Saturday July 19th 2003

Mike calls round to see Ron but can't get an answer when he knocks on the door. His thoughts are interrupted by Jan Murray who appears to have packed her bags and wants Mike to take her from the close in his Taxi. Mike tries to explain he has just finished work, but Jan takes no notice and insists he accepts her as a fare. As they drive away Mike asks where she want's to go, but she tells him just to keep on driving. Mike has had a long night, and isn't too pleased that Jan hasn't any particular destination in mind.
Marty meanwhile, is looking for Jan, but she is nowhere to be seen. As he searches the house for clues he discover a note from her, explaining she has left him, and the reasons why.

Tony and Adele are in the garden, discussing Tony's future now that his new school know all about Imelda Clough, and how he was involved in her death. When Adele suggests he could change schools again, Tony replies that he doesn't want to go though that again, as it would mean making new friends again. They soon have more serious things to worry about, when Marty reveals that Jan has left them, leaving both Adele and Tony shocked by her sudden departure.

Meanwhile Mike and Jan are arguing, as Mike just wants an idea of where he is supposed to be going, but as they argue Jan and Mike soon realise they have lot's in common. However when Mike starts to criticise her for leaving Marty and her family, his comments make her more angry. Jan gets even more agitated when Mike refuses to answer his mobile phone, which is constantly ringing. As she makes a grab for his phone, Mike tries to stop her, but loses control of the car and hits the kerb, resulting in a flat tyre.
Mike is furious, blames Jan for the accident, and tells her she will have to walk to a B & B, a few miles down the road. Jan responds by telling him that she will change the wheel herself, but Mike tries to stop her from opening the boot. His reason soon becomes obvious, when she discovers, the boot is full of Mike's belongings, and she realises that he too has left his family.

Back on the close, Ron has just received a letter from the developers, who seem very keen on buying his house. Ron is delighted by his good fortune, but a knock at the door, brings him back to earth. It's Rachel wanting to know if he has heard from Mike. He tells her that Mike hasn't been round for ages, but realising that Rachel needs help looking after Beth, Ron invites her inside.

Mike is explaining his reasons for leaving Rachel to Jan, and tells her that despite his best efforts to provide for his family, it just wasn't enough for Rachel, and he felt like a failure. He relates how he just couldn't take the pressure anymore, and decided it would be better for him to leave. Mike believes he can make a fresh start for himself away from the pressures of providing for Rachel.
After changing the wheel, Mike and Jan set of for the B&B together, but don't get very far, the car engine has a cracked sump. When they eventually arrive at the B&B Mike phones Ron for help, but when he refuses, Mike phones a mechanic he knows instead.
As they have no option but to spend the night at the B&B, Mike and Jan continue discussing their reasons for leaving their respective families, and before long they fall asleep on the bed.

The next morning Mike suggests he stay with Jan for the time being , and drive her to Manchester where a friend of hers has a place she can stay. Jan isn't quite so sure though, and suggest Mike goes and gets his car fixed, so she can have time to think.
When Mike returns to the B&B, he is shocked to find Rachel in the room waiting for him. At first she doesn't realise Jan had also spent the night there, and just wants to know why Mike had left so suddenly. However when Jan walks in, Rachel suspects the worst ,and accuses Mike of leaving her for Jan.
After a lot of explaining and apologising, Rachel accepts that he and Jan hadn't done anything. Mike wants to give his marriage another try and so he and Rachel return to the close, leaving Jan to make her own arrangements.

Adele meanwhile is trying to persuade Marty to contact Jan, and ask her to return home, and although after thinking about it, he later starts to leave a message on her mobile, Marty changes his mind again.
When Rachel and Mike arrive at Ron's, Jacqui is there and has a chat to Rachel, while Ron advises Mike to face up to his responsibilities and make Rachel understand just how sorry he is.
Mike is keen to make amends, and when they leave Ron's house he suggests to Rachel that perhaps they should watch a film together that evening and share a bottle of wine. Rachel replies that she is too exhausted after having a sleepless night worrying about him. Mike isn't too happy but tries to understand her point of view, but when she refuses to let him listen to some music on the way home, Mike loses his temper. He takes Beth out the car, and when Rachel gets out to ask why he is doing this, Mike gets back in his car and drives off.

Mike ends up back at the B&B where Jan is just about to leave in a Taxi. After she agrees to stay and talk, Mike tries to convince Jan that they should start a new life together. Jan has other ideas, and tells Mike he should go back to Rachel and make a go of his marriage.
Meanwhile Marty has left a message on Jan's mobile, and when Mike suggests she should listen to it, Jan hears Marty asking her to return home. Jan decides to go back to Marty, leaving Mike with no choice other than to return to Rachel. After dropping Jan off at the Murray house, Mike goes home to Rachel, but is in for a shock.

Rachel doesn't want him there anymore, and despite him pleading for another chance, Rachel tells him to leave.
With nowhere else to go, Mike goes back to Ron's house, hoping he will let him stay there.

Also on Brookside this week, Jacqui's delight at selling her house to the developers for a good price, turns to dismay when she discovers they no longer want to buy her house.
Jimmy tries to enlist Nikki's help in his campaign against the incinerator, but is disappointed when she tells him, the bungalow is being sold to the developers.