Friday, 3rd September 1999

I hope you've got your earplugs at the ready, for to paraphrase the old Jerry Lee Lewis number - there's a whole lotta shoutin' goin' on...

A noisy episode maybe, but there's plenty happening. Little perhaps to raise a cheer, but that's made-up for by some great dialogue. We'll start off gently though, at the hospital, where Nikki is staring through the window at Susannah lying unconscious.

It seems that Nikki's come to talk, well, to have a go at Susannah over the affair with Greg actually, but there's no chance of that at the moment and it's fortunate perhaps that Lindsey is there to calm her down. Just then Jacqui turns up, at precisely the wrong moment, innocently asking:

"Any news?"

This sets Nikki going and she blurts out "No, she's still alive, unfortunately" and walks off.

Lindsey's brought with her a bunch of flowers, which she proceeds to leave by Susannah's bedside. A nice gesture, you may be thinking, but in fact the bouquet was a gift to Lindsey from Shelley, the interior designer, who she first met at the night of the explosion. Lindsey says that she's not spending much time at home at the moment and that the flowers would be more useful in the hospital.

Lindsey wonders aloud whether they ought to try to contact Max, but Jacqui advises that Lisa has now been tracked down (on a business trip to Milan - alright for some, eh?), so the Max idea doesn't seem too pressing. Lisa is due to fly back to Britain that evening.

On a different subject, Linds looks to the future and the rebuilding work which will be necessary to allow the club to reopen (or should that be simply 'open'?). She's in a positive frame of mind, something which definitely can't be said for Jacqui. In fact, Jacqui doesn't want to know - she's made her mind up:

"There's no going back now", she says defiantly. "It's over."

Lindsey attempts to change Jacqui's mind, pointing out that she was the one who held everything together. Besides, she's got Bar Brookie and the salon to fall back on, but R'Linds has nothing (that does tend to give one a *slightly* different viewpoint, that!). Jacqui, however, is unmoved and comments that she'd prefer to settle down with Nathan and have some kids.

Back on the Close, or to be precise, the Corkhill residence, Jimmy announces that he's "popping into school for a few hours" which, following his less than honest 'pop into school' yesterday, sent Jackie into a bit of a quandary. However, she held her tongue (for once) and when he'd left, grabbed her coat and followed him.

He ended up at a public house where Jackie, from a distance, sees him meet up with Karen and go inside. Jackie hangs around for a good half an hour before she's unable to resist walking in and making a scene:

"So this is what you get up to when you tell me you're off sorting out your stupid tapestry" she shrieks at the top of her voice. "No wonder you're so enthusiastic about it."

"Jackie, I can assure you..." begins Karen.

But Jackie's not finished yet: "Don't you even *speak* to me, you stuck-up little bitch, like butter wouldn't melt. Make a habit of stealing other people's husbands, do you?"

"This is the first time that I've seen Karen since when broke up", claims Jimmy.

"You're lying again."

"I'm *not*."

"Well, how do you explain being in her flat then, yesterday? And don't even bother denying it, 'cos I pressed 1471 after you rang."

Karen tries to back Jimmy up, but Jackie, incensed, makes a lunge at her, causing Jimmy to spring to her defence. This merely gives Jackie some more ammunition:

"Protecting your fancy-woman? Well, don't even flatter yourself, Jimmy. Do you really think that I'd get into a fight over you?"

By now, Jackie's well into the swing of things and takes delight in telling Karen that Jimmy has been lying to *her* as well.

"He's not even a proper teacher", she begins, whilst Jimmy's face turns white as he *desperately* hopes that Jackie's not about to say what he fears she is. She does:

"Oh, it's true. He *forged* all his exam certificates, y'know. The only degree he's got is one in pathological lying."

Karen seems very interested in this little revelation. I wonder why!

(I must say, I'm worn out after typing that - and it was the abridged version, too!)

There's another animated row going on elsewhere - this one's in a deserted car park and sees Alisdair meet with Callum, who's clearly incensed at having been made to cut short his trip to the Algarve.

"So what's going on?", the fidgety one asks.

"I was hoping you'd tell me", says Alisdair calmly.

Leaning nonchalantly against the side of his car, he lets Callum pace around, waving his arms about, and doing more than enough shouting for the both of them.

Alisdair explains that he wants Callum's word that the bombing of the Millennium Club had nothing to do with him.

Callum himself, is incensed that this question could even have been asked:

"So, *what*? You're gonna take the word of that slag over your own brother?"

"We all know how you feel about Ma Corkhill. This grudge has become almost an obsession. I wouldn't put anything past you", says Alisdair, still leaning against his car, whilst Callum continues to strut about in an ever-increasing rage.

"You've gone soft", he declares. "A year ago, you'd have let me wipe that jumped-up bitch off the face of the earth. She's *stitching* me *up*" he shouts.

"Stop farting about and be straight with me for once in your life."

"Look, I may have done some stupid things in my life, but *bombs*? What do you take me for? There is *no way* in a million years, that I could ever, *ever*, pull off a stunt like that, okay?"

"I just hope for your sake that you've been straight with me, 'cos if I ever find out it was you..."

"You won't."

(Phew, that was an abridged version, too! I said that it was a noisy one, didn't I? So, *if* it wasn't Callum, who was it? That builder bloke? Alex something? Surely not?)

Back on the Close, Jimmy and Jackie arrive back in a taxi *still* arguing away. Jackie storms up the path leaving Jimmy to literally fling a note through the cab window and follow her.

"Just pack your bags and get out", Jackie screams.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I *know* what I saw."

"You didn't see anything."

By now they're inside the house - and still going strong - this time about Jimmy's job:

"Look at me, now. Back to square one. Some no-mark scally."

"That's all you've ever been, isn't it?" [Jackie's an expert at putting Jimmy down, isn't she? All that practice, I guess!] "Even when you were pretending to be a teacher, you were still a scally in a suit." LOL!

Luke and Ryan had been watching Jackie and Jimmy's show as they got out of the taxi. Once they'd moved inside, Luke tells Ryan that he still thinks that he should have gone to Ireland. Ryan offers £150 (as a loan) for him to take a few days and go and visit Don and Rose (I wonder if *they've* stopped arguing yet?).

The new interior-designer-character, Shelley, calls at Lindsey's and despite what Lindsey had said earlier about not having much time at home, she was actually in. The two of them obviously have a long gab and a few drinks because when Shelley asks if she can call a cab, Lindsey offers to put her up for the night. Shelley accepts and looks somewhat smitten.

Mick and Sinbad are walking home through the alleyway, having closed the chippy for the night. However, their passage is blocked by Josh and a group of his mates. Earlier, they'd tried a similar tactic, which was only diffused when Mick threatened to call the police. This time though, it was dark and they meant business. Josh and his gang do not simply walk away for a *second* time - and neither do Mick or Sinbad. They *can't*; they're left lying on the ground in pools of blood, struggling to breathe.

Which, I guess, bring us back to Jerry Lee Lewis. Didn't he have a hit called 'Breathless'?