Tuesday, 24th August 1999

"You get your own, I'm not that hungry."

"You sure?"

"I said so, didn't I?"

"Alright, don't bite me 'ead off."

Greg and Jason there, starting today's episode of Brookie in the same bad moods which appear to have afflicted everyone on Brookside Close over the last week or so. In fact, I had to breathe a sigh of relief in that, whilst you could see it coming, as soon as Greg got out of the van, opened his mouth and said "You get your own...", I fully expected the conversation to degenerate into the standard "I said so, didn't I?", "Alright, don't start", "I'm *not* starting", full-blown argument scenario which I guess, had he been talking to Margi, would have happened for sure. Jason doesn't rant and rave quite like Margi, does he? He's more of your silent, arms-folded, huffy, brooder-type.

And why wasn't Greg hungry? Well, needless to say he had something else on his mind, or should I say somebody else? No prizes, but she lives twenty feet away, and yes, he phoned her - from the parade! What's that? About 60 seconds walk away? Anyway, having established that the coast was clear (and the *Close* clear too, I guess), he drove over to Susannah's for "an hour" (haha - I know what *you* expected me to put! *That* was on his agenda too, as it happens). So, as I say, he drove round to Susannah's. Yes, *drove*! Saving his energy, I guess.

When he arrives, he doesn't waste much time. *Not* surprisingly enough, in getting his kit off, but telling Susannah what he'd told Jessie on Friday.

"I've definitely made the right decision", he says somehow managing to start the conversation in the middle.

"What decision is this? asks Susannah, not following the thread at all.

"There's no going back now. I've even told me Mum" continues Greg without actually making things any clearer, until the phrase "I'm leaving Margi" pops out.

"You *what*?" asks Susannah, in disbelief.

Cue a lengthy conversation during which Suse (metaphorically) beats herself up, convinced that Greg leaving Margi is all *her* fault and Greg tries to persuade her that this isn't the case at all. His marriage was already over, otherwise he wouldn't have got involved, he claims. Yeah, right!

Greg then starts talking about moving in; a thought which leaves Susannah even more shocked than when he said that he was leaving Margi. It's obvious that this isn't what Susannah wants by *any* stretch of the imagination.

Although, thinking about it, I'm not sure whether Susannah is shocked about Greg wanting to move in or the thought of when Margi "breaks down the door and bludgeons the pair of us". Hmm, nice thought - now that *would* make good drama!

Susannah points out that things just aren't as straight-forward as Greg thinks they are and that one doesn't normally walk out on one's wife of twenty years and move in with the woman next door (especially if she's into bludgeoning people, eh?). Greg makes it clear that he thinks things *are* that simple, thereby causing Susannah to lay down the law, as she sees it:

"If you tell Margi about us, you won't just lose her, you'll lose me as well."

Greg looks decidedly dejected. Susannah tells him that he hasn't thought things through properly. In response, Greg says that he's prepared to give up everything (even the kids never talking to him again - hey, *that's* a bonus!) to be with her.

Susannah's still not convinced:

"And is that because you *really* want to be with me or because you really want to be free of Margi?" she asks, but before Greg can answer, Katrina arrives back with the children (BTW, have you noticed how *no-one* says the word 'children' like Susannah does?), causing Greg and Susannah to concoct an excuse about the washing machine playing up, before Greg departs, hurriedly. Not to mention frostily - maybe they should have said that it was the fridge that was playing up?

Over on the parade, Jason bumps into Josh, an old mate of his, whom he hasn't seen for four years (no, *not* Bev's kid!) and who is apparently working on fitting out the Millennium Club.

It's clear that Josh is taken with Katrina and that she, in turn, is drawn to him. It definitely looks as though, something could happen between those two. In fact, *so* obvious, is it, that even Jason notices:

"Keep you eyes off", he warns, sternly.

Fortunately, Josh's train of thought is interrupted by Lindsey trying gee up the builders to return from lunch promptly.

"You know her problem, don't you?", Josh says to Jason, motioning towards R'Linds.

"No, what?"

"Frigid." Yes! I *knew* it! LOL!

Anyway, since Lindsey's a bit previous with her end-of-lunch-break harassment session, Jason and Josh decide to go to Bar Brookie for a drink. On the way, Josh notices Nikki with Jerome.

"She's fit" he says.

Jason points out that 'she' is his sister, but Josh seems more interested in Jerome, staring at him, until Jerome is moved to say: "Got a problem there, mate?"

It seems that Josh does, indeed, have a problem, but at this point in time, nothing more is made of it. Instead, Josh turns his attention to Luke, who's in the bar, drinking on his own, lamenting his failure to regain his previous job at the car wash. Presumably (off-camera), having had Jason explain about Luke's recent past, Josh's only significant comment is:

"If he'd done that to *my* sister, there's no way he'd still be walking the streets."

He then turns his gaze back towards Nikki and Jerome, before asking Jason:

"Does your sister always hang around with black guys?"

"She's seeing one of them, isn't she?

"I wouldn't be having that", says Josh menacingly, staring into the distance.

As Luke says goodbye to Mike and leaves, Jason takes the opportunity to throw in a "Good riddance", whilst Josh adds a "See ya, Paddy." Luke pauses and just laughs, sympathetically.

He's gonna be trouble, this Josh one, you mark my words....

Elsewhere in the bar, Jimmy is moaning to Lindsey about how few of his school kids are interested in the tapestry and that he doesn't think it's going to get finished in time. He's toying with the idea of asking Karen to assist. "I know she'll be glad to help", he says, but continues "if I do that, I'm gonna get all kinds of grief from your Mother, aren't I?" Er, yes, rather!

"So, what should I do? Struggle by on me own and risk losing me job or turn to Karen and risk losing me marriage?"

Lindsey's not keen to give too much advice on this choice, although she makes it fairly clear that she's in the 'get Karen to help' camp, but reassuringly adds:

"Only you know what's best at the end of the day." Hmm, thanks Linds. Very helpful.

Also in the bar are Darren and Victoria, who are pondering their next move. Surprising that - it's taken nine years to get this far, so surely the next instalment isn't due *just* yet? The consensus seems to be to let "nature take it's course", which is all very well, but neither party can actually find a mutually convenient time. So, they're obviously not *that* keen, then, eh?

Back with Jason and Josh, the latter manages to engineer a situation whereby Jerome bumps into him and spills his drink. Immediately, Josh rounds on him and insists that he buys a replacement. Jerome isn't having any of it, refuses point blank and walks out. Josh follows him. Outside on the parade, Josh starts again:

"I don't take *any* crap off your lot. Do you understand me?"

"*My* lot?" replies Jerome, hardly believing his ears.

"I don't think you need me to spell it out" taunts Josh.

There follows what seems to be the Brookie daily brawl, and Jerome knocks Josh to the ground. The latter is *not* amused:

"You just made a big mistake" he says threateningly.

Luke sees the scuffle from a distance, runs across and wades in, much to Josh's annoyance:

"Get off me you nonce" is all Josh manages to utter before Greg, once again, arrives in the nick of time and breaks things up.

Josh slinks off back to the Millennium Club, but it's clear that he isn't finished with this situation yet.

Nikki and Jerome saunter off congratulating each other over the 'result', whilst Greg orders Jason into the van (ooh!). You can just imagine what Jason is dying to say to his Father, cant you?

Yep - "Don't start!" I told you.