Victoria is seated at the table in the kitchen area of the flat, reading the Liverpool Echo. Katie stands behind her, busying herself with domestic duties. Jacqui enters the room and Victoria draws her attention to the Echo, saying that the front page's feature story is about Ron and the shooting. We briefly see the headline which reads 'Have a Go Hero ...', which is odd - because it appears to be the same Liverpool Echo headline that Jimmy was reading the previous week and some days have obviously passed since that time. That aside, Jacqui briefly nods in embarrassed acknowledgement, saying that the papers won't be allowed to write anything else about Ron until the trial begins. All the time she speaks, she's glancing apprehensively at Katie who keeps her back firmly turned away from Vic and Jacqui.
Victoria asks after Ron, how he's holding up, if Jacqui thinks he's seen the paper. Again, Jacqui glances uneasily toward Katie's back before answering. Vic asks if Jacqui's going to see Ron today. Jacqui sighs and answers in the negative. The family feel that too many relatives showing up at once would only overwhelm Ron and besides, Anthea should be the first to go and to go alone. After all, being Ron's wife, they need some time together as a couple. This last remark provokes an outburst from Katie, who whirls around to face the pair, exclaiming that it's 'all right for some', that Anthea can visit Ron anytime she likes while KATIE'S Clint is lying cold in some hospital morgue. She storms out of the room.
Victoria looks bewildered and asks what that was all about. (Now, Victoria and Darren may have become little more than fixtures and fittings in the past few months, but they can't NOT have noticed the brouhaha between Katie and Jacqui in the past fortnight. Perhaps, they just ignore the lower classes with whom they are forced to share accommodation - which begs the question: Why don't Vic and Darren live in their own place?)
Jacqui immediately breaks into tears. She explains to Victoria that Katie is convinced that Ron cold-bloodedly killed Clint and she is taking out her anger on Jacqui as Ron's daughter. Victoria puts her arm around Jacqui and offers sympathy. Later, she offers tea as well, as we see the two seated at the table while Vic is trying to understand Katie's reaction. She reminds Jacqui of the way she (Vic) behaved after Mark's death - drinking in excess, trying cocaine, behaving appallingly, sleeping with Dave Burns et al, resulting in an unwanted pregnancy and an abortion. She reminds Jacqui of how unstintingly patient Darren was through all this time. She could have lost him, but he kept fighting for her and helping her, even though she was pushing him away all the time.
Jacqui tells her that Katie won't even listen to reason, that Katie won't even question the fact that Clint was in her parents' home under highly suspicious circumstances. Victoria reminds her that Ron DID a terrible thing. For a moment, Jacqui assumes the defensive, apprehensive that Victoria is about to tow Katie's line. Jacqui insists that the shooting was an accident, self-defence, Ron was trying to protect his family. Victoria rushes to reassure Jacqui that it doesn't matter what she, Vic, thinks, the important thing is not to let her opinions quell their friendship. Jacqui admits that Ron was wrong to do what he did, but she understands his motives.
Again, Victoria reiterates that Jacqui and Katie have been friends for too long to let this end their friendship. Jacqui should fight to retain it and she needs to spend some time alone with Katie to reassure her and to talk. Vic says that the friendship of both Darren and Jacqui helped her through her grief (funny how Nathan didn't get a mention). Vic urges Jacqui to try to talk to Katie.
At he Corkhill house, Jackie is banging on the padlocked door to the lounge, demanding the right to use the washing machine and the kitchen. She shouts that she can't continue to live this way. She needs clean clothes, she has to cook ( or cooook, as she says). Jimmy is oblivious to her racket, shouting through the door that they lead separate lives in separate flats. Of course, she COULD have access to a kitchen and laundry facilities, if she'd only agree to leave. She could have a place of her own. Jackie digs in, grimly threatening that two could play at Jimmy's game.
Later, we see what she means with her threat. The two are pictured in the 'neutral' area of their foyer, shouting abuse at one another. This latest argument concerns the fact that, as the airing cupboard is situated in Jacqui's part of the house, she has decided to deny Jimmy access to hot water. (Apparently, Jimmy's gone upstairs to turn the water on for a wash ... So how come Jim is allowed to go into Jackie's flat, but not the other way around? Go figure.) Jimmy is demanding she turn the hot water on. Jackie says she will when he removes the padlocks so she can use the kitchen. This stalemate continues unabated, until Rlindz enters with a Cabbage Patch doll and a Kewpie doll with a bowl haircut. On closer inspection, we see that the two dolls are actually dressed as Kylie and Wills. Lindsey manages to calm the pair down long enough to ascertain the cause of the latest argument.
Jackie maintains that she has laundry to do, at which point, Lindsey offers to do her mum's washing. Jimmy, however, forbids her to do that. Jackie then asks who will cook for the kids. Jimmy maintains that he will (notice Rlindz wasn't too quick to volunteer for that one). However, Jackie quickly denounces that plan. Jimmy smugly asks her how she plans to get around this one, because she has no kitchen. Jackie, equally smug, asks Kylie to bring her her purse. Then Jackie announces that she's treating Lindsey and the children to a Chinese feast, upstairs in her room with her telly. It's the kids' favourite, and she despatches Rlindz with the kids in tow 'round to the local Chinese for a takeaway. Problem solved ... For the time being.
Meanwhile, Tim's made an appointment at the walk-in clinic to see Nisha, saying he's got an ingrown toenail. As she leads him into the examination area, he confesses that he really doesn't have a malaise. Nisha is curious. Why did he want to see her? Tim says he needs to do some research, at which Nisha raises her eyebrows. Not that sort of research, he quickly reiterates. He needs some information on Robbie Moffatt. Nisha wants to know what sort of info he needs. Tim specifies - where he lives, who his mates are, what sort of stuff he got up to in the past. Nisha grins and tells Tim to 'ask away'. (Curious this, I can't figure out where Nisha's coming from on this one.)
While Tim is doing his research, Mike is seated in his wheelchair at a table in Bev's sharing a bevy with Bevy, or with Bev and her shoulders, to be precise, as we rarely see anything below that (and when we do get a glimpse, she would make Pavarotti look slim). Bev is indignant that Ron's behind bars. In her opinion, he deserves a medal for doing what he did, after all - he was only protecting his family. Mike is amazed that Bev has thrown her support wholeheartedly behind Ron. Bev assures him that she has. She points out to Mike that she understands where Ron is coming from - he got no police co-operation. In fact, the bizzies did NOTHING about the two previous break-ins.
She is surprised that the culprit was Clint Moffatt. He did seem harmless enough, but, Bev says, that goes to show you just didn't know people. Mike isn't so sure that Clint acted alone. Clint, he says, was basically a wimp. He never acted unless Robbie pulled his strings. Bev agrees, saying she saw evidence of that behaviour in the bar. No, she reiterates, if she had been in Ron's shoes, she would have done the same thing. Mike is surprised. Of course, she would have, Bev says again, especially if there were a kid in the house. However, she would have done one thing differently - she wouldn't have called the bizzies. She would have wrapped the body in a blanket and deposited it in the nearest river. And when the bizzies found the corpse, they would have assumed it to be some scummy scally dead in a drug war. Too bad Ron didn't stick with Anthea. He would have been a free man today with Bev by his side.
At that moment, Tim enters, carrying a long object wrapped in brown paper. Mike asks where he's been. Tim takes a seat opposite Mike, looks around briefly and says that he's been doing some research on Robbie Moffatt. In fact, he's arranged a meeting with him at 5PM that afternoon and Tim wants Mike to come along. Mike is doubtful; after all, what if Robbie were to bring some mates. Tim assures Mike that Robbie won't - the two have a 'gentlemen's agreement' just to show up alone. But anyway, Tim says, they have enough time for a few bevvies ... If Mike's buying.
The Murrays in the meantime are still in pursuit of their IVF dream. Because of the kerfuffle with Ant on Friday, Diane now has to have her injection at 2:30PM daily. (Why these two can't arrange to have this sort of thing done at night before they retire is beyond me - still, I suppose it reinforces the idea of how desperate Di is for a baby - as if we could forget with her whingeing all the time about it). Marty has had to arrange to have a different dinner hour in order to accommodate her. As he arrives, Diane is on the telephone to Antony's school, trying to make an appointment to see his headmaster re the bullying. She tells Marty that she's had no luck, because the head isn't there - in fact, he's on retreat until later in the week. She'd only just got through to the school, having popped home time and again throughout the morning in order to try and call. Marty asks why she didn't phone from the salon, but she says she didn't want staff and customers knowing that her son was being bullied and her sounding like a whingeing mum (eh?).
Di asks if Marty had any trouble rescheduling, but he assures her that he didn't. In fact, after the injection, when he SHOULD have been making tracks back to a job he never seems to attend, he tells Diane that he actually lied to the head and told her that he had to have the afternoon off in order to attend an appointment with Diane. (I'm not surprised that the Murrays are perpetually skint as they spend more time skiving off jobs than actually working. In fact, I'm surprised she's still employed by the salon and he's still a school caretaker!) Now Marty plans on spending the afternoon vegetating in front of the telly and watching the cricket, but Diane puts paid to that when she tells him that the lawn needs cutting. As a compromise, she promises to tape the cricket for him if he cuts the grass.
As they head toward the back garden, they make comments about the portaloo in the Corkhills' back garden and encounter Jimmy leaving the structure. Marty politely asks him how long the portaloo is going to remain there, as the stench is proving to be a bit strong. Jimmy, angry from scenes with Jackie inside, gestures angrily toward the house and says it will stay until that 'bitch' inside decides to leave. Before he begins to cut the grass, Diane reminds Marty that the pair of them, along with Steve, are due to meet Geoff Evans later at Bev's Bar for a drink. Marty is less than enthusiastic about this.
It's now High Noon for Tim and Mike - well, actually, it's 5PM and Tim has arranged to meet Robbie in a street subway passage. Mike lurks around the corner in his chair. We see Robbie descend the stairway and greet Tim, just as Mike, armed with a long metal pole, wheels up behind him and strikes him a blow to the back of the head, causing him to fall. As he falls, we hear Mike say, 'That's for me sister' before he and Tim begin to reign blows upon the fallen Robbie.
(Aside: This is where the 'bad' and the 'acting' come into the episode - easily the weakest point in this week's storylines. I was beginning to have - at last - high hopes for Mike Dixon as a character, but the acting in this scene dispelled any illusions I had.)
The pair manage to leave Robbie with a bloody nose and gob, but the yob is still on his feet. He acknowledges that he and Mike are even now, Mike getting his revenge for Robbie hitting Jacqui, but he also says that Ron should be more afraid of him, than facing a life sentence and no matter WHAT, he hasn't finished with Ron yet. Tim tells him to 'do one' and not to be harassing the Dixons anymore or else, Tim might decide to meet him and bring along one Joe Hyams and his friends. He's sure Robbie remembers Joe Hyams - the bloke who lost an eye because of Robbie. Robbie turns tail and leaves. Mike is still doubtful, thinking Robbie will retaliate, but Tim assures him that Robbie won't. 'His kind never do,' says Tim. (Which means, of course, watch this space).
Upstairs in the Corkhill house, Jackie, Lindsey and the kids are enjoying a takeaway Chinese. Seated beside Jackie is a talking Cabbage Patch Doll, dressed up like Kylie. Jackie pulls her string and she says in a monotone voice:
'Nana, could I have one of your spring rolls?'
Jackie: ' Of course you can, loov.'
Jackie pulls the string again. CPD: 'Nana, can I take the oother one downstairs to Grandad?'
Jackie: 'No, loove, I'll have that one.'
Jackie pulls the doll's string again. CPD: 'Nana, could I take your wonton soup downstairs to Grandad?' (You see, this Cabbage Patch Doll only ASKS questions when you pull her string).
Jackie: 'No, loove, I'll have the soup.'
Lindsey points out that Jackie hates wonton soup. Jackie replies she'll eat anything to keep Jimmy from having it. Once again, Lindsey broaches the subject of their offer to buy the house, but Jackie pointedly refuses to discuss this. Downstairs, Jimmy sits alone, listening to the muted sounds of conversation emanating from above.
Later, Lindsey comes downstairs, telling Jimmy that Jackie is going to dig in and stay. Jimmy is certain that if he continues with his actions, she will eventually get fed up and leave, but Lindsey is pleading now. This current situation can't go on - it IS affecting Jackie, but it's also affecting Jimmy too, although he refuses to see it.
At the Murrays, a plank of wook in a technicolour shirt appears and hurries Diane and Marty, reminding them that they are due to meet Geoff at the bar in ten minutes. Diane is ironing a dress and tells Plank that she's on schedule. The Plank points out that Marty is still in his work clothes, but Marty is being bolshie and refuses to budge. Between Diane and the Plank, Marty is bullied into changing and they arrive at the bar, only to find out that Geoff is late. As they wait for him, they discuss Ron Dixon's case.
The saintly Diane, who knows her neighbours at best, superficially, pontificates on the terrible thing Ron has done and thinks he deserves to be punished. Plank and Marty disagree, Marty strongly. He understands why Ron was driven to do what he did; in fact, he thinks that, under the same circumstances, he would have done the same. He points out that there was no way Ron could have called the police and also that, had Ron come into the room to confront the intruder, Ron, himself, may have been done over. Marty says he, himself, may not have used a gun, but he wouldn't have been averse to whacking the bloke over the head with a lamp.
Plank ventures the opinion that 10% of all robberies end in violence being perpetrated by the robber, before getting up to get in a round of drinks. As he leaves, Diane speculates that that remark originated from the Gospel according to Geoff. (It's worth remembering that Plank actually knows the fabric from which the Moffatts are cut, n'est-ce pas?)
As he approaches the bar, Bev, who's a walking advert for Head and Shoulders shampoo (as that's all we're allowed to see of her), is staring past him at Nisha, who's seated at a nearby table having a laugh with some mates. (Nisha appears to be the only Brookie character who has FRIENDS living off the Close or the Parade. Still give her time). Steve places his order and returns to the table to find Geoff arrived.
Later, Nisha goes to the bar for her next round and is given the cold shoulder by Bev. When Nisha asks if there's a problem, Bev makes a catty remark about Jerome and then proceeds to inform Nisha about the fact that Nikki Shadwick suffered a horrendous rape and that Jerome was her first proper boyfriend and had done a lot to restore Nikki's confidence after the rape. So the pair had a lot more riding on their relationship than most young couples. Nisha is shamed and shocked to hear the story from Bev and also to know that Bev has sussed her and Jerome.
Meanwhile, the Murrays are being bored to tears by Geoff - especially Marty, who's forced to crane his neck outside the window to view Geoff's latest flash car. BTW, Geoff has added Steve to his insurance, so Plank can drive any car on his lot. Geoff's newest car is from his newest dealership - like Victor Kyam, he liked the dealership so much, he bought the company! Bev appears briefly and Geoff attempts to flirt with her, before the conversation again turns to Ron and the killing. Geoff thinks Ron should be feted as a hero, the law was nothing these days when ordinary, decent folk are reduced to acting like that. Then, of course, he reiterates that 10% of all robberies involve violence perpetrated by the robber. Geoff's character is beginning to unfold.
Upstairs, in the flats, Victoria calls Jacqui from the shower. The police have just called and have left something for Katie. Amongst the clothes Clint was wearing on the night he was killed, Ma Moffatt has found an engagement ring he had bought for Katie. When Katie returns, Jacqui gives the ring to her ...
Observations: The standard is clearly improving; and I'm optimistic that Brookside meant what they said when, earlier this year, they said that they would take seriously the findings of the online poll. Does this mean Plank is soon to be chopped?
Summary © 2001 Marion Watts
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001