Margi's having a bad day - Nikki has been out all night and Margi's frantically phoning round trying to track her down. Of course she does turn up sooner or later. It's later actually, at about 5pm(!) and she casually remarks that she stayed over at Bernie's. Oh yes, and as you've probably guessed, she was paralytic.
She tearfully tells Margi that she *still* can't cope with effects of the rape and that Luke being around wasn't helping. This, she says, is far more stressful than dealing with her grief following the deaths of Greg and Jason.
Sinbad's gone to the hospital for a check-up on his hearing and who should he meet in the waiting-room? Why, our old friend Mr Moore! It seems that another of Mr Moore's many charitable activities is that of hospital visiting and he takes pity on Sinbad sitting there on his own. He offers to stay and chat to alleviate the boredom (his or Sinbad's?). Sinbad tries to dissuade him, but Mr Moore is very insistent and won't be put off. Still, at least he had a bag of pear drops with him!
When Sinbad reappears after his examination, Mr Moore's still there and Sin has cause to be grateful that there's someone willing to listen as he was rather down, having been told that his hearing isn't improving as much as he'd hoped.
Lindsey hears Nathan telling Jacqui that he's got to move out of the flat and immediately offers to rent him Number Nine. She then goes and worms her way back into her parent's place, although as Jackie says "you never really moved out, did you?".
In Jimmy's absence (he's gone off nosing around a museum - a regular pastime these days, apparently), Jackie and Lindsey bemoan his lack of employment. Lindsey suggests that, since it's half-term next week, that perhaps Jim could look after Kylie. She'll pay. Also, she's booked Great Grannies to sort out the back garden of Number Nine, but if Jimmy's interested in doing it, she'll cancel them. It looks to me like R'Linds has got some odd priorities - shouldn't she be concentrating on paying off Rose? Still, at least she might get some rent out of Nathan.
Later, Lindsey is discussing her wish to rename the Millennium Club with Jacqui and Susannah. To her surprise, neither has any objection to the idea, although Jacqui is quick to point out that she still intends to dispose of her interest in the club by Christmas. Whilst this isn't exactly news to Lindsey, she tries to talk Jacqui out of it, since she has something of a cash flow problem at the moment! [Has Jacqui given Lindsey first refusal?]
"What if I can't get the money together by then?"
"Then it's hard luck. I'll just have to sell my share to someone else."
Katie is still missing Ryan, who has gone to Edinburgh to see Abby, but in his absence she seems to be getting on pretty well with Luke...
Margi's out of coffee and nips across to the garage to buy some. Katie and Luke are larking about on the forecourt (is this termed 'foreplay', perhaps?!) and Luke accidentally bumps into her, sending the jar of coffee crashing to the ground.
"On, might have known it'd be you," she whines as Luke turns round to see who he'd walked into.
"I'm sorry. I'll buy you another one," offers Luke, politely.
"Do you know, I don't even know how you've got the nerve to walk these streets," retorts Margi, forgetting about the coffee totally.
Luke sighs: "Not all this *again*".
"Our Nikki is an absolute wreck because of you. She just came home; she's in such a state she can't even stand up."
"Look, I'm sorry about that but it's got nothing to do with me. I was found *not* guilty."
They continue to argue; Luke becoming more frustrated and Margi getting increasingly wound up.
"Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe Nikki's drinking because she's just lost her brother and father?" suggests Luke.
"Don't. Don't you *ever* bring their names into it. The last year of their lives was made an absolute misery because of you."
"Oh, and does that explain why your husband was in two seconds jumping into bed with Susannah?" asks Luke, stopping abruptly when he realises what he's said.
There's a slight pause before Margi stutters: "What did you just say?". She stands there open-mouthed.
Just not her day, was it?
Summary © 1999 Graeme Selway
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001