Not that it's unusual for Brookie, but it seems that everyone is busy trying to come to terms with, or solve, major problems at the moment. Solutions to these problems though, as we shall see, look to be some way off yet.
Mick is about the only person who's had a result - today was the day that the bizzies wanted to see Leo and Jerome following the brawl on the parade, during which one of Jerome's mates got paralysed. The boys did get to see the police and learned that the charges against them had been dropped. Like I say, a bit of a result there, except that one of Jerome's gang *is* to be prosecuted for GBH. It goes without saying that Jerome had something to say about that!
Mind you, Jerome wasn't Mr Popular as far as Leo or Tinhead were concerned - he'd left them in Newquay when he'd returned for Greg's funeral a day or so before, thereby causing them to have to hitch back and spend a night at a motorway service station (don't know which of those is worse, myself!). Fortunately, they just made it in time for Leo's trip to the cop shop.
Tim had a problem to solve when he learnt that the chippy had closed down and he was no longer in a job. It wasn't long ago when he have taken that a *good* news, but the grown-up Tim was upset enough about the idea to walk off in a huff (well, make that the *sometimes* grown-up Tim, then!).
Next door, in the bungalow, Nikki is still avoiding university whilst Margi, similarly, can't yet face returning to work. In fact, it seems that work is the last thing on her mind - she's even thinking about *not* taking the Brussels job and staying in Liverpool to look after Emily and Nikki.
Over at the hospital, Susannah is now on a ventilator suffering from a collapsed lung. Katrina tells Jacqui that she doesn't feel that she can look after Harry and Emma any more. In confidence, she tells Jacqui about Susannah's affair with Greg, but of course Jacqui already knows about it and explains to Katrina why she wasn't looking surprised.
Katrina blames Susannah for Greg's and Jason's deaths. "There's no way I can go on working for her now" she insists.
Jacqui pleads with her to reconsider - after all it will be the kids who will suffer and none of this is their fault, she points out. Eventually Katrina agrees to continue but suggests that it should really be the responsibility of "the husband."
Vic has been knocked for six by Mark's revelation that he may only have a couple of years left to live and she takes the day off work, spending her time surfing the net for information on Motor Neurone Disease. She feels guilty about the way in which she recently dumped him and Darren coldly points out that there's nothing now that anyone can do - Mark is going to die and Vic has to accept it. (Sometimes you've got to be cruel to be kind, eh?)
"I just want to make it up to him" whines Vic.
"How do you intend to do that?" asks Darren. "By going back to him?"
"I don't know", Vic replies.
Darren goes on to try to explain that this affects him too and asks Vic to consider how she is making him feel.
"How can you even consider going back to him?" he asks.
Jimmy has gone to Shelley's cottage to visit Lindsey and Kylie, although he seems far more interested in whether Shelley currently has a boyfriend or not. Lindsey tells him very matter of factly that no, she doesn't - she's a lesbian.
This information intrigues Jimmy, who wonders what Lindsey might have let herself in for.
"So, what do you know about the girl apart from the fact that she's a... thingamajig?", he asks.
"A lesbian, you mean?"
"Yes.... alright.... thanks" says Jimmy showing signs of mild embarrassment. "Shush" he whispers, motioning towards Kylie.
"Kylie already knows. I've already explained it to her."
Jim's now in shock and gets more agitated: "Kylie already knows she's a .......?"
"I don't know why it should be some big secret."
"My God, Linds. Are you soft or what? She's just a little kid. You don't know what kind of effect this might have on her in the future."
Jim pauses to regain his composure just a bit: "So... has this Shelley one ever tried to... you know... make a move on you, anything like that?"
"Dad, I'm straight. Shelley knows that."
Jimmy gives up and changes the subject. He tells Lindsey that Callum is still insisting on acquiring the club. Lindsey is concerned and admits to not having a clue about how she might get Callum off her back this time, but she's adamant that she's not going to give in:
"I'll never let him get the better of me again" she declares.
Having got that out of the way (not that the problem got anywhere near having a solution suggested), Jimmy turns his attention back to Shelley as soon as she walks in through the front door.
Still avoiding actually using the L-word, he has a question:
"What put you off fellas in the first place?" he asks her inquisitively. "Had some bad experiences or what?" LOL! Well, you just had to - he sounded *so* genuine!
Of course, Jimmy was keen not to be seen to be mocking - just interested.
"You've only got to turn on the telly these days and you can't move for lesbians (hey! notice he actually managed to say the word?) jumping out of the screen at you. Live and let live, that's my motto."
Hmm, yes! Of course it is Jim. And just which channel have you been watching then, eh?
Summary © 1999 Graeme Selway
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001