With all the tensions which have built up over the past few days, everyone's carefully creeping round as if they're walking on eggshells. Well, okay, *most* people are. Yeah, there are one or two who couldn't if they tried and we all know who they are! If you're not sure, then read on - for flying off the handle and interrogating people are popular activities too.
Jackie, Lindsey, the kids and the cuddly bear arrive back in the Close. Jimmy's there to greet them. Or more accurately, he greets Kylie as normal but Jackie merely gets an "alright?", the sort of which you'd give to someone you know, don't particularly like but have to try to get along with. That set the scene for the rest of the day. Here's Jackie, who only a few hours ago was making the most of the Spanish sun but now suddenly finds herself back in Liverpool where it's all frosty. *Outside* the house, the weather's not too bad though!
Jackie and Jimmy are very cool (no, I don't mean as in 'kewl'!) and distant with each other. Jackie's not pleased that Jimmy went back to school, whilst Jimmy's still narked that he never got a phone call (nor a postcard, probably!).
Jackie, quickly back into drudge mode, is already sorting the washing. When she goes to the machine and finds it already full of laundry, she flips: "Oh, flamin' 'ell. How long's this lot been in 'ere?" Three. . . . Two. . . . One. . . . cue row.
Jimmy accuses Jackie of not wanting him to go on the holiday at all. Jackie thinks about this momentarily and then agrees. She tells Jimmy how she's spent the week thinking about 'things'; her life, her work. . . her marriage. She goes on to tell Jim that she's had enough - she's leaving. That was a waste of time unpacking then, wasn't it Jac! "Where are you going? asks Jimmy, pleading with her to reconsider. "Anywhere" is the reply. It'll be R'Val's, Jim - you ought to know that by now! We see Jackie disappearing down the front path trailing her suitcase behind her.
Rachel continues to torment herself over the pregnancy. She still hasn't told Mike and she's rather 'off' with him when he tries to make a fuss of Little Ruthie. Jacqui also gets the prickly treatment when she tells Rachel that Mike's got a right to know.
Later, Mike, Rachel, Katie, Megan and Jacqui go for a meal in the Millennium Club. Rachel doesn't particularly want to go, but is persuaded. Mike, however, spends the entire evening talking either about Ruthie or how much he wants kids (other than Josh, that is). This is too much for Rachel, who decides to leave early. Katie follows her and takes the opportunity to try to convince her to tell Mike. Rachel, deep down, knows she has to, but just can't face doing so.
Also in the Millennium Restaurant are Nathan, Darren and Vic. Presumably, they parachuted in since there appears to be no car park attached to this club and therefore nowhere to leave the micro-lites (I jest - I think!). However, the meal is interrupted by the arrival of Mark, who wants to talk to Vic. He pleads for her to return to him (a lot of it about) and eventually she agrees to go back - but for just a week's trial. A week? Is it worth it? That won't prove anything, anyone can manage a week!The main story of the day concerned Susannah, Katrina and the babies. Tensions are running high at Number Seven, where Susannah and Katrina are just not getting on.
Freshly returned from holiday, Lindsey called at Susannah's to catch up on the gossip. Suse asked Lindsey if she'd be able to look after the restaurant for one day the following week as she was planning to go away on a business trip. Just for the one night, but which one hadn't been confirmed yet. "Depends on Greg squaring it with Margi, does it?" Lindsey asked a shocked Susannah. "How did you find out?" asked Susannah, not knowing where put herself.
By now Lindsey was in full-blown smug-mode and beaming radiantly said: "I've suspected it for ages, Susannah. You haven't exactly been discreet have you?" Discreet? Discreet? I hadn't realised that Lindsey knew what the word meant! Susannah needn't have worried though, since Lindsey was all for the liaison. "Look after number one. That's my motto" she said. Ah, that's better. That's more Lindsey-like!
Katrina had taken Harry to Bar Brookie simply to get out of the house, but the intended quiet lunch was anything but. Harry insisted on playing noisily and Katrina was getting more and more agitated. Finally, Harry managed to knock over a drink. That was the last straw for Katrina and she shouted at him: "Look what you've done. For God's sake, you stupid little. . ." Ron, who had been standing nearby, talking to Jessie, heard this and marched over. "What do you think you're doing shouting at a nine month old kid?" he demanded.
Ron is incensed and decides that Harry would be better of with him. He heads straight for the Millennium Club where Harry is promptly dumped on Jacqui! LOL! Ron, then spends the next twenty minutes (a guess, but probably under-estimated!) slagging off Katrina. Jackie ends up taking Harry back to Susannah's.
When she gets there, however, she finds that Susannah has gone out. Katrina's back though, and Jacqui demands to know what's going on and also why Katrina had been about to slap Harry in Bar Brookie. Katrina insisted that she wasn't and that she'd never do that because she cares for him too much. It's Susannah who doesn't give a toss about him and is only interested in Emma, she continued. By now, Jacqui doesn't know what to think.
Later, Jacqui gets the chance to talk to Susannah, who obviously denies the allegation of favouritism, but admits to having trouble coping with the restaurant, two kids and a difficult nanny. Jacqui's still confused and offers to do more to help. She volunteers Lindsey to help more with the restaurant too. Haha, that'll please the smug one!
Summary © 1999 Graeme Selway
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001