Jessie's begun to realise why Margi had to get out of the country and wonders why she didn't think of it first. Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh (amusing, if you're me!), but a bit harsh. Margi's only been gone a couple of weeks and the kids are playing her up / giving her the run-around / trying it on (take your pick), already.
Emily spent the night not at Jessie's, not even at the bungalow, but in Tinhead's nice, cool (well, with that gap over the door, I'll bet it's *mighty* cool in November), luxury garage. Anyway, Emily is trying to avoid going to school and delays setting off by snogging with Tim outside the front of Mick's house. Yeah, I know, that you've already guessed what's coming (!) but nevertheless Emily is moved to say: "If me Nan ever finds out she'll kill me".
Remember - I said *outside* Mick's house, i.e. in full view....
"She's not gonna find out is she?" replies Tim.
"EMILY SHADWICK! What *do* you think you're playing at?"
Yep, she's found out. And she's not happy. Emily gets frog-marched (well, almost - literary licence), by a fuming Jessie, off to the bungalow.
Alec, tending to the Mussie's front garden sees them (heard them as well, no doubt but wisely keeps that to himself) and offers a friendly "Morning".
"You must be joking," retorts Jessie. LOL.
Inside the bungalow, Jessie's rather het-up state worsens when she fears that Nikki hasn't yet bothered getting out of bed and decides that a bit of prompting might be called for.
She knocks on Nikki's bedroom door and walks in... only to find Nikki (not unexpectedly) still in bed - although surprisingly (to Jessie, at least) - she's not on her own: Jerome's tucked up with her.
Obviously, Super-Gran has a few things to say to her grand-daughters about the morning's shenanigans, after which Emily is packed off to school. Jerome had made a speedy exit, although it would seem that Jessie was somewhat more relaxed about this (can I say 'affair', or is that a poor choice of word?) incident than she was over Emily and Tim.
Emily's day goes from bad to worse, although even she'd have to admit that it's all her own fault. She doesn't go to school and instead bunks off (after having learnt from Tim about popping in for registration first). It's a pity that he didn't then move on to lesson two - the one about 'if you're going to skip school, don't hang around your own neighbourhood'.
As you're probably ahead off me here, I'll just confirm that, yes, they were kissing in the alleyway between the Close and the Parade, and yes, Jessie *did* catch them. She kicks off again, sending Tim away with a flea in his ear, whilst Emily receives the dubious news that Jessie's decided that since she's promised Margi that she'll keep an eye on Emily and Nikki, she's going to have to do it properly - and move into the bungalow herself.
Alec finally receives the parcel which he's been waiting for - a rather fetching (no, not really!) mottled grey (or white - it seemed to depend on the light!) wig, with which he was rather delighted (hmm!).
He rushes straight round to the bungalow to show it off to Jessie, an act which, if nothing else, gave her the laugh she needed.
"What have you done to yourself?", is all she could say, as she tried (and failed) to hold back a chuckle or two.
Nikki reckoned that it made Alec look like Paul Daniels; Richie Benaud was the consensus in this house.
Back home, it frightened Luke and his laughter caused Alec to remove it in despair.
"Oh, leave it on. It looks funny," joked Luke.
"It's not meant to be funny," retorts Alec.
"Look at that Ron Dixon - never see anyone laughing at his," offers Luke in defence.
This makes Alec cheer up: "Is his a wig?" he asks, innocently.
"Their Mike told me it was and look at him, he never has any trouble pulling the women."
(Err.... Anthea? Quite. Do you thinks she's noticed?)
Later, Luke bumps into Katie on the Parade. He's moaning that he's still only getting rejection letters through the post (why's he moaning? - he doesn't need a wig; well, not *now*!), and that his hand-written CVs probably don't help. Katie offers to type a CV up for him, as a thank you for having listened to her whinge about Ryan and Abby on various occasions over the last couple of weeks.
He takes his CV around to her flat that evening. In fact, it's not just a draft CV he takes round - he also borrows Alec's pride and joy and stands outside Katie's door with what looks like a mop on his head.
Katie can't resist having a go with it herself. I can't do the scene justice here - you'll just have to take my word for it when I say that it made me LOL.
Again, Katie pours her heart out to Luke (yes, whilst wearing the wig) and bemoans the fact that she'd never do something as daft in Ryan's company, oh no - he's way too serious, these days.
"Why can't he be more like you?" she asks Luke, hopefully.
"Has it crossed your mind that you might be going out with the wrong brother?" wonders Luke.
Elsewhere, there's another tete-a-tete going on - in Number Ten. This time between Lindsey and Jackie. Jackie decided that it was time that she got to the bottom of Lindsey's odd behaviour (wow, how long's she got?) as regards Shelley over the last few days (oh, okay, then - shame!) and asks her outright whether they are having an affair. All the signs are there, insisted Jackie. Lindsey laughs and tells her mother not to be so daft. The relief on Jackie's face when she heard Lindsey's denial, was quite extraordinary!
"I might be many things Mum, but being gay is not one of them."
"Well, thank God for that."
This was obviously the cue for Shelley to knock at the front door and a more welcome visitor, Lindsey could not have hoped for. They talk, make up and as Shelley left, Lindsey almost, *almost* admitted to some, er, let's say 'feelings'.
It would seem that there's a definite spark about to be ignited there - that'll give Lindsey something meaty to explain to Jackie, eh? Not to mention Jimmy!
Episode written by Shaun Duggan
Summary © 1999 Graeme Selway
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001