Tuesday, 8th June 1999

What a seething mass of resentment, upset and betrayal Brookie has become. Sounds promising, doesn't it? So, let's get the low-down:

Jessie's still concerned about Katrina's ability to cope with looking after both of Susannah's kids. She's expressed her fear to Jason, in confidence, of course. Naturally, he then goes on to tell Katrina that Jessie's worried, but Katrina doesn't want to hear this and storms off in a huff.

Later, Katrina gets the chance to have a go at Jessie: "Who do you think you are?" "I'm not 'aving you slaggin' me", or words to that effect. This was a slightly different side to Katrina and made me think how great she would be playing 'ranting and raving when pissed' - in the good old Brookie tradition, of course. How about it, scriptwriters? Anyway, Katrina, having finished berating Jessie disappeared in another huff, leaving Jessie to admonish Jason for betraying her confidence.

Jane, the new art teacher, was miffed that some borrowed historical costumes had been pinched during the half-term break (Matt and Bosco: tut, tut!) and expressed her dismay to Jimmy. Jim suggested that she forget about that and put her talents towards his [aaaarrrrrgggghhhh] Millennium Tapestry. Jane isn't a fan of the tapestry project (or 'pro-ject' in Jimmy-speak) and told him so.

Jimmy resented her comments and later, in Bar Brookie, moaned to Sinbad about her: "She made me look like some kind of amateur. Like I was some kind of inferior being." You'd think Jimmy would be used to such observations, wouldn't you? After all, it's only what Jackie's been saying for years. Anyway, Jimmy's decided that he's going to show 'them' (Them? People. Everyone and anyone, I think), that fake degree or no fake degree, he *can* achieve something and proposes enrolling for an Open University course. He got no support from Sinbad, who could only comment: "You won't stick it." Thanks, Sin, you're a helpful one!

Sinbad, however, is also feeling resentful, and the target of his hostility? Well, targets, actually. . . the Dixon's - *all* of them.

Upset that Little Ruthie still fails to recognise him, whilst having taken a shine to Mike, Sinbad moans about Mike "muscling in" on his daughter, then goes on to whinge that "Ron's got me shop". This disgust of all things Dikko doesn't stop him drinking in Jacqui's cafe bar, though!

Talking of Jacqui, Katie let her in on Rachel's secret - that of the pregnancy and that Mike is oblivious to it. Jacqui, later, tells Rachel that Katie's spilled the beans (cor, what are they like, these Brooksiders? Goss, goss, goss!) and Rachel breaks down in tears. This wasn't *quite* the reaction that Jacqui was expecting and fishes around for why Rachel's finding it so upsetting. Eventually, Rachel admits that she's frightened of the possibility that Mike *could* turn out like her late father. If the baby was a girl, Rachel fears that she wouldn't be able to cope with all the worry. Later on, after she's calmed down a bit, Rachel tells Katie that she hadn't bargained on her telling Jacqui; hadn't wanted her too, either. Rachel's also none too pleased with Jacqui's concern, which she views as interfering.

Katie, obviously, wasn't best pleased hearing this. She's already annoyed at having to live next-door-but-one to her boss, Nathan. The only bright spot on the horizon is that she's due to depart for a holiday in Spain with her mum in a couple of weeks. [Excellent!] In, the meantime, she seeks solace with Ryan.

Interrupting a moment of passion with the aforesaid Mussie, Katie happens to mention that she saw a letter, which had arrived that morning, at work. Knowing full-well that she shouldn't disclose the contents and conveniently forgetting her recent warnings for misconduct, Katie risked her job by telling Ryan what it said. Apparently, the letter advised that there was no match found with Luke's DNA sample and any of the contents of the drain and that the police are now collecting DNA samples from everyone at the party. Furthermore, Harvey has refused to accede to this request. Not just that, but a number of sketches, of Nikki, have been discovered in his flat. Obviously, to Ryan, all this just serves to prove Harvey's guilt.

Katie pleads with Ryan not to go near Harvey: "Just promise me you'll stay away from him." Ryan just nods, reluctantly. Very reluctantly. Oh, Katie, what have you done?

I'm a bit confused here. You'd think that if the police had started to collect DNA samples, then the likes of Ryan and Mike Dixon would be right at the top of their list; but apparently not, since they know nothing about it. The police have had time to visit Harvey, test the sample *and* write the letter, though.

Back at Brookie Comp, Jason is doing his handyman thing when he's spotted by the lascivious art teacher, who has finally managed to free herself from Jimmy and his tapestry pro-ject. Walking towards Jason, she senses that she has him trapped.

"Every time I want to speak to you, you give me the slip. Now, how about those jobs, I need doing at my flat?"

"Oh. We're really up to our eyes in work at the moment. Honest. I'm even having to work evenings and weekends 'n' that."

[ Evenings and weekends? Probably *just* what she wanted to hear, that! ]

"It won't take long. I'm sure you'll find it a lot more <seductive pause> interesting than what you usually do."

Jane clutches him and clamps her lips onto his. . .

"I don't think we should be doing this", whimpers Jason.

Jane isn't listening: "I've written down my address", she says, slipping a piece of paper into his pocket. "I'll be available at about seven o'clock next Wednesday evening."

"Look, Miss Farris. I don't think this is a good idea."

"Call me Jane", says. . . well, Jane, walking away. ". . . and no need to bring your toolbox." (No, no, no. I'm *not* going to say anything!)

Over in Bar Brookie, Jacqui's having a drink with her three new tenants. However, the peace is disturbed by the arrival of Vic's husband, Mark, who's just returned from a business trip and discovered that she's moved out again. Again? Yes. It seems that our web site designer has a habit of this and in three years of marriage has already left him three times! Mark refuses to leave the Bar unless Vic goes with him. Eventually, with encouragement from Nathan and Darren, he does leave - on his own. Vic, relieved, collapses into Nathan's arms. Jacqui watches with a slightly perturbed look on her face - she can't quite suss the relationships here!

Ryan's told Katie that he needed to pop home for something. In fact, he's done no such thing and as you've probably guessed, has gone on a Harvey hunt. Lying in wait, in a car park, it's not long before Harvey appears. Ryan grabs him and wrestles him to the ground accusing him of being the rapist. Refusing to give a DNA sample proves it, according to Ryan. Harvey manages to splutter something about not giving a sample "cos I didn't do it".

Ryan isn't impressed and continues to hit him until, eventually Harvey says that he did rape Nikki. Satisfied with this, Ryan whips out his mobile and tells Harvey that he can say that again; this time to the police. Harvey's in no position to argue. More upset, more resentment - that'll be just another day in Manor Park, then!