Friday, 3rd December 1999

Leo, Nikki and Lindsey were all having a tough time in this episode. What's that I hear you say? Good? Now, that's not very nice is it?

Poor Leo's been suspended from his new job already. So, how long did that take? About two days? Hmm. He fell asleep; something which he seems to becoming quite adept at recently. Mind you, Jerome telling him that he's a "slave" ("knackering work and crap wages") plus an element of bragging over his part-time barman's job at Bar Brookie didn't help much.

Leo sneaks home and snatches forty winks on the sofa. When Sinbad finds him, he's forced to admit the truth. Mick's not impressed when he finds out, but then you've probably guessed that! Leo suggested to Mick that he was fed up with Gemma continually being spoilt and treated as the favourite. This caused Mick to look thoughtfully about the gear he'd just bought her for the Barbados trip.

Earlier, Mick had confided in Sinbad that he sometimes wonders whether Gemma would be "better off with her Mum", and how he fears that he's failed her as a father. Sinbad tried to reassure him.

Nikki's late home from Uni. Jessie and Jerome start to worry. When she does appear, she's immediately defensive, pointing out that she's not drunk (she wasn't, for once!) and also that she knows who raped her! Well, it's amazing how you can work these things into a conversation, you know!

Ray's there decorating the extension and listens to the discussion of 'how the rapist isn't Harvey' and suggests that if Nikki feels this strongly about things, then she should tell the police to drop the abduction charges against him. Nikki likes this idea and it's not long before she and Jerome are in the police station discussing the matter with WPC Diane Nicholls. Well, I say 'discussing' - in reality, Nikki was talked out of the idea.

Later, Nikki's in Bar Brookie watching Jerome's first stint behind the bar. She makes do with the odd beer or two until he nips to the Gents when she surreptitiously orders a large vodka! Mike also makes the mistake of offering her some casual bar work over Christmas (is he mad?) and Nikki gleefully accepts. In fact, she actually managed to restrain her enthusiasm somewhat. It goes without saying that Jerome was less than pleased!

Ray tells Jessie how he can't face returning to an empty house and she offers to put him up on the sofa.

Mike has bought a four year old Ford Fiesta behind Rachel's back. He's chuffed because he got it for a good price, but Rachel's not too keen. She's quite happy for him to take her off to Bristol in it rather than have to use the train, though.

Max is surprised to see Niamh turn up as the babysitter that Susannah had ordered. He thought that she'd booked through Great Grannies.

"I'm not even a granny yet, let alone a great one," Niamh joked. Oh, yeah? That's what you think!

Anyway, Max was delighted to see her. This was evident as they made small talk and Niamh seemed to enjoy Max's company, too.

And so to Lindsey Corkup....

She found herself on the end of a stern talking to from Jimmy. He was far from impressed with her recent antics and tells her that she's "sold her soul to the Finnegans".

"That club won't be anything like you'd planned it," he warns. "Your posh nightclub is gonna look sick. And will your well-heeled thirty-somethings like mixing with scum of the earth and smackheads, eh? Will they?"

Jimmy continues, predicting that it won't be long before the bizzies start taking an interest...

"It won't be Rose Flamin' Finnegan who ends up in jail," he says.

Lindsey doesn't have an awful lot to say, as you might have noticed! Having told her a few home truths, Jim tries to suggest that the best thing she can do is to run away; to get out of Liverpool and to disappear.

"You're up to your neck in some nightmare that's gonna end in disaster."

As Lindsey tries to play down the situation, Jimmy becomes more and more incredulous. Lindsey refuses to run away, partly because she reckons that's just what the Finnegans expect her to do (so what?) and partly because she hasn't got any money to fund a life on the run. Instead, she reckons that she can profit from all the additional punters that Alasdair's new "quality range of products" will attract to the club.

Jimmy tells her that he can't believe that she's planning to make money out of drugs, even if it's indirectly, especially after everything that's happened over the last few years. He reminds her that it's three years to the week when Little Jimmy was stabbed because of his involvement in the drugs scene. Lindsey had forgotten, much to Jim's disgust and she turns away, sheepishly (as well she might!).

Their paths cross again later that night. In the meantime, Jimmy had been thinking:

"I'm washing my hands of you," he tells her, making it clear that he simply can't handle what she's doing. "Just keep out of my way, and the sooner you're back in your own house, the better."

Lindsey can't believe her ears:

"Dad, please. Don't leave me on me own. I don't know what I'm gonna do... please."

Jimmy walks off.

"Please..." whines Lindsey.

What's the phrase that springs to mind, eh, Lindsey? You've made your bed....

Episode written by Barry Woodward