It's the day of the fete. Jackie's excited and Jimmy's got a cob on - he doesn't want to go and Jackie's coercing him when he'd rather stay at home and work on his tapestry. He did cheer up somewhat when the opportunity arose to tease Sin and Tin about Mr Moore's promised surprise:
"Well, I'll tell you something" said Jimmy, "I bet he'll be getting his own back on you two".
"Oh, don't talk wet" replied Sinbad, dismissively.
"I'm telling you" continued Jimmy. "These charity do-gooders like making fools out of themselves in front of other people, all in the name of a good cause. I reckon he'll have something really bad lined up for you two, this avvy."
"Nah" said Sinbad, not entirely convincingly.
By now Jimmy, was enjoying himself: "But don't blame me, if you two end up like a right pair of clowns" he warns, chuckling to himself as he says it.
Over at the Millennium Club, Lindsey Corkhill has also got a cob on. She's discovered that, although it's Sunday, there are no builders on site. She phones the boss of the construction firm who advises that they've been called away to some sort of emergency, but this information did little to placate R'Linds.
"Well, this had better not delay our opening, otherwise we'll be holding *you* responsible" she warned him tersely, before sighing heavily and hanging up.
Within minutes of putting the phone down, Lindsey had convinced herself that if she'd been Barry Grant or even Jacqui Dixon, then the builders wouldn't dare give her this sort of run around and she starts wondering if, perhaps, the Finnegans are behind the latest problems. She decides to tackle this fear head on and calls Rose Finnegan. Rose, sensing how agitated Lindsey was, comes straight round to Number Nine where she categorically denies that the Finnegans are in any way responsible. Whilst at Lindsey's, Rose noticed the decorating which was in progress and offered to put Linds in contact with an interior designer friend of hers. Hmm, no doubt Lindsey will utilise this woman's services and it'll end up costing her loads, which, of course, she hasn't got - doesn't Rose actually *want* this sixty-grand, one wonders?
Over at the bungalow, Nikki's telling Katrina about Jerome's request for her not to drop him in it with the police over the car incident, whilst Jessie, peering out of the window, sees Greg going into Susannah's.
Greg's telling Susannah about the holiday which he's just booked with Margi. Susannah, concerned about how serious things are getting, thinks that it's a good idea. Greg doesn't agree:
"The girl in the travel agents wondered why I wasn't enthusiastic. All I could think about was how much I'm gonna miss you", he whined.
Back at the hospital, most of the action is taking place at the summer fete. Jackie is approached by Sandra, the nurse who looked after William when he fell in the pond and who, along with Mr Moore seems to be organising the fete, asking if she'd consider doing some more voluntary work as she appears to have all the necessary attributes. Jackie is made up to be asked.
"The Hospital Friends' Society - sounds dead refined, doesn't it?" she remarks to Jimmy.
Mr Moore, dressed in what looks like yellow oilskins, sees that Sinbad and Tinhead have arrived and welcomes them:
"Glad to see that you've both made it. I've got something very special arranged for you two, later on. Something, I've been looking forward to, for quite a while now", he says mysteriously.
Mr Moore then goes on to explain how he manages to juggle his interest in Wrexham FC with his recently rekindled passion for the Warrington Wolves rugby league team:
"...but now the super league has started up in the summer, I've taken an interest again..."
"Oh, really?" says Sinbad with little enthusiasm in his voice.
Not noticing the tone of Sinbad's voice, Mr Moore continues: "The only problem is, it sometimes clashes with band rehearsals".
"You're in a band?" asks Tin (whose estimation of Mr Moore has suddenly and visibly risen sharply with this revelation).
"Oh, yes. We've got a 'gig' here, later on. You'll have to come over and watch, eh?"
With that, Mr Moore walks off. Tinhead looks at Sin and slowly shakes his head in disbelief. Classic expressions on each of their faces. LOL.
In another part of the hospital grounds, two dodgy characters are clambering over the perimeter fence. Matt and Bosko have decided to cash in by operating a "Sacred Items Stall", with proceeds going to, well, themselves if they can get away with it.
Having set up their stand, Matt and Bosko are talking to Sinbad and Tinhead when the ubiquitous Mr Moore (now having discarded his yellow waterproof coat in favour of a uniform of white shirt and black tie) walks over.
Tin notices this change of attire and asks, pathetically:
"Are you a fireman, now?"
Mr Moore sighs: "No, Timothy. Salvation Army".
"Ahhh!" exclaims Sinbad. "So *that's* your band."
"Mr Assistant Percussionist" confirms Mr Moore, proudly showing off his triangle.
(Bit predictable that, wasn't it? Saw it coming a mile off!)
Mr Moore then notices Matt and Bosko's stall which he knows isn't on the authorised list. However he promises to keep quiet, providing that the lads donate their takings to the hospital! And besides - the eclipse, cults and the new millennium are all (yet more) subjects in which he takes particular interest.
Back on the Close, Susannah had a visit from an extremely worked up Jessie, who was determined to put a stop to the affair with Greg. Susannah told Jessie that they both knew full well that Jessie would never tell Margi, since that would be certain to wreck the marriage which she is so desperately trying to save and that it would be preferable just to let the liaison fizzle out of it's own accord. Jessie, however, is adamant that Greg won't allow it to do that:
"But *you* could finish it", she tells Susannah. "Tell me what I have to do to convince you to do it. Do you want me to go down on my knees and beg you? Because I will, if..."
"Jessie, please" interrupts Susannah, but to no avail.
"...it'll help keep my family together..." continues Jessie, hardly pausing for breath and with her eyes watering, she carries on:
"...then put an end to it *please*. I'm begging you with all my heart. Please don't ruin all our lives. Do the right thing for your sake as well as ours."
Susannah just watches!
Later on at the fete, Sinbad gets the chance to volunteer Jimmy to fill in for the booked clown who has had to pull out. Jimmy might have been keen to escape from Jackie's cake, baby's cardigans and toilet roll holders stall (what a mixture!) but wasn't chuffed when he realised what he'd allowed himself to be roped in for. Sinbad was pleased with himself, though, and topped off Jimmy's costume with a hand-written sign saying "Corky the Clown".
"I'll get you for this" threatened Jimmy. "I'm telling you."
And what was it that Jimmy had been saying about clowns prior to leaving home?
It then wasn't long before Mr Moore got the opportunity to reveal his surprise for Tinhead and Sinbad - they were to be the stars of the wet sponge throwing competition and Jimmy, pushing his way through the assembled crowd (still wearing his clown make-up) insisted on the first twenty throws.
Thus, it was Jimmy's turn to say to Sinbad "Don't talk wet", perhaps?
Summary © 1999 Graeme Selway
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001