Parents ... Who'd have'em? Well, 'parents' and specifically 'parenthood' was the theme of tonight's episode on Brookside. They came in all shapes, sizes, colours, ages and predicaments tonight - we had interfering parents, immature parents (both chronologically and emotionally), parents on the verge of splitting up, parents coming together for the benefit of their children, gay would-be parents, obsessed would-be parents, single parents and natural parents trying to 'get natural'. Take a look ...
The day on Brookside Close begins with the Murrays - it seems to be doing that a lot lately. Marty Murray stands and gazes out his kitchen window, mug of tea in his hand. He's speaking to someone off-camera, telling the unseen person that, of course, they have to go to the doctor. As the camera pans left, we see he's speaking to Adele, dressed in her school uniform, and seated sitcom-situe at the breakfast table facing camera. Seated beside her is her blessed mother ... Er, sorry Adele's stepmother, Diane.
When she hears that she has to attend the doctor's, Adele remarks that going to the doctor sort of finalises things, makes her realise that the abortion is actually going to happen. Her stepmother grasps the girl's remark and jumps on it like a duck on a June bug. Hopefully eager, Diane tells Adele that she can always change her mind, she doesn't have to have an abortion. Once she hears that, however, Adele's mind is made up. She qualifies her earlier remark by saying that she wasn't about to change her mind at all - going to the doctor meant that the pregnancy seemed real to her now - before, she had been in denial about it.
Marty asks Diane what explanation she's given Steve and Ant about Adele missing school and their whereabouts today. Diane says that she's told them that the three of them were visiting a higher education college that Adele was interested in attending.
At the Johnsons', Mick is furiously pacing the room like a caged lion, whilst Yvonne watches him, her pretty face puckered with worry. Mick is supremely annoyed with Leo. Leo deceived him about his association with the Murray girl. Leo had led him to believe at the time, that Leo had used a condom when he slept with Adele. And now Adele was pregnant. Leo had landed them all in a pickle of a mess. And by Mick protecting Leo with his silence, it would look as though he had colluded in the deception. Furthermore, he says, he considers Marty Murray a friend - there would be precious little chance of friendship once this came out.
Vonnie asks Mick what he plans to do. Mick replies he has to speak to Leo and inform him of the disaster he had caused. Yvonne tells him not to do anything stupid - like driving to London and skinning Leo. Mick admits that he has to apprise Leo of the situation, let him know that his deception was sussed and get his version of events. He planned to telephone him initially.
Meanwhile, a day at the Walk-In Clinic is about to begin. Dr Dazza is about to open the surgery and his good lady Vic has walked him to the door. They are discussing their future - a future that doesn't include remaining in Liverpool. One of the options they are considering is working for the Voluntary Service Organisation, or VSO, abroad. Victoria thinks that's a brilliant idea, but Darren isn't so sure. Victoria remarks that she thought he wanted to leave Liverpool. Well, he does, but he's not sure the VSO is the answer. Just as they are in the throes of discussion, Jacqui Dixon crosses The Parade.
She greets them, immediately curious at their deep conversation. Victoria throws caution to the wind and allows Jacqui to be the first to know that she and Darren are planning on leaving Liverpool for good. Jacqui is surprised, but a little bemused, remarking half-jokingly that she hopes it's nothing to do with her. Victoria assures her it's not, that she's actually one of the few things to keep them in the city.
She explains to Jacqui that they are thinking about working abroad for the VSO, but Darren isn't too sure that they accept couples. Darren explains that the VSO is interested basically in what useful skills people have to offer. Jacqui says that Darren, as a doctor, and Victoria, with her IT training, should have no problem getting accepted.
An incredibly smug-looking Fred enters Bevs bar, carrying an official-looking A4 brown envelope. Lance and Leanne are behind the bar. Plopping the document onto the bar, Fred announces to Lance that 'it's come'. The pair look at each other tentatively before Fred opens the envelope. It's his deportation orders. Fred remarks that this was no surprise and then abruptly tells Lance that Bev could remedy all of this by agreeing to become pregnant. As the father of a British child, there would be no chance of Immigration deporting him. Lance is adamant that she won't. But that's the answer to their dilemma, Fred insists. It would ensure that he and Lance could be together.
Leanne joins the argument, saying that she'd gladly have a baby for Fred, because she - unlike Bev - had a heart (er, who took you in and gave you and your no-mark brother jobs, Leanne?). Lance puts his arm around her and agrees that she did indeed have a big heart. When he hears this, Fred's hopes are raised. Would Leanne really consider having his baby? When faced with the reality of the situation, Leanne tries to back down ... Well, she WOULD, but it wouldn't be right, like ... With he and Lance a couple it would be like, well ... Anyway, they wouldn't be married ... Yadda yadda yadda. Lance sympathetically agrees that it wouldn't work.
The Murrays by now are ensconced in Darren's office, discussing Adele's predicament. They sit facing the doctor, Adele and Marty sitting close together on one side, with Diane slightly removed from the two, in a symbolic representation of the support Marty is offering his daughter and the support Diane is not giving. Darren is clarifying the situation for the girl. He tells her that he has to contact the PAS for a preliminary appointment for Adele, because she will have to have a scan and some tests prior to the actual procedure. After that appointment, the PAS would refer her to a clinic with a date to report for the abortion. Adele is shocked that there is to be another delay. She thought the PAS could just do the abortion themselves.
Darren explains that they could, if the abortion took place up to the 12th week of pregnancy. But Adele is now in her 13th week. She has to undergo another sort of procedure. He apologises to the girl and says that she'll have to undergo a procedure under general anaesthetic, called a D and E, or 'dilation and evacuation'. It's not a difficult procedure and it's painless and with no side effects and no danger. It's the normal sort of abortion recommended for women in the 13th to 19th week of pregnancy.
Adele asks how the procedure goes, and Darren explains that, whilst she's under anaesthetic, the foetus will be removed with forceps; and any remaining tissue will be suctioned out with a vacuum. It would probably mean an overnight stay in hospital. If she had no further questions or doubts about the procedure, he could make the appointment for Adele to attend the assessment with the advisory service and get the wheels rolling.
Before he can adequately finish, Diane interjects frantically, asking Darren if there aren't any other options other than abortion that he could discuss with Adele. Diane is certain Adele hasn't thought this whole thing out rationally and if there were any chance of her continuing with the pregnancy and not killing the baby ...
Adele interrupts to tell Darren to make the appointment, but Diane persists, in an increasingly hysterical tone, addressing herself to Adele and Marty now, telling the girl that she might feel differently after the operation was done and it could cause a lot of psychological scarring in the future.
Darren stops her abruptly. He says he realises that Diane is under a lot of stress having to undergo IVF treatment and that the hormonal nature of the treatment itself, can cause her to react to situations differently than she normally would; but he has to remind her that at this moment in time, she has to address Adele's situation, which is the more urgent. He realises that she might not agree with the course of action Adele had decided to take, but cautioned her that the girl was adamant that she wanted the abortion, that she thought it was best in her predicament, and that this was a decision not to be taken lightly. Therefore, she was in need of a great deal of support; and it would be nice if she could have that support from BOTH her parents. In fact, at this moment in time, Diane's behaviour with regard to Adele's present situation could end up being very harmful for Adele. Diane needs to back off and give her daughter all the support she could muster in facing this decision, as she'll need a lot of parental support.
Darren is a bit more than fed up with her histrionics and suggests that he leave the room for a few minutes to allow the Murrays to have a discussion about Adele's situation (in other words, to allow Marty to tell his wife to 'shut it big-time').
When he's gone, Marty takes up the fight, telling Diane not to burden Adele with her problems. Diane reiterates that it's NOT her problem, it's Adele's. Marty reminds her, through clenched teeth, that it's DIANE who has the problem and she's trying to project it onto Adele.
Jackie Corkhill arrives on Jimmy's doorstep. Immediately on the defensive when he opens the door, she tells him right away that she hadn't come to argue. Jimmy calmly says he's glad she hadn't because he didn't feel like arguing. Jackie says that Jimmy's had William for a fortnight now; that was longer than the boy had been away from her in his short life and he must be pining for her. All she wanted was a chance to spend some time with William, maybe take him to Val's for awhile. Jimmy calmly replies that he sees no problem with that.
Jackie is taken aback. She smells a rat and asks what trick Jimmy's up to, but Jimmy assures her that there is no trick. He's been thinking about what's been happening between him and Jackie. He tells her the story about watching Kylie and William play-acting the other day, calling themselves by Jackie's and Jimmy's names. Jackie shrugs and says that kids play-act every day, but Jimmy tells her that not only were they calling themselves 'Jimmy' and 'Jackie', but they were also acting out the weird events that had been occurring in the Corkhill household for the past few months. This frightened Jimmy into realising the way the two had been behaving. It took two little kids to indirectly tell Jimmy that he'd been acting like the biggest kid of all recently.
He now thinks that William should benefit from both his parents and spend time with each. Jackie is so conditioned to arguing with Jimmy, she almost begins to disagree with him, until she realises what he's saying. Jimmy promises her that there won't be any more arguments at least for the time being and concerning William. There will be plenty of time for arguing when the divorce gets into full swing.
At that moment, the Murrays return from their visit to Darren. They walk rapidly around the corner, Diane determinedly walking ahead of her husband and Adele, with a face like thunder. Behind her come Marty and Adele, the girl clutching an appointment card. Jimmy calls out: 'Guten morgen, Murrays!'
But he gets no reply from anyone. Seeing Marty's glum look, he tells him to cheer up, it might never happen. The trio enter their house in stony silence.
Inside, Brigid pops her head around the kitchen door, informing the arrivals that she'd managed to catch an early bus, because she wanted to find out what happened. Marty and Adele are dismayed at seeing her, Adele running upstairs and Marty scurrilously remarking that he might have known she'd be there. He leaves the house in disgust, as Diane stands rigidly in the middle of the lounge, looking heavenward. At first Brigid calls up the stairs after Adele, but when she gets no reply, she asks Diane what happened at the clinic.
Diane sarcastically remarks that Dr Roebuck TOLD her that they had to give ALL their support to Adele in her decision because she would NEED it. Brigid is horrified. Didn't he try to talk her out of it? How could Diane let that happen?
Oh she tried, Diane says. Believe me, she tried. But he didn't want to know. He was more interested in seeing that Adele was protected. It was as though the three of them, Marty, Darren and Adele had ganged up on her. She sits down disconsolately on the couch. Brigid sits beside her, telling her that THEY had to convince Adele NOT to have the abortion.
In fact, Brigid had been doing some thinking about the whole thing and she thought she had come up with a solution that would please everyone. And she looks at Diane mysteriously.
Bev is seated at a table with Lance, Leanne and Fred, reading Fred's deportation notice. Immigration has given him 28 days to leave the country. As Bev reads this, she looks up at a disconsolate Lance and Fred and apologises. She would love to help them out, but she didn't think that having a baby would be fair on the child concerned. Fred tries to convince Bev by saying that if she would only change her mind, then he wouldn't have to be deported and he and Lance could remain together.
And Bev would be left holding the baby, she implies. Sorry, Bev says, no can do. Lance tries his hand now, telling her that it wouldn't be as though she would be burdened with the child on her own, not like her being a single mum. Lance would do his bit - Fred reiterates to emphasise that they would both do their bit. Lance paraphrases his claim by saying that the baby would have three loving parents. Not to mention an Auntie Leanne (as the one in question points out). Bev still refuses for the child's sake - she isn't even sure this kind of sexual encounter for procreative purposes would be any to good either. (For goodness sake, haven't these people heard of a turkey baster? It worked for Jacqui Dixon!)
Suddenly Fred interjects in a final effort to convince Bev. Bev shouldn't worry about that side of things. The sex that occurred between them would be just that - sex. It wouldn't be of the passionate love-making variety that occurs between him and Lance (I should hope not, with Bev!). Anyway, says Fred, he's always viewed sex with other people as just an act, not real love like he has with Lance.
At that last remark, Lance's face becomes a veritable picture of disbelief. In the midst of Fred's full flow, Lance asks incredulously if Fred actually means he's slept with other people whilst away from him. Fred is non-chalant. 'Haven't you?' He asks Lance. 'Especially with the two of us being so far away from each other, I thought you'd done the same.' Lance informs him, bitterly, that he hasn't; whilst it looks as though Fred has been sleeping around. This is too much for Lance, who tells Bev there won't be any need for a pregnancy now, as he and Fred were no longer a couple.
Dr Darren is leaving his clinic at the end of the day and is met by Victoria at the door. Darren looks weary and tells Vic that he's definitely made the decision to go for the VSO stint and, thereby, leave Liverpool. Victoria happily hugs and kisses him, but remembers to ask exactly what it was that changed his mind. Darren sighs and tells her that he's been too close to his patients - geographically living on top ot them.
Consequently, he gets no peace from them. It's as though he's on call 24 hours a day - at least it's seemed that way for the past year - with first Susannah, then Leanne and the Corkhills, and then there was Diane Murray and her fertility problems and now he had Adele to contend with.
Victoria asks what he means by that, but Darren tells her not to ask. He continues by saying that his patients expect him to have all the answers, but when he can't help them in exactly the way they want, he's resented. He's had enough. In fact, he wants to celebrate their decision to leave with a drink tonight.
As he's saying this, Jacqui Dixon emerges from the flats, dressed to the nines and looking exquisite in a black off-the-shoulder cocktail dress. As she approaches, the couple stop her to tell her their good news - that they've definitely decided to leave Liverpool. Jacqui is happy for them, but says she'll miss them, left rattling around in the flat upstairs. But Victoria teases her that she'll soon be spending more time with this new mystery man of hers.
Jacqui laughs uneasily and says she has no mystery man, but Victoria wants to know where she's going so dolled up. Thinking on her feet, Jacqui says she and Rachel are going out for a drink. Darren invites them to join him and Vic at Bev's, but Jacqui says they had planned on going into town and leaves.
Back at the Murrays', Brigid is explaining her grand scheme to Diane. The solution has been staring them in the face all along. Diane wanted a baby; Adele was pregnant. Why couldn't Adele have the baby and Marty and Diane bring the child up as their own? It was as simple as that. Diane thinks about this, but reminds Brigid that she's undergoing IVF treatment. What if it worked?
Brigid is dismissive. Didn't Diane say that the first try almost always never worked? Well, if they went about things this way, she wouldn't have to worry about where money for the next treatment is coming from. This way, Diane could have the baby she always wanted and Adele could carry on doing what she wanted to do - school, university, a career. And more important than that, the baby would be a Murray baby. Slowly, Diane sees the sense in this. Of course, in her mind, it would satisfy everyone - there would be no needless abortion and Adele wouldn't be called upon to be a teenage parent.
Fred enters Bev's Bar, bearing a huge bouquet of flowers. After receiving a scurrilous look from Leanne, he spots Lance behind the bar and proffers him the flowers. Leanne, looking backwards over her shoulder, reluctantly serves a punter at the bar. Fred wants a chance to explain, but Lance doesn't want to know. Fred has been unfaithful and that means the two are finished. Fred insists it doesn't - because if Fred stays in England, then he and Lance will be a couple. There won't be any sort of unfaithfulness. Lance isn't sure he could trust him, however; and smashes the bouquet on the top of the counter.
Fred coerces Lance into sitting at at table in order that the two could talk. Lance had to give him another chance. He was well on his way to convincing Bev and if she got pregnant, then Fred would be allowed to stay. Lance asks Fred if he just wants to stay in the U.K., or if he wants to stay here with HIM.
At that moment, Bev appears. She's had a change of heart, apparently. She realises how much Fred and Lance mean to each other and how good they are together. She'd do anything for Lance; so she's decided to have a baby for Fred. And the good news is by Saturday evening, she will be precisely mid-cycle and that would be a perfect time for her and Fred to initiate Operation Bambino.
Fred is chuffed at this, but Lance summarily dismisses it. They were no longer a couple, so there would be no need for a baby.
Jacqui Dixon and Max Farnham enter the Farnham home, after a nice evening out. Jacqui tells Max that all the way back, she kept wanting to hold his hand. But Max reiterates that they have to maintain secrecy - especially in front of the neighbours. It's best, for the present if they just appear to be good friends. Jacqui jokes that, in that case, she should be going, but Max makes a lame joke about a good friend staying for coffee and the two exchange a passionate kiss against the front door.
Max reminds Jacqui that Ron and Anthea have agreed to have Harry and Emma for the night and suggests that he and Jacqui adjourn upstairs.
Jackie and Jimmy Corkhill stand in the foyer of the Corkhill home with William, who is packed and ready to return to his mum. Jackie remarks that she likes the new reasonable, rational Jimmy; and Jimmy is musing about all the heated arguments and bickering that they had done as a couple in the past. But out of all that, they managed to do one thing right in William.
Gazing fondly at the boy's little pudding basin head, Jimmy remarks how perfect his son is. He then hugs the boy and asks him to be good for his mother. Jackie thanks him and she and Will depart.
Brigid and Diane have seated a reluctant Adele and a suspicious Marty around the Murray family sitcom table in preparation for hopefully initiating them into their grand scheme of things. Diane begins by telling Adele that SHE AND BRIGID have decided that Adele can have a life of her own. Adele and Marty exchange equally suspicious looks. In fact, Diane continues, Adele can carry on with school, go to university, maybe travel.
At first Adele thinks they have relented about the abortion, but Diane continues. What if Adele had the baby, but allowed someone else to bring it up? Adele thinks she means adoption and reiterates that she doesn't want to give the baby away. She simply doesn't want to have it. Marty concurs. But Diane doesn't mean adoption at all. Looking hopefully at both Adele and Marty, she spells it out. Adele has the baby, and she and Marty raises it as their own.
Marty stands up. Adamantly no, out of the question. Diane wants to know why. Marty asks her if she patently understands that Adele does not want to have a baby at all. Diane persists, assisted by Brigid in the argument - it makes sense, it would be a Murray baby, Diane wants a baby so much ...
Marty shoots Brigid a contemptuous look, remarking that he might have known she was behind this, before addressing his wife. He realises that Diane has raised his three children, and after all her comments about raising another woman's kids, he could understand that she felt she deserved one of her own, but she was dead set against adoption. What was so different about this one? Ah, but this one would be different, says Diane. It would be a Murray baby. It would almost be like their own. But, Marty reiterates, it wouldn't be your baby. But, Diane argues, it would be a baby.
The next scene is a bedroom, with a man's and a woman's clothing strewn hastily all over the floor and passionate sounds emanating from the direction of the bed. Jacqui and Max lay entwined in each other's arms, before Max suddenly pulls away from her. He apologises profusely, saying that he can't go through with love-making here. He feels as though Susannah is watching him - after all, it's her bed (and her picture is on the bedside table).
Jacqui asks if he wants her to leave, but Max says he doesn't. He simply needs to know if Jacqui still wants to be with him, even though he wasn't ready to express the physical side of their relationship at the moment. Jacqui is understanding and says that she's quite content for the two of them to just lie together for the evening. She'll wait until he's ready for a proper relationship. Max cuddles down into her comforting arms.
Vonnie returns to the Johnson house to find Mick doing an even better impersonation of a pacing, caged lion. He's been trying to reach Leo all day long, but his mobile's been turned off. (Hasn't he ever thought of ringing Leo's desk sergeant and leaving an urgent message?) He feels mortified about this whole thing and he feels responsible by remaining silent. Vonnie asks him what he's going to do. Mick responds that he's going over to the Murrays, knock on the door and own up about Leo's part in Adele's predicament, accepting any repercussions that occur.
Meanwhile, at the Murrays, Diane is frantically trying to convince Adele of the viability of the plan she and Brigid have cooked up and are trying to force feed them. Diane suggests to Adele that no one need ever know that she was pregnant. She and Diane could go away somewhere and come back after the baby was born. Adele remains adamant that she doesn't want to have the baby. But it makes sense, insists Diane. 'Your dad and I can raise the baby. We have the money to do it!' (Er, sorry, Diane, but you are supposed to be skint, broke, empty of pocket.)
Marty says it doesn't make sense. And he won't have his wife or his mother-in-law imposing their morality on Adele. The girl doesn't want to have the baby and her wishes are to be respected. Adele agrees. Then in a pitiably cruel outburst, the two women play the guilt card. How can Adele live with herself, knowing she's killing her baby? And what will Antony and Steve say when they find out she's killed their little niece or nephew? Marty finally shouts at them to stop their cruel propaganda. The girl didn't want the baby. Brigid rounds on Marty, as does Diane before Adele silences them all.
She isn't having the baby. And furthermore, Diane's little happy-family plan wouldn't work anyway ... Because the baby is black. And Adele does her specialty act of running from the room.
Marty follows her upstairs, knocking on her door. Not knowing who's there, Adele specifies that only her father can come in. Marty says only he is standing there and he enters. He sits on the bed with Adele and begins to speak gently to her. He tells her he respects her need for privacy, but under the circumstances, he feels he has to ask her who the boy in question is.
Just at that moment, the two harpies appear, Diane looking incredibly hard and triumphant. Marty doesn't have to ask Adele. The father is Leo Johnson. He's the only black man she's had a crush on recently. Marty jumps up savagely, screaming: 'I'll kill him!' Before bounding down the stairs, Diane, Brigid and Adele frantically following. Diane calls out helplessly, asking where Marty is going. Marty replies that he's bound for the Johnsons.
'But Leo isn't there!' Cries Diane.
Marty replies, 'But his father is!'
Summary © 2001 Marion Watts
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001