael smiles and suggests a drink sometime, to which Dreary agrees.
We're at the track, where Kevin places Des' bet (at Des' window, much to his consternation. "Should I go somewhere else?" asks stunned Kev. "Not now, they've seen you, it'll look odd" says Des who is clearly the brains of this operation, and that's saying something.) Kevin adds £20 of his own to the wager, to Des' approval.
Jim enters the Rovers, and Bet asks Liz if she has clearly instructed him not to fight with Jack anymore in the pub over the extension. "Nothing to worry about," says Liz but as Bet leaves Elizabeth's face reflects nothing but worry. Liz steps up to the bar to serve Jim and loudly suggests he buy Jack a pint. Neither man is very impressed with this idea. Liz tries to smooth things over by saying that it's too bad, really - it's silly to carry on a quarrel when there's likely nothing to quarrel over. Oh no? Jack says that he knows they still want that extension and are just waiting on planning permission, but his petition will put a block to that! Probably so, concurs Liz. And it's Jack and Vera's right and nobody wants to stop them from doing it, certainly not us, do we Jim? "No, no, no," agrees Jim, who can see that Liz is up to something. Jack, encouraged, goes on to opine that what they should've done is go see a neighbour, "someone like me, who's on the ball", who could've put them straight. "We should've," agrees Liz. "Shouldn't we, Jim?" "Oh, aye, aye," says Jim. Jack decides he will have that drink after all! As Jack departs the immediate area, Jim says to Liz that the only two names Jack and Vera will get on that petition will be their own - Jim will get planning permission, just wait and see! "Probably," concurs Liz. "Well what was all that about then?" asks a baffled Jim. "That," says Liz, "is called 'taking the heat out of the situation'." As Liz walks past Queen Bet, she is asked if Jim backed down then? "Jack thinks he has. Jim thinks he hasn't," smiles Liz. "That sounds like it were hatched over a perm," cracks Bet. "Where else?" concurs Liz.
Mikey Baldwin comes in and is warmly greeted by Bet and Alec. Alec is more than anxious to find out what Mike is up to. Mike tells Alec that there is something that Alec might be able to help him with. "Your problems are my problems, Mike!" says a sycophantic Alec.
At the track, Des and Kev watch the race. "Society Belle" is the belle of the ball, and Kevin is shouting with excitement, until the poor creature falls! Kevin and Des exchange looks, both disappointed - one more deeply than the other!
Martin is helping Sarah Lou with her homework when Nicky comes in. He ignores Martin's greeting and tries to head upstairs but Martin orders him to come back for a word. Martin says he knows Nicky is disappointed about not being able to play football with the altar boys. Why not come and play with Martin's team? He couldn't play in games yet - he's too young - but he could come and train with them. They're going to train this Thursday. What about it? "This Thursday?" is all Nicky says, before heading upstairs. "I got two words out of him," Martin crows to Sarah Lou, "and that can't be bad!" "Uh-uh!" agrees Sarah Louise.
Back at the Cafe, Gail looks at her watch and counts down the second until closing time. She and Alma agree they're both exhausted and glad to see the end of the day. As Gail goes to lock up, Ken arrives to invite Alma to dinner. She accepts happily.
In the Rovers, the two schemingest men in Weatherfield are still chatting over the bar. Alec asks about Mike's acommodations, which Mike says couldn't be better. "It's not what you're used to, though," says Alec with a tone of hero-worship mixed with envy. Mike says he's just happy to be back in his old stomping grounds. "London's not all it's cracked up to be," he says. "It's too big a pond and too many big fish!" Alec sees - Mike would rather be THE big fish in this stagnant pond! Mike smiles. (How very observant of both Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Gilroy!) As Alec walks to the back of the bar to refresh their drinks, Bet asks if Mike has revealed his reasons for being back in town yet. Not yet, says Alec. She is suspicious - it's something about the way he smiles, she says, as we cut to a hilarious shot of Michael B. toasting them both with all his pointed little teeth agleam!
The Duckies pause to speak to the MacDonalds at the bar - Vera can't pass up the opportunity to gloat. They've given up, have they? asks Vee. They should've known better, trying to pull something like that off next to people like them! "What do you think we are? Morons?" Jim and Liz manage to retain their composure until Jack and Vera push off in a fog of self-satisfaction, as Liz says to Jimbo, "See? They've already convinced themselves." "Are ye a psychologist now?" asks Jim. "I am when I have to be!" confirms Liz.
Don brings drinks round to a booth for he and Ivy. She is still angry about everything, and even more so at Don for having spoken to Father O'Rourke. "I just put him in the picture - told him the truth," Don says. "'The truth' is I'm trying to point Nicky in the right direction, the direction RBrian would want him to go," spits Ivy. It's pretty bad, she goes on, when your own Priest can't understand that! "Mind you - I always thought he were trendy!" she says dismissively. Don snorts. "That's right. Whoever isn't 'for' you is 'against' you!" "NO!" protests Ivy, so loudly that Don looks around the pub in embarrassment to see who's heard. He is angry when he turns back to her and hisses her to stop upsetting people - including him!
In the Platt kitchen, Martin is telling Gail that he's sure he made a breakthrough with Nicky. You should've seen his little eyes pop when Martin suggested training with his team! Gail is not so sure and is upset about things going so wrong just when the social worker is coming to interview them about Martin adopting the kiddies. "After all, they're hardly going to recommend someone he's not speaking to to be his Dad, are they?" she says. Martin now gets upset, saying there Gail goes again - blaming everything on him. She is not, she insists, and they begin to row. They stop abruptly when Nicky comes into the kitchen in his pyjamas. Can he have a glass of milk? Gail says yes. "Nicky?" asks Martin tentatively. "What?" replies Nick sullenly. "Aha! You spoke to me, didn't ya?" says Martin happily, tickling Nicky. "Yeah," says Nicky, with all the enthusiasm of a wet dishrag. "Yes, you did," continues Martin. "Now, about this training lark - d'you fancy it? I reckon by the end of the season you could be playing for the town team!" Martin might even throw in a pair of training shoes. "I'm NOT coming training with you. And I'm NOT playing football with you either!" shouts Nicky before bolting upstairs. Martin sighs heavily. "Goodbye, adoption," snipes Supportive Spice.
The Websters are watching television. Well, Kev is pretending to watch television and Sally is watching Kev pretend. She asks what is wrong and he, of course, responds "nothing". She asks if the problem is their current money crunch. It won't always be like this, she says reassuringly she promises! If he likes, he can borrow a couple of pounds from her piggy bank. At this, Kevin jumps up and grabs his jacket. "Where are you going?" she asks as he heads for the door. "The Rovers," he replies briefly as he leaves. "You haven't got any money! Kevin! " Sally shouts after him. Smelling a rat, she runs into the kitchen and her jaw drops as she counts her nest egg and realizes a good chunk of it is missing.
ronniecat
Father O'Rourke: PETER CAFFREY
Written by LESLIE DRUXBURY Directed by KEN HORN
Wednesday (3295, Wednesday 23 October 1991)
Today's episode opens at the Webster residence, where Sally is complaining bitterly to Kevin about the money he took from her "nest-egg" jar and lost at the betting shop. Kevin thought he could make some easy money, but Sally points out that it took her ages to accumulate the sixty-odd pounds, and Kevin took part of it and just "threw it away." An exasperated Kevin leaves in a huff, banging the door behind him.
Over at the Brennan's, Ivy is potting around the house since she doesn't have to go into work until later in the day. Don suggests that she go to the Cafe to see Gail and to sort out their differences over Nicky's participation in St. Lukes' rugby team. Ivy reiterates that she's only doing her best for Nicky, and Father O'Rourke knows that. As Ivy prattles on about Nicky's religious training, Don gently suggests that if she wants to keep things right with her grand-kids, she'd better make things right with their mom.
At the Cafe, Gail tells Alma that she's concerned about the expected visit from the social worker later in the day. Martin, she says, was on "pins" that morning, rushing about the house, dusting and vacuuming. Unfortunately, Nicky is still not on speaking terms with Martin since he barred him from playing on the rugby team, and Gail is justifiably worried about the outcome.
Mike Baldwin is staying at the Rover's Return, and after his "slap up" breakfast, he tells Alec that there's something quite soothing about sleeping over a pub. Jack, who is lounging about the bar, "ear-wigging" on this conversation, is barked at by Alec to get to the cellar for some mixers. As Mike and Alec continue their discussion, Mike says he expects to stay at the pub for at least a few more days, while he looks for more permanent lodgings. After Mike's departure, Jack arrives with the mixers and tells Alec that he'd be concerned about having Mike around, since he's never been very trustworthy in the best of situations.
Mike stops outside the Rover's Return to chat with Kevin, who is working on a vehicle. Seconds later, Sally emerges from their home with Rosie, and she makes a snide remark to the effect that since daddy is there, the betting shops must not yet be open.
Back at the Rover's Return, Bet asks Alec why Mike is staying at their pub. Alec tells her it's only temporary, until Mike finds a place of his own, but they can certainly use the money he's paying for room and board. He also tells her that Mike was very impressed with the breakfast she served, and Bet responds that she hopes he doesn't expect that sort of meal every morning. Only a few feet away, Jack is telling Ken Barlow that Mike is thinking of moving back into the area. Audrey orders a drink, and tells Don that even she thought that Martin went a bit too far when he pulled Nicky off the rugby team, and Don replies that he told Ivy she would be wise to make peace with Gail.
Gail and Martin are in a tizzy in anticipation of the visit from the social worker, so when the doorbell rings, they both expect it to be her. Instead, Nicky announces that it's Granny Ivy. Ivy is surprised to see Gail at home instead of at the Cafe, but Gail is in no mood to make small talk, so she rushes Ivy out the door, promising to call her later. An insulted Ivy tells Gail that she knows when she's not wanted, and "not to bother." As Ivy storms off, the social worker arrives.
Meanwhile, Sally is counting the balance of the money in her "nest-egg" jar, and tells Kevin that there isn't enough there to cover the electricity bill and the mortgage payment. Kevin hands over a few quid he collected for some of his mechanical work, and Sally sarcastically mutters that with Kevin's contribution, their problems are over. "How could you do it?" she asks Kevin, referring to him squandering money on a horse race, and Kevin can only respond that Des thought it was a "sure thing." As Sally complains again about Kevin's stupidity, he points out that she would be singing a different tune if the horse had won -- and he announces that he would do it again, if he thought he could win some easy money. Sally angrily pockets the balance of her savings, and heads for the door. When Kevin asks her where she's going, she announces that she's going to push the money down a grate, which is about as stupid as what Kevin did with the money he took. Kevin tries to pursue, but Rosie starts to cry.
Kathy Green, the social worker, looks over various documents at the Platt residence, explaining that the court needs certain details in order to launch adoption procedures. She expresses surprise that Gail and Martin have been married only a month, since the courts often have a basic one-year requirement for adoption petitions. She explains that she needs to talk to the children, to learn of their own feelings on the issue, but since David and Sarah-Louise are too young, she would like to have a private conversation with Nicky. Gail and Martin gather up the other children and retreat to an upstairs bedroom as Kathy tells Nicky that she needs to know how he feels about being adopted.
Sally arrives at the betting shop, approaches Des' window, and places a £50 bet on "Rag Town Cowboy." Seconds later, Kevin arrives with Rosie in his arms, and tries, unsuccessfully, to stop Sally from placing the bet. When it becomes clear that Sally is determined, Kevin asks Des not to accept the bet, but Des tells him that he cannot do that. Sally slaps down her money, places the bet, and leaves, declaring that she doesn't care whether the horse wins or not.
Kathy Green has completed her interview with Nicky, but before leaving, Martin asks whether she can give them an indication, one way or another, of how their case will go. She responds that she cannot say, since the matter is up to the court to decide. After she's gone, Martin asks Nicky what he told her, but gets no response.
Back at the betting shop, Kevin watches the race. "Rag Town Cowboy" does not win, and a disappointed Kevin heads home.
Mike arrives at the Cafe, and is coldly greeted by Alma who asks what he wants. He explains that he needs to arrange a time for repairs to be made to the roof. He also offers to buy her a drink, but she flatly refuses. After Mike's departure, Gail arrives and tells Alma that Martin thinks they've completely "blown it" as far as the social worker is concerned. Gail feels that a lot of things went against them, including the fact that Martin stays home and minds the kids while Gail is the bread-winner.
Kevin arrives home and tells Sally that she lost her bet on "Rag Town Cowboy," and Sally bursts into tears. "How did we get here?" she sobs. "What's happened to us?"
At Bettabuys, Vera complains to Ivy that she's "like a bird that misplaced its worm." Ivy tells Vera about her visit that morning to the Platt's, and of Gail pushing her out the door seconds after she arrived. She also saw the social worker arriving, giving her to believe that "something's going on," because Gail was obviously expecting the visit (from the social worker).
Back at the Webster's, Sally apologises to Kevin for spending the last of their money at the betting shop. She's worried sick about the house, the baby, money, their future, etc. As they kiss and patch things up, Kevin promises that things will work out, although he does admit that he isn't sure yet just how that will happen.
Vera enters the Rover's Return, and seeing Reg Holdsworth at the bar, shows him her pay stub and points out that too much has been deducted for taxes. Reg tells her to take the matter up with the wages clerk. As they complain about high taxes in general, Jack remarks that what really gets to him is royalty. He read somewhere that four pence could be deducted from every pint of beer served if the Queen would cough up her fair share. Vera immediately defends the Queen, pointing out that she works many hard hours every day, and Reg opines that the Duke of Edinburgh would make an excellent supermarket administrator. In reference to Vera's secret blood ties to the Royal family, Jack cracks about having sympathy for those married to royalty.
Mike Baldwin returns to the pub with his suitcases, and Audrey immediately enquires if he's back permanently. She then informs Mike that, as far as she can see, Alma doesn't miss him, "now that she's taken up with Ken Barlow." Mike looks bemused at this bit of new information.
Over at the Cafe, Ken is banging on the door, and Alma opens it, clad in her dressing gown. She explains to Ken that she was just about to jump into a relaxing tub, so she suggests that he come up and make some drinks while she bathes.
Gail, meanwhile, has just arrived home, and she greets Nicky with a kiss. An extremely upset Martin tells her that she won't believe what her "Nicky love," told the social worker! After a lot of coaxing and cajoling, Martin finally learned that Nicky told her that Martin stopped him from playing on St. Lukes' rugby team, that he wasn't allowed to go to church with Granny Ivy, and that he wasn't allowed to go to Granny Ivy's house anymore! "Great, isn't that?" moans Martin. As far as he's concerned, it's all Ivy's fault.
Across the road, Ivy is giving Don all the details of her attempt to patch things up with Gail, including how she was rushed out the door seconds after arriving at the Platt household. She also saw the social worker arrive. It's Ivy's opinion that something is wrong if a social worker has to be involved, but Don quickly realizes that it all has to do with Martin's bid to adopt the kids. He reminds Ivy that this was the reason that Gail and Martin married in the first place -- so that Martin could be a "proper" father to the kids. Ivy pronounces that Martin can't be a "proper" dad to her grand-children because he's not old enough, and besides that, they're her Brian's kids, and not Martin's. "They're not getting away with it," she tells Don. "If anyone can put a stop to that adoption, it's me. And I will do, don't you worry."
And on that chilling note, the episode concludes...
Heather Morlan
Kathy Green: JAN ALPHONSE
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by KEN HORN
Thursday (3296, Friday 25 October 1991)
This seemed to be a day focussed on the cut and thrust various rivalries.
Mike has enjoyed another full breakfast and pays bet compliments on her culinary skill. She comments that folk have been speculating why he's back so he makes vague references to looking up old friends. He slyly asks about Alma and Ken but Bet pretends she's hearing this for the first time. A recently arrived Alec, however, makes a liar out of her by confirming the rumor as fact, common knowledge, much to Mike's delight. (Delight? But he truly didn't seem upset! Which means Mike is going to have a go at his old rival, Ken, sure as the sun comes up!) He leaves, his mission clear. Bet wonders out loud with not a small measure of suspicion what he's up to.
Vera and Don emerge from Number 5 and spy Mike emerging from the Rovers. They make a few loud and pointed remarks about Mike coming down in the world, having to stay at the Rovers. Vera gossips that Mike is as good as bankrupt with Bet taking him in only for old times' sake. Don humorlessly snorts that he should be so bankrupt with a Jaguar to drive! Ivy comes out and tells them both she has more important things on her mind than Mike Baldwin. This perks Vera's curiosity and she beings to question Ivy as they leave for work with Don calling behind them that there's nothing all that important, nothing to do with her. Ivy begs to differ, her grandchildren have everything to do with her!
Martin brings the kids into the café. Gail is just wishing that the whole thing was over and done with. Martin is more concerned with the nose-diving of his relationship with Nicky which used to be so good. (Although when they all came in to the café, Nicky seemed to be suspending his "I'm not speaking to Martin" when he asked Martin for money to play (illegally) on the games machine. (doesn't he have to be over 16?)
Kevin is dressed in a suit and tie this morning, he's fixed up a job interview without telling Sally, at an exhaust fitting shop. Is she supportive? No chance! She's not impressed that she wasn't informed so gets all sarky with him. He points out that he's no good at being his own boss and this will be regular wages and regular hours. He's doing it for her after all. So what does he want, she snaps, a cookie? (Like he's not doing her any favours when he's trying his best, isn't he?) He sighs and leaves so then she gets all soft and calls after him, telling him he looks nice but it's too late. Cow! (I have always said that spunky little Sally changed when she had the babies and this just proves it.)
Audrey peers through the shop door at Mike (who had already disarmed the car alarm and is obviously just been standing around on the cobbles waiting for this scene for some time). She and Deirdre speculate why Mike is back in Weatherfield (where was he anyway? Did he go on holiday to recover from his divorce or something? We should be told!) Audrey figures he's looking for a new woman, being the kind that always needs one on his arm. Mike enters the shop, and realizes he's been talked about. (Oh I get it, maybe it's taken him all this time to walk down the block?) He asks for a packet of cigars while flirting with them, saying he came back because Weatherfield has the most beautiful women in the world! He asks Deirdre out for nice meal tonight and is pleased when she accepts this rare invitation. She can fill him in on all that's gone on while he's been away, he's heard a few interesting stories about her ex for which she could provide a few details and all! He leaves for wherever it is he's off to. Audrey warns Deirdre that Mike is likely up to something but Deirdre hasn't taken the hint and is wide eyed and anticipating a night out with a friend.
Ken and alma are making a date to go to the pictures and they chat about popcorn and other movie treats. They arrange to have a drink in the Rovers though Ken is a bit worried that Mike will be there. So what? Alma protests that she has no more problem with Mike than he has with Deirdre. (Keep telling yourself, and you might even manage to convince yourself!) Don arrives just as Ken leaves, to have a quiet word with Gail about the social worker Ivy saw. Gail laughs and tells Don it's just to do with Martin adopting the kids. He's relieved that it's nothing more serious but Ivy will probably go barmy!
At Bettabuys, Vera catches Ivy mis-shelving the cordials. It's because she has so much on her mind and Ivy rants on about the unconfirmed (as yet she doesn't know for sure) adoption and Brian's memory. Vera commiserates, mentioning her long lost grandchild whom she's never set eyes on let alone been able to call a Duckworth. Vera firmly decides that if a mother of dead son can't fight for her grandchildren's rights to their father's name, then who can? Ivy brightens up and realizes Vera might just have a very good point! Vera looks unsure of what that point might be!
Jack gossips about Mike Baldwin to Liz and Deirdre who point out that Mike isn't getting any phone calls because he has a mobile phone. Deirdre tells Liz she's looking forward to a night out for a change while Jack chats to Reg about mobile phones. Reg, who doesn't have one, doesn't hold with mobiles as it makes a man look anxious whereas it's much better to be calmly sitting behind a desk with all the necessary information at his fingertips. Bet chats to Alma about picture shows when they notice Mike coming in. Again, Alma protests that she doesn't have a problem with Mike. Mike has to listen to Reg blather on about mobiles and cradles of Industrial revolutions or some such. Reg offers his assistance should Mike need any help uncovering any potential opportunities as he as a cutting edge businessman, always has his ear to the ground (and his face in the muck!) Mike manages to extricate himself shortly thereafter.
Kevin returns from his interview, thoroughly disgusted. Stupid job, he didn't want it anyway. The sour grapes are bouncing off the ironing board! Turns out he wasn't asked to take the job because he's too old and too experienced. All they want are kids that they can hire on the cheap. Sally tries to soothe his ego, saying it would have been a rubbish job anyway if that's all they wanted. They discuss his skills and aptitudes, neatly avoiding his attitude. Sally thinks Kevin just needs to get organized. Oh right, he whines, it's just a matter of getting brilliant ideas, brilliant advertising and keeping brilliant books. He bitterly reveals that he isn't brilliant, he's just a good mechanic. A brilliant mechanic, insists his dutiful little wife ( :-\ ) all he needs is to keep some books and manage his money properly. He goes from whine to whinge, moaning about having to keep receipts for cups of tea and spending all hours on books, worrying about cashflows. Sally has used up all her support and tells him to grow up, he can't be Little Kevin Webster playing with cars forever. He's got responsibilities now and can't be letting that go because he doesn't want to save receipts!
Audrey is having a tea break in the café but she's really just there to make sure Alma knows Mike is taking Deirdre out for a slap up meal. Hey, since Mike used to be married to Susan Baldwin, if Alma and Ken hook up that would make Mike sort of her son-in-law! (Brilliant, Audrey! Rub it in a little more why don't you?) the Platt/Tilsley contingent arrives back at the café with the good news that there has been a cancellation and they have a court date next week to sort out the adoption! He's taken aback when Gail reminds him that the social worker will contact Ivy as well since she is the grandmother. Then, somewhere along the way, there must have been an invasion of pod people that I didn't notice because Gail then has the temerity to tell Martin that Ivy isn't really all that bad! (Huh??????????)
Meanwhile, Don has confirmed the social worker/ adoption stuff but Ivy isn't at all relieved that the children will now have a more stable home with two parents. She's can't accept Martin as a replacement father no matter what. Don accuses her of rocking the boat then saying "I told you it were wobbly!" In other words, she's playing a dangerous game, stirring up trouble and provoking people. The Pod aliens have obviously not reached Number 5 yet because Ivy stubbornly declares that she has never stirred up trouble in all her life! (ROFL!!!) Don shakes his head as if he too wasn't quite sure that she actually had the audacity to utter those words! (Think, The Toolman grunting "Aruuughh?") Is that right, he stutters in amazement. That's right, and we watch, stunned, as she proceeds to describe young lasses with young children who parade one man after another through the house, making the kiddies call each one Daddy. Don tries to make her realize Gail isn't like that and gently attempts to get her to realize she could lose those beloved grandchildren if she keeps pushing. She's got to decide what's more important, Nicky's name or his happiness. Now, she ought to just ring Gail and wish her luck. He goes out for a drink, leaving Ivy with a few serious thoughts to mull over. She makes a decision and goes to the telephone, dialing a number, tentatively. Hello? Is this Social Services? (how did she know the number without looking it up?)
Later on in the evening, Mike stops by to see if Kevin can take a look at the Jag, the fuel injection doesn't seem to be working. No problem. Mike sympathizes with Kevin on his lack of success at the interview and Sally's back to being supportive again, insisting it wasn't much of a job anyway. Ken and Alma come around the corner, much to Mike's delight and he greets them with that sh*t eating grin he usually has on his face (sorry, but he went way past cocky and smarmy while he was winding them up). He even congratulates the couple (on their new happiness together). Alma just takes a deep breath, greets them and they walk past. Mike watches them approach the Rovers though he can't hear Alma tell Ken that she's fine and wishes everyone would stop treating her like the tragic heroine.
Sally and Kevin go back inside after Mike makes arrangements for Kevin to get the keys to his car and peek back out the window, giggling at the embarrassing encounter they just witnessed. They cuddle on the sofa,. Sally is in a very good mood, feeling that the job for Mike is a good omen. They confidently agree that they are glad that they aren't Mike and Alma and proceed to jinx their future. How? The SOPOD, of course (Soap Opera Phrase Of Doom, remember?) They will never have to stand in the middle of the street awkwardly offering congratulations and pretending not to mind. (Awkward doesn't begin to describe the 1998/99 bloody war between the Websters, punctuated by Kevin thumping Sally's men, Sally flooding bathrooms and making snide remarks and both of them using their children to get back at each other. Oh the Humanity!)
Mike waits for Deirdre to finish getting ready and finally admits the initial reason he returned to Weatherfield. He has plenty of money as a result of the divorce and planned to steal away Jackie's customers until she was skint and broken but she's not around so he's at loose ends. (But she was about to sell the factory when they broke up, a fact of which he was aware!) He admits to Deirdre that Jackie really got to him and she understands. She was devastated when Ken left her, she felt very small and the only way to get her pride back, so she thought was to hurt him back. It doesn't work that way, she muses, you have to put it behind you. He agrees she's right, as usual, and reminds her that he did have a life before Jackie as she well knows.
In the pub, Ken and Alma are poring over movie listings when in come Mike and Deirdre. Ken immediately starts gnashing his teeth and pushing the chip around on his shoulders (He's come in here with DEIRDRE just to wind me up!) Alma reminds him Mike could be there to get at her too and refuses to leave, defiantly. She's got her life back together so who cares. Ken glares at Mike who stares back, daring him to start something while he fields more blathering by Reg about the conveniences of mobile phones. (How much you wanna bet Reg now has decided it's more status conscious to have a mobile phone?) You can almost see the electric sparks caused by the tension between the two couples at the bar. Bet stands back and waits for the fireworks to begin. Inevitably, Mike jumps in with the first thrust, offering to buy Ken and Alma a drink which is declined as they have to leave. Mike makes sure Ken knows he and Deirdre have plans too. Deirdre tries to get Mike to shut up but it's far too late. Ken takes the bait, caustically disappointed in Deirdre's judgement as she ought to know better. Alma makes the mistake of mentioning the movie which gives Mike all the ammunition he needs, digging in about back row shenanigans. But he has overstepped the mark as far as Deirdre's concerned and she leaves in a temper, realizing she's been used solely as a pawn in the Mike and Ken rivalry. Mike hurries after her, leaving Ken smirking.
Mike's cab is waiting outside number 1. Mike hopefully apologizes, he didn't know what came over him but Deirdre tells him off for setting her up and would starve before she had a meal with him! Ken and Alma of course, witness most of her vitriolic comments ending with calling Mike a weasel and slamming the door in his face. Ken saunters up, taking the definitive victory in this round, commandeers the cab for him and Alma. You don't mind? Be my guest, Mike spits.
Diane Johnston
Written by FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE Directed by KEN HORN
Friday (3297, Monday 28 October 1991)
As another day begins on the Street, Mike Baldwin pulls up outside the Websters' unit and calls in to leave the keys with Kevin. He steps in long enough to admire Rosie and receive assurances from Kevin that the job won't be costly. When Mike asks if the car will be ready today, Sally chimes in that it should do, there are certainly no other jobs for Kevin at the moment! She gets a dirty look from Kevin for her troubles. Mike leaves again, telling Kevin to drop the keys off at the Rovers if he isn't around when it's finished. As soon as he's gone, Kevin comes down on Sally for making it obvious that he's desperate for the work. She counters that he was pretty quick to say the job would come cheaply. They jokingly conclude that they're both too honest for their own good.
Ken is in the corner shop, getting in some provisions. Audreh whispers to Deirdre, asking her if she feels "peculiar" waiting on her ex as he shops for his new bachelor existence. Deirdre says that she regards him only as another customer but Audreh, unconvinced, grins warily. Ken makes his way to the counter to pay and Audreh stands watching and grinning until Deirdre reminds her about an order that needs her attention. She reluctantly retreats to the back, leaving them alone. With Audreh gone, Deirdre and Ken immediately address the events of the evening before. She assures him that Mike set her up as much as he did he and Alma. Ken is relieved to hear that Deirdre gave Mike his walking papers as soon as they left the pub and they agree that they'll be on their guard in future. (Of course, Ken already knew that Deirdre had sent Mike packing as he and Alma were witness to the scene but he let her tell it anyway.) Audreh returns to the front of the shop just as Ken takes his leave. Aware that the pair were
At this moment in the cafe, Alma is filling Gail in about Mike's stunt last night when the man himself walks in. He announces he's there about the leaky roof and when he makes a show about saying what a wonderful landlord he is, Gail heartily agrees. When Gail moves away, Alma confronts him about last night in the Rovers. Why was it necessary to go in with Deirdre Barlow, she wonders? Mike plays down the incident, casually answering that he and Deirdre are old friends and he just fancied a drink. Unflinching, Alma asks who he was trying to get at - her, Ken, or both? He cuts the probe short by saying that he'll drink as, when and with whomever he likes. Alma backs down a little but makes a plea that he at least not hang around the cafe. But she can't even gain this concession as he gleefully informs her that as the landlord, it's his "duty" to hang around the cafe!
Back in the corner shop, Audreh is passing out sweets to Sarah and David, who have dropped in with Martin for a quick visit. She asks why Nicky isn't with them and Martin explains that Nicky is still being difficult over becoming a Platt. Audreh reckons it'll all sort itself out in time. She then launches into musing that it isn't a name "with a ring to it". Martin begs to differ and asks if she doesn't remember seeing the name in the history books. Bewildered, she answers that she doesn't. "Have you never heard of ëPlatt-O', the Greek philosopher? And then there's the ëRiver Platt' in South America", he jokes. As the laughter dies down, Deirdre tells him quite seriously that they'll be impressed by the adoption, "A lovely ceremony, even Nicky will love it", she assures.
In the Rovers, Bet remarks to Angie that she's not seen her for awhile and Angie explains that she's been occupied with work though she doesn't have the money to show for it. Kevin comes in and delivers his bill and Mike's car keys to Alec who promises to pass them on to his lodger. As soon as Kevin leaves, Alec peeks inside the envelope to get a look at the bill. Bet snatches it away from him saying it's none of his business but he defends his nosiness on the grounds that it's "a minor vice". Jack waits for Bet to retreat before confidentially telling Alec that he's right to look into Mike's financial affairs. He reckons Mike is skint - "Why else would he be stopping in a dump like this?" Bet, overhearing Jack's remark, flashes him an angry glare. He does some quick back-peddling - what he meant was, that's how someone like Baldwin would classify the place. Alec comments that Jack's thinking is very imaginative - does he do it in bed - or when he's stood behind the bar supposed to be working, he asks shar
A knock at the Brennans' and Ivy is obviously expecting company as she hustles to open the door. Cordially, she ushers in the social worker, Kathy Green. Once she's offered her tea, Ivy cuts to the chase by asking if the adoption proceedings can be stopped. Startled, Mrs. Green answers tentatively that yes, they can be stopped. She hastens to clarify that it's a matter for the court to decide and they will rule in the best interest of the children. Ivy acidly says that it would definitely be in the children's interest! (All together now, B*TCH!!!)
While the social worker listens intently, Ivy "explains" Gail's motives for the adoption. "She feels guilty about RBrian", she begins, "the way she treated him while he were alive". According to Ivy, the reason Gail wants to change the kids' name to Platt is because she can't stand being reminded of Brian. She further informs the social worker that Martin is far too young to be a responsible parent, he is only 20 or 21 after all. "He's 23", Mrs. Green corrects. "Even so", says Ivy, "she's ten years older!" Continuing her assault, Ivy remarks disapprovingly that Gail leaves the kiddies with Martin "night and day" and adds that she doesn't see the marriage lasting another six months. She even predicts that Gail will get rid of Martin as soon as she's got what she wants. Catching herself sounding like the bitter old hag that she is, she hastens to add, "Mind you, I hope I'm wrong - I believe in the sanctity of marriage!" Just in case Mrs. Green missed it the first time, Ivy reiterates that Gail's sole objecti
Cooly, Mrs. Green sums up Ivy's opinions: "So - you feel that the marriage is unstable, Martin is too young and Gail is manipulating him and the children for her own purposes - is that right?" Ivy demurely adds that she was Brian's mother and if she doesn't speak up for her son on behalf of her grandchildren, no one else will.
Calling around to settle his bill with Kevin, Mike asks about his job prospects. Kevin gets defensive as he interprets Mike's interest as criticism that he's too lazy to get regular work. Mike opines that Kevin should find a location and some equipment and get himself set up in business, borrowing the capital to get started. Sally enters just in time to hear the proposal and glares at Mike behind his back. When he leaves, she rants to Kevin about Mike's interference. As far as she is concerned, the last thing they need is to be saddled with a load of debt! Kevin doesn't seem to be against the idea though. In fact, he seems to be seriously entertaining it.
As Mrs. Green gets ready to leave, Ivy tells her she anticipates that Gail would see her as "interfering", (Gail and millions of others, dearie!!) but, she states, she is only concerned for the children. Don comes in from work and is surprised to see their visitor. His face clouds with apprehension when he learns she's from Social Services but he holds his tongue while Ivy shows the woman out. When they're alone, he demands to know if Ivy invited her. She freely admits she did and Don demands to know what she's been saying. "Only what's true", says Ivy smugly. He accuses her of trying to stop the adoption and she coyly answers that only the courts can do that. "You did your best though, didn't you?" he accuses. Again, she openly admits that she did her "level best" and defends herself as doing what's right for "them kiddies". Disgusted, Don informs her that he doesn't want to stay here and argue - he's going back out to work. She protests that he's only just come in and he angrily replies, "That was my fir
In the cafe, Ken and Alma are mulling over whether they'll be going to night school this evening. She isn't keen as she doesn't seem to be getting the hang of the Spanish lessons. Just as she's trying out a phrase, Mike walks in. He remarks on her attempt, and then informs her that the roof is finished and he hopes it is to her satisfaction. Hiding her irritation at the intrusion, Alma manages a smile as she tells him she'll know where to find him if it isn't. Mike goes off again, leaving the pair to complain that he seems to be everywhere. Ken suggests that night school may be the only place they won't run the risk of seeing him so they decide to go after all.
Don has come over to have a word with Martin and Gail. Once the kids are safely upstairs, he tells them about Ivy's visit from the social worker. They assumed there would be a visit anyway but Don tells them his real purpose is to warn them that Ivy has been doing her best to stop the adoption going through. When Martin wonders what Ivy *could* say, Don assures him, "She could find reasons why Mary and Joseph shouldn't be parents if she set her mind to it!"* Gail asks Don why Ivy is doing this and he speculates briefly that it's owing to her loss of Bert and Brian before admitting that he really doesn't know. *I could swear Don said exactly the same thing about Ivy at Christmas, when they were trying to help Marie Ramsden!
In the Rovers, Bet asks Angie how she got on with the buyer she was meeting this afternoon and Angie replies that it didn't go well. Curly's obviously in the dark about Angie trying to sell her designs and when he asks about it, Bet wonders if they don't communicate at home. "No more than we have to", answers Angie, prompting Bet to quip that they go on like a married couple. Further down the bar, Alec finishes an exchange with Mike and when Bet asks what it was about, he tells her he was settling accounts. "Why? Is he leaving?" she wonders. Alec informs her that it's the policy of the house to settle up weekly and it has been ever since he heard rumours that Baldwin might be broke. Bet tells him not to be daft - Baldwin could buy and sell this place!
In a booth to themselves, Ivy is recounting the social worker's visit to Vera. Vera isn't surprised to hear that Don wasn't pleased to see the social worker there - he doesn't like courts and police so maybe he feels the same about social workers.
At the bar again, Mike gulps down the last of his drink and refuses Bet's offer of another, saying he has "unfinished business" to attend to. Alec leans in to remark cynically to Bet that he doesn't believe it for a minute. He reckons Mike is suffering from "headless chicken syndrome", which as he goes on to explain, means that his body is still running around as he doesn't yet know his head's been cut off. When he realises it, the shock will do him in, Alec concludes. Bet can only shake her head in mystified awe as reply.
Mike's unfinished business involves Kevin Webster. Kevin is heartened to hear that Mike may have the solution to his troubles. He ran into a contact of his, someone with a fleet of 60 vehicles who has advertised for a mechanic. Mike estimates that if Kevin finds himself some premises and some equipment, he can make a deal with the guy. Then he can take the contract to the bank and make application for a loan. Kevin looks to be very enthusiastic about the idea.
In the alley behind what appears to be a busy bar, Don whiles away the minutes in the darkness, apparently waiting for a fare. Out from the din of the establishment rushes Julie. She apologises for making him wait but Don tells her he'd just as soon be here as anywhere. She jokes that he wouldn't want his wife to hear him say that and he asks her how she knew he's married. "You told me once", she replies. "Why - are you not?" He tells her he is definitely married but not to get him started on the subject as it only depresses him.
Gail and Martin are rehashing what Ivy might have said to the social worker. Gail says she doesn't see that the court will take much notice of Ivy's input. She even points out that as the grandmother, she's entitled to express her opinion. Martin again wonders what she could have said that would damage their cause. Gail reckons she could have said anything - that he's too young, that she's a lousy mother. It occurs to her, they'll be lucky if the kids aren't taken into care! She reflects on the situation and then vows, if Ivy *has* managed to stop the adoption going through, she will never forgive her!
Outside of Julie's flat, Don sits listening as she talks about the breakup of her marriage. In response to his questions, she admits that the initial split was very upsetting, but once she got used to being on her own she wondered how she stayed in the marriage as long as she did. Don seems to relate very much to what she's saying. But, he laments, it's different for him. Being a Catholic, he feels stuck in his marriage, not even allowed to contemplate divorce... He snaps out of his meditation to ask her if admitting she wanted out was the most difficult part and she readily agrees it was. Assuming a more lighthearted air, Julie steps from the taxi saying she'll let him get home to his wife now. "Aye, for now..." says Don. As she walks away, he asks if she's ever regretted her decision. "Never", comes the reply. As Don mulls this over, he nods resolutely, a look of determination in his eyes.
Anita Belanger
Kathy Green: JAN ALPHONSE Julie Dewhurst: SU
ELLIOT
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Monday (3298, Wednesday 30 October 1991)
A very big day for 2 families!
We start off with martin waxing philosophical, having woken early and watched the sun come up. Is he having pre-adoption jitters or second thoughts? Gail stops her ironing and asks him with concern. No, definitely not, he proudly tells her this is the best thing that's ever happened to him. Nicky comes down, cranky at having, he thinks, overslept. He sulks mightily when told he isn't going to school because of the court hearing for the adoption.
Don finds he has had too much of Ivy's scheming on his mind to have much of an appetite. She tries to avoid the subject but he hammers on at her. They are interrupted by Vera who's had the impression from Jack that Ivy wasn't going in to work today.. Ivy, cornered in a lie as Don is still there, implies Jack got it wrong. Don growls, Where might you have been going instead? <sarcasm> As if he didn't know! </sarcasm> Having no choice now, she goes to work with Vera, Don's last words ringing in her ears, "We're family, Ivy, don't that mean owt to you?"
Bet lays Mike's breakfast on the table. She ought to have one of those silver domes on it because I've seen runway models with legs smaller and shorter than them two sausages laid on either side of that runny egg and black pudding slices! YUK! Alec is horrified and they bicker about the cost of suck a breakfast, Mike's ability to pay his lodgings bill. Right, Bet goes to take the food back to the kitchen to exchange it for a bowl of Wheetabix but Alec hears Mike come downstairs and of course can't have Mike think he's a cheapskate. Bet turns as if she was just bringing out from the frying pan fresh to lay it in front of Mike who takes one look at the mess and, his face reflecting distaste, declines in favour of just coffee this morning. Alec glares at Bet behind Mike's back but his curiosity is piqued by Mike's industrious plan for spinning the wheels of commerce today. Mike manages to evade Alec's nosy questions prying into his business.
Sally is off to town and asks Kevin that if her mother should call, let her know she'll call her back. This causes an outbreak of bicker about money. Kevin still seems hopeful that he can sort out something to enable him to get that contract to maintain the fleet of vehicles for Mike's friend even though he still doesn't have premises or enough insurance. Bit like an out of work bricklayer being asked to build a skyscraper, he comments. Sally reminds him he has to go sign on this afternoon. Highlight of my day, he ruefully declares.
Over at Bettabuys, Ivy and Vera are stacking margarine and butter bricks in the cold section wile Ivy whines on ad nauseum about the adoption, Rbrian's memory, etc, etc. Vera finally gets tired of it and exclaims "What's in a name anyway?" Their identity, Ivy explains. Vera doesn't think it's any different than taking on a new name when you marry, she didn't ask to be a Duckworth and nobody asked her if she'd rather have remained a Burton. That's different, Vera, Ivy impatiently points out, you DID choose to marry Jack. Oh yeah, and Vera sighs as she's finally worked that out! LOL
In the pub, Mike seems to have concluded some business, seeing off a man in a suit with a handshake. Deirdre and Audrey come in (who's minding the shop? We haven't seen hide nor grocer's smock of Alf since his "exhaustion" break and I didn't hear that Alf was back to work behind the scenes! Was this extended period a time when Brian Mosely had his first heart attack?) Mike offers to buy them drinks but Deirdre cuts him cold and turns his offer down. She and Audrey retreat to a booth leaving Mike crestfallen. Bet's talon is in Alec's face and we later hear that he is absolutely burning with curiosity over Mike's doings. Bet listens to Alec rabbit on, sniping that if Mike is running a business from the pub, he'll raise his rent! Aye, and if you find out that man were a VAT inspector, will you give him a refund? Bet snaps. 'Ell as like responds Alec with no small measure of defiance. LOL Angie comes in and tells Bet that she has a call back for a company that might be interested in one of her designs that afternoon. Pessimist Bet warns Angie about getting her hopes up but Angie feels confidence is the order of the day. Expect the earth and they respect you for your arrogance!
Mike has a little fun with Alec, asking if he gets a discount on bar meals. (or blood out of a stone you might as well ask!) Alec turns him down so Mike grins and makes verbal plans to go to the cafe later on instead. Alec waddles off with a "foiled again, Batman" look on his face while Mike whispers to Liz to fetch him a hotpot! He congratulates Liz on the baby, speculating correctly that it was unplanned but at least they are old enough to know what to expect. Liz is bemused at this but Mike compares the situation to Sally and Kevin who don't seem to know what's hit them. Mike can't understand why Kevin doesn't seem to have any ambition and Liz speculates that he is afraid of commitment because they have so little to start with and fear falling on their faces. She mentions that Kevin turned down the chance to least the garage that was built at the end of the street which sparks Mike's interest.
Over in the booth, Deirdre and Audrey are talking about the adoption. Audrey is nervously checking her watch wondering how it's going. She makes allusions to Ivy's interfering and establishes that she herself thinks Martin is a lovely man, and loves those children to bits!
At the courthouse, our intrepid little family is waiting on tenterhooks nervously for their turn with the judge. Gail tries to keep Martin from pacing and Nicky is impatient and getting hungry. Martin promises a slap up burger meal afterwards. He even tries what Gail says amounts to emotional blackmail when he tries to get Nicky to say he'll answer Yes to anything the judge asks him, holding the promise of milkshakes as a prize. But he backs down and tells the boy the milkshakes are on no matter what he tells the judge. (Poor Martin is walking on eggshells, waiting for this hearing to begin, nerves strung out as tight as a drum!)
Back to the supermarket, a testy tempered Curly is laying out the onerous tasks for Vera and Ivy to complete before the Head Office inspector arrives this afternoon. Rotating stock and checking each and every sell by date (BORRRRING!!!). Ivy can't stand the suspense any longer and fakes that she's come over all ill and has to go home right now. Vera is annoyed at having to do all the work herself and Curly is just plain annoyed "Oh That's Chahming, That is!"
The hearing is finally under way and the man behind the desk kindly explains to the children what all the paperwork is for. He asks Nicky if he understands that his Mum and Martin want to be his parents and how does he feel about that. Martin and Gail hold their breath and cross their fingers. Nicky glances over and shrugs, S'ok! (Whew!) But their stomachs flip flop when Nicky pipes up that Granny Ivy hates Martin! Time stands still. The judge exchanges a glance with an apprehensive Gail who says nothing, waiting for Nicky to continue. The judge evenly asks if that bothers the boy. I think Nicky realizes he shouldn't have said that and back pedals, saying she (Granny Ivy) shouts a lot sometimes. Meanwhile Granny Ivy is cruising the streets of Manchester in a taxi, grimacing (how can you tell the difference?) when the cab has to stop for a red light.
Audrey is now in the cafe fretting. They should have been done and back by now, she worries, hoping that Ivy hasn't managed to mess things up. Audrey takes her mind off her troubles and pokes it into Alma's business. She slyly mentions that Deirdre and Ken's divorce will be through any day now and makes implications for a spring wedding! Alma is not pleased that Audrey seems to be discussing her business with Deirdre but that's not so, Audrey protests. If they talked about the price of "temAHtahs" all the time they'd be bored stiff. Deirdre just happened to mention about the divorce, Audrey smirks.
The taxi arrives outside the courthouse, maybe a half a block away. Ivy emerges but she's too late. She sees the happy Official Platt Family burst out of the courthouse door in an excited scramble. She overhears Martin proudly making plans to get name tags made up with the kids' new names on them and witnesses the children's obvious pleasure over the whole situation. They cross the street to their car and as Gail twists a bit to move the hair out of her eyes she spots Ivy. They briefly clap eyes on each other and Ivy, face full of grief reflecting a broken heart, hangs her head in defeat. She turns and slowly walks away in the opposite direction away from the happy family.
Sally returns with loads of shopping bags (must have left the baby in the push chair in the front hall). She finds a very dejected Kevin staring gloomily at the wallpaper. Where's the car he was working on? He took it back because he couldn't finish it. Then he breaks the bad news to her. When he went to sign on, they asked him as usual if he had any work. He said he didn't but they grilled him in an office, obviously not believing him. He continued to deny it but they knew and cut off his money! (Well we all know what a miserable liar Kevin is!) They wonder if there was an inspector snooping around or if someone grassed him. ( I wonder if Derek's complaint to the police resulted in this in the long run? The police might have passed on the information to the dole people?)
(Signing on for the dole: Do you have to go and sign for each cheque they give you? That's what it seemed like though it seems to me that "signing on" makes it sound like you have to reapply every time? Sounds like they don't allow you to earn any money either while receiving money or are you allowed to if you claim it when you get your cheque? Here in Canada you sign on to open the claim and then just sign a card and mail it in every two weeks, noting on it if you have worked that period and how much you've made. They can call you in for an interview if they like and you might have to prove that you've been looking for work and they do take a dim view of you earning money and not claiming it. But you are allowed to earn, they will just deduct it off your cheque. )
In the cafe, after closing time, the Official Platt Family sits at a table littered with candy wrappings and plates of cookies. Martin teases Nicky, making him spell his new name before he can have a treat. Gail is all smiles up at the counter with Audrey, Alma and Ken. Audrey returns to the children and Gail decides she has to step out for a minute. Alma urges Ken to stick around as the party will be moving on soon.
Ivy is home alone, still dabbing at a tear with a crumpled tissue. There's a knock on the door and she opens it to find Gail on her doorstep. She silently lets Gail inside. Gail confirms that it was indeed Ivy outside the courthouse and quietly asks her what she was going to do, storm in and say what a travesty it all was? Ivy's voice breaks as she declares It hurts! Gail reasonably points out that she's cause much of the hurt by her own doing. Ivy refuses to meet Gail's eye. Gail attempts to reassure her ex Mother In Law that Brian is not forgotten. His name still gets spoken and his pictures are around the house. They had to get on with their lives and provide the children with a stable family, something every child deserves. Don arrives home just then and quietly congratulates Gail when he is told the news. Gail explains she's only come round to see if she and Ivy can wipe the slate clean. Don glances at Ivy, eyes full of meaning and encouragement. Ivy can only consent to playing it by ear. She moves past Gail and Gail stands still. With a bit of resignation and near the end of her tether with Ivy's histrionics, sighs, Nobody expected you to be overjoyed. Gail makes her way out and Ivy sinks into a chair in tears. Don gently embraces her and whispers, Well Done, Love. It'll be easier from now. Ivy bitterly weeps that it will be easier for "her", she knows she's won!
In the pub Curly is ranting at Vera about Ivy's disappearance. Angie manages to tear him away as she needs advice. She got an offer for one of her designs for 200 quid. That's good, innit? Curly exclaims, but seeing her uncertain expression, "Innit???" he tries again. Thing is, Angie lays out the problem, if they sell thousands of tshirts with her design on them, and make pots of money all she'll ever see of it is the 200 quid, no royalties. Oh, Curly sees her dilemma. Elsewhere Deirdre is pleased to hear about the success of the adoption and Jack grimaces at the though of how Ivy's probably feeling tonight as a result.
In back, Mike bounds down the stairs, off on another spot of business. To Bet's amusement, he makes it sound like a top secret earth-shattering financial coup to Alec's nosy questions.
Back in the cafe, the doors are finally closed and it's just Ken and Alma. She reminisces about how Gail and Martin stuck together when nobody thought they'd make it, you just never know. Ken wonders if they will make it as a couple. Alma doesn't see that they have any of the obstacles that Gail and Martin had, having virtually no ties. This leads neatly into an obsessive rant from Ken about Mike's involvement in Alma's life due to his being her landlord. She placates him, saying Mike will get tired of hanging around soon, there really isn't anything in business or pleasure to keep him in Weatherfield for long.
Ah, but Mike is about to throw a very appropriate spanner into the works! He arrives at Number 13 while Sally is desperately trying to make her budget come out in the black. He asks Kevin about that fleet maintenance deal but Kevin gives him a load of flannel about poor me, can't afford it. Yadda yadda yadda. Mike then makes a proposition. If Kevin agrees, Mike will have the lease on the garage down the street by morning. He'll put up the money if Kevin runs the business and with the fleet contract they will have a nice little earner in a month! Surprised Websters smile and look hopefully at each other as the hand out of the hold seems to be on offer!
Diane Johnston
Judge Robert Pugh AUBREY PHILLIPS
David, Sarah Louise and Nicky are now listed in the credits
as "Platt"
Written by PAUL ABBOTT Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Tuesday (3299, Friday 1 November 1991)
The day begins on Coronation Street with a much relieved Kevin, Sally and Rursie Webster greeting a morning filled with better prospects than they've seen in a while. Mike Baldwin's offer to set Kevin up in a garage of his own seems the perfect solution to Kev's lack of a job and his not being allowed to work on autos in the courtyard. "K. Webster's Auto Repair," says Kevin, gesturing as though running his hand along an imaginary sign. Is that to be it? wonders Sally. She thought it would be "Kevin's" or "Kev's". The Manic Mechanic thinks that would sound too "back-streety". Sally points out that the garage WILL be on a back street! She thinks her suggested names are friendlier, less snobbish. "All right," chirps Kevin to a smiling Rosie - "'Kevin's' it is!"
Things seem much cheerier today at the Platts' house too. Martin is chatting with Nicky about soccer. He ran into a friend the night before, a dad of one of Nick's schoolmates, and guess what - he only coaches the Ferndale Street Under-11s! This coach was wondering if Martin knew anybody who'd like to try out for the team and Martin suggested Nicky. Nick is chuffed at this news and as Gail comes into the room with baby David, Nick and Martin are excitedly reliving some of the stirring moments in a recent England-Belgium game, complete with Martin demonstrating a spectacular head-butt with a bun!
In the Rovers living quarters Alec waits like an anxious pet dog for Mike to appear from upstairs. When Baldwin comes down the steps Alec says (and I swear, he had a little tremor of excitement in his voice), "Bet! Here he is!" Bet appears from the kitchen carrying two glasses containing juice and wearing a face containing something less than enthusiasm for her new role as cook and maid to her husband's hero. Alec and Mike begin discussing how electronic communications are the wave of the future, making doing business possible from any place - the implication being, even a little backstreet pub. Bet walks up to them again as they are discussing electronic conferencing rooms. "Conferencing rooms?" she says incredulously. "Where?" Replies Alec defensively, "Put a half-dozen more chairs in here..." LOL!
Ken swans into the Cafe to ask Alma whether it was tonight or tomorrow she'd offered to cook him a meal? Alma looks a little taken aback and seems to have forgotten the date altogether but confirms that it was tonight - is that not good for him? It's fine, says Ken, except that he won't be able to stay late as there is a documentary on tv at eight which he wants to watch! (I literally rolled my eyes. Is there no beginning to this character's zest for life?) After he leaves, Gail, who has witnessed this exchange, asks Alma if there is anything wrong. No, replies Alma. No. But her face belies her answer.
Audreh and Deirdre are in the shop when Sally bounces in to ask a favour. She knows it's short notice, but... "You aren't pregnant?" asks Audrey. "Am I 'eckaslike?" assures Sal. She just wants the night off to cook a special meal for Kevin. (Ooh, the premium brand beans, and whole-wheat toast then!) They're celebrating. "You ARE pregnant!" says Audrey. "Am I 'eckaslike, I keep telling ya!" replies Sally (which I found fascinating sentence construction). No, she explains that they are celebrating Mike Baldwin agreeing to set Kevin up in business in a garage. Audrey and Deirdre are pleased for them and offer their congratulations. Sally gets the night off and leaves as Audrey comments to Dreary, "You know, he's not a bad fellah when you get to know him, Mike Baldwin." "So I've heard," says Deirdre sardonically.
Right now the not-bad-fellah and his Manic Mechanic are checking out the proposed premises for the new garage. Everything is going well when Mike pulls out a sample letterhead to show off to Kev. "'MVB Motors'?" says Kevin when he sees the logo. "Yeah," says a self-satisfied Mike examining the logo. "Black and gold. Up-market." It was a hard choice, he says, between "MVB Motors" and "Mike's" but he thought the former was classier. Kev is visibly put off and suddenly tells Mike that he wants some time to think about the proposed deal. Mike is mystified at Kevin's sudden change of heart. Is it Sally? he asks, as he notices her return from the store to the Webster's house. No, Kevin says, he just wants to think it over. That's all! They part company as Mike calls after Kevin in frustration for him to make up his mind.
We turn to roaming the aisles at Bettabuys where Curly is assisting Angie in choosing some food - it's her turn to cook tonight. Eventually he works the conversation around to whether she has decided to sell her design for £200. She hasn't decided, she says, but £200 is a lot of money and she's broke. Curly is concerned that she's being ripped off. He offers to come along with her and pretend to be her agent. Angie replies that she isn't paying Curly 10% - she expects to be ripped off by London businessmen but not by her mates! Curly assures her that he wouldn't want cash in return, perhaps a bottle of wine instead. Angie assures him that she doesn't want or need an agent.
Martin pops into the Rovers for a lunchtime drink, having left the kids with a minder for a couple of hours. Don approaches him and buys him a drink. He tells Martin that he knows Ivy's been a problem over the adoption, but for Don's money the kids couldn't have a better dad. Martin jokingly says that he's getting weepy at the kind words, but he is clearly appreciative of Don's gesture. He tells Don that Gail asked him to invite Don for tea on Sunday, an invitation which Don happily accepts. Martin then goes on to say that Ivy would be very welcome too. Don's face clouds, reflecting his doubt about Ivy's response to the invitation.
In another part of the pub, Des and Mike Baldwin play darts. "What would you say if I offered to buy you a drink?" asks Baldwin. "I'd say I'll have a scotch," replies Desmond. "That's right," says Mike. He continues that Des wouldn't ask all sorts of questions about the scotch or the bar or the taps in the bar, would he? So he can't understand why Kevin Webster is behaving the way he is. "I'll have a scotch," tries Des again, apparently as yet unaware that he was being offered not a drink, but a parable! Mike continues that Kevin seems to be wavering at Mike's offer for some reason he can't understand, turning his nose up at the offer, and implies that he isn't going to wait forever for Kev to make up his mind.
After the ad break we rejoin Des, this time at Kevin and Sally's kitchen table. He (no doubt realizing that there was no scotch forthcoming) has gone right down to their house like a good friend to warn Kevin of Mike's frustration. Kevin and Sally express their fears to Des. Who is going to run this place, anyway? Baldwin doesn't know anything about repairing cars. What if he tries to dictate how Kevin does his job? Des listens sympathetically but urges them to get over there and talk to Mike, before he offers the opportunity to someone else!
Ivy is busily stacking shelves at Bettabuys when Don approaches her. He is smiling from ear to ear. Ivy immediately looks suspicious. It's actually quite disheartening to see his smile rapidly fade as he realizes the chances of a pleasant conversation with his wife are slim to none these days. He mentions that he ran into Martin in the pub. Oh? did he? she pounces. So who was looking after the kids? Well, Don doesn't know, but look, Gail's invited them round for their tea on Sunday. Poison Ivy spits that she wouldn't set foot inside that house and even if nobody else seems to have any sense of duty to her grandkids, she does! She storms off. As Don turns to go, Curly stops him from nearly knocking over a giant display of toilet rolls. Can he help Don with anything, he asks? "Yes," Don replies - "a truckload of aspirin and a bucket of vodka!" (Ah. The breakfast of champions.)
Angie is in the shop buying a bottle of summat in a classic little corrie scene. Audrey suggests Angie buying something a bit better to which Angie replies that she's skint. Well, that's what being a student is all about, isn't it? replies Audreh patronizingly - learning how to make ends meet. She begins to muse about what her life would've been like had she gone the student route. She probably would never have married Alf, she says. "I'd probably be livin' in a commune in Wales... you know... brown rice... bare feet and no bra... livin' in a teepee smellin' of woodsmoke!" Deidre, who has been listening in, is about as gobsmacked at this suggestion as I was and tells the Fragrant Lady that she can't imagine her living like that - Audreh likes her comfort too much. Angie confides that she's found someone who wants to buy one of her designs but she isn't sure she wants to deal with him. Audrey sympathises - half the people who come in here she doesn't want to have to deal with, "but one, it's me job and two, I don't want to -" they all three finish in unison - "live in a teepee!"
Day's end has come at the Cafe and Alma can't wait to go home and put her feet up. What about Ken, Gail asks - she thought he was coming for a meal? Well, Alma says, she can't see herself going to too much effort about that. Gail doesn't understand Alma's ambivalence about Ken. Alma admits that Ken does have certain attractions - but as far as she's concerned the fact that he's about to become single again isn't one of them! They laugh about this as Don comes up to the counter. He's come to thank Gail for her invitation to Sunday tea, only Ivy won't be able to make it. She's got a cold, you see. Gail does see indeed, but she is very gracious to Don and says it's ok, adding that "it was very thoughtful of her." "What was?" asks Don. "Not wanting to pass her cold on," says Gail. "Oh, aye," nods Don, distractedly and sadly, as he leaves.
Little Kevvie Webster comes home having been unsuccessful in finding Mike Baldwin. He's quite wound up now - afraid of taking the offer and afraid of losing it. He tells Sally that he is going to insist on seeing a contract. Just then there's a knock at the door - it's Audrey who blunders into this anxious moment like a moose in a china shop. She loudly congratulates Kevin on his good news, and then asks Sally whether she will be altering her hours now that Kevin will be working again? Sally assures Audrey that she has no plans to give up the Shop job yet. Unseen by Ivy, a nervous and frustrated Kevin flees to the kitchen.
Don is at home when Ivy arrives from work. Has he told Gail, then? Yes, he confirms, he told her Ivy's lie but who knows if she believed it? "Where's it all going to end, eh? I know one thing - the way you're carrying on, you won't see your grandchildren at all!" warns Don. "Oh, won't I?" blusters Ivy. "No, and it won't be Gail and Martin, it'll be the kids themselves when they see you for what you are!" "Oh, yes?" asks Ivy, quietly furious. "And what am I, Don?" "You're twisted, Ivy. Twisted and bitter!" Don gets up to leave as Ivy says that he's probably been saying the same things about her to Gail, hasn't he? He's her husband, she reminds him. He should be supporting her, standing by her. "I am, Ivy - and it's flamin' 'ard goin'!" shouts Don. Just as he's leaving Vera arrives and senses the tension in the room. "Am I interrupting something?" she asks. "Don were just going," says Ivy. "YES HE WERE!" declares Don before storming out. Vera had just come to ask Ivy about bingo that night. A thoughful Ivy says that she may be a bit late.
In the flat above the Cafe, Ken and Alma finish their meal. Alma clears the table and Ken offers to help with the dishes. She won't hear of it, but he insists that he wants to, and it will just take a minute. Now, shall he wash or dry? Well, Alma says, in that case, he can dry, she'll wash. Ken mentions that with Deidre, he washed, she dried. He apologizes for mentioning Dreary, noting that they'd agreed not to discuss "husbands, wives or assorted concubines", hadn't they? Alma assures Ken that it doesn't bother her - anyway, Dreary will soon be his *ex* wife, right? Does Ken think that Deirdre will ever remarry? Well, he doesn't know about Deirdre, but he knows one thing - he won't! Alma is visibly pleased at this. "Really?" Oh yes, replies Ken - "I think that would be tempting fate, don't you?" Alma smiles and wonders if there's any reason why Ken couldn't watch that documentary over here at her place? They could open a bottle of wine and... whatever! Ken responds favourably with that hilarious look of half-lust, half-terror that crosses his face every time Alma propositions him!
At the Platties', Martin is prepping Nicky for his big tryout with the Ferndale Street Under-11s. He chastises Nick for his dirty soccer shoes, telling him that they'll fine you for dirty shoes! Will they? asks Nicky in wonder. (Yes, lad, this is the big time now, the Ferndale Street Under-11s.) Nick sends him off to give those shoes a good cleaning when to his and Gail's surprise, Ivy shows up. Astonishingly, she has taken Don's words to heart and, seemingly having had a conversion the likes of not seen since Saul became Paul on the Road to Damascus, has come to apologize. She knows she's made loads of trouble about the adoption, she says. "It's just that I love those kiddies so much, and I was afraid I was losin' 'em!" Gail assures her that that will never happen - "Don't ever think that." An astonished Martin goes to put the kettle on and leave the womenfolk to have a heart-to-heart. Ivy says that she realizes she's been hard on everyone, including Don. Gail agrees that he has seemed rather unhappy. Ivy claims that she knows now she has to start putting Don first. It's been hard, she goes on - losing Bert, then Brian. "Oh, listen to me! There I go again! I've got a good husband, one of the best. Happen I ought to tell him." "Perhaps you should," agrees Gail, as Mother- and Daughter-in-law clasp hands in a gesture of affection.
Fortunately for the Websters, the Mountain has come to Mohammed - that is, Mike Baldwin has come round to speak to them. There is a lot of natter about just what Mike's role will be. He'll take the risks, he assures them. "What risks?" queries Kevin. "Any risks!" replies Mikie. Realizing their anxiety he makes a generous offer of guaranteeing Kevin's first three months' wages. At that, Sally encourages Kev to sign on. He agrees but shouldn't they have something on paper? A contract? pooh-poohs Mike. He knows Kevin, Kevin knows him - it'll be a Gentlemen's Agreement. (And the gentlemen in question would be....?) Although that's not the tune Kevin was singing earlier in the evening when he was going to insist on a contract, he now agrees and the deal is struck.
In t'Rovers, Vera is tut-tutting to Curly's about his rather unnatural living arrangements (the gist of it seems to be the abnormality of a man living with a woman and yet still having to look after himself, no doubt badly to boot, it seeming to be the only way men can look after themselves in Vera's book). Curly assures Vera that Angie is cooking that very night, when Angie appears to inform him she is not, after all, but wants to have a word with him. She draws him aside to tell him that she has sold her design after all. Curly fears she's made a mistake. Does he not want to share in the spoils then? She was going to treat them to a take-away. He agrees, suggesting they also get a bottle of wine. She 'hems that that wouldn't be a good idea - no doubt with visions of what happened the last time they shared a bottle or two dancing in her head - but they do agree to a small celebration.
Ivy joins Vera at the bar. Vera is clearly aware that Ivy and Don were rowing when she was at their house, so Ivy tells her that she's decided to make up. "Well, somebody has to make the first move, don't they," Ivy says, "You know how I hate arguing with folk." "It's not in your nature!" says Vera dryly. "Are you being sarcastic?" asks Ivy. "Uh - course not - anyway, Don'll be pleased, won't he?" Vera changes the subject. Ivy says yes, and she's looking forward to seeing him, as he's working right now, that's why she's off to bingo tonight.
Don is indeed working, in a manner of speaking. He is dropping off Julie Dewhirst, and is apologizing for talking her ear off. She says that she enjoyed it. He's not like the other blokes she meets through work, he's a gentleman. Will he pick her up after work tomorrow night? she asks. Yes, Don says. Julie wishes him good-night, and kisses him on the cheek. Then, after just a second's hesitation, she kisses him full on the mouth for quite a long time. She departs, leaving a stunned and thoughtful Don sitting in his taxi.
ronniecat
Julie Dewhirst: SU ELLIOTT
Written by PHIL WOODS Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Wednesday (3300, Monday 4 November 1991)
It's another day on Coronation Street, and while Don eats his breakfast, Ivy putters about the dining room. She chatters on about the night before, when they shared a meal with Gail, Martin, and the kids, and she tells Don that she feels like a ton of weight has been lifted from her shoulders. When Don doesn't respond, Ivy asks if he's heard what she's been saying, and Don snaps. He remarks that she's been going on about it since she woke up, and now that she's "dragged" them around for tea after originally refusing their invitation, she thinks everything is fine. "You knew it was your last chance," he says, "so don't preach to me." With that, he slams out of the house, leaving Ivy with a stunned look on her face.
Over at the Rover's Return, Alec is having his morning coffee and grumbling about the bills that have just arrived in the post. Mike enters and is about to leave without breakfast when Alec remarks that he ought to "watch" Kevin. A bemused Mike asks what Alec means by this, and the response is that it's Mike's money that Kevin is "chucking about." Mike, however, prefers to call it an investment. Alec comments that he wouldn't have thought that a "backstreet" garage would be in Mike's league, but Mike points out that the more things a person can get going for themselves, the better.
Kevin, meanwhile, is sitting at the dining table in his home, going over lists. When Sally cautions him not to be late on his first day, he tells her that he is working; he's estimating the cost of the equipment required to set-up the new business with Mike.
Back at the Rover's Return, Betty, Jack, and Liz are preparing for another day of business. Betty yells at Jack to get to work instead of staring at his morning newspaper, and when he picks up a crate of empty bottles, some of the liquid spills on the floor. Jack heads off to the cellar, and as Liz goes behind the bar, she slips on the wet floor, but catches herself before she falls. A concerned Betty insists that she sit down for a few minutes. Alec arrives in the middle of all this, and when told by Betty that Liz nearly fell, he suggests that perhaps she shouldn't be working at all, in her "condition."
Kevin is standing in the street, in front of the garage that will eventually become "MVB Motors" when Jim MacDonald approaches. He asks if he can be of any help, but Kevin comments that Mike has everything in hand. Kevin tells him that the sign will be in place soon, and Jim remarks that he thought it would have been Kevin's name over the door. Kevin's only response is "what's in a name, eh?" Jim asks him to send any motorbike business they might get in his direction, and Kevin agrees.
Alec and Bet discuss Liz' near fall moments earlier, and Alec moans to Bet about Liz' "condition," and the hazards associated with it, but Bet impatiently dismisses his obvious ploy to let Liz go. She reminds Alec that Liz will let them know if and when she can no longer work -- "and I don't want to hear anymore about it!"
At Bettabuys, Ivy and Vera are busy stacking shelves, and Vera remarks that Ivy has a face like "last week's milk." Ivy explains that she doesn't understand why Don is angry with her. It took a lot for her to go around to Gail's, but all Don thinks is that she did it to keep the kids under her influence. Vera tries to comfort her, but is interrupted by Reg Holdsworth, who reminds them both that he can arrange for them to have all sorts of time off. "It's called redundancy!"
Back at the Rover's Return, Don and Alf are enjoying a pint together. Don tells Alf that he doesn't know what he'll do about Ivy, but a puzzled Alf responds that according to Audrey, the whole adoption procedure went off without a hitch -- no rows, no blood spilled. Don agrees that it did, but Ivy's as warm as a bucket of snowballs over it. Alf comments that he doesn't understand women, and tells Don that Audrey once thought that he was having an affair! Don's interest in this comment is obvious. Alf goes on to say that life is complicated enough without getting into something like that, and Don while agrees, the expression on his face says otherwise.
Jim MacDonald comes into the bar and asks Alec of the whereabouts of his favourite barmaid (Liz). Alec responds that she's in the back, making sandwiches -- Alec thought some time off her feet would do her some good. He goes on to tell Jim that Liz slipped "on a damp patch" earlier in the day, but fortunately she was near enough to the bar to save herself...this time. Jim registers a concerned look.
Mark Casey, Kevin's ex garage-mate, and boss, shows up on the street, asking Kevin if he's in the market for garage tools and fittings. Kevin knows there's something fishy going on, and can't believe the coincidence of Mike opening a garage and Mark having the appropriate equipment for sale. Putting two and two together, he says "you've gone bust, haven't you? So don't let on it's a favour." Mark advises him to make a decent offer, otherwise the stuff will be gone in a week -- to auction. As they retire to Kevin's home, Mark makes small talk by inquiring about Sally and the baby, and he tries to apologize for the past, but Kevin brushes him off and settles in, business-like, to peruse the list of goods Mark has for sale.
Bet finds Alec going through drawers and cabinets in their living quarters, and when she asks what he's looking for, he replies that he's searching for the plans for the Graffiti Club. When Bet expresses her astonishment, Alec tells her that he still thinks it's a good prospect. "For Mike Baldwin, you mean," replies Bet. She doesn't understand why Alec would want to pursue the club at this point in their lives; they're "doing okay," in her opinion, but Alec doesn't want to stop there. He points out that Mike knows the business, knows clubs, and knows a good business opportunity when he sees one.
Meanwhile, Jim MacDonald has arrived home, and is concerned about Liz' health. He tells her that Alec told him of her near fall earlier in the day, and Liz informs him that Alec just wants rid of her, in her "condition," so that he can replace her with a "bimbo." Instead of telling her this directly, he's getting Jim to do his dirty work by making him worry. She jokingly tells Jim that the next time the topic arises, Jim should inform Alec that she'll give up her job the day after she has the baby!
Over again to the Rover's Return, Alec asks Mike for a quiet word, but Mike tells him that he's waiting for Kevin, so doesn't have the time. Meanwhile, Reg and Jack joke about Des being legally charged for burning his own boat. When Reg offers to defend Des in court, Des hastily advises him that he has own counsel, thank you very much, but offers Reg a drink for the kind thought.
Kevin arrives at the pub for his meeting with Mike, and tells him that they can get a good deal on used equipment from Mark. Kevin, who thought he was showing initiative by bringing this good news to Mike, is a little nonplussed when Mike informs him that he won't deal with Mark, and will wait for the auction.
Don Brennan arrives at his usual time to pick-up the waitress, Julie, at the end of her shift. He cracks on that another cabbie should have been taking her home, but sadly the fellow came down with laryngitis. As the conversation unfolds, it appears that there was no other cabbie, and no laryngitis, and that Don made a point of meeting Julie for his own reasons.
Alec escorts Mike to his livingroom, and broaches the subject of him and Mike forming a partnership by opening the Graffiti Club. In Alec's opinion, converting it back to a nightclub would be a "little goldmine," but Mike is not the tiniest bit interested. The disappointment is obvious in Alec's face.
Ivy pours a cup of tea for Vera as they celebrate their £25 winnings at bingo that night. Vera asks when Don will be home, and Ivy confesses that, to be honest, she hasn't a clue, and didn't even know that he would be working. Ivy rather sadly tells Vera that she no longer knows what's going on in their marriage -- Don hardly smiles anymore. Vera sympathetically reviews the recent past -- Gail and Martin are married, the kids now have Martin's last name, and there's nothing Ivy can do about it. Meanwhile, though, Ivy has a good deal to be grateful for, because Vera would do almost anything to even see her own grandchild. She tells Ivy that she needs to tell Don that he's "number one" with her.
Speaking of Don, he and Julie have arrived outside her place, and they make plans to meet the following morning to go to the race track. Julie leans over and kisses Don on the cheek, but he reciprocates with a passionate kiss on the lips.
Heather Morlan
Mark Casey: STUART WOLFENDEN Julie Dewhurst:
SU ELLIOTT
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Thursday (3301, Wednesday 6 November 1991)
Morning in the Brennan household and Don and Ivy are in two very different moods. As he sits eating a bowl of cereal and reading the paper, she's chirping on about the grandkiddies. She asks Don, if he happens to stop in at the cafe at some point today, to check with Gail to see how the kiddies got on at bonfire night. He gives her a mere grunt for reply and she continues chattering, now about Christmas. She points out that it isn't far off and they have some decisions to make. Again, he ignores her, so she asks if he's listening. "Do I have a choice?", he asks sarcastically. Ivy is surprised by his response but leaves it for now to answer the door. Vera comes in and cheerfully greets them both. Don barely looks up, prompting Ivy to joke that talking to him is like talking to a wall. She is shocked to hear Don's angry retort that she treats him as if he were a wall! He glares at her as he continues: she doesn't want his feedback, she only wants to hear her own voice echoing back to her! Stunned at the outburst, Ivy can only answer, "Wot?"
Don informs her abruptly that as far as he is concerned, Christmas is a "lot of tomorrows away". Stopping for a minute, he looks at her squarely and asks, "What about *today* Ivy?" Vera quizzically repeats, "Christmas?", and Ivy dismisses Don's concerns by jokingly explaining that he thinks he can cancel it. Turning to Don, she quips, "Well you can't, luv!", as she and Vera go out the door. Don looks after his wife with disdain for a moment before taking himself from the breakfast table to his favourite chair. Lifting the seat cushion, he retrieves his racing paper and sits down to study the odds.
In front of the Kabin, Mavis is just finishing her task of cleaning the window. When Rita comes out and compliments her on a good job, she remarks that it's always quite sooty after bonfire night. Rita spots Kevin as he crosses to go over to the garage so she gives him a wave and wishes him good luck. Mavis asks why she encourages him - there'll be all those dirty fumes and grit flying at them from the garage. They'll only end up having to clean the window again next week! "Well, then - we'll clean it again!", answers Rita, cheerily. "We!?", snorts Mavis. "All right - me then", she relents, anxious not to rile her assistant.
In the parlour of the Rovers, Mike is gearing up for another day of transacting business deals. As he straightens his tie in the mirror, he expounds on his beliefs about the current market conditions to Bet and Alec. (Since there's a recession, people aren't buying new cars. Therefore, there's no better time to open a garage as there will be greater demand to have their old ones repaired.) Alec becomes defensive as he reads Mike as saying he is foolish to consider opening the Graffiti Club at present. He blusters about Mike "whistling in the dark" even after Baldwin leaves. Bet tries to calm him down, saying he should count his blessings - the things he has that Mike doesn't. "A back street pub? Duckworth, Mother Hubbard and Flora the pregnant barmaid?", he asks incredulously. Bet says she was talking about a good marriage and a loving wife! Alec tries to back-peddle but he can't get past the first stammer before she tells him to never mind - it's too late now and stalks from the room indignantly.
Don is at Julie's flat now, the pair of them decked out in their Sunday best. She tells him he looks great in his suit and he repays the compliment. Excited about their day at the racetrack, she tells him she could barely sleep the night before. She wants him to know that she's prone to giddiness and if she starts to embarrass him, he's to slap her wrist. Don wouldn't dream of suppressing her enthusiasm. "It'll be like a breath of fresh air", he tells her.
In the pub, Rita and Emily sit quietly talking at a booth. Rita is telling Emily about Mavis and Derek's negative feelings about the garage re-opening. Emily recalls that when she opened the charity shop they were likewise displeased, thinking it would lower property values. As Liz walks by with a loaded tray, Rita intercepts her to say that she looks "shot". Jumping up, she relieves her of the tray and orders her to go and take a rest. Liz hesitates but heads for the back while Rita parks the tray on the bar and informs Alec that Liz needs to get off her feet for a few minutes. Resenting her interference, he yanks the tray from her and answers with a curt, "Right!"
Des comes into the pub and asks Jack to get him a pint and a pie to go with it. Jack asks jokingly if he would like a file in his pie (a reference to the upcoming court case addressing the charges he faces) but Des doesn't think it's very funny. He tells Jack he hopes the pies have "better taste"!
Further down the bar, Alec leans over to have a word with Jim. In his best "concerned" voice, he tells him that he thinks working is getting to be too much for Liz. Jim dismisses the assertion, saying what a "tough cookie" his Liz is. He points out that she does her job very well, husbandly bias aside. Percy, who's been listening in, chimes in that she's always very pleasant, too, but Alec greets his input with annoyance: "Put a sock in it, Percy!" Turning back to Jim with a beleaguered smile, Alec is taken aback to hear that if he lays off Liz, Jim will be taking his custom elsewhere, as will his mates. "Mates?", inquires Alec. "Are you saying I don't have any mates?", asks big Jim. "Oh, no, no!", assures Alec. Des, standing beside Percy, reckons there could be a "mass exodus" if Liz is given the sack. Percy concurs, offering the landlord his assurance that as long as he's met with civility, Alec can count on his custom. Glancing down at the half pint Percy's been nursing, Alec indignantly replies, "Your custom? A flamin' budgie sups more!"
As one race event finishes, Don and especially Julie are cheering from the stands, obviously enjoying themselves. At his prompting, she chooses a horse for the next race and digs in her purse for the money. He offers to cover the bet but she insists that she won't play if she can't lose her own money. She wonders how much to bet and he tells her a couple of quid. "No more?", she asks. "You're backing it, not buying it!", he teasingly chides. Going over to the trackside bookie whose name, "Joe Parkfield", is displayed on a signboard behind him, Don places two bets, £2 on "Rock Officer" for Julie, and another £30 on "Abbot's Road" for himself. The odds for Julie's wager are announced as two and a half to one; for Don's, a whopping 120 to 30!
In one of the aisles of Bettabuys, Vera and Ivy are busy stacking shelves when Reg jauntily approaches them. He wants them to start clearing the old stock to make room for holiday specials in preparation for the Christmas "stampede". Ivy says not to even mention Christmas and when Reg asks if there's a problem, Vera answers that it's domestic, "not personal". Reg reminds Ivy that this will be her first Christmas with Bettabuys and she needs to be ready for the rushes. "When the spirit is flagging and the trolley of life seems to be going sideways, always remember the golden phrase - ëBettabuys expects'!", he jovially instructs her.
As Reg moves on to another part of the store, Ivy and Vera discuss what's bothering Don. Vera says he isn't an unusual case, that all special occasions in her home are left to her to sort out, too. Ivy replies that it's all very well for Vera, she doesn't have any grandchildren to consider. Seeing the hurt look on Vera's face, she realises she's put her foot in it and mutters an apology. Vera lets it pass and softly returns that Don's only digging his heels in as he feels threatened. She explains to Ivy that she wasn't merely asking him about Christmas, she was mithering. She knows, she says, as she also catches herself doing that with Jack. In fact, she wonders sometimes, in spite of her tendency to blame him, how much of their discord is actually her fault. This strikes a chord with Ivy, causing her to reflect that she has a bad habit of speaking her mind and going on the assumption that everyone agrees with her. She resolves to make it up to Don by making him a special meal that evening and in her newfound optimism, thanks Vera warmly for her good counsel.
As they watch the finish of the next race, Julie can barely contain her excitement. Her horse comes in the winner and she leans over to plant a kiss on Don's cheek, who in contrast, is trying to hide his disappointment over his horse losing. Unaware that Don backed a loser, she excitedly asks how much she's won. He tries to look pleased as he tells her she will collect a fiver. Then he suggests they go and have a drink to celebrate.
In the parlour of the Rovers, Liz gets up to return to her post in the pub but Bet stops her, saying she can rest a little longer. Liz doesn't think it's a great idea as Alec is just waiting for an excuse to let her go. Bet tells her that Alec just has a lot on his "little" mind today and she should just "sit tight". Liz says she doesn't think it'll do much good but thanks anyway. She goes on to say that Alec doesn't make any pretense about how he feels and that his face could "stop a clock". Bet takes exception to this last remark, "Ey! That's my husband you're talking about!", but softens a moment later and adds, "Mind you - you're right... If I catch him smiling, I'll get the embalmers in!"
In the pub at this moment, Alec isn't smiling, he's laughing heartily. He and one of the punters, a big man around Alec's age, are deep in conversation. The two are discussing a booking and they seem to have hit on something that amuses them both. From behind the bar, Bet, flanked by Jack and Liz watches the pair with bemused curiosity. She comments that she doesn't remember the man's name - "Ron summat", and Liz remarks that whoever he is, he seems to have cheered Alec up! Just then, Alec and the man make their way to the bar. Alec introduces him to Bet as Ron Rogers, "the best agent in the Northwest - present company excepted, of course." Mentioning Jack and Liz to Ron, Alec explains confidentially that he can't be working "the little lady too hard as she's expecting". Liz catches the remark and she and Bet exchange surprised looks Bet as Alec and Ron make their way into the back.
Trackside, Julie is enjoying a cocktail and saying it ought to be Champagne the way she feels. Don, sipping his juice, (he is driving) concurs, it's been a treat. He feels on top of the world - must be her "giddiness". Julie tells him that her former husband used to get embarrassed by it. He was so concerned with how others saw him that he was unable to enjoy himself and seemed to resent her for enjoying herself. It got so bad that she was afraid to laugh in case he got upset, she concludes. Don interjects to say that he can relate to this. He then asks which of them decided to pack it in first and she tells him she was the one. "He wouldn't have kids", she explains, "couldn't stand them". "Well, kids laugh a lot, don't they? Dead immature!", he quips. She dissolves in laughter at this, much to Don's gratification.
Alec and Ron are now having a drink in the back room as they discuss details of a booking that Alec is to handle. Ron explains that half a dozen "specialty acts" are required for a Caribbean cruise, from late November through Christmas. Alec's little eyes light up with excitement as he talks about one act he has in mind. "It's a fella who performs with a crocodile and balloons", he relates, "you'll just love him!" They share a belly laugh over this and it isn't quite clear (to me, at least) whether Alec actually meant it as a joke or not.
As Kevin oversees the new sign, "MVB Motors", being placed over the garage, Jim comes across with a couple cans for them to toast the grand opening. No sooner have they opened their beers, than Mike comes over and tells Kevin he isn't paid to stand around drinking with the neighbours. Jim tries to explain that it was his idea but Mike doesn't want to hear it. When Kevin offers that they were only celebrating the opening, Mike tells him he can celebrate by getting an advert into the Gazette. He then asks about fly sheets and Kevin says he hasn't had the chance to get to them yet. Jim pleads for Mike to "give the lad a break" and Mike turns to him to ask coldly, "Are you still here?" Jim, never one to refuse a challenge, returns, "Are you going to move me on then - VERNON?" Kevin quickly interjects to diffuse the situation, telling big Jim it's okay and thanking him for the thought. He hands him back his can and watches as Jim grudgingly moves away. Kevin then apologises to his new boss, saying it won't happen again. Mike sharply reminds him, "You know what you gotta do so do it!", before walking away, leaving Kevin gazing after him resentfully.
As Bet looks over Alec's brochures for the Caribbean cruise, she remarks that it looks like something she could be doing with. He pours over his list of performers and remarks that "six lucky people will get the shock of their lives..." "When you tell them you've got them a job, you mean?", she asks. The crack goes right over his head as he tells her he means when he informs them they've got a chance to work internationally! She tells him she thought he didn't even like Ron Rogers and Alec replies that he doesn't - but he's doing him this favour as Ron was humble enough to recognise that he was out of his league this time. Bet asks if he'll be able to find six "decent ones" and Alec says he will and he'll also make sure they don't work for peanuts! "Especially since you'll be getting 10% of whatever they make?", she asks coyly. "Hmm... it might be 15 in the Caribbean - I'll have to check...", he answers with satisfaction.
In the Webster home, Sally is sitting on the sofa and having a quiet read when Kevin comes down and joins her. She asks how his first day on the job went and he tells her about Mike showing him up in front of Jim. Indignant, Sally calls Mike a "cheeky pig". Their conversation is interrupted by a knock at the door. Emily has called in to get the account books so that she can "get started" right away. Kevin is taken by surprise as he thought *he* would be doing the books. He asks when this was arranged and Emily explains that Mr. Baldwin has only just asked her, in the pub moments before, and it was her impression that Kevin knew all about it.
Ivy has stopped in at the Kabin on her way home from work to buy some fancy serviettes. On hearing about the special meal planned for Don, Rita asks if she can interest her in anything else. "Some candelabra? Soft lights? A string quartet?" Ivy thanks her but says the napkins will do and is on her way out when Rita asks if Don had a wedding on today as she saw him leaving with his suit bag. Ivy stops and puzzles for a minute before answering that he must have had.
Back at Julie's flat, Don is now changed from his suit and sits relaxing on her sofa after enjoying a delicious meal. Her "five-minute masterpiece", she calls it; pasta, fresh salmon, cream and a few mushrooms. As she sits down beside him, he tells her what a wonderful day it's been for him. Glancing at his watch, he reluctantly says that he ought to be going home now. She urges him to stay awhile longer, saying it's not good to drive on a full stomach. He tells her he'd like to but he really had better go. As he picks up his suit bag, he says he can't remember when he's enjoyed himself as much. She remarks that she hopes "it won't be back in the wardrobe for long" and seeing Don's confusion, she nods toward the garment bag. Bidding her to take care and promising he'll be in touch, he leaves and she gazes after him with a look of concern.
In the pub, Curly and Mike stand at the bar while Jack serves. Jack wants to know why Vera can't have a job on the checkout and Curly launches into a sermon on Bettabuys being "an equal opportunity" employer but says they do "reward initiative". Mike asks if Curly can't pull any strings and is met with a shocked, "That's nepotism - *not* management!" Kevin comes into the pub and Curly offers to buy him a pint so that he doesn't have to drink with "Philistines" but Kevin says he only came in for a quick word with Mike. As they move over to a table for privacy, Jack mutters to Curly under his breath that he can thank his lucky stars he works for Reg Holdsworth and not Baldwin!
Once seated, Kevin confronts Mike. "Don't you trust me?", he demands. Mike can't see his problem with Emily doing the books. He explains to Kevin that he only wanted to take some pressure off him, relieve him of any distractions so he can focus on what he does best, mending cars. Having placated Kevin, Mike moves on to the auction being held tomorrow. He issues instructions that Kevin is to keep an eye on him, and only bid if he gives him the signal. Kevin asks why Mike won't be bidding himself and he explains that he'll be watching the competition. Besides, he says, if he starts bidding, they'll jump up the starting price. Kevin nods his understanding but is surprised by his boss' next directive - he wants him to come in his overalls!
At the bar again, Vera has come in and wants to know if Liz would like to come to bingo with her. Liz can't get away without getting in more shtick with Alec and she asks why Ivy isn't going. Vera tells her about Ivy's plans for a "posh tea" for Don and Bet remarks in wonder that "they still do that".
Ivy, apparently concerned that her "posh tea" is getting past it as Don keeps her waiting, has decided to ring the taxi company and find out what's keeping him. She talks to Frank, the dispatcher, but before he can inform her that in fact Don wasn't working today, Don himself comes through the door. She hangs up and goes over to greet him. When he hears she's been on the phone to Frank, he gives her an earful about monitoring his movements. She pleads that she was only worried and he relents that it was "only work" that kept him late. She asks if he had a wedding on today as Rita mentioned he had his suit bag with him and he answers that he only took it to the cleaners. "But, Don - you'll hardly worn it", she says. "Again with the questions, Ivy!", he angrily retorts. Meekly, she asks where he's taken it, and he again snaps at her. She explains that she only wanted to know so that she could pick it up for him. He doesn't want her to pick it up - he'll pick it up himself!
Finally clueing in that he doesn't want to be questioned further, Ivy pleasantly offers that she's done steak and potatoes for his tea. He doesn't want any, he coldly tells her - he isn't hungry! She expresses surprise - has he already eaten? Where? He fends off the query by roughly answering, "That's two questions, Ivy. Yes to t'first and does it matter to the second!" Upset now, she tearfully tells him that she's concerned about them. She says the dinner was her way of saying she is sorry. He cuts her off with, "I don't want your sorry, Ivy - I want you to stop all the nagging and interrogating!" She stands by in shocked disbelief as he contorts his face in revulsion and tells her with hatred, that hearing her voice "is like a record in his head, going around and around". Abruptly, he announces that he is going for a drink. As he slams the door, she stifles a sob and softly cries out his name.
(I know this has been terribly long already but I have to comment just briefly -- despite all her treachery and manipulations up to now, I felt terribly sorry for Ivy during this scenes. They were very well acted, especially by Geoff Hinsliff whose rendition of the husband hardening his heart was breath-takingly real!!)
Anita Belanger
Julie Dewhurst: SU ELLIOT Ron Rogers: HARRY
BEETY Joe Parkfield: RED HOFFMAN
Written by TOM ELLIOT Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Friday (3302, Friday 8 November 1991)
Ivy knows Don is upset this morning but she doesn't know why. She apologizes anyway, in case it was something she did or said. He just sighs that it's all getting very repetitive, they row and make up and it starts all over again!. He gets his coat on while she mentions that she'll take his suit to the cleaners. He drags a begrudging "Ta" and leaves her to wonder where it's gone wrong. (Look in the mirror!)
After a bit of meandering about a CV Alec is writing for one of his acts, Bet gives him a letter that has arrived, from Victoria! How is she, he anxiously inquires. Busy is the reply and yes, she's mentioned Christmas in her letter. Alec skims the contents and frowns in dismay.
It must be after the time has changed for winter because when Ivy and Vera are leaving for work, it looks as if the sun has barely cracked the horizon (and when everyone just gets back from work at tea time it's dark!) Anyway, Ivy tries to make out that her make up dinner with Don went well but Vera knows differently, having seen Don in the Rovers last night and tries to wean the gory details from Ivy's tightly shut lips. Ivy declares she doesn't want to talk about it.
Percy finds Mavis changing the window display in the Kabin. She's hanging swirls and swoops of twisted streamers creatively. It's in aid of a Christmas display (though it looks more like Easter leftovers, as she's using pinks and purples and yellows!). Percy is flabbergasted and highly critical of her endeavor as it's only barely November. She sniffs and slaps a Santa poster up on the window in front of his face so she doesn't have to look at him!
Jim has stopped in to see Kevin who's not back from viewing the gear on auction at Casey's. Jim chats to Sally about the timeliness of Mike's offer of business, saving them from the doors of the poorhouse. Jim doesn't trust Mike Baldwin, a Jack Russell with a chequebook and warns Sally that Kevin could be taken advantage of if he doesn't stand up for himself more often. Sally agrees but there's no telling her husband. Kevin returns and is pleased that Jim is sending business his way and assures him he'll return the favour with any two wheel business. Jim leaves and Sally hands Kevin his shirt to wear with his suit to the auction. When a husband does whatever the wife orders him to do, it's called "Henpecked". What is it called when it's your boss? Mike has told Kevin he has to wear his overalls to the auction but Sally feels he'll be taken more seriously in a suit.
Mavis and Emily are in the pub at dinnertime. Mavis has locked up the shop while Rita's at the Cash and Carry because she's fed up with dealing with lunatics. The prime lunatic finds them and sits down to continue his rant about early Christmas displays luring the poor to spend money they having got. Mavis explains that Percy objected to her display in the Kabin and tried to interfere, which, she adds drolly, surprised her! (LOL good one, Mave!) Emily does agree that it is a bit early for decoration. Mavis cannot handle the onslaught anymore and leaves.
Up at the bar we see Sally's henpecking has outdone Mike's "boss pecking" and Kevin is suitably suited and tied. Mike raises an eyebrow but doesn't make an issue out of it. He orders quick drinks before they leave and the action moves to the back of the bar where Alec is telling Bet and Liz that Vicky wants to spend Christmas with a friend instead of returning to her grandfather. Liz offers her two pennies with the opinion that Vicky is too young to realize that Alec might be taking it personally but Alec plans to lay down the law. She's only 14 and needs to learn what No means! (<snicker>You go, Alec! </snicker>)
In Bettabuys' staff lounge, Vera has brought Ivy a cup of tea but Ivy had planned to nip out to the dry cleaners with Don's suit. Vera tries to sympathize with Ivy's attempt at reconciling things with Don that had disappointing results as a . . . er . . . result! Ivy blames the upset on Don, having no idea what has put a bee in Don's bonnet. All she did was ask a few civil questions but Vera points out that there's different ways of asking, isn't there? The conversation turns to a very loud and accusatory slanging match after Ivy advises Vera to keep her nose out of it and Vera opining that if Ivy kept her mouth shut more often she wouldn't need bailing out! They have a go at each other but after Curly breaks it up, Vera quickly apologizes. She is only worried about her friend. She leads Ivy back to the table and offers to bring over lunch. While she's at the counter, Ivy clears out the suit pockets and discovers two used racing tickets and her face turns purple with rage.
Mark nervously surveys the small crowd that's come for the auction. He urges the auctioneer to stick to the reserve prices if he can but then tries to make a last minute deal when he sees Kevin is there. He reduces his prior offer from £5000 down to £4000 but Kevin decides to take his chances at auction. Mark thinks his former partner is there to gloat as he obviously doesn't have any brass but is astonished to find out that Mike is Kevin's backer. Kevin whispers to Mark that Mike has got a bob or two but hates parting with it! He smugly winks and the angry and humiliated man and they turn to go to their places. Not gloating? Eck as like he is, after Mark fired him and put him in a bad position having a family to support. Anyway, the auction goes well and Mike and Kevin seem pleased with their purchases though I'm a bit confused. The two items we saw them buy added up to about £1600. Surely a garage full of equipment at those prices would have totaled much more than the 4000 quid Mark offered?
(And you realize this is the end of an era! That garage was Billy Walkers for many years. Brian had it after him for a good few years as well before Mr. Casey bought it after Brian's death. I wonder if Ivy knows the garage has gone bust?)
Alec phones and tries to insist Victoria come back there for Christmas but, to Bet's amusement, doesn't get too much more out than a sputter or two before he's backing down and allowing Vicky to do what she wants.
Ivy checks up on Don by calling the dispatcher looking for a fictitious address book supposedly left there by Don yesterday. She discovers that Don had a "day off" yesterday when he obviously lied to her because she thought he was working. When she hangs up , she fumes "I'll swing for him!" furious that she's been lied to again.
Rita's back from the cash and carry and is being updated by Mavis on the day's business including Percy's latest crusade. Rita informs Mavis that the Christmas stock is back ordered until the end of the month in any case causing Mavis to complain loudly about all the wasted work she's done over the last two days to prepare for the new display. Rita cuts Mavis off in mid "If you think I'm. . ." Percy arrives and he and Rita start arguing until Rita gets inspired and asks Percy if he'd like a job for the afternoon. 2 quid an hour and a pint in the Rovers. She "admits" he was right about the display and sets him to work breaking down the beginnings of the Christmas window, wiping it down and redecorating. Percy rolls up his sleeves and eagerly sets to. Mavis is satisfied she doesn't have to do it and both women are delighted when Rita closes the door on Percy, "Fire regulations, you know", so they don't have to listen to him telling them so!
Ivy and Vera arrive home. Vera asks Ivy what she'll say to Don . It won't matter, Ivy figures Don will manage to turn it around on her anyway. Vera spots Percy in the Kabin window and has a cackle at him through the glass.
In the pub, Mike buys champagne and a lend of three appropriate glasses for a celebration with Kevin and Sally. Alec checks the bill Mike has handed over to make sure it's legal tender (must be a 50 or something large like that). Curly has another go at Vera for rowing in public even though it was only the staff lounge. He tells Vera that she and Ivy could be heard down the corridor. Well they shouldn't have been listening, Vera snaps. Curly retreats and Vera grills Jack to see if he had anything to do with Don and the race track. Jack had no idea and Vera frowns with worry for her friend.
Mike and Sally and Kevin pour champagne and toast to the future. Kevin gets to gloat at Mark's defeat again though Sally thinks it's a bit unfair. Cheers to the future and they all raise their glasses.
Don arrives home looking very much like he dreads being there. Ivy silently sets the table and pours the tea. When Don sits down to eat she slams the tickets on the table and confronts him with his lies. She wants to know what's happened to them so he accuses her of starting it. She can't understand his lying and hiding things so blatantly and comes to the obvious conclusion that he's addicted to gambling! He almost tells her the other obvious conclusion but stops himself and attacks her instead. She's always done what she wanted regardless of his opinion, to do with Gail and the kids and pretty much everything. Now he's going to have his turn. If he wants to gamble, he will. It gives him a buzz! If he wants to lie, he will, because lying is a change from "Good Old Don!" He's going to damn well please himself now to make up for what's missing. She still doesn't understand but he tells her that's her problem and she's left with a puzzled look on her face.
Diane Johnston
Barry Kershaw MARK SPALDING
Written by PAUL ABBOTT Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Monday (3303, Monday 11 November 1991)
Don pulls the newspaper through the letter box and tells Ivy he's looking for a suitable horse on which to bet, knowing full well it will wind her up. Ivy tries to talk to him about his gambling addiction and he laughs and ignores her efforts. She knows him, she persists, he's a good man but he's just weak, he gives in too easily to temptation. That hit a bit close to the mark and he snaps that she doesn't know what she's talking about! (I HATE when men say that!) It's not about gambling, he tells her, it's about her, she never listens! She sits back down at the table and through the brick wall she's got up around her morals says she's ready to listen. But she still rabbits on about gambling because she doesn't understand what else it could be. She reminds him that she doesn't deserve to be treated like this, he made certain vows to her at their wedding and he's walked out on them promises! You don't just walk away from a marriage as if it was a card table, you work at it! That, too, hits close to home and he stares at the newspaper determined to avoid eye contact. After she leaves he "strangles" the newspaper.
Outside, Mike drives past Stone Face Ivy and greets her, just like old times with him bringing hope and prosperity to Weatherfield! He laughs at her cracking on that they should have renamed the street in his honour and continues on his way.
To the garage where Jim and Kevin are watching the garage equipment being unloaded. Kevin and Jim seem about to make a gentleman's agreement to share the gear but Mike scotches that with mutterings about reasonable rental fees seeing as Jim's a neighbour. Mike gives Kevin an address to pick up some flyers later on and leaves. Kevin and Jim just roll their eyes at each other.
Derek is wittering on about something or other. Des is in the shop looking reproached and suitably chastened. He has to see his solicitor today about the boat burning charges. He isn't looking forward to dredging up the memories all over again. Rita and Mavis are sympathetic and though Derek tries to give advice, thinking Des can get sympathy if he plays up the romantic side of it, i.e. All the World Loves a Lover, he comes across as pathetically shallow as usual. Des leaves and Mavis sarcastically remarks that some people feel things very deeply and some don't at all, with a sidelong pointed glance at Derek.
Alec bounces into the living room, Gilroy's pulled it off! He jubilantly crows. Bet leans over to Jack "Help 'im put it back on, Jacko, whatever it is!" (LOL) Well it seems it's all about this cruise that Alec is setting up a program of entertainers for. He's got hold of Archie Archer, former M.C. to the understudy at the Palladium I think he said. The greatest "compear" (that's what it sounded like) that "never" played the Palladium. Seems Archie was a trooper but never quite made it to the stage. Anyway, he's promised to call Alec back! Ohhhh Kay. Jack reminds Alec that he too can put a decent song about. Alec laughs with condescension reckoning Jack on the same bill with Archie Archer is like serving caviar on bits of tripe! Alec is anxious that he is able to perform the organization efficiently so they will ask him to do it again. Just think, Bet, next time he can dictate terms including a berth for the two of them to sail in the sunny skies and bask on the palm lined beaches. He's doing this all for her! Bet, looking distinctly threatened at the prospect of her way of life drastically changing, and perhaps with a modicum of foreshadowing, declares she Hates when he says things like that to her!
Don drives Julie the barmaid home. She invites him over tonight as it's her night off and she'll have a bottle of wine chilled. He seems to have thought over what Ivy said that morning and regretfully turns her down. She doesn't seem overly bothered, some other time then.
Des's solicitor is a very attractive young woman which does not go unnoticed. She outlines the possible fines and sentences and waits to hear his extenuating circumstances. He seems to be trying out Derek's advice, for as his heartfelt descriptions of his breakup with Steph pour from his almost tearful face, he glances up at her every so often to see how she's taking it! He tells her the boat took all his time, hopes and dreams. It was "our" boat and we were going to sail away in it. By burning it, he wanted to symbolically make a sacrifice to show his wife how much he loved her. Of course it didn't work as there was another bloke involved. The solicitor, Lynette, seems to have gone all soft and tells him it's the most romantic thing she's ever heard, she is very moved. The glint in Des's eye tells all but he continues to embellish his tale of the devastated Viking on the prow of his burning ship. At the end, he offers to take her to the scene of the crime and mentions a nice little pub nearby where they can have a drink. She accepts!
Sally's got an unexpected visitor! Mark appears at her door and seems determined to talk to her.
Don takes a bit of time to clear his mind in the café before going home. Gail and Alma twig that there seems to be something wrong but liken it to the ups and downs of love. He vaguely makes references to wanting things you can't have and doing the right thing even when you don't really want to. Mike rushes in, mainly to find Steve and Andy. He's got a job for them. Turns out he is going to pay them to deliver his flyers advertising the new garage. They brag to Jim later on that Mike doesn't seem to be a very good negotiator as they were able to persuade him to pay twice his initial offer (which was most likely a quarter of the maximum he was originally willing to pay!)
Alec has been disappointed by Mr. Archer who's excuse for turning down Alec's cruise was a prior offer (that he couldn't tell him about earlier on the phone) to be second step daughter in a panto in Stoke-on-Trent. Bet, refreshing her makeup, naively thinks an actor's ambition to be a more serious actor rather than do variety all his career makes sense but Alec, in a bout of non-confidence, figures the rat probably just made up the excuse and he decides he's probably past it for this sort of work. Bet gives him a rousing "When the going gets tough the tough get going" speech. Just then Jack pops his head in to cry for help in the bar. Bet stands up, throws her shoulders to the back of her shiny leopard print blouse. "Right, Tiger, We're on!" and swans out onto her own stage behind the bar.
Don has fixed the tea and set the table with wine glasses. He gets the wine and Ivy, looking over all this suspiciously, thinks he's trying to get round her because his horse won! He patiently explains that he didn't put on a bet today and opens a dialogue (that's the trendy way to put it nowadays, innit?) This isn't about gambling, it's about her and him and he tries to convince her that gambling isn't the problem. The recent trip to the racetrack was a bit of fun for an afternoon, that's all. He loses his patience when she keeps pushing the same issue, criticizing her for being too preachy to realize her marriage is in trouble. She really has no idea what she's done which makes it worse in his book. He'd like to tell her what she's done but life's too short! He finally loses his cool altogether and accuses her of being a mean, selfish, stupid, pompous, vain, ignorant, bitter OLD woman! (whoa!) She is shocked, and covers her face as he continues. He wanted to patch things up and wanted to try to talk but she doesn't even listen to herself, rabitting on blaming everyone else but herself! She's a machine for driving people round the bend! Still unwilling to accept any blame, she looks at him accusingly. If it isn't gambling, then what is it? (STILL bent on blaming it on him, not herself!) She knows him and there's something else. But he isn't about to admit to being interested in another woman (which is only a result of the problem anyway though Ivy would see it as the cause!) He gets up to leave, only telling her that he's not intending to spend his life listening to a talking machine drive him round the bend! And he storms out leaving her looking more shocked and mystified than guilty!
In the put, Martin is looking for a game of darts. Des is gloating about the beautiful solicitor, telling Martin and Kevin that the more he spilled his sad story, the more she fancied him! Mavis and Derek are in a booth. Mavis thinks Des's cheer is masking his sadness but Des buys Derek a pint to thank him for his advice earlier. There isn't much this man doesn't know about attracting women, he teases Mavis! Martin and Kevin move to the dartboard and they see Mark arrive. Mark approaches Kevin. Yes, Kevin admits, Sally told him about his visit and that he ought to listen to Mark. Mark does apologize for treating Kevin like dirt those months ago and would really really like a job! Kevin shouts down from that high horse that he was just waiting for Mark to admit he was wrong and come crawling back. He can get stuffed! (So graceful in triumph, is Kevin! :\ ) Over at the bar, Vera is chatting to jack about Ivy's worries about Don's gambling.
Don, however, has been driving around and has arrived with a bottle of whiskey on Julie's doorstep. She is welcoming, kind and soothing as she holds him and then they kiss (ewwww! The only thing grosser is if it had been Ken snogging her! She sure doesn't seem Don's type!)
How was it for me? (tm Alan Milewczyk, ta luv!)
Sad isn't it. We all know someone like Poison Ivy I'm sure. Someone that had it all - family, friends but when life dealt a couple of bad hands, she didn't know how to handle it. She grew a huge chip on her shoulder, thinking the world owed her something to make up for what she lost. She tried to control and manipulate those she said she loved. She pushed her own morals on others, she clung to the past because she couldn't handle the present with all life's changes. She couldn't accept happiness in others without an opinion or a dig to dampen their spirits. She couldn't compromise. She pushes everyone away from her and wonders why she's alone. All because she's so unhappy with her own lot which life has dealt her. We all called her Poison Ivy because of the venom she spits. But I think she's so called because she's filled with so much bitterness that she's poisoned herself.
Diane Johnston
Lynette Campion COLETTE STEVENSON
Written by FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Tuesday (3304, Wednesday 13 November 1991)
I really don't know how to begin to explain this update - it is nearly a week late and I was just going to do both last Tuesday's and this Tuesday's in one marathon session when, to my mortification, I discovered that the cats (Veronica, 2 years and Mojo, 7 weeks) had taken it upon themselves to write the June 8 update in my place! I mean, I knew they read ratucs and surfed the corrie websites over my shoulder, but I had no idea that they would be so embarrassed by my dreadful lateness that they would write their own update when I left the computer on one day while I was at work! Nevertheless, while their commentary is somewhat unconventional, I suppose I at least owe it to them to present what they wrote, so here, corrected for spelling, grammar (lack of opposable thumbs has encouraged Veronica to forego both capital letters and punctuation)and uncalled-for catty remarks, is veronica and mojo's wtn update for tuesday, june 8
On behalf of all good cats everywhere, we would just like to apologize for our Mum's shamefully late Tuesday WTN update. As Eric Malling's young daughter once said in a letter to the CBC when her father asked a particularly stupid question of an interviewee on "The Fifth Estate", "I hope you are embarrassed of my dad, because I am".
We are so embarrassed, in fact, that we are taking matters into our own hands and writing this update ourselves. (Well, when I say "we", I really mean me, Veronica, Queen of the House, because His Uselessness, Mojo the Idiot Kitten, is a complete dead weight as far as I'm concerned. He still has literally not figured out that his tail is attached to his ass. I mean, really! If you knew what I had to put up with!) Anyway, having watched the episode in question, I will move on to the update, or as I call it, "what fools these humans be".
The street starts with its wonderful opening sequence which features a stunning calico cat [Editor's note: 200 words about the cat in the opening sequence cut. It had to be done, really it did]. Anyway, as I was saying, they then go on to completely ruin the opening scenario by having that damned fool dog charge like a rabid maniac towards the viaduct. I mean, we've seen it a hundred times, and what's the point? What is the drooling fool supposed to be chasing? [Editor's note: 400 words about the Coronation Street dog and dogs in general cut as I was afraid they constituted hate literature under Canadian legislation].
We now go inside to the Websters' where Sally is asking Kevin if he enjoyed being able to turn down his former employer, Mark, when Mark came asking for a job. (darned right he enjoyed it! wouldn't anybody? meow!) Kev asks if Sal is accusing him of being vindictive (he says it like it's a bad thing!). Kevin says that Mark was a playboy, not a grafter [hard worker] (smart lad, then) and that's why Kev didn't hire him. Kevin seems annoyed, though, that Mark accused him of being under "the Mike Baldwin influence". (ooh, now mike baldwin. there's a character i admire! feline killer instinct galore! and the way his pointy little teeth glisten when he smiles!) Sally laughs and says yes, she can see that Kev is ruthless and power mad! As he leaves for work, Kevin tells Sally that he is no fat cat (although he didn't use that highly species-ist term), he is just a worker bee, he does the grafting, and were he to act like a Baldwin he's just get grease all over his cigar. (nice couple, kevin and sally. so self-centered; i really relate to them. why on earth they went and got themselves one of those squalling miniature humans when they could've gotten a couple of nice cats i'll never know.)
Anyway, things are sadder where my *favourite* character, Catty Ivy Brennan, awaits the return of her husband Don, who's been out all night. As he walks in the door we see that they both look awful. (humans just don't know how to groom if you ask me.) Ivy asks why Don didn't call. He says that she's used to him being out all night, driving cab. She agrees, but says that usually he calls. She's been worried sick! Don says that he's sorry for that. Is there anything else he's sorry for, she inquires? (humans would do well to take a tip from us felines. we're *never* sorry for *anything*. *ever*.) Such as? responds Don, who doesn't look very sorry. "You said some dreadful things to me yesterday," says Ivy. "I don't wanna talk about it now!" interrupts Don. "Terrible things," Ivy continues. "If our marriage meant one thing to you, Don Brennan, words like that wouldn't have slipped from your lips!" Don just rubs his eyes. He's tired, he says. He's hungry. Ivy keeps pressing him for a reply. Did he mean what he said yesterday? she asks again. "Do you think I'd have said it if I didn't? I meant it, Ivy. I meant every word. And a lot more besides! Now, do you mind if I get some breakfast?" (good heavens. ivy has been out-catted. even i was left in awe by the clawmarks don left in her ego.)
At the Kabin, Sally is continuing to exhibit admirable feline behavior. Today she is demonstrating the cat principle, "Good is never good enough". It's all well and good that Mike Baldwin is setting her husband up in business, she whinges, but he'll still just be working for someone else, doing all the graft that's sent! He'll end up like Don Brennan. Vera, who's listening in, says "Don Brennan? Grafting? That'll be the day!" Nice bit- er, catty remark, Vera! [Editor's note: Does this set the Coronation Street Episode record for use of the word "graft"?] Sally defends Don, saying she just saw him coming off the night shift, and he looked shattered!
Back at the Brennans', shattered Don Brennan is buttering toast. Ivy announces that she is going to work, but in the living room pauses when she sees Don's jacket to start going through the pockets. (good move, ivy! there could be a bug, or even a dead mouse in there!) Don, coming from the kitchen with his toast, freezes in shock when he sees her. What on earth is she doing, he asks. She is entitled to know, Ivy replies calmly. "You're entitled to nothing in my jacket!" says an outraged Don. (territorialism! another great feline quality. way to go, don!) Ivy replies that she knows him, and she knows when he's lying. He wasn't at work yesterday, so where was he? The tracks? Dogs? (shudder) As she leaves, she is still harping about his supposed gambling addiction, trying to place the blame for their problems anywhere but where it really lies. (a natural and admirable instinct, surely.) She just hopes that Don sees that it's costing him a damn sight more than money - a damn sight more!
Bet (my role model!) is serving breakfast to an anxious Alec. He is still worried about finding an MC for his cruise booking. Who will introduce the acts? he moans. "Let them introduce themselves," Bet suggests. "Introduce themselves? They can't do that!" says an aghast Alec. "Why not? They're normal people. They've got tongues in their heads, haven't they?" (not if the cat's got it, har har). No! replies Alec. They're not normal people! You can't even expect them to behave normally! (as many of my mum and dad's friends are musicians, i wholeheartedly agree.) This is a very serious problem, Alec continues. He's exhausted his list and now there's this very lucrative contract available, which could keep them in clover for winters to come, and he's going to blow it! Bet suggests one of Alec's old impresario friends, Ronny Rogers. Maybe he would know someone. Alec agrees to give him a call.
In town, Des and his lawyer, Lynette Campion, leave her offices. Has Des been waiting long, she asks? He came last night and slept in the car, Des jokes. (what's that, mojo? yes, yes. i'll tell them. des is mojo's favourite character. i'm hardly surprised as they both share the same degree of maturity) Des flirts with her some more as they leave to inspect the wreck of Des' boat.
Kev takes a work order on the phone as the radio blares rock in the background. [Editor's note: me dad was a mechanic and heavy equipment contractor. It's nice to see that 'Mom and Pop' garages share the same earsplitting auditory atmosphere on both sides of the pond.] Big Jim MacDonald (definitely *not* a cat person, sniff) walks in and inquires whether it's a blessing or a curse to work within sight of a pub? Kevin wouldn't know as he can't see it from there. Jim says even that wouldn't help him as he begins smelling it around eleven! He tries hard to convince Kev to break for a beer with him ("Uh oh, I know that 'get thee behind me temptation' look," he says) but Kevin isn't biting. Jim makes some catty comments (my, we've a full house today, haven't we?) about Jim's lads delivering Mike Baldwin's flyers and Kev doing the garage work while Mike is nowhere to been seen. Kev doesn't rise to the bait, saying he'll meet Jim after work instead.
Des and Lynette look at the burnt-out remains of the boat. Des tells his solicitor that Steph was there when he burnt it. He quotes their bitter exchange at the scene to Lynette - how he told Steph that this was their marriage going up in flames and how she responded, "it wasn't as hot as all that, Des!" (oh, i laughed for days at that one. one of *the* cattiest remarks in street history! mee-yowch!) Des says that he would've done anything for Steph and seems to get sentimental thinking about it.
Jimbo has gone to the pub alone where he's joined Jack, working the bar, and Don Brennan. Jack is teasing Don, asking Jim what kind of a mate is Don? Don goes to the track, and Vera chews Jack out for it! She said that Jack deserved it "'cause you're all the same, you men!" He asks Don if he will let Jack know the next time he's going gambling, that way Jack will join him and at least get the pleasure of the outing if he's going to get the earache from Vera's tongue-lashing anyway! Jim agrees, saying why don't they all three go and make a day of it? Don, who has been very quiet during this ribbing, finally snaps and says he just came in for a flaming pint! He storms away from the bar and sits alone, leaving a baffled Jack and Jim exchanging glances. "I see you hit a nerve, there!" observes Jim.
Alec comes in and informs Bet that he has signed the contract to book entertainment for the cruise - but he is now committed *and* without an MC! He's worried, he says before going through to the back. Bet puts on one of her catlike smiles and declares, "Well, that sets the tone for this half - Alec worried, Bet bored. I think I'll live a little and do the washing-up." Mavis, to whom this remark was directed, laughs and then turns to Betty, who's just strolled up. Betty wonders about poor Des - after all, his hearing for burning the boat is this Friday. Betty is sympathetic, but not Mavis, who feels Des deserves whatever he gets! Betty observes that this is a bit hard, but Mavis replies, "Don't start me where him and that boat are concerned. I could just - just - just - just don't start me!" (mavis always makes me hungry when she's onscreen. she reminds me of a tremulous little mouse. yes, a tremulous, juicy, tender... uh, where was i?)
Des and Lynette are now on a bridge over the canal overlooking the boat. Lynette says she can try to make Des' case on Friday, but he will definitely be responsible for removing the burnt-out hull and clearing the waterway. Des muses that that will be costly. "Was it worth it?" asks Lynette. Yes, replies Des after a moment's though. It was... "Theraputic?" offers Lynette. "I was thinking more like, 'fun'," replies Des. (and you wonder why a seven-week old kitten thinks of him as a role model) Yes, says Lynette with gentle sarcasm - he looks like he's had bundles of fun. Des says that at least it got it out of his system - finished it. "You could've killed yourself," observes Lynette. "Yup. Glad I didn't, though," is Desmond's response as he glances sidelong at the attractive lawyer. Lynette says she must get back to work, and as they leave, she says, "You're a strange man." "You ought to see me on a full moon," says Des.
In a wee scene, Alec has taken Bet's advice and called Ronny Rogers, leaving a message with Mrs. R. While he is on the phone with her, Bet swans by, making some pointed comments about having done the washing-up, the sweeping, etc. etc., and not sounding best pleased!
In the caff, Steve MacDonald is playing a video gambling machine. [Editor's note - good grief! How young can you play those in the UK? Not to mention the ones they have over there with all the flashing lights make our already-too-addictive machines look as dull as "Pong"] Andy comes in and they discuss which parts of town they've covered with Baldwin's flyers. Gail pops up to say that she's quite pleased that Andy's there but she hopes he's not going to sit around like his brother without not buying as much as a coke. [Editor's note: first, I guess if Gail isn't upset, the lads *are* old enough to play, and secondly, I can only guess the video lottery machines there pay establishment owners less than they pay here or Gail would've been thrilled to death if Steve played it for half an hour and then Andy took over. There are convenience stores in New Brunswick which are applying for liquor licenses so they don't lose their gambling machines under new regulations which are designed to limit them to bars and other places where only people 19+ can go!] At any rate, Steve does go to get them a couple of cokes and Andy does take over.
Just then Percy comes in (ooh, percy. not a cat person at all! allergic, so he claims. hah! he's just afraid of being around creatures who can suss him out!) "This is your doing, is it?" he asks Andy, waving a flyer about. Alma, observing from behind the café counter, says with hilarious chagrin, "Oh, no, you're *not* on the warpath, are you Percy? It's been really peaceful this afternoon!" Even more hilariously, Percy replies that he is *not* on the warpath - "I'm just going to speak my mind for once!" Alma rolls her eyes as Percy complains that the leaflet was wasted on him and Emily because neither of them own an auto. So why did Andy put it through their letterbox? Andy winds Percy up a bit by saying that he didn't put it through the letterbox. He did! No, he didn't! Well who did? demands Percy. Steve! Anyway, Andy says, it's only a leaflet! "Only a leaflet? You should've been with us during the war, lad! And then you'd know the value of a leaflet!!!" says Percy, handing the offending paper to Andy and stalking off. As Steve returns with the colas, Andy hands him the leaflet and asks him to "post it - in the bin"!
In the pub, Jack is telling Des how he envies Des' bachelor existence. He spends his days at the bookies'; his nights in a pub; it sounds heavenly to Jack! Des counters by talking about the things missing in a bachelor existence - how would Jack fancy going back to an empty bed every night? bliss! (i'm with you, jack. i remember how things were before this little bast- er, kitten came to live with us.) Des says it isn't as great as it sounds. Night after night, no-one to talk to, no one to wait for; Jack begins to agree, his face softening. Yes, he agrees, he's got family, friendship, companionship - and beauty! (wot, do they have a cat?) Yes, Jack says, as Des smiles approvingly, Des is making him feel quite sentimental. "Best thing I ever did, getting them pigeons. God, without them I'd be stuck with Vera!" With perfect timing, he turns his attention to serving Ronny Rogers, who's just walked up to the bar. Mr. Rogers will have a drink, but does ask whether the ice is fresh! (i can't imagine why mum laughed at this. i think a taste for the finer accouterments is an admirable thing.) Rogers is here to see Alec, who greets him. As the two men go through to the back, Des says, "Who's that?" "Ronny Rogers. Impresario. Big in the 70s. He once handled Tom Jones." "Yes, and then Tom Jones smacked him in the mouth. I've heard it!" replies Des. "You know all of 'em, don't you?" laughs Jack with mock disappointment. "Probably, yes!" responds Des.
In the back room, Alec is attempting to play it cool (very catlike of you, alec) while Ronny thinks he can sense some panic. In fact, he quickly realizes the situation Alec is in when Alec tells him, as casually as possible, that he's signed a major contract to book cruise entertainment but, by the way, doesn't have his MC yet. Would Ronny know one of his old clients who could fill the bill? Ronny would want a commission, he says, which is fine with Alec. [Editor's note: there's an indication of how desperate Alec is - he didn't even express mock outrage at the suggestion of a commission!] Ronny gets to reminiscing about how he used to go and MC the cruises himself. "You went yourself?" asks Alec, thoughts running through his mind faster than that idiot kitten running up and down the stairs. That hadn't occurred to him. Well, yes, says Ronny Rogers, but Alec has a pub to run... But he would be leaving it in excellent hands, says Alec (that sound you hear is the sound of someone being taken for granted). Finally Alec tells Ronny to forget looking for a client for him - he will do it himself. Ronny breaks into a hearty laugh. "What?" asks a confused Alec. "Your wife is going to *kill you*!" roars Ronny.
Jack and Des have been joined at the bar by Vera. Jack is wondering aloud why Don snapped at him so earlier. Vera doesn't know for sure, but if Don snapped at Jack, Jack must have deserved it, she reckons! (yes, much catlike behavior in this episode. truly stellar.) Jack take umbrage at Vera's lack of faith in him. Why, just earlier he was telling Desmond how much he valued his home and family, wasn't he Desmond? Vera doesn't believe this until Des agrees. "Oh, yes, and not just that, Vera. Beauty," Des concurs. Vera is extremely pleased at this (*i* don't know why. i've *never* understood people who are swayed by flattery) and kisses Jack on the cheek, leading Bet to warn a chagrined Jack about snogging in the bar getting frisky!
Kev and Martin arrive at the bar at the same time and Martin "volunteers" Kevin, "the boss", to buy him, "the unemployed" a drink. Kev agrees but says he's only boss of himself. As the good-natured teasing continues, Mavis and Derek walk up. Martin "volunteers" Kev to buy them a drink, too! "Why - is this a celebration?" asks Dirk. "No, it's not a celebration, I'm being wound up!" laughs Kevin. "Never mind," says Dirk, "it happens to me once or twice - after a while you get to know the symptoms!"
Well, I can make no catty commentary about the last, and saddest, scene of the day. Don is walking downstairs with a suitcase in hand. In the kitchen, Ivy is denying reality by burying herself in housework, cutting meats. [Editor's note: but not carrots! Just because Veronica is above catty comments doesn't mean I am.] Don pauses in the living room for a long time, looking at their wedding picture. "Ivy?" he calls. Ivy comes into the living room and stops short when she sees the suitcase. "I'm leaving, Ivy," Don says wearily. "I'm leaving." Ivy, who is *still* somehow in total denial, looks genuinely surprised by this turn of events. "Why? What's happened?" she asks, as if she thinks he might tell her a relative has died and Don must attend the funeral, or some other piece of unexpected news. "I can't stay, now." "Why? What's happened, Don?" she asks again. "Too much, now." Her face becomes a mask of distaste. "Oh, so you're running away, are you?" "If you like. I know I can't stay, anyway." Ivy makes a hissing noise of disgust. "It's pathetic," she says. "No. No, it's not pathetic. But I won't live a lie with you, Ivy." Ivy raises her eyebrows as if to say, "oh, really?" "I've put up with you for four months, now. And I could've put up with it for months more, but -" "It takes two to make misery, Don," Ivy interrupts. " - there's someone else," Don continues. Ivy looks at him in utter shock. She begins shaking her head slowly from side to side in disbelief. "There's someone else," repeats Don. "There's someone else. Yes," he corrects her silent shaking of her head, "so I can't stay now. I'm going to get a bed & breakfast. I'll let you know where when I find one." "Wait-" she begins. "I'll be in touch," says Don as he turns to go. "Wait. Don! - Wait! Wait..." Ivy's face crumples into tears as she continues talking to the closed door.
Written by Veronica with no help at all from Mojo for ronniecat
Lynette Campion: COLETTE STEVENSON Ronny Rogers:
HARRY BEETY
Written by STEPHEN MALLATRATT Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Wednesday (3305, Friday 15 November 1991)
In the aftermath of Don's departure, Ivy sits alone and miserable, sipping her tea and trying to fathom where it all went wrong. Vera calls expecting to take her to work but seeing the state her friend is in, she offers to call the doctor. Ivy just wants to be left alone but Vera insists that Don should be with her. She wants to call him at the taxi company but Ivy finally breaks down and tells her the truth. Vera dismisses Don's going as a "tiff" and promises he'll soon be back - bearing flowers in all likelihood! Ivy smiles wanly but she knows better.
Meanwhile, at Julie's flat, Don is himself looking none too happy. He recounts to Julie that he's walked out, having spent the night at a B & B. She tentatively asks if he left Ivy for her. He answers that he didn't, but he's anxious that she know he wasn't using her. She smiles sympathetically, telling him she understands. He doesn't think he's handled things very well and offers to leave but Julie makes a joke that he's already walked out on one woman, not to repeat the performance! He confesses that he can't seem to shake Ivy off. Even though he's left, she's still with him. (He doesn't mean that in a good way!)
In the corridors of the justice building, we hear the strains of a man and woman volleying back and forth with, "Yes" and "No". Des' solicitor is arguing in favour of telling the court her client's reasons for burning the boat. Des is adamant - he doesn't want his breakup with Steph paraded in public. But Lynette is just as determined, he is going to be defended whether he likes it or not!
On the phone with a travel agent, Alec is making the booking arrangements for his acts for the cruise. Making sure Bet doesn't overhear, he tells the agent to also book a spot for himself. That's right, he'll be accompanying his acts on this cruise, acting as both manager and emcee!
In the courtroom, Miss Campion is arguing for leniency on behalf of her client. She talks about how distraught he was when he committed the crime. That he saw his life going up in flames when he decided to act out his heartbreak. It was a cry for help, she maintains, one that went ignored and now he's punished himself as much as anyone could.
The pub is just opening for the day and Alec is bustling about cheerfully, overseeing every detail. He even compliments Jack and mentions how lucky he is to have staff he can depend on. (Of course, Jack isn't used to hearing the boss talk this way so he immediately wonders what he's done wrong! LOL) Now Alec starts to work on Bet. He grins as he tells her the pub wouldn't fall apart if he weren't there. When she takes it he wants the afternoon away, he impresses on her that he was talking more in the nature of six weeks. No one should make the mistake of thinking they are indispensable, he asserts! As he returns to the back, Bet snags Betty to ask if Alec has said anything to her about running the pub while they take a holiday. Betty replies that he hasn't but Bet now has latched on to the idea and she's very pleased!
In the courtroom, the case has wrapped up and the Chairman of Magistrates renders his judgment. The defense has put forth a forceful and eloquent argument and there were mitigating circumstances to Des' crime. With a warning to stay out of trouble, he hands down a conditional discharge. Des is jubilant and invites Lynette to celebrate with some champagne that night.
Back at No. 5, Martin arrives to drop off Nicky for tea with his granny Ivy as previously arranged. Ivy has forgotten all about the plan and apologises, asking Nicky to come back another day. Martin asks if anything is wrong but she tells him not to ask! They leave but on the way out Martin tells Ivy to let him know if he can be of any help.
In the foyer outside of the parlour, Alec is rehearsing breaking the news of his absence to Bet. When he goes in for the main performance, she starts talking about a holiday. He's completely tongue-tied as she suggests Tenerife, then the Canaries. Not only is he unable to tell her his plans, he can hardly even bring himself to correct the notion that *they* are having a holiday. Bet is livid. She accuses him of building up her hopes only to snatch the rug out from under her. He starts to explain about the cruise but she doesn't want to hear about his "precious cruise"! Why should she care about other folk off having a good time when she can't go away herself?!
In the cafe, Martin is filling Gail in on the situation with Ivy. When Gail decides to go over and see what's wrong, Martin begs her to not to get into a row. Surprised at the suggestion, she says she's only going because of what he told her and promises there won't be a row.
At home with the Websters, Kevin is complaining to Sally about working with Emily. Calling her "Baldwin's spy" he says she's not much use when it comes to the books as he has to stop and explain everything to her anyway. Baldwin comes to the door with Kevin's first wages packet and Sally shows him in. After Mike hands Kevin the envelope, Sally tackles him about Emily, much to Kevin's discomfort. When Baldwin hears that Kevin could do the books himself in half the time it takes to acquaint Emily with everything, he retorts carelessly, "Sack her then!" Kevin is incredulous but Mike assures him that Emily was only there to help out during the start up period and she won't mind. When he's gone, Sally turns to Kevin with satisfaction. Uneasy about Baldwin's cavalier attitude, Kevin points out, "If he can sack Emily that easily, he can sack me anytime."
Gail has called in at Ivy's now but her effort is hardly appreciated. She asks Ivy if she's been to see the doctor and then asks where Don is. Ivy says she doesn't need all these questions, she only wants to be left alone. Gail notices a wedding album open on the table and realising something is seriously wrong, tells Ivy she's only asking out of concern. Ivy snaps that she doesn't want anyone's concern, she just wants to be left alone! When Gail asks if Don has left her alone, Ivy tells her to keep her nose out of it. Turning to leave, Gail pauses to say that she hopes whatever it is can be worked out... Then she adds, (rather cruelly, I thought) "Perhaps, like the rest of us, Don just got sick and tired of you finding fault with the world and everybody in it!"
In the Rovers, Derek and Mavis are having a cuddle in their booth when Bet comes along and tells them "heavy petting" is not permitted! Mavis takes offense and suggests they adjourn to their own home where they don't have to put up with "smutty-minded landladies"!
Unaware that she's upset Mavis, Bet moves on to Alec, gently teasing him for his sulkiness. He counters that she is the one who was sulking earlier and she stops to show him that she's smiling now. Under his breath and with a sense of dread he mutters, "You won't be for long!"
As Des and Lynette sip their victory Champagne, he tells her a little more about his life with Steph. "Bare knuckle fights", he recalls, "the incident with the boat just topped it off". He tells her how nice it is to find a woman who understands him. "A solicitor who understands you", she corrects. When he jokingly offers to blow up a boat for her, she's quick to say if he does, he can find someone else to defend him!
Dropping in to check on Ivy, Vera finds her less depressed but angrier than she was this morning. Asked if she's heard anything from Don, Ivy responds that she hasn't. Defiantly, she adds that if he doesn't get in touch soon, she'll have to find a way to contact him!
Mavis and Derek are surprised to see flames coming from their back garden. Upon further investigation, Derek sees a paper boat ablaze in their pond. He informs Mavis and adds that it can only be the work of one person! Giving a snort of disgust, they go back inside. (Des is going to hear about it, come tomorrow!)
From Des' patio door, he and Lynette are gleefully enjoying the little bonfire. He asks how she plans to defend him this time and she replies whimsically that she'll just have to say that he's a "hopeless romantic". Embracing her, he replies, "Only with the right company". The two retreat within, presumably to go upstairs.
Anita Belanger
Lynette Campion: COLETTE STEVENSON Chairman
of Magistrates: BRIAN BAINES
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Thursday (3306, Monday 18 November 1991)
A beautiful woman in a silk dressing gown. Des in the kitchens squeezing orange juice. Lynette turns down breakfast but accepts the juice, surprised that a single man would even have a supply of oranges in. That's the lovely Phyllis, he explains, caters to his every whim, waits on him hand and foot and makes sure he gets it daily ! Vitamin C of course and she's 75 if she's a day! Lynette asks Des if he has any regrets. She doesn't but is concerned that he still has residual bruising from his marriage. (who's silk dressing gown then? Seemed to fit ok, an old one of Steph's?)
Another woman. Another dressing gown. No smiles here. In fact, Ivy looks like she's had a sleepless night. Or that could be well rested, I can never tell the difference! LOL! She takes two cups off the shelf out of habit before remembering that Don isn't there. She swallows hard, and calls Vera, asking her to make her excuses at work again today. She just can't face it if her personal problems got broadcasted around. Besides, she smiles ruefully, don might come back with flowers in hand by teatime and it'll all be over. But she doesn't really believe it.
Des and Lynnette, fully dressed now, head outside to their cars. Des hopes to see her tonight but she prevaricates. His face falls and she tells him not to be so insecure! She makes it clear he can back off now and there will be no hard feelings, no obligations. When he makes it clear he really does want to see her again if she wants it too, she says she only hesitated because she has to look at her appointment book first. They kiss lightly first then deeply. Derek, who's just passing, tightens his face with disapproval and snipes about the possibility of an apology. With a devilish grin, Des teases, is it against his religion? Snogging before breakfast? Derek clarifies, it's about the paper boat burning incident which scared poor Mavis out of her wits. What on earth was Des trying to do anyway? Des laughs that it was just a new seduction technique he was trying out and it didn't 'alf work! Derek sniffs, realizing he's not going to get a straight answer, drives off, leaving the young couple giggling.
In the Kabin, Mavis decides Des is a danger to society and wonders how Steph could have lived with such a lunatic. Not, she adds, that she condoned what Stephanie Barnes did. Mavis wonders testily what he's going to set fire to next! Rita winds Mavis up with thoughts of flaming birdcages and barbecued budgie and then scolds Mavis for not recognizing the joke. Des enters the shop and is asked to explain the boat thing. He "humbly" declares he was only recreating the scene of the crime for his solicitor and having no patch of water in his own garden, borrowed the Wilton's. Yes, he should have asked permission and even goes down on his knees for forgiveness. Give over, Rita tsks, and asked him how the court case went, deport you to Oz or anything? Nah, Des says as he gets back on his feet, wouldn't be that lucky, no, he got off easily considering he didn't really have a leg to stand on. And with a twinkle in his eye, he goes on to say that he is legally responsible for removing the remains of the boat from the canal and has no other choice but to bring it back home! Poor Mavis nearly passes a stone and squeals in protest! Well, he sincerely says, he really doesn't have a choice, does he, it's the law. He leaves Rita to pick up the pieces and she scolds Mavis, she really has to learn when someone is pulling her skinny little legs! Indeed!
We are now inside St. Luke's, a lovely looking interior with modern fittings and pews. Ivy is knelt at one, head bowed into her hands around which are tangled a set of rosary beads. She is praying fervently until Father O'Rourke gently interrupts her. Is there anything he can do to help? Does she want to talk? Ivy doesn't feel she can discuss her troubles so he offers to make her a cup of tea.
Alec is dressed to the nines and is off to see his accountant. Bet sees him off with a smile and a kiss. Over in a booth, Sally and Kevin are treating themselves to lunch since Angie has wheeled Rosie off for a walk. Jack is gossiping behind the bar telling Bet and Liz about Don doing a bunk. He is warned to keep that sort of thing quiet, Ivy wouldn't want her business spread about. Jack feels he could tell them, his mates, just as they could tell him anything as well. Liz adds, as long as we didn't want it broadcasted! A mate of Alec's, Ronny, arrives to be told by Bet that he's just missed Alec not five minutes since! Ronny asks to pass a message on, he just wanted to wish Alec "Bon Voyage" and make sure he sends him a racy postcard! The rattle of spilled beans and screech of cats let out of the bag is audible as Ronny confirms that Alec is indeed going on that cruise as the M.C. and Bet pins a crooked smile on her face to cover her shock. (I think Alec had better make sure he's got a life jacket as he just might end up tossed overboard for the sharks if Bet has owt to say about it now!)
Back at the church rectory, Ivy is tearfully wondering what she did wrong? She was a good wife wasn't she? She has apparently found her tongue (not that difficult to do) and explains that any recent problems were not between her and Don but with her daughter in law and her so-called husband! What was so wrong with wanting her grandson brought up in the Faith? The priest gently points out it might have been her method of putting it across. Ivy does admit (wonders have ceased!) that she could have been more tactful but it certainly wasn't enough to make Don want to leave and definitely not to turn him to another woman! She describes her and Don both as plain speakers so why couldn't he talk to her before now if there was a problem? Maybe, Father O'Rourke adds, he knew you wouldn't hear him. Through her tears she seems to see a spark of truth.
It's teatime and Derek is home. Judgmentally, he and Mavis discuss Des's brazen new girlfriend and his threats to bring the boat back to his garden. They dismiss that as an idle joke until they hear a truck outside sounding it's horn. They exchange a horror-filled glance and rush outside where they see a truck pulling the charred remains of Des's boat on a trailer! Percy is there to stick his oar in too (har har har, I crack myself up sometimes !!!) Over strenuous objections, Percy believes Des can be charged in the court of Human Rights. Des, with a straight face, says he understands but doesn't know what else to do! Mavis is so upset she threatens to leave if that boat is returned. Percy points out that Mavis isn't that well balanced at the best of times, poor soul so Des "backs down" and tells the driver to take it away, they'll have to find somewhere else to take the boat. Mavis and Derek catch their breath, seemingly a bit disappointed that they didn't have to fight harder, while Percy crows that it was his threat of the court that made the difference. Oh yes, I'm often accused of meddlin' but I do have me uses, he declares with satisfaction of a job well done! (I have to say this scene was performed with wonderful comedic timing! Even Percy, who usually just annoys me, was the perfect addition, the Greek chorus that set the fine touches on this scene!)
Vera is checking up on her friend and verifies that Don hasn't returned yet. She hurls a few insults at Don's expense and they neither of them know where he's staying although, Vera adds, Ivy does know where he works. Vera advises Ivy to go down there and drag Don back by his scruffy neck! Oh, Ivy gasps, she could never go to his workplace and humiliate herself! So, Vera points out, hitting the bull's eye, you're gonna sit there and let him do it for ya?
Bet sits in the back room, nose in air, waiting for Alec to return. He does. She cuts off his recollection of his accountant appointment with a few cutting remarks about Panama hats and sunburned bald heads. He makes out he doesn't know what she's on about until she mentions his friend Ronny who apparently wasn't briefed well enough not to spill the beans. Oh. She makes it clear, as only she can, that she resents feeling like a mug and resents being treated like the hired help. Just when was he going to tell her? He says it has only just come up because he couldn't find anyone else. And over Christmas and all, Bet moans, the busiest time of year! Deadly with her mark, she thought she was his wife. Turns out she's just the skivvy!
Don arrives in the dispatch office and is pointed in the direction of Ivy who is sitting against a wall looking nervously at Don. He doesn't want to talk but she feels he owes her that much and he says they can talk in the car.
Lynette shows up at the Rovers with a delighted Des. Rita accosts him from across the bar, wanting to pick a bone or three with him for giving her staff a nervous breakdown over his stunt with the boat! He admits he paid the driver to make a little detour on the way to the tip. Everyone laughs at the joke with the women thinking he ought to have his bottom smacked for it and the men, Jim and Jack, toasting Des on his ingenuity. Jack only wishes he had thought of it!
Don sits stonefaced in the car but Ivy pushes all the guilt buttons (marriage vows before God) so he reluctantly follows her into the house away from prying eyes. She mentions her visit and chat to the priest and what he said about her not hearing what Don had to say. Don agrees, she only hears what she wants to hear. She gets fixed ideas and stuck in a groove and expects everyone else to get stuck with her! It's all right to grieve but she's tried to make her life and everyone else's a shrine to Bert and Brian. But she only wanted . . . He interrupts, "Aye, to do what's right, I know" Only thing is she doesn't seem to realize there can be more than one version of what's right!
She implores, she'll do anything he says if he'll come back and then bitterly makes a few swipes at "that girl" wanting to know all about her. Don puts her off but slips and mentions her name. Oh, Ivy pipes up disdainfully, "JULie is it?" She is even more disdainful when she finds out that Julie is a barmaid and finds a focal point to move the guilt away from herself and onto someone else, guessing that Julie led Don on and made eyes at him. Which he denies and seeing it's futile to talk anymore, attempts to leave. She gets him to stay by offering to make him tea and . . . tea. He stays against his better judgement while she hopefully asks where he's staying (B&B). She is crestfallen to find out (dragged it out of him) that Julie is younger than her, in her early 40's. He admits he's not proud of himself but couldn't take any more. She promises she'll change, she really will try and begs him. She loves him! Not really she doesn't, Don sighs heavily, there's something inside that can't allow her to love anyone generously, warts and all, for what they are not what she thinks they ought to be. She's speechless for a moment but tries to get him to admit that they were mostly happy except when he was gambling. She tries to prevent him from leaving, knowing he won't ever come back if he does and begs him to stay. Sleep on the settee but stay. She cries and begs and finally he sighs deeply, acquiescing.
Bet is watching telly though her mind isn't on it. Alec enters and tries to talk to her, to explain and apologize for not telling her he was going away. He is hoping he can work it so they both can go next time. Cruise lines are big business and it could be a new world for the two of them and repeats, he's doing it for her! She doesn't appreciate his sacrifice even though he says it won't be all sun but hard work too. As will running the pub over Christmas on her own, she says dryly. He promises to make it up to her when he returns, a trip to Paris perhaps but she coolly retorts that he seems to be taking it for granted that she'll hold down the fort. Confused, he doesn't think she'd not do it. Oh? Bet's voice is filled with disillusion, betrayal and hurt, but it's not her responsibility, it's his name over the door isn't it? She's just the hired help! Alec looks ill.
Diane Johnston
Lynette Campion COLETTE STEVENSON Father O'Rourke
PETER CAFFREY Ron Rogers HARRY BEETY Driver JIM RYAN Frank BRYN
ELLIS
Written by FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3307, Wednesday 20 November 1991)
In the early morning Ivy creeps downstairs and stands gazing at Don as he sleeps on the settee. He wakes and she intones that there is a spare bed upstairs he might have used. He prepares to leave but she begs him to stay, if not for breakfast, for a cup of tea at least. She sarcastically points out that a cup of tea doesn't amount to a commitment and promises not to poison him and he relents.
Jack is bringing in the milk and spots Don's taxi still parked outside. When he mentions it to Vera, she demands that he tell her what he knows about Don's "fancy piece". Jack proclaims his ignorance on the matter but Vera says she'll be watching *him* for signs of infidelity. If she catches him, it won't be the vet's but a pair of bricks from their back yard for him, she promises!
Don is on his way out by now and Ivy follows him to the door, begging him to reconsider walking out on their marriage. She promises it will be different from now on. Don looks frazzled already and grudgingly agrees to think about it. He promises to come over later, not for dinner, just to see how she is.
In the Kabin, Mavis complains to Rita that it's worrisome to be living next door to Des - she thinks he's unbalanced. Rita says the paper boat in the pond was only a bit of fun, he was showing off to his lady friend. But Mavis persists, he must be obsessed with flames, she thinks. Suddenly, she changes gears, taking great delight in informing Rita that his solicitor "friend" spent the night. Rita teasingly suggests that perhaps they were only talking and Mavis rolls her eyes with comic skepticism.
As the staff are preparing for opening the pub, Jack gleefully informs Betty and Liz that Alec and Bet are at war. Alec comes through unexpectedly and Jack immediately starts singing loudly as a sign to the others to stop talking about it. Alec doesnít even notice - he has other things on his mind. He asks Betty if she can prepare a turkey dinner for this evening, complete with all the trimmings. Then he prevails upon Liz to nip out to the shops and purchase a bottle of scent for £20 - no, better make it £30. Jack remarks that he's being "a bit previous" for Christmas so Alec explains to them all about the cruise. He implores them to give all their support to Bet while he's gone, from tomorrow through Christmas. He proceeds to paint a picture of himself grafting away on the high seas while they stay and enjoy all the comforts of home, the fallacy of which fools none of them!
In the cafe, Sally asks Gail if what she heard in the Rovers last night is true - does Don have a girlfriend? Alma speculates on the possibility but Gail cuts her off, saying if it came from Vera Duckworth, it's probably a misunderstanding. Sally presses the point by mentioning that Ivy and Don have been troubled lately but Gail refuses comment with, "Least said, soon'st mended!" With Sally gone, Gail confides to Alma that she had the impression of Don that he'd put up with anything. Reflecting for a minute, she adds, "I guess Ivy thought so too".
The Rovers is buzzing now but Bet is conspicuously absent. Liz wonders where Bet is and Alec says she is "recharging her batteries". She asks if Alec has given her the perfume yet but he says he's waiting for the right moment. Across the bar, Jim offers to buy Kevin another pint. When Kevin says he has to get back to work, Jim chides him about not wanting the boss to smell his breath. Rita comes in and positions herself at the bar just as Bet comes through from the back. She is the picture of sobriety in her plain black dress, unsmiling and grim. Alec greets her cheerily, telling her she lights up a room when she enters but she returns only that he'll have to manage without her today because she is "switched off"! Ordering doubles for herself and Rita "on the house", she motions for Rita to follow her to the nearest booth.
Now seated, Bet invites Rita to come out and join her for a boozy lunch. When Rita pleads that she has to get back to Mavis, Bet decides they'll have lunch here instead. "And I can tell you all about that devious, conniving, *ratbag* I was daft enough to marry!" she says, raising her voice to ensure Alec's attention.
Don has come back much earlier than Ivy expected. Her face lights up as he enters but her hopes are soon dashed. He's only come to tell her he's decided there's no point in dragging things out - they should face facts, their marriage is over.
From their booth, Bet watches Alec scornfully, all the while complaining to Rita about him. Rita concedes that "Alec is always the fourth fella when there are only three shovels". She ought to know as she used to work for him. But, she points out, this cruise won't be a holiday for him either. Bet doesn't see it that way at all - he'll be in the sun while she's at home running things. Rita urges her to consider Alec's track record - he's always been penny ante. She reckons he'll end up working pretty hard on that cruise and that his accommodations won't be any too luxurious either!
The Brennans are still negotiating their future. Ivy pleads again to stay together but Don remarks that she's mainly concerned with appearances. He's wrong, she tells him - she doesn't care what the neighbours think - she wants *him*! He allows that she may believe that but he thinks she is kidding herself. He can't fathom why she even wants to stay married - he doesn't see what she gets out of it. As far as he can see, she's given every indication that she's miserable! He concludes by saying that he doesn't meet her needs. She protests again that he's wrong - she's taken him for granted up to now, but all that is going to change! She'll be like she was when they first got married, she promises.
Jack is relaxing in front of the telly when Vera comes in from work. She starts complaining that he hasn't tidied up like she asked him to. He comes up with an excuse but she ignores him and changes tracks to mention sourly that Don's car is still outside. Jack tells her about Bet and Alec's discord over the cruise causing her to remark, "Men! Yer swine, the lot of you!"
Mike has just finished what he calls a fabulous meal in the cafe and Alma looks anxious for him to leave. She comes over to give the table a wipe but instead of taking the hint, he compliments her on her "hygiene". In his own good time, he gets up to leave and hands her his business card on his way out, urging that she ring him "anytime". As soon as he leaves, Alma rips the card into tiny pieces, her face tense with frustration.
Another round with Don and Ivy. She reminds him of his vows again, pointing out that you don't just get a divorce when things go sour. "Who said anything about divorce?" he asks. He has no plans to ever marry again, he tells her! Taking a very deep breath, he asks if she *really* wants them to stay together. "Yes!" she answers. "Well, then", he accedes with a sigh, "we'll give it another go". Relief floods Ivy's face but only momentarily. She looks pensive, then puts forth a surprising proposal. She wants them to move away. Don is taken aback at the request but as she explains her reasoning, (the house holds too many memories for her - Bert, RBrian, now *this*) he nods his agreement. They'll move then, and make a fresh start somewhere else.
Betty has cooked the turkey and now sets it down on the dining table with a flourish. Alec expresses his appreciation and beseeches Bet to come and join him but she's having none of it. She stonily informs him she wants her Christmas on Christmas day, *not* on November 20th! Alec does his best to cajole her. It isn't as if he'll be enjoying himself while he's away - he'd much prefer to be home with her. "Then don't go", she replies firmly. Another appeal, this one based on the fact that he's only looking to the future. In the middle of his plea, Jack enters singing at the top of his lungs, "Ding-dong Merrily on High" and waving a branch of holly. Alec shouts, "Back in the bar you lunatic!", slamming the door and catching the holly in it. On the other side of the door, Jack stammers that he was only trying to inject a bit of Christmas feeling.
At the bar, Des has got a drink in for Phyllis and is now telling her about the new woman in his life. She's pleased he's found someone but when he tells her it's his solicitor, she cautions against a career woman. "What you want is a nice girl who'll stay at home and have babies!" she tells him.
A little ways down the bar stand Ken and Alma, discussing the film they plan on seeing tomorrow evening, 'Misery'. Alma says she's heard it's good, "about a chap in the power of a fiendish woman". Jack overhears and comments to the effect that all men are in the power of fiendish women. Vera objects to the remark but Jack is spared the full impact of her anger when she is distracted by Don and Ivy coming in. As Don goes to the bar to get their drinks, Vera follows Ivy to a booth and offers to "have a go" at Don for her. Ivy declines the offer and happily informs Vera of the news - she and Don will be moving away.
In the parlour again, Alec is still trying to get Bet to tuck in to their Christmas dinner. "I'm not mad about turkey at the best of times", she coldly informs him, "and this *isn't* one of them!" Sitting down beside her on the settee, he begs her to consider what the cruise could mean to their future. A "mission to prosperity", he calls it. He doesn't want them to be at odds, he says, not on their last night together. His hands tenderly brushes her arm but she plucks it off again, accusing him of only being after "a sailorís farewell". Well he won't be getting it, she informs him! She intends to sleep in the spare room tonight - so he'll be "sailing" on his "maiden voyage"!
Anita Belanger
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by KEN HORN
Monday (3308, Friday 22 November 1991)
Intentions are declared.
Alec is leaving for Southampton by train later today and is running around doing last minute packing. He is distracted as he asks Bet where his sponge bag is but soon comes crashing down to earth when she snaps "Ask your sponge! She whips past him into the bar where Betty is setting up for the day. Betty asks when Alec is leaving. Bet didn't bother to find out. Betty is tender in her support and softly asks if Bet thinks Alec will really go? He's packed is her curt reply and, lowering her head, admits that if the fat fool had said he wouldn't go, she'd probably let him but makes Betty swear not to tell Alec she said that. Jack emerges from the cellar and seems to have something on his mind as he approaches Bet, who has no time for him and leaves the room. Betty is suspicious that Jack is up to something (when isn't he?) but he just moves away, whistling innocently.
Ivy has come home to have dinner with Don. She keeps up a falsely cheerful running commentary about nothing in particular while he eats, not answering her in much more than a grunt or two, clearly with the mindset of someone forced to be somewhere he doesn't want to be but is, out of duty and guilt. He looks at her sharply when she wants to know what his plans are for the afternoon but he does reveal that he's going to see Julie to finish with her. He can't leave her hanging without an explanation, he owes her that much. Ivy finds it hard to swallow the fact that Don will be seeing Julie at her flat. She leaves to go back to work with a shaky "See you tonight, then?" Don stares at the wall and grunts, yep.
Mike comes in to the cafe for a bacon butty. Gail and Alma seem to be having a daft day, joking and talking nonsense the way you sometimes do when you're in a carefree good mood. Ken is just leaving and he and Alma set a time to meet up tonight. The two men exchange cautious glances. Gail teases Alma, What's it like to be swamped with boyish smiles? As the camera pans over to Mike, brightly beaming from ear to ear over at Alma.
Back in the Rovers, Bet is busy putting up happy faces for the punters. Alec pops into the bar but gets nowt but that pasty smile which thinly disguises her sarcastic remarks. Betty ascertains from Alec that he really is leaving. He tries to find out from Betty if Bet has said anything to her but Betty keeps Bet's confidence and only mentions that Bet is very hurt and bitter. Jack again tries to approach Bet with whatever it is on his mind but she cuts him off cold, instructing him to take it up with Alec since he's still the boss as long as he's there.
Vera and Ivy clip clop back down the pavement towards Bettabuys chatting about shopping and other incidentals. Vera asks after Don and is informed about Don's plans for the afternoon. Ivy explains (not really convincing anyone that she believes it) that Don felt he owed Julie and explanation due to the fact that he's a decent man, is Don.
But it's true. Don arrives at Julie's and after a bit of small talk, she can see there's something serious on his mind. Spit it out, for heaven's sake! So he does. He's going back to Ivy and trying to make it up with her. Julie feels the need for some alcoholic fortifications for the enusing discussion although she's not that surprised at the news.
Back to the pub, Percy and Phyllis squabble over holidays for two. No stars for correct guesses who want's to go on a foreign holiday in the sun and who is predictably prickling and wanting nothing to do with it, foreign or not!
In a very funny dialogue, Jim leans over the bar to "confide" in Alec (taking a very big mickey out of him in the process). He earnestly commends Alec for pulling it off so smoothly, any man that can get himself on a sunny cruise under the guise of work is to be congratulated for his nerve! Jim admits he's underestimated Alec, so he has, he's not a wimp under Bet's thumb after all! He's sticking up for what he wants, not giving a toss for what Bet thinks! Alec looks a bit disturbed at that accusation. He really gets Alec going by revealing further confidences, telling him that Liz reckons Bet thinks he's the biggest rat since Mussolini and is ready to burn the place down as soon as he's out the door on the plane to London! Alec sputters something about taking the train. Fair play, Jim exclaims, you'll probably see the flames as you pass through Southport then! Alec spins about , possibly warding off a nervous fit on his way to confront Bet but Jack prevents him from advancing any farther.
Don attempts to explain his actions to Julie who sighs in resignation and tells him she wishes he hadn't bothered. Had he never showed his face around her again, she'd have figured out he went back to his wife, or she would have heard from another of the drivers. She'd have been sad and angry for a bit but would have got over it. He hands his head and mutters that he couldn't have taken the coward's way out, it's not his style (style? When has Don Brennan ever had "style"?) So why did he sleep with her, she wonders, because he wasn't drunk. Was it love?Lust? He can only reply that he wanted to and realizes how that sounds judging from the sheepish look on his face. Didn't he think it might lead to something more, she pushes, because she did. She's always hopeful she might meet someone that she could live with again. She knew he was on the rebound but he seemed a nice man and people do get divorced, after all. He doesn't really have a whole lot to say in his own defense, realizing how used she is feeling as she continues her dignified attack, accusing straying husbands of taking advantage. He denies that he was taking advantage of her vulnerability but you know he can see the truth in it. She ruefully accepts that she's been left with the brandy bottle, a wide variety of makeup and a bit more of her self esteem missing yet again. Don's only answer is to apologize again before he gets ready to leave but she dismisses him. Forget about her, she'll survive, the unspoken "I always do" lingering in the air as he slinks out, tail between his legs.
We finally find out what Jack's been on about all day as he explains to Alec that he's had an offer from another pub that he's seriously considering only he realizes what a position it will put Bet in if he leaves with Alec out of the country as well. He's prepared to turn the other job down and stay at the Rovers, be there in support of his good friends Bet and Alec in Bet's time of need, for a token of appreciation, of course! (monetary!) As he spins his tale, however, he fails to notice Alec's complexion go from red to purple and his eye narrow in rage at Jack's obvious stunt to get a pay rise. He gets a rise all right, out of Alec who leaps up and clutches Jack around the neck with both hands!!
At bit later, Bet makes a half hearted pass at Mike across the bar, asking him to drive her away somewhere in the Jag. Can't, Love, he grins, he has other fish to fry. Jack works the sympathy angle by favouring his "injured" neck. He repeats the whole sordid incident to Bet (who already knows but it has to be done so Betty and Liz can overhear). He gets more than he bargained for when she claps him on the back and wishes him good luck at the new job! If that weren't enough, Betty and Liz stand, one on either side of him and proceed to castigate him sharply with abuse and name calling ("Toe Rag!") for his stunt.
In back, Bet steels herself when Alec comes in to say good bye. He tries once more to paint this as the potential beginning for a new life for them both but backs down when Bet calls his bluff, offering to shut the pub and come with him, taking the risk together. That's right, she hurls the accusation, you're not doing it for us, you're doing it for You! You get the high life and sunshine and if it doesn't work out, he comes back to the pub. All she gets is swollen ankles and frostbite. Betty hesitantly interrupts to fetch Alec as the taxi has arrived. Bet faces Alec and with words heavy with implications, warns him If You Go.... If you go, Alec, well . . . we'll see. But she doesn't really have the courage to say "don't come back". He quietly leaves with that one last reassurance that he's doing it for them and closes the door (and i think he probably does believe it) She turns away, eyes brimming with tears.
Alec has Jack bring his bags to the taxi and sourly thanks Betty and Liz for their wishes for a safe journey. He hesitates, gazing hopefully towards the entry to the living quarters but when Bet doesn't appear, he sadly leaves. Jack expresses his loyalty to the boss, pledging that he can be depended on. Very wise, Jack, warns Alec, but try another stunt like that and it'll take Tarzan to get me 'ands of yer throat! Jack stretches his neck as if he can feel the steel-gripped talons around it already as Alec enters the taxi and is conveyed away to the train station.
Inside, Bet emerges and Jack re-enters the bar, informing them that Alec is away. Betty, Liz and Jack stand around, self consciously wondering where to look or what to say. Bet's face is like stone with tears pooling in her eyes. Betty gently tells Bet she shouldn't have let Alec go in anger. Bet's voice is barely above a whisper as she agrees and she shakily turns and lurches toward the living room and closed doors so she won't cry in front of the staff. Betty rallies the troops to pledge their support for Bet. She's not as tough as she puts on, ya know!
Later, Vera and Ivy enter Number 5 after work. There doesn't seem to be any evidence of Don and Ivy of course thinks the worst. But she smiles when Don comes down the stairs. Vera makes herself scarce and goes home. Don realizes Vera knows everything which only adds to his humiliation. Ivy points out she could hardly keep crying in front of her friend without questions being asked. Don has made tea so Ivy begins to lay the table while he finishes his newspaper. He's sitting in his chair and she's facing away from him towards the table. She hesitates and then fearfully asks, did he see her? Did he tell her? Don did. What did she say? (because you DO want to know in spite of yourself) Don painfully admits Julie made him feel "this" small. Ivy's bitterly wry response is "Oh, how could she do that?" (I know where that's coming from oh too well! In spite of the fact that you have "won" your mate back, it's a hollow victory and you still feel like lashing out and hurting him/her as some small measure of backlash to your own pain) Don's own guilt spills over what he has done to Julie. He exclaims, with quiet agony of defeat and guilt, that she (ironically) called him a decent man when all he could see was his own anger, pain and need for comfort and he never considered Julie for one minute!
Ivy is afraid Don is blaming her. If he is, he decently avoides a direct answer and says that he'll never forget Julie, never forget that she's the first woman he's hurt for his own selfish ends. Ivy's face crumples in pain as he vows never to hurt anyone ever again, he doesn't like the taste. When she asks if he's staying, then, she says he is. She expresses her hopes that they can put it all behind when they move away and make a fresh start. He brightens up just a little, ready to face the future and goes to fetch the tea, spud pie, out of the oven. He leaves Ivy stunned and exhausted after the hollow victory of the battle to save her marriage, knowing she's got a long row to hoe!
Jack is still playing up his neck injuries to Vera but doesn't get much sympathy there either. Bet arrives in the bar with a brave face on, anger beginning to overcome her hurt. She tells Rita that Alec is just being bloody minded for not calling and letting her know he's arrived in Southampton safely. Rita is supportive of her friend 100% and Bet decides some measure of getting her own back is called for and offers to buy drinks for Rita, Ken, Betty and Liz on the house. Jack only gets a finger wagged in his face in warning and Liz reckons that the women are taking over, and not before time. Ken applauds the decision, he loves women and wouldn't be without at least one (or two or three. . .)
In the cafe, Gail and Alma are done clearing up and ready to close. Mike is back in the cafe eating his tea this time. Gail observes that he looks a bit lonely but Alma scoffs at that. He couldn't possibly what with keeping all his chorus girls in champagne and caviar. Gail leaves Alma to throw him out before Ken arrives for their date. Mike ferries his dishes back to the counter with compliments to the cook. He asks if she's doing anything tonight because he isn't, he smiles hopefully. She is. Barlow, is it? If he means is she seeing Ken then yes. He opines that Barlow is not meant for her but retorts, she'll decide that. Mike is his cocky best when he informs her, matter of factly, that she's only putting off the day that they will get back together, and they will because they should, he predicts with a grin. And he's going to make sure they do!
A gold star for Lynn Perrie today. I know Ivy isn't a very sympathetic character and I know that Ivy has done most of the pushing which resulted in Don's affair. However, today, Lynn Perrie performed each and every one of her scenes with the exactly right combination of emotions, revealing Ivy's pain, trepidation, fear, cautious optimism, false bravado, apprehension and jealousy. Ivy doesn't really accept her part in the breakdown of the marriage which has exploded in her face and though she's fought back and won another chance, she knows his heart still isn't really in it and as I called it earlier, it's a hollow victory. He's there more out of obligation and guilt and Julie is still in his thoughts and heart. The post-mortem on this marriage is going to be long and painful as we now know.
And a silver star for Julie Goodyear and Roy Barraclough. The first big crack has appeared in the Gilroy marriage. It's the beginning of the end and they both seem to know it instinctively. She puts a brave face on it as she does every time she is knocked down. She always gets up again but the older she gets the harder it is to rebound and pick up the pieces. He follows the stars to the perceived pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, pound signs continually driving his actions. I was not watching the show when Alec and Bet became a couple and although they often seemed to have very tender moments supporting each other in rough times, they never really seemed a realistically suited couple to me. Undeniably, the two actors work consistently well together. Roy Barraclough makes Alec Gilroy consistently unlikeable with brilliant comic timing and Julie portrays Bet Lynch Gilroy as the quintessential tough broad with a rapier wit masking a soft vulnerable interior.
All three of today's featured artists are some of the brilliant actors on Coronation Street that never waver in their excellent portrayal of their characters over the years. You don't have to like their characters to recognize that.
Diane Johnston
Julie Dewhirst SU ELLIOTT (possibly last appearance
by Su Elliott...stay tuned! )
Written by LESLIE DUXBURY Directed by KEN HORN
Tuesday (3309, Monday 25 November 1991)
Our Corrie day begins with Roly Poly Reg bouncing into the Kabin. The telling glance exchanged between Rita and Mavis tell us they're not thrilled to see him at this hour. He is looking for the Financial Times, although he doubts anyone around here reads it. Rita teases that yes, there is a bin man in the area who takes it regularly so she does have it on hand. Reg is in a fine mood this morning, waxing rapturous about people getting into their pre-Christmas shopping frenzy - "spend, spend, spend!" he gloats. Mavis looks uncomfortable and asks if Reg doesn't ever feel a bit badly about contributing to the commercial, well, defilement of what is really a religious celebration? She knows she sometimes does! Reg apparently doesn't lose any sleep at the prospect - but he does threaten Rita with reporting Mavis to the Chamber of Commerce if she keeps up that sort of talk!
Alma is sitting pensively with a cup of tea in the caf when Gail arrives to open up. She is somewhat short with Gail's teasing about her relaxing with work to be done, saying she just wanted a cup of tea before starting, is that ok? Gail sits down in mock resignation, saying it's clearly just as well to talk whatever's bothering Alma out or they'll never get any work done. Alma tells Gail that Mike wants her back. "What else is new?" asks an unsurprised Gail. No, Alma says - he's said it now, said it out loud, and it is clear that for her this changes things.
In the Rovers Betty is relieved to see Liz arrive. Jack's back is out, she informs Liz, and Bet has effectively gone on strike, saying that if Alec can have a holiday so can she! This leaves just Liz and Betty to run the pub, and it's clear neither are happy with this turn of events.
In another part of the neighbourhood Curly is called into Reg's Bettabuys office. Reg, shaking a Santa beard in his hand, informs Curly that Santa Claus is dead! Curly is understandably taken aback at this news, and Reg goes on to explain that their regular seasonal "Santa" has passed away and they will need to find a replacement for him - or, more accurately, CURLY will have to find a replacement for him! Reg warns Curly to get someone decent, too, not someone who'll show up with beer on his breath - "I've heard more than one youngster ask if Santa goes to the same pub as Daddy!" Curly assures Reginald that he will find someone who's "clean in his habits and speaks like Roger Moore!" After Curly takes his leave, Reg tries on the Santa beard for size and lets out a less-than-stirring "HO HO HO!"
In the caf a handsome delivery man comes in with a huge bouquet of flowers. "Alma Sedgewick?" he asks the intended recipient, going on to comment on how nice it is to see people sending flowers, especially at this time of year. Gail agrees, while Alma smiles politely. After the delivery man leaves, Gail looks for a card. Alma says she doesn't need a card - it's quite clear who they're from! She moves to throw the flowers out but Gail intervenes to save them, commenting that it *is* nice to have flowers around, especially at this time of the year, as the delivery man said. Alma is peeved that Mike B. thinks it's just a matter of time until she "falls into his arms". She repeats for Gail Mike's comments that "You're just putting off the day when you and I get back together, and I intend to see that we do!" "Like I've got nothing to do with it!" Alma fumes. "I mean, how can anyone be that conceited?" (Good Lord, Alma, this is Mike Baldwin. I mean, you were born one night but it wasn't last night!) "That's par for the course as far as most fellas are concerned!" according to Gail.
In a very posh bar, Des is celebrating his legal victory with Lynette and her friend Phillipa (at least, that's what the credits say, but I could have sworn he called her Jennifer all through the following scenes! Oh well, never argue with the Coronation Street Gods!). It does his self-image good, says Des, being seen in public with "a couple of cracking birds"! Lynette apologizes for Des' language. "What?" he asks. "Calling us 'birds'. We haven't got tail feathers and beaks!" "Sorry. 'Young ladies'." Des corrects himself, continuing to Phillipa, "So, what do you do for a living? Something legal, I hope? Not like your friend here. The *il*legal profession, I call it. Her job is trying to get guilty people off, isn't it?" "I'm a solicitor, too," replies Phillipa. "Oh. Nobody's perfect," Des replies. Phillipa says that Lynnette has told her about Desmond's "experience". "Has she?" says Des, slightly uncomfortable. "Yes, and like her, I think it's wonderful, burning your boat like that. A fiery sacrifice to a lost love!" waxes Phillipa. Des says that he felt he should make some kind of gesture - given the sort of relationship he and Steph had, going out with a whimper just didn't seem appropriate. "What kind of relationship was it?" inquires Phillipa. "Tempestuous, I suppose you could call it," Des says. "I can imagine," flirts Phillipa. "Have you gotten over her yet? Your wife?" "No, not really," Des says as Lynette eyes him closely. "Lynne here's been a big help." "Lucky, lucky Lynne!" says Phillipa lecherously. (Why do I get the strongly uncomfortable feeling that these girls are "slumming" with Des?)
The Rovers is busy this dinnertime and Betty and Liz snap at each other about their respective overheavy workloads. Don and Alf are standing at the bar where Don is informing Alf that he and Ivy are considering moving. Alf says that the worst thing he ever did was to saddle himself with his house. Ivy wants to move, Don says. "Oh yes," says Alf. "Change of scene, eh?" Well, he continues, he and Audrey moved. Change of scene, all right, different scene, same people. Still like chalk and cheese. "Thanks, Alf," says Don dispiritedly. "You've really cheered me up a bunch!"
Gail is nattering on in the caf about how Martin reckons that the reason Ivy wants to move is so she can keep a closer eye on Don. Alma is completely distracted. Gail observes that Alma is "in a state", which Alma hotly denies. Gail cheerily advises just ignoring Mike - which seems like great advice except she barely has the words out of her mouth when an equally cheery Mike bounds into the caf with that patented grin! He orders a cup of tea and observes that Alma got the flowers. "Oh, Gail!" says Alma airily. "The flowers were from Mr. Baldwin! We thought they were from Fred, didn't we, Gail?" Fred, she claims, is a driver who rather fancies her. "You knew they were from me all along. I mean, who else would send you a fantastic boo-kay of flowers like that?" Mike says arrogantly. He seats himself at a table. Gail offers to take his tea over so Alma will not have to deal with him, but Alma says she can do it an keep her cool, which she does. "See?" she says to Gail with self-satisfaction as she returns to the counter.
A gem of a scene between Curly and Reg in the latter's office at Bettabuys. "I've just been assaulted by a feminist!" blurts out Reg. (We can only wish it had been on-screen.) An enormous woman, he continues, rolling his eyes in terror. She had responded to Curly's card in the foyer inviting applicants for the position of Santa Clause. "Santa is a fella," Curly intones uncomprehendingly from behind those thick glasses. "I told her that, she said 'how do you know?'!" says the still-distraught Reg. "Then she said [adopting deep gravelly voice] 'I suppose you're one of these men who insists God was a male'. [returning to his normal voice, but near-panicked in tone] Well, I certainly do, Norman! Don't you?" Curly barely has time to open and close his mouth a couple of times like a goldfish before Reg continues on. He describes giving the woman his own personal take on feminism, which he believes has achieved nothing more than allowing women to adopt all men's vices, upon which "she went and clocked me with a bunch of spring onions she was holding!" As Reg breathlessly contemplates his near miss, Curly says, "Not a bad idea, though." "What?" "Havin' a female Santa, you know, a curvaceous model-type Santa," says Curly, drawing just such a set of curves in the air with his hands. Reg seems stunned by the sheer glory of the suggestion and actually literally licks his lips as he contemplates it! Then he snaps out of it, shaking his head to clear the image. "No, no. This is a decent store, this is!... Mind you... he says, eyes narrowing, I know what you mean!" He enthusiastically leaps to his feet, standing too close to Curly for comfort. "Shorty red cloak, high heels [popping up on his toes], nice buxom-" "Yeah, all right, Reg!" says a slightly freaked out Curly, fleeing the office and Reg's lecherous description!
Des, Lynnette and Phillipa continue their socializing. What type is Phillipa's usual type, asks Des. "Boring!" complains Phillipa. "Not short a bob, though," guesses Des. (Perhaps it was just me, but Phillipa certainly didn't impress me as being a classy, upscale woman if this was supposed to be the implication. Compared to Lynette she came off as very much a three dressed up as a nine.) Money, money, money, complains Phillipa. That's all men talk about. That, and cars. Des replies that all he can talk about is beer and football. Lynette disagrees. "He's a very good conversationalist," she declares. "That's not all he does, though, is it?" teases Phillipa, talk?" No, Lynette confirms that at time he can be *very* physical! Watching this exchange, Des comments, "I get the feeling sometimes you think I'm a bit of rough. Which I am." Both women assure him they do not think this at all. Definitely not, murmurs Lynette, too much like butter wouldnt melt in her mouth for my liking. "You're *very* attractive," says Phillipa. "You're not too bad y'self," flirts Des. "Thank you," smiles Phillipa. "He's *my* property!" declares Lynette, pouring a little water on the smouldering flirtation which has been warming up all during the meeting. "Sorry!" replies Phillipa. As the trio leave, Lynette presents Des with her bill for representing him in court. "You haven't charged him!" says Phillipa. She had to invoice him, or it wouldn't have looked right, says Lynne. The three leave, still merry.
In the shop Liz is bemoaning the impossible staffing situation at the Rovers to Deirdre, Audreh and Alf who are all working about the shop. Alf observes from his perch stacking shelves that Alec pulled a good one, taking off for a cruise at the busiest time of year! Audrey suggests they could do that too. Alf says he would, if there were some way to continue making his profit. Audrey airily says that Deirdre can take care of that, which Deirdre laughingly agrees to for 50% of whatever profit she makes. "There, see?" says Audrey. "Maybe next year," says Alf wryly. After Liz and Alf depart, Audrey says to Dreary, "D'you suppose he meant what he said? About taking a cruise next year?" "No. Do you?" says Deirdre. "No," confirms Audrey, and they both laugh at the idea of Alf spending the cash on a six-week cruise.
Percy and Emily stop at the caf to recuperate from a Christmas shopping trip. "Candied peel!" shouts Percy. That's what they've forgotten! They can get it later, Emily moans, adding that there are four weeks left before Christmas - "FOUR WEEKS, Mr. Sugden!" and that they have time to shop for a banquet for 100 people in that time, much less Christmas dinner for the pair of them! She goes to the counter where Gail comments on the early start to their Christmas shopping. It's Mr. Sugden, says Emily. He'd start in July if she'd agree! He bought his Christmas cards last January, on sale! His ideas of preparation aren't easy on her, intimates Emily - "I wasn't in the army, only in the Girl Guides!"
Just then a lad comes through the door like a tornado, frightening Alma to pieces and getting a scolding from Gail. Gail tries to comfort Alma about being so wound up. Alma confirms that having Mike around again has left her angry and confused. She wishes he'd drop dead!
Angie and Curly are having tea as he regales her with stories about his search for Santa. Half the people in Weatherfield seem to have turned out for the job, he says, including one fellow with a ponytail and a guitar. (God, in my neighbourhood he would've been the picture of normalcy and Curly would've been relieved to see him!) Finally they had to call security! Angie still can't see why they didn't hire a woman. "Santa's a bloke," Curly says again in that same deadpan tone he said it to Reg in. "Says who?" asks Angie. "Says Reg," replies Curly, adding that you tend to think like that when you've been thumped by a woman with a load of onions.
They have a small teasing conversation about gender roles, with Curly joking that women do the cooking and cleaning and suchlike "because you're so good at it." He confirms that he will do the washing-up in a minute, as she cooked, and as he goes to relax in the living room for a minute he continues his joking conversations saying that men do man things like making sure the bills are paid on time, such as the rent, so if she'll just give him her half he'll gladly drop it by the Kabin tomorrow. Angie stalls (Curly can't see her face, but we can) and recovers by saying that it's okay, she'll drop it off. Fine, says Curly, here's my half, and he hands her his money. She takes it, but the look on her face suggests that she is perhaps quite worried indeed about her share of the rent.
Martin brings the Platt kiddies into the caf. He's got soccer practice and somebody's got to look after this lot! Gail takes them in hand and as Martin leaves, Alma says that she wishes she had somewhere to go, too. As Gail puts on her coat, Nicky, left alone with Alma for a moment, says, "Alma, what does 'neurotic' mean?" Alma looks surprised. "Why?" "Cause that's what mum told Martin you are!" says Nick! "Really??" asks Alma, as Gail returns. Why is Alma looking at her like that? Gail wonders aloud? Because she has just discovered that Gail told Martin Alma was neurotic, says a bemused Alma with mock outrage. "I just asked her what it meant!" says Nicky. (They may have changed the actor, but the character was putting his foot in it pretty consistently all along, huh?) Gail sheepishly replies that "It means thinking the world revolves around them - an affliction many women suffer from, including me!" Alma takes it in good humour. As Gail shepherds the kids out the door, in walks Ken. "Better late than never, I suppose," comments Gail. "Huh?" says a baffled Ken as Alma fairly leaps over the counter to see him. "Never mind her, have you eaten?" Ken hasn't and Alma offers to prepare him a meal. He tries to demur but Alma insists, taking his face in her hands and gently urging "shut *up*" in her pleasure to see him.
At the Rovers Liz and Betty make up with each other after their long day's sniping and agree they shouldn't fall out over the unfair working hours. Reg, standing at the bar, offers to give them a hand but they instead strongly confirm that they think they can definitely handle it without Reg Holdsworths help! Reg then turns his attention to Dreary who stands next to him at the bar and suggests that as they take extra staff on at Bettabuys over the holidays perhaps she would be interested in joining them? Deirdre replies that she doesn't think Alf would appreciate her deserting him at a time like the holidays!
Martin enters the pub and stops to ask Don and Ivy about their house-hunting. They reply that nothing has come of it yet. After Martin moves on, Ivy comments that Martin seems quite concerned about their move. She just wished Don were half as concerned! (IVY! It didn't take you long to forget all the lessons you claimed you'd learned and get right back to sniping, did it?) Don protests wearily that he IS interested.
Martin has moved down to the far end of the bar where he is chatting with a most pleased-with-himself Des. Des gloats about going to lunch with two beautiful women today and then brags Martin about the "electric" vibes he was getting from Lynette's mate while they were there. Martin, envious, says to stop - he's beginning to be sorry he came in. Des assures Martin that in spite of his talk, he's happy with Lynette for now - she's crazy about him, he claims! In fact he's dead happy about everything in his life right now, except for his house. He doesn't know how he's going to sell it - it's a buyer's market. Why, the one next door to it has been knocked down in price £10,000! Martin's ears perk up noticeably at this news. How much do they want for it now, then? he asks. £41,500 is the reply. Just then, Des, reaching into his pocket to pay for a pint he's bought them each, encounters an envelope. "Oh, I nearly forgot about this," he says, grinning. Its Lynette's bill, he explains. She had to go through the formality of invoicing him or it would look funny to her firm. He isn't grinning for long when he opens the bill. "£640!" he gasps in horror. "Perhaps she isn't as crazy about you as you thought!" says a highly amused Martin.
Time has passed as we see Martin returning home to a dozing Gail. She's dropped off, she says with sleepy surprise. There is a pleasant, quiet domestic scene as Martin mentions seeing Don and Ivy and Des in the pub, and they gossip gently the way couples do. Martin brings up Ivy and Don's move, and then mentions house next to Des' which has just been reduced. He suggests that if they (Gail and Martin) wanted to, they could buy it! Gail's face is a picture, and much more unsure at the thought!
ronniecat
Lynette Campion: COLETTE STEVENSON Phillipa
Woods: SOPHIE BOYAK Delivery Man: JOSH MORAN
Written by LESLIE DRUXBURY Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Wednesday (3310, Wednesday 27 November 1991)
Before he goes to work, Des rings Lynette to try to arrange a meeting with her. From his end, it sounds as though she has better things to do but she finally agrees and he hangs up, his pride slightly wounded from the exchange. Phyllis comes in to start her charring and Des greets her as a "ray of sunshine" without which, he cannot start his day. Flattered, Phyllis counters that if she were 40 years younger, she'd give Lynette a run for her money! To her great delight, Des assures her it would be "no contest"!
A harried Curly rushes into the Kabin on his way to work and when Mavis asks what he would like, his answer is "a jolly fat Santa Claus"! Rita tells him they've sold out but he might try the Corner Shop. He expresses his frustration regarding the challenge of Reg's assignment but Rita doesn't see that he has much to complain about if that's his biggest worry. After he leaves she jokes to Mavis that Derek could have filled the bill - he does have a few days coming to him, doesn't he? Mavis fails to see the humour in this and shoots Rita a reproachful look.
In the Corner Shop, Audreh gives a young lad change from his tender and directs him to go straight home with it. When Deirdre comments that she was a bit hard on the boy, Audreh justifies herself on the basis of the lad's history -- going off and buying sweets with the change, then telling his mother that he was short-changed! Deirdre reckons that kids face too much temptation at the hands of unscrupulous traders, Bettabuys with their Father Christmas being a case in point. Alf chimes in that you can't expect any different from Reg Holdsworth - he's only out to make a quick profit. "Oh and you're not?" asks Audreh. She then ventures to suggest they could have a Christmas grotto here in the shop and Deirdre follows suit by implying that Alf could play Santa. But Alf is having none of it. "Sound service, good quality and value for the money" - that's what he relies on and always will - "no gimmicks!" A customer enters and Alf cheerily greets her before turning back to instruct the troops: Don't suggest that customers use their Christmas Club money unless the customer brings it up first!
In the cafe, Gail is telling Alma about Martin's latest idea, that they buy the house on Coronation Street. She feels it would turn their world "on its head" and says after what they've been through the last 12 months, she'd have thought he'd be content to just enjoy life!
In the Rovers, Betty complains bitterly to Liz about Jack calling in sick. His excuse is a bad back and neither of the two barmaids believes it for a minute. At one of the booths, Emily is telling Percy about a staffing problem at the charity shop. Hearing that Ruby is off to visit her daughter in Canada, Percy immediately volunteers his services. Emily realises she's painted herself into a corner but as she stammers a protest, Phyllis comes in and interrupts. She expresses surprise at seeing Percy here so early in the day, which remark he takes exception to. He won't have the whole street believing he has a drink problem - he only came in for a bite of lunch! She offers that he could have come to her for his lunch but he retorts that he knows what she would have wanted "for afters"! Indignantly, he goes off leaving Emily with Phyllis. The older woman asks where he's going in such a hurry and when Emily tells her, "The charity shop of course", Phyllis accuses her of "taking advantage of an old man's generousity"!
In the cafe again, as Don prepares to go back to work after his tea, Alma asks how the house hunting is going. He explains to her and Gail that it's all down to Ivy, he isn't bothered about it. If he had his way, they'd stay as they are. Why people move when they don't have to is beyond him! As Don leaves, Ken comes to the counter and orders a sandwich (salmon and cucumber on brown). He remarks on the flowers and wonders if they'll have tablecloths next. Alma casually dismisses the flowers, saying they were about to chuck them, which assertion is promptly contradicted by Gail. Ken opines that they ought to keep them as they "really brighten the place up".
Angie hurries into the Kabin and asks to have a word with Rita. Mavis takes her cue and decides to have an early lunch leaving the two on their own. Handing Rita the rent money, Angie hastens to explain that it's a week short. Rita looks at her quizzically but Angie rushes on to tell her that she'll have the rest very soon. Without waiting for questions, an embarrassed Angie runs out again, leaving Rita to wonder what could be wrong.
In a crowded bar at lunch time, Des perks up when Lynette joins him, apparently later than they agreed. She explains that she almost didnt make it and can't stay for lunch anyway as she has an appointment. She wants to know what "the problem" is and he presents her bill, asking if it was meant as a joke. She states that she has to make a living and that it would be "a sight more" if she hadnt given him a break. He expresses disappointment, saying he thought what they had was special. She coolly tells him it was fun, they had a few laughs, but if he's looking to replace his wife, he's got the wrong girl. Hurt but still wanting to see her he suggests they go on having fun. When he asks her to have dinner tonight, she tells him she's busy. Tomorrow, then? Sorry, she has plans then too. Taking her leave, she essentially tells him not to call her - shell call him.
Rita has told Mavis about Angie's strange behaviour and is now treated to her assistant's take on the situation. It's typical of young people - they know it all until they have a problem. Then they want to blame everyone except themselves. Rita thinks while that may be true in general, it's unlike Angie, until Mavis points out that she still attends her college parties and she still goes drinking in the Rovers. Emily comes in looking for drawing pins and is pleasantly surprised to find them. She didn't expect to be able to get them as thats the kind of day she's been having. Rita asks what the problem is and Emily explains about Mr. Sugden taking over the charity shop. She's afraid he'll have all the other volunteers leaving after ten minutes!
At the cafe, the weary partners sit down for a well deserved tea break. The phone rings and Alma nearly jumps out of her skin. Gail takes the call, a wrong number and then tells Alma she is going to have to get a grip, stop worrying about Mike, especially as he's nowhere in sight at present. Alma says it's that fact that has her worried. Gail asserts that he isn't necessarily "up to" anything but Alma's convinced that he is and that he won't take "no" for an answer.
In the evening, Des and Angie, on their way to their respective homes, pass each other in the street. When she barely acknowledges him, he stops her to ask what it is about him and women. "I'm as popular as a tarantula in a bath!" She says it isn't personal, she just has things on her mind. In that case, he invites her to join him in the Rovers where they can both drown their sorrows. When she tells him she's "skint" he says to come along anyway, he may be "skint" soon himself but for now he can buy her a drink. She agrees to "just the one" and he jokingly replies that's all she'll be getting!
Curly goes across to the Kabin in search of his evening paper which hasn't been delivered yet. Rita explains that two of the lads didn't show up and invites him to take one. As he's leaving, she stops him to have a word about Angie. Curly is as surprised as Rita was to hear that Angie couldn't pay the entire rent.
In the Rovers, Betty remarks to Liz that the sight of Angie and Des would break Alec's heart if he could see them now. "They're still nursing the same two drinks since they came in!" she points out. At their booth, Des tells Angie he thinks Curly is lucky to have someone like her. She makes no bones about setting him straight, they share a house, nothing more. Des perks up a little and invites her to come for a pizza. Again she reminds him she's "skint" but he clarifies that he'll pay - he thinks he can afford a couple of pizzas!
Martin ventures to bring up the subject of the house again to Gail and is met with a terse response, she isn't interested! Exasperated, she tells him she doesn't feel it's the right time. They've only just got married and adopted the kids, why take on the added stress of a "massive great debt"? Martin sees the prospect as a fresh start for their new family. He points out that this will always be "Brian's house" to him.
In the Rovers, Don fails to take much interest in a real estate brochure Ivy is showing him. She remarks on his apathy but he tells her he's content to leave it in her capable hands for now. If she finds a house she really wants, tell him about it then and he'll go and look at it with her, he promises.
Reg comes into the pub and spots Rita standing at the bar. He invites her to sit down with him and she accepts gratefully. He starts in telling her about Bettabuys' quest for Santa and expresses frustration at the candidates he's fielded thus far - "half the down-and-outs of Weatherfield"! Rita promptly suggests Percy would be perfect for the part and Reg mulls over the idea for a second. When she adds that he would be doing "a certain lady a great favour", he embraces the plan wholeheartedly. Rita doesn't bother to tell him it's Emily he'll be helping, not her!
Curly has just settled down before the telly when Angie bursts in and heads for the kitchen to make coffee. He is surprised to hear she's had her dinner at Pizza Palace. "People do, you know!", she informs him with a grin. Curly counters that he would have thought eating out was lower on her list of priorities than paying rent. She is angered when she realises Rita has told him her situation and curtly informs him that Des paid for the pizza. Before they can go on, Des comes to the door and Angie shouts for him to come in. She puts her case to him by stating with mock shock that Curly can't imagine that anyone would want to buy her dinner. Des readily offers that he'd take her to Maxine's in Paris after what shes done for him tonight. Curly tries to quell the argument but Angie tells him it's okay, Des knows she's "skint". Curly tells her in that case, not to worry about the rent, he's settled up with Rita. He takes himself upstairs to leave them alone and Des sees that Angie is livid. He wonders if he's intruding but she assures him he isn't. "If anyone's been poking his nose where it's not wanted, it certainly isn't you!" she seethes.
Anita Belanger
Lynette Campion: COLETTE STEVENSON
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Thursday (3311, Friday 29 November 1991)
Angie is more than just a little on the touchy side today after last night's revelations that Curly paid her share of the rent. She accuses him of trying to manage her life, pointing out that his own hasn't been any startling success. So he is to stay well away from running hers! She thinks his actions were designed to make it look like he's keeping her like a girlfriend which he doesn't strenuously object to but she forcefully insists she is not his girlfriend! He should have come to her quietly and offered to lend her the money which she would have refused, by the way but it was the high handed way that he arbitrarily went to Rita and paid it behind her back. When he finally gets a word in edgewise, he protests that he was only trying to do a friend a favour and anyway it seemed to be alright to let Des Barnes buy her a meal! Wrong thing to say! Des asked her first and secondly, Curly certainly made a point to make sure that Des knew he paid her rent, didn't he? Curly gets fed up with the non-stop verbal onslaught and leaves with disgust. Angie sighs with damaged pride and frustration.
Outside, Curly ignores Des's cheerful hello and jolly joke about getting out of the wrong bed this morning. Des chuckles to himself all the way across the road to No7 where he knocks on the door. Angie answers and Des thanks her for the honour of her company last night and asks her out for a drink tonight. When she politely declines he teases her about Curly's laying down of the house laws which gets her back up again and she makes it clear it's too early in the day to know what she wants to do tonight and whatever it is, Curly has no say in it!
Ivy is passing estate agent leaflets that show various houses that she is interested in looking at to Don across the breakfast table. He seems non-committal about the various houses and seems content to leave it to her. She wants him to go with her after work to look at some of them so he agrees to pick her up, surprised that she isn't hanging about and wanting to do it post haste.
Alma and Gail have a natter about the possibility of Gail and Martin moving to Coronation Street just as Ivy is moving out. Gail laughs that she wouldn't even be considering it if Ivy wasn't moving away. That would be masochism, wouldn't it? Living in the same street? Alma begins as she is meant to go on for the rest of today, musing that she must have been a masochist to fall for Mike Baldwin and proceeds to hollowly declare that she is well over him. Gail reckons that the only way they could afford the house is if Martin goes back to work and wonders if that's what he wants. Maybe he's sick of keeping house, hearth and children.
Reg is playing telescope with those paper Christmas crackers or snappers or whatever you call them. He doesn't seem to be embarrassed to be caught out when Curly arrives and instead gets right down to the business of the Bettabuys' Santa Clause but it's clear he has his own agenda. Curly has two people coming for interviews and seems to be favoring one in particular, an actor who has had experience playing Bottom in a Midsummer Night's Dream. Reg doesn't hold with actors who are well known to like their glasses of wine and they shouldn't expose the impressionable young future Bettabuys customers with such sorts of people. Reg puts forth his candidate, Percy Sugden, eliciting a "You cahn't be serious!" from Curly. Reg firmly believes Percy would be ideal (but he doesn't know our lovable curmudgeon does he?)
Meanwhile Emily is venting her frustrations about Percy's presence in the charity shop to Rita who advises her friend to try steering the old man towards the Bettabuys' grotto! She admits she asked Reg for a favour on Emily's behalf and he seemed amiable to hiring Percy. Emily appreciates Rita's sacrifice! She leave and Angie arrives. She is wearing some monstrosity of a vest and blouse combination. I first thought she was wearing a profusion of orange Hawaiian leis around her neck but it appears to be a gaudy ruffled blouse underneath a beige vest that has a ruffle around the neckline encompassing the orange bits. This is so distracting that I didn't pay close attention here but I gather she was there to earnestly assure Rita that Curly paying her rent in no way means that they are more than just friends and room mates. No sooner does she leave than Mavis, who completely ignored Angie's protestations, immediately assumes there's more to that relationship than meets the eye!
Across the road in the corner shop, Audrey has just arrived with bags of Christmas decorations for the shop. Alf questions the cost (my but it's good to see Alf back after a long absence) and "Blimey O'Riley's" the receipt, and resists Audrey's opinion that he could get the decorations up before dinnertime. He is determined not to decorate until December 1, which is Sunday as people are sick of stores shoving Christmas down their throats early. Us small shop owners will have to stick together, he exclaims. Deirdre dryly observes that Mr. Patel in Rosamund Street has his up and Alf immediately replies "I'll get the ladder" much to Audrey and Deirdre's glee!
Curly drops in to the pub a bit later to seek out Mr. Sugden and offer him the job as Bettabuys' Santa Clause. But Percy declines the offer as he is currently donating his services to Mrs. Bishop in the charity shop and can't shirk his duty. Curly politely thanks Mr. Sugden for his time and leaves. Emily enters just then and approaches the bar, intent on her mission to ensconce him in the grotto. She informs him that she's taken on Mrs. Craig in the shop. Percy is hurt but she plays on his honourable sympathies by telling him that Mrs. Craig is a recent widow and needed something to fill her time and take her mind off her recent loss. Percy, as a gentleman, does understand. Mrs. Bishop moves in for the kill, just "happening" to mention that she believes Bettabuys is looking for a Santa Clause, wouldn't that be suitable for him?
The busy caf is invaded by Mike Baldwin, much to Alma's frustration. He ruffles her feathers by making comments about the less than capacity caf dinner crowd. She resents his "taking an interest" in *her business and tells him off soundly, hollering at him to stay away and leave her alone! Gail drags her back and asks Mike to leave but he doesn't go without a few more digs, doing that thing that men seem so fond of doing, telling her what's wrong with her! She is too tense and needs a real man to look after her properly, if she wants one, she just has to whistle and he leaves. Finally. She apologizes to Gail for making a spectacle of herself over Mike but he just gets to her and gets all unreasonable over Mike. Gail has noticed. Alma thinks Mike enjoys pushing her buttons. What does Ken think of it all, Gail ponders but Alma admits that she and Ken don't discuss Mike (not much!) as Mike is a rather touchy subject with Ken. But she realizes she's said too much and won't tell Gail why. She just wishes she could find a way to convince Mike (and herself) that he's wasting his time.
Reg is aiming golf balls rather unsuccessfully at a tipped over coffee cup when Curly returns. They discuss the gentleman's game of golf as opposed to the hooligan's game for gentleman that is (and I couldn't make it out) or the gentleman's game for hooligans that is soccer and the hooligan's game for hooligans that is polo. Curly reports his failure to secure the services of Mr. Sugden and is blamed by Reg for not putting it forth properly. Curly attempts to re-recommend that actor. He has experience with children too! He was the back legs of an 'orse in Robin 'Ood! Reg grimaces (well does he ever do anything but?) and recalls the actor's role as Bottom and now the back end of an 'orse. I see a pattern forming here, Norman! Best not to leave a man's job to a lad and Reg intends to take matters into his own hands.
In the Kabin, Percy is very critical of Emily's decision to take on someone unknown and very likely more unreliable than himself in the charity shop. Rita uses the opportunity to throw her two pennies in by mentioning the Santa Claus thing much to Percy's exasperation. Mavis proceeds to stick her oar in and at first I thought she was using reverse psychology but it was apparent after her speech that she believed what she was saying. She was of the opinion that Percy was quite right to turn down the job, she didn't think it would suit him at all! Well you have to have an affinity for children, be tolerant and, well, jolly! Yes she thinks it is admirable for someone to realize their limitations in life. Percy is highly insulted (but possibly this has had the reverse affect which wasn't Mavis' intention) and leaves. Rita scolds Mavis for scuttling her efforts.
When Curly arrives home, he finds Angie working on some designs. He compliments them but she rudely dismisses them. It's clear she's still stroppy about the whole issue and has another go at him. When he righteously assumes she 's done the right thing turning down Des she follows her raised hackles out the door and across the road to Des's door. He answers with a smile and she find out of that drink is still on offer. Curly lurks in his own doorway across the street, peering balefully at them. When she enters the house he petulantly slams his own door and has a last jealous glance through the twitching curtains.
Gail is home and finally has a chance to put her feet up. She's on to Martin about Alma and Mike and how she thinks Alma isn't really over Mike at all. She is a bit distracted as Sarah is trying to stick a bottle into David's mouth but David is loudly objecting so she settles the children down before realizing that Martin seems to have something on his mind. Well yes. He does. He has been to the estate agent about No8 Coronation Street and since the asking price is already so low he made an offer on it a bit lower again, £38,000! Gail is horrified that he did that behind her back but he reminds her that they don't have to take it even if the bid is accepted!
Mike is having a drink in the Rovers before he drops down to Kevin's on an errand. But Alma comes in before he leaves and is distraught to see him and strenuously declines his offer of a drink. He continues to insinuate himself but he can't stop longer as he has an errand to run but promises to be back. Over in the booth, Don and Ivy are showing Rita the estate agent leaflets on the houses they've been to see. Rita comments that none of the houses are very far away from where they are living now and Ivy and Don both comment that they just fancy a change. Ken arrives and Alma manages to persuade him to go somewhere else after they have a quick drink and she gratefully accepts his invitation to go back to his flat. Reg arrives and heads directly to Percy. He spins the Santa job to Percy skillfully, playing on Percy as a role model for those shining young and hopeful young faces who instinctively recognize integrity. Percy blooms under Reg's courting and accepts the offer on one condition. He won't be Santa Claus as that's a German invention and he doesn't hold with that. He'll be an old fashioned Father Christmas. Done! The men shake hands and Reg turns and gives Rita a thumbs up.
Ken and Alma walk arm in arm down the street and pass Mike who is emerging from a nothing little scene inside No13. A brief glance is exchanged and Mike hungrily watches the couple proceed into the shadows just at the corner where Alma looks back at him out of the darkness almost inviting him to follow. Which he does. They go out of sight around the corner and into the shadowy doorway of the flat. Alma must have instinctively known Mike would be watching and she insists Ken kiss her then and there. As Ken lowers he head around to snuggle into her neck, she turns her large eyes in Mike's direction briefly. It's an obvious move to me, one designed to make the onlooker jealous and it doesn't convince me one bit Mike doesn't see the obvious and instead of grinning at her, knowing he's got to her again, he slinks away with a sulky look on his face.
Diane Johnston
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Friday (3312, Monday 2 December 1991)
Chaos in the Platt household this morning as the family get ready to begin their day. Gail is shoveling cereal into baby David while Martin struggles to get Sarah-Lou shoed and Nicky is looking for lunch money. As Gail digs in her purse she asks Martin what the payments will be on this mortgage should they decide to buy the house in Coronation Street. He tries to parry, they can't talk about it in all this noise. She points out that they *always* talk with all this noise so he reluctantly gives her the bottom line. It will cost them £230 a month to repay a £30,000 mortgage. Gail's reaction is they categorically *cannot* afford it so they should forget the whole idea. Martin tentatively points out that if they only borrowed £20,000 the repayment would only be £150 a month... She jokingly asks if he has a money-filled sock somewhere and he answers that he doesn't - but she does. She realises immediately he means Brian's estate and firmly shakes her head. "That money is for the kids, Martin", she states emphatically. "It's for the kids. It's *for* *the kids*".
Angie comes downstairs looking for a cup of tea while Curly fixes his tie in the mirror. He casually asks if she's busy today and when she says she has nothing in particular on, he suggests she come round to Bettabuys. "What for?" she asks. "It could be to your advantage" he tells her. There's a job going on checkout and she would get it if she just pops in for an interview with Reg, merely a formality, he adds. Far from grateful or even amenable at the suggestion, Angie rants at him. First he pays her rent and now he wants to give her a job so he can be sure of getting his money back! Well he can forget that - she never asked him to bail her out so she doesn't feel indebted to him. She wouldn't borrow money from him "in a month of Sundays" and she wouldn't work for him "if he paid her"! Bewildered at her response, Curly answers, "Well of course we'd *pay* you - that's the whole point!"
Bet is just settling herself down with a smoke and a cup of tea when Jack comes in after being off sick with his "bad back" for a week. She welcomes him warmly, "You look like summat the cat sicked up, Jacko". He tells her it's good to be back and sits himelf down for a cuppa but she has different ideas. Since it's gone ten o'clock, the time he's supposed to start, he can begin by shifting Alec's wardrobe upstairs from her bedroom to the guest room. He protests that his back isn't up to it but when she asks if he has a note from the doctor for the last week, he relents and goes off to do as she asks.
Percy is in Reg's office getting his training to play Father Christmas. From the opposite side of the desk, Reg asks him how he would respond if a child were to ask for a train set for Christmas.
Percy: I'd say, "Have you any idea how much a train set costs?"
Reg: No, no! You mustn't bring cost into it!
Percy: Course I must! Kids think money grows on trees nowadays!
Reg: Right, say something cheaper - a doll - what if I were a nice little girl and I asked for a doll?
Percy: I'd say, "Do you deserve it?", and, "Have you been good?"
Reg (with glee): Yes, I have been good and yes, I do deserve it!
Percy (puzzled): Eh?
Reg: Oh no - this isn't me now! This is a little girl or boy. (Coming around the desk, he sits atop it and leans up close to Percy's face. In sotto voice, he repeats the prompt.) Yes I have been good and yes I *do* deserve it! (Resuming normal voice now) What would you say to that? (Smiling in anticipation, he awaits Percy's response.)
Percy: You want your bumps felt!
Reg: Oh, good grief! This is a little girl sat on your knee - youíre going to say, "You want your bumps felt" to a six year-old girl?!
Percy: Course I'm not!
Reg: Well then -- let's try again... I'm a little girl, I'm sat on your knee and I want a little doll...
Percy: Wanting's one thing, getting's another - don't be surprised if you end up with nowt!
Reg (exasperated): Ah Percy, Percy - down there is a store *full* of quality merchandise... I'll grant you most of it wouldn't end up in a letter to Father Christmas but there are at least 100 items that would make perfectly acceptable gifts... For example, if a little girl comes and says, "I want a dolly" - we don't sell dollies, so you might say, "Have you thought about a nice tin of family selected biscuits?" Or, if a little lad comes and wants a game of Dragons and Castles, you could suggest that he can't go far wrong with a jar a pickles and a can of ham! Do you see that?
Percy: I don't believe I'm hearing this! I thought I was here to bring delight and wonder to little children and all you want is to sell them a jar of pickles!
Reg: Oh, no - Percy, Percy - you said yourself, train sets and dolls are expensive. Now if you get children to ask for common staples, not only are you doing their parents a favour, (confidentally now) but you'd be in line for a nice little bonus! (Pleased with himself.)
Percy: (Disgusted) Father Christmas' Grotto! It's all about money, isn't it?!
Reg: (Ready to tear his hair out) Well of *course* it's about money - it's Christmas!!
Curly comes in and asks if Percy if he's here to amaze the kiddies. Percy grumbles that's what he *thought* he was here for but it seems he's expected to sit them on his knee and go through their pockets! Reg, who looks about to suffer a nervous collapse, implores Curly to take Father Christmas off his hands and Curly cheerfully obliges. "Have you seen the magic grotto yet, Percy?" As they leave, Reg's head sinks into his hands and he mutters, "Yes, magic - with a bit of luck you'll disappear into it!"
In the Rovers, Jack is muttering to Betty about his bad back. He was hired as a barman, not a furniture removal man, he complains. Bet enters and tells him to stop griping - she carried that same wardrobe up them stairs when she first moved in. Jack complains now of getting no sympathy and she retorts he'd get a sight more if he hadn't ripped the wallpaper while he was moving the wardrobe! He maintains it was ripped before and she relents, saying it needs re-doing anyway, with all the "fag smoke" on it. Jack offers to get a Legion pal in to redecorate, prompting Bet to ask if anyone knows a decorator who *isn't* "a mate of Jacko's"!
In the Corner Shop, Alf is in a sour mood. He is moaning to Audreh about it being three weeks to Christmas and having no customers while the supermarkets do a booming business. Emily comes in and offers a tidbit to brighten Alf's day. She soon has him laughing at the thought of Percy playing Father Christmas. He envisions the pensioner lining the children up for inspection before inviting them into his grotto. The laughter ends abruptly when Emily tells Alf *where* Percy is playing Father Christmas - at Bettabuys. "Bloomin 'eck! Half the flamin' street work for Bettabuys!" he rants. "Vera, Ivy, Curly, Reg flippin' Holdsworth - and now Percy!" He may as well pack it in and go to work for Bettabuys too!
Curly is showing Percy around the aforementioned store when Vera comes down the aisle and greets them merrily. Percy says he'd forgot he'll have to contend with seeing her every day. Vera counters that at least she is good for a laugh, makes a change from that frosty faced Emily! Percy demands that she retract the remark and Curly anxiously ushers him away from Vera giving assurances that she'll be busy in another part of the store, far away from his grotto. As they retreat, Vera facetiously rejoins that she won't be too busy to come and sit on his knee!
As they approach the grotto, Curly suggests a costume fitting for the following day. They arrive at the entrance and Percy stops short and stares at the sign: "Meet Santa Claus". He turns to Curly and announces that he can get himself another Father Christmas - *he* won't be playing any figure "of Germanic origin"! Before walking away, Percy stops to add that they might "find *Santa Claus* driving around Berlin - in his Volkswagon!"
During a tea break, Betty and Bet sit chatting at the dining table. Betty wonders if Alec knows his wardrobe has been moved and Bet tells her of course he doesn't know! She pauses before asking if re-decorating were a "sudden impulse" then. Bet teases that she's digging and Betty leans on her shovel again to inquire why Bet's wardrobe wasn't also moved. "Because *I'm* staying in my bedroom" she answers. "You're not moving him out, are you?" Betty asks incredulously. "You're not as green as you look, Betty luv" comes the reply. Betty cautions that Alec won't be pleased when he finds out and Bet snaps back that he isn't meant to be pleased!
In the Kabin, Angie is telling Rita about Curly's unwelcome invitation to help her find employment. She confides if it were anywhere but Bettabuys, she'd jump at it, only she doesn't want to be beholding to him. Rita nods her understanding but Mavis isn't quite as compliant. She doesn't see that Angie *would* be beholding to him and she thinks it foolish to turn down the job. As she turns to leave, Angie explains that she doesn't want Curly to take things for granted. "If he had his way, we'd be a boring middle class married couple with net curtains and a pond in the back garden! See ya!" she calls as the door closes. Mavis has steam coming out of her ears by now. "And we *wouldn't* want *that*, would we? *That* might be the end of the world! We might have to start wearing tan tights as well!" she snorts. (LOL!)
In the cafe, Gail brings tea to one of the tables, a cup for her and one for Audreh. When Audreh asks if they are serious about moving into Coronation Street, Gail replies that they've only considered it since hearing that Ivy is moving out. They chuckle then she continues that it would be closer to work for her, not to mention closer to Nick's school and Martin's mates. Audreh doesn't see what's stopping them but Gail gets her back up again, insisting that "Brianís money" mustn't be touched. Gail explains that she promised Brian the money would be for their children and she'd feel it unfair to use it this way. Audreh asserts that it would be *really* unfair to Brian not to allow his kids to benefit from the money by buying the house. She points out that Brian is in the one place where the money can't do him any good and exhorts her daughter, "Money is for the living". Besides, this is a very good time to buy, she adds. Gail asks if that's because house prices are low at the moment. "No - because they'll double when people hear Ivy's moved out of the street!" Audreh quips.
Curly is home from what he calls a "rotten day" but Angie isn't in the least sympathetic. He's the one who wanted to be a "captain of industry", she retorts. He pleads to be able "to come home, sit down and relax". "Like a married couple?" she asks sarcastically. "No - like two adults!" he protests. He tells her he is sorry for paying her rent and now can they please now forget it. She'll accept his apology, but she wonít forget it. In a warmer tone, she asks why his day was rotten. He tells her about Percy and his revulsion to Santa Claus. "He seems to think he's a recruiting sergeant for Hitler's youth!" Angie wonders why Reg even wants Percy - could it be he felt sorry for him? Curly dismisses the idea, saying Reg only has four emotions, "gloom, ebullience and ecstasy! Oh - and begging his pardon, lust!" Angie jokingly asks where we would be without *that* and Curly, never one for subtlety, produces a bottle of red wine, asking if she'd care to share it with him this evening. "Thanks just the same", she answers, "I'm going out". (I got the distinct impression she *just* decided she was going out - LOL!)
A man strolls into the Rovers and greets Bet, who's obviously been expecting him. As Betty looks on in surprise, Bet tells him he looks well. He says he would return the compliment only he's afraid it would sound "smarmy". "I'd cope", she answers. As she takes him through to the back, Betty turns to Deirdre and gasps that she can't believe it - the man is none other than Des Foster, whom Bet had a "fling" with some six or seven years ago. Deirdre recalls him now and coyly wonders at the reason for his visit.
Watching the telly, Martin sits slumped in front of Gail as he munches crisps. She playfully teases him, eliciting a threat of having the crisps thrown down her back. After a moment, she interrupts his viewing to inform him that she's changed her mind. She's decided to use Brian's money for the house after all. Jubilant, Martin asks what changed her mind. She tells him she realised that "money is for the living - it's what's best for all of us". As they share a celebratory kiss, he tells her he likes the sound of that!
In Bet's sitting room, she and Des Foster have a drink and catch up on what's been happening in the years since they've seen each other. After telling her what he's been up to, (scaffolding, etc.) he remarks that she looks to be "settled". Tight-lipped about her own circumstances, she asks about his wife. It's finished, he tells her. That's what he told her seven years ago, she reminds him. "Did I?" he asks. This time, it's the truth, he promises - he hasn't even seen his wife in the last five years. Getting back to the reason for his visit, Bet asks about the decorating job. He can handle it, he says. All that remains is to talk about the money so he gets out his calculator and starts to add up.
In the pub, Des orders drinks for himself and Angie, playfully calling her "the little lady". Angie rejects the term, jesting back that Des is a "patronising git". In mock horror, he defends himself as "a liberal with a conscience". Phyllis, standing on the other side of Des, comments it's been a long time since anyone called her a "little lady". Percy opines, "Well, you want to ask yourself - are you little and are you a lady?" (LOL!) "It's a long time since anyone bought me a drink an' all", she laments, ignoring the jab. Des smiles as he puts his arm around her and orders Jack to get another "for the little lady".
Further down the bar, Alma has just come in and unwittingly finds herself standing beside Mike. He offers to get her a drink but she refuses, casting around for an excuse at first, then saying flatly, "Just, no!" Downing the last of his drink, he says he's leaving anyway. Before he goes, he stops to tell her he caught her "performance" the previous night. Teasingly, he accuses her of wanting him to see her and Ken kissing outside Ken's flat. Her protests fall on deaf ears and he tells her that when she's finished "play-acting", he'll be there - waiting. Flushed with anger and embarrassment, she clenches her fists in exasperation as he saunters away.
In the back, Bet tells Des the decorator that the price seems right and she'd like him to begin as soon as possible. He marvels at the fact that she "doesn't mess about" and she replies matter-of-factly, "I don't mess about, Des - I hope you don't." He wonders if she shouldn't check with her husband first but she curtly informs him that *she* makes the decisions around here. With a promise to return bright and early, he jokes that she'd better warn her husband, "If he decides to have a lie in, he'll be stripped and pasted!" "Oh no he won't", she answers flatly, "My husband's on t'other side of the world." As she shows him out, a lecherous grin crosses his face. Quietly, with a sense of anticipatory glee, he answers, "Oh!" (I do *not* like this man!)
Anita Belanger
Des Foster: NEIL PHILLIPS
Written by STEPHEN MALLATRATT Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Monday (3313, Wednesday 4 December 1991)
The cafe is bustling and as the two partners cope with the morning rush, Gail tells Alma about her and Martin's decision to buy a house. It's wonderful but how will they cope with all the changes? Alma jokingly suggests she could sell out to Gail and look after the kiddies while Martin goes out to work. Martin breezes in just then to snatch Mrs. Platt away on "urgent business" but only for a half hour, he promises Alma. Gail giggles as she pulls off her pinny and grabs her sweater. Alma waves them off, joking as she checks her watch that she's timing from right now!
In the corner shop, Alf is not feeling very jolly after the mince-pie supplier has let him down. Instead of the big shipment he ordered, he received only a handful and he blames the supermarkets for taking more than their share! Audreh isn't really listening. She's busy flipping through a magazine as she muses about Ken and Alma. She speculates he's still carrying a torch for Deirdre but she reckons he's being sincere where Alma is concerned. Alma, on the other hand, won't admit openly that she wants more than a casual relationship. Well, she wouldn't, would she? Not after having been hurt... Alf looks at her with annoyance to ask what she's on about and she tosses the magazine down and grudgingly tells him, "Oh all right - we'll talk about mince pies then!" Disregarding her angst, Alf continues on his rant where he left off, "We'll not see customers for dust if we don't get any in!"
On his way off to Bettabuys, Percy tells Emily that he's going early so he can talk to "young Watts" about his "presentation". She heartily wishes him good luck, she's sure he'll do a wonderful job! He informs her he's looking forward to showing little children the magic that is Father Christmas! Opening the front door, he catches sight of a little boy fleeing down the street. Turning, he sees the reason for the hasty retreat, some chalk graffiti on Mrs. Bishop's bricks. He calls after the child as Emily tries to calm him down - it is only chalk. "Chalk today, aerosols tomorrow!" he warns, "Children are never too young to be taught to behave!"
Martin and Gail skulk at the back door of the house they want to buy, awaiting the arrival of the real estate agent, Mr. Walmersley. She congratulates Martin on the idea of coming while everyone's at work. In short order, Mr. Walmersley does arrive and as he lets them in, he comments about all the "cloak and dagger", facetiously asking if they are spies. "Spies?", repeats Gail, amused. He explains that he was referring to their coming in the back door and not wanting the neighbours to see - as if they were looking for a 'safe house'. He then proceeds to tell them about the house, that it was built by Maurice Jones, who has a solid reputation, very reliable. "That's what they said about his daughter!" Gail quips. The Realtor wonders what she meant by that and Martin cracks, "It's just code - never mind!" The poor man is left scratching his head as the pair go looking through the house.
Des Foster is apparently on a break at the moment and Betty is too. As they have their tea in the parlour, she's filling his head with tales of Alec and Bet's romance - how he came after her to Spain to beg her to marry him over a candlelight dinner. Then, how he begged her to accompany him on his present tour and how she refused, saying she'd stay here and look after business for him. Des is surprised at all this as it doesn't sound like the Bet he knows. True love changes a person, Betty offers. Bet comes in and Betty jumps to her feet saying she'd best get back to work lest Bet report her to Alec. "She tells him *everything*, you know!" she confides before leaving the room. Bet's a little confused so Des informs her that he's been "warned off". "Warned off what?" she asks. "Decorating, of course - what else?" he replies.
In the Kabin, Jack is doing his best to arouse sympathy from Rita and Mavis about his allergies, mysterious in nature as they are. He intimates the decorating going on at the Rovers may be harming him, saying the doctors could never determine if it was paint, thinner, paste... "Work?" Rita offers in fun. "Ho ho ho!" replies Jack as he makes his way out. Emily passes him on her way in and remarks that she can do without hearing that! She confesses to Rita that she isn't very optimistic about how Percy will get on as Father Christmas and she worries it may have been a mistake to push him into it. Mavis turns to Rita smugly and asks her to remind her - whose idea was it again? Rita looks sheepish as she admits, it may not have been her brightest.
At Bettabuys, Percy looks over his grotto (which sign has happily been changed to read: "Visit Father Christmas") and complains about its size to "young Watts". Curly takes a deep breath and explains to Mr. Sugden that they are a food store, that the grotto is "only a gesture". Percy picks up one of the packages of mince pies from the massive pile at the entrance and tosses it down again. "Mass produced!" he notes scornfully. Turning to Curly, he asks whose idea it was to hand out crayons. Curly explains they are only meant as a "token gift". He hastens to add that they're non-toxic, but as Percy points out, "What about the poor parents when little William scribbles all over the sideboard? You should have called me earlier!"
As Vera and Mr. Holdsworth approach the grotto, she is doom-saying about Percy being unsuited to the role. "He'll be sending the kiddies home to polish their buttons!" she warns. Reg is confident she is wrong. "Mr. Sugden is used to taking orders", he points out, "and *I* am used to giving them!" The two stop to watch at a distance as Curly and Percy talk and Vera comments that Curly's face looks as if it's been "dishwashed".
At this point, "young Watts" is becoming flustered as he explains to Percy that the sleigh isn't real and they sleigh bells aren't real. "And if you want real reindeer, I suggest you go over to the cooked meats and ask for venison!" he blurts out in exasperation before stalking away. Percy calls after him, "The pressures are getting to you, lad! You want to ease up a bit!" (ROFL!!!)
In the Rovers, Alf is telling Phyllis, "He'll rue the day". She defends Percy by saying he loves dressing up and she wouldn't be surprised if he's wearing all his medals. Alf didn't mean Percy, he meant Reg Holdsworth! Phyllis excitedly announces she's off - she can't risk missing Percy's big moment. After she leaves, Jack leans across the counter to tell Alf that Reg isn't the only one who's made a bad choice. With raised eyebrows and winks, Jack fills Alf in on the decorator Bet's hired. From down the bar, Mike interjects that he'd like to see Alec's face when he finds out! "Finds out what?" asks Jack defensively. "About the decorating - his shock when he gets the bill!" answers Mike, "What did *you* think I meant?"
Back from their "urgent business", Martin and Gail are giddy with excitement. They've been gone a lot longer than the promised half hour but Alma doesn't mind, especially on hearing the reason - they've put in an offer on the house and stopped at the building society to make arrangements! Warmly congratulating them, Alma says she's off for a drink. She pauses to ask Gail if she can tell Audreh the good news. Gail answers that she doesn't mind Audreh knowing but that she doesn't want it broadcast. Alma says she'll be back in half an hour - "and if you believe that, you'll believe anything!" she quips.
At the pub, Angie is talking to Mavis about her job prospects, or more accurately, the lack of them. Mavis says she thinks one can be "too proud", a reference to Curly's attempt to help the situation. Behind the bar, Bet lets Betty's comments roll off her as the older woman tells her she's playing "a dangerous game". People will talk, she points out. Defiantly, Bet answers that she hasn't streaked across the Red Rec or owt! Anyway, by her reckoning, Betty is the only one who's talking. No sooner are the words out of her mouth than Des Foster appears in the doorway requesting a pie. He mentions that he's had the third degree from Alf, whom he ran into in the ginnel. Betty assumes "I told you so" posture and Bet defensively tells her, "Well that's Alf, in't it?!" As she steps up to the bar to grab a pie, Mavis, from across the bar, looks at her curiously. "Bet ñ that chap ñ", she begins. "Decorator, Mavis - seen one, you've seen 'em all!" Bet snaps.
Seated in a booth, Alma has told Audreh about Gail and Martin's good news and Audreh says she could almost kiss Ivy for moving! They agree that Martin has been very good for Gail, which leads Audreh to make the same comment about Ken with respect to Alma. Just look how he's got her going to night classes - can she imagine Mike Baldwin ever doing that? Alma doesn't want to talk about Mike Baldwin and Audreh, seeing the troubled look on Almaís face, gently urges her to *tell Ken* that Mike's been pestering her.
Back in the cafe, Martin's finished the washing up and is getting ready to fetch the kids from Pauline's. Gail wonders if they are doing the right thing - there'll be all the additional expenses to consider, carpets, curtains... Martin answers cockily that bare floors are better for indoor football and they won't need curtains since Ivy's moving! Just after Martin goes, Mike comes in. He's looking for Alma as he has good news for her - he's feeling generous, he adds with a wink. Gail informs him she'll be back soon so Mike decides to have a cup of tea while he's waiting.
In the Corner Shop, Alf is telling Rita and Emily he can't understand why Reg asked Percy *of all people* to play Father Christmas! Rita cracks that Alf is only jealous as his store doesn't have a grotto but Alf laughs off the suggestion, predicting Percy won't see the day out. Emily, who's been keeping quiet up to now, exclaims what an awful disappointment that would be to all the children and Alf smugly replies that it would be Holdsworth's fault. Upset at his attitude, Emily tells Alf she's glad it amuses him - she thinks Mr. Sugden is doing a very brave thing! "He's a hero in my books - certainly more deserving of good will than gossip!" she says with conviction before leaving the shop in a fury. Rita has remained behind to pay for her custard creams but Alf is more intent on defending himself. He can't understand why folk interpret friendly conversation as "gossip". A case in point, he continues, is "that decorator fellow over at Bet's". A raised eyebrow from Rita as she states, "Alf, you're gossiping again..." She leans closer to add, "Go on."
It's all systems go at Bettabuys as Father Christmas awaits his cue from within the stockroom. At the entrance to the grotto, children are lined up and Phyllis, excited as any of them, stands beside Reg awaiting Percy's entrance. Bells sound and Curly announces the arrival of Father Christmas to cheers from the children. The "sleigh" comes into view, pushed from behind by several Bettabuys employees, including Vera. Percy disembarks and with a flourish, opens the scroll he is carrying to read the poem Curly has penned:
"My trip from Snowland is complete
I'm here, the friend you want to meet
So, little children cease your play
Grownups too, a moment's pause
It's time to visit -- FATHER CHRISTMAS!"
Curly and Reg exchange sardonic looks as Vera states the obvious, "That doesn't rhyme!" "That *isn't* what I wrote!" answers Curly.
From the front of the queue, Percy invites a shy little girl named Holly to come into his grotto. He takes her by the hand, but stops just at the entrance and turns to face the crowd. "There's not much room!" he shouts, "Like me council house in Snowland - where I make all me toys!" The remark has hit its intended targets. Curly and Reg are suitably chagrined.
Alma arrives back at the cafe and Gail informs her that Mike has been around. He waited 20 minutes before leaving, she says. When Alma hears that he had "good news" she asks if he intends to leave the country. Gail tells her he wants to paint the outside of the cafe. Alma is dead set against it, even though as Gail points out, it needs "a facelift". She's so against the idea that she refuses even to discuss it. Gail reminds her that Mike *is* the landlord and as such, has "rights" but Alma shouts that she has "the right to be left alone"! She won't hear another word about it, end of discussion.
At the entrance to Father Christmas' Grotto, Reg picks up one of the many unsold packages of mince pies. Curly conjectures they'll sell better at the exit from the grotto but Reg says to leave them as they are for now. Within, Father Christmas has two children on his lap, one on each knee. He notices the little girl is missing a couple of her teeth and tells her the words of the song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth". He lets the children go with a caution to be good for their parents and to go straight to sleep on Christmas Eve so that he doesn't have to keep going out to feed his reindeer. As an afterthought, he remembers to hand them each a box of crayons and no, he *doesn't* warn them where not to scribble!
In the Corner Shop, Angie is telling Audreh her frustrations in looking for a job. She's getting desperate and she'd take almost anything at this point. Des comes in and requests four cans of lager. He mentions that the pub is so short-handed that he tired of waiting to be served. Audreh suggests to Angie that she get herself round there sharpish and ask for a job. Angie doesn't need to be told twice. Off she goes excitedly, leaving Des behind to complain to Audreh that she may have just ruined his social life! Audreh tells him to look on the bright side - he'll have a girlfriend on his doorstep and look at the money he'll save on beer!
In the pub, Alf and Reg discuss Father Christmas, Alf projecting that he won't last and Reg dismissing the assertion as sour grapes. Emily and Percy are seated at a table and she is delighted to hear that his first day went so well. He confides that although she never doubted him, he didn't share her confidence until now. The crayons had him a bit worried, he tells her, but he found a way to give a "gift" to the parents as well - he's been sharing his recipes with them - mince pies, puddings, the usual Christmas fare... (LOL!)
At the bar again, Reg is boasting to Alf how far the queue to the grotto stretches - all the way back to fruits and vegs. Alf points out that while they are in line, they aren't buying but he betrays his irritation by sharply reminding Jack that he's still waiting for his bitter. Jack says he is doing his best but with Liz and Betty off, and "Madame de Pompadour last seen looking at colour charts", he's not able to cope. Angie arrives at the bar and asks if she can have a word with Bet. Jack finds the bitter pump is empty and heads into the back to find Bet. A moment later, she comes out to relieve him while he goes to the cellar and asks Angie what she would like. Angie apologises for catching her at such a busy time but Bet assures her she's only standing watch until Jack gets back so not to worry. Angie takes the opportunity to make her request, "I want a job". Bet seems a bit surprised so Angie repeats herself, a bit more forcefully, "I want a job!"
Ken has stopped in at the Corner Shop on his way to a school concert. Dressed in a tux for the event, he's to serve as emcee. Audreh wonders that he isn't taking Alma but Ken tells her he doesn't think it's Alma's "thing". "Don't worry", he adds, "I'm not neglecting her". Audreh replies, "You're not protecting her either!" He asks what she's referring to and Audreh spills the beans about Mike pestering Alma. Angie bounces back into the shop, jubilant with the news that she's to start working in the Rovers tomorrow. As Ken stands by, mulling over the revelation about Alma, Audreh warmly congratulates Angie. He takes notice when Audreh expounds, "See? It's no good sitting about - if you want something, you have to say so - otherwise, someone else will just go in and beat you to it!" The advice is not lost on Ken...
Anita Belanger
Mr Walmersley: PETER RYLANDS Des Foster: NEIL
PHILLIPS
Written by TOM ELLIOTT Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Tuesday (3314, Friday 6 December 1991)
In spite of Alma's putting Gail in her place yesterday about who was the *senior* partner, the two seem to be on cheery speaking terms as today's episode of Corrie begins. Gail arranges with Alma to take her lunch hour at a time convenient for viewing the house in Coronation Street that she and Martin are considering purchasing. Ken comes in and asks for a few words with Alma, "in private". "Is something wrong?" worries Alma. Well, there's something they need to straighten out, clarifies Ken. Alma, who along with Gail is rushed off her feet with the morning crowd, asks if it can wait until that evening and they agree to discuss it over a meal.
At the Rovers Jack and Betty are preparing for the day. Jack asks why Betty's face is so long - has her "boyfriend" (the decorator, Des Foster) eaten his breakfast and not cleaned his plate? "I don't appreciate coarseness, never have and never will," sniffs Betty. She goes on to say that she also doesn't appreciate how familiar Des is being with Bet. "Familiar?" repeats Jack. He recalls Des being quite familiar with Bet once upon a time. That was different, says Betty - Bet was single in them days!
In the living quarters behind the pub, Betty's fears seem well-grounded. Desmond the Decorator is complimenting Bet. The intervening years have done her no harm, he says! "Stop with your blarney," she says (while clearly enjoying it), "it always was your specialty". She is, she says, waggling a be-ringed finger at Desmond, "Mrs. Alec Gilroy" now. Desmond points out the tribulations of having a husband who takes "long leaves of absence". They have a lot in common, him and Bet, he says, warming to his subject only to be interrupted by Angie breathlessly coming through on her first day on staff. Bet sends Angie through to the kitchen to have Betty set her straight and instructs her that if Jack gives her any advice, she is to ignore it! "New barmaid," she explains to Desmond. That should give her more free time, says Des hopefully. She'll still have plenty to do, protests Bet. He continues to coax her, saying he has his Christmas staff party that night, why doesn't she join them. "How many staff could you have?" she laughs. "Only two - that's why I'd appreciate you coming!" he replies. Bet says she's sure he'll find someone to help him out. He continues to attempt to persuade her, saying it would just be a drink and a chat "for old time's sake". She declines - "I remember them 'old times'!"
In the Corner Shop, Mavis is nattering on to Percy and Deirdre about how she wants goose for Christmas dinner, just for a change. Dirk's not keen on it, though (What? Our Derek? Not want to try something different?). Then she says, so astonishingly that I nearly fell out of my chair, "I mean, he's only had it once before and that's when Angela made an attempt. Now, I'm not being bitchy but I suspect she was somewhat lacking in the culinary department!" (Yes, I Am Not Making This Up. I rewound the tape seven or eight times. If she didn't say "bitchy" I'll eat Mojo's fur mouse. Not to mention the attendant sexual innuendo in the sentence! I think Adele Rose was having quite a bit of fun the day she wrote that line!) Neither Percy nor Dreary seem fazed by her turn of phrase, however, and Percy jumps in to advise that she's "come to the right place for advice, because it can be a very greasy bird, can goose!" Mavis protests that she's not a *novice* about these things, Mr. Sugden! Mr. Sugden takes umbrage and growls "No, well, you've never cooked Christmas Dinner for 500 troops in the middle of the Western Desert, have ye?" (Nor has she "baked fairy cakes under fire", surely.) Deirdre leaps in to head Percy off by asking him about his new job. It must be lovely, she comments, "making all those little eyes shine." Percy, now on a roll, snaps that "the age of childhood innocence is long gone!" Surely not, protests The Mave - "it's a magical time for kiddies!" "You should do a stint in my grotto, it's knock that soppy smile off yer face!" bellows Percy. "I started out like that, but it's gimme, gimme, gimme, and that's when you can understand what they're talking about! Kowa-bloomin'-bunga! Turtle language, and - " This time Alf steps in to calm Mr. Sugden before he has a coronary, asking if they're getting much traffic over there at the grotto. Percy says yes, he's a right attraction, "pity you doesn't have a Father Christmas in here but (looking around dismissively) what can you do with a shop the size of a cupboard?" Alf says it's just as well as he'd "never find another Father Christmas like you, would I, Percy?" "You've got a point there, Counselor, I won't deny," says Percy with satisfaction as Deirdre stifles a laugh behind her hand.
In the back of the shop we see Audrey on the phone. Can Alma meet her for lunch? Alma clears this with Gail at the still-busy café and they agree to meet. Just then Mike comes in. Have they decided on the colours they want to paint the café front? he demands. Alma interrupts after hanging up the phone and says he needn't ask Gail, she's got nowt to do with it. Mike says that Gail is a partner and in his book that means she has a say. That's right, agrees Gail. She can't see why Alma is refusing to have the café painted. It's part of Mike's obligation as landlord, he goes on. "Oh yes, and we know how seriously you take your obligations, don't we, Michael?" snaps Alma (point Alma!). She then asks Mike to leave so that she and Gail can discuss it between themselves. Once Baldwin is gone, Alma admits to Gail that he frightens her. "This isn't about paint - it's a power struggle!" she tries to make Gail see. Gail suggests that Alma is being paranoid. If taking care of yourself is paranoid, then yes she is, confirms Alma. With Ken, everything is straightforward, Alma continues. She doesn't want Mike Baldwin in her life, rocking the boat!
In the pub Jacko is, as Bet feared, dispensing advice to Angie. He attempts to demonstrate that he has acquired "the most important thing to know" in the bar business - what your regulars drink - when Rita and Reg come in, but they ruin his display by ordering something different today. Reg, in fact, orders a bottle of wine. He tells Rita that he wants to celebrate the "re-cementing" of their friendship. She doesn't know what he's on about until he reminds her about hiring Percy as Santa as a favour to her. That was just a wee favour, Rita protests. Phyllis comes in and begins pumping Reg for information on how Percy is doing in his Father Christmas role. "He'll shape up," says Reg. Go on, protests Phyllis, "he could charm the birds out of the trees!" (Well, we all know one old bird who he charms regularly!)
Audrey and Alma are having their lunchtime drink and Audreh has just confessed that she had a word with Ken about Mike Baldwin pestering Alma. Alma is quite upset that Audreh put her oar in, and Audrey is apologetic. Audrey goes on to say that she was the first to say Alma that it's great fun, having two fellas on a string (heaven knows there are times she's done it herself, she brags), but if Alma's not careful she'll lose both of them, and Audrey would hate to see her lose Ken!
Dreary comes into the pub with a postcard for Bet, delivered to her place by mistake. In a flat, dismissive voice, Bet reads the flat, dismissive message on the back, "Weather wonderful, wish you were here, love Alec." The locals at the bar look a bit embarrassed. "I can tell yer one thing," she says, before stomping through to the back, "if I *were* there, it wouldn't be coconuts swingin' from them flamin' palm trees!"
After an ad break (It's Patrick! He took out life insurance!) we join back to Desmond Foster, who is chucking junk into the ginnel. Bet joins him. She is clearly hurt by Alec's impersonal, cookie-cutter postcard. Is that offer of "a few jars and a chin-wag for tonight still on?" she asks Des. He is pleased and asks her what made her change her mind. "Let's just say, I reckon if a girl can't have her piÒa coladas on a sun-kissed beach, I reckon she can 'ave 'em where she can," says Bet quietly.
Faster than the speed of a misplaced ad-break, Bet is now in the back room of the pub having a chat with Liz. Bet asks Liz her opinion of Angie - how will she shape up as a barmaid? She'll do okay, confirms Liz. In that case, asks Bet, could Liz see making do with Angie tonight? Sure, says Liz, as long as Jack's around to do t'heavy work. Why, she asks, does Bet have plans? Yes, confirms Bet - she's going for a drink with Des. "What - on a date?" asks a shocked Liz. "Why not?" retorts Bet. "You don't think Alec's going to be there with his hands clapped over his eyes every time one of those hula-hula girls goes slinking by? ... Anyway, it's not a date - it's a drink for old time's sake." "With Des Foster?" asks Liz, unsure. "Look, I've worked hard behind that bar every night since His Little Fat Lordship swanned off! I'm entitled to a night out!" declares Bet. She's not saying Bet isn't, assures Liz, "but is it ever wise, rekindling old flames?" There'll be nothing like that, assures Bet. How can she be sure? wonders Liz. "Because I know me, that's why!" declares Her Ladyship. "I thought I knew me, too," Liz says to a surprised Bet. She doesn't want to go into details, continues Liz quietly, but she "strayed" once. She is making no excuses, but she was taking care of two small kids with a husband who was always gone and she was lonely. She came to her senses and gave the affair up, she tells Bet, and had no regrets - but 'he' turned up again, not long after the MacDonalds had moved into the Street. "Are you saying the old magic was still there?" asks Bet, listening intently. It could've been, Liz says, but Jim was around this time. "All I'm saying is, if he'd turned up while I was on me own, who knows what damage I might've done?" Bet looks very thoughtful indeed as she digests this.
The Platts have gone to have a look at their potential new home. The kids squabble a bit about who gets the biggest bedroom ("we do," Martin puts an end to that argument, "because we're the biggest."). They admire the bigger backyard, discuss getting an inflatable pool next summer, putting in a barbeque. Mavis comes through to say hello, saying "I saw someone out here in the garden in the rain, but never imagined it was you!"
Curly enters the Rovers and Angie asks what he'll have. "In a glass, or over me head?" asks Curly, mindful of his rocky friendship with Angie these days. In a glass, she assures him, and he declares that now she is working he will have her rent in full every week, by way of declaring that he doesn't want to get into any more trouble trying to assist her! She even offers to buy him that drink.
Percy comes in and Jack encourages him to "give us a ho ho ho". (Actually Jack's ho ho ho sounds far more like the Jolly Green Giant than Santa Claus. Has he got his oversized mythological figures mixed up?) Phyllis sidles up to Percy to say she has been hearing some good reports about Percy's Santa-Clausing, "my little flower!" Percy sputters that "I'll thank you not to go snooping behind my back, and I'm NOT your little flower!" She's not been snooping, protests Phyllis, she just asked Reg about what kind of a Daddy Christmas he made. "DADDY CHRISTMAS!" explodes Percy. "Where do you get an expression like that from, woman? Have you no respect for the English language?" Unfazed, Phyllis giggles that "if you're not careful I'll come to that grotto and pull all your whiskers out!", to Percy's chagrin!
Jack wonders aloud to Liz where "Her Ladyship" has got to. She's entitled to a night off like the rest of us, says Liz. Yes, says Jack, jumping to conclusions, especially a night out kicking her heels up with Rita. "Oh, they were a pair of ravers in their day, whoo!" he reminisces.
At the café, Gail gets the good news - their offer on the house has been accepted. (I got a lump in me throat, I'll tell you - I'll never forget that feeling.) Alma is warmly congratulatory. They discuss what Alma will tell Ken tonight now that she knows Audrey has opened her big mouth to him. Alma declares that she will tell him that "Mike Baldwin is history!" She then arranges with Gail to quit a little early and goes up for a bath before Ken arrives.
Just then, in strolls The Devil Himself. Gail tells him that she hasn't been able to get a decision out of Alma about painting the café. Mike says they should change the café name while they're at it. "Jim's Café, I mean, who the hell's Jim?" he scoffs. "Alma's husband!" Gail reminds him. Yeah, Mike knows that, but who else does? People 'round here know it as Alma and Gail's. "Bit of a mouthful," Gail observes. "All right," says Mike, "Alma's Place. Sedgewick's Salads. Platt's Platters. Anything to sound a bit more interesting that 'Jim'!"
Gail watches him with interest during this little rant, perhaps seeing Alma's point about Mike being on a power trip. Yes, they might change the name, she says, but why the concern? Mike does a song-and-dance about how, as landlord, maintenance is his department, he sees how hard they work, he's happy to do anything he can do to help. Gail's a sensible girl, he urges, she's got her head screwed on straight - can't she make Alma see this isn't' some "wicked Machiavellian ploy on my part?" "Isn't it?" inquires Gail. The bottom line is, yes, says Mike shiftily, but only in a business sense. It's in his best interest for the café to do well. He wouldn't want to see the place go to rack and ruin just 'cause Alma's angry at him!
Just then Angry Alma walks in. "What's HE doing here?" she demands. "I've always said, there's nothing like a warm welcome. And that definitely was NOT a warm welcome!" grins Mike. Gail says Mike better leave. He reminds them again he needs a decision - he's needs to tell the painter. "Oh, you *haven't* already booked the painter!" says Alma in dismay. "Oh, you know me, sweet'eart - if I say I'm going to do something, I do it! But you knew that! <wink> See ya!" Mike says infuriatingly, taking his leave. After he blows out the door, Gail says that this is getting silly and she is in the middle - can't Alma do something, if only for Gail's sanity? She could, confirms Alma - "but they'd put me in for life for it!"
Rita comes into the Rovers and Jack assumes she's meeting Bet. Liz steps in to correct him. "Jack," she says sotto voce, "Bet's not going out with Rita." "But you said she was!" "No, YOU said she was!" Liz and Jack move off-scene, presumably to discuss this further. Rita tells Angie, who's serving, that she'd glad to see Angie working. Debt can lead to other troubles, she says. Not much chance of that, says Angie, referring to Curly's (who is at the end of the bar) insistence on rescuing her. They agree that Curly is a good lad for trying to help Angie out with her money problems.
Mike comes in and offers Audrey and Rita a drink. Rita's just off to the pictures with Mavis ("a weepy", she says, which makes me worry. If Mavis gets any weepier she may disappear altogether.) but she can stay for one. A clearly annoyed Audreh instead pointedly turns down Mike's drink. Instead, she loudly says to Rita (Mike is standing right between the two of them at the bar) that Alma and she were thinking of going to the pictures too, but Alma's got KEN coming round tonight. (Audrey was nearly shouting in this gem of a scene.) "Oh? That's nice," says Rita, who seems not to notice that her friend suddenly thinks she's hard-of-hearing. "Yes, they've been seeing A LOT of each other," Audrey goes on. It wouldn't surprise her if they SETTLED DOWN when KEN'S divorce came through. "Oh, he could do worse," says Rita obliviously. "I've never known Alma so HAPPY!" concludes Audrey. Through the whole exchange, Mike Baldwin stands right between them, grinning like a cheshire cat first at one, then the other. Classic!
Alma is at that moment having a much quieter conversation with KEN - sorry, Ken, in her flat. She comments on how people like she and Ken would probably prefer peace and quiet in their old age. Not necessarily peace and quiet, but they could do without hassle, Ken agrees. If he means Mike Baldwin, Alma says, she knows what Audrey said to Ken. "Is there any truth to it?" inquires Ken. Not the way Audrey is interpreting it, assures Alma. He's just "crawled out of the woodwork" to insist on painting the café. Well, then, why didn't she mention it? wonders Ken. It was no big deal - he's the landlord, unfortunately, replies Alma. Surely Alma doesn't believe that's the only reason he's suddenly "crawling out of the woodwork", asks Ken. No, concedes Alma, that is an exaggeration, but she's made it crystal clear he can forget them getting back together. Ken is amazed that Mike thinks he and Alma could get back together after all he's done. "I don't know what goes on in his twisted little mind and I don't flamin' well care!" rants Alma, "As far as I'm concerned, Ken, I'm with you and Mike Baldwin can go to hell!" There is a slight pause after this fiery outburst, then Alma, suddenly bashful, says shyly, "Well, I mean, that's if you want me." Ken laughs and gestures for her to join him on the sofa where they have a kiss and a cuddle.
Bet sits alone at her dining room table, smoking, thinking. There's a knock at the door. It's Des Foster, all "cleaned up" and ready for their night out. Bet tells him she can't go. What's the problem? he inquires. He assumes that the new barmaid didn't show up. No, that's not the problem, Bet says. Well, what is then? he asks. "Me," replies Bet. She says she just can't do it. He gets upset and accuses her of giving him "the big come-on". She denies it, but he points out that of all the decorators in the area, she called on him. Is that supposed to be a coincidence? He furiously leaves, leaving an upset Bet leaning against the door.
ronniecat
Desmond Foster: NEIL PHILLIPS
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by SPENCER CAMPBELL
Wednesday (3315, Monday 9 December 1991)
As the camera shoots through Alf's and Audrey's garden, we're treated to a view of their pink flamingo and gnome. Alf is urging Audrey to hurry or he'll be late opening the shop. He asks if she locked the deadbolt, and learning that she hasn't, he doubles back to accomplish that task, while Audrey berates him for being so cautious about the house but leaving his car in the laneway because he's too lazy to clear out the garage. As Alf unlocks the car, he realizes that someone has smashed the passenger-side window and stolen his radio/cassette player. Audrey can't help but smirk.
Meanwhile, Alma and Ken are enjoying coffee after their night together, and are discussing the theatre. After their last horrific experience, Alma agrees that perhaps they should try it again, especially since the play Ken is interested in is a comedy. Ultimately they agree that they will go, and Ken kisses Alma before rushing off, reminding her he may be late home as Kevin has a car to show him.
Bet emerges from the Kabin, crosses the road, and walks toward the Rover's Return when Liz calls out to her. As they walk together, Liz mutters about the trials to sharing a house with "three blokes." Bet thanks Liz for their "little chat" of the night before and assures Liz that her "secret" is safe with her. Liz asks Bet is she regrets cancelling her date with Des, and Bet says no, although she thinks it may have bruised Des' ego. Bet explains that she's also a little worried that Des will think she was only trying to get back at him for their last failed attempt at romance, so Liz encourages her to explain things to him. Bet says she will -- if he turns up -- but Liz assures her that he's probably busy buying paint, and will show up eventually.
At the Cafe, Don is telling Gail that he and Ivy think they've found a suitable place with a small back garden; the look of relief on Gail's face is obvious. He also thinks their home will sell soon, given that there have already been several people around to view it. After Don leaves, Alma wonders aloud why she didn't tell him of their plans to buy No8, but Gail's attitude is that they'll find out soon enough. Meanwhile, it's up to Alma to choose the new colours for the Cafe. Alma's response is that it's only Mike's way of getting back into her life.
Back at the Rover's Return, Bet is going over accounts with Betty, and complains about Alec swanning off and leaving her with all sorts of extra responsibilities. Liz announces that the decorator has arrived, but instead of Des, it's a young stranger. Bet tells the young man that she already has a decorator, and he informs her that Des sent him to finish off while he moves on to another project. He tells Bet that his name is Greg, and he goes off to work on the bedrooms upstairs, but not before Bet asks him to have Des call by when he has an opportunity.
Mike Baldwin pulls up at MVB motors, and Kevin explains that he's been really busy. As they review the various jobs, Kevin reveals that he's assessing a car "for a mate," prompting Baldwin to remind him that it's a business he's running. When Kevin reveals that the "mate" is Ken Barlow, and that he's thinking of buying one of the used fleet cars at a reduced rate, Mike tells Kevin to increase the price of the car by £200, and put the transaction through the books.
Behind the bar at the Rover's Return, Jack quizzes Angie on her "gear," and wonders if she made them (her clothes). He points out that she's covering "too much," he believes that "if you've got it, you should flaunt it," and he tells Angie that she'll get more tips if she uncovers a bit. Angie "tips" her glass down Jack's trousers as a consequence! Further down the bar, Betty asks Liz if Des quit the job as decorator, but Liz tells her that he sent in the "young lad" to fill in for him.
As Jack mops his trousers, Mike arrives and orders his usual. He tells Angie to have one herself -- and she announces that she'll have a lemonade. "A bit modest," is Mike's response, to which Angie replies that she *is* modest -- "right, Jack?"
At Bettabuys, everyone is working late, including Vera and Ivy, who are stacking the shelves in the wine section. Vera complains that they're there all the time, and comments that Jack will be off that evening to a snooker match. When asked, Ivy tells Vera that quite a few people have been by to view their house, so Vera resignedly comments that they really are moving, noting sadly that the street won't be the same without Ivy and Don. Ivy reassures her that they will see each other often. Then Vera lets the cat out of the bag by remarking on the funny coincidence that Ivy and Don are moving from Coronation Street at the same time that Gail and Martin are planning to move to No8. Ivy angrily tells Vera that no one has breathed a word of this news to her.
At that very moment, Gail arrives at Don's house, and tells him that her's and Martin's offer on #8 has been accepted. She explains that she didn't want Ivy to think that they were waiting for her to move our before they moved in, but Don assures Gail that it's their business. Meanwhile, they too have had a firm offer on their place.
Ken and Kevin discuss the car, and Kevin reveals that the price is £2,500. Kevin asserts that this is a fair price, in his opinion, and Ken agreees to have a cheque to him by the following day. He also hands Kevin a few pounds, inviting him to have a pint on him. Kevin declines the money at first, but accepts when Ken assures him that he's done him a big favour.
Mike is at the Cafe, quizzing Gail and Alma on their colour choices. While Alma ignores him, Gail says they've settled on brown and green. Mike offers to also have Alma's flat painted, but she declines.
Kevin has repaired Alf's window, but the bill isn't ready. He tells Alf to "shop around" for a new radio, which he will happily install. Steve MacDonald, having overheard this conversation, offers to get Alf a top-quality radio for £50. What is that boy up to?
Ivy arrives home and is surprised to find Don making their tea. He tells her they've had a firm offer on their property, so they can now make an offer on the house they want. He also tells her that Gail was by to tell him of their plans to buy No8 Coronation Street, and is pleased to learn that Ivy is happy for Gail and Martin.
Over again at the Rover's Return, Liz is pouring a pint for Jim, remarking that he's drinking the money faster than she can make it. She also asks where the boys are, adding that she's not happy with the crowd they're hanging around with. Meanwhile, Vera tells Angie that she wasn't pleased to learn that she was now working there, since Jack is like a dog "around a bowl of offal" where a mini-skirt is concerned. Angie puts her mind to rest by telling her she is drawn to attractive, mature men, so it's just as well that Jack is unattractive and immature!
Meanwhile, Jack and his cronies board a bus and head home from the snooker match, while Alma and Ken emerge from the theatre, commenting on how much they enjoyed the play. As they pass a travel agency, Alma reveals that her last two Christmases were lousy, and she'd love nothing better than to spend the holidays in a warm climate. She and Ken decide to spend Christmas together, away.
Jack gets off the bus on Coronation Street, and observes Des arrive in a cab outside of the Rover's Return. Inside, Des tells Bet that he was upset the night before, and declines the drink Bet offers. She apologizes for cancelling, but assures him it wasn't motivated by revenge. It was all a "daft" attempt to get back at Alec, but when the chips were down, she couldn't go through with it. He thanks her for her honesty, and tells her he sent Greg to finish the job because he "didn't want to tempt fate." On that note he bids her goodnight, leaving behind a disillusioned-looking Bet.
Heather Morlan
Des Foster: NEIL PHILLIPS Greg Simpson: DEAN
GATISS
Written by KEN BLAKESON Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Thursday (3316, Wednesday 11 December 1991)
The day begins with a jam-packed caf and Alma and Gail barely keeping up with the brekkie rush. Ivy comes in and hands Gail the contact information for her solicitor. Youre not going to sue me for custody of your grandchildren! cries Gail in jest. If I didnt know your sense of humour... warns Ivy. No, she says, Gail and Martin will be needing a solicitor now that theyre buying a house, and Ivys is a good one. She expresses her wishes for happiness for Gail and the family, which Gail warmly accepts. After Ivy leaves Gail notes as how she cant fathom that woman! She was dreading telling Ivy about their move and now here shes dead pleased about it. Why *are* Don and Ivy also moving, anyway? Alma wonders aloud. Gail thinks that perhaps Don got fed up with living in a shrine. Anyway, she doesnt care why theyre moving as long as theyre moving!
In the Corner Shop, Kevin and Ken briefly discuss getting the papers sorted on the car Ken plans to buy. Hed like to pick it up by 5 p.m. Steve MacDonald comes in with a car radio, as promised, for Alf. Its practically new, he says, and a bargain at 40. Alf tells Steve he doesnt want anything dodgy! Steve assures him its not dodgy, but if Alf doesnt want it No, no, says Alf, it will be fine.
In the back room at the Rovers Bet and Betty gear up for the day ahead over a cuppa. Bet reads a postcard from Alec. It is again businesslike in tone (including the instruction to tell Jack I know what hes up to, because hes always up to something) and closes with a perfunctory missing you, love Alec. Awwwww, says Bet, seeing rather more sentiment in the card than Bet does. What do you mean? says Bet sharply. You know... awwwww, says an uncomfortable Betty. She says that she was referring to Alec missing Bet, which Bet dismisses. Hell be boozing and god knows what else, she scoffs. Guilty minds are suspicious minds! says Betty pointedly. Whatt *that* supposed to mean? says Bet. Never mind... its not my place, says Betty. Come on, Betty, feel free! says Bet, dramatically lighting a cigarette. Betty says no, shell not put her nose in everybody else may be making comments about Bet being very, very friendly with a certain decorator, but not her! Let em, says Bet sharply, cause theres nowt going on! All right?
At MVB Motors, Kevin discusses the car he is selling to Ken with Mike Baldwin. He feels bad making a profit on the deal, he tells Mike, knowing that Mike marked the car up upon hearing that it was Ken who was buying it. Kev was doing a favour for a mate when he put Ken on to the car, he tells Mike, not looking to line me own pockets. Mike tells him in no uncertain terms that he did someone a favour once. A little thing, cost him nothing at the time, nearly wiped him out in the end. It taught him a lot about favours, namely we dont do em!
At the caf, Alma, Gail and Audrey discuss Christmas plans. Specifically, Alma has told them that she and Ken are considering going away together for Christmas. Gail jokingly moans about being left alone at a busy time like Christmas but Alma says that Gail will have a houseful of bright shining eyes on Christmas morning, what will Alma have? Gail says Alma is breaking my heart and concedes that Alma should go. Audrey is delighted and wants to come with Alma to look at brochures but Alma quickly says no, she will go by herself. And, she sternly warns Audrey, not a WORD to Ken. I know you! she says (not well enough to forego telling her altogether, which is what I wouldve recommended, apparently!) and she doesnt want Ken to think shes jumping the gun by looking into details.
Young-Still-Alive-Not-Yet-At-All-Cadaver-Like Steve MacDonald is working away in the bike shop when The Mave comes by. She tells Steve that nobody would ever get her on the back of one of them (nodding towards the bike hes working on), and Steve teases her about the back seat of a car being more dangerous than the back of a motorcycle. Surely not with the new rear seatbelts? says a worried Mavis. Depends on how dark the night, Steve replies wickedly. Mavis looks even more worried, but then remembers why she came by. She heard that Steve got Alf Roberts a good stereo out of a wrecked car. Is that so? Steve confirms it. She says that Dereks stereo/cassette has gone on the blink and she wants to get him a replacement as a surprise. A good one, she adds. Steve says he will keep his eyes open. As Mavis thanks him and begins to leave, she suddenly stops in her tracks and turns around. Ive just got what you meant about the back seat! Cheeky! Shes all a-blush as she leaves.
Bet pops out of the back at the Rovers to inquire whether shes needed. Betty replies that theyve got things in hand. Jack notes that Bet is more cheerful this morning. She got a card from is ighness, explains Betty. So *thats* whats doing it, is it? says Jack in a tone implying he doesnt believe that for a moment. Whats *that* supposed to mean? asks Betty. What do you think about that decorator? asks Jack. I think hes a bit of a cowboy. A Midnight Cowboy, if you know what I mean. Betty warns Jack to be careful of what he says. Instead he tells Betty about seeing Des come round to Bets after eleven the previous evening. Betty, jumping to the same conclusion Jack did, looks deeply unhappy as she pours a pint.
At the Websters Sally and Kevin are chatting as Sally spoons food into Rursies mouth. (Even in 1991 Sally was obsessed with feeding the poor wee lass. Is it any wonder that in 1999 shes got personality problems? Rosie, I meant, although youre right, so does Sally.) Kevin is now telling *Sal* how badly he feels about making a couple of hundred pounds profit on the car hes selling to Mike. She asks if the price theyre charging Ken is still fair, even with a markup. Yes, he confirms. And is the car a good car? Yes, he says. Well then, why is he so upset? She wonders. (Damned if I know. A born businessman, is Kev.) His share of the profit, 100, will come in mighty handy with a baby to care for, she points out, and hes done lots of paperwork and other work on the car for Ken too. He deserves his share! Kev looks thoughtful, or perhaps he was choking on his butty, Im not certain which.
Its early closing time at the pub and Angie anxiously inquires as to how shes doing. Bet tells her that shes just not a barmaid. Betty, whos sitting with Bet, says, aww, I thought she were getting the hang of it! She tells Bet not to be so hard on the disappointed Angie. It doesnt matter, says Bet Angie doesnt look anything like a barmaid, You look like a University student whos behind that bar cause youre skint, she says. She and Betty are barmaids, Bet continues. When she and Bet were born, they looked at us and said, yup barmaids, says Bet. Shes not going to waste her time training Angie to be the worlds best barmaid, she says, because Angie is destined for better things. So you dont want me back tonight, then? asks an Angie who is still unsure how to take this little talk. Of course I do, says Bet. Angie smiles gratefully and comments that it seems these days everyone is concerned with helping her better herself before leaving.
After Angie leaves Bet tells Betty that she should go, too, if shes done. Betty, still upset about what Jack told her earlier, cant leave until she tells Bet again not to throw everything away for the sake of a fling with Des Foster. Bet (who we know ended the potential affair with Des during their heart-to-heart the night before) doesnt know where this fresh onslaught of advice is coming from, not after she told Betty just that morning that there was nothing going on! Not this again! she cries irritably.
Finally Betty tells her that Des was seen going to Bets after eleven p.m. the night before. Bet wants to know who told Betty this, but Betty replies that it doesnt matter what does is that Bet cant do that and expect people *not* to see it! Bet concedes that Des did come by the previous evening but didnt stay. Under some gentle prodding from Betty, Bet admits that Des did show interest in her and that she did show some in him, but that nothing happened and now nothing would. Have I said too much? asks Betty rhetorically. Yes, says Bet, but I suppose you have the privilege. Betty says honestly that at least Bet knows that If Im saying it to you, Im saying it to nobody else others might be different! She takes her leave of a thoughtful Bet.
In the Corner Shop, Audrey is pestering Alf about them taking a Christmas holiday, too. Mike Baldwin comes in and, overhearing, inquires as to who is spending Christmas in the Seychelles? Theyre not! Alf gets in. Audreh, however, unable to resist needling Mike, says that a certain Caf owner Mike knows may be holidaying over Christmas, though. Good, says Mike, she deserves it. Its rotten being alone on Christmas, he knows. Who said anything about being alone? Audrey continues. Business owners like Mike and Alf cant get away on holidays, she says, thats the advantage of being a schoolteacher! Mike doesnt look best pleased at this news, when Deirdre comes up to the counter and confirms that Yes, apparently your ex and my ex are going away together to give each other succor!
Ken is at MVB Motors in the process of claiming his new car. Who shall I make the cheque out to? he asks Kev. MVB Motors, instructs Kevin. Ken pauses. I thought this was through you, he says. The owner just wants it to go through the books, Kev says. In that case, the deal is off, declares Ken I just dont make out any cheque to Mike Baldwin! Kevin can hardly believe this. He assures Ken that Mikes cut is very small and Ken replies that it doesnt matter *how* small the cut is. Ken then tries to get Kev to accept some money for his trouble and the paperwork, assuring Kev that its nothing to do with you, but Kev, feeling bad enough already, refuses. Buy me a drink sometime, he mumbles. Yeah, all right, mumbles Ken in reply.
Steve comes into the Kabin with a stereo for Mavis, who is pleased he got one so quickly. (Hmmm. Any points for guessing where this storyline is going?) She tells Rita that Steve got a radio for Alf out of a wrecked auto and shes asked him to get her one for Derek as well. I wouldnt want a radio someoned killed themselves on the motorway tryin to tune! says a shocked Rita. (This is the sort of thing Big Red usually mocks Mavis for saying.) Oh, thats right Rita, put me off! declares a dismayed Mavis (obviously recognizing the Mave-like quality of the comment). Nevertheless, she is pleased as punch and arranges to buy the radio, which has several options, for 45. He gives Mavis some instructions on installing the thing, to which she replies that Derek isnt really the mechanical sort! Could Steve install it as well? Sure he could, says a smiling Steven and his rates are quite reasonable!
Back at MVB Motors, Kevin is informing said MVB that the sale of the car to Ken is off. He says that Ken was fine until Kev told him to make the cheque out to MVB motors and correctly guesses that theres some bad blood between Mike and Ken. Mike doesnt confirm or deny this, he just tells Kev to hang onto the car for the time being. What exactly is it, the needle between you two? asks Kev. Youd better ask him hed the one thats bothered! says Baldwin with a toothy grin.
Behind the bar at TRovers, Jack is regaling Angie and Liz with his theories of sexual attraction and how Angie should go about attracting a man. So where should she look, Angie asks, humouring him. Hed suggest starting in the Yellow Pages under painters and decorators! quips Jack. Unfortunately for him, Bet is standing in the doorway to the living quarters and overhears this comment. Jacko. I want a word with you. In the back. Now. she snaps.
Once there, a terrified Jack says, is this about the uh the uh BET: What have you been putting round about me? JACK: Nowt! BET: Let me hear it again. JACK: Nowt! BET: And again. JACK: Nowt! BET: Thats a very good answer, Jacko, cause if I hear you putting two and two together again, I dont care what you think it comes to, youll be out of here very fast, and you might just find youve got two missing when you go!
(Note she doesnt specify two of *what* hell have missing. I used my imagination and laughed out loud. YMMV.)
Back in the bar area, Deirdre enters the Pub and says to Ken, You could have told me? Told you what? What youre about to tell me, she says. She goes on to ask whether he wants to give Tracy his Christmas presents before he leaves or shall she give them to her, its no skin off her nose either way. Ken explains that he hadnt told her because its so far nothing more than a nice idea! But while they're discussing Tracy, how does Dreary think she will react if hes away over Christmas? Deirdre observes that Tracys at that age where you just dont know, she could be in tears all week or she could hardly take notice. Was this some kind of mad impulse? inquires Deirdre. It was an impulse, he admits, but not mad, exactly. Hes had worse impulses this time of year!
Derek is just chuffed with his car stereo and he and Mavis stand in the street watching Steve install it. He has certainly missed having one, he says theres nothing like a blast of Luciano when youre caught up in a contra-flow! Steve MacDonald announces that the stereo is installed, and puts in a tape at Dirks request. The unmistakable voice of Pavarotti (take that any way you like) comes wafting out as Derek utters a blissful Magnifico!
Back in the pub, Dreary comments that Ken has improved in his old age. *They* never went away when they were together, she snipes! No, but then you were never a creature of impulse, were you? responds Ken. Me? bristles Deirdre. *I* wasnt? Well, youre *not*, Ken insists. Ken, you are the only bloke I know who irons a crease in his pullovers! You are *not* a creature of impulse! says Deirdre. Ken wisely says that he thinks theyd better let it drop. Dreary agrees (no doubt in part because she got in the last point, and a good one, too!).
Mavis, Dirk, Alf and Audreh discuss their respective Steve-MacDonald-sourced car radios. Alf is disgruntled to find that for only 5 more, it sounds like Derek got a far better system. (It only had auto-reverse and a few other features, but Steve certainly tried to make it sound impressive to Derek and The Mave, so I suppose thats what Alf was going by.) That seemed to be the only point of this scene, so let us wander over behind the bar as...
A rather shell-shocked Jack comes out of the back room. Did she, ah, have summat to say to you? inquires Liz, pulling a pint. Yis, says Jack crisply, I think you would call it the riot act. Angie pokes her head between them to ask what was all that about a decorator? I am saying NOTHING, says Jack, I have got a cellar to see to. He throws down his bar towel and stalks off. Is that what he was saying? Angie pursues the issue with Liz. That Bet and the decorator - ? I think thats what hes saying, says Liz lightly and dismissively, but when will you start believing aught Jack says, eh?
Ken is just leaving the pub when he encounters Mike Baldwin on the street outside. Mike thanks Ken for doing him a favour by not buying the car. If not doing business with Mike is a favour, hell be happy to help anytime, replies Ken, walking past Mike. Mike goes on that hell make a nice little profit on that car. As long as its not from me, says Ken, turning to face him. Mike goes on. I looked at that auto and said to myself, thats too good for Barlow, that is. Ill have it off him. Really? My word. Arent you clever, says Ken with studied disinterest. Yes, continues Mike. He knows a good thing when he sees it. Mind, your last good thing threw you out, didnt she? Maybe youre slipping, digs Ken. I wouldnt bet on it, retorts Mike. And theres something else thats too good for you, too, Barlow, and Ill have *her* off you, too and you *can* bet on that! Mike cockily turns and walks away, leaving Ken looking after him for a long time.
ronniecat
Written by JULIAN ROACH Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Friday (3317, Friday 13 December 1991)
As he leaves for work in the morning, Ken passes in front of Alf's Mini Market. Alf suggests that if he wants a Christmas tree, he should let him know now as they'll be gone by the end of the week. Ken thanks him but says he may be gone by the end of the week too!
Going back into his shop, Alf tells Audreh, apparently not for the first time, that he is sure Derek's new radio is the same one stolen from his car.
Ken has stopped in at the Websters' to apologise to Kevin for the deal on the car falling through. Although Kevin seems very accommodating about the matter, Sally seethes in the background. Finally she opens her mouth to ask just why Ken changed his mind about buying the car - was there something wrong with it? Ken says the car was fine, he just preferred not to do business with Mike Baldwin - for personal reasons. Embarrassed by Sally's interjection, Kevin tries to smooth things by saying it doesn't matter - Ken doesn't owe them an explanation. But Sally persists, saying he could still have the car if he wanted to. Slightly self-conscious, Ken leaves them with an apology for dragging them into his problems. As the door closes, Sally lets go of her temper, calling Ken "pathetic" and telling Kevin he allows people "to walk all over him"!
In the Corner Shop, Alf is still complaining about "his" radio being in Derek's car when Angie pops in. How he can ever identify it as his radio is the problem. It's simple, Angie points out - just see if the buttons are all tuned to the same stations Alf had programmed! Alf's eyes light up as he recalls what his settings were: the first was Radio 2; the second, Radio 4; third was Weatherfield, and fourth, Radio Picadilly! Deirdre points out there are five buttons on a car radio but Alf explains that he never got around to setting the fifth. He and Audreh rush out, bent on seeing Derek and reclaiming their property.
Des the decorator arrives for his final day's work and is given a cool reception by Jack and Betty. As he goes through to the back, Bet notes he is late and offers him some tea. Explaining his tardiness, (he had to stop on the way to pick up gloss), he says he'll be glad of a cup after he gets set up upstairs. Sensing that Jack may be taking an undue interest in Des' arrival, Bet sidles over to the door connecting the pub and suddenly swings it open, "ALL RIGHT, JACKO?!" she hollers, sending the barman reeling. As she slams the door shut again, a chastened Jack tells Betty that he still thinks Bet has something to hide.
Alf and Audreh, now sitting in Derek's car, run through the station settings as Derek leans through the open window watching. Triumphant at the discovery that all the settings match his own, even to the empty fifth button, Alf fumbles momentarily for a pleasant way to inform Derek that this is his radio. Audreh doesn't see the point in mincing words and just comes out with the pronouncement: This is the same radio that was stolen from their car the day before Derek came to own it. Bewildered at the news, Derek stammers that Mavis bought it in good faith. Alf assures him that they don't blame him but says the sooner they deal with the McDonald lad, the better. Alf and Derek scrimmage for the position of leading the way to go and confront Big Jim on the matter.
Sharing a tea break in the Rovers parlour, Bet informs Des of Jack's suspicions. "One of life's romantics, is Jack", she says wryly. Des thinks it ought to be simple to prove him wrong but Bet asserts it isn't proving him wrong that's the problem - it's shutting him up!
In Jim's shop, the injured parties have put their case forth and wait to hear what Steve's father has to say on the matter. Jim pleads for calm and explains that Steve is on an errand for the moment but promises he will deal with the problem as soon as he returns.
In the pub, Mike is getting drinks in for himself and Kevin at the bar. Kevin asks what is to be done with the car Ken was set to buy now that he doesn't want it. Mike tells him to sell it back to the guy he got it from. He issues the further instruction that if Barlow ever again asks to buy a vehicle through Kevin, he's to make sure he sells him a "heap of rust"!
Mavis and Derek are having their lunch in the pub and he is filling her in on the car radio situation. She is shocked at the news but Derek tells her not to worry, that Jim has said he will sort it out.
And "sort it out" he does! As Steve returns from his errand, his father collars him and drags him into the shop. Angrily, he demands to know where the radios came from. Steve stammers that he got them off a mate. Jim bellows back that they're stolen - did he know that? Steve doesn't seem very surprised to hear it but proclaims his ignorance of the fact. Jim hesitates before deciding to believe his son. "All right, so you're not a criminal... You're just a bit thick", he relents. Then, a warning: "By God, if I find out you're lying..." Steve swears he is telling the truth and again Jim backs down. He tells Steve there are two things to be done now to set things right. First, he is never again to have anything to do with radios; secondly, they now need to find a way to satisfy Alf and Derek so they won't bring the law into it. Cautioning Steve to make himself scarce for the rest of the day, Jim sends him away, calculating how best to deal with Derek and Alf...
As they replenish Bettabuys' shelves, Vera tells Ivy the latest gossip according to Jack. She vows that if Jack gets the sack they'll take it before a tribunal and *then* see what Bet has to say for herself! Ivy says she doesn't want to hear about Bet's fancy man. She reckons there's as much sin in spreading gossip as there is in causing it. Vera explains her own philosophy on the question: Bet's flaunting her affair, rubbing their noses in it. Therefore, people who don't want to know are actually aiding and abetting her, making it easy for her to have loose morals!
Jim has come into the Corner Shop to settle matters with Alf. He pays him back the £40 he spent for the replacement radio and returns his old one to him, now uninstalled from Derek's car. Alf is pleased to get his radio back but says he doesn't think the matter should rest there -- he wants to know where Steve got the radio in the first place. Jim takes him aside to explain Steve's story, that he was in the dark about the radios being stolen. With a plea to leave it with him, Jim promises the shopkeeper that he has dealt with Steve and it will never happen again.
When Jim leaves the shop, Alf tells Deirdre he is uneasy about letting the matter drop. He thinks Jim is covering for his son and his mate, the thief into the bargain! Deirdre points out that going to the police could result in serious trouble for "young Steven" but Alf says he still doesn't see how he can do nothing.
Gail and Alma are talking of their Christmas plans as enjoy a cup of tea in the Cafe. Gail faces moving into a new home, exciting but hectic, while Alma has hopes of going off to the tropics with Ken. Alma's concern, as she explains, will be "escaping Christmas past"! Gail offers that she should tell Mike straight, leave her alone, she doesn't want him! Ken comes in and Alma greets him affectionately. She asks Gail to handle the cafe while she and Ken retreat upstairs to look over holiday brochures.
Jim comes into the Kabin to deliver Mavis a new radio to replace the stolen one. He hands over the box and says he'll be happy to come around later and install it for them. Mavis demures that she hopes this one *is* new. With exaggerated politeness, Jim recovers the box from her and opens it to show her the packing, instructions and warranty card. Handing it back to her with a flourish, he repeats his offer to come back and fit it for them. Without waiting for an answer, he leaves the shop. Rita looks at her assistant in wonder and Mavis answers defensively, "Well, we don't want any more *mistakes*, do we?" Rita's reply: "Oh, they wouldn't dare mess *you* about again!"
In Alma's flat, Ken stops leafing through the brochures to inform Alma of his "talk" with Baldwn the night before. She admits that she knew of Mike's intentions and says that she plans to go and see him to make things crystal clear to him. Ken seems encouraged to hear it.
In their tiny kitchen, Kevin is telling Sally he wonders what he's got himself into, working for Baldwin. He thinks his boss is mad, "pushed round the twist" by the failure of his marriage. First he tells him to keep the car, now he wants him to sell it! Sally thinks Kevin should be happy to have a job, never mind Mike's sanity!
After the Brennans have had their tea, Don suggests going to the Rovers for a drink. Ivy says she doesn't want to join the "gawping crowds" and elaborates by sharing with Don what Vera has told her, that Bet is having an affair. Don immediately assumes that Ivy is getting at him for his own affair. He accuses her of wanting to remind him that he is still "on probation". She vehemently denies it and he backs down a little but is not wholly convinced. "So you think moving is going to solve everything, do you?" he asks. She answers in the affirmative and he grudgingly says he hopes she's right!
Des Foster comes into the Rovers and asks Jack if Bet is available. Jack answers sarcastically and goes to get her. Mike is standing at the bar when Alma comes in to have a word with him. She tries to get through to him, explaining in no uncertain terms that she and Mike are history, she now has a relationship with Ken and she wants him to stop bothering her. Mike's response is to order her a large G & T and invite her to have dinner with him. Becoming flustered because he refuses to hear what she is saying, Alma storms off, leaving Mike and the drink at the bar.
Bet comes through to greet Des. He is here to deliver his bill so she invites him through to the back. Vera snidely suggests to Jack that they check their watches to see how long it will take her to write the cheque!
Rita has just come in and to her surprise, Mike offers her the drink that Alma abandoned. She graciously thanks him, wondering how he knew... Turning to Liz, Rita strikes up a conversation about the car radio debacle, not realising that Liz knows nothing about it. Once she sees her mistake she apologises for opening her mouth. Liz requests that she open it again to tell *her* what is going on.
At their table, Alf and Audreh are also discussing the same business. Audreh doesn`'t see why Alf can't let it rest now they have their money and their radio back. But as he explains, he is a councilor and cannot be seen to be turning a blind eye to thievery.
As she writes out the cheque for Des, Bet is surprised to hear him say that he wishes he'd never let her go. She keeps cool, responding that it's nicer to hear that than to have him say what a lucky escape he's had. Seriously, he tells her that he would like to come back. Fine, she agrees, come back in the New Year when Alec is here. Rising to leave, he remarks that she must be lonely, running a pub alone. "Oh you're never on your own in a pub", she smiles. "That's exactly the way you seem to me", he replies, "very much alone". As he closes the door behind him, she blankly stares off, the truth of his words cutting into her.
Anita Belanger
Des Foster: NEIL PHILLIPS
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by BRIAN MILLS
Monday (3318, Monday 16 December 1991)
Alma stews through most of this episode and between avoiding Mike's presence in the cafe and whining to anyone that will listen about Ken not getting back to her about going abroad for Christmas, well, Alma is NOT pleasant to be around! She's decided Ken's just not interested and is avoiding facing her but at the end of the night, just when she's had three G&T's in the pub and ready to leave since it's obvious that Ken isn't going to show up, Ken does show up and has good news and bad news. Bad news is he couldn't get a flight out but he did get a hotel booked in the Cotswolds, will that suit her? Oh, she smiles, It WILL! (Thank GOD, i don't think i could have watched another episode featuring Alma's Pity Party!)
Meanwhile, Mike, lingering in the cafe doing paperwork, uses a spelling mistake on a bid to lure Tracy into his lair. He flatters her *and* her father, comparing her father's superior education to his own shortcomings in that area. (Well his areas can't *all* be shortcomings can they else he'd not have the playboy reputation that he has! *smirk*) She is wary at first but is slowly being hypnotized by his snaky gaze and smooth talking. (She's a woman, isn't she? He knows what he's doing!) He strikes! He plants the suggestion that she maneuver her parents over the holidays and ask them to get back together. It *is* what she wants, isn't it? And it just might work as Christmas has that kind of effect on people. She's won over. Later she's told her mother that all she really wants for Christmas is for her dad to share their Christmas dinner. Deirdre is reluctant but Tracy assures her mother that she'll make sure her father won't read anymore into it than just doing it for her so Deirdre gives her assent.
Martin and Gail are preparing for their move to Coronation Street, and they're doing all the moving themselves. Ivy of course disapproves but it sounds like she and Don are still planning to move.
Bet is still more or less on strike at the pub. She's looking rather thin in the face and tired these days i must say. The makeup seems heavier than usual. (I'm wondering actually, If Julie Goodyear wasn't well for awhile there?) She and Liz have a chat and Bet admits she's lonely without Alec there, as angry as she is with him. She was *that* close to starting up with Des Foster but talked herself out of it. Later she is cheered up because Vicky is coming for Christmas after all!
The main storyline that will have serious repercussions, is about the trouble Steve is in over the stolen car stereos. Derek, Mavis and Audrey all mither Alf to report it to the police but Alf seems more inclined to have done with it all since Jim has sorted the matter out with Derek privately. I don't see why Derek and Mavis are so out of joint over it all since he's not the one who's stereo was stolen in the first place. This is pointed out to them by Alf over a drink at the end, as he doesn't want to upset any apple carts, especially with a pregnant woman involved and why give a young lad a criminal record ? (Well you have to start somewhere!) Liz spends most of the episode more and more distraught over not knowing if Alf is going to the police or not and trying to keep peace at home.
Best line of the day: Mike has just come in after being in the garage and is gasping for a cup of tea to wash the motor oil taste out of his mouth. Gail quips "And yours is *one* tongue that doesn't need oiling!"
Diane Johnston
Written by TOM ELLIOTT Directed by KEN HORN
Tuesday (3319, Wednesday 18 December 1991)
As Gail is working at the caf, Martin is attempting to move into the new house more-or-less alone while still taking care of the kids. Don turns up and offers to take the afternoon off and lend a hand as well as his vehicle. He is more than helpful, for which Martin is grateful. (You know, Don is such a sympathetic character is these episodes. When does he turn into a raving lunatic?) They have a brief chat about moving. Martin says it feels good, moving house together. He could never quite get over the feeling that the old place was Brians House. Don commiserates, as well he can, as his house is inhabited by the ghosts of not only Brian but Bert too!
Tracy has been completely taken in by Mike Baldwins little song and dance about how she could get her parents back together by arranging for them to all spend Christmas together. As a result, she goes to Ken and strongly suggests that she wants him to spend Christmas day with her and her mum. Ken goes around to see Deirdre and once she admits that she has no strong objections to them spending Christmas together he does a better impression of wishy-washy than a dishrag in the rinse cycle by immediately agreeing to drop his plans and accede to Tracys request. (I mean, Im a great believer in kids coming first but Tracy is not a child, in fact shes being scandalously manipulative here of course, she is learning from the Master - and what about teaching your kids about keeping your commitments to others, like Alma!)
It is much later in the evening when Ken must muster some backbone and deliver the bad news. As they walk along a cozily lit Coronation Street, he informs the lovely Alma of his and hence her - change in plans. She can only utter a completely disappointed Oh, Ken, before walking on ahead of him, clearly so let down that she cant face him at the moment.
Bet is beside herself when she finally manages to get in touch with Alec only to find out that he has cannot or will not come home from his Cruise to spend Christmas in Wetherfield, even though Victoria will unexpectedly be spending the holidays at the Rovers. Vickie arrives (looking a bit like Madeline in her round schoolgirls cap with the ribbon hanging down the back) and Bet does her best to make the girl feel warmly welcomed, but Bets fear and worry about having to entertain her husbands teenaged granddaughter over the hols without his help is palpable (Pig! she spits into the phone before hanging up on him).
The day started dreadfully for Alf and Audrey, who find that Alfs car has been smashed into *again* and *another* car radio stolen! Audrey is already wound up beyond bearing about the fact that Steve MacDonald first sold Mavis and Derek Alfs stolen car radio; probably sold she and Alf another stolen radio to replace the first one hed lost; and now, she feels, he has targeted Alfs car for his mates to rip off again! She is insistent that they should call police.
Alf seems to want to keep things quiet or at least, keep the authorities out - in consideration of Jim and particularly Liz (who you will recall is pregnant). He has a word at tRovers with Jim, who is offended at the implication that Steve might know something about the actual robberies. Jim promises to make good for the radio (Audreys loudest complaint being that they cant get compensated for it through their insurance if they dont report the theft). However, Alfs gentlemens agreement with Jim to take care of the matter under the table is shattered when Audrey informs Alf to his dismay that she has taken matters into her own hands and she has already called the police!
In the Corner Shop, Alf and Audrey argue loudly about the pros and cons of her decision to do so, including the fact that they know the lads family and so on, all in great detail, while a customer waits patiently at the counter well within earshot. When Alf turns his attention to the patron, she announces that she is not a customer at all, but Detective Constable Chapman who has been sent to investigate the case. She has been sent around to tell Alf how his unfortunate break-in could have been avoided, but, she adds, it seems that Alf may know quite a bit more about that than she! (Its *Counselor* Roberts, isnt it? she inquires pointedly.) The looks on Alf and Audreys faces are priceless!
With the issue of pleading ignorance now a moot point, they must tell all, and that telling of course sends the DC right over to the Kabin where Mavis looks in imminent danger of having a stroke at the prospect of being interviewed by a real live copper! Her voice goes up an octave each time she opens her mouth, but she finally manages to squeak out to the DC that it was Steve MacDonald from whom they bought a car radio which turns out to have belonged to their neighbour Alf Roberts.
The DCs next stop is, of course, the MacDonalds. Jim is of little use, in his concern for Steve coming across as a defensive, belligerent parent who thinks his son can do no wrong, so he cant. Steve says he had nothing to do with the car smashings, but repeatedly refuses to inform the DC and a Constable now accompanying her from whom he did get the radios (and who presumably *did* do the smash-and-grabs). Getting nowhere in their questioning at the house, the police end up taking Steve down to the station for questioning as a protective Jim accompanies him (although DC Chapman pointedly reminds Steve that as a 17-year-old, he can be questioned without his parents present). Liz returns from Christmas shopping in a cab just in time to feel her heart sink as she witnesses her son being taken away in a police cruiser, accompanied by his father, while Andy stands dejectedly in the doorway of their home.
ronniecat
DC Chapman: OLWEN MAY
Written by PAUL ABBOTT Directed by KEN HORN
Wednesday (3320, Friday 20 December 1991)
The episode begins with Jim MacDonald confronting Audrey in her car, and sarcastically thanking her for the fact that Steve was taken in by the police for questioning over the stolen radios. He sums up his feelings by saying "you make me sick, Audrey." Mavis, who has witnessed this little scene, rushes into the Kabin in a tizzy, exclaiming to Rita that the police will be after her next.
At the MacDonald's, Liz is hardly pleased by the latest turn of events, and tells Steve that he has to give the police the name of the boy that sold him the stolen goods. Steve says he can't shop a mate, but Liz calls any thief "the lowest of the low."
Mike arrives at the Cafe in good spirits, wishing Gail and Alma a Merry Christmas, but Alma rebuffs his season's greetings, reminding him of last year's fiasco (when Mike threw her over for Jackie). Over the counter, Mike puts Alma's foul mood down to the fact that she's planning to spend Christmas with Ken, noting that he'd rather "spend Christmas with a roll of lino" than with Ken Barlow. Gails tells Mike that that is the problem -- Alma *won't* be spending Christmas with Ken, but she refuses to divulge any more details.
The MacDonald twins are also in the Cafe, where Andy is begging Steve to give the police the information they want -- if for no other reason than to put their mother's mind at rest.
In the living room of the Rover's Return, Vicky petulently complains about spending Christmas in a pub when she should have been skiing instead. Bet flippantly suggests that if she's bored, she might think of tidying up the living room, to which Vicky responds "you must be kidding." Bet heads to the bar where she learns that Liz has not yet arrived for her shift. She remarks to Rita that she's the lucky one, supping a drink without a care in the world, but Rita tells her of her own trials and tribs with Mavis, who is convinced that the police will be arresting her any moment now.
At Bettabuys, Reg is urging Vera and Ivy to hurry with the shelf-stacking, and Vera asks if they're getting a bonus for all their hard work. Predictably, Reg reminds her of the thousands of unemployed, prompting Vera to remark to Ivy (after Reg's departure) that she's tempted to stick a turkey under her coat on her way out. Reg meanwhile is confronting Curly about Percy Sugden, and asks Curly to "observe" him.
Andy arrives home to find his mother crying over the situation with Steve. She asks Andy if he knows the names of the thieves, and while Andy admits that he does know, he feels it's up to Steve to tell the police. A tearful Liz is convinced that Steve will ultimately go to prison and ruin his life as a consequence. Unable to watch his mother in so much distress, Andy tells her the names of the boys.
At the Corner Shop, Dierdre is teaching Tracy the ropes of shopkeeping when Mike arrives. He manages to learn that Ken is indeed spending Christmas with them, and leaves, spirits buoyed. Mavis pops in, asks a bewildered Dierdre if the police have been by, and rushes off when she learns that they have not.
Back at the MacDonalds, Liz and Jim confront Steve with the news that the police want to see him again, because Liz gave them the names of the boys involved. Steve realizes immediately that Andy gave his parents the information, and bitterly thanks him, noting that Andy knows what the boys will do to him. Liz is horrified when Andy tells her that the boys are likely to give Steve a beating as a consequence.
Over at the Bettabuys' Santa Kiosk, Percy tries to get a little boy named Carlton to tell him what he'd like for Christmas. Carlton hands him a list, and Percy lectures the poor child on the length of the list and the expense of the items, in particular an electric bike. Carlton's horrified mother endures a speech from Percy on the importance of sticking to a budget and the extravagance of Christmas, prompting her to snatch the list from Percy's hand and call him "a silly old fool." As she leaves in a huff, dragging Carlton behind her, Percy turns to those waiting in line and remarks on his own childhood when he was pleased to receive simple things like a yo-yo or a bag of nuts. Needless to say, Curly has overheard everything.
At the Kabin again, Rita implores Audrey to put Mavis' mind at ease over the radio situation, so Audrey tells Mavis that Alf had a word with the police, who seem to think he's in the clear because he bought the radio "in good faith." Mavis hones in on Audrey's use of the word "think," and gets into a bigger tizzy than before, if that's possible. Out of patience, Rita tells Mavis that she thinks she likes to scare herself, and advises her to stop worrying. Mavis thinks of turning herself in, but when Rita invites her to do so, NOW, Mavis puts it off until tomorrow.
Rover's Return is getting busy, and Bet stops for a moment to ask Mike about his plans for Christmas; he'll only disclose that he'll be "around." Curly, meanwhile, is whinging to Angie about his crummy job. Gail and Alma arrive for a drink, but refuse one offered by Mike.
While Liz, Steve, and Jim MacDonald wait outside an interrogation room at the police station, Carl Redfern emerges and stops to tell Steve that he's "dead." Steve is taken into the room and is informed that the police recovered a dozen stolen radios from Carl, among other things. Nevertheless, Steve continues to maintain that he found his radios in a scrap yard.
Returning to the Rover's Return, Ivy and Don arrive and join Gail and Alma at the bar. Ivy invites Gail and family to her house for Christmas, and Gail accepts. Don insists that Alma is welcome to join them too, but she's planning to spend the day with Alf and Audrey. Reg also arrives, and confronts Curly about leaving work early, before discussing Percy's performance as Santa. Curly insists that there was nothing to discuss, but Reg disagrees, having heard about the incident with Carlton.
Liz and Jim wait impatiently for Steve to emerge from the interrogation room. Unbeknownst to them, the police are meanwhile formally charging him with dishonestly handling stolen goods. And on that pleasant Christmas note, the music comes up, indicating the end to another episode of Coronation Street.
Heather Morlan
Carlton: NEIL RONALDSON Mother: CATHY RAYMOND
DC Chapman: OLWEN MAY Carl Redfern: MARTIN GREENWOOD
Written by JOHN STEVENSON AND LESLIE DUXBURY Directed by KEN HORN
Thursday (3321, Monday 23 December 1991)
The old Platt household is nearly packed up. Des has borrowed a van and volunteered his services but when he spies Angie, he skives off for a drink with her and an invitation to spend Christmas day with him. Back to the task at hand when she accepts. Later in the day, when the final load is gone, Gail takes a last look round the empty house and bids farewell to the house and its memories. In their new house, Martin and Gail have a quiet moment together in the midst of their unpacked belongings and toast their future.
Steve takes a lot of grief all day from his family in the course of them all trying to convince him to shop his partners in crime. The door of Jim's shop has been vandalized with "Steve MacDonald is a grass" spray painted on it. This causes more concern for Alf who fears retaliation against his business if it's revealed that Audrey was the one that called the police. Audrey is not repentant and defends her decision to Jim. Steve spends most of the day in the house hiding out from the very real threat of violent retaliation, having had glimpses of his dodgy mates hanging about the ends of the street. Liz is near the end of her rope with frustration and worry. Just wait until she sees that the graffiti on the garage has had Steve's name replaced with Andy's. Somehow they've found out it was Andy who named names!
Reg has it out with Percy over their differing views on the true meaning of Christmas and Percy quits, leaving Reg scrambling for a replacement. Curly, Vera and Ivy flatter him into filling Santa's boots himself. Reg flaps his elbows, ho-ho's and directs parents to various departments in the pursuit of higher sales when a very irate man approaches. This is the father of the boy that Percy berated as greedy the day before and he threatens "Santa" alarmingly. Reg's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets as a box of decorations is dumped over his head in spite of his protests that he is not the same man behind the mask that insulted the boy yesterday! (oh if you could have seen Speccy Reg in the overly full Santa beard and mustache, all decked out in the red suit, flapping his elbows like a Christmas turkey running from the axe!)
Mike confirms Ken's plans to spend Christmas day with his former family with Tracy who seems a bit uneasy that she's manipulated her parents at Mike's (subliminal) suggestions. Mike and Ken trade barbs in the pub and Mike crows to Betty about his Christmas "plans" (Hey, where is Mike staying? Last i remember he had a room at the pub, is he still there or did he move out? I think i missed something) Phyllis sob stories her way into an invite to Emily's for Christmas dinner which, needless to say, gives Percy a case of early holiday indigestion! Emily mentions that the charity shop must be vacated by the end of the year as there are new tenants moving in in the New Year.
Bet is coping with Vicky who is putting on a very brave face, hiding her grief on this her first Christmas without her parents. Bet makes sure to bring up the subject and let Vicky now she will do whatever she can for the girl, though she won't patronize her and try to be something she isn't. Later Des Foster shows up to bring Bet a small gift. But he takes liberties as he leans in and gives Bet a kiss which is witnessed by Vicky!
Diane Johnston
Des Foster - NEIL PHILLIPS Mr. Denelly - CHRIS
BRAILSFORD
Written by BARRY HILL Directed by IAN WHITE
Friday (3322 (part 1), Wednesday 25 December 1991)
Christmas Day and the residents of the Street seem to be in the holiday spirit. Ken is on his way to join Deirdre and Tracy for Christmas dinner when he encounters Sally and Rosie. Wishing them a Merry Christmas he stops to ask if young Rosie is excited. Sally jokes back that Kevin is the one who's excited!
Mike and Rita meet each other as she heads for the Rovers (looking very 'Christmassy' in her red and white, I might add!). They stop to chat a minute and Rita asks if Mike will be on his own today. Not if he can help it, he tells her cheerily!
The Platts are getting ready to head over to Don and Ivy's for their dinner. The kids can barely tear themselves away from their new toys but Martin cajoles them along saying they can bring a few things with them.
As Liz checks on the dinner she asks Jim to set the table. He willingly obliges but when the twins come downstairs, he quickly delegates the task to them. Steve and Andy have been whispering about something and Jim now asks what's afoot. They don't mind filling him in but they'd rather their mother doesn't hear. In whispers, they tell Jim about Andy's bid to deflect retaliation away from his brother. Jim thinks changing the graffiti was a "daft idea" and he isn't the only one. From the kitchen, Liz has heard the revelation. She's upset that Andy could see this as a remedy to the problem - now she won't know which of her sons to worry about!
In the pub, Kevin is enjoying a beer. Jack asks what the Websters are planning for Christmas and Kevin says he'll be content with a nice quiet day in after the Christmas they had last year! (When Rosie was born.) In fact, he says, he intends to lock and bolt the door! Jack retorts that he'd like to lock and bolt the door too - only he'd have to find a way to get Vera outside first! (LOL) Amused, Kevin turns to Percy and asks if he and Emily are on their own today. That's how it *should* have been, Percy says. Now Mrs. Bishop has seen fit to invite Phyllis Pearce, the day is ruined! "You couldn't have poor Phyllis spending the day on her own, Percy!" reasons Kevin. "Poor Phyllis? That woman deserves to be on her own!" Percy returns. "Aww - I'll bet you'll be playing 'Postman's Knock' before the day is out!" teases Kevin.
At one of the tables, Rita, Mavis and Derek sit quietly enjoying a drink. Mavis wonders if she shouldn't have invited Des to dinner since he'll probably be alone today. Derek says it's a nice thought but they can't turn their home into a "singles club". Rita jokes that perhaps she shouldn't have been invited in that case and Derek takes the bait, quickly assuring her he didn't mean her! Speaking of singles, Reg now saunters over to their table to wish the trio a happy day. Rita sees what's coming and when Reg offers to get drinks for them all, she hastily makes the excuse that they have to go - Mavis is worried something might be burning!
Destined to spend Christmas Day on his own now, Reg looks around the bar and spots another loner, Curly. The two engage in a bluff about how they'll be spending the day. One says he'll be "busy", going "here and there" while the other agrees, "once it starts, there's no stopping it". They agree to have a quick while there's time.
In the back room of the pub, Vicky is sat reading her book. Bet says dinner will be late but then they'll have the whole evening as she'll be closing early. Vicky puts her book down to ask about "that man" (Des Foster), who seemed "very friendly" to her. "Will he be coming over?" she asks cautiously. Bet answers casually that he's an old friend but she doesn't think he will be over - he'll probably be spending Christmas with his own family.
In the pub again, Angie comes in to meet Des (Barnes) and he tells her she looks terrific. She may look "terrific" but she feels guilty, she confesses. She hates to leave Curly on his own today. Never mind, Des tells her. Curly probably wants her to feel guilty. Anyway, heís taking her for a "traditional Christmas meal" - curry! As the two leave the Rovers, Curly casts a longing look after Angie. Turning back to Reg, he agrees he can spare ten more minutes for another pint - just! (What do you want to bet these two end up having dinner together?)
A surprise visitor in the pub now, Des Foster walks in, all dressed up and apparently, nowhere to go. He tells Bet he seems to be drawn here and she mildly flirts back, wondering what the attraction could be. Unfortunately, Vicky happens to be peering through the doorway at this moment. When Betty comes over to ask if she can get anything for her, Vicky says she only wanted to see what was happening. Betty asks if it's as she imagined and Vicky replies in disgust, "Very much so!" as she turns around to retreat to the parlour.
The Platts are happily anticipating the Christmas dinner Ivy has prepared. Don comes in to invite them to the table and as they proceed to sit down, he runs back into the kitchen to give Ivy a hand with the food. For her part, Ivy hands him more than he bargained for. To Don's surprise, she tells him she doesn't think they should now move after all! They've been happy in this little house, she points out. She's so gung-ho on the idea that she wants to tell Gail and Martin during the dinner. Thunderstruck at her sudden change of heart, Don anxiously pleads with her to hold off announcing it until after they've had a chance to discuss it.
At No. 1, Ken and Deirdre have just finished the "marvelous" meal that Tracy prepared for them. Ken jumps up to prepare coffee while Tracy recalls the traditional Christmas Day poem that her father used to recite following dinner, Uncle Albert's favourite, "Christmas Day At the Workhouse". Deirdre tells her it's been two years since they last had the pleasure, and many tears under the bridge since then. Joining Ken in the kitchen, she tells him he should call Alma if he'd like to. Alma's not alone today, he explains - she'll be having her dinner with Alf and Audreh. But he will call her, he agrees - "later".
Just as Alma is ready to leave for the Roberts', there's a knock at the cafe door. A grinning Mike Baldwin stands there and he's brought a bottle of champagne with him. "You can tell me to leave now or later!" he says jovially. "Leave now", she replies flatly, pushing the door closed. "But then you won't hear what I came to tell you!" he protests, pushing the door open again. A plea for a quick drink and he's in - "Ten minutes!" she warns.
Alf is becoming impatient waiting for Alma to show up. As the Queen's Christmas speech starts, he settles in front of the telly to watch but tells Audreh they'll wait until this is over, then they are eating, Alma or no Alma!
For the first time in my memory, Coronation Street has included the Queen's actual address in the show. I won't go into the details of the speech itself but it was very pleasant. She talks about embracing the Christian ideals of peace and good will, understanding and tolerance. She also remarks on the upcoming 40th anniversary of her accession to the throne, February 1992. The speech lasted eight minutes.
As the Queen ends her address by wishing all her subjects a Happy Christmas, Alf snaps off the telly. He's starving and Alma is still not here!
Alma has forgotten her dinner engagement by now. In her flat, she is listening as Mike recounts the painful chapter in her life when he left her for Jackie Ingram. It was love, he asserts, not Jackie's money that motivated him. It was only after the marriage that he realised what a terrible mistake he had made, letting Alma go. This last six months has been hell for him. Slowly she begins to absorb the full impact of what Mike is telling her - Mike loves her and he always has... The phone interrupts and while a confused Alma goes to answer it, Mike helps himself to another drink.
It's Audreh of course, wondering why Alma is still at home when they expected her ages ago. Alma apologises for keeping them waiting and asks Audreh to please start without her. She tactfully avoids mentioning the reason for the delay. When she hangs up, Mike resumes stating his case. She's all he's thought about, he says. But, in deference to her feelings, he's now prepared to go away somewhere - start anew - leave her alone forever... Unless, of course, there's the slightest possible chance for *them*? The ball is now in Alma's court and this is one decision she'll need to weigh very carefully!
Anita Belanger
Monday (3322 (part2), Wednesday 25 December 1991)
We've heard the Monarch speak and it's back to the business of Christmas Day and all it's trimmings, including a paint job. Eh? Well, Jim has put the lads to work, painting over the graffiti on the garage door while he stands back supervising and smoking and spitting those annoying little bits of tobacco off his tongue. Must be smoking unfiltered ciggies? Jim is hoping the hooligans have now got it out of their system but Andy isn't so sure.
Over at No3, Emily, Phyllis and Percy have finished their dinner. Phyllis is admiring a pair of gloves that Percy gave her. Well he didn't really, Emily picked them out without Percy's knowledge but she glosses that bit over. Phyllis has given Percy a pair of new pyjamas which seems to have embarrassed the old man, especially since it's given Phyllis license to make a few suggestive comments while Emily attempts to redirect the conversation, rather unsuccessfully, to the charity shop's forced relocation.
Jack and Vera seem to be looking forward to a quiet evening by the fire and a few drinks but after Vera chats to Betty about family, she realizes all her family has gone. She gets surly and blames their absence from her life on him driving them all away and Jack realizes their quiet night in might end up being more attributed to the silence of a cold shoulder! Bet makes him leave anyway. Des Foster is still hanging around as Betty clears up the last of the glasses. Curly and Reg are still there and admit that neither of them has any plans. Reg suggests they share the chicken that Curly's got cooking and supplement it with goodies from the shelves of Bettabuys. They agree and Reg borrows Curly's store keys. Reg charms Betty by kissing her hand and waddles off. Curly remarks, "Madman or genius, I just don't know, Betty, and i work with him every day!" Betty just gives Curly a pitying look and says "Better you than me, luv!"
Des manages to wrangle an invite to share dinner with Bet and Vicky by laying on the heartbreak sob story. Vicky, who has anticipated this and has reset the table for three, grudgingly gives her approval when Bet asks if it's ok.
But the most interesting scenes of today's show are in the flat above the cafe where Alma battles her emotions and feelings for Mike. They are still hashing out the post mortem on their previous relationship with Alma doling out the guilt in large doses, reminding Mike how much in love she was with him and how devastated she was when he left her last Christmas for Jackie. And now here he is again, saying it was all a mistake and he still loves her and she's beside herself with frustration and confusion. She even calls him on that so-called mistake, because it wasn't, was it, it was really just him doing whatever he wanted to as usual. Throughout, Mike is keeping tight reign on his cocky over-confident brashness though it's there, below the surface. He seems to be letting Alma find her own way back to him though he does encourage it whenever he can. He lets her rage at him, pour her heart out to him and even lets her hide behind those high defensive walls she's built up around her heart, protesting that she's in a new relationship now. Yeah, he muses, and disdainfully spits out "with Ken!" (like it's another of those annoying bits of tobacco on his tongue) Rather than attack Ken, he moves in on Alma, does she love Ken? She extolls all of Ken's virtues (i'm saying nothing!) but she can't say the words and Mike sees a glimmer of hope and springs up off the settee excitedly. He admits he wasn't sure how she felt when he arrived but he knows now. He knows she still loves him thought she has tried to hate him and won't admit how she really feels. He tries to make her look at him, his eyes full of confidence and hope as we go to break....
Back at the pub, Bet is busy in the kitchen and Vicky begins interrogating Des. She discovers that Des doesn't know Alec and has never been at the pub when Alec has been there (and of course Vicky has obviously jumped to the wrong conclusions). Bet takes a call from Alec and in the minute or two before she is called to the phone, Vicky grills Des even more mercilessly. Where does he live (Edgeware Road Estate), is he married (used to be) and who left who? (his wife left him). She goes to the phone and hisses snottily to Bet that she won't tell Granddad Des is here, not to worry!
In No5, Ivy reveals to Martin and Gail that they aren't moving after all! Martin chokes out a few neutral words but Gail is ... well... Gobsmacked, thunderstruck, horror-stricken and speechless! When Ivy joyfully squeals that it feels like a great weight off her shoulders, Gail slumps as if that weight has been transferred to hers and, forced to say something, mutters something about hoping Ivy will be happy wherever she is. Later at home, Gail is adamant. They are selling the house and moving. Don't even bother unpacking because they aren't stopping there!!!!
We next find Mike and Alma nearly nose to nose as he bluffs, if she wants him to leave, just say so. But he's shocked when she does just that even though she can't look him in the eye when she's saying it. If that's what she really wants, he looks at her imploringly. She can't say it and she breaks down and admits she still loves him. His eyes soften and he smiles at her and draws her into his arms. Her big brown eyes are luminous with tears and her voice is quivering with frustration, fear, resignation and longing as she half-sighs and half wails "Oh Mike!"
We find Reg locking the back door of the supermarket and carrying out a box full of delectable edibles and potables but he is being watched. A police car creeps up behind him and the constable begins to question him but Reg has no identification on him to prove that he is who he says he is (manager of the store) and the tag on the keys he's used says Watts. The constable manages to bundle BeTwitched in to the back of the car along with the evidence to be sorted out at the precinct office where a phone call is placed to Curly to verify Reg's identity. Curly, who has continued to partake of liquid Christmas Cheer is in a jolly mood and has fun with this one. Oh yes, he's short, and fat, and balding but he combs those few strands over the top to disguise it. "Yes, short, fat, balding" repeats the constable. Eh? Oh, grins Curly and he's got a face like one of them Cabbage Patch Dolls. "face like a Cabbage Patch Doll" "What's that?" Reg is paying attention now. Curly describes the overly sweet cologne Reg uses, the officer leans in for a sniff. By now Reg is nearly popping a joint, he's twitching so much. The Piece de Resistance, Curly describes Reg's funny manner "like a Sergeant Major who swallowed a dictionary!" (ROFL and even Curly is chuckling by now) The police man is satisfied that everything is above board and confirms that this funny little man has Curly's full authority to use his keys. "Full AUTHORITY" Reg sputters!!!
A quick scene at Deirdre's reveals Ken being told by Audrey over the phone that Alma never turned up for dinner after she said she was delayed. Ken decides to go look for her. Whatever it was Tracy hoped would happen hasn't and i think she realizes that the war is over between her parents when Deirdre seems pleased Ken has someone else and doesn't seem to hold any grudges against Ken anymore.
When we next see Mike and Alma it's obvious there has been a reconciliation of the physical kind. Alma is wearing a slinky red silk robe and Mike is laying back on the settee, VERY relaxed, and looking as if he's just thrown his shirt, pants and socks back on. They are quietly happy and very together but when the doorbell at the front of the cafe rings, Alma is horrified to realize it's Ken. Mike offers to go down but that idea is scotched quickly and Alma ignores the bell at Mike's suggestion. She's upset now because she's only delaying the inevitable, having to tell Ken she's back with Mike!
Diane Johnston
Des Foster - NEIL PHILLIPS Policeman - JAMES
MASTERS Victoria Arden: CHLOE NEWSOME
Written by PETER WHALLEY Directed by IAN WHITE
Tuesday (3323, Wednesday 25 December 1991)
The first two or three minutes of Corrie were misplaced by my VCR but we are fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to join another Mike Baldwin Moment (TM) in progress as the tape picks up he and Alma having a post-coital cuddle. Unfortunate, because one's heart sinks to see Alma in his talons again; fortunate, because Mike once again goes too far. He cockily tells Alma that he engineered Tracy's asking Ken to spend Christmas with her and Deirdre. This, of course, left Alma alone and vulnerable at the holiday and allowed Baldwin to scoot right back in there, which he has done. (She apparently, just prior to my VCR picking up, told Mike she wanted to be back with him for good.) Mike seems to think that Alma will be pleased to hear about this bit of skullduggery - after all, it confirms how badly he wanted her, right?
Alma is of course horrified and devastated by the news, calling Mike a bastard, excoriating him for manipulating a child in that manner, saying she feels utterly used and degraded ("You make me feel dirty," she sobs), and kicking him out. Mike is still cheerful as he leaves a weeping Alma. (Amanda Barrie was just stellar in these scenes, you could fairly hear her mighty heart breaking.) "You'll get over it. You'll see I'm right. Oh - and Merry Christmas, Love!" chirps the Little Cockney Sparrow as he leaves an utterly devastated Alma.
Ken, of course, can't figure out where Alma is; he calls Audrey repeatedly but Audrey doesn't know either. The "family Christmas" with Tracy and Deirdre is hardly the barrel of monkeys it was supposed to be, with Tracy repeatedly either expressing her desire to "go to my room and listen to tapes" or actually fleeing to do so. (I'm not totally sure if she was supposed to be giving her parents a chance to be alone together or if she has finally accepted that they're not getting back together and just wants to be away from both of them at the moment.) Ken finally rings Alma's flat, where we see a still-upset Alma significantly changing the sheets on the bed she recently shared wtih Mike, but she doesn't answer.
At the Rover's, Bet, Victoria and Des Foster have been having a quiet Christmas dinner. Painfully quiet. Vickie is highly displeased at Des Foster's staying for the meal, and unhappily asks to go to the MacDonalds'. After Victoria leaves, Bet and Des pull their Christmas crackers, put on the tissue-paper hats and read the bad jokes to each other. Des tells Bet that Alec doesn't appreciate her. She does agree sadly that when he phones, it's a perfunctory "How are you" and then he's right down to how business is.
Christmas isn't going well for Curly and Reg, who have thrown their lot in together for Christmas dinner. Reg is still raging about being taken in for questioning by the police (after being mistaken for a thief at Bettabuys). As they wait for Christmas dinner to cook at Curly's, Curly tells him that he will laugh about this in years to come. Reg may do so but he is hardly amused now! He will write a letter of complaint to the police, he rages at Curly, about the arrest and the arresting officer. Curly encourages him and even offers to help. "Don't forget to send a copy to Head Office," suggests Curly. Reg says that Brendan Scott would likely then criticize Reg for damaging relations with the local police. Curly muses that he hadn't thought of that. Oh hadn't he? wonders Reg. "Sometimes I think you would love to see me impaled upon the shaft of Brendan Scott's malice!" he says. (I nearly choked on my chamomile.) He rages that Curly has never forgiven him for "that little incident on the Bettabuys float!" but then apologizes, saying that one gets a bit neurotic and paranoid when one is at the top of the corporate ladder. "You develop a nose for the slightest whiff (sniff) of treach- what's that smell? It's like burning rubber!" It is, of course, burning Christmas dinner! They spend the rest of the episode wearing silly hats and dejectedly sitting over a burned bird. Curly is resentful that Angie has chosen to desert him on Chrismas day in favour of Des Barnes; Reg bemoans the lack of gravy; Curly snaps that he forgot to buy the granules; Reg snaps that you don't need granules to make gravy, you can make it from scratch using the giblets, which Curly took out of the bird first, right? Right? The scene ends with Reg reaching into the poor fowl and pulling out a soggy, well-cooked bag of giblets. All in all, a Christmas to forget for these two.
It's a Christmas which will no doubt be remembered for the MacDonald's, however. Vickie, as we saw, has come round to spend some time with the twins after leaving the Rovers in disgust. The McD's and Vickie all sit around staring at each other tensely as Liz puts on makeup - she wants to go out to call on Gail and Martin's housewarming. After they leave, Vickie tells them she left the Rovers because Bet "has her boyfriend over" and they all agree with all the foresight of fifteen-year-olds how disgusting it is of "old people" to have love lives! Vickie then asks if it's true that Steve is in trouble with the police. Andy is happy to fill in all the details for her as Steve practices what will in later years become his trademark googly eye-rolling acting technique. Andy has just told Vickie that Steve's mates think he's "grassed" on them when it was in fact Andy who "grassed" when a brick wrapped in paper comes crashing through the window. Vickie shrieks in fright.
There's a fright of a different sort at Emily's, where Percy and Phyllis snipe at each other over correct dishwashing method. (Well, Percy snipes, Phyllis flirts, and the more one does the worse the other gets.) Rita shows up to the *enormous* relief of Emily. Rita says she *thought* Emily would be glad to see her! She calls Emily the soul of Christian charity for having the two of them there at Christmas, while I thought to myself that the soul of masochism was perhaps a more fitting description, but then I'm not the soul of either so perhaps can't tell the difference.
Over at the Platt housewarming get-together, the house is considerably less warm than it might have been had Gail not discovered this morning that her ex-mother-in-law will be staying across the street! She informs Martin in a hissed whisper that she is displeased that Ivy is upstairs "snooping in the bedrooms" while Martin tries to put it off as an innocent look 'round the new place. When Ivy comes downstairs, she tells Gail she thinks the house is lovely. "So did I until today!" says Gail under her breath. Ivy reminds Gail and Martin that she can babysit anytime - after all she's right across the street! (I thought I heard Gail's teeth grind.) Then Ivy says some more nice things about hoping they will all be very happy in the house, and Gail accepts this with genuine graciousness, thanking her. Martin is encouraging after Ivy moves on, saying that Ivy reallly does seem to want them to be happy now and perhaps having her in the street won't be bad after all.
Just then Percy comes bursting in to tell the MacDonalds that their window has been broken by a brick-throwing vandal. Liz and Jim leave and Jim temporarily repairs the window. Liz wants to call the police but Jim says it will do no good, so it won't, because there's no way of knowing who did it. She says they *do* know who did it - referring to Steve's "friends". Percy, who has been hovering unhelpfully all this time, begins a lecture about how if they know who did it they have a "civic duty" to report it. Jim and Liz tolerate his nattering for several minutes before Jim tells him in no uncertain terms to shut up! Percy leaves indignantly.
Mavis and Derek, who had been at the housewarming, leave to visit "poor Des" who they think will be alone on Christmas Day. Des is instead in the process of devouring the top half of Angie. She goes up to the bathroom and while she's gone Dirk and The Mave show up to wish "poor Des" a Merry Christmas. Derek comemnts upon seeing that he's consumed a full bottle of champagne. "Oh, you know how it is, once you open one there's no point stopping," Des teases. Derek says it isn't really a good idea to drink alone. Des pretends that he misinterprets this as an unsubtle hint for a drink and offers Derek one. Mavis interjects that when Derek said that he wasn't asking for a drink for himself. Des pretends that he misinterprets *this* as an unsubtle hint for a drink for Mavis too! Now thoroughly wound up, Mavis says she *could* use a sherry. Just then Angie comes down the stairs (although not in "something more comfortable", which is what I was expecting) and Mavis and Derek are mortified! Des, as usual, is amused by the whole awkward situation and suggests they take the opportunity to have that drink together.
Percy, having gone back to Emily's after being insulted by Big Jim, pontificates to Phyllis, Emily and Rita about young Steve MacDonald and the vandalism and crime and the state of youth today, tut tut. Phyllis, no slouch she, takes this as an opportunity to ask Mr. Sugden to walk her home - after all, he has just said how dangerous the streets are and she'd feel safe with him walking her. "You'll be all right," Percy mumbles hilariously to which Emily interjects, "MISTER Sugden!" She says the least Percy can do is walk Phyllis home. As Phyllis and Percy leave, Percy mutters something about Christmas once a year being *more* than enough, to which Rita rolls her eyes in silent agreement.
Back at the MacDonald's, if the mood was tense earlier it is black now. Steve protests that the whole mess isn't his fault as he isn't the one that "grassed", Andy was. Liz snaps at Steve for using the term "grass", saying that it was "thief's talk" and she didn't want him using such language. She is embarrassed that Vickie has witnessed all this, and bitterly tells her that Alec didn't want Vickie associating with Steve and Andy and now it looks like he may have been right!
Back at the Rovers, Des and Bet have moved through discussion of how unhappy Bet is, to how good the old times were, to how great Bet looks, to how they still get on great. (Well, at least Des, who is driving the conversation, has.) The evening has a logical conclusion as far as he is concerned and he begins to lobby for it. Bet tells him she is a married woman, and not to ruin things by pressing for sex. He persists, asking her to take him "up them stairs". The conversation turns tense, then angry, as Bet stands and asks, then tells him to leave. He is highly upset, interpreting her inviting him to Christmas dinner as another "come-on" which she is now turning *off*. Enraged, he strikes her across the face and knocks her to the floor. She shrieks at him to get out, which he does, fleeing past Victoria, who was just coming home. Vickie stands shocked at the sight as Bet staggers to her feet, holding her injured face, crying. "Vickie-" she implores, but Vickie turns in confusion and disgust and runs up the stairs, leaving Bet to limp after her and collapse on the stairs, all the while holding her throbbing face and whimpering "Vickie - Vickie -"
ronniecat
Des Foster: NEIL PHILLIPS
Written by JOHN STEVENSON Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Wednesday (3324, Friday 27 December 1991)
Gail peeks through her curtains at Ivy, who is collecting her morning milk in her housecoat. Martin bounds energetically into the room with baby David and assures Gail that things will be alright with Ivy living over the road.
Not surprisingly, Bet looks terrible this morning, and Vicky, seemingly unaware of her state of misery, announces that she's off to visit Steve and Andy MacDonald. Betty comes into the room, and shocked at Bet's appearance, urges her to go back to bed, but Bet insists she's only a bit under the weather, and will be just fine.
Jim MacDonald is measuring up the broken window for new glass when Percy comes by and, as Percy is wont to do, begins to offer unsolicited advice. Steve arrives with tacks and putty, and is about to skive off, against his father's wishes. When Percy encourages Steve to go, offering to help instead, Jim is even more insistent that Steve stick around. In the background, some of the lads that were questioned by the police over the car-radio thefts stand about, watching Steve like hawks.
Rita arrives at the Rover's Return, and is alarmed when she sees Bet. In tears, Bet tells Rita that she made a fool of herself the night before, but before Rita can offer advice or comfort, they are interrupted by Betty, so Rita goes to put the kettle on.
Don arrives home and admires Ivy's birthday present for David -- a push truck with coloured wooden blocks in the back. Ivy plans to drop it by later in the day, but Don tells her that the Platts and Websters are planning a joint birthday party for David and Rosie. When Ivy insists that she has a right to deliver a gift to her grandson, Don gently reminds her that David is not her grandchild.
Back at the Rover's Return, Rita admonishes Bet for not having called her after her disastrous evening. Bet confesses that she felt too ashamed, but doesn't feel she can lay all the blame on Des, who obviously misread the situation. "God knows what Vicky thinks," she adds. Vicky didn't see Des hit her, but must have known what was going on. Now Bet's biggest regret is putting Vicky through all that, and the thought causes more tears. Rita advises her not to be so hard on herself, and encourages her to get dressed and put on a bit of make-up, because she's going to take her out for a drink. Bet can't face the pub's patrons, so Rita says they'll go elsewhere -- somewhere quiet.
Martin and Gail and the kids go across to the Webster's for the birthday party while Steve and Vicky decide what they should do with their day. Carl and the other lads are still clearly watching them, and Steve maintains he isn't afraid of them. They decide to take in a movie.
Jack goes on at length about a hang-over remedy his dad used to swear by to Curly, who is less than interested. Des offers to buy Curly a drink, but he's in a shirty mood, and declines, making a crack about his Christmas being ruined.
Vicky returns to the Rover's Return to tell Bet that she and Steve are going to a movie, but learns from Betty that Bet has gone out with Rita. "Don't get into trouble," is Betty's advice.
Emily and Dierdre share a drink and talk about their respective Christmases. Dierdre feels hers was a bit of a disaster, adding that Ken would probably have been a lot happier spending the day with Alma.
Ken, meanwhile, arrives at Alma's and presents her with a Christmas gift. He asks if he can come in, and she hastily says "of course," although the expression on her face shows that she's dreading his company. In her flat, Ken tells her that he came by on Christmas day and got no answer, and that he called and learned that she wasn't at the Roberts' either. Alma lies, and tells him that she just couldn't face Christmas with Alf and Audrey bickering with each other, causing Ken to apologize repeatedly for letting her down. She tells him that she took a long walk instead. Ken promises something like this will never happen again, and he proposes that they spend New Year's together in the Cotswolds.
Steve arrives at the movie theatre with Vicky, but Carl and his mates are also there, so Steve and Vicky rush in ahead of them. Moments later, Vicky looks out the back door of the theatre, and seeing that the coast is clear, she and Steve sneak out. They go along the side of the building to the front, and peek over a concrete wall. Carl and the others are still there, so they make a run for it.
At the birthday party, Gail talks to Sally about Ivy's decision to stay on Coronation Street, and she tries to be optimistic about it all. The cake is brought out, and everyone sings "happy birthday" to the babies, with much confusion and laughter over whether to sing David's or Rosie's name first.
Curly is back at the Rover's Return; this time he offers to buy a pint for Reg, who declines. Reg isn't best pleased with the disastrous Christmas dinner, nor is he happy about his contretemps with the police. Betty, seeing Curly at the bar, refuses to serve him, saying he's had enough. Angie arrives and tries to escort Curly to his home, but Curly puts up an argument because he's angry with Angie deserting him at Christmas.
Bet gets back from her day with Rita, looking better. Betty is pleased to see that Bet's spirits have improved, but still urges her to take some time for herself. Bet insists she's fine, and goes about serving the customers.
Home from the joint birthday party, Martin is playing with the kids when Don arrives with David's present. Gail opens it and is very pleased, asking Don to thank Ivy for her kindness. Martin offers Don a drink, but Don begs off, saying that he doesn't want to intrude -- and he makes a point of telling Gail and Martin that Ivy sent the gift via him rather than giving the impression that she could pop by whenever she felt like it. After Don's departure, Gail has to admit that she might be wrong about Ivy.
Steve gets home and tells Liz that he and Vicky were at the pictures. Andy, meanwhile, decides to go out and rent a video, since there's nothing worthwhile on telly that night.
Vicky and Bet have their tea, and Vicky lies about the movie she didn't see with Steve. She asks about Bet's health, but quickly changes the subject by asking if Bet thinks Andy was wrong to grass on his mates. Bet takes the opportunity to tell Vicky that people shouldn't come to conclusions about anything until they have the full picture.
Andy emerges from the video store and is confronted by Carl and his gang. Full of bravado, he confesses that he grassed them, not Steve, and the gang surround him and begin to beat him.
Alma stops by at Audrey's and apologizes for not showing up at Christmas. Audrey dismisses her apology, noting that she and Alf aren't the best company. When asked about her New Year's plans, Alma tells her about their tentative idea to go to the Cotswolds. Audrey seems pleased that Alma's relationship with Ken is moving forward, and describes him as "a bit of a catch," and just what Alma is looking for.
In the final scene, the MacDonald's are having their tea, while Liz complains that Andy is late for his, and it's getting cold. Suddenly, there's a dull pounding at the door, and when Liz answers it, Andy collapses into her arms, blood streaming from his face.
Heather Morlan
Carl Redfern: MARTIN GREENWOOD
Written by KEN BLAKESON Directed by JOHN DARNELL
Thursday (3325, Monday 30 December 1991)
Everybody blames Steve for everything! Jim blasts him for a poor job on a bike and then makes it clear he doesn't want him to help out in the bike shop anymore.
Vicky's still out of sorts but hides the real cause from Bet. Rather than spend New Year's Eve in the Rovers, she wishes she could go for a ride on her horse so Bet treats her to a taxi. Outside she sees Steve lurking by the Charity Shop and waves. He comes over and she invites him to come with her. Nothing better to do so he gets in the cab with her and is impressed when he sees the posh house that is their destination. Belinda's house seems to still have power and a working phone but the family must be away for the holidays. Steve and Vicky make themselves at home with the telly though keep the lights off and they have a heart to heart about their respective problems. Steve feels put upon because his parents are giving him grief and Vicky is afraid Bet is having an affair and feels uncomfortable knowing Alec is soon home. They agree to spend the night there and Vicky calls Bet and lies, telling her that she is invited to a part at Belinda's. She's busted though, because Belinda calls to wish Vicky a Happy New Year at the pub. Steve is missing too and Andy can't find him though he's called most of Steve's mates. Bet and Liz both fret.
Curly is fretting too, but it's more of a sulk and a pity party. Angie drags him out to the Rovers with the promise of a beautiful blind date she and Des have arranged. He is very reluctant but goes anyway. He's delighted to see that his date is none other than the lovely Raquel, back at last!
Ken and Alma check into a lovely hotel in the Cotswolds. Ken is eager to enjoy the festivities and doesn't really notice that Alma is somewhat subdued. Later, after dinner and amid the congenially happy celebrations, he finally notices and thinks she's been quiet because she's still angry because he cancelled their Christmas plans and assures her there is nothing between him and Deirdre. Finally her guilt spills over and she tearfully tells him Mike came around. Chin a-quiver, she asks Ken to forgive her and he realizes she went to bed with Mike. She makes a few feeble excuses but he's having none of it. He leaves abruptly, needing time to be alone (and sulk) and, typical Ken move, checks out of the hotel without even telling her, leaving her still waiting at the table while a piper serenades the New Year and happy people sing Auld Lang Syne.
Diane Johnston
Receptionist - TRICIA PENROSE
Written by PHIL WOODS Directed by DAVID RICHARDS
Friday (3326, Wednesday 1 January 1992)
In the first hours of the New Year, Liz and Jim are talking about where Steve might be. "I'll be lathering him when he finally shows up!". She gets a pain but thinks it's just a cramp which only gives Jim more reason to be angry at Steve for getting his mother all upset. Andy arrives back from looking for Steve at various friends' houses. No luck.
Bet has called Don to take her to find Vicky. She's got a good idea where to look. They exit the pub out the back door.
Alma is still waiting for Ken in the hotel dining room and finally goes out to the front desk and asks hte receptionist if she's seen him. She's stunned to discover Ken's checked out! She thought perhaps Mr. Barlow has had some bad news and Alma concurs, hangs her head when told there is no message and slinks up the stairs to her room, humiliated. (I really like that white suit she had on.)
Liz urges Jim to call the police when the pains come again and she thinks a trip to the hospital is in order. Jim is alert and concerned but he doesn't panic and plans to drive to the hospital (didn't know he had a car!) but Andy phones an ambulance....
After an evening of ringing in the New Year, the happy foursome, (Curly, Angie, Des and Raquel) make their way back to No7. Des is by far the merriest and Curly, by contrast, is not very merry at all. He grumbles about not liking the holiday and when Raquel asks Des where his wife is, Curly snaps at her that she's left him as if she should have known. Angie tells him to knock it off as hes been picking on Raquel all night.
Bet and Don arrive at the Arden estate to find Vicky and Steve fast asleep in the livingroom. The pair are fully clothed and huddled under a blanket, moving Don to remark that they are only "babes in the wood". The startled teens awake and Bet orders Steve to go and phone his "poor worried mother" while she waits for Vicky to explain.
Vicky protests that they "didnt do anything". She really did want to see Sarazin and Steve only ended up coming because he was as fed up as she is, she explains. When they got to the country, she wanted to show him the house. "Daddy -- used to always have a party at New Year's..." she finishes with a note of sadness. Don suggests that they get the kids home and sort it all out tomorrow just as Steve returns saying the line was engaged. "They're probably on to the police!", Bet snaps.
The ambulance finally arrives at the McDonalds' and Jim and Liz go off to the hospital, telling Andy they'll call to let him know what's happening and he should call the minute there's any word from Steve. He sees them off, with reassurances to his mother that it'll all be okay.
Curly returns home to the girls after taking Des home and tucking him up in bed. He tells them he saw an ambulance at the McDonalds', which event they dismiss as one of the boys probably "supping" too much. When the Curly and Angie start joking around, Raquel becomes visibly upset. Angie notices her agitation and asks what is wrong. She confesses that she hasn't been on the catwalk in London these past months at all. She's been sleeping on the floor in a mate's flat since her father threw her out because of some smutty photos he discovered. Sobbing, she relents that it was the only work she could get and she now wishes she'd never gone. Angie is immediately sympathetic and prompts Curly to offer Raquel some comfort too. She can stay with them until she gets herself sorted, Angie offers and Raquel gratefully accepts.
Arriving home, Bet tells Vicky she'd like an apology for having lied to her. "Dont talk to me about lies!" Vicky snaps. "What you and your boyfriend have been getting up to his far worse than anything Ive done!" Bet is stunned by the rebuke and as Vicky runs upstairs, she stands helplessly looking after her.
Steve is also arriving home at this moment. Andy informs him that Liz has been taken to hospital. He is shocked at the news and his sense of guilt surfaces as he says he expects that he'll be blamed for that, "too"! Andy points out that he *is* the one who caused her to be worried sick all day!
A few hours later, Andy wakes to find Steve putzing about the kitchen. There's been no word from the hospital and it's apparent both boys are worried and scared for their mother.
Bet comes down to find the table in the parlour set for breakfast. Vicky greets her with a sweet smile and an apology for not apologising last night. Bet suggests they need to talk so they sit down together at the table and begin trying to mend fences. Vicky listens with surprising understanding while Bet talks painfully about her relationship with Des Foster. She was hurt that Alec went away at Christmas time so she wanted to hurt him back, she explains. She started playing a dangerous game and Des Foster took it farther than she could cope with. She has never been unfaithful to Vicky's granddad, she emphasises. Vicky thanks her for telling her and it looks as if they are friends again.
After a phone call from the hospital, Andy tells Steve that Liz has given birth to a tiny baby girl.
In the hospital, Jim returns to Liz' bedside to report that the boys are fine. Fatigued from the trauma, she responds that Steve is a good boy, "really", and Jim quietly agrees with her. A moment later, she speaks again, "Katherine... Katy -- I've always liked that name." When Jim looks at her quizzically, she answers, "We'll have to give her a name -- even if..." She begins to cry softly and he agrees sadly, "I know, I know..."
Sally has heard noises coming from Ken's flat and as she didn't think he was home, she now comes up to investigate. Ken answers her knock and sullenly tells her he's had a change of plans. It's clear he wants to be left alone so after a moment's awkwardness, she takes her leave, returning to the shop below.
Angie is getting ready to go to work and as she leaves, Raquel asks if she meant what she said last night, that she could stay with them. She's welcome as long as she helps out with the housework, Angie says cheerfully before going off to the Rovers.
In the kitchen, Raquel and Curly have a heart to heart. She's sorry for the way she treated him, she says. She really didn't appreciate his goodness at the time. He tells her not to be bothered, she's had a rotten experience and he doesn't blame her for wanting a better life.
Angie has called at the McDonalds' to find out what the problem is. Upon learning the news, she tells Andy not to worry and that she'll tell them at the Rovers. As she goes off, Vicky comes down the street and asks for Steve. Andy gives her an earful about her and Steve acting like a couple of "morons" and causing Liz to become sick with worry. She flees when he remarks that she probably wouldn't treat her own mother that way and he immediately regrets saying it.
Across the road at No8, Audreh has come to tell Gail that she's had a call from Alma who will be returning by train at noon. She also says that Alf is inisisting that she work in the shop but she has no intention of staying beyond the morning as she's picking Alma up at the train station. Gail wonders what could have happened for Alma to be returning early. They are momentarily distracted by the scene across the street as Ken, coming from his flat, crosses Mike Baldwin's path. Mike, thrilled at seeing how despondent Ken appears, interrupts his conversation with Kevin to gleefully bid Ken a happy new year. Audreh resumes talking to Gail, telling her "something is horribly wrong". When she finds out what it is, she'll tell her, she promises.
In the pub, Des asks Angie how Raquel is doing and she tells him that she reckons she'll be okay now that she has Curly's shoulder to cry on. Don has come in to ask Bet if Vicky is all right and is gratified to hear that no harm seems to have come to her. Phyllis is saddened by the news of Liz McDonald's baby being born so early but Bet tries to look on the bright side. "Where there's life there's hope".
After picking Alma up and taking her home to her flat, Audreh tries to fathom what went wrong between her and Ken. Alma tells her the full story and says she doesn't blame Ken for deserting her, he must have been in a state of shock. Audreh can't understand why Alma gave Mike the time of day after the way he treated her. She diagnoses Alma as having a "disease" where Mike is concerned, for which there is no cure. Alma says she doesn't know what to do about it all. She feels she'd be wasting her breath to even try to talk to Ken about it.
The medic, Dr. Swann, has come in to see Jim and Liz. He brightly gives his assurance that Liz, though she's lost a lot of blood, will be fine in a couple of days. When Jim asks how the baby is doing, the doctor solemnly informs them that she is holding her own for now but her chances are not good. Having their fears confirmed, Jim and Liz are left to ponder their sadness. Absorbing the news, their eyes reflect their sense of grief and despair but they can say nothing...
Diane Johnston & Anita Belanger
Doctor Swann - RONALD LEEK Receptionist - TRICIA
PENROSE
Written by ADELE ROSE Directed by DAVID RICHARDS
