Mike and Rachel are having a heart to heart. Well, Mike is - he's busy telling Rachel how he's going "to be the best Dad in the world" (pretty much like Jimmy said to Jackie before R'Wills was born, come to think of it!). "Oh, and by the way, how about moving in with Ron and Anthea so that we can afford to buy a car?" Mike suggests.
Okay, he didn't put it quite like that! He's concerned that with the baby due a mere two days before Christmas, getting hold of a cab in order to take Rachel to hospital, might be harder than finding a shop which doesn't have "Do they know it's Christmas?" playing.
Nikki Shadwick wakes with a start - she's had a nightmare about Harvey and his abduction attempt (or should that read *just* 'abduction'?). Fortunately, Katrina's there to calm her down.
Katrina? What was she doing in the bungalow? She's not living there is she? Actually, where *is* Katrina living now?
Jessie is still convinced that Harvey must be the rapist and Jerome agrees with her.
Mick is giving Leo a hard time about paying his way. Being cruel to be kind, I suppose you'd say. Still, offering your son a choice of a fry-up or cereal for his breakfast and charging him (£2.50 and 50p, respectively!) for it, *is* pretty cruel.
It goes without saying that Leo isn't impressed with his Dad's teasing, nor is he with the genuine demand - that of £20 a week for his keep.
Mick feels a tad guilty when Gemma chases him up for the money for her trip to Barbados and tells Sin that he has considered giving Leo some money to start him off in business. Sinbad points out that since Leo doesn't even know what he wants to do, wouldn't it be better to pay for driving lessons first?
Over at the Musgroves', Joey is taking his time going to work (Jackie's got another day off) and Niamh is looking at the situations vacant pages in the paper. She's convinced that she blew the interview, but is delighted later on when she finds out that she's got the job.
There's an article in the paper about Harvey being arrested for kidnapping and Joey joyfully takes it to work to show Luke. Luke, however, seems somewhat perturbed by it.
Peace in the garage is disturbed when Ryan storms in and picks a fight with Luke. Joey tries to intervene but ends up getting punched himself and knocks over a display. He recovers, tries to separate the brawlers and is helped by a stranger who is plainly not impressed with the goings-on. The stranger asks to see the manager. Joey replies that it's her day off and that he's in charge.
"In that case, could you explain to me the state of this place?" demands the stranger (who we viewers know is Ian Leigh, the developer).
"Look pal, I don't have to go explaining anything to you," retorts Joey.
"Oh, but I think you do."
"Why's that?"
"Because I own this place."
Joey looks crestfallen.
Back on the Close, Nikki and Jessie emerge from the bungalow. Niamh also happens to be outside and calls across, asking Nikki to apologise to Luke for everything that's been said in the past (another one who's convinced that Harvey *must* be the rapist). Nikki refuses, looks to Jessie for support which isn't forthcoming and runs back indoors, wailing:
"So that's it, then? Even you, me Nan, doesn't believe me anymore."
And Nikki's *surprised*, at this??
Episode written by David Young
Summary © 1999 Graeme Selway
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001