Morning in the Murray household and Marty and Adele are seated at the kitchen table. Adele is looking miserable, queasy and worried all at once, whilst playing aimlessly with her cornflakes. Marty notices that she isn't eating asks her what't the matter. She gives a monosyllabic negative reply.
Over his shoulder, Blessed Mother Diane rebukes him, telling him to leave the girl alone, she has a lot on her mind. With that remark, Adele looks up suddenly, an expression of panic on her face. Marty scoffs at Diane, wanting to know what could possibly be worrying Adele so; and Diane reasons that Adele is worried about her impending GCSE's.
Again, Marty scoffs: 'Those? She'll sail through those.' (Of course, you'd know, wouldn't you, Marty? I mean, how many did you sit?) Adele retorts: 'That's it! Put me under more pressure!'
Blessed Mother Diane calms her down and prods Marty in the back, reprimanding him for winding Adele up. Marty mutters something about hormones, which draws a black look from Adele, who asks the Blessed Mother if Michelle (who used to be Sue) can come over after school. BM says OK, but only as long as Michelle leaves by teatime. She's preparing a special tea that night in honour of the family plank of wood having attained it's 21st ring (with acknowledgement to Gray).
BM then begins to witter about having so much to do during her dinner hour today (that shouldn't bother her, I would imagine out of all the employees in the salon, she puts in less work than any of them) - shopping for the birthday tea and, oh Marty, will they have time to have her injection as scheduled? (Never misses the opportunity to drive that nail home, does she?) At the mention of the injection, Adele jumps from the table, clearly aggravated, and storms off, asking at the top of her voice if they MUST talk incessantly about that stupid injection, she was sick of it. (I agree, Adele).
Of course, after she leaves, Marty asks the ubiquitous question: 'What was that all about?' (This is to Brookside what 'We have to talk' is to Eastenders). Diane shrugs it off, musing that Adele was just sick of them going on and on about IVF all the time. Perhaps they did dwell on it a bit much.
Next door at the happy Corkhill home, Jimmy is locking up his area of the house in preparation for going out for the day. As he locks the lounge door, he turns to see a sour-faced Jackie, sitting on the stairs. She starts berating him immediately: 'You've got some nerve.'
Jimmy doesn't understand. Jackie continues by saying she hopes Jimmy's off down the medical centre as he'll need to go. Jimmy is quizzical. What's she on about? Jackie continues, only now Jimmy's probably picked up who knows what from someone who's been with all manner of man and beast. Jimmy still doesn't understand. Jackie tells him she heard EVERYTHING last night. Jimmy still doesn't get the gist of her line. Finally Jackie said she and the kids were forced to listen to him having sex with Cheryl last night. Jackie heard it all, and she's disgusted that Jimmy could think of bringing someone home like that when the children were upstairs.
Jimmy's face assumes the smug look he wears of late and he primly informs Jackie that they ARE separated. Therefore, he's entitled to bring anyone home he likes (actually, Jim, you're not. You are still married). And just for the record, he says as he moves toward the front door, not that it's any of Jackie's business, but NOTHING HAPPENED. Sound familiar? Before he goes, he tells Jackie to tell Lindsey that he'd be picking the kids up and giving them their tea.
Over at the Walk-In Clinic, Katie Rogers is nursing the mother of all hangovers and is undecided whom to pity more - herself for the arsehole she is or Flint because he's been de-Flinted. Nisha puts a glass of Alka-Seltzer in front of her. Katie is ashamed of her actions the day before and doesn't know what to do. Nisha suggests she begin by apologising to Jacqui Dixon.
Oh her? Katie isn't about to apologise to Jacqui. She got what she deserved (yeah, Katie, Jacqui handed the gun to Ron and told him to shoot. Maybe she should have kept her mouth shut and continued to be battered by Gobby so you could remain smug and superior at last). Katie just wished she'd done and said those things in private. She feels to ashamed to go into the bar again. After all, she's a grieving woman and should have acted ...
... With a bit more dignity, offers Nisha. Nisha assures her that no one will think anything of her outburst. She asks her if she's sure she should be at work today, but then remarks that Katie will make the patients look healthier and says she's ready for the first patient.
Well, there only appears to be one patient (probably the reason Dazza doesn't appear to be around much anymore), and that patient is suffering from an acute case of guilt, coupled with obsession. Yep, got it in one! JEROME!
Needless to say, Nisha is annoyed as he follows her to the exam room, profusely apologising and saying that he only needs to see her for a moment. He needs to explain. Nisha says there's nothing to explain, they are finished. They never really began. He wants to know why everything changed between them when Nisha found out Nikki had been raped. Who told her?
Nisha says she's spoken to several people about the circumstances surrounding Nikki's rape - Bev and Katie for example, and it was horrendous. She had previously thought Nikki was an attractive and confident young woman who could look out for herself. Now she knew differently and saw her in a different light. Jerome says that the rape occurred YEARS ago. (Surprise, surprise, Jerome. Most of your dedicated viewers are still suffering from overexposure of this storyline scarcely two years ago.) Nisha says that she treated a rape victim once, just once, but she could see the terrible ordeal the girl suffered. Also, she had talked to several rape victims since and it's an ordeal that never leaves a woman's psyche.
Jerome is being typically selfish, saying it's wrong to expect him to be asked to deal with Nikki's trauma incessantly. Jerome deserves a life of his own and wants to move on. Perhaps if he were about 30, he would be abler to cope with Nikki's demands, but he deserves his own time. Nisha agrees. She says it's OK if Jerome wants to split with Nikki - that's up to him. But under NO circumstances is he to use her as an excuse nor think that he can split with Nikki to take up with Nisha. They were history. They never were anything more than recreational sex.
She tells him to go, that legitimately ill people are waiting to be seen.
Next we see the less-than-happy newlyweds walking from the Close. Emily is doing her best to try to cheer Tim up, telling him it won't be long before he finds a job. Tim sarcastically replies that there is just so much help out there for people who've been in prison. Emily assures him he'll find something soon and then they'll be on the first rung of the ladder to success. Tim is off to the JobCentre. Emily suggests that he call around the salon at lunch and they'll go to the bar for a drink. Tim asks who's paying and Emily volunteers. (Question: Why doesn't Bev offer Tim his old job back at the Bar? She wasn't averse to hiring Leanne with her record, so why not Tim?)
Back at the Murrays, Adele and friend Michelle Sometimes-Sue sit at the kitchen table. They are alone in the house and are meant to be revising. Michelle Sometimes-Sue asks Adele if she's told her mother she's pregnant yet. Adele admits she hasn't. Michelle can't believe this. What is Adele playing at? Does she plan to just sit around and 'let things happen'? The way Michelle sees it, Adele has two options ... And BOTH concern telling Diane. She can keep the baby or have an abortion. (Er, actually, Michelle, Adele has THREE options. Ever hear of adoption? No? Ever watch Eastenders?)
Just at that moment, the BM and Marty noisily return - this couple never does anything quietly (the mind boggles). They are laden with a huge birthday cake in the shape of 21 and loads of food. BM is wittering at the top of her voice about having spent a fortune to make this 21st JUST right. (Sorry, but I thought the Murrays were skint? Well, they never seem to work.) BM apologises to Michelle for not allowing her to stay to the tea, but it's just a family do. Then, as an afterthought, she wonders to Marty if they shouldn't have had a full-scale party for Steve. Marty reiterates that Steve only requested a small family do, and that means her, the kids and 'the Two-Watt Bulb' (surely he can't mean Trona!).
BM makes some mention to Michelle about Michelle's father and is told by Michelle that he left home, about a couple of months ago. BM apologises, but Michelle doesn't seem overly concerned (why does this seem incredibly unreal?). Suddenly BM remembers that it's time for her fix and she and Marty muggingly dash from the kitchen, Marty hiding the necessary accoutrements under his jacket. As he leaves the room, Michelle shouts that he's forgotten to put the food in the fridge, whereupon Marty shouts over his shoulder for Adele to do the necessaries.
As she unloads the groceries, Adele explains to Michelle that she can't tell her Blessed Mother Diane that she's pregnant at the moment due to what's going on upstairs at the moment. Michelle is puzzled and Adele shows her the contents of the biscuit tin, holding a load of needles and syringes. Michelle asks if the Murrays are smackheads, and Adele tells her that BM is on an IVF plan and has to have a daily injection at 2:30.
Back at the Corkhill house, Jackie is upstairs packing her bags when Rlindz arrives. She surmises that Jackie has decided to take up Jimmy's offer to buy her half of the house. No, Jackie replies shortly, she's only taking her son. In fact, she's washing her hands of both Lindsey and Jimmy. Lindsey asks what made her change her mind.
Jackie replies that last night when Lindsey was doing her shift, Jimmy brought Cheryl Smith back to the house. Jackie and the kids were forced to remain upstairs and listen whilst Jimmy and Cheryl had sex below. At first Lindsey reminds Jackie that she and Jimmy are getting a divorce and Jimmy is entitled to see whom he likes.
Jackie viciously accuses Lindsey of taking up for Jimmy again, daddy's girl, just as ever. It wasn't that that bothered Jackie as much as the fact that he had chosen Cheryl, who would sleep with anything male that had a pulse. Lindsey refuses to believe that Jimmy slept with Cheryl and Jackie snaps big-time.
'Why is it you're prepared to believe NOTHING HAPPENED with Jimmy and Cheryl and you're so convinced I slept with Shelley?' She screams. 'When everything I ever loved is in this house and I'm being forced out of it?'
Lindsey is taken aback by this outburst and is genuinely shocked, so shocked that she is at last prepared to believe that nothing happened between Jackie and Shelley. Lindsey begins to cry - well, she's actually wiped tear stick under her eyes. Jackie asks her point blank if Lindsey wants Jackie to leave. Lindsey admits that she doesn't. She then volunteers to speak to Jimmy on Jackie's behalf when he returns with the kids.
Over at Bev's, Max is sitting morosely at the bar. Lance, doing his best impression of TinTin sans Milou (well, we haven't seen Fred in yonks), approaches and holds up a penny, intimating a penny for Max's thoughts. Max admits he was just thinking about Susannah. Lance assumes Max is still grieving. (Well, perhaps he's thinking it's time to move on from Susannah, after all ... ) Max demurs, saying that it's been six months since Susannah's death and he's left with nothing. Lance reminds him that he's still got the kids, but Max says that the children are forgetting her day by day. In fact, all she'll ever remain to them will be some photos and a headstone, and he isn't even mentioned on the headstone.
Lance ventures that in time Max will be able to explain the nature of his relationship with Susannah to them and they would understand. Max seems heartened by this and spies a drinks trolley in back of the bar. He asks Lance if Bev would mind if Max borrowed the trolley. Lance speaks for Bev, saying that she wouldn't ; but he needs it at the moment. Max agrees to return later for it. Lance asks why he needs it and Max says he requires the trolley to move something heavy.
As he leaves, Nisha and Katie enter. Katie walks in tentatively. When no reaction is provoked, Nisha says this proves her point that no one cares about the scene from the previous day. She then tells Katie that the hair of the dog is the best remedy for a hangover and orders two pints of lager from Lance. Katie corrects the order, saying she only wants a half. As Lance fills the glasses and earwigs, Katie begins to think perhaps Jacqui was right. Maybe Clint was a no-mark. Nisha says that even if he were a no-mark, he wasn't a thief. Then Lance puts his 2p in.
'Katie, loove,' he begins, 'it's none of my business (You're right, Lance, it isn't. Your lover happens to be the stepfather to Ron Dixon's grandson) boot I think that Ron Dixon deserves to rot in prison. OK, so what if Clint wanted to steal a video or soomthink, he didn't deserve to die.'
Katie rejoinders that Lance is only saying that because he hates the Dixons, or rather, Jacqui Dixon. No, Lance protests, he hates violence - although he'd make an exception in the case of Jacqui. (OK, Lance, so you advocate Jacqui being battered by Robbie. Nice one.) He won't accept payment for the order, instead saying that the drinks are on the house from him and Leanne. (In other words, welcome to the Jacqui-Hater-and-Baiter-Club, Katie. Jesus, spare us from months of this!)
As Katie and Nisha sit down, Katie begins to wonder about Clint. She is absolutely certain he didn't break in - there were no utensils used to break in found on him. And he couldn't have been there to steal something, because they were leaving the next day and would have had no time to sell it. She's going to get to the bottom of this and she's determined to see Ron. Nisha reminds her that Ron is on remand and she wouldn't be allowed near him, but she's determined to find a way. (WHY DOES SHE THINK RON WOULD WANT TO KILL FLINT? SHOULDN'T SHE REMEMBER WHAT A TOERAG ROBBIE WAS AND IS?)
The newlyweds enter the bar and sit down. Tim found a job. It means wearing a uniform and having a badge with his name. Where? Of course, Better Burgers. Emily remembers that 's the place where Craig was supposedly stitched up, but Tim says it's under new management. He's unenthusiastic, but it's a start. Emily hands him a tenner to order. (I must admit I thought Tim would enter during Lance's sermon and wipe the smugness from his gob. Ah well, one can live in hope).
Interlude: Jimmy is seen at home looking through a series of psychological flash cards, each with a printed help message. He chooses the one that says 'Adopt a Survivor Mentality' and tapes it on the wall above his computer.
Back at the Murrays, BM is nagging Marty about changing his clothes. It's almost time for the birthday board to arrive. Marty reminds BM that she is still in her salon gear and BM, who is without sin, smugly replies that she's been busy doing the birthday feast. Marty reminds her that he's in his work gear because he was busy doing TWO jobs today - that of a caretaker and also a doctor. And she has the bruises on her bum to prove the latter. BM bridles with self-satisfied glee, cracking the incessant grin even wider. Adele and Michelle appear and BM bids good-bye to Michelle, apologising again for not allowing her to stay for tea and promising to save a piece of birthday cake for her. Just then the doorbell sounds. Marty answers and finds Katrina with a 2 x 4 plank of wood. Has Trona decided to take up DIY? Nope, on second sight, she's with PLANK, who holds out his wrist to show off the gold bracelet Trona has got him for his birthday.
'It's a bracelet,' Trona explains, thinking that the Murrays are not as bright as a Two-Watt Bulb.
Marty remarks that he can see it's a bracelet. BM, ever-grinning, remarks that dinner isn't exactly ready, but Plank announces that they had only stopped by for the folks to see his bracelet. The two were meeting Geoff for dinner, his treat to celebrate Plank's 21st. Marty and BM's faces drop. Plank quickly explains that they only got the invitation that afternoon and it was too late to call. Was BM planning a meal or something? BM quickly explains that the do was nothing more than sausage rolls and sarnies. OK, says Plank, no probs. That stuff will keep. And off he and the Bulb trot upstairs so Plank can varnish himself. (What DO you get when you cross a Two-Watt Bulb with a Plank of wood?) BM, in the meantime, offers Michelle a chance to stay for her tea.
Jimmy arrives back at the Corkhills with yet ANOTHER version of Cabbage Patch Kylie. THIS one recites lines, saying that Grandad had bought her a burger and chips for tea. Jimmy notices Jackie and Lindsey standing on the stairs and also Jackie's bag packed and placed in front of the lounge door. Rhetorically, Jimmy asks the meaning of the bag. Jackie responds that one way or the other, it will be gone soon.
'Good,' says Jimmy, 'because it's in me way.'
Jackie sends Kylie upstairs to play with Wills and tries to follow Lindsey down the stairs, but Lindsey tells Jackie that she wants to handle the situation. Entering the room to find Jimmy seated, she asks him what he meant by bringing Cheryl Smith to the house the previous night and having sex with her. Jimmy explains that nothing happened. Lindsey remarks that that's good, because Jackie never had sex with Shelley either. She realises that now. So, Jimmy says, what does this mean? Does it mean that Lindsey is on Jackie's side now? Lindsey says she isn't taking sides with anyone, but it's time all this divided house behaviour stopped.
Lindsey asks him if he and Jackie can't give their marriage another go - dispense with the padlocks and portaloos. Jimmy responds that he was planning to add a downstairs toilet to accommodate him shortly and thereafter, add an upstairs kitchen. He reiterates the two-lives-two-flats theory.
Lindsey continues arguing Jackie's case, and Jackie enters to defend herself. Lindsey repeats that the Shelley incident was a bad misunderstanding, at which Jimmy loses his rag. Did Lindsey think all his problems with Jackie began and ended with Shelley? No. They began the night of the Corkhills' first date, when Jimmy was late and ordered Jackie some sort of cherry cocktail. Jackie ate the cherry and stabbed him on the back of his hand with the coctail fork.
And it had been up and down, mega arguments ever since. In fact, Jackie thrived on arguing with Jimmy. That's how she wanted to live. But he, Jimmy, wasn't prepared to live that way anymore. His mental health couldn't stand it. After all, he HAD had a breakdown. Jackie leaves the room, telling Jimmy that she's had enough. She's going to finish her packing.
Jimmy asks if she'll be staying at Val's. Jackie replies that anyplace would be better than this place. But Jimmy needs to know her address in order to gain access to Wills. Besides, he'll need to have her address in order to send her her cheque for the sale of the house. Jackie turns to face him, saying that she was determined to fight him every step of the way in court for this house and leaves the room.
Back at the bar, Max has returned for the trolley and is wheeling it out of the bar. He stops briefly to thank Lance and also to ask a favour of him. He plans to use the trolley in order to remove the headstone placed on Susannah's grave by Lisa. He wants to do it tonight. Lance is horrified. Max can't be serious. Surely the cemetary is guarded. What if he's caught? Isn't that against the law? Lance refuses.
Max says that the original headstone must go, to be replaced by one of his choosing. Again Lance refuses. But Max calls in his debts, reminding Lance succinctly that Max took him and Leanne in and gave them a home when no one else would. In short, Lance owes him one. At the same time, a snake dressed like Jerome sidles into the bar and slinks into a chair beside Nisha at her table. Nisha is aghast. But Jerome HAS to talk to her. He's reached a decision. He wants to split with Nikki. Nisha says that's his business, but she wants nothing to do with him. Her hard-to-get attitude only spurs him on. He wants to be with Nisha and wants to continue their relationship, but Nisha is adamant.
Back at the Murrays, Marty enters Plank's room to confront him about his behaviour. Plank explains again that the offer from Geoff came at the last minute and besides, BM wasn't planning anything special. Marty explains that BM was planning a big meal, scuppered by Plank's devotion to Geoff, and now Plank owes her an apology, leaving Plank feeling like he's got a prime case of dry rot.
Jackie Corkhill is packed and ready to go, asking Wills if he's sorted the toys he wants to take. The taxi is waiting outside. She hugs Lindsey, telling her she loves her and that she still loves Jimmy. She hugs Kylie, who gives a favourite toy to Wills, saying giving it up was worth getting her own room back. As the two get into a taxi, Kylie looks at Lindsey, telling her not to worry, that Nan and Grandad were always arguing and Nan would be back.
Observations:
Best Line of the Night: Marty's reference to Trona as a Two-Watt Bulb. (Can it be that TPTB will soon dispense with Trona's limited services?)
Max and Jimmy: Bi-polar? (Who's been watching ER then?)
Is Katie grieving or suffering from excessive self-pity?
Is Lance just too OTT with this Jacqui Dixon thing? That is just UNfunny and shows a distinctly ugly side of him. Or is it TPTB's intention to abuse Jacqui emotionally?
Summary © 2001 Marion Watts
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001